Series: Things That Accompany Salvation
Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Message 4: The Cost of Serving Christ
Luke 14:25-35
REVIEW:
Message #1: An Argument in Eternity. Mt. 7:21-23 Many who say “Lord, Lord ...”
Message #2: The Cost of Freedom in Christ. John 8:31-37 True believers continue in the Word!
Message #3: Let’s go to supper! Luke 14:15-24. We must accept Jesus’ invitation.
Message #4: The Cost of Serving Christ Luke 14:25-35 Following Jesus has serious demands!
INTRODUCTION:
• Luke 14 opens with Jesus accepting an invitation to eat bread in the home of a leading Pharisee.
• A man is there at the banquet with dropsy, a condition in which the arms and legs are swollen.
• Whatever the cause, the Greek word implies that it is due to water.
• There is another problem: it is the Sabbath.
• After healing the man, Jesus begins to teach about banquets while sitting at a banquet.
• He chides the Pharisees for seeking the greatest seats at the banquet.
• They would crowd in early to get the best spots and hold them.
• He then rebukes them for preferring to invite the high and noble of society instead of the poor.
• Somehow, Jesus had not read Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
• In our last message in this series (vss. 15-24) Jesus told the story of society people being invited to a banquet.
• Real-Estate Ralph, Farmer Frank, and Henpecked Henry each turned down the offer.
• Jesus then tells that the poor Gentiles outside the city were invited.
• The lesson is that these poor would take the place of the proud religious leaders in Heaven!
• The next thing that Luke tells us is that great crowds began to follow Jesus.
• They were eager for any alternative to the rigidness of the Pharisees.
• But were they sincere? Let us look.
I. The Prerequisite for Serving: A Supreme Love for Christ! (25-26)
A. A Pruning (25)
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
1. Jesus is Not Interested in Crowds
• For some, a packed house is what is desired.
• Jesus has no interest in shallow faith.
• Jesus prefers a small body of deep water to a wide body of shallow water.
ILLUS: The lake in Iowa where the pastor’s kid dumped us in.
2. Jesus is Interested in Commitment!
• Jesus knows that the plant will be healthier if the diseased parts are pruned away.
ILLUS: Crepe Myrtles
• Jesus looks ahead to one goal – the evangelization of the world.
• It will be an overwhelming task.
• It is a task that requires the strong.
• So Jesus begins a pruning process.
B. A Privilege (26A)
26 If any man come to me,
• You have the choice to follow Christ.
• You have the choice not to follow Christ.
• You do not have the choice to call yourself a follower of Christ and then make up your own rules!
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
ILLUS: You don’t have to go to the Citadel. But if you go, you will find out quickly that you will fit their system or you are out.
C. A Priority (26B)
26B and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
1. Christ Above Family
a. A Caution to Be Observed (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3)
• There is nothing in Jesus statement that undoes the 5th commandment!
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
• This command is repeated in Scripture after the life of Christ on earth.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
b. A Command to Be Obeyed (Mk. 10:28)
• So what does this mean?
• It is a matter of comparison.
• In comparison to our love for Christ, our love for family should come a distant 2nd!
• Christ is to be put before family: even if one’s family opposes his decision to follow Christ.
• Christ is to be put first: before the companionship and comfort and pleasure of family and home.
• Peter, correctly observed:
Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
• Peter, Andrew, James and John all left their families.
2. Christ Above Self
• Christ is to be first in a person’s life: before family, even before self.
• It is at this point that many a potential Christian servant fails!
• They will not forsake a secular vocation and its benefits.
• They will not forsake a comfortable life.
• Jesus demands that a serious disciple have serious commitment!
• Levi knew this, as did Paul!
Luke 5:27-28 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
D. A Parting (26C)
26C he cannot be my disciple.
• Jesus is not afraid to make the cut!
ILLUS: Co-valedictorian, co-captains, co-most improved player.
• When we observe men and women who are not practicing the faith “once delivered to the saints” ...
• And we continue to call them “Church Members,” “Christians,” etc.
• We have started the slippery slope toward modernism, liberalism, and we will LOOSE our influence as salt in the world!
II. The Price of Serving: A Service to Christ! (27)
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
A. The Cross
QUOTE: People in Jesus’ day knew what it meant to "take up" a cross. They saw scores of criminals bearing the cross to the place where they were to be executed, and they witnessed scores of crucifixions, some even by the side of the roads that led in and out of the cities. (POSB)
• The cross does not mean merely bearing one’s particular hardship in life, such as poor health, abuse, unemployment, invalid parents, an unsaved spouse, a wayward child.
• The cross is always an instrument of death, not just an object to carry or bear.
• The Christian is to die mentally and actively.
• He is to deny himself daily.
• He is to let the mind of Christ, the mind of humbling himself to the point of death, be in him and fill his thoughts every day (Phil. 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).
• He is to put his will, his desires, his wants, his ambitions to death.
• In their stead, he is to follow Jesus and to do His will all day long.
• To put it simply, he must get busy for God!
B. The Coming
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
• Jesus says we must “come after Him” It simply means to follow Him.
• We follow His steps, we identify ourselves with his suffering and with His shame.
• Let us not forget that His steps led to death before they led to glory.
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
• To come after Him means to go where He leads us, wherever that may be!
C. The Contrast (Those who do, and those who do not bear and follow)
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
• The rich young ruler walked away.
• The multitudes walked away.
• Even Judas walked away.
• You may say you are a disciple!
• But examine yourself, are you carrying His cross, are you following after Him?
ILLUS: Teen boy – I love you Matilda. I would cross high mountains for you, swim wide rivers, cross hot deserts, face jungle natives for you. And Matilda, I’ll see you Thursday night if it isn’t raining!
III. The Pictures of Serving: A Surrender to Christ! (28-35)
A. A Picture of Construction (28-29)
1. A Reckoning (28)
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?
2. A Ridicule (29-30)
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.
ILLUS: Love Must Be Tough, Dr. Dobson advises the clinging wife to back up enough to make her wandering husband think! If not, he holds her in derision! She is a fool in his eyes.
• The point is clear: before a person begins to follow Christ, Christ wants that person to think about it.
• He wants the person to be sure, absolutely sure.
• Can he afford to follow through; does he have what it takes to build the tower (life)?
• Why? Because a false profession damages the Kingdom of God.
• A false profession causes...
1) the world to mock and charge true believers with being hypocritical.
2) prospective believers to turn sour.
3) believers to be hampered and hindered in their ministry.
4) some believers to become discouraged. (POSB)
B. A Picture of Combat (31-33)
1. A Tally That is Taken (31)
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
• Here is a King whose capital is being invaded.
• He must make a decision.
• Can my fortifications and weapons and supplies help me to defeat an army twice the size of my own?
2. A Truce That is Tendered (32)
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
• To make concessions is not desireable.
• But it is better than complete destruction and loss of all rights in total surrender!
• He must decide BEFORE the battle.
3. A Truth that is Taught (33)
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
• You will never hear Joel Olsteen preach this text.
• Jesus destroys those who propose an easy, no commitment, faith.
• He says, you need to think long and hard before deciding to follow me!
• It will not be easy.
• Your family will not understand.
• You will be constantly denying the things that you want!
• But if you will not pay the price, then don’t follow me.
• You are NOT My disciple!
• It will cost him all he is. The man must be willing to center his life around Christ and His mission to reach a world lost and full of desperate needs. It will cost the man...
his heart: total devotion and commitment.
his mind: being permeated and controlled by Christ.
his eyes: watching what he looks at.
his ears: watching what he listens to.
his hands: watching what he touches and picks up.
his feet: watching where he goes.
his mouth: watching what he eats and drinks and says.
his desires: watching, controlling, and changing his urges and desires.
his energy: committing his strength, initiative, and will to Christ.
his effort and work: dedicating and centering all in Christ, using his efforts and work in the cause of Christ. (POSB)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
C. A Picture of Corruption (34-35)
1. The Desirability of Salt (34A)
34 Salt is good:
• Not good for our blood pressure I suppose.
• But man is it good.
• These are true words of Scripture.
• Salt adds zest to a meal.
• A wholly devoted believer in Christ adds zest to this world!
2. The Deterioration of Salt (34B)
34B but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
• Could it be that our world has less desire for what we offer because we are offering it unseasoned.
Bill is in the church choir. Robert has never heard a church choir.
Bill comes to prayer meeting. Robert doesn’t even pray.
Bill teaches a SS class. Robert doesn’t own a Bible.
Bill invites Robert to church. Robert will not come.
Bill has a seriously past due Robert owns the store.
account at the hardware store.
Bill’s testimony is ruined. Robert may die unchurched!
3. The Disposal of Salt (35A)
35A It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.
• The object of the lesson is not the salt.
• It is the disciples of Christ.
• If they are useless, then throw them out!
CONCLUSION (35B):
35B He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
• Jesus wants us to listen.
• When someone is always railing against something, you tend to tune them out.
• But when one filled with love for us speaks, we will listen.
• Christ asks us to hear Him.
• You do not have to follow Christ.
• You may look at the demands and choose to walk away.
• But you will then never know ...
1) Heaven as your home.
2) Peace in your heart.
3) Answers to your prayers.
4) Guidance in your life.
5) Fellowship with the saints.
6) An intercessor pleading in your behalf in Heaven.
7) God as your Father.
8) Jesus as your Savior.
9) The redeemed as your eternal company.
• Yes there are demands, but give me Jesus!
• I know that as America becomes more secular, I have the hard road!
• But I have Jesus! ILLUS: Footprints in the Sand.
Isaac Watts
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
