Discipleship: The Call Of The Cross
(Note: This message was preached at a special School of Ministry/Congress on Leadership convened in Panama City, Republic of Panama)
I consider it a great privilege to be invited to be part of this School of Ministry and Congress on Leadership. I want to thank Dr. T. L. Lowery for his invitation to this life changing event. I would also like to express my appreciation to your national overseer, Brother Munoz and the leadership team in Panama for the excellent work they are doing for the cause of Christ. It is our sincere prayer that God will rain His manifold blessings down upon His church in Panama.
I have been assigned the subject of Discipleship. I have entitled the study ¡§Discipleship: The Call of the Cross¡¨. I will use Luke 9:23 as a text:
And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9:23]
Disciple - A Definition: A disciple is one who learns and puts into practice what is learned. He is one who imitates his master. Matthew 10:25 states "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord."
The disciple’s conduct is patterned after that of his master. A disciple of Christ is one who has determined to become Christ-like.
The Cross: It is important to understand that God has freely given us salvation. It was paid for by the cross of Christ. Along with this salvation comes discipleship. Jesus said if you are going to be His disciple, you have to bear your cross. The call of Christ will always include the call of the cross! Let¡¦s talk about that call of the cross for a few moments today. First notice . . .
The Clear Call of the Cross.
Look again at our text.
And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9:23]
Notice particularly the words: "And he [Jesus] said to them all.."
Jesus was always very clear regarding His call, and as we read scripture we find that the call is as clear today as it was 2,000 years ago. The call has not changed. The requirements for discipleship have not changed. It is important for us to notice that . . .
Jesus never recruits followers under false pretenses.
He never promised His followers a life of ease and comfort. He wanted those who would follow Him to clearly understand what they were getting into. The clear call of discipleship is that you will be required to live a life of self-denial and sacrifice.
The modern trend in church growth is: "Don’t speak of the ’tougher’ teachings of Jesus when attempting to win someone to the Lord."
However, this may very well lead to defections from the faith when difficult times arise. It is neither ethical nor scriptural to tell people if they accept Christ as Savior they will have no further problems in life.
Throughout scripture you find Jesus dealing openly and honestly with people that came to Him. He told the rich young ruler the truth, and it caused the young man to go away from Christ.
In Luke 18 we find an example of the ¡§hard sayings¡¨ of Christ. A "certain ruler" came to Jesus inquiring about salvation. This man thought his salvation was assured because of his good works. However, Jesus said: "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Verse 23 records the reaction of the ruler: "But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich." A careful reading of the Word would suggest that the ruler rejected Jesus¡¦ exhortations.
Jesus would not compromise for the sake of popularity. He made sure everyone understood the requirements for service, and He refused to change those requirements. The call of the cross is a clear call.
The Conditional Call of the Cross ["...if.."]
And then Discipleship is a conditional call of the cross. Look again at the text. Notice the word "if."
There are those who say the Bible is a book of blessing. I somewhat agree. It is a book of conditional blessings. God only responds to obedience.
There are conditions [requirements] attached to discipleship. There are many today who call themselves disciples of Jesus, yet they will not accept His cross. They want a crown, but they’ll have no cross. But Luke 14:27 states: "whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me , CANNOT be my disciple."
One of the main conditions of discipleship is bearing one’a cross. Listen my friend, no cross -- no crown. Why, you can¡¦t even get to the upper room without going by way of Calvary¡¦s cross. The "cross life" is greatly missing in many churches today.
The mandate of God is that we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily! That leads to our next point ...
The Costly Call of the Cross [..deny himself]
Christ is seeking those who are willing to abandon all in pursuit of Him. Discipleship is costly. It will cost a man his life. Dietrich Boenhoffer once said: "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die!"
Listen, we have made the call of Christ much too easy. Yes, salvation is free but it is not cheap! It cost Christ His precious life! Bonhoeffer speaks of "Cheap grace." Allow me to read a couple paragraphs from his book The Cost of Discipleship:
"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ."
Bonhoeffer contrasts cheap grace with costly grace: Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field: for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods -- it is the call of Jesus at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him.
Such grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow Him. It is costly because it costs a man his life. It is costly because it condemns sin. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son.
My friend there is a great need to understand the cost of discipleship. This is not the day to offer a "bargain" religion. Preach the word. Make disciples. Inform the Christian of the requirements of discipleship.
Discipleship involves ---
1. Servanthood [Matthew 20:25-28]
"The only way to servanthood is through the Cross: until we have died to self, there is no true servanthood. God does not want our contribution, He wants our surrender to our created purpose."
2. Stewardship [Matthew 25:15-28]
Stewardship is based upon the biblical assumption that everything we have and are belongs to God and must be used according to God’s will.
3. Sacrifice [1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Tim. 2:1-4]
We MUST understand that "we are not our own, for we’ve been bought with a price." The Lord has not called us to comfort and ease. We’re not called to a life of luxury and great esteem. Jesus clearly taught that the servant was not above his Master. Listen to the words of Paul to Timothy:
1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.[2 Timothy 2:1-4]
4. Suffering [Phil. 3:10; Gal.6:17; 2 Cor. 11:23-30]
The disciple of Christ may be called upon to suffer for His name. What a wonderful attitude the Apostle Paul displayed when he wrote:
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrect-ion, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." [Phil 3:10]
He not only desired the joy of resurrection power, but he was willing to share the fellowship of Christ¡¦s suffering. He had learned the secret. Remember what I said earlier: "No Cross -- No Crown!"
And then Discipleship speaks of ---
The Continual Call of the Cross ["daily"]
Discipleship is a daily cross walk. Jesus says if we are to be His disciples, we are to take up our cross DAILY. Discipleship speaks of consistency. There is no discharge from this army.
Discipleship requires carrying your cross when things go well, and when thing goes wrong. It is required in the good times and the bad times. One thing is certain: The disciple will find a cross waiting for him every day of his life.
The cross is that which keeps him firmly planted on the "narrow way." It is an anchor for the soul. It is our compass. It is what makes life meaningful. It is the only way for us to be approved by God.
And finally, discipleship speaks of ---
The Conquering Call of the Cross ["follow me"]
Let’s return one final time to our text.
And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9:23]
My friend, discipleship means ultimate victory. You see, we are following the One who knows the way to victory. The path may sometimes seem hard. The weight of the cross may sometimes seem too heavy. The splinters from the cross might sometimes wound us. But one thing is certain. ¡§The way of the cross leads home.¡¨ We are certain of victory, because we are closely following the victorious Christ!
Conclusion. Let me say this in conclusion today. The reason many do not want to walk the "cross life" is because they have the wrong concept of the cross. They look at the cross as a symbol of shame and weakness. They cringe at the thought of the cross. But my friend, we must understand the true nature of the cross. It is not a symbol of shame, it is a symbol of glory and victory.
Listen to the Apostle Paul’s estimate of the cross:
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [1 Cor 1:18]
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. [Gal 6:14]
Thank God for the cross. Like the words to that old song says:
"I will cherish the old rugged cross
Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to that old rugged cross
And exchange it someday for a crown."
Go forth. Make disciples. Instruct them in the Clear Call of the Cross; the Conditional Call of the Cross; the Costly Call of the Cross; the Continual Call of the Cross and the Conquering Call of the Cross. In so doing you will be preparing sold-out men and women of God, ready to reap the end time harvest of God!
