Are You Ready For Real Discipleship?

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Matthew 16:24–26 NASB95

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

We are attempting this month, to explore scripture to gain understanding and fuel application towards personal discipleship. This includes embracing the challenge, discomfort and sacrifice involved when there is a commitment to grow.

The failure to grow only ensures the success of failure.

God wants us to abound, and to do so abundantly. He did not save you to be a lukewarm Christian, meddling in mediocrity, and drinking the juice of ‘just enough’. John 10:10 “10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Life in God implies thriving not just surving. We are ment to flourish and blossom not simply exist. We are a kingdom of priest, a holy nation, God’s own possession (1 Pet 2:9). This means that to be what God wants you to be you cannot be settling for dregs, doing just enough, giving just enough, serving just enough: God wants you all in.

Men, women, youth, deacons, elders, workers, servants, teachers, preachers, Panco Lane COC - God wants us all in. To be a kingdom citizen is to be all in - Luke 2:49 “49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?””

It’s time for HIGHER LEVELS

This is not some call to something strange and unknown - It is simply a call to commit to the growth plan God started in you when you were saved and given the Holy Spirit. Commit, Submit and Surrender.

God doesn’t need smart, saavy, or skillful but He will take surrendered!

This call to HIGHER LEVELS is a call to abound, add to your faith, allow God to bring the increase to your faith, mature, be more like Jesus in your mind, character and your activity.

The reality is that sometimes we lose steam, lose focus, priorities shift, burdens blind us, pains overtake us, satisfying self becomes more important than satisfying God. The devil is right ther in those moments telling you stop! In the same way Peter said “be it far from you Lord that you should suffer and die”

We need to declare get thee hence Satan. We need to declare I am doing a great work and I cannot come down to you.

Are you prepared for the challenge?

Are you prepared to be changed?

Are You Ready For Real Discipleship?

JESUS IN CAESAREA PHILIPPI (from notes)

Jesus goes 25 miles from the Sea of Galilee to the coast of Caesarea Philippi to engage His disciples in an interesting discussion. The fact that He takes them here to make this point is noteworthy.

This place is historically and spiritually significant. This was the Bashan of the Old Testament. It was a city that onced had the giants who were enemies of God, whom Israel conquered. Its location extended from the foothills of Mt. Hermon.

This region of Bashan and Hermon were known for its idolatry and pagan worship. The Canaanites and Phoenecians viewed it as an “open-air” cult center dedicated to false gods.

There was grotto or cave at the base of Mt. Hermon where there is evidence of at least 20 temples which appear to be ancient cult cites for “celestial gods”

Baal, the chief Canaanite god was worshipped and solicited here

The Bull worhsip in Dan was set up here by Jeroboam

The Greeks worshipped Zeus here

In the days of Jesus, Pan was also worshipped here

The Romans called it the “rock of the Gods”

It was known as the “gates of Hell”

It was a hotbed for cultic and idolatrous practices in the ancient and modern world. This was thought to be ground zero for evil spiritual powers, which begs the question, why would Jesus carry his disciples here?

Jews wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this, so defiled, unclean, known for so many abhorrent things. We don’t go here, we don’t talk about here, we don’t associate with anything connected to this place.

Yet here is where they stood.

Declaring on the “rock of gods” - UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH!

Declaring in this place, that the gates of hell cannot withstand the church

Note that gates are defensive structures not offensive structures. The language puts the church on the offensive. Jesus is not just after sins, He is after the darkness. (Mt 8:29)

Why is this is even relevant? Salvation is not just you getting your sins washed away, it is a conquering of the darkness, a declaration to the evil powers that Jesus is here, He is the victory and that they have lost.

That’s powerful and reassuring, but it is also raises the stakes and informs us how serious we ought to be in being followers of Jesus.

We have many worshippers and church-goers but do we have Jesus followers?

We have people that come, but do we have people that are committed?

We have doers, but are you really a disciple?

Do we have followers who can submit, surrender and be fully satisfied with Jesus?

This text reassures of the victory Christ has and the role we are called to play as His followers. Are You Ready? Are You Really Ready for real Discipleship.

Jesus Was Ready

He denied Himself

Philippians 2:5–6 “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,”

Luke 22:42 “42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.””

Luke 9:58 “58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.””

He picked up His cross

John 2:19 “19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””

John 12:32 “32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.””

Galatians 3:13 “13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—”

Who did He follow? (This is indicative of loyalty, obedience and committment)

Hebrews 5:8–9 “8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”

John 4:34 “34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” - “I must be about my Father’s business

John 8:29 “29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.””

What Jesus is asking of His disciples He is already prepared, to do it Himself.

Are you prepared to do what Jesus did? What his disciples did?

These instructions are prefaced by, “If anyone wishes to come after Me”

Jesus is not commanding you to come or demnading you to come. But, if you come, He has some commands and He has some demands.

“Wishes” indicate an intention of the heart. An intention is no good if the intention does not turn to action.

THIS call is not a group call, it’s an individual call. Don’t come because the crowd comes. Don’t stay away becasue the crowd stays away.

This is real discipleship!

#1 Deny Yourself

This word means to claim no knowledge of and realtionship to. To refuse or reject something.

If you want to come after Jesus, you must deny yourself

I.e. you must refuse to let self dictate and direct your discipleship by Jesus - meaning self and Jesus cannot be in competition for rule in your life.

*This word is in the aorist imperative - meaning this is something Jesus wants you to make up your mind about and be done with it. He does not want you flirting with this denial. It needs to be done, and done absolutely. It does not require continous effort. Meaning if I am struggling with it. . .I have not done it.

If Jesus is saying this, it means it can be done!

The zenith of self-denial is your readiness to follow Jesus even if it means loss of life. One of the deepest drives we possess is self-preservation - are you ready to follow, if it means giving that up?

For me to live out this “self-denial” it means putting God and His kingdom agena first. His business has to come first. Stop living for yourself, stop allowing pride, ego, love for honour, affirmation to drive and move you. Allow God’s Spirit to rule so He can produce in you an appropriate attitude that is so fixated on God that not even death can deter you.

Surrender your heart and everything you have! You cannot have two masters. Self wants to be your master too. Do not let self tell you what your next move is, let Jesus!

What if Jesus let self, tell him what to do?

#2 Take up his/her cross

On the back of His reference to His death on the cross, this may be painting a very vivid picture (the disciples miss). Those being crucified would take up a cross beam and carry it to the stake pole. Are you ready to deny yourself to the extent, that it brings you suffering? - “the emblem of suffering and shame”

This word is also an aorist imperative meaning Jesus wants it to be something that you are not double-minded about. Do it and don’t look back. Luke 9:62 “62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.””

Divided loyalty is the killer of committment

You cannot carry the cross and your career. Carry your cross and make room for God to take care of your career. The same goes for every dream, aspiration, goal, objective. You’ve been carrying some things that you should not have been and it’s causing you to forsake the cross.

2 Corinthians 4:10–11 “10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

There is suffering in this way, are you still going? There is some pain and some struggle, and some enemies in this way, are you still going?

Are you in two minds about it?

Jesus denied Himself to the point where it cost Him His life. Can you? What if Jesus, did not carry His cross?

THIS IS WHAT “TAKING UP YOUR CROSS MEANS” - Self-denial to the extent where your life is not too much give up for CHRIST!

This is what it meant for the apostles, this is what it meant for the 1st century Christians. Are you ready to die for your Lord?

Application: If I’m ready to die for Him, there is nothing that I won’t do while I’m living

There isn’t a person I will not forgive. There is not a gift I will not give. There is not a time where I refuse to serve. I will love His church and grow in the fellowship. He does not have a cause that I will abandon. His will I will not perform. If I say I’m ready to die for Jesus, and I’m not living for Jesus, I’m lying to myself!

#3 Follow Me

This word is not in the aorist imperative, but the present imp. Meaning this is something you are being called to keep doing everyday. Every day you get up, every opportunity you get, every person that comes your way - You make the decision to follow Jesus

This is easy when you have denied self

This is easy when you pick up that cross

This is what discipleship is about. “Following Jesus”

How did Jesus do this one? The idea behind the phrase akoloutheo is to devote oneself completely to something.

Did Jesus do that? He did! John 6:38 “38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will [DEVOTION], but the will of Him who sent Me.”

This meant to follow right after your master, wherever he went you went

You need to have Jesus with you everywhere you go.

Matthew Jesus Expects Disciples to Follow Him to Death (16:24)

Those who do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord-as having the right to demand of them anything, including their lives-have yet to be truly converted.

Are you following at a distance? Waiting to see what discomfort lies ahead so they can choose a convenient time to leave.

Are you following by the vibe? As long as the mood is right, the tone is right, the people are right, atmosphere is right, I’ll be around.

Are you following aimlessly? Not really convinced, concerned, or convicted. Deep down I know its right, it checks the box, it’s all I know and a deep self-satisfying need is fulfilled.

Are you a self-denying, cross-carrying follower? If my Master desires it, I’ll do it. Regardless of the shame, the pain, the looks, cost. If the Master demands it, I’ll do it. That’s real discipleship.