Do you need to be committed (Lesson 2)

What does it take to be totally committed.

Luke 14:27-32 NASB  "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  (28)  "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?  (29)  "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'  (31)  "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  (32)  "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

The committed disciple surrenders to Christ.  We are to carry our own cross.  Jesus was made to carry His cross.  To the Romans, this was a symbol of guilt.  However, was Jesus guilty of anything?  He was guilty of being the Son of God.  He was guilty of loving us to the point that He would die for us. 

 

The notion that we must carry our own cross means that we too must be willing to die for Jesus.  Do we take this to lightly today; do we live in a lull?  Many times in the early church history we see individuals put to the test for being a Christian.  History speaks of people accepting Jesus because of the unwavering faith of these martyrs.  These people counted the cost of serving Jesus and even though they lost their lives, it was worth it. 

Every time we begin a project, we count the cost.  How silly would be for a contractor to commit to a project and not figure ahead of time what it is going to cost.  How would he ever stay in business?  The cost for each of us might be different.  You may have to quit the job that wants you to do dishonest things.  You may be ostracized at school or in social settings because you do not do the party scene.  God is our heavenly father, He is in control, and He knows how to take care of His children.  Always hold on to God it will be worth the cost.

Do you need to be committed (Lesson 1)

What does it take to be totally committed.

Luke 14:25-26 NASB  Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,  (26)  "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

The committed disciple loves Jesus supremely.  The bible tells us to love our families, but our ultimate allegiance is to Christ.  Many times our love for Christ is in direct opposition to our family desires and can cause confusion.  We must remember that Paul begs us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice.  This sometimes is the hardest thing to do.  However, I have seen times when one family member stands tall for Jesus and before long the entire family has come to Jesus.

 

If we are to be the living sacrifice, which Paul is talking about, we must change from a self-centered life to a Jesus-centered life.  The sad thing is people even take this too far.  This does not mean that we must jump head long into Seminary or go off to a foreign country to become a missionary.  If God has called you to do this type of work, allow me to be the first to say Amen BROTHER or SISTER.  

We are to take our talents, dreams, and ambitions ground them in the love of Jesus and use them in our own unique ministry for Him.  Our daily jobs, school or other activities must be our mission field.  Without the love of Jesus, we would be doing those things for worldly motives.  When Agape love for Christ is applied, we have a Jesus-centered life in total commitment to Him.

What does it take to be a Citizen of God’s Kingdom (Lesson 3)

Luke 13:28-30 NASB  "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.  (29)  "And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.  (30)  "And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last."

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God requires the credentials of a personal relationship with Christ.  In the career world, it has been said, “it is not what you know but who you know”.  In the spiritual world, it is “Who knows you”.

How can we know that Jesus knows us?  Paul tells us in Romans 10:13, “who so ever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”.  Paul also tells us in Romans 8:16, “the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our very spirit that we are children of God”.  

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, Call on him.  Church attendance, offering, Baptism, and Prayer can all be done in Jesus’ name.  None of these makes you a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

You must be born again to gain citizenship.

What does it take to be a Citizen of God’s Kingdom (Lesson 2)

Luke 13:25-27 NASB  "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.'  (26)  "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets';  (27)  and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.'

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God requires a faith relationship with Jesus.  The people in these verses who stood on the outside had knowledge of Jesus.

The sad truth is there comes a time when the door shuts.  Titus 1:16 tells us that they profess to know God but their actions deny Him.  

Jesus says, “Not everyone who cries Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.”

We must realize we are to do God’s will.  His will is that we totally surrender in faith and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord believing He bleed, died and is risen.