Consider the Cost
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Consider the Cost
Consider the Cost
The Church
The church is made up of the believer who by faith has accepted the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sin thereby becoming a member of the community of faith.
A disciple is then one who is a member of the community of faith that is wholeheartedly following the Lord Jesus Christ daily picking up their cross and becoming conformed to the image of Jesus Christ
The cost to being a disciple is dying to self sot he He might live through us
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
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The Scripture says that there was “a multitude” Ochlos - an undisciplined throng - aimlessly milling around
We see today in many of our churches an undisciplined throng of madness where the Bible has been relegated to the realm of metaphor and imagination while man’s wisdom is elevated to preeminence
We see an acceptance of universalism mocking the suffering and sacrifice of our Savior and blasphemously trampling the blood of Christ under foot demanding that God accept men simply for who they are and not who they can be in Christ
It is refers to those who are “leaderless and rudderless” where the people are said to have no power of judgement living with moral disparagement.
It is refered to those who are “leaderless and rudderless” where the people are said to have no power of judgement with moral disparagement
The implication is that there was a mixed crowd following Jesus who did not really understand what it was all about. They enjoyed the excitement and the fanfare but were unwilling to hear the real message. It’s easy to follow the crowd but Jesus contrasts this with His following statements:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
Relationships can not be more important then following me
There will be a cost in your personal life - what will my family think? What will happen to me if I follow this man?
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
Matt
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Many will refuse to come because they cannot let go of the life they now live
I remember thinking I could not survive without getting high for one day, my flesh did not want to surrender but my Spirit wanted freedom
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
The word “to bear” bas ta zo means to exert power indicating an exercise and application of free-will - a choice. It in no way constitutes a “burden to bear” but rather “to have on oneself” as in the seal of God
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,
You cannot make your salvation more complete by now assuming some type of self-sacrificial action! - By grace are ye saved and that not of yourself
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The word cross “staho” from the root Histemi - means to abide, appoint, continue, covenant, establish, hold-up, stand!
What He is saying here is that your life should reflect the name that you bear! The believer should be ready to give up even his or her own life in the service of Christ!
The Scripture has nothing to do with suffering for my sake but rather suffering for His sake
We willing chose the scorn of the cross, the ridicule of the world and those around us, and we set our sights on things above not here below
And that through the power of the Holy Spirit!
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Jesus said
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Not let them see your self-serving religious facade!
Man says that if it looks good on the outside then the inside is OK
Jesus said that if it is good on the inside the outside will be OK!
Before
Where is the good news in now that your sin is forgiven you must
Our battle before was with God so that we might be free to sin
Our battle now is with sin so that we might be free to serve God!
We are not undisciplined aimlessly walking through this life!
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Is your life speaking the truth that you are looking for a heavenly country?
Are you looking back from where you came and desiring the fruits of sin?
Remember that you are now the bearer of the cross, the mark of God walking in the midst of the darkness of this age!