ESSENTIALS IN FOLLOWING JESUS (TCJ eSermon)
Luke 14:25-35
Introduction:
When Yakov Smirnoff (a Russian Comedian who performed in Branson Missouri) talked about when he first moved to America. He was amazed at the variety of instant products he could buy at the store. If it was powdered milk, you just added water. Powdered orange juice, just add water. He saw baby powder, and thought, if you want a baby, just add water. "America, what a great country."
Theme: In this study, we want to look at Luke 14:25-35. Jesus said these words when He was on His way to Jerusalem. He was on His way to the cross, not an empire as many thought. These words were direct. Jesus wanted the people to understand what would be involved in following Him. He wants us to understand today. It would be the sacrifice of the dearest things in life. It would mean suffering for Him. Let's look at three essentials to following Jesus from this passage.
[1] HE WANTS OUR LOVE (Luke 14:26)
When we read these words, it seems that Jesus is being really hard. How can we hate the members of our family? It seems contradictory. But this is not what Jesus means. No love in life can compare with the love we must bear for Him. He must be our first love.
Just like the church at Ephesus was challenged in Revelation 2:2-4, so we are today.
Ill. Leonardo Da Vinci, once took a friend to see his master-piece of the "Last Supper" The friend's first comment was, "The most striking thing in the picture is the cup." The artist immediately took his brush and wiped out the cup saying..."Nothing in my painting shall attract more attention than the face of my Master." In our life's picture, what is getting the most attention? What are we the most focused on? Do we say, "I go to church, I serve when I can, I read my Bible, and pray when I get a chance? We must love Jesus first and foremost. We must have this relationship with Him to be the most and the best of all.
[2] HE WANTS OUR LOYALTY (Luke 14:27-33)
Cross bearing has been a very hard thing to accept in the Christian life. In loving Jesus, we should be willing to take up our cross, and suffer like He did for us. The Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name (Acts 5:41) To evaluate loyalty, one must count the cost. Am I a half-way Christian, or am I a 100% Christian? Jesus uses these illustrations to lay our what our loyalty to Him is to be. 1. Construction (vv.28-30) 2. Military (v.31) Diplomacy (v.32)
Here is the question: Are we willing to make Jesus our whole life, instead of low on the list of priorities, or not on the list at all?
Ill. Do you remember a man by the name of Richard Stockton? I didn't until I did preparation for this lesson. He was one of the signers of the Declaration Of Independence. He was a prominent lawyer, and landowner. Because he supported the war efforts, he and his family were driven from their home. That home was sacked and burned. Stockton was imprisoned for several years. Being subjected to harsh treatment, it finally broke his health, and he died a pauper at the age of 51. How many of us remember this hero who paid a high price for the cause of liberty? How many of us would go that far for the cause of Jesus Christ? Are we loyal Christians?
[3] HE WANTS OUR LABOR (Luke 14:34-35)
If you evaporate a ton of water f rom the Pacific Ocean, you would get 79 pounds of salt. A ton of Atlantic water would give you 81 pounds of salt. The Dead Sea would give you 500 pounds of salt. Jesus uses the illustration of salt to describe our purpose and work as Christians. One of the greatest uses of salt is for "flavoring." At McDonald's, what would a french fry be without salt? We as Christians, are God's "flavoring for this world." Flavoring this world with the things of God. In our daily lives, we show the world, the power, preservation, and purposes of God.
Ill. A Journalism professor disguised himself as a homeless person and spent a few nights on the street of a large city.
He reported that the shelters provided him with sandwiches and soft-drinks, but nobody, not even at a church run shelter, offered him a word of spiritual counsel. Columnist William Raspberry says, that when a church fails to offer spiritual help, it's "playing away from it's strength." It's like a 7 foot basketball player who attempts long jump shots, or when he's near the basket, he keeps bringing the ball down to his chest level before shooting. Coaches refer to a tall player who wastes his height advantage as "a big may playing small." As Christians we have a big God, who in us, and through us, can do great things. Let's not continue to play small for Him.
Conclusion: These are the essentials in following Jesus.
"Let's make Jesus our Life, and when we do, our life will be the best it can be."
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