This Sunday we ended our series on "Impact!" For the past month, I have been challenging us to become a new church committed to making a lasting #IMPACT on the community and world around us! It culminated with Sunday's message on "Moving Forward by Moving ON!"
If we are going to grow and go in the Lord, it will require us to be willing to COUNT the COST of Discipleship and EMBRACE the DEMANDS of Discipleship! It will also require us to know the difference between being a FAN of Christ (one who watches from a distance and admires the work without partaking in the work) and a FOLLOWER of Christ; one who desires to walk synchronized with Christ and experience new heights, levels and depths by being a partaker and participator in the work WITH HIM. We drove home this point from 4 Teaching Points:
I. DEALING WITH DISCOMFORT.
Jesus taught those interested in following Him that it will require seasons & moments of discomfort and inconvenience. He reiterated this by telling them He Himself was homeless. To add context to this, we must be reminded this same Lord & Savior would inconvenienced at many other moments. Friends would betray Him, folks would ridicule Him, reject Him and of course ultimately crucify Him. He wanted to remind them that following him came with a cost. It will require you to change the perception we have of ministry and discipleship being about our comfort and our own preferences. Following Him would mean following Him into places that will get uncomfortable, inconvenient and often times right out TOUGH. But the shout? Who else to be following than the one who has the power to supply everything you need in life's difficult moments? After every cross, there is a crown that comes from being faithful in bearing it.
When we become consumed by our comforts and conveniences, we become ineffective disciples because of our complacency. Our complacency causes us to SETTLE in places that lead us to forget about how God is ALL we need to survive. Are you willing to give up convenience and comfort to experience God's power, provision and protection? You haven't given GOD YOUR ALL until you have GIVEN UP some stuff for the sake of following Him.
II. BE DECISIVE ABOUT YOUR DESIRES
As our text continues, one man is willing to follow God; BUT with a stipulation first. He tells Jesus that he will follow Him IF he could go bury his father first. Is Jesus being insensitive by telling him NO? Not at all. Jesus knew the real motive. The man's request was more tied to his greed for his father's inheritance according to the culture of the day. Simply put, he wanted the PERCEPTION to be that his desire was to follow God, but his REALITY was that he wasn't truly all in if his desires were still for greed, money and materialism.
How many of us have not truly embraced following Christ because of life's "BUTS?" Lord, I'll come BUT I need more time...I'll be more committed BUT let me make this money first...I'll serve you BUT let me still have the world too? In a way, Jesus is challenging the man to exchange his personal desires for GOD'S desire. True discipleship will require us to MAKE UP OUR MINDS on where we stand with Christ as opposed to the desires of our own lives, flesh and past lives. STOP STRADDLING...COME OFF THE FENCE! Those desires will soon consume themselves and end in death and destruction. A life following Christ will lead to blessings, fulfillment and ABUNDANT LIFE with greater than you could ever achieve following your own desires and lusts of your flesh.
III. DEAL WITH DISCONNECT
The next person makes a promise to follow Christ if he could only go home and bid his family farewell. Jesus teaches him that he cannot look back! There's obviously something tied to the people and environment at the man's home that Jesus knew would hinder him in ever coming and following him. Jesus' answer to the man is consequential that he tells him looking/going back would make him UNFIT for the kingdom! Wow. What an indictment? An indictment that is a reality for many all over claiming to be kingdom citizens. It is possible to be IN the Kingdom and UNFIT for the kingdom!!!
Jesus uses an agricultural plow as his teaching tool. He understood that just like plowing, the work of Discipleship required deep, focused concentration on what's been placed in our hands. Plowing also requires accuracy and precision to make the most out of every opportunity in the field. When we lose focus from looking back, around and away it effects the quality and quantity of the work we are doing for God. Jesus subsequently teaches us through his dialouge with the man that to move forward it will require us to DISCONNECT from anything or anyone who gets in the way of us growing in our work and walk with the Lord! What are you holding on to at the expense of your spiritual growth? He also teaches us through this point that our loyalty must be to GOD FIRST above anything or anyone else.
IV. DETERMINE YOUR DIRECTION
MOVE FORWARD! Don't look back. Determine today that you are moving forward with following Christ into becoming the Disciple HE wants you to be!
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