Three Barriers to Following Christ
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INTRODUCTION:
When confronted with the decision to follow Christ, many people find that they are faced with barriers that must be overcome. Which of these barriers are you facing?
A- Background to Text
I- INABILITY TO GRASP FUNDAMENTALS RELATED TO FOLLOWING CHRIST ().
I- INABILITY TO GRASP FUNDAMENTALS RELATED TO FOLLOWING CHRIST ().
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
A- Following Christ requires having a focus that is beyond physical appetites ().
A- Following Christ requires having a focus that is beyond physical appetites ().
24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.
25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
1- Jesus had fed the multitude, and many could not see beyond the physical miracle.
2- Many had sought him out simply for him to meet physical needs.
3- Jesus warned those who had sought him out for the wrong reasons. He urged them to seek eternal life rather than the satisfaction of physical desires.
4- Jesus warned those who had sought him out for the wrong reasons. He urged them to seek eternal life rather than the satisfaction of physical desires. You must come to the place where you recognize that you have for deeper needs than just the physical.
4- You must come to the place where you recognize that you have for deeper needs than just the physical.
B- Following Christ requires a faith response to Christ. ()
B- Following Christ requires a faith response to Christ. ()
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
1- The people had responded to Jesus by stating that they wanted to perform God’s works and asked for Jesus to tell them what to do. ().
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
C- Following Christ requires obedience that sometimes seems difficult ().
C- Following Christ requires obedience that sometimes seems difficult ().
48 Yes, I am the bread of life!
49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.
50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.
55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.
58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
1- The people did not understand the instructions that Jesus was giving them.
2- Jesus explained to them that by faith they could appropriate his life as theirs, resulting in eternal life. ().
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.
37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.
38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.
39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.
40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
3- Sometimes, we have great difficulty accepting the simplicity of the gospel – preferring some more difficult route to eternal life.
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?
A- He demands unconditional commitment.
A- He demands unconditional commitment.
1- Loyal to Christ alone.
()
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
()
30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
2- Giving him first place, not the leftovers.
()
13 You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.
14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!
(Mark 19)
The rich young ruler.
“Lord I’ll give you 50%!”
B- He demands total obedience.
B- He demands total obedience.
1- He gives us instructions for all areas of life.
a. Physical
b. emotional
c. financial
d. spiritual
2- he expects total obedience.
()
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
()
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
King Saul did not obey the Lord and suffered the consequences.
Illustration: “What did the turkey do?”
C- He demands absolute trust.
C- He demands absolute trust.
1- Trusting him to save. ()
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
2- trusting him to secure ()
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
3- trusting him to supply () ().
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’
6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.
7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.
9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’
6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.
7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.
9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’
The sending of the 70. ()
4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
III- INDECISION TOWARD MAKING THE REQUIRED COMMITMENT ().
III- INDECISION TOWARD MAKING THE REQUIRED COMMITMENT ().
A- He requires commitment to the fact that he is the only Savior. ()
A- He requires commitment to the fact that he is the only Savior. ()
1- Eternal life is a gift and cannot be earned.().
62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)
a. Human effort avails nothing.
(1) Attempting to make it your own way will not work. (, )
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
b. The gospel of Christ is the word of life.
()
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
()
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
2- A person must come to Christ while he is being called ().
65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
3- A person can only be saved through Christ.
()
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
()
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
B- He requires commitment to his Lordship.
B- He requires commitment to his Lordship.
1- Jesus is not looking for a surface belief, but a true heartfelt commitment to him as Lord.
()
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
2- Each of us must make the choice to follow convictional faith. ().
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”
71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
3- We will either bow the knee to him now as Lord and receive salvation, or bow before him as Lord on Judgment Day and remain lost. ().
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
CONCLUSION:
A- Summary:
Which of these barriers are you facing?
I- INABILITY TO GRASP FUNDAMENTALS RELATED TO FOLLOWING CHRIST ().
II- INTIMIDATION BY HIS DEMANDS FOR DISCIPLESHIP ().
III- INDECISION TOWARD MAKING THE REQUIRED COMMITMENT ().