Follow Me

Abraham

Summer 2017 • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Luke 14:25–33

Jesus teaches the crowds about the cost of discipleship

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An honest examination of my Path

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“Follow me” An Honest examination of my Path...

Intro: It is perhaps hard to hear, or hard for people to understand. —But what this world needs is less “christians,” and more disciples. At one point in history, the term “Christian” meant something. As a matter of fact, when we see it pop up in the Scripture in ¥¥ , it tells us that it was in Antioch, where they first called the disciples… Christians. The word itself means: ¥¥ Christians (kris’-tyans) = Christ like; followers of Christ.

—The disciples of Jesus the Christ, were called Christians, because they reflected the same qualities of Jesus. & as a matter of fact, if you look it up right now, the dictionary still states the same. —But its urban meaning has changed. It is not longer used to referred to people who are disciples of Jesus Christ, or who act like Jesus. Now It is used with an association of what type of church people go to. It is used with association with religious beliefs… Even to the point to where people associated it with being an American. —It stopped, being related to a person who is a disciple of Jesus Christ.

EX1>> A man arrested on South Padre Island last week was recorded in a viral video screaming obscenities and phrases like, "Donald Trump will stop you," to a Muslim family on the beach. Alexander Downing to a Muslim family vacationing on a South Padre Island beach… You can not F-up my “christianity”

When I heard those words, my heart sunk to my stomach… What? After all the messed up things that you said, are you claiming to be a “Christian?” That is an oxymoron. In the words of ¥¥ Danilo Montoya from the princess bride: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means, —what you think it means.”

— Listen my friends, a true Christian is neither ashamed of the gospel nor is a shame to the gospel. My desire is that you may not be satisfied with just being known as a christian, because you come to church. But that you may be known as more than a christian. That your life may reflect that you are a “Disciple of Jesus Christ.” The World has way too many Christians by name, and not enough Disciples of Jesus Christ.

Sadly we have made Christianity about us, about me, about my comfort, my wants, my desires. We have turned God into our Heavenly Genie, who is there, to grant us all our wishes.

EX>> Health and wealth, An accountable relationship with God.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 NLT

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Listen, Christianity, is not about you, your comfort, your priorities. —Rather it is all about Jesus, His salvation and our mission he left us here on earth to do, to preach the good news of salvation. But to do that we need to understand they He has called us to Follow Him. —Now, listen to what Jesus said about following Him.

Luke 9:23–26 NKJV

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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 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.

Who He calls to follow? Anyone and everyone: “If any of you wants to be my follower” This is quite an open invitation that Jesus gives. He straight out said, any of You. —No matter what your background is, good or bad, if you want to, you come and follow me.

Yet while everyone is invited to follow Jesus. Jesus gives us a very clear list of what is expected of each of us, who desire to follow Him. —Reminding us that, Following Him, is more than just “word or name association” but that it is action driven.

An Honest examination of my Path

EX>> I can say, all day Long that I play for the Cowboys. I could even buy a jersey with my name on it, helmet , I may even know the names of the plays… But unless I get on that field & play with the cowboys, well I would be just a poser.

So He reminds us that there is a cost associated with following Him of being a disciple: “you must (Command, imperative, at once) turn from your selfish ways (deny yourself) take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Honestly, that is tough one.

We have no problems denying any one, but ourselves. —As a matter of fact, our lives revolved around us, not denying ourselves. But this is so vital when it comes to our discipleship. We are called to Live for Jesus and no longer for our selves: —He calls us to turn from our selfish ways, because Christianity is not about God living for you, but about you living for Christ, who took your place, my place on the cross.

Any one who wants to live a life that bring glory to Jesus, cannot live for himself… We are called to take up the our cross daily, and deny our selfish ways. —That means, to take ourselves down from the throne of our hearts, and let Jesus take His role as king of our lives.

We are called to take up the our cross daily, and deny our selfish ways. —That means, to take ourselves down from the throne of our hearts, and let Jesus take His role as king of our lives. There will be a multitude of times in your life, where you will have to choose, to ether live for yourself, for your personal gain, your personal benefit, your personal profit, —Or to sacrifice your time, your life, your personal gains, and live in Service of Jesus Christ. In our society, People are living solely for themselves, Christians and non-christians alike, living for their comfort, for their benefit… They all strive for the “great things this world has to offer.” The bigger house, the nicest cars, the great big bank account. & the biggest one of all“living for your own pleasure.” —But Listen to What Jesus said:

There will be a multitude of times in your life, where you will have to choose, to ether live for yourself, for your personal gain, your personal benefit, your personal profit, —Or to sacrifice your time, your life, your personal gains, and live in Service of Jesus Christ.

In our society, People are living solely for themselves, Christians and non-christians alike, living for their comfort, for their benefit…

They all strive for the “great things this world has to offer.” The bigger house, the nicest cars, the great big bank account. & the biggest one of all“living for your own pleasure.” —But Listen to What Jesus said:

“If you try to (so tightly cling: afferarte: Stubbornly holding on and not letting go) hang on to your life, you will lose it (you will fail to keep it or maintain it). —But… if you give up your life (living for your self, for your gains, for your personal benefit) for my sake, you will save it (set it free from its imprisonment). 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”

Listen, if you are living for yourself, all that you will find, is, an empty life at the end of the road. Following Christ, being a disciple, is not following religion, or the keeping rules. To many, that is what being a christian has become. But when Jesus said: “you must turn from your selfish ways (deny yourself), take up your cross daily, and [keep the rules… no He said] follow me.”

The word “follow” akoloutheō: “To take the same road as another does.” The idea is not that of following behind another, but that of accompanying the other person, taking the same road that he takes and fellowshipping with him along that road.”

Following Jesus is about fellowshipping with Him constantly in our lives. —It is not about keeping the rules, it is not about saying the right things.—We can assume that we are ok with God, because we are following the Christian rules.

Following Christ is about walking with Him, knowing Him, and choosing to honor him. & as we do, He will lead our steps we have a constant fellowship with Him.

The question is: Are you, Am I truly following Christ, & is it reflected on our actions, or do we follow christ only by Word? How can we tell? Well, Jesus Himself said:

John 8:12 NKJV

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

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1 John 1:6–7 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

My friend, I exhort you to examine your own walk, the path that you are traveling on.

2 Peter 1:10 NLT

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.

1 Peter 1:10 NKJV

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

Let’s do that… does your reflect that you are following Jesus: Does it reflect that you are picking up your cross daily, denying your selfish ways to live for Christ?

Or as you take a look at your walk, does it reflect that you are living for yourself, that, walking with Christ cost you nothing?

People, in general, are willing to say oh yeah, this guy, I know a guy like that, but Peter tells us to examine our own selves, to see if we are in the faith.

Do you know someone who claims the title "christian" but their actions speak differently? Maybe you do, but the real question today is, are you that kind of Christian? By name only, but your actions contradict that claim? Or are you a disciple of Christ?

Maybe you desire to be, but don't feel that your life lives up to that calling. —Today you can answer the call to discipleship and walk, >> not in a way that confuses the world about who you represent. >>(I thought he was a christian) But in a way that confuses the world because your priorities are different.

This can only be so, when we accept the call to discipleship, decide to deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Him.

Ephesians 5:15–16 AMP

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.