COUNTING THE COST PT. 3
LUKE 14 VS 25-35
Luke 14:25-35 (NLT)
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?
35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
COUNTING THE COST OF FELLOWSHIP
John 17:20-21 (NKJV)
20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
**TO BE IN TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER WE NEED TO AGREE ON THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR FAITH**
Amos 3:3 (NKJV)
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
1. WE NEED TO AGREE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD- THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF WHICH WE BELIEVE:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:16-21 (NKJV)
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD AND THAT IS THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST:
**OVER 360 PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MESSIAH WERE FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST – THE ODDS OF ONE MAN FULFILLING EVEN 8 OF THESE PROPHECIES IS 10 TO THE 47TH POWER!!
**HE IS THE SON OF GOD!!!
John 3:16-18 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Matthew 1:21-23 (NKJV)
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to The Father except through Me.
3. WE ARE TO WALK IN THE WILL OF GOD—WHAT WILL THAT DO PREACHER??? I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED…. IT WILL CAUSE US TO GO IN THE SAME DIRECTION! IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR WILL AND I AM DOING MINE, HOW MANY DIRECTIONS ARE WE HEADED IN?? LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT THAT, AND I WILL GUARNTEE YOU THAT THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS ON DIVISIONS, ECT WILL BE ANSWERED:
Mark 3:25 (NKJV)
25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV)
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
** HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS:
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
**IT IS WORTH THE COST TO WALK IN FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, IF WE DO THESE THINGS GOD WILL BLESS OUR CONGREGATION WITH BLESSINGS INUMERABLE!!
