800 - The Cost of Discipleship

September 6, 2009

Sermon #800

The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25 - 35 (NKJV) ²⁵Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ²⁶“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

³¹Or 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? ³²Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. ³⁴“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? ³⁵It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Introduction:

It is possible to be a follower of Jesus and not be a disciple of Jesus - to be a camp-follower without being a soldier of the King. A man was talking to a great scholar about a younger man: “I understand that he is one of your students.”

The scholar answered, “He may have attended one of my classes but he definitely was not one of my students.”

There is a world of difference in attending a lecture and being a student! It is the supreme handicap of the Church that there are so many followers and so few disciples.

1. The hatred Jesus demands

• Hatred contradicts the teachings of Jesus

Matthew 5:21 - 22 (NKJV) ²¹“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

Matthew 5:43 - 48 (NKJV) ⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

• Jesus taught us to honor our Father and Mother

Mark 7:9 - 13 (NKJV) ⁹He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ¹¹But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), ¹²then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

• Jesus on the cross committed the care of His mother to His friend

John 19:25 - 27 (NKJV) ²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

• This “hate” is not a diminished love.

Ephesians 5:25 - 33 (NKJV) ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

³¹“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³²This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

ILL: I cannot love Christ more by loving Mary (my wife) less!

1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV) ²²Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…

ILL: I cannot love Mary more by loving the members of the Church less!

• Key: What am I to hate about my own life!

Luke 14:26 (NKJV) ²⁶“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Romans 7:11 - 25 (NKJV) ¹¹For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. ¹²Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. ¹³Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. ¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

¹⁷But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ²¹I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²²For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

ILL: I am to “hate” anything that holds me back from following Christ.

ILL: There is a “Moslem” girl in Florida who does not want to return to her parents. Their law says that they must kill her because she has become a follower of Christ. She is “hating” her parents by cutting off relationships. I did not have to cut off relationships to my “Mormon” parents, but I had to oppose them by following Jesus.

2. Count the cost before you decide

1. Am I willing to deny myself

Matthew 16:24 - 27 (NKJV) ²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

• Salvation is by faith – Jesus is speaking about discipleship

• The cost:

Galatians 2:20 - 21 (NKJV) ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ²¹I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

ILL: “The Christian way is different…Christ says ‘Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time, and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here, and a branch there. I want the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth or crown it or stop it but to have it out. Hand over the whole self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit.”

-- C. S. Lewis

1. Are you willing to follow Him to the end?

• The reckless builder

ILL: When we were building the Cathedral of His Glory we had to stop just after getting the roof on because the contractor cheated. “Many said, ‘Pastor Paul will never get it built.’” I had to become the contractor and worker – that’s right – I worked on the construction with labor but I was determined to get it finished. It took nearly two years but we finished the building.

• The king going into battle

ILL: He had to determine if he had the courage even if it cost him his kingdom and his life!

ILL: The parable is true to so many things in life:

• Before you make that marriage commitment, are you sure you are willing to pay the price? (better or worse, sickness or in health?)

• Before you make that financial commitment, are you sure you can pay the price? It’s a question you should answer before you purchase anything!

1. Jesus’ commitment

Matthew 26:39 - 42 (NKJV) ³⁹He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴²Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

ILL: Jesus counted the cost of building the Kingdom; He counted the cost of entering into battle with Satan. He knew the cost was death on a cross and yet He committed Himself to obedience – discipleship!

2. The Apostle Paul’s commitment

2 Timothy 4:6 - 8 (NKJV) ⁶For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Conclusion: I want you to understand the cost of discipleship. Bonheoffer said, “When Christ bids a man come, He bids him come and die.” Will you be able to say, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith?”

799 - The Prayer of Intercession

August 30, 2009

Sermon #799

The Prayer of Intercession

Luke 11:5-13 (NKJV) ⁵And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? ⁸I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

⁹“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 18:1-14 (NKJV) ¹Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ²saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

⁶Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” ⁹Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Introduction:

Both these parables reordered by Luke have to do with prayer. It is interesting that it is Luke who is interested in Jesus’ prayer life.

• Luke is the only writer who tells us that Jesus was praying when the Holy Spirit descended on Him.

Luke 3:21-22 (NKJV) ²¹When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. ²²And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

• It is Luke that tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the disciples.

Luke 6:12-13 (NKJV) ¹²Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ¹³And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

• Only Luke tells us that the confession at Caesarea Philippi was accompanied with prayer.

Luke 9:18-20 (NKJV) ¹⁸And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” ²⁰He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

• Only Luke tells us that Jesus was praying on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Luke 9:28-30 (NKJV) ²⁸Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. ³⁰And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah…

• Now it is Luke that records the two parables concerning prayer!

• Two kinds of prayer – Prayer for self and prayer for others (intercession)

1. Prayer for self

Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV) ²¹So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. ²²And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV) ²²So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

• Learn to pray scripture

ILL: Early in my call when food was scarce, I reminded God that His word said that the seed of a righteous man would not beg bread. I have never faced that scarcity again.

On my workout machine I have printed: Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)

“Heavenly Father, I rejoice in You always. You are an awesome, incredible God. I pray that my gentleness, which comes from the power of your Holy Spirit, would be evident to all, Lord I know that you are near. For that reason I will not be anxious about anything. You are on the throne and I will trust in you. Lord I ask that your peace will guard my heart this day and my mind from the cares and anxieties. I pray that in the strong name of your son Jesus. Amen.” As I begin my workout I pray this prayer from God’s own Word.

I tell God:

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) ¹Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ²But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. ³He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper…

“Father make me that man! In Jesus name.”

2. Intercession

The parable of the friend at midnight

Luke 11:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’…

• The man is asking for his friend - not for himself

• It was a responsibility - he could not take care of himself

ILL: A traveler showed up at midnight and the host had no food. The shops were closed so there was no place to purchase the food. He went to another friend. The house was a one story building with a mud floor. The man of the house and his wife and children were in the loft the animals were on the first floor. The neighbor did not want to get up and upset everything. But the man in need kept banging on the door.

• Intercessory prayer is a responsibility

Luke 18:1 (NKJV) ¹Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…

• In both parables, there was an urgent need. The neighbor needed the food and the widow needed justice.

• There are requirements of prayer

• Prayer must be direct. (The friend went directly to the neighbor, the widow went directly to the judge.

ILL: People come to me and say “Pastor, pray for me.” I want to answer them “If you’re a Christian and in fellowship with Jesus, pray for yourself! What did Jesus say?”

Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJV) ⁷“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹²Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

• What about healing?

James 5:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

The requirements:

1. You call the Elders

2. The Elders (two) pray

3. The Elders anoint with oil

4. Call on the name of the Lord

5. Pray in faith (Yours and the Elders)

• Personal

Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV) ⁶But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ⁷And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

• Direct and Specific

Luke 11:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’

ILL: Some people pray like the man my friend Chub Sewell told me about. It seems that the men had been “coon” hunting. Well the coon went up a tree and every time one of the men tried to get a shot the animal went onto the other side of the tree. Grandpa came out there and his hands were shaking. But he shot the coon. The grandson pulled on Grandpa’s paint leg and said, “No wonder ye hit him Grandpa you aimed over the whole tree.” Some people pray like aiming “over the whole tree.”

• Prayer must be sincere

Job 16:20-21 (TMSG) ²⁰My Champion, my Friend, while I’m weeping my eyes out before God. ²¹I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.

ILL: Traveling in prayer does not mean acting like, why would I give my son something if I knew it made no difference weather I gave it to him or not? You are not about to wring a gift from a unwilling God!

Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV) ¹Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ²saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” ⁶Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

• The Judge in the story was not a Jew - no Jewish judge could handle a case by himself

• The Judge is not a type of God – God is not unjust

• If an unjust judge will give justice, how much more will God give justice

• Intercede for leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NKJV) ¹Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, inter­cessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ²for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…

ILL: Do you realize that Church members are required to pray for government leaders and for their pastor?

• You cannot pray in pride

Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV) ⁹Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Conclusion:

We deserve nothing! Every answer God gives is by His grace. And to learn that truth is the greatest thing you can learn about prayer!