COUNTING THE COST
Luke 14:28-30
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
(KJV)
Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
(KJV)
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’ showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.
Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.
His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.
He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the Box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold.
Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him.
He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.
He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.
*** We are at a new dimension-- that’s exciting but also has a negative side--sacrifice, demanding!
*** Israel was at Jordan and on the other side was the promise land, Canaan: they could see it they were so close. All they had was to cross over! But they had to spend three days getting ready to cross. Waiting to be sanctified to cross.
Josh 1:10-11
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
(KJV)
Josh 3:1-6
1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
(KJV)
*** We are at a standstill {counting the cost}?
*** We are facing some issues that need to be settled in your mind and spirit for good.
*** We are going to stand still until you settle it.
*** Issues can keep you from Jesus.
Mark 5:25-29
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
(KJV)
*** Anyone with a blood issue could not touch the priest for he would be unclean, she could be put to death for this.
[In the press behind (shrinking, yet seeking), and touched his garment.] According to the ceremonial law, the touch of anyone having the disease which this woman had would have defiled the person touched. Some think that the recollection of this may account for her stealthily approaching Him in the crowd behind, and touching but the hem of His garment. But them was an instinct in the faith which brought her to Jesus, which taught her, that if that touch could set her free from the defiling disease itself, it was impossible to communicate defilement to Him, and that this wondrous Healer must be above such laws.
(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
ISSUE (OF BLOOD)
(zobh, zubh; rhusis, haimorrhoos): When used as a description of a bodily affection the word signifies: (1) A discharge, the consequence of uncleanness and sin (
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia,
Prov 23:23
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (KJV)
*** Are you truly at the place where you can say “ I will buy the truth and sell it not, no matter what the cost?”
*** Truth don’t have options! I don’t get to choose what part of the bible to preach and others to leave out, and you don’t get to choose what part to obey.
*** You either accept it or reject it; there’s no middle ground!
*** There are those who pretend to be messengers of truth but are charlatans and chameleon’s like the magicians of pharaoh; they even imitated some of the miracles but the truth eventually left them sitting in the dust.
*** They imitated rod to snake, river to blood, frogs, at the 3rd plague the dust to lice they could not do.
Exod 8:18
18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
(KJV)
Matt 16:24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(KJV)
Matt 19:16-22
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
(KJV)
Matt 13:44
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
(KJV)
