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Luke 14v25-33 Consider the cost of following Jesus.
The Cost of following Jesus.
The cost of choosing to give up control of your life to Jesus instead of Self.
· Is knowing God worth becoming his servant or slave?
· Is following Jesus worth giving up your independence to become his disciple?
· Winston Churchill said “We will fight on the beaches, we will never surrender!” Was a free Britain worth the cost of fighting on the beaches and in the sky?
· Is that sometimes what we say to the Holy Spirit?
Jesus is asking the people to follow him, but it would not be a Sunday picnic in the park, instead following Jesus would be willing to give up Self, and all that involves daily through self interest, in order to commit yourself to Jesus and be his disciple. Obedient to him, not self. John 14v15, 23. This total cost of following is like dieing to self (on the cross), so that ‘Christ may live’ within you. “He who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who is willing to lose his life for me will find it.” Matt 16v24-25.
We cannot serve two masters, (Matt 6v24) Self and Jesus. One has to submit to the other!
But of course Jesus will not submit to Self, neither will God submit to money.
Have you submitted your life to Christ or are you still trying to get Christ to submit to you?
Is He Lord of your life, or are you?
Paul talks about the tug of war he experiences in his life between self/sin and the Spirit. Romans 7v7-8v17. This constant desire to please self rather than the Spirit, needs to be won daily by self denial, (Being willing to put Self on the cross) so that the Spirit may live within you. This is not a one off battle and victory, but a daily battle with daily victories.
Paul uses the illustration of running the race so as to win the prize. 1 Cor 9v24. Acts 20v24, Gal 2v2, 5v7, 2 Tim 4v7.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12v1.
However God offers us the Holy Spirit to live within us to help us in the battle. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is Self-control / Self discipline. Gal 5v22-23. That is why it is important to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and listen to Him. John 3v3,6.
The cost of following Jesus includes:-
· Choosing to be obedient to Christ’s teaching rather than our own will.
· Choosing which master we will serve, Self or Christ.
· Choosing to face the battle between Self and Spirit every day.
· Choosing to discipline Self in order to follow the Holy Spirit.
· Choosing to listen to the Holy Spirit instead of Self-will.
Choosing a relationship of peace and love in Christ rather than the emptiness of pleasing Self.
The Joy, Peace and Love of following Jesus and knowing God, surpasses the emptiness of Self.
Moya Lethbridge
Luke 14:25-38, Jer. 18:1-11, Philemon
Jesus had never read “How to win friends and influence people”! Gospel – large crowds, sets huge hurdles
· love me more than….and own life (14:26)
· carry cross (to die!) 14:27
· give up everything you have (14:33)
or you CANNOT be my disciple. Doesn’t he want any?
Looked up concordance for “cannot” – “dunamai” related to “dunamis”, (dynamite) – power, authority not just ability
So could read “unless…….you have no power in being my disciples”.
Is this why the church is failing? Is this a secret being revealed? Jesus said we would do greater things than he (John 14:12). Where is the power?
My older sister Jan (permission given) through a tragedy in her family began earnest search for “secret of Christian life”, with all heart (Jer 29:13). Read much about Christ and Holy Spirit, talked, prayed, went to minister
Shown three circles – one of world, smaller one inside is my life, smallest in middle with a throne and ME on it. Three crosses – one Jesus outside circle of my life, one inside my life with everything else – money, TV, sport, family etc, one in very centre on the throne.
She went to car and prayed: “Lord Jesus I give you every single part of my life, lock stock and barrel to do with as you want”
At home had strong urge to pray – felt God say “As you have received Lordship of Christ by faith, receive the gift of tongues by faith”. Had word “Neb” in mind – said it out, had word “gar” in mind and said it out, and began to have flood of words in unknown language and then moved into worship of God.
Worship convinced her this not Satanic or self but God.
She has POWER when she prays though first to say “clay pot”
in herself (2 Cor.4:7)
Do you see Jeremiah reading? “Can you not be as clay in my hands O Israel?”(18:5). It is up to you and me how much of God we have, directly related to how much surrender I have made. It is up to us how much power we have as disciples – to make other like-minded disciples.
Jim Elliot – martyr missionary in South America in 1950’s – “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. Paul agrees. See the outpoured love in Philemon
reading while in prison for Christ. “I consider everything I had but dung that I may know Christ…” (Phil. 3:7-8) Paul utterly surrendered.
Have I searched earnestly for God? Am I surrendered to God? Is Jesus on the throne of my life or somewhere among the rest?
I am not there yet but working on it – cling to reputation! But make regular surrender of self and all to God. Jesus’ words in Gospel a challenge to us all. Be as clay in hand, pliable, open.
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