Luke I: Luke 14:25-35

Luke I: No Ifs, Ands, or Buts

January 24th, 2021/Online Broadcast at The Lookout

Passage: 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, by comparison, hate everyone else—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!”

Pray:

Background:

A large crowd of people were following Jesus, but they weren’t following for the right reasons. Jesus was not impressed by their enthusiasm. He turns to the crowd and delivers a message that He knew would thin out those that were following vs. those that were followers.

Still today we have those that are fans of Jesus and those that are followers. We like the miracles, provision, hope, and peace, but we lack self awareness, sacrifice, and submission to the King.

“In the matter of saving lost souls, He wants His house to be filled (Luke 14:23); but in the matter of personal discipleship, He wants only those who are willing to pay the price.” - Warren W. Wiersbe

Jesus ties coming to Him and following Him together. Salvation is open to all who will come by faith, and everyone who comes is called to be a disciple. Coming to the cross and trusting Jesus Christ leads into carrying the cross and following Jesus Christ. As Wiersbe notes, He cautions us not to take discipleship lightly; and in the three parables He gave, He made it clear that there is a high price to pay. Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. Change will always have a cost attached to it.

Title: No ifs, ands, or buts

Big Idea: Following Jesus comes with an extreme cost. Have you counted the cost?

Main Points:

1. WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON?
   1. 25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—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.

   2. Ex: Jesus is using a hyperbole for the purpose of driving home the significance and sacrifice necessary to be a follower, a disciple. The word “hate” does not mean to literally despise or reject, but rather to “love less”.

      1. “The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” - Matthew 10:37
      2. By comparison, our love to Jesus should far exceed that of even our own flesh and blood, our most intimate and personal of relationships.
      3. There is a priority of relationships, there is one person who is elevated far above all other earthly relationships. IN COMPARISON, our relationships with our father, mother, son, or daughter should look like hate compared to our love for Jesus!
      4. I love JESUS SO MUCH that by comparison it looks like nothing else really matters, it looks like by comparison I hate other people, places, things, even myself. Man, I want this to be our prayer as a church

      5. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” - Matthew 16:24 CSB

         3. Question: What does it mean to carry the cross?

      6. Carrying the cross is a daily identification with the shame, suffering, and surrender to God’s will. It means death to our plans, ambitions, passions, and desires. Carrying the “cross” is something that we willingly accept as God’s best for our lives.

      7. Jesus gives a more detailed explanation in John chapter 12:
      8. “23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
      9. FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT ABOUT YOU! Jesus is the priority alone, not the platform to get you where you want to be! Jesus is the destination, not a means to your personal desires! Jesus will not share His loyalties with other earthly possessions, plans, or people!
      10. “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 CSB
      11. Application: This is not a one time act, but a daily decision to devote yourself fully to Him. You wake up, you pick up your cross, and you take your first step.
      12. Question: What in your life have you prioritized over Jesus? Who in your life is the most important person? Repent and turn to Jesus!
      13. RECAP: You want to be a true disciple, you need number 1 to realize the most important person (it’s not you) It’s about Jesus.

      14. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION?

          1. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
          2. Ex: Jesus gives three parables to explain why there is such a high cost to be a disciple: the man building a tower, the king going to war, and the salt losing its flavor.
          3. Jesus says “don’t begin until you count the cost,” so first this is about us. The man building a tower and the king going to war picture the would-be disciple who needs to “count the cost” before stepping into the role of a disciple.
          4. Some teachers, like G. Campbell Morgan and Warren Wiersbe, also see a second picture here: the builder and king as Jesus. “He is the One who must “count the cost” to see whether we are the kind of material He can use to build the church and battle the enemy. He cannot get the job done with halfhearted followers who will not pay the price.” - Warren W. Wiersbe
          5. Building a tower is costly, going into war is dangerous, if we are unleashed as builders and soldiers have we counted the cost and accepted the dangers that await us?!
          6. How many times have I seen or heard someone say yea I want to be used by Jesus-- but I really feel like I should be leading or be used this way -- "naw I can't serve there or put out chairs here, I have a big calling."
          7. In reality we just have to show God we are willing to do anything-- I mean anything!
          8. HE will count the Cost!
          9. HE CAN’T ELEVATE WHAT YOU DON’T MAKE AVAILABLE.
          10. If you give it all -- he can elevate it all.
          11. Question: If Jesus is counting the cost over your life as a disciple, are you material worthy of building the church and battling the enemy?
          12. Jesus is executing damage prevention through preparation. This is not a lack of faith in who you’re becoming, but a foresight of wisdom on insights and hindsights in your life.
          13. I’m going to read two stories of saints who understood what it meant to give it all. Who counted the cost. I’ve had the privilege of traveling around the world doing mission work to places that are illegal to share the Gospel.
          14. Story: Jesus Freak (Honor your mother & The courage of a child)
          15. RECAP: Ok so what is the cost of being a true disciple:

      15. We Need to realize the Most Important Person is Jesus!

      16. We need to give our most precious possession (our lives!) and three...

      17. WHAT IS THE MOST USEFUL POSTURE?

          1. 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!”
          2. Question: Are you useful salt? Do you have “salt” in your character?

      18. “Salt was a valued item in that day; in fact, part of a soldier’s pay was given in salt. (The words salt and salary are related; hence, the saying, “He’s not worth his salt.”)” - Warren Wiersbe

      19. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” - Matthew 5:13 NLT
      20. I want to encourage you around this thought of posture and STAYING SALTY.
      21. (Come on wherever you are watching with a friend or family or put it in the chat -- STAY SALTY.)
      22. I want to stay salty -- I want to keep my purpose! I want to keep my usefulness, not for my glory but for the Glory of God and his Kingdom.

      23. Question: How do you stay salty?

          3. In this whole passage we see that Jesus gives several “if” statements. He is clearly outlining the call and demands of living a life that is marked as a true disciple. In Scripture we see 5 “if” statements that are identifiers of a true disciple.

      24. If you love one another

          1. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35 CSB
          2. We are not identified as a disciple because of our gifts, influence, or knowledge, we are marked by our love. If this is one of the marks of a disciple, and Jesus is saying that we are to love Him so much that in comparison to our love for others, then how much more are we to love Christ?!
      25. If you abide in His Word
          1. “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31-32 CSB
          2. The word “continue” means to remain or abide. If you are committed and faithful to hear and do the word of God, then you are a disciple and the truth of God’s word will set you free. This is not a head knowledge of the word, but a life transforming response to the Word!
      26. If you deny yourself
          1. “Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.” - Mark 8:34-35 CSB
          2. We should live with the mantra “It’s not about me, it’s not about me, it’s not about me.” Denying self is not denying health, it’s denying what you want over what God wants. It’s denying your desires, ambitions, and goals, for complete and total obedience to God’s call on your life.
          3. "Less of me, means there is more room for HE"
      27. If you have no other allegiances
          1. “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 NLT
          2. Jesus will not share His allegiance or glory with anyone. He is to be our sole desire and longing. He is to receive our full allegiance regardless of culture, position, or season of life. There should never be a question in our lives as to where our allegiance lies. I Love Jesus so much that comparatively it looks like nothing else matters!
          3. Illust: My social media bio explained
      28. If you’re willing to die for Jesus
          1. “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:27
          2. Anyone who heard Jesus say this statement would have been very familiar with a crucifixion. On your way to be crucified you would have to carry your own cross. Jesus is very clear with His statement, if you are going to be a disciple, then you are going to be willing to give it ALL!
      29. If you have love for others, faithfully abide in the Word, deny self daily, have no other allegiances, and are willing to give it all for the sake of Christ, then you can rest assured that you are a disciple of Jesus. Is this true of your life? Would others affirm this over your life?
      30. Question: Which of these “if” statements are called into question in your life today?
      31. I’m not gonna leave any “if”s on the table, I’m gonna be all in
      32. I don’t want to be a spectator, I want to be a participator. When you go all in, you go from being a trend to being a threat, from a fan to a follower, from a watcher to a soldier. A TRUE disciple is all of these, A true disciple is a threat, a follower, and a soldier

Closing: Following Jesus comes with an extreme cost. Have you counted the cost? Have you considered 1. the most important person. 2. the most precious possession, 3. the most important posture.

“There is never any compulsion; Jesus does not coerce us. There is only one way of being a disciple, and that is by being devoted to Jesus.” - Oswald Chambers

Warren Wiersbe says it well in his commentary on this passage: if we tell Jesus that we want to take up our cross and follow Him as His disciples, then He wants us to know exactly what we are getting into. He wants no false expectancy, no illusions, no bargains. He wants to use us as stones for building His church, soldiers for battling His enemies, and salt for bettering His world; and He is looking for quality. HE wants to use you! But you have to make yourself available. He wants to know you are all in

After all, He was on His way to Jerusalem when He spoke these words, and look what happened to Him there! He does not ask us to do anything for Him that He has not already done for us. To some, Jesus says, “You cannot be My disciples!” Why? Because they will not forsake all for Him, bear shame and reproach for Him, and let their love for Him control them.

Will you be His disciple?