The High Cost of Discipleship
Notes
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Last week we had two people receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. It is for today, it is useful for any believer, it is a wonderful, good gift from the Father.
The Holy Spirit is so necessary because Jesus said so.
To fulfill the mission God put in motion, the Holy Spirit plays the central role by empowering Jesus’ followers to be witnesses who share the good news of the Gospel effectively.
Let’s now focus on the Good news message of Jesus, the Gospel
Is the popular, western Gospel presentation accurate to the Gospel Jesus presented?
Is it possible that what is popular could be off track to what is right?
Let’s look at the fruit of today’s message.
Just follow the Roman road to salvation!
Romans Road Clearly Defines
Romans Road Clearly Defines
Romans Road Clearly Defines
Romans Road to Salvation
Romans Road to Salvation
Step 1 - Everyone needs salvation because all have sinned.
, and 23
Step 2 - The price (or consequence) of sin is death.
Step 3 - Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price for our death.
Step 4 - We receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
, and 13
Step 5 - Salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into a relationship of peace with God.
Responding to Romans Road
Responding to Romans Road
If you believe Romans Road leads to the path of truth, you can respond by receiving God's free gift of salvation today. Here's how to take your personal journey down Romans Road:
Admit you are a sinner.
Understand that as a sinner, you deserve death.
Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and death.
Repent by turning from your old life of sin to a new life in Christ.
Receive, through faith in Jesus Christ, his free gift of salvation.
Boom! You’re in! See you in Heaven… right? Well, the truth is found in the Roman Road, but I would venture to say there is absolutely more that is not preached very often.
Let’s pray this morning
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
2 cor 11
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
We are told to seek first His Kingdom and HIs righteousness.
Paul, the great missionary to the Gentiles, Hand picked by Jesus - who physically appeared to Paul while he was traveling on the road to Damascus - made it his mission to present those who followed Jesus as a pure bride to Jesus the groom.
He cared more for that than anything else he could do for these people. Get them to Jesus!
Are we doing the same thing for the people around us?
As a parent, I am so desiring my kids to have a good future. I press them to study hard to make the grade. I work hard to show good work ethic so they too will work hard at what they do. I always talk about them going to college to further their education so they can get a job that pays as good as possible. I am making plans for their future according to what I see them being passionate about.... but am I pressing them to follow Jesus as an afterthought - or the first thought?
What if the Lord is calling them to live a life of super simplicity in which they never make a “Good” living? Am I willing to lay my dream for them down at Jesus’ feet and promote them to achieve His plan?
Am I willing to see them not succeed as well in this life , but succeed in the life to come? Am I going to press them to find Jesus’ plan for their future above anything I would want for their future?
What if the Lord calls them to give their lives by going to a foreign land as a missionary? (As long as it’s a safe, healthy country!)
“A servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to go to martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God.”
-Oswald Chambers
What if the Lord is calling them to live a life of super simplicity in which they never make a “Good” living? Am I willing to lay my dream for them down at Jesus’ feet and promote them to achieve His plan?
Now we are talking about the Gospel. His plan above our plan. His mission above our mission.
Transition
The Western version of Christianity has been watered down and cheapened to the point of ineffectiveness. The proof is in the following -
Many people who call themselves christian give up and walk away from the church so easily
Many people who call themselves christian, put comfort and entertainment ahead of Christ and his church.
first, the people who fall away when the wind of life begins to blow.
I have to step away from church to heal and get my head on straight
Death in the family
Health crisis
Financial distress
Conflict in the church family
Second, the people who have Jesus as a priority, just not a high priority
We go to church when it’s convenient
I go to church when there is nothing else to go to
I just don’t have time to go to church because I’m so busy!
None of this would make any sense to the early church believers. The one’s who heard Jesus’ message of what is was to be a follower would definitely call us out on our cheap Gospel!
Let’s see what Jesus has to say about what it is to be a follower.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
luke 14
Hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - even their own life
Carry their own cross
Not a sickness, not an angry neighbor, not anything close.
the people of Jesus’ day definitely would have known what Jesus was talking about.
The person carrying their cross is a dead man walking!
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,
saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
The SS United States
Cruise ship with amazing luxury capabilities - 2500 high paying patrons
Troop Ship capable of hauling 15,000 troops
Cruising speed of 41 miles per hour
Junked on pier in Philidelphia
If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
lUke 1
Could this describe the western church of today?
Own Study
What should we be like as a church? What is our primary focus? Peace time or war time?
What needs to happen to make our church a troop ship going to war?
What are you going to do to play your role in making your church what Jesus wants it to be?
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
The high cost of discipleship? You can bet that following Jesus is going to cost you. It will cost everything if done right.
“The Gospel Demands Radical Sacrifice” - By Davie Platt
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
matt 22 36-
Loving God above all and with all is the end. That is the only way to fully love others!
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
eph 5
Don’t be foolish
Understand the Lord’s will
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Be filled with the Spirit
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
The Lord’s prayer:
ezek 36 25-27
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
matt 22
Thy will be done
I am a dead man walking - not my will, but your will be done
I have no rights - your will be done!
Communion
matt 7