JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH
MATTHEW 16:21-28
MARCH 10, 2019
TODAY I WANT TO BEGIN A SERIES OF MESSAGES THAT WILL TAKE US THROUGH TO THE WEEK FOLLOWING EASTER SUNDAY. THE GOSPELS CONTAIN MANY SITUATIONS THAT JESUS WAS FACED WITH DURING THE FINAL MONTHS OF HIS EARTHLY LIFE AND WE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO STUDY SOME OF THEM. MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE RECORDED IN MORE THAN ONE OF THE GOSPELS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CONCENTRATE OUR STUDY ON THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I DID NOT CHOOSE THESE SITUATIONS ON THE BASIS OF IMPORTANCE OR PRIORITY. I JUST FELT PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO THEM.
THIS PASSAGE IN MATTHEW IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE PLACES WHERE JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH, AND WHERE HE BEGINS HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. IT IS A JOURNEY THAT WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND IS MORE OF A SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL JOURNEY THAN A PHYSICAL ONE.
WHEN WE ARE TOLD OF A LOVED ONE’S DIAGNOSIS OF A TERMINAL DISEASE, WE NEED TIME TO PROCESS THAT FACT. WE HAVE TO GET USED TO THE FRUSTRATION THAT COMES WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT PERSON.
THE DISCIPLES WERE GOING TO FACE A DIFFERENT KIND OF FRUSTRATION. THEIR LEADER WAS KNOWINGLY GOING TO MAKE A JOURNEY THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY LEAD TO HIS DEATH. HE DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO JERUSALEM. HE COULD TONE DOWN HIS PREACHING AND HIS ALTERCATIONS WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. HE COULD, BUT HE WOULD NOT. THEIR LEADER SEEMED DETERMINED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, AND IN THEIR EYES, THOUGH IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO STOP IT.
DURING THIS TRIP JESUS IS GOING TO MEET INCREASING OPPOSITION FROM RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND IT WILL BUILD UP LIKE A CRESCENDO IN MUSIC, WHICH WILL REACH ITS HEIGHT AS JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PALM SUNDAY, WE WILL SEE THAT ALL THE ELEMENTS ARE IN PLACE IN JERUSALEM TO LEAD TO THE CRUCIFIXION.
EACH OF THE ACCOUNTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WILL ALLOW US TIME FOR SELF-REFLECTION AND DECISION MAKING. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION IS JUST AS SIGNIFICANT FOR US AS IT WAS FOR THE PEOPLE BACK THEN. WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR JESUS’ DEATH IS JUST AS MUCH OURS AS IT WAS THE PEOPLE THEN, THE PENALTY FOR NOT ACCEPTING CHRIST’S GIFT OF SALVATION AND HIS SACRIFICE IS JUST AS MUCH NOW AS IT WAS THEN, AND JESUS’ GIFT OF SALVATION JUST AS REAL FOR US NOW AS IT WAS TO THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT:
CHAPTER 16 BEGINS WITH AN ALTERCATION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THEY WERE DEMANDING SOME FORM OF MIRACULOUS SIGN TO VERIFY THAT JESUS WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS. THEY WERE HOPING THAT HE WOULD TRY AND FAIL AS THAT WOULD PUT AN END TO HIS MINISTRY.
HIS ANSWER WAS SIGNIFICANT.
MATTHEW 16:4: A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION LOOKS FOR A SIGN, BUT NONE WILL BE GIVEN IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH.” JESUS THEN LEFT THEM AND WENT AWAY.
WHILE IT WAS NOT UNDERTOOD BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, JESUS WAS TELLING THEM THAT THE SIGN THAT WOULD BE GIVEN WAS THE RESURRECTION. JESUS WOULD DIE AND BE BURIED FOR THREE DAYS, JUST AS JONAH WAS IN THE BELLY OF THAT GREAT FISH FOR THREE DAYS.
IN VERSES 5-12 JESUS REMINDS THE DISCIPLES HOW HE HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED FOR THEM. THEY SET OUT BUT FORGET TO TAKE PROVISIONS WITH THEM. THEY HAVE NO BREAD. JESUS REMINDS THEM WHO IT WAS THAT FED THE FIVE THOUSAND AND HAD MUCH LEFT OVER. HE WOULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE FOR THEM.
HE ALSO TELLS THEM TO WACH OUT FOR THE LEVEN OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THE LEVEN WAS USED TO MAKE THE BREAD RISE, AND IN SCRIPTURE IT IS SYMBOLIC OF SIN. JESUS WAS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES TO BE WATCHFUL OF THE SINFUL BEHAVIOUR OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND NOT TO BE TAKEN IN BY THEM.
JESUS IN VERSES 13-20 ASKS HIS DISCIPLES THE QUESTION OF THE AGES.
MATTHEW 16:13: WHEN JESUS CAME TO THE REGION OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI, HE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, “WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THE SON OF MAN IS?”
HE GETS A VARIETY OF ANSWERS. THEN HE MAKES THE QUESTION REAL TO HIS DISCIPLES, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION HERE. JESUS IS REALLY ASKING THEM WHO THEY ARE COMMITTED TO. HE NEEDS TO KNOW THIS BEFORE HE TELLS THEM OF HIS UPCOMING DEATH.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHO JESUS IS. THEY CAN GIVE THE SAME ANSWERS THAT THE DISCIPLES DID, AND THEY WOULD BE RIGHT. THIS HOWEVER DOESN’T MEAN THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHO JESUS IS. HE WAS A GOOD MAN, HE WAS A PROPHET, THE THING THEY WILL NEVER SAY THOUGH IS THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
JESUS WAS ASKING HIS DISCIPLES IF THEY WERE COMMITTED TO THE FAITH. WOULD THEY STILL BELIEVE AFTER HE HAD DIED AND WAS NO LONGER WITH THEM? IF THEY BELIEVED THAT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD, THEN THEY WOULD STAND FOR THAT BELIEF AND EVEN GACE DEATH BECAUSE OF IT. BY ASKING WHO THEY BELIEVED IN HE WAS ALSO ASKING WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN AND WERE COMMITTED TO. LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION TODAY “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?”
PETER GIVES THE BRAVE ANSWER THAT WE ALL WANT TO GIVE WHEN HE SAYS:
MATTHEW 16:16: SIMON PETER ANSWERED, “YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”
WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT ANSWER, AND IT’S AN ANSWER THAT IS EASY TO GIVE IF YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY DISCIPLES. IT SEEMS LIKE CHRISTIANS ARE ALWAYS MORE COURAGEOUS WHEN THEY ARE AT CHURCH.
JESUS PRAISES HIM FOR HIS ANSWER AND GOES ON IN VERSES 17-19 TO DESCRIBE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE RESPONSE GIVEN WAS AUTHENTIC. ONE THING IS CLEAR. PEOPLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH UNLESS THE HOLY SPIRIT ENLIGHTENS THEM. DURING JESUS’ TIME COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HEARD HIS TEACHING AND SAW HIS MIRACLES, YET THEY WOULD NOT CONFESS THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH.
THEN HE GIVES THE COMMAND FOR THE DISCIPLES NOT TO TELL ANYONE THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH. JESUS CANNOT ALLOW ANYONE TO INTERFERE WITH THE PLAN OF SALVATION. HE MUST MAKE THE TRIP TO JERUSALEM, HE MUST SUFFER AND HE MUST DIE AS A SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF US ALL.
HE THEN TELLS THEM THAT HE MUST GO TO JERUSALEM. I FIND INTERESTING THE GROUP THAT HE DOESN’T MENTION IN V. 21.
MATTHEW 16:21: FROM THAT TIME ON JESUS BEGAN TO EXPLAIN TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE MUST GO TO JERUSALEM AND SUFFER MANY THINGS AT THE HANDS OF THE ELDERS, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW, AND THAT HE MUST BE KILLED AND ON THE THIRD DAY BE RAISED TO LIFE.
THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT HE DOESN’T MENTION THE ROMANS IN THE GROUP THAT WILL KILL HIM, AND THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO LEGALLY COULD DO SO. JESUS WAS TELLING US HERE THAT HIS DEATH WAS A SACRIFICE. HAD THE ROMANS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT OTHER THAN CARRY OUT THE SENTENCE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXECUTION, FOR HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE GUILTY OF A ROMAN CRIME.
HEARING THIS IMPULSIVE PETER TALKS TO JESUS PERSONALLY AND TELLS HIM THAT THEY WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN. THEY EXPECTED JESUS TO BE A GREAT POLITICAL LEADER, ONE WHO WOULD REESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL AND DEFEAT THE ROMANS. THEY EXPECTED PROMINENT PLACES IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
PETER’S ANSWER REFLECTED THE PRIDE AND GREED THAT WAS IN HIS HEART. IN SPARING JESUS’ LIFE HE WOULD GUARANTEE THAT HIS OWN LIFE WOULD BE SPARED AND THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE GALL OF THE MAN TO REBUKE JESUS, TO SAY THAT THE PLAN OF SALVATION WON’T HAPPEN, THEY WILL NOT LET IT HAPPEN. WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO REBUKE ANOTHER PERSON, WE SHOULD REMAIN SILENT WHEN IT COMES TO JESUS. THE OLD SAYING IS TRUE:
“BETTER TO REMAIN SILENT AND HAVE PEOPLE THINK YOU A FOOL THAN TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT.”
JESUS THEN REBUKES PETER FOR HIS POOR JUDGMENT. JESUS LITERALLY CALLS PETER “SATAN”. JESUS ADDRESSED SATAN IN THE SAME WAY AT THE TIME OF THE TEMPTATIONS. HE REBUKED PETER IN THIS WAY FOR TWO REASONS:
1. PETER WAS A HINDRANCE AS HE WAS IN THE WAY OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION. CHRIST WAS SENSITIVE TO THE PLAN AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYTHING TO DIVERT HIM FROM IT.
ROMANS 15:3: FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF BUT, AS IT IS WRITTEN: “THE INSULTS OF THOSE WHO INSULT YOU HAVE FALLEN ON ME.”
SATAN IS A SWORN ENEMY TO OUR SALVATION AND WHEN PETER REBUKED JESUS HE WAS ACTING IN THE SAME WAY AS SATAN, TRYING TO BLOCK OUR SALVATION.
2. PETER WAS THINKING OF THE THINGS OF MAN – PRIDE AND GREED – NOT THE THINGS OF GOD. THE PLAN OF SALVATION WAS TO LEAD TO THE GLORY OF GOD, NOT MAN. TRUE DISCIPLES MUST LOOK TO GOD WHICH PETER WAS NOT. PETER HAD TO LOOK NOT ONLY AT JESUS’ CROSS, BUT IN DOING SO WOULD HAVE TO REALIZE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CARRY HIS OWN CROSS. I WONDER HOW MANY OF US ARE READY TO BEAR OUR CROSSES FOR CHRIST.
JESUS THEN WENT ON TO TELL PETER THREE POINTS OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP:
POINT ONE: TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES SELF-DENIAL:
SELF-DENIAL IS SOMETHING THAT IS OFTEN HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. IT IS EASY TO SEE SOME THINGS THAT WE SHOULD NOT DO, SUCH AS SOME THINGS WE DID BEFORE WE ACCEPTED CHRIST. BUT CHRIST IS FACING US WITH THE CHALLENGE OF DENYING THOSE THINGS IN LIFE THAT DRAW US AWAY FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE FOUND WITHIN THE CHURCH AS WELL AS OUTSIDE IT.
A) WE MUST DENY ANYTHING THAT DISRUPTS OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH GOD.
PAUL IS CLEAR IN PHILIPPIANS:
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-6:
IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS CHRIST JESUS: 6 WHO, BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE USED TO HIS OWN ADVANTAGE;
WHEN WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL, DO WE SUBMIT THOSE THINGS TO CHRIST WHICH BOTHER US ABOUT OUR WORSHIP? I WISH WE HAD THIS OR THAT IN OUR WORSHIP. I REALLY MISS IT. I WISH WE HAD MORE PRAYERTIME OR MESSAGES ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC, OR AT A PARTICULAR LENGTH. IT WE HOLD THESE THOUGHTS IN OUR MINDS THEN IT DOES EFFECT THE WAY WE COME TO WORSHIP, AND THEREFORE WE ARE NOT PRACTICING SELF-DENIAL.
IF WE DON’T LIKE SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH AND WE BRING THOSE FEELINGS WITH US, WHENIT COMES TIME TO WORSHIP, THOSE FEELINGS ARE A BARRIER TO OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THEM YOU HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THEM.
JOHN 8:31-32,34,36:
31 TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED HIM, JESUS SAID, “IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES. 32 THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.” 34 JESUS REPLIED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, EVERYONE WHO SINS IS A SLAVE TO SIN. 36 SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.
SELF-DENIAL IS TO SURRENDER TO GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO RELATE TO US IN WORSHIP. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE SING. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW LONG THE SERMON IS. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO IS OR IS NOT AT CHURCH. WHAT MATTERS IS RECEIVING A WORD FROM THE LORD TODAY AND NOT ALLOWING OR BRINGING ANYTHING WITH US THAT CAN BLOCK THAT MESSAGE. WE MUST PRACTICE AS JOHN SAID:
JOHN 3:30: HE MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS.”
WE MUST LIVE AS PAUL DESCRIBED “AN EXCHANGED LIFE.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:20-21:
I EAGERLY EXPECT AND HOPE THAT I WILL IN NO WAY BE ASHAMED, BUT WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT COURAGE SO THAT NOW AS ALWAYS CHRIST WILL BE EXALTED IN MY BODY, WHETHER BY LIFE OR BY DEATH. 21 FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN
POINT TWO: TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES CROSS-BEARING
JESUS THEN SAYS THAT WE ARE TO BEAR OUR CROSS “DAILY”.
THE CROSS WAS NOT A JEWISH OR ROMAN TRADITION BUT CAME FROM THE PERSIANS. THE JEWISH PEOPLE OF JESUS’ TIME FELT IT WAS THE PERFECT FORM OF EXECUTION FOR JESUS AS A BLASPHEMER. PAUL QUOTES THE OLD TESTAMENT IN:
GALATIANS 3:13: CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE: (KJV)
THE CROSS REMINDS US OF SEVERAL THINGS:
1. IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE. CRIMINALS IN JESUS TIME WERE OFTEN FORCED TO CARRY THEIR OWN CROSSES TO THE PLACE OF EXECUTION. EACH CROSS HAD ITS OWN INSCRIPTION OF THE CRIME THEY WERE GUILTY OF. EACH CROSS WAS FASHIONED FOR THE PERSON WHO WAS TO DIE UPON IT.
WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AS DISCIPLES MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE INDIVIDUALIZED TO US. IT WILL HAVE SEVERAL FORMS. IT COULD BE PHYSICAL IN NATURE, WE COULD BE TAKEN FROM OUR FAMILIES, IT MAY BE A COST FINANCIALLY. WHATEVER THE CROSS IS IT WILL BE UNIQUE FOR US.
2. WE WILL ALSO IDENTIFY WITH JESUS. YOU CAN’T HIDE YOUR CROSS. ONCE YOU PICK IT UP YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST.
MATTHEW 24:9: “THEN YOU WILL BE HANDED OVER TO BE PERSECUTED AND PUT TO DEATH, AND YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL NATIONS BECAUSE OF ME.
3. IT IS AN INTENTIONAL CHOICE: NO ONE TAKES UP THE CROSS LIGHTLY. WE ALL WEIGH THE COST OF OUR ACTIONS VERY CAREFULLY.
HEBREWS 11:25-26:
HE CHOSE TO BE MISTREATED ALONG WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD RATHER THAN TO ENJOY THE FLEETING PLEASURES OF SIN. 26 HE REGARDED DISGRACE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST AS OF GREATER VALUE THAN THE TREASURES OF EGYPT, BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING AHEAD TO HIS REWARD.
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER WROTE:
“THE CROSS IS LAID ON EVERY CHRISTIAN. AS WE EMBARK ON DISCIPLESHIP, WE SURRENDER OURSELVES TO CHRIST IN UNION WITH HIS DEATH—WE GIVE OVER OUR LIVES TO DEATH. THE CROSS IS NOT THE TERRIBLE END TO AN OTHERWISE GODFEARING AND HAPPY LIFE, BUT IT MEETS US AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR COMMUNION WITH CHRIST. WHEN GOD CALLS A MAN, HE BIDS HIM COME AND DIE.”
GALATIANS 2:20-21:
I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE BODY, I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME
EMBRACE THE POWER OF THE CROSS. THE CROSS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS AND ALL MEN TO CHRIST.
COLOSSIANS 1:19-20:
FOR GOD WAS PLEASED TO HAVE ALL HIS FULLNESS DWELL IN HIM, 20 AND THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, WHETHER THINGS ON EARTH OR THINGS IN HEAVEN, BY MAKING PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD, SHED ON THE CROSS.
POINT THREE: TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES CHRIST FOLLOWING
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. WE ARE NOT CALLED TO FOLLOW A DENOMINATION, OR A CODE OF CONDUCT. WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW A PERSON AND THAT PERSON IS CHRIST.
JOHN 12:26: WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, MY SERVANT ALSO WILL BE. MY FATHER WILL HONOR THE ONE WHO SERVES ME.
JESUS INVITES YOU TO DISCIPLESHIP TODAY, BUT THAT DISCIPLESHIP WILL COST YOU MUCH.
BONHOEFFER SAID: SALVATION IS FREE---BUT DISCIPLESHIP WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING. IT IS A DIRECTED AND DETERMINED WALK THAT WILL TAKE US THE REST OF OUR PHYSICAL LIVES.
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14:
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF YET TO HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF IT. BUT ONE THING I DO: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD, 14 I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.
CONCLUSION:
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS.
10% OF CHURCH MEMBERS CANNOT BE FOUND
20% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER ATTEND CHURCH
25% OF CHURCH MEMBERS ADMIT THEY NEVER PRAY
35% OF CHURCH MEMBERS ADMIT THEY NEVER READ THEIR BIBLES
40% OF CHURCH MEMBERS DO NOT TITHE OR GIVE OFFERINGS. OF DISCIPLESHIP
60% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER GIVE TO MISSIONS
70% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY IN
THE CHURCH
85% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER INVITE ANYONE TO CHURCH
95% OF CHURCH MEMBERS HAVE NEVER WON ANYONE FOR CHRIST
100% OF CHURCH MEMBERS EXPECT TO GO TO HEAVEN
IF WE DO NOT BEGIN TO PRACTICE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP THEN THESE STATS WILL ONLY INCREASE. BY THE WAY THESE ARE STATISTICS FROM 1999. THEY HAVE HAD CLOSE TO 20 YEARS TO GET WORSE.
DISCIPLES WHO SHARE IN THE RISK AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DISCIPLESHIP WILL ALSO REAP RECOGNITION AND REWARD IN CHRIST.
IS YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE CHARACTERIZED BY THE TRUE DECLARATIONS OF BEING A TRUE DISCIPLE:
I MUST DENY MYSELF
I MUST TAKE UP MY CROSS DAILY
I MUST DECREASE AND CHRIST INCREASE.
