"Three Laws of Discipleship"
Pt. 3 -- Following Jesus
Matthew 16:24-28
Introduction: This morning we're going to take a look at the third aspect of discipleship that our Lord speaks about as He seeks to prepare his disciples for what is up ahead. If you recall two weeks ago when we started this series we said that to be a disciple of Jesus you must deny yourself and that involved three things. You must surrender self to Christ, sacrifice self for Christ and submerge yourself in Christ. The next step in this process may be the most difficult of the three. We have to take up our cross and bear for Christ. How then do we take up the cross? We said you can't bear the cross without considering the reproach, the reception and the reign of the cross. Finally, Jesus invites his disciples to follow Him. Let's examine what's involved in being a true Christ follower:
I. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS FULLY
The last thing our Lord says about the subject of discipleship in our text is to be a disciple we must follow him.
a. His person without reservation
When we speak of following Jesus we are not talking about religion but a relationship with a person and that person is Jesus Christ. We are not called to follow a creed, a code of conduct, a catechism, or a concept. Every time that Jesus called someone in the NT it was to follow Him.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
John 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
ILL - Garibaldi had an incredibly committed volunteer army. He would appeal for recruits in these terms: "I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor provisions; I offer hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let him who loves his country with his heart and not with his lips only, follow me!"
Jesus invites you to discipleship. But He lets you know up front that it is a commitment that will cost you something. It's not going to be easy. To paraphrase Garibaldi, "Let him who loves the Lord with his heart and not with his lips only, be Jesus' disciple!"
b. His principles without restriction
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
c. His plan without retreat
Salvation is free...but discipleship will cost you your life.
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
The second aspect of following Jesus involves:
II. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS FAITHFULLY
a. It is a directed walk
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
b. It is a disciplined walk
There can be no talk of following Christ apart from discipline.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
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.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith's discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
c. It is a determined walk
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
"Take up thy cross and follow me,"
I heard my Master say;
"I gave me life to ransom thee,
Surrender your all today."
It may be through the shadows dim,
Or o'er the stormy sea,
I take my cross and follow Him,
Wherever He leadeth me.
CHORUS:
Wherever He leads I'll go,
Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so,
Wherever He leads I'll go.
The third aspect of following Jesus involves:
III. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS FINALLY
Follow (akaloutheitō). Present tense. Keep on following.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED
"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me, and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear."
SOURCE: Provided by Love Worth Finding Ministries, the author's name is unknown. This quote is reported to have been found in the home of an African preacher.
a. The progress in faith
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
b. The prize in focus
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
c. The praise at the finish
Mathew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Conclusion:
WHAT'S IT WORTH
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.
Martin Luther
Here is why we all should be concerned about the lack of real discipleship among those who profess to know Jesus Christ:
10% of church members cannot be found?
20% of church members never attend church
25% admit that they never pray
35% admit that they do not read their Bibles
40% admit that they never contribute to the church?tithe or offering
60% never give to missions
70% never assume responsibility within the church
85% never invite anyone to church
95 % have never won anyone to Christ
BUT! 100% expect to go to heaven
(The Choice, by Thomas Trask, Zondervan Pub. House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999)
THE JOURNEY
Volleyball was introduced as an Olympic sport in the 1964 Tokyo games. A Japanese women's team was chosen to represent their nation for the event. Hirofumi Daimatsu, their coach, put the women through a grueling training program that resembled a Marine boot camp. The six day a week training program was quite brutal on the women both physically and mentally. Daimatsu, in fact, was trying to utterly break the women. He promised them two things: those who could not survive would be released from the team, but those who did would win the Olympic gold medal.
The training, however, did pay off and they eventually did win the gold. When they stood to receive their medals every woman was crying.
"It was a glorious moment," said team captain Masae Kasai. "We all cried for two reasons. We had won the gold medal and had fulfilled our expectations and that of the Japanese people. Even more, we cried because this would be our last game together, and even though we had been through so much pain and anguish it was worth it. I'm sure we would all do it again."
Even though their journey had been difficult, those women would have gone through it again for the prize of the gold. At times, our spiritual journey is difficult, but in the end we are promised a gold crown if we are faithful.
SOURCE: Bud Greenspan. 100 Greatest moments in Olympic
History. General Pub Group; ASIN: 1881649660; December 1995.
ILL - In a painting of the Crucifixion by the famous Dutch artist, Rembrandt, our attention is drawn immediately to the cross and to Him who hangs there. Then looking at the crowd gathered around the Cross, we note the attitudes and actions of these people. As our eyes drift to the edge of the picture, we see another figure in the shadows. This is Rembrandt himself. Rembrandt, helping to crucify Jesus! How true that is according to Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) - "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
"Twas I that shed the sacred blood, I nailed Him to the tree,
I crucified the Christ of God, I joined the mockery!"
I look again and there in the shadows next to Rembrandt I stand.
"If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Story: C.T. Studd (Charles Thomas Studd) (1860-1931) had this motto:
