05/21/2023 - Part 3 - Worthy Of Jesus

May 21, 2023 Mother's Day Fruit Baskets vs. Candles Personal History Day - June Worthy of Jesus ~ God's Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life Matthew 10: 34-39 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Luke 14:25-35 NKJV 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. [Cannot finish] 34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" [You're a disciple, but have less flavor/zeal love for Christ than M, F, S, B, W, yes, even his own life, etc., then it's a life that is like a shell - that only has gain or profit on this side of life and the world, but nothing of significance for its soul in the hereafter. Luke 14:25-35 Amplified Bible 25 Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; 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 [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]-he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will 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 who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace. 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions. 34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words." Begin Here . . . This morning we're returning to a message mini-series that I introduced a few weeks ago entitled Worthy of Jesus. That series has been a challenge for each of us to examine our hearts as to whether we are Worthy of Jesus based on our love for Him versus the love we possess for family - our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, sisters, brothers, and even our own life. Today would be the third and final installment, but I have a confession to make of which I blame the Holy Spirit for. After reviewing the last preached message in this series, I realize that although the message was sound, I actually failed to give you the central principle. In comedy they call it the punch line, in story telling it's called the moral of the story, in preaching it's called the close! Today, I want to give you the close to the previous installment of the Worthy of Jesus Series. The title of today's message is: Worthy of Jesus ~ God's Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life Admittedly, I got so caught up preaching the message of Worthy of Jesus and explaining what Jesus called unworthy following - until I failed to zero in on [how Jesus distinguishes a disciple who is Worthy of Him from a follower who is unworthy. There is a standard that Jesus poses to every follower and would-be disciple of Him that helps us understand who a worthy disciple is and who is not. No one can just walk on or walk in and self-declare themselves a worthy follower of Christ. Nooo. Jesus separated and distinguished talkers from doers; church members from born again members; the halfhearted from the fully committed; and the sincere from the fully surrendered. [For the record, Lord willing, there will be a fourth installment after today's message . . . But first I must give you the rest of the story from installment No# 2. That story is found in Luke 14:25-35 NKJV . . . listen to how it reads: 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. [Cannot finish] 34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" [You're a disciple, but have less flavor/zeal love for Christ than M, F, S, B, W, yes, even his own life, etc., then it's a life that is like a shell - that only has gain or profit on this side of life and the world, but nothing of significance for its soul in the hereafter. Jesus has an expectation of every true disciple whom He deems worthy of Him. In our last installment, I focused on why Jesus issued such a strong demand for anyone comes to HIM and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, WHY he cannot be a WORTHY disciple. 27 And WHY whoever does not bear his cross and come after JESUS cannot be HIS disciple.. Similarly in Matthew 10, Jesus spoke to the 12. But in Luke Chapter 14: 25-35 Jesus is speaking to the masses which includes me and you. In Jesus' use of the word "HATE", it is to be translated "a lesser love". (Example: Love for Mom vs. friend; Cousin vs. Stranger; Wife vs. Co-worker or Neighbor; Blood thicker than Water). [Hatred here is to be interpreted in the sense of "indifference to" or for people dear to us in comparison with our attitude toward God]. These are strong words coming from Jesus! But they're coming from a heart of pure love and concern for wanting every man, woman, boy and girl to be saved and have eternal life. He doesn't want us to miss the blessing of being born again and having eternal life because we have believed a false doctrine. [If interpreted any differently than that, then confusion will control your thoughts]. Jesus is coming hard and truthful in this passage to dispel any confusion in the hearts and minds of would-be worthy followers -- especially as to what is required of them to be true worthy disciples. He knew there would be people who liked what they saw in Him and for that reason would want to follow Him - but on their own terms. He also knew that there would be people and religions that totally despised HIM and God's plan of salvation for mankind. The NT is replete with examples of such people. Tragically, many people want to get close to Jesus today in the same way, for the same reasons -- but again on their own terms. In the interest of Jesus not wanting any man to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance and have everlasting life - His motive in this passage is to ensure that no one is left out or confused about what is required to be a true, worthy follower of Christ. Equally, He is heading off anyone being deceived into thinking they're right with God and they're not; and as well Jesus is attempting to head off people making a false start with Him and not going all the way because their hearts aren't all in. What is required? Listen Again . . . to this passage and hear Jesus' heartbeat for worthy disciples: 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. The Shift . . . the requirement . . . 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. [Cannot finish] Worthy of Jesus means finishing with Jesus. Finishing with Jesus means starting out right with Jesus. Jesus is welcoming followers who are all in, sold out, no strings attached followers. These are deemed worthy disciples who are worthy of the price Jesus paid to rescue lost souls. The dividing line between a worthy disciple and a casual, convenient follower of Christ is Jesus having full access and jurisdiction to a would-be follower's life. The only way this will happen is that hearts have to be detached from other loved ones or things. Every follower who is aspiring to become a disciple, who is worthy of Jesus, must first add up the cost of discipleship. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? You must predetermine if following Jesus is what you want. Is what He presents is worth it to you. you must calculate the cost - so as to avoid false starts - and whether you can go all the way with Him to the finish line . . . or Not! Jesus is looking for followers who can finish. He wants finishers. Those who have calculated that there is no greater choice in life than Jesus. The only way a true disciple can finish is that they are not tied to others Mother, father, S, B, Wife, -- but they are free to love Jesus and free from finish. Is your heart set on finishing. Here, Jesus is trying to head off anyone making a false start (or multiple false starts) in following Him because you have not understood what is required to live Worthy of Jesus. Jesus was calling for His disciples, and now us, to cultivate such a devotion to Him that our attachment to everything else - including our own lives - would seem like hatred by comparison. To conclude Jesus' final test and requirement of being worthy of Him, look at verse 27 . . . it reads . . . 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. In other words, 27 Whoever does not willingly carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. Did you know that if you don't live worthy of Jesus, that is, in a way that He says represents unparalleled love for Him verses your love for mama or daddy or sister or brother - you can't be His disciple because you won't endure to the end - nor through thick and thin - to finish following Him. In essence, the love you have for family or others that is more than for Christ will control you and dictate how far you will go with Jesus. If Jesus isn't in the driver's seat of your life, then the one under the steering wheel will take you wherever they choice. Don't let the devil drive. When Jesus says, "You're not worthy of Me - He's really saying: You're not ready for me, that is, to serve uninhibited or without condition; without shackles or ties to another supreme vice or authority in your life. You're not ready to be sold out, or to go all the way with me; to finish with Me. Why does Jesus place such a great emphasis on choosing between loving others (loved ones) versus loving Him? Living in a way that is worthy of Him alone? Because Jesus knows He and His love is the only love that can complete a person. No other love so completes a person like Jesus' love. All other loves come short of doing what only the love of Jesus has done and can do. What is that LOVE? Here are some examples: * Isaiah 53 * Romans 6 yet sinners * Roman 8 no condemnation; no separation * John 17 no one pluck you out of my hand * Colossians 2 complete in Him (v10) Songs: * Without God, I would be nothing * Amazing Grace . . . how sweet the sound, I was lost but now I'm found * If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be . . . * At the Cross where I first saw the light, * Love lifted Me, when nothing else could help, Love lifted me. * Take me back, Take me back to the place where I first received you . . . * Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine oh What a foretaste of Glory Divine * What a Friend We Have in Jesus all our Sins and Griefs to Bear * I've been washed in the Blood of the Crucified One . . . .. * Oh the Blood, Oh the Blood of Jesus . . . * Nothing but the Blood . . Nothing but the blood of Jesus . . . Finally, "What is a finisher from Jesus' perspective? * One whose love for Christ is greater than family v.26 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. * Uninhibited, unrestrained following of Christ v. 27 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. In other words . . . 27 Whoever does not willingly carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. * Being honest and true with self v. 24 (Don't say you're salt when you're not) Amplified Bible Version on this passage - Luke 14:34-35 34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words." 34 "Therefore, salt is good [following is good]; but if salt [following] has become tasteless [following has become meaningless, other than about Jesus (picking up your cross, laying down your life meaningful), with what will it be seasoned? [what in this life, what else this side of life can give you life after this life is over?, that is, everlasting life?] 35 It [this life] is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words." Worthy of Jesus ~ God's Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life END . . . 1