Will you Quit?
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Be a Disciple of Jesus is like a fight.
Be a Disciple of Jesus is like a fight.
We are in a battle that is not easy. We get in the ring of life with God it is not simple or always fun and some are quick to throw in the towel. In our text today Jesus seems frustrated with many who would like to just quit
In boxing when you throw in the towel it means the fight is too much for you and give up on the dream. There are boxers I have seen that get in the ring that look like they are ready but when that bell rings, well let just say it is not good. In the church there are a lot of christians just like that. They look the part, act the part, they may even have a nice bible. But when the bell rings they are not ready to answer the call.
These imposters are quick to throw in the towel and give up the fight to victory.
Turn with me to
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
Before this passage Jesus is challenging the followers what their motivation is for following. Was it for their own benefit, was it to see signs, was it for self gratification? He tells them straight up that they are following, at least some of them, for selfish reasons, they really did not believe.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
Now you would think this man who was preforming miracles each day, when he challenged them they would do some serious inward reflection. But what actually happens is that they walk away.
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
They gave up and went their own way.
How many people do you know that if they were asked to account for their faith or were challenged would stay the course? If they were asked to keep to following not because of what they get out of it rather to follow because what they give would they stay?
Maybe it might surprise you know where in the Bible does it tell us to find a church that fulfills all your needs. But over and over we are told what followers of God should do.
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
We are not focused on our selfs. And Paul tells the Ephesians
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
If you are a follower/a disciple of Jesus it is not about you. It is about growing up and being an effective part of the body of Christ.
Problem is most church people are looking for the next great speaker, teacher, music program. Oh wait let’s go to that church look at all they have to offer. Oh wait no let’s go to that church it has a great worship program with lights and smoke. No it is too early, it’s too late, no they don’t have a program for my kids. As soon as things are not what we like we are like rats on a sinking ship. We are out of there.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
What a sobering question to ask. On that I think we need to be asked.
The world want s an easy religion that get much and requires little? Do you also want to go away?
The world is mixing other religions or making up ones that suit them. Do you also want to go away?
Churches are willing to sacrifice true faith so that they might not offend our society. Do you also want to go away?
it is an important question that must be answered be every person that is following.
Jesus is telling the disciples there is no middle ground you are following me or you aren’t. You can’t partly follow.
When you get into the boxing ring you must be all in!
When you get into the boxing ring you must be all in!
If not it’s not going to be a great ending for you is it.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Jesus needs us to be all in. We need to focus on what he is calling us to do.
A disciple who follows will follow as we read in:
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
What is your answer today?