The Cost of Discipleship

Text:  Matthew 8:16-23

The call to discipleship is the call to follow Jesus.  That requires a lot of moving.  Jesus is always up to something.  Being reminded of that coupled with the statement - "between the altar and the door", I found myself seeing the choices set before me, daily, even hourly to decide whether I will choose the altar or the door.  As the pastor's wife, I sit in the second row, figuratively closer to the altar than just about everyone else in church.  But, the power is AT the altar, not being near it.   Sitting in the second row makes me no more a beneficiary of the power of the altar, than the person sitting in the back row.  

We all must come to the altar... if we are to be followers.  Followers can't sit ANYWHERE between the altar and the door.  

I considered the scribe who so boldly announced to Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go.  Scribes were the Bible experts.  They knew it well.  If Jesus had failed to follow the law in just one point, I don't think this scribe would have wanted to follow Jesus.  In Jesus, this scribe had found the real thing. But, scribes were used to the niceties of life.  So, in verse 20, Jesus reminded him that following Him could mean walking away from those things.  The next disciple in the story wanted to take care of the demands and cares of this life first.  So, in verse 22, Jesus challenged him.

We don't know how either of these men responded.  Maybe, because I have a natural tendency to be like the scribe, I'd like to think the scribe took Jesus up on His offer.  If the Word of God was important to this scribe, how much more would be the One who was able to follow it and make it real?

Hopefully, we were all challenged this morning.  Hopefully, the Lord spoke to us in that area that tends to keep us from following Him (in whatever turns He takes).  And, hopefully, we will choose the altar.  The door is a bad option.   So, is any point between the door and the altar.  

And when Jesus saw great multitudes around Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. (verse 18)

Now, when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  (verse 23)

In between those two verses is a call  - Follow Me and a challenge that reminds us that, when Jesus calls, He knows exactly the demands and priorities of our lives. Yet, He calls us anyway.  Will we walk away like the rich young ruler of another story?  Or will we choose to get in the boat like the disciples of verse 23?

As we can read in the next verses, getting in the boat did not enable them to avoid the storms of life.  But it did enable them to be eye witnesses of God's work and His protection in the storm.    We discover that at the altar.

Guarding Your Guilt

As I sat at my desk this morning, contemplating this topic of guilt, which plagues so many (all of us at one time or another), I thought about the cure for guilt.  The cure for guilt is the cross.  Without the cross, you and I would be stuck with our guilt.  There is no other remedy.  But, like the cough medicine that remains in the cabinet while we hack away, God's remedy for our guilt often remains with the cap still tightly screwed on the bottle.

First, we need to analyze our guilt to determine its source. Are you feeling the godly conviction of sin, —or twisted emotions from enemies within?

The remedy is the same.  Yet, the voice of one, reassures us with the hope of forgiveness, drawing our focus to our loving, forgiving Lord Jesus; the other condemns and draws our focus inward to our failing, sin prone selves.  How do you determine whether you are feeling godly conviction or enemy/self condemnation?  Look at who you are drawn to look at - Jesus' accomplishments on the cross for you or your failure.

Then, how do you unscrew the cap of the bottle of God's forgiveness?  Here are 3 steps:

1 and 2.  Acknowledge and confess your sin.

Psalm 32:5  I acknowledged my sin to You,And my iniquity I have not hidden.I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. 

1 John 1:9 

    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

3.  Repent

Acts 3:19  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 

In acknowledging, confessing, and repenting we are admitting our sin, agreeing with God that it is wrong and determining (in His strength and your choices) to turn from that sin.  There is no short cut.  If you leave one out, you will either remain in your guilt or remain in your sin.

Notice the results of our obedience to our part - God's sure forgiveness, God's sure cleansing from ALL unrighteousness and times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord.

When we continue to "hack" away, letting the guilt of our sin get the best of us, we are missing out on the cure Jesus died to provide for us.  Confession and repentance restore our relationship with the Lord so that we no longer dread being in His presence for fear of retribution, but we long for His presence because that is the place of refreshment.  And, oh how you and I need to be refreshed by Him.

As we come to the close of 2012, we tend to evaluate our lives or at least the previous year.  Failures will certainly pop up for each of us.  What place will they have in 2013 for you?

Jesus Came to Get Messy

What is the messiest thing to you?  My first thought is that of crickets crawling all over me.  If I allow myself to keep thinking, I could probably envision many things that I think are messy - things I would prefer to avoid. I will entertain those thoughts no further.  The thoughts I would like to entertain is what Jesus considers messy.  The messiest thing to Jesus is sin.  He is so holy, He can't look upon it.  Yet, He came to dwell in the midst of it.  He came to take it upon Himself, because truly, sin is sticky.  It's a substance that sticks to you and me and no efforts on our part seem to be able to free us from it.  

Jesus, who dwelt in glory.  Jesus who dwelt in purity.  Jesus who dwelt in perfection, condensed Himself into the womb of a virgin and, upon His birth, experienced life in a way He had never personally known.  Expelled from Mary's womb and laid in a feeding trough (which was probably very messy - no bleach, no Lysol, no disinfectant), serenaded to sleep (something He also had not done before) by the mooing of cows and the baaing of sheep. Quite a contrast to the melodies of heaven!

I think I'm going to put mud on the baby Jesus of our nativity.  I think that rather than clean straw, I'm going to put mud on my table where the manger sits.  I'll keep the angel clean.  Angels probably know nothing of messiness.  That's one of the many reasons why Jesus is better than the angels.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, [2] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [3] who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:-4

 He is better for many reasons.  But right now, today, I think He's better because He was willing to get messy.   As Jesus laid in that feeding trough, He experienced grime for the first time.  But, that grime would pale in comparison to the grime He would take on 33 years later as He allowed His body to get messy with the spit of others and the blood of His own body.  Yet, even that was bearable.  It was when He took on your sins and my sins - when He put on our messes, that Jesus really got messy.  

But - that's what He came to do.  He came to get messy so that we might be cleansed.  He came to take our dirt, our sticky dirt.  

As Pastor Dale shared with us, " Instead of having a messy Christmas, we can have a merry Christmas.  The ONLY reason you and I can have a merry Christmas is because Jesus had a messy Christmas.

Jesus came to get messy - for you and for me.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

2 Corinthians 5:21

    Merry Christmas!

Taming Your Temptation

'Tis the season....  the season to, rather than turn away from temptation, turn over to it.  So many temptations seem to be placed just a little bit closer to us.  Many of the places we go to that rarely had sweets before, now offer the sumptuous fudges and sugar cookies.  Church, homes.... we can't seem to escape the allure of sugar and chocolate.  Retail stores place  many of the things we don't need, but suddenly seem to really want, right in the center isles.  

Should I?  Aw, it's Christmas, just a little more than usual won't hurt me.  So, we eat a little more and we spend a little more.  When January arrives, we may find the little mores added up to a lot more than we thought and the thrill of the moment we yield to in December is long gone.

The decisions to eat a little more or spend a little more don't tend to be that detrimental.  Yet, they are reminders to us of the kind of thinking that can lead to detrimental consequences or at least thinking that takes us out of our Lord's will for us.  

Probably the greatest temptation during this holiday season is not one to "do" something, but one to "not to do".Our greatest temptation can be to slack off on our devotional time with the Lord.  Is that you?  Have you "turned over" to that one?  If so, turn back - and turn back today.  When Jesus meets our needs, the other temptations of the season lose their attraction to us.  Don't fight temptations by simply trying to turn away from them.  Fight them by turning to the Lord by spending time with Him.  

Eugene Peterson wrote this paraphrase of Psalm 4:6-8.  Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more", they say.  "More, more."  I have God's more-than-enough.  More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.  At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep.  For you, God, have put my life back together.

Here's the key to taming temptation, this holiday season and always.  ... put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.  Romans 13:14

What have you discovered to help you keep Jesus as your "reason for the season"?

The House That Stands

Having set forth the principles of discipleship, Jesus closed this sermon with a series of choices for those who would follow Him.  

The house(life) that stands has made some choices.  He/she has considered paths, trees, professions, and foundations.

Matthew 7:13-27 contains four sets of twos:

1.  2 paths (verses 13,14)

2.  2 trees ((verses 15-20)

3.  2 kinds of people (verses 21-23)

4.  2 kinds of builders (verses 24-27)

Two gates - the narrow gate and the wide gate.  One well trodden, chosen by many.  The other, narrow and difficult, found by few.  The narrow gate leads to life -  eternal life and, may we not too quickly dismiss these choices as relating only to our salvation, but also to abundant life here and now.  As Pastor Dale reminded us, "It's not only the narrow path to get in, but it's the narrow path the whole way home".

Two kinds of trees - One bears good fruit; the other just can't.  It can only bear bad fruit.  The kind of fruit born reveals the tree.  It takes time to go from a sapling, to a tree, to bearing fruit.  Take time and watch.  Watch for false teachers.  Do they shun from teaching the narrow way?

Two kinds of people - those who only say "Lord" and those the Lord calls "Mine".  Who will they stand before?  Jesus.  Who will determine their entrance into heaven?  Jesus.  What will be the basis of that entrance?  Those who do the will of the Father and those who do not.  What is the will of the Father?  John 16:29 and John 14:21 - Believe on His Son.  The fruit of that will be loving His Son by keeping His commandments.

Those whom Jesus reject will point to what they have done.  Those whom Jesus accepts will point to what He has done.

Two kinds of builders - foolish and wise - those who only hear the word and those who hear it and do it. The foolish fall when the storms of life come; the wise stand.  There is a place where houses stand, even when there's been a storm.  Those who stand have built on the Rock;  on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.

Those who fall, even in this life, are those who take the easy way, the short cut, the cheaper materials.

What choices are you making with the storms that confront your life today?  Your choice will determine whether you fall or whether you stand.  

There was much in this message today.  What spoke to you?

Fighting Your Fear

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. [10] Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. [11] For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:8-11

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  Matthew 1:23

In two weeks, the date we have designated to celebrate the birth of our Lord will, again, be behind us.  The process of moving on into another year will be upon us.  Will we be any different in 2013 as far as we relate to our fears?

Fear not, for I am with you;
 Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,
 I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

God's answer to our fears is His presence.  On that holy night in that little town of Bethlehem, "the hopes and fears of all the years" were met in Him.

In what ways has the Savior's coming and the Savior's continued presence calmed your fears?
    


    

Do Also To Others

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12

The Sermon on the Mount is a reminder of God's higher demands (and gracious equipping) on those who chose to follow Him.  Thus, Jesus often began with the phrase you have heard it said.  The people had heard Matthew 7:12 stated in another way - what we would call the negative form.  Religion is full of "do not's".  They had heard, "Do not do to others what you would not like done to you".  But, Jesus calls His followers to do MORE; He calls His followers not to simply refrain from evil, but to do good.  Thus, the "But, I say" of Jesus is Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.

 I was drawn to this last phrase of this verse:  for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13-14  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

Jesus' statement in Matthew 7:12, was nothing new.  It was simply the correct application of the second great commandment (see Matthew 22:37-40).   

Whatever you want men to do to you...  I love that.  That says to me that my desires regarding treatment of others is normal and not to be ignored.  It is natural to want from others.  But, this verse also shows me what I am to do when I find myself looking to others; I am to do for them.  Over and over again in Scripture, we find this to be God's answer to our desires from others.  The remedy for wanting from others is to counter with seeking a way to bless them.  In this is the Law and the Prophets.

Disarming Discouragement

"How's the world treating you?".  It was a question asked of me yesterday, with no more of an expectation of a real answer than the general greeting we offer "How are you?".  My answer was no more reflective than the answer we typically give to the latter question - "fine".  But, it got me thinking.  I don't ask myself that question.  My answer would often doom me to discouragement.  My hope is not in this world.

As we close another year, we can be prone to evaluating our lives.  That's a good thing - as long as our evaluations are based on the spiritual.  But, may we not evaluate how the world has treated us this year.  The world disappoints.  It was intended (after the fall) to disappoint.

But, God intends for us to have hope.  

Consider Romans 5:3-5: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; [4] and perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

What have the tribulations of this year produced in you?  God intends for them to produce perseverance, character and hope - a hope that does not disappoint.  Disappointed?  Discouraged?  Examine in who or in what you have placed your hope.  A hope placed in the Lord will not disappoint.  Why?  Look at the last part of verse 5...because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  As believers, we have a source of hope, a tool, to combat discouragement that unbelievers do not have.     

Discouragement can be like a bomb set before us.  It can't be ignored.  It must be disarmed.

The precipitators of discouragement will be always be a part of our lives.  So, I ask not, "What do you do to prevent them in your life?", but I ask, what do you do when they come?  


2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 
    Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

    

Seek First

This morning Pastor Dale talked about trusting God, specifically for our finances.   Storing our treasures in heaven is an indication that we trust Him to provide for us today and to keep His promises to us.  Many of God's promises are conditional.  He has made promises to us that are dependent on us doing our part.

Here's just a few:

Verse	Our Part	God's Part
Matt. 6:33	Seek first the things of God's kingdom	Provide for what we need in this temporal kingdom
Mal. 3:10-11	Bring tithes to the storehouse	Pour out  blessings & rebuke the devour
Isa. 26:3	Keep our mind on God &  trust Him	He will keep us in perfect peace
Matt. 11:28	Come to God	He will give you rest
James 4:7	Submit to God; Resist the Devil	The devil will flee from you
James 4:8	Draw near to God	He will draw near to you
James 4:10	Humble yourself in God's sight	He will lift you up
John 3:16	Believe in Jesus	He will give you eternal life

What a challenge to us to not be "selective" believers of God's Word.  He is the keeper of all of His promises.  How we miss out when we believe Him for the things of the next life, and ignore His promises to us to equip us and enable us in this life.

No one is able to serve two masters… No one is able to serve God and possessions.  Matthew 6:24 NET

Jesus is challenging us to stop trying to do the impossible.

Unrealistic Expectations and Depression

Okay... here we go.  This blog is about "us".  Please post your thoughts so that we can encourage one another.

In our last Bible study, Disabling Your Depression, we saw that depression can often be anger turned inward.  

The downward spiral of depression often occurs like this:

unrealistic expectation

↓

unresolved hurt

↓

anger

↓

depression

David reminded himself in Psalm 62:5  My soul wait silently on God alone,  for my expectation is from Him.  

What do you expect from God?  As you consider the above chart, what are your thoughts?  Or, please feel free to post any other insights you gained from the study.