The Cost To Follow Christ
THE COST TO FOLLOW CHRIST – TRUE REPENTANCE
Matthew 10 v 34-39 : Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16 v 23-27 : But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
…..Do we live to please God or man? Judgment Day will reveal the Truth.
For the strongest verse in the New Testament on this read Luke 14 v 26 and 27.
THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN
The fall of all creation came through ONE act of disobedience – Genesis 2 v 17 – Genesis 3 v 1-24.
How seriously do we take SIN?
How seriously do we take GOD’S COMMANDMENTS?
God deals with both, with utter (absolute) seriousness!
What is the qualifying factor, apart from the Blood of Christ, for Christians to enter the Heavenly City:
Revelation 22 v 13 – 14: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
…..in other words there are conditions set to enter God’s Eternal Presence – Beware modern version remove these conditions to fool God’s people (Satan’s work).
Read the following 2 sections in ‘To The Glory of God’
1). Not under Law but under Grace / He that loves Me will Obey My Commandments
2). Obeying the Commandments of God
God Commands us to be Holy as He is Holy (separate from the world/sin – in the world but not of the world)
Leviticus 20 v 7-8: Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
1Peter 1 v 14-16: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Here are 3 Warnings from Scripture if we are not……..
James 4 v 4-5: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
1John 2 v 15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will
of God abideth for ever.
1 Corinthians 3 v 16-17: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The church, especially in the western world, has long forgotten the meaning of these Scriptures.
So what is the cost to follow Christ - to enter the gates of Heaven. What does it mean to be holy - to walk in God’s Commandments…..
Every area of our lives need to be inline with God’s Word, the Bible….hence we need the pure uncorrupted Word of God NOT the devil’s counterfeit. It took only one act of disobedience to bring all creation down – Satan only needs to corrupt one Commandment in God’s Holy Word to bring us down (Go through manuscript evidence to expose the devil’s counterfeit bibles and prove the True Word of God).
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND GOD’S GREAT COMMANDMENT
Deuteronomy 11 v 13: And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your
God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul……
Mark 12 v 29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.
What does this really mean and how do we live it?
How does Satan work to prevent this?
Behold a sower went forth to sow…….
Mark 4 v 5-7: And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and
immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when
they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of
other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Verses 18 and 19 characterizes the ‘Foolish Virgins’ of Matthew 25 / the ‘Sardis/Laodicean’ churchs of Revelation 3 - which ALL speak of Christ’s Coming and what Jesus states regarding His Return:
Luke 18 v 8 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
What are these weeds of the enemy that Choke the Word of God, which if not removed will render a Christian useless and fruitless?
- Wrong Relationships including adultery, fornication and the fear of man.
- Idols, which includes anything in the place of God, or slowly pushing God out.
- Entertainments of the world including music, films/movies, books, magazines, sports, games and even toys – Satan uses most of these as his propaganda machine.
Revelation 12 v 9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth...
- The arm of flesh including medicine/hospitals/doctors.
- Indulgences which Scripture warns us of, such as luxuries like expensive cloths and jewellery or over eating.
There are other areas of our lives which need to be looked at carefully to see if they are in agreement with God’s Word and glorify Him, these include how we bring up/train the family God has given (plus education – is it pagan?), the work we do, holidays (where we go, what we do, and why), are we true salt and light in this world?
Situations like what a Christian should do in war, needs Biblical understanding etc.
Church life is also a critical factor including headship, teaching on marriage/family, fasting, exposing false doctrine and teaching the full council of God – the Fear of God and how to Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Matthew 28 v 19-20: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Proverbs 1 v 7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
John 14 v 15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Coming for a Bride without spot, wrinkle or blemish:
Ephesians 5 v 25b-27: ...Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Are we Ready - if not we will be left behind to be made holy through Tribulation.
Let us now look in detail at the weeds which Satan plants, which we need to remove……
Psalm 101 v 2-3, Deuteronomy 7 v 26.