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Greetings dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Our text will be Luke 14:25-35. Lets begin by reading aloud the scriptures:
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold 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, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Prayer: Dear Lord God of heaven and earth, we come before you and sit in awe of your written word, which is a light unto our feet. We consider the selection of scripture here today and ask that you will reveal the truth of it unto us your children, that every man may be edified by your grace and truth which are in Jesus your Son. Please have mercy on those who have yet to receive your words and open the eyes of the blind that they may see. Call still others unto repentance unto you using your goodness which leads men to repentance. I pray for those who believe, Lord God, that they may strive to be righteous before you by the example of your righteousness manifest in the flesh as our Lord Jesus Christ. May those who have ears to hear, hear your message. In the blessed name of our Lord and Savior you have given unto us, the mediator of the new covenant. Amen.
Due to the gracious words of Jesus that were confirmed by his miracles of feeding and healing, he had amassed many followers. At this particular time he turned to them to give them understanding of what it takes to be an actual disciple of his. His first point:
Jesus spoke a simple truth that his disciples (students who were learning how to gain eternal life through him) must without exception prefer him above all family and whatever life they had up to this point or they could not be his disciple. He was explaining a simple choice that set the order by which his disciples would choose to do things.
If a mother or father spoke against his teachings the true disciple would choose Jesus. Same with brothers or sisters or even his own children. Always choose Jesus and his teaching over all.
Illustration: A man, who was a disciple of Jesus, had a father who came home from work one day while the man was visiting his mother. The father began to complain about his boss and all of the things that were stressing him about his job. He turned to the man (his son) and said "I think I will go in to work tomorrow and give my boss what he deserves! A half days work. I am tired of him pushing me around and I have the power to do something about it." The son thought for a moment before speaking and said "Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and do good to them that hate us." His father beheld him in displeasure and said "Your Jesus is a wimp who doesn't know how to deal with a man like my boss.". The son lowered his head and said, "father, I understand that you don't believe and I truly wish that you did. But I must follow Jesus as I know that he is the Son of God who has the words of eternal life.". His fathers anger deepened and he stood up and with a brisk tone and barked, "Son, if you think your Jesus knows better than me, then you can leave here and go follow him, but in my house, I am the one who knows best!". The man, who was his son, arose from his seat quietly and walked to the door. He turned to his father and spoke these words in a gentle voice, "May God have mercy upon you and call you unto Jesus, granting you repentance from your sin and an acknowledging of the truth that you are not God". And as the door closed gently behind him he could hear his father fall into a rage, exploding with anger. The man simply walked away to follow Jesus.
His second point:
The cross that Jesus bore was for the sin of the world. Every disciple who comes after Jesus must take up his own cross bearing the sins of those around him that they may be brought to Christ.
Illustration: The man walking down the street, who had just left his fathers home to prefer Jesus over his father, came to a intersection of a four way stop. Looking up unto heaven, he prayed "Lord God please forgive my father and grant him repentance toward you, that he may become a disciple of Jesus and live". A moment later he heard the scuff of a boot on the walk behind him. Turning around he came face to face with his father. No words were exchanged. Just a blow to the face by the back of his fathers hand. He fell to the ground. His father spoke back to him in a low growl, "I suggest you not get up unless you are ready to respect me." The man stood on his feet and faced his father. As his gaze came to meet his fathers eyes he softly spoke these words, "Jesus is Lord over all." Again, he was struck and hit the ground. He could hear the boots of his father as he walked away furious.
Continuing his point Jesus spoke:
Well known in Israel was the story of the tower of Babel and the men who wished to disobey God and escape his wrath. Having been told to go out to the ends of the world, they chose to disobey and build a city instead with a tower whose top may reach unto heaven. They would accomplish the task of salvation on their own apart from God. They did not possess the resources necessary to finish it and after confusing their speech they were scattered abroad and forced to fulfill the will of God.
Illustration: Upon leaving the man, his son, lying on the ground the father went back to his home unable to comprehend what had just happened. As he entered the house, his wife was sitting in the living room sobbing in grief. Touched, the father spoke "I can't just allow him to bring his religion and force it upon me like that. It is wrong. God would not do that to anyone.". His wife drying her eyes and gaining composure asked, "How was he forcing it upon you?". "He knows that I have my own way to God and do not need any mythical Jesus shoved down my throat. All I need to do is live a decent life. We all know right from wrong.". His wife considered his words and lowered her head and spoke softly, "Does your way include a way to make right the wrong that you have done in your life? Is your God righteous?". These words hit the father hard and he was pricked to the core. He walked away embarrassed and confused. Spending time alone in his shop working on a lawn mower he thought about those words. "How do I make right the wrongs? There must be justice, right?", The thoughts consumed him and he had no answer.
Continuing his Point Jesus said:
We all have to consider our resources wisely. Knowing that there is one who is greater than us, who is God, we must consider the day of reckoning when we will have to come up against him and face him to his face.
Illustration: The next morning the father awoke in a deep sweat. He had been having night terrors all night, dreaming of meat grinders eating his flesh slowly grinding him to bits. He arose, showered and decided to go for a walk. At the end of the street before the intersection he stopped and looked about. His gaze fell to the ground as he saw the small stains of blood that fell from his sons nose and mouth the day before. The words filled his mind, "I must be able to pay for this." He stopped and prayed, "God, my God who has made me. You know that I do the best that I can and that I use the best judgment possible. I know that it isn't supposed to be this way. Why is it so messed up? How can I fix what is broken? My son is so sure that this Jesus is your son and that his way is right. How can I just do good to evil people? That isn't right. But I know that I will have to give an answer for what I do and I cannot deny what my son has done in not retaliating against me. WHY DO I FEEL SO HORRIBLE?!?! HE IS SUPPOSED TO RESPECT ME!" The father, dropped and began to sob. He spoke through the tears "God, I can't do it."
The end of the point Jesus spoke:
We must, if we are to be disciples of Jesus, truly forsake all of our own understanding of how we will get to God or any of our own resources that we have. All of our false religion must be denied and replaced with a humility that we follow Jesus without question as one of his disciples obeying all he commands or else we simply cannot be his disciple. Our ideas will not get us there.
Illustration: The man, the son, walked out of the store holding his groceries in hand. As he placed them in the back seat of his car, he looked through to the other side and saw his father sitting quietly. He stopped for a moment gazing upon his father who was clutching a small book in his hand. His father looked up with tears streaming down his face into the bruised face of his son. It was all he could do to muster the broken words unto his son. "I want what you have son." Silence overtook the air as they sat there.
The conclusion of the matter, Jesus speaks:
We will all be faced with challenges to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as being the way, the truth and the life. If we continue to believe on him and obey his words of eternal life, then others will either join us or kill us. Both of them glorifying God. If we truly are the salt of the world who defeat evil with good as we rely upon the Lord to guide us home down the path that he has cut out for us. Teaching us that only by making him and his way preferred over all and forsaking any of our own resources, we can have victory. In this life we will have to take others sin upon us if we are to win them to Christ. We must not only tell them the way but show them by actually following the Christ we claim to love. Otherwise in the end of things we will be good for nothing, but cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
May the Lord God bless this message and impress upon your heart the lost who are around you. May he cause you to decide to get off the fence and become a true disciple who goes out into a wicked world with the intention of being both salt and light to a perverse and froward generation. Building up your brothers and sisters in Christ, while shining a beacon of light to those elect who are still wandering about in darkness.
In Jesus Name,
Gary
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold 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, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Prayer: Dear Lord God of heaven and earth, we come before you and sit in awe of your written word, which is a light unto our feet. We consider the selection of scripture here today and ask that you will reveal the truth of it unto us your children, that every man may be edified by your grace and truth which are in Jesus your Son. Please have mercy on those who have yet to receive your words and open the eyes of the blind that they may see. Call still others unto repentance unto you using your goodness which leads men to repentance. I pray for those who believe, Lord God, that they may strive to be righteous before you by the example of your righteousness manifest in the flesh as our Lord Jesus Christ. May those who have ears to hear, hear your message. In the blessed name of our Lord and Savior you have given unto us, the mediator of the new covenant. Amen.
Due to the gracious words of Jesus that were confirmed by his miracles of feeding and healing, he had amassed many followers. At this particular time he turned to them to give them understanding of what it takes to be an actual disciple of his. His first point:
- If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus spoke a simple truth that his disciples (students who were learning how to gain eternal life through him) must without exception prefer him above all family and whatever life they had up to this point or they could not be his disciple. He was explaining a simple choice that set the order by which his disciples would choose to do things.
If a mother or father spoke against his teachings the true disciple would choose Jesus. Same with brothers or sisters or even his own children. Always choose Jesus and his teaching over all.
Illustration: A man, who was a disciple of Jesus, had a father who came home from work one day while the man was visiting his mother. The father began to complain about his boss and all of the things that were stressing him about his job. He turned to the man (his son) and said "I think I will go in to work tomorrow and give my boss what he deserves! A half days work. I am tired of him pushing me around and I have the power to do something about it." The son thought for a moment before speaking and said "Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and do good to them that hate us." His father beheld him in displeasure and said "Your Jesus is a wimp who doesn't know how to deal with a man like my boss.". The son lowered his head and said, "father, I understand that you don't believe and I truly wish that you did. But I must follow Jesus as I know that he is the Son of God who has the words of eternal life.". His fathers anger deepened and he stood up and with a brisk tone and barked, "Son, if you think your Jesus knows better than me, then you can leave here and go follow him, but in my house, I am the one who knows best!". The man, who was his son, arose from his seat quietly and walked to the door. He turned to his father and spoke these words in a gentle voice, "May God have mercy upon you and call you unto Jesus, granting you repentance from your sin and an acknowledging of the truth that you are not God". And as the door closed gently behind him he could hear his father fall into a rage, exploding with anger. The man simply walked away to follow Jesus.
His second point:
- And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
The cross that Jesus bore was for the sin of the world. Every disciple who comes after Jesus must take up his own cross bearing the sins of those around him that they may be brought to Christ.
Illustration: The man walking down the street, who had just left his fathers home to prefer Jesus over his father, came to a intersection of a four way stop. Looking up unto heaven, he prayed "Lord God please forgive my father and grant him repentance toward you, that he may become a disciple of Jesus and live". A moment later he heard the scuff of a boot on the walk behind him. Turning around he came face to face with his father. No words were exchanged. Just a blow to the face by the back of his fathers hand. He fell to the ground. His father spoke back to him in a low growl, "I suggest you not get up unless you are ready to respect me." The man stood on his feet and faced his father. As his gaze came to meet his fathers eyes he softly spoke these words, "Jesus is Lord over all." Again, he was struck and hit the ground. He could hear the boots of his father as he walked away furious.
Continuing his point Jesus spoke:
- For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Well known in Israel was the story of the tower of Babel and the men who wished to disobey God and escape his wrath. Having been told to go out to the ends of the world, they chose to disobey and build a city instead with a tower whose top may reach unto heaven. They would accomplish the task of salvation on their own apart from God. They did not possess the resources necessary to finish it and after confusing their speech they were scattered abroad and forced to fulfill the will of God.
Illustration: Upon leaving the man, his son, lying on the ground the father went back to his home unable to comprehend what had just happened. As he entered the house, his wife was sitting in the living room sobbing in grief. Touched, the father spoke "I can't just allow him to bring his religion and force it upon me like that. It is wrong. God would not do that to anyone.". His wife drying her eyes and gaining composure asked, "How was he forcing it upon you?". "He knows that I have my own way to God and do not need any mythical Jesus shoved down my throat. All I need to do is live a decent life. We all know right from wrong.". His wife considered his words and lowered her head and spoke softly, "Does your way include a way to make right the wrong that you have done in your life? Is your God righteous?". These words hit the father hard and he was pricked to the core. He walked away embarrassed and confused. Spending time alone in his shop working on a lawn mower he thought about those words. "How do I make right the wrongs? There must be justice, right?", The thoughts consumed him and he had no answer.
Continuing his Point Jesus said:
- Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
We all have to consider our resources wisely. Knowing that there is one who is greater than us, who is God, we must consider the day of reckoning when we will have to come up against him and face him to his face.
Illustration: The next morning the father awoke in a deep sweat. He had been having night terrors all night, dreaming of meat grinders eating his flesh slowly grinding him to bits. He arose, showered and decided to go for a walk. At the end of the street before the intersection he stopped and looked about. His gaze fell to the ground as he saw the small stains of blood that fell from his sons nose and mouth the day before. The words filled his mind, "I must be able to pay for this." He stopped and prayed, "God, my God who has made me. You know that I do the best that I can and that I use the best judgment possible. I know that it isn't supposed to be this way. Why is it so messed up? How can I fix what is broken? My son is so sure that this Jesus is your son and that his way is right. How can I just do good to evil people? That isn't right. But I know that I will have to give an answer for what I do and I cannot deny what my son has done in not retaliating against me. WHY DO I FEEL SO HORRIBLE?!?! HE IS SUPPOSED TO RESPECT ME!" The father, dropped and began to sob. He spoke through the tears "God, I can't do it."
The end of the point Jesus spoke:
- So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
We must, if we are to be disciples of Jesus, truly forsake all of our own understanding of how we will get to God or any of our own resources that we have. All of our false religion must be denied and replaced with a humility that we follow Jesus without question as one of his disciples obeying all he commands or else we simply cannot be his disciple. Our ideas will not get us there.
Illustration: The man, the son, walked out of the store holding his groceries in hand. As he placed them in the back seat of his car, he looked through to the other side and saw his father sitting quietly. He stopped for a moment gazing upon his father who was clutching a small book in his hand. His father looked up with tears streaming down his face into the bruised face of his son. It was all he could do to muster the broken words unto his son. "I want what you have son." Silence overtook the air as they sat there.
The conclusion of the matter, Jesus speaks:
- Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
We will all be faced with challenges to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as being the way, the truth and the life. If we continue to believe on him and obey his words of eternal life, then others will either join us or kill us. Both of them glorifying God. If we truly are the salt of the world who defeat evil with good as we rely upon the Lord to guide us home down the path that he has cut out for us. Teaching us that only by making him and his way preferred over all and forsaking any of our own resources, we can have victory. In this life we will have to take others sin upon us if we are to win them to Christ. We must not only tell them the way but show them by actually following the Christ we claim to love. Otherwise in the end of things we will be good for nothing, but cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
May the Lord God bless this message and impress upon your heart the lost who are around you. May he cause you to decide to get off the fence and become a true disciple who goes out into a wicked world with the intention of being both salt and light to a perverse and froward generation. Building up your brothers and sisters in Christ, while shining a beacon of light to those elect who are still wandering about in darkness.
In Jesus Name,
Gary
