This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”The Cost Of Following Jesus\”, Luke 9:51-62, 2/9/2020

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

Luke 9:51-62

DETERMINED TO DO GOD’S WILL

V:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

A. Jesus, in obedience to the Father, headed to His crucifixion in Jerusalem.

     1. Our Lord sets the example of obedience in the face of adversity.

     2. Even when it seems not to our advantage, following God’s commands     is always the best solution.

B. God designs adversity for us to test and strengthen our faith in Him.

    1. Since we are in Christ, we are in His protection.

    2. Instead of saying, “why me” we should ask God to strengthen us  to do His will.

    3. Jesus said to the Father, not my will but let your will be done.

PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS IN ADVERSITY

V:52.  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men\’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

A. As believers, our job is to get non believers ready to receive Christ by    proclaiming the good news about Him to them.

    1. Not everyone will believe the word from you or want to hear you.

    2. At times in our lives, we all have rejected a word about Jesus or   at least part of someone’s teaching.

    3. God was tolerant with us; therefore we ought to accept rejection    and be tolerant with others,

B. The high minded disciples were ready to destroy those who rejected Jesus  with fire.

    1. They were ready to get revenge because their master was rejected.

    2. It was the pride of their religion that drove them to the extreme    measure of persecution.

    2. You cannot condemn others because they don’t value what you   value.

 C. Notice, Jesus did not tell the disciples to shake the dust off their feet  as He did when He sent the twelve out to heal and spread   Word in Luke 9:5.

    1. It was the compassion of our Lord to give the seed that was planted   by the disciples time to germinate in the hearts of the hearers.

    2. Jesus by his rebuke of James and John makes it plain to us that      the spirit of evil which is Satan, works in us to find fault in those     who disagree with our beliefs.

   3. Second, Jesus makes it plain that our mission is to save souls

       and not to destroy that which He created.

   4. Thirdly, once we have proclaim the Word, even though rejected,   our job is to walk away and let the Holy Spirit do it’s work in the   hearts of the hearers.

D. The disciple had knowledge of Old Testament Scriptures.

    1. Like us, they picked and chose scriptures to justify their attitude.

    2. We must be careful not to take scripture out of its context to

        justify our actions or opinions.

    3. Scripture should be used to enlighten, uplift and build up the hearers.

    4. We should never use God’s Word to condemn others.

    5. We are not the judge, just the messengers.

    6. In all our efforts, we cannot persuade anyone to believe in Jesus,     but we can be the light that leads them to Him.

COUNT THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

V:57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

A. It is good to get excited about the Gospel, but we must be realistic about    what we expect following Jesus to do for us.

    1. Salvation come though our faith in Jesus, but it does not eliminate   hardships, adversity or pain.

    2. God does not tell us anything about the man who came to Him.

         a. He does tell us that following Him comes with some discomfort.

         b. Jesus reminds us that others who don’t know Him, may do   well while you struggle in comparison.

    3. Following Jesus comes with inner peace and joy in the mist of  trials and tribulations.

B. One must be ready to endure the cost of following Jesus.

    Luke 14:28

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR DISOBEDIENCE

V:59.  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me   first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

A. This second potential follower put his own obligations before the mission  of Jesus.

    1. If our plans are not designed to glorify the Father, they are dead in the   world.

    2. To follow Christ we must be estranged from the world.

    3. The world will always present us with opportunities

        which we must weigh against following Christ.

B. God wants first place in our lives

   1. It is only by putting Him first that we can clearly hear his voice.

   3. It is only by putting God first that we will act according

       to His will promptly.

C. Jesus design for our lives is that we preach the Word in season     And out of season.

    1. Jesus said

        But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things    will be given to you as well.     Matthew 6:33

    2.  If Jesus is first, any obligation we have will be met.

FAMILY IS BLESSED ABUNDANTLY WHEN GOD IS FIRST

V:61.  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

A. We do have an obligation to our families.

     1. But family has to second to God.

     2. Putting God first insures the best for family.

B. There will be times when the believer will have to choose serving    God over family events.

     1. I can assure you that sometimes the choice we make to serve God will cause some short term conflicts.

     2. I can also assure you that God is conscience of our sacrifice and  family will be blessed by our devotion to Him.

C. We should not hesitate or second guess our devotion to God.

     1. We should give our time to God willingly.

          Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give not   grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.            2 Cor 9:7

        2. God created and ordained family and His will is sufficient for all   the provisions of family.

        3. If our decision to serve God cause conflicts in our minds, we should    check our devotion to God.

           Luke 14:26

           If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

          a. The word hate used in this verse is the Greek word “miseo” which means to love less

          b. Our first love must be God.

          c. If we love God first, there is Godly love for everybody else,    and it will be sufficient.

         d. If we do God’s work, He will take care of the family