THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
Text: Luke 4:28-32
By: Owarotah, Vincent (Deacon)
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INTRODUCTION/DEFINITION
This lesson is just a reminder of the course we have chosen, but not in any way to create fear in us.
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was there before us, it cost His life to bring salvation to man, we all are beneficiary, even in time to this agony when He need the Father the most there no response.
He paid the debt He did not owe (he paid the price).
Apostle Paul laboured, experienced pains and he was martyred, the same thing happened to most of the apostles, they paid the price of discipleship.
Is there any man who want to build a house without first counting the cost? This brings to our text Luke 14:28–32.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
Jesus Christ freely offers the water of life to everyone who thirst, but we need to understand that when we receive this free offer, we are no longer our own, we have been bought with a price. 1 Cor. 6:20 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Thus, to truly follow Christ, you must consider the cost and not begin to follow Him without counting the cost, only to turn back later when things get tough, that is what Jesus warn against in the text.
Before we look at the cost that Jesus spelt out, let’s think for a moment the phrases, sit down, and calculate the cost,
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.
This is referring to careful, detailed, considering every aspect of what you are getting into before we make commitment.
Cost in this regard or context is not compared to money, but what you give out as a follower of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The question we all need to ask is that have we counted the cost?
For us to be successful in this race, there are prices to be paid. This we bring us to our first point – Self-Denial.
SELF-DENIAL
Luke 9:23 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.
Jesus taught, that to be His disciple, the spiritual discipline of self-denial is required – this is an essential part of the Christian life.
Bible dictionary defines self-denial as willingness to deny oneself of possessions or status in order to grow in holiness and commitment to God.
This is what Paul was saying in Philippians 3:7-8 (New King James Version) 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Denying oneself include overcoming the persistent fleshly demand of the body, the carnal self or the natural man bringing into subjection to the obedience of Christ – Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Self-denial for the Christian means renouncing ourselves as the centre of existence and recognizing Jesus as one’s new and true centre of our lives acknowledging that, the self is dead, and the new man is now.
Colossians 3:3-5 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
From the moment of our new birth, self-denial becomes our daily exercise for the rest of our lives.
1 Peter 4:1-2 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
This means that when you are able to reject whatever the flesh desire you have overcome sin.
SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Sacrifice means giving to the LORD whenever he required of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further his work.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
That means God should be the priority not our self – our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion and loyalty to God.
In this, our time is needed, in a week we have just 9 hours to avail ourselves for the service of God out of 168 hours in the week, you have to yourselves 158 remaining hours, for one whole year you have to yourselves 8,266 hours and to the service of God 468 hours.
Still, some of us are behaving like David who took the only lamb his subject had to entertain stranger, and he has more of those animals. That is covetousness – brethren converting God’s time.
OUR RIGHT
Our right – our forgiveness to those who offends.
Many at time we are offended and is difficult for us to let go.
Consider the mercies of God on us.
Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
God has given us a direction to follow, we have no choice, the dangerous thing about it is that our forgiveness depends on it.
Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died.
The love of Christ has compelled us to do so. When you refused others forgiveness, you are holding yours back – what gain then do you have?
CONCLUSION
Jesus words in our text are tough and sobering, we all fall short of them, but we must honestly work at applying them to our heart.
Is there any relationship that comes ahead of Christ in our lives?
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
This is Paul’s appeal to us all. May God bless us in Jesus name, Amen.
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