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June 19, 2012 11:45 am
Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partners, please visit us online@harvest.org solicitor Bible started two passages Matthew chapter 28 Luke chapter 14 yeah one of these fancy Bibles like I have your more than one ribbon so I'm gonna put the practice here. Matthew 28 Luke 14 where the theories that were calling what every growing Christian needs to know and this is part four of a four-part series. Matthew 28 Luke 14 Hrudey.
Let's pray together now. Father, we all want to grow spiritually and we want to live lives that bring glory to your name. So would you speak to us now as we open your word and help us to not just here but Lord help us to do it. We commit this time of Bible study to you now in Jesus name, amen. Okay.
Quick call. How many of you here consider yourself to be a Christian reason. You're a Christian. Okay good. How many of you here consider yourself to be a growing Christian raise every hand even better. All right one last question. How many of you consider yourself to be a disciple of Jesus Christ raise up your hand.
Interesting that all of you raise your hand at probably because you thought this is a loaded question is that it is and it isn't an II really want to talk about the final step in what every growing Christian needs to know. We have effectively been looking at Christianity 101. The basic things that every believer needs to know if the indeed want to grow spiritually things ineffective for a new or a baby believer now.
The problem is, is when someone is known the Lord for years and they still at like a baby believer. Babies are really cute hard thing.
I love babies.
I have a four grandchildren, four granddaughters and I have a new grandchild on the way happens to be a grandson.
My first grandson were very excited, leave the pink island. The toy store and go back to the blue I'll again the aisles. I understand it was never hard for me to buy toys for my boys. I just basically bought things that I like the leasing the like them to. It's taken me a while to figure out the whole princess tiara glitter thing with girls but I'm gonna get it wired. At this point, but you know it's fun when the gun shop or a baby and onto the what the hardware they make for babies today is so much cooler than it was when we had our boys. They have all this really high-tech stuff, but I wanted this baby store the other day and it was like the seat you put them in Minnesota moved around have a little engine and the baby sorta suspended and I said Kathy, let's get that great, let's go and see. She wants to buy blankets and lame stuff like that and I'm still fascinated by the moving baby seated though but it's fun to get all these little things for babies and help them along in the watch them in their growth process. At first they don't do a whole lot to know they're just completely dependent on mom but they get a little bit older and now they move from being nursed to maybe a little bit of baby food and then after a while you can start shopping the food of very small and feed it to them, but you have to keep them interested in you know make airplane noises with the forget all that. Okay that's all fine, but it's not fine when there 13 and you thought to make airplane noises like icing on my granddaughters take a monster bite, which means let's leave we been here long enough take to monster bites, which means big bites of food and I bribe them with ice cream and other things that ring the meal to a close, but you want to teach a child to grow up you want to teach a child to eat adult food eventually want to teach a child to be a young adult and then to cook for themselves and take care of themselves. That's part of growing up with a promise we are believers today have known the Lord for 10, 15, 20 years and are still like a little baby. They need everything chopped up a little pieces for them.
Everything is to be entertaining everything has to be finally can go to long. Don't bore the little baby a short attention span and it is time for a folder grow up and be mature men and women of God, not skewing the baby does a baby thing. We have a granddaughter Allie was six and then we have another granddaughter, Susie O'Reilly, who sits in an alley whose got 19 months now and we have this little pink piano in our family room really small little thing is so Riley was playing at the other day and an alley.
You know suddenly wanted to play because Riley was on it and so she went up and got up on the seat next door and starts pushing her off and the funny thing is, she succeeded and took it over bang bang bang that's really cute even though it's kind of naughty. It's cute as a babies doing not to do that when you're in your 30s.
If I kill it through theirs of the Bible says Hebrews 603 let's stop going over the basics of Christianity. Again and again but instead grow up and become mature and are under standing lesson. The Christian life is more than simply praying a prayer and getting fire insurance, and so to speak it's following Jesus not only as your Savior, but also as your Lord not only as a friend but also as your God. Some don't seem to get that Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 God is given us pastor teachers, evangelists, and others to help us mature and be equipped for the work of ministry, and he says from a modern translation.
No prolonged intensities among us. Please will not tolerate babes in the woods. Small children were an easy mark for imposters. God wants us to grow up to know the whole truth and tell it in love like Christ and everything.
I like that phrase. No prolonged intensities. Some believers are stunted in their growth. So it's time to grow up. I hurled that a lot when I was in school. Greg Lori would you just grow up. Okay, so what we need to grow up spiritually number one as we noted, if you want to be a growing Christian needs to read, study and love the word of God. Yet, if you want to be a growing Christian, you need to read study Lovin and memorize. I would even out the word of God.
Paul told Timothy to study to show himself approved on the God, a workman. This is not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Joshua 18 says this book of the laws are not apart from your mouth, meditate in it day and night. Observe all that is written in it and you will have good success of this success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the word of God you get into your life on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.
Number two, you want to be a growing Christian you must have a vibrant prayer life, not just a prayer before your meal in a now in the knee down to sleep. Prayer you must be spending time in the presence of God listening to the Lord speaking to the Lord. This is why the Bible says that we should pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God, Jesus Christ, concerning any rights will gradebook when you pray without ceasing. I have a job you know I have to do things I can walk around praying all day will understand. Prayer is not just folding your hands in closing your eyes, prayers, prayers, meaning God's presence.
I love how the Scripture says that Elijah walked in the court of King Ahab and said of the Lord God lived before whom I stand, so in other words, Elijah recognize wherever he went. He was effectively in God's presence.
That's prayer number three if you want to be a growing Christian you must be actively involved in the church, a member shortly after I came to faith. I thought it was going to be a solo Christian and that was because I was a little uncomfortable with the Christians right after I was converted. They seemed a little crazy to me a little too intense. But then again I didn't want to hang around my old nonbelieving friends either try the Lodge asserted do this all on my own but I quickly discovered I needed Christian fellowship and we all do Bible says in the book of Hebrews.
Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhort one another, and so much more as you see the day of the Lord approaching and now that brings us to our fourth and final point to be a growing Christian, I must take the next step and be a disciple. Why does it even matter if I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. What is that even me. Well, it's because Jesus told me to do what going to wall the world and make what disciple with the second. How can I make one if I'm not one myself. It takes one to make one so first step to know what a disciple is so I can then in turn, go and make other disciples bullets come back now to the great commission. That's our first text Matthew 28 then the 11 disciples went away in the Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus appointed for them when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. Jesus came and spoke to them saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and learner. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you below. I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We call that the great commission. So what is Jesus told us to do. Go go where going to wall the world go into what going to wall the world and preach the gospel now there's two things are in the original language and we need to understand number one it's a command so Jesus was nothing he guys if you can work it out your busy schedules. Would you mind is a personal favor to me to please do. The essence of noise as to say hello. I'm in charge of you.
You've submitted your life to me. I'm ordering you now to going to wall the world. This is a command number two. These words are given to every follower of Jesus for young and old, men and women for new believers in older believers is not the great suggestion. It's the great commission. The commission of the church is not to wait for the world to show up. The commission of the churches to go to the world and every follower of Jesus should be doing this so is my question for you right now are you doing this if I am his disciple. I am commanded to go and make disciples of other if I am not making disciples of others, and I'm not really being the disciple he wants me to be so are you doing your part to fulfill the great commission.
No some of you might be thinking our brother another message on evangelism by Craig and me.
Come on, we've heard this before and you you have I know I preached it before but I make no apology for the fact that I'm called to be an evangelist as well is a pastor but this isn't about me preaching a message on evangelism. This is about what Jesus said this is ineffective.
Final will and testament, if you will of these were the last words of Christ gave before he ascended, Jesus is been crucified at this point he's resurrected again from the dead. Number four is essentially heavily says guys here's the last thing I want to leave with all of you know, obviously this is a big deal to him as someone on their deathbed gave their final word would you pay attention. I hope so.
If they wrote down their last wishes and there will would you take the time to read the fine print I think so will this is the message of Christ to each of us but yet how many of us are actually doing it. Let me say something you might even find a big controversy, but I think it's true. If you are not seeking to fulfill the great commission. It can actually be a sin, I said now you're going too far. Bald one way for so please don't call me bald one that's really offensive. No, but I don't think I am going to fall because there are different kinds of sin identified in the Bible there are the sins of commission in the sins of commission of omission attentive commission is doing what you should not do it so doing the wrong thing. A sin of omission is not doing what you should do but to my that's okay I get that I should do it more but but I don't know why it would be a sin where the Bible says in James 417.
To him than those to do good and does not do it to him. It is said, let me illustrate, let's say you're in a building and the fire alarm went off and the fire was was filling the building and you were able to get to the exit quickly, but then you just happen to know that there was someone on the second floor that may be fallen asleep or they were unable to get out of that room or whatever it was they were unaware of the fact that the house was on fire and then you just walked away.
You never alerted anyone you never made any effort to save them. You just walked away because after all, your safe right seat without the wrong that would actually be criminal negligence really Harlow, let's say you're a doctor, in any wrote a series of tests on a person and you determined that they have cancer, but you know they were just get ready to go on a vacation you want a rectification was a distant of awkward to tell someone they have cancer, you know that it might not be a happy moment, so you decide in the entrance of keeping things happy in light did not tell it is, is not appropriate you're a doctor, you have a responsibility to tell them the truth about their medical condition and hopefully have a course of treatment for them. So in the same way I would even say in a greater way here. I know that Jesus Christ is the answer right. I know Jesus Christ can forgive sin not. I know we can change alive because he changed mine and I need somebody and they need God and even asked me for spiritual but I don't give them the answer that could be spiritual negligence for many, the great commission is become the great omission survey show that 95% of Christians have never led another person to cry Yama Greg, I'm not gifted to be an evangelist, but wait a second. Every Christian is been called to of been July marks gospel we have a variation on the great commission Mark 1615. He says going to all the world and preach the gospel so I'm to make disciples, but I'm to preach the gospel noticed Jesus did not say going to all the world and live as good example. Now I'm not suggesting you go out and live as a bad example far better to be a good example in an effective turn to the right to preach the gospel but the great commission is not to just live a good life or try to reflect the moral standards that you find in the Bible know it's to specifically preach the gospel wife. How do people primarily come to faith in Jesus, they come to faith because someone shared the gospel know when I see preach the gospel doesn't mean you have to yell, you can speak conversationally and share the gospel like that you can type it up in an email. You can post it on your Facebook page you can put it in a letter there's a lot of ways you can convey up but here's my point. The primary way that God reached was reaches laws people is the verbal communication of the gospel that the Bible even tells us over in the book of Romans. How will they care unless someone tells them what am I to say the gospel means good news because some people subliminally into the whole sharing the gospel thing I believe of lifestyle evangelism, by that I mean I don't tell people about God. I just live a good life and I'm a good person. I worked very hard and I believe the look at my example, one day come up to me and asked how to become a Christian. That's a nice theory it's a pleasant fiction, but it's just not accurate. That would be like turning on the news at night and then newscaster didn't give you the news they just live the good life hi everybody I'm living a good life. What's wrong with you what's going on tomorrow give me some you in the same way. This is a broadcasting of the message of Dr. word broadcasts comes from a word that means to so see. So were sowing seed were broadcasting it to the world and our message is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now maybe it would help to personalize this. Let's change one word instead of the let's put in your go into all of your world and preach the gospel go into your neighborhood, go into your family, go into your campus, go into your workplace, go into your sphere of influence, and preach the gospel reach the people you can now here's a shift.
Let's not miss this, I proclaim Christ, but then verse 20 says teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you to hear my marching order your marching orders to share the message of the gospel to invite people to believe in Jesus and when they do listen, they will they will. If you'll ask them. I think the problem a lot of his habits.
We just never want to close the deal whenever want to ask the big question you want to accept Jesus right now were afraid to say no.
Maybe were more afraid, though, say yes. What I do now. Now you fulfill the great commission. What is a great commission if they go preach the gospel and it's to make disciples of all nations, you say, but I don't know what that means. Jesus defined it for you teaching them to observe all things that I am commanded you the full concept of going into the world and making disciples listen is to share your faith lead people to Christ and of the best of your ability help them mature spiritually, then your to go out and repeat the process. You know, wash wit, rinse, repeat.
Right. And so it's like preach disciple repeat preach disciple repeat do it over and over and over.
I'm done with this one person kind of working with them there on their preferred sleep go find a new person work with then get them on their feet spiritually do it again and again and again. Colossians 128 says we proclaim Christ we warn everyone we meet we teach everyone we can all that we know about them so we can bring every man who was full maturity. Somewhere along the line we separated evangelism from disciples and we preach the gospel but we don't disciple we don't get people on their feet. The two are together. Here's an example from the Bible.
While remember the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, one of the most notorious nonbelievers ever hunting down Christians and murdering them torturing them imprisoning that but yet he comes and meets the risen Lord of the Damascus road his conversion was so expect unexpected. A lot of people didn't think it was true. So the Lord spoke to a man a man and I a Christian that I want you to go visit Saul. He's your brother. Now the Lord and knees in prayer. Ananias, after some initial resistance obey and found Saul and prayed for him and took the time to encourage him. Then God brought another man into Saul's life. He later changed his name to Paul.
Of course that Mensing was Barnabas and introduce Paul to the apostles and bounced for years. Conversion to a lot of people want to be an apostle Paul, but will anybody please be Ananias or of Barnabas you know someone that will work behind the scenes.
I mean, you may not be the next Billy Graham, but you may be the next person that helps to nurture the next Billy Graham that young man that young woman you taken under your wing and you love them in the Lord that came from a broken home, and you show what Christian family looks like and what Christian woman looks like or that guy out there that has no friends and you make him your friend and bring them into your group. You, you don't know what God can do in the life of that person discipling a person is not just talking to them about Jesus as being a friend of them. That's what a lot of people need. They need a friend. For instance, we got this start Bible here you see these around.
If you see somebody walking around of the start Bible.
It's a clue what you think it means there too cheap to buy a bottle wanted everyone could be, but probably what it means is there a new believer and they were given this Bible the pretty easy to spot our thing red with a white arrow C-note you should do when you see one of these people to walk up tenancy. I see how the start Bible did you recently make a commitment to Christ. Yes yes I did that and sent test with turning hey listen you know anybody here know I'm just here was my second and young people want to come with me.
I want to introduce you to some of my Christian friend that wanted to sit with me in the service okay and afterwards really got to get a biologic weather to come with us in the water and over aluminum come on man, we want you to come with us and you encourage that person. That's what I needed. Here's a funny thing. II talked about most people come to Christ because a friend brought them the church will my conversion broke all the rules I wasn't brought to a meeting.
I wondered in kind of accidentally but really being directed by God on my own, not in the church but I my high school campus and there was no one there with me and I'll try prayed and accepted Christ. There was no one to give me a Bible.
There was no one to talk to me. I was just kinda left high and dry.
And you know what if someone had not come to me quickly I might have been another one of those statistics of a person that didn't make it but thank God, a guy named Mark saw that I came to Christ that day and he walked up to me and very persistently said you're going to church with me.
I was a resisted at first, but he won me over, and he ended up helping me get grounded in the faith. That's what discipling is. Let me say one more thing about this why you should be a disciple and disciple others.
It's because you need a new believer as much as a new believer needs you that make sense if either comes a point in your spiritual life. When you this is got some really crazy, but I'm a stateless and one thing there can come a point in your spiritual life would you actually don't need to go to more Bible study and you don't need to pray more and you don't need to you to spend more time in church, not don't misunderstand what I'm saying is effectively in the series and emphasizing those things.
But you see money compared to some it be like a person that only eats and never exercise so you're taking part of the Bible study okay worship the Lord will keep rates go to another Bible study which of the Lord breaks go to at least stop what this is great. It's great.
You are blessed to be a blessing. Don't horn your blessings because a jury. The people of the like, live like a grown man. No, I'm too busy worshiping God. I hope you know that I'm not advocating studying your Bible less brainless when the church was.
I hope you understand what I'm saying is this balance and you need an outlet for the truth that is coming into your life.
To maintain input without output is hazardous to your spiritual growth and progress and repeat that lesson to maintain input without output is actually hazardous to our spiritual growth and progress. The same thing was happening to God's people in Isaiah's day, they were praying and fasting outwardly doing all the right things. God said you know what your problem is loose paraphrase your way too focused on yourself and you never think of others. So here's what God says they needed to do to get out of that state of spiritual dryness and be refreshed. He said on Isaiah 58 verse eight. You will do these things.
Thinking of others reaching out to others, helping others, God says your salvation will come like the Don, your wounds will quickly heal Lord will guide you continually give you water when you are drawing the restore your strength. You'll be like a well watered garden, I can ever flowing spring, so you need one. I need a new believer because they energize what is a new believer need an older believer because we stabilize see new believers get crazy stuff in their heads. They don't know what to do yet, but you need that excitement. You need that passion. I can compared to going to Disneyland with adults or kids did Dragon go to Disneyland with adults because they complain about everything. Starting with how much it costs.
And I might add, justifiably so. You know, he walked in there and you and you know pay the admission.
I went in the other a while back and buy a day of pass the cheapest pass was about the same price as the date that so I bought it new.
How many times I've used it since then. Zero worked out pretty well for Disney not be but so you know you pay the admission price, which is quite high and anyone with adults and young adults are want to do the stuff kids wanted new kids are like bullets go up finally put the little girl they want to go to the sleeping beauty Castle would be made up like a set sort you're one of my granddaughter. They want to ride the teacup you know. But for your little bit older, you want to go maybe on the Matterhorn of the roller coaster over in California adventure. Or maybe the the twilight zone Tower of terror.
Whatever you know it, so it depends on you are but you go you would enjoy your excited. That's her kids to adults are like to be where you want to eat. He had to. So you go.
We guided the food was good. Then he walked around and Wayne was a lot better when Walt was here. You sound a little apartment right above the fire station, Walt Disney right there where you take a nap in this place and they have now plans and no need to going awry. You complain. First, any line for so long they will get the wires go with a kid will make all the different some of us just need a new believer in our life. Someone to just say would assist me with. I've kind of forgotten most time to read again the can ask you things that you don't know the answers to keep you on your toes spiritually going to wall the world. Jesus says and make disciples of all nations. Here's the bottom line we need to serve more and sometimes we take can we take can we take it we need to serve. I would tell you some if you're new to harvest. Here's part of our DNA were really into studying the Bible and think you know that were really into worshiping the Lord were really into sharing our faith and were really into serving were not into sitting around and stopping you so full that we are per roll you out when you're done were were teaching you things so you can put them in the practice and develop your gifts and start serving God and you're going to hear things around here like hey, everybody has a gift, develop your gift and start using it and be a part of what God is doing.
You're going to hear things like stopping the spectator and joined the team in be involved in. When you start seeing church. That way it'll change for you see, so we must go and disciple all nations so back to an earlier question, are you his disciple is a set already. It takes one to make monthly monthly well of course is not in interchangeable word with Christian not so unnecessary.
Listen to this, every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily disciple that make sense, every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily disciple brings us to our next passage. The 14th.
These are the words of Jesus to an adoring throng. You see, Jesus is getting pretty popular at this point in his ministry.
The crowds were swelling's popularity was exploding. His name was on everyone's lives. Jesus. Jesus and why because, well, hey, he healed the sick. He raise the dead. He provided free lunch. And best of all, he rebuked those self righteous religious hypocrites that kept everyone under their thumb. They loved but then Jesus was noticing they weren't really paying attention.
There were responding to certain aspects of his message and ignoring other so the Lord feels it's time to lay down for the motor really means to be a disciple with 14 verse 26 if anyone continue or if anyone comes to me does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sister just in his own life he cannot be my disciple. 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 account, the cost where there is whether he has enough to finish it last. After you have laid the foundation again finish, all who see it will begin the month him saying all this may begin to build and was not able to finish what King going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000 or else while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever you view it is not for see all that he has cannot be my disciple. While these are some of the most Solomon searching words that ever fell from the lips of Jesus three times in the short passage, Jesus says if you do not do these things you cannot be his disciple. What are the number one if you don't hate your father, mother, wife and children.
Verse 26. If you don't dare your cross verse 27 and if you don't forsake all that you have verse 33. You cannot be his disciple. With these words directed to fair weather followers the Lord a lot of fair weather followers is like some of us may have some fair weather friend in order. Fair weather friend is at the person that stands by you when you do something for them. It's been put this way of friend walks in when everyone else walks so maybe you think you have a lot of friends are really popular route. You know you are but what about when crisis hits. What about when hardship hits were your friends.
Now a lot of people don't want to read around someone who's heard a lot of people don't want to be around someone who's in pain so they stand in the distance, but the true friend walks right in their they put their arm around you. They say I love you I'm here with you, Jesus had a lot of fair weather followers feel kind of fickle kind of into it because it was a popular thing so it's and I want you guys to really think about this you really want to follow me and you want to follow me as my disciple number one, the disciple must love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. The disciple must love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. Verse 26 anyone comes after me does not hate his father, mother, wife, brothers, sisters, children, and yes, his own life he cannot be be my disciple. I know that sounds insane. So let me explain it to you because you might be asking God wants me to keep my family members. Actually, this is good because I do hate my family know that somebody sitting because it doesn't fit with other passages of Scripture. Certainly he would not command us to honor our father and mother and then demand that we hate them or command husbands to love their wives and then say going to hate the overview think even told us to love our enemies. So what is this me well let's put it another way, your love for God to be so strong, so intense that all other laws would be like hatred and compares. Let me explain it, even another way, if you really want to be a disciple of Jesus you must love him more than anyone or anything. Do you then means you love God more than your career or you love God more than your stuff or possessions you love God even more than your friends you love God even more in your family, so mostly families number one most important his family well family very important. Listen paren God's number one God's number one and the fact of the matter is if you love God with all of your heart, your soul in your mind. You'll be a better husband. And if you love God with all of your heart, soul and mind will be a better wife and you'll be a better father, and you'll be a better mother but if you love your family and elevate them to a place they do not belong and actually make them into idols. It can be a problem in either list anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life doesn't have to be a golden image of God down before it can be a person prisons or minor person says well you know I lie love God, but you know my wife doesn't want me to go to church on Sunday so will I love her so much.
I guess I will gonna go to church tell you why she had to come to pray for her when you're in church. Don't put her on some pedestal which he keeps you from your relationship with Jesus Christ Way to show your love would be love God more and stand on principle, but sometimes we will let these things happen in and will get things out of fright, out of whack, so Jesus needs to be number one. There's a story in Luke nine guy that Jesus called Jesus and follow me. Guys are limiting first go bury my father and mother. Jesus said, let the dead bury the dead go preach the kingdom of God. A reason while Jesus was little Apartments was me. Come follow me on my daddies leaned on the street to the very know the scope one that someone was happening. That was the expression of the time way to my father or mother died then means that was dead. He saying effectively well.
Give me a little time Lord later. You know my parents are older, they pass away. Then I'll follow you, Florentino doing right now. I called you want to do it do it or don't do it.
It's your choice but to it now. Sometimes relationships hold us back over to become a Christian will my boyfriend think well relentlessly wonder about your boyfriend.
If you have a boyfriend that would not want you to become a Christian you/you need a new boyfriend same is true of a girlfriend over my body say when they ask you if you have friends that would oppose you being a follower of Jesus. You need some new friend. Okay because you need to make it suggest what when I became a Christian all of my friends were no longer my friends. They quickly turned on me and mocked me and made a joke out of what I had just done so, you find a lot of things when you really become a follower of Jesus. Number two.
Disciple must deny himself and take up the cross and follow Jesus. Verse 27 Jesus says whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Also, in Luke's gospel. He says in Luke nine if anyone desires to come after me, be my disciple and a deny himself, listen and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will seek to save his life will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake you'll save it now.
Some of the reasons they are not.
The Christian life sounds all that appealing. What where taking of crosses losing your lie. I doesn't sound like any fun with Jesus just said.
He said if you lose your life you'll find this a very opposite of what you might think. They don't know the Christian life and restrictive at the Dragon frozen regulators out here in the world. This is all the fun is this is Raleigh.
Add to this actually very opposite of that out there in the world where there are no rules you start reaping the consequences of your stupid actions in here following the Lord were, yes, there are boundaries and parameters for our own protection. You find life at its fullest.
But you have to lose your life to find it.
What is that even me popular expression is people's I need to find myself the smack someone when they say please never say that I reviewed was ill and I'm getting out of my marriage while you been married like what 22. As you know why I need to find myself shot really. Can you come up with some a little more original than that.
Find yourself there's a Jesus as you want to find yourself lose yourself you want to find life purpose and personal happiness, then lose yourself is that doesn't make sense. Okay, let me illustrate. There's what you do become the godly sale to God hears my life. By the way that you gave to me and hear my plans. Here are my dreams.
Here are my hopes care of my aspirations, I present them to you if they're pleasing to you and I pray that you'll have it all take place warning if it's not pleasing to you. I pray that you won't do what I want because you know better than I know Lord, I want your will more than my own. He says if you really want to find life, you will lose your life so people will say well I don't understand how this works you just presented to the Lord and watch what he will do deny yourself, lose your life and you'll find life people will save you general life. Right you want to get alive. Jesus says and you seriously need to lose your lifetime, so not understanding read what is this all mean look at verse 33. He explains it. If you do not forsake all that you have. You cannot be my disciple. Okay, so now Jesus is saying, take a bow of poverty right. Some people say will you know Jesus said give up all your possessions and follow me said that to the rich and really I set it to that guy one time only you know I set it to that guy is like I was ruled by his stuff and Jesus could see that being God might've said something else to another person, is that the one guy on one occasion, will doesn't he say here that you are to give up everything that you have guess, but let's understand from the original language you better be translated surrender your claim to say goodbye to doesn't mean you think about poverty means that you recognize everything that you have this come from God and you're not possessed by your possession. I know some people that have a lot of stuff that are not possessed by their stuff and I know some people that don't have as much stuff that are far more possessed by their stuff or their desire to get more stuff here is that the Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
And some of coveted after it aired from the fate and precursor cells themselves through with many sorrows. It doesn't say money is a root of all evil is the love of it is that sometimes people who don't have as much as they want are obsessed with it. Here's the point. You just look at all the stuff you have, no matter how much little it's all relative really anywhere is in it is they got everyone I had you gave it to me the beat of my heart right now you gave it to me. My wife, my husband, my house, my car, my skateboard, whatever your transportation is you gave it to me, Lord.
It's all from you, Lord, I surrender my claim to. It belongs to you. I dedicated it back to you. Listen to this a true disciple should not be obsessed with things are true disciple should be obsessively want to use that word with Christ and Christ alone. So we must follow him and we must take up the cross. But what does it mean actually to take up the cross.
It means to put God's will, above your own now. Nowadays we don't fully get the idea picking up crosses but if you lived in the first century you would feel of the Jerusalem and you saw a guy walking down the street carrying the cross, surrounded by Roman guards.
You know what that meant that man's going to die a man's going to go die a humiliating public slow execution. That's what you meant. So when Jesus is taken because you got it all yeah you mean die right and so would Jesus is a you died your own desire to put God's will above your own is I still don't understand it give you some simple illustration to die to yourself and being to forgive someone instead of harboring a grudge.
Can you do that to guide yourself means you resist temptation instead of giving into it to guide yourself means you don't have sex before marriage and then your people to your spouse after to die. The yourself means that you put down the remote control and pick up the Bible to die. The yourself means that you swallow your pride and tell someone about Jesus to die.
The yourself means you do would God want you to do instead of what you want to do get it.
There's a lot of ways that we die. The worst of each and every day, put God first.
If you lose your life in that sense, you'll find it by putting God first one last point will close. We must count the cost.
Verse 28. Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost to see if he has enough to finish it.
Listen. It's not easy to be a Christian is not a committed Christian, not a growing Christian, not a disciple is not easy and I want to be straight up with you it cost to follow Jesus, or I but it costs a lot more. Not a cause a lot more not to. Especially in this day and age, Jesus told us they hated me don't hate you. That's our. If you been a popular person your whole life and then you become a Christian and you try to be loving and compassionate and helpful to people and they find out your Christian and they harass you with the give you a difficult time, or make fun of you were spread lies about you think this is a very slow sweet and nice you know yeah maybe you are, but the fact of the matter is now your a representative Jesus your red chip off the old rock and there are no effectively treat you as he treated him.
The Bible says all the live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Yes, there is a cost factor involved, but don't you think it's worth it but we don't want to do this impulsively and only go to the market and therefore those impulse purchases your old all the stuff in a buy it now you know and I goodbye these batteries and I need to buy this other thing I really know this is been invited to you knowing they they depend on you to do that. They are very intentional about what they put out the counter as you're checking out. You must have these things and so you get a bunch of things you don't really need to make an impulse purchase.
That's where they give you free credit cards, especially when you're young free credit card $10,000 limit go for a while I don't even qualify doesn't matter, we owe you for life. You just don't know it yet. So you grab it. It's almost like it's like invisible money I put in the magical garden. They walked away.
Yeah, the way do you see that stinking interest rate that accelerates if your four seconds late on your payments soon appropriate to have a 73% interest rate. Yeah you and read the fine print.
Count the cost or some people will rush in the marital we get married were so in love. I get way.
How long have you known each other a week but it's love.
So you get married when they wake up and say oh you discover marriage is like a three ring circus and engagement ring, a wedding ring and suffering.
Count the cost don't go to that old drip you don't stand a venal plan extended by those Val.
Sometimes I hear of couples you know breaking up a week before the wedding. Know what I say good good but I want to get back but you know, the fact is that rather they did that divorce a month later two years later.
Whatever it is because they rushed into it. Yes, we need to count the cost bought today what Jesus your account of the cost. When he went to the cross for us. He gave his life so we could be forgiven of our sin so we can know that will go to heaven when we got and here's what he says That all this for you.
I will give to you eternal life is a gift. There's nothing you have to do all these things is that you don't need to do this stuff to be a Christian.
Here's what you knew need to do not nude leave food out.
There is no a lot of energetic knowledge and get it out of the way. RI you knew to know to become a Christian, you needed to admit tourist center realize Jesus died on the cross for your sin turn from that sin of believing him your forget now if you've really been forgiven, and you understand what it means to be a Christian and have your sins forgiven you should want to read your Bible more about God right you should want to pray and come closer to him you should want to go to church to meet God's people and grow spiritually. You should want to be a disciple and take up your cross and follow him. And if you really realize how much he loves you.
You will want to love him more than anyone or anything of see how one blows out of the account of the cost for you when you count the cost and follow him. He died on the cross and rose again from the dead for you now will you turn from your sin and follow him on a close tonight with two invitations for seminary close with an invitation for you to believe in Jesus. If you've never asked him to come in your life and give you that hope of heaven, to give you an opportunity to ask Christ in your life and be forgiven, but I'm in to extend the second imitation. This will be an invitation for Christian to be disciples because I think there are some hear that hearing, this would so you know what I am a Christian. I do believe in Jesus but I have not been a disciple it's been all about me and I'm expecting God to do what I want him to do and I expect the world kind of revolve around me and I realize now that's wrong and I want to love him more than I love myself and I want to put him first memory to take up the cross that will be an invitation for Christians in just a couple of moments with let's give an opportunity for those of you that need to believe in Jesus right now. Okay, it's of our heads and pray. If you would please father, thank you for your word to us tonight.
Thank you for your love for us in sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place. I pray for any person that is joined this right now who does not yet know you who does not have that assurance that their sin is forgiven.
Who does not know with certainty that they will go to heaven when they die. Lord, would you help them to believe in Jesus.
Now help them become due and receive your forgiveness we would ask what I heads of God and our eyes are closed and were praying. How many of you would say tonight.
Greg pray for me. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus. I want him to come in the my life.
I want him to forgive me of my sin. I want to go to heaven when I die. Pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus Christ to come in your life forgive you of your sin.
Would you stand your feet right now and I mentally Juniper. You want Christ to come of your life you want his forgiveness you want to go to heaven.
Stand your feet publish the standup stand your feet wherever you are you not doing when others are standing right now so you will be allowed to stand up. You know who you are, you know, this is your night to get right with God stand up and let me lead you in a prayer of commitment to Jesus.
What else stand now, bless you want to be ready for his return publishes maybe your prodigal son or daughter and you want to come back to him again tonight you stand, as well. Let me lead you in this prayer anybody else publish to stand up publishing to stand up wherever you are. The spread publishing to write their publishes are in the back one final moment of forgiveness stand. Stand now, please stand up and I'll lead you in this prayer of commitment to Jesus, bless you. All right all of you that are standing. I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me just pray this after me right where you stand, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for me and rising again from the dead. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward in my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend. Thank you for calling me and accepting Jesus name. What I had just about Naaman asked for another response. I'm in asked for Christians who have heard this message tonight that would recognize they're not disciples. They're not taking up the cross, they are not loving God more than anyone or anything else they want to be a disciple and then want to go and make disciples of others. If you want to be a disciple stand your feet right now Nelly Juniper standup standup. Don't be ashamed. I think it's a wonderful thing if you're standing, no assume if you're sitting you already are a disciple you just don't want to become one that's between you and God. If you need to make this commitment stand on the lead you in this prayer felicitous from allegiant is a serious prayer.
I want to prate if you don't mean it count the cost. As I said anybody else stand up now lead you in a prayer we are asking the Lord to make you a disciple. One final moment anybody else stand now you want to be his disciple.
All right all of you in understanding pray this prayer out loud after me, Lord Jesus you've told me to go into all the world and make disciples of others. But it takes one to make one.
I want to be your disciple. I want to love you more than anything else.
I wanted take up the cross, and follow you. I have counted the cost and I choose to be your disciple tonight. Use me for your glory. Help me disciple others give me a boldness to share the gospel empower me with the Holy Spirit and use me for your glory. I pray in Jesus name I ask it, amen. God bless all of you there. Pray that for