2007-03-18 - A High Price - Luke 14 25-35

Message: A High Price                                       Newport Baptist Church

Scr: Luke 14:25-35                                            Date: 2007-03-18

No Human at the desk!  No flawed person waiting to decide if we get in.

Last week – talked about God’s banquet, his invitation, the excuses we can give and the response of the host.

He not only welcomes, he seeks out the wounded, the weary, the downtrodden.

Why is it then that we have different standards for the church than God has for his kingdom?

Am I good enough?  Is anyone?

I’m not good enough.  I sin.  I was born with that as my nature.  Yet God invited me to come and dine at his table.  The invitation to come is free, however, living as disciples comes with a cost.  Seems to have been hidden somehow in the church.

Costs are hidden nowadays.

Ill-commercials for products
-build up products
-add bonus products/ features
-then "How much would you expect to pay?"
-finally "Just 3 easy payments of $$$"

-car/truck commercials
- 0 down
-low 1.9% APR
-only $$$ per month
Big Question: How much does it cost? For all I know I could be paying on it for the next 40 years.

Someone once said that salvation is free, but discipleship costs.  Jesus made that point clearly in our passage today.

Describe the scene (heading for Jerusalem!) – people want to be ‘seen’ with Jesus - on His final journey to Jerusalem. people going to the passover

He challenges them to think about the actual cost of being a disciple!  Discipleship (14:25–35)  Instructs and then illustrates what discipleship requires.

1.       Jesus instructs concerning discipleship (14:25–27).

a.       In regard to the candidate’s family (14:25–26): He or she must place Jesus above them.

                                                   i.      Matthew 10:37 - “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 

b.       In regard to the candidate (14:27) : He or she must carry his or her cross and follow Jesus.

                                                   i.      Luke 9:23 – Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

                                                  ii.      Matthew 10:38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  

Must count the cost – ILL – call to ministry – challenge to let people know me and my family – God moved us to the East, then two more times! Five Points, The Glades and Forest Glen, now here… cost – risk… hurts to leave behind those we love.

c.        The priority of discipleship. need for total commitment to Jesus

                                                   i.      We must love him so much that our love for family seems almost like hatred by comparison

                                                  ii.      We must count the cost before making our commitment

2.       Jesus illustrates concerning discipleship (14:28–35).

Dallas Willard – apprenticeship – Ill – I did three as a landscaper.  Start clueless J then fail, then know what questions to ask!

a.       Two ways to see illustrations.1st  us as builder and King.

                                                   i.      Example of the unfinished building (14:28–30): Make sure to count the cost, and make sure to have enough money before starting.

Ill – Hindu Temple in Sarnia – basement with a roof.  count the cost – converts in Islamic countries, young people in today’s society

                                                  ii.      Example of the unsuccessful war (14:31–33): Make sure your army can defeat the enemy.

1.       Terrorist & Guerilla warfare – how do you fight what you cannot see

2.       Pick your battles

b.       2nd way to see illustrations, The builder and the king represent Jesus

                                                   i.      Jesus is building His church and needs to have the best materials. He is fighting a battle and must have the finest soldiers.

1.       Are we the kind of quality people that He can use for building and battling?

2.       If we are not faithful disciples, then He cannot use us to get the job done.

Ill – world looks at the church and calls us hypocrites… why?  Fail to finish… inconsistent on our stands.

Preaching video – Pro-life?  Ya right.  If we are pro-life why do we allow people to starve to death?  If we are pro-life why do some come out in favour of Euthenasia?

Lifestyle – criticize the homosexual and ignore the adulterer, the thief, the gossip, the selfish, the hard hearted.

                                                  ii.      Note the repetition of “cannot be my disciple” (vv. 26, 27, 33).

1.       There is no “cannot” for salvation’s supper except “I cannot come” (v. 20), which really means, “I refuse to come.”

2.       But when it comes to discipleship, God lays down qualifications and expects us to meet them.

c.        Example of the flavorless salt (14:34–35): It is useless and will be thrown away.

                                                   i.      What is salt

1.       sodium chloride - Its preservative powers made it an absolute necessity of life and a virtual synonym for essential life-giving forces and, not surprisingly, endowed it with religious significance.

                                                  ii.      What was it used for?

1.       salt was used to season incense and offerings had to be seasoned with salt

2.       Israelites rubbed newborn children with salt  

3.       salt became linked with health, hospitality, purity, and durability, cleansing

                                                iii.      How did Jesus understand it?

1.       In Roman times salt was an important item of trade and was even used for money. Roman soldiers received part of their salary in salt.

2.       In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls the people who listen to him (including the disciples) the salt of the earth’

3.       Usually obtained by evaporation (not pure salt as today, but diluted by sediment and minerals… could lose saltiness)

                                                iv.      Jesus calls us salt. Salt has two peculiar properties. - It flavors life and it preserves from corruption.

1.       When you and I live without excuses as those loved and forgiven, we flavor life everywhere—at the office, at home, or in the church.

2.       We become the preserving element, those who stand for justice and righteousness despite the world’s corruption.

Conclusion

contrast between vv. 23 and 25.

Jesus was not impressed by the great crowds that followed Him because He knew their hearts. He was on His way to a cross outside Jerusalem, and the crowds were not ready for that.

It is easy to be in the crowd but not so easy to carry the cross. After we “come in” and find salvation, we must “come to” Him for our cross, and then “come after” Him in obedience to His will (v. 27).

Jesus was approaching the cross, as he did, he began challenging those who followed him to count the cost.  The price is high.  Christianity requires ‘real men’ and ‘real women’

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” The reverse is also true. “Today can be the last day of your past.”

Today can be the day when we resolve, with God’s help, to live the next year making no excuses.  Will you pay the price?

Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Which are we, salty or unsalty?  Hot or cold?  Will you pay the price?