ECCLESIOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY Principles of Discipleship-Part 2) Principles of Discipleship-Part 2)

The Cost of discipleshipThe Cost of discipleship

By : Servant of the Cross The Living Spring

Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

Jesus never promised that the way of the disciple would be easy. It is true that He wants to bless every believer, but His purpose is to built His Church. To be a disciple is to be part of that divine purpose. 1.The Disciple Must Deny Himself2.The Disciple Must Bear His Cross3.Counting the Cost4.The Disciple Must Follow Jesus

 

3. The Cost of Discipleship3. The Cost of Discipleship

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

 1. The Disciple Must Deny HimselfThen said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him first deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt. 16:24) The Greek for ‘deny’ means to ‘totally reject.’ This does not mean that we are to reject ourselves in the obvious sense. It means to totally reject the self-will, the desire to do our own thing, to follow our own goals and ambitions in order to follow Christ. 

3. The Cost of Discipleship3. The Cost of Discipleship

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

a. Surrender to ChristJust as simply as man’s great problem is that he has turned to his own way, the solution is to totally turn from his way! We must turn from the Kingdom of self into the Kingdom of God. When we do that Jesus becomes our King, and we must therefore obey Him. To deny oneself means that we surrender our will, our affections, our body, our soul. We no longer seek our own happiness, but seek the Kingdom of God. b. Obey ChristNot everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. (Matt.7:21) Jesus here shows the important of simple obedience.”

3. The Cost of Discipleship3. The Cost of Discipleship

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

It is obedience more than profession that makes us disciples. Throughout the Old Testament we see the whole-hearted obedience that was required of man. To the Israelites it was to obey; “With all your heart and all y our soul.” (Deut. 26:16)To Joshua it was the price of success. (Jos 1:8)To Abraham it demanded he give up the thing most dear to him, his only son. (Gen 22:2ff)For Saul it was better than sacrifice. In vv22-23. God points out ti him the absolute need for obedience. (1 Sam.1:15) 

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship..

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

Love Christ If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters and yes even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) This word ‘hate’ is used elsewhere in Scripture to denote this same thought. Gen.29:30, 31. Jacob loved Rachel and ‘hated’ Leah, meaning that he loved Leah far less but did not abhor her. The love we have for even our selves must be so far less than that we have for Jesus that by comparison it might be termed hated. Luke 10:27 Commands to love the Lord “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your might.” Jesus must be our ‘first love’!

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship

The Living Spring

Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

2. The Disciple Must Bear His CrossThe expression to ‘carry our own cross’ would therefore mean to ‘endure whatever comes our way because we have made a decision to follow Christ.’ It does not mean we make trouble for ourselves, it means that we fulfill our responsibilities to Christ and joyfully suffer the consequences! The joy comes from knowing that our suffering by doing God’s will is bringing salvation to lost people. It is said of Jesus:  Who for the joy that was set before Him suffered the cross, and endured the shame. (Heb.12:2)

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

In seeking to do the will of God we will have to endure hardships and even persecution. This is the cross that we have to bear. A servant is not greater than his master, if they persecuted me they will persecute you also! (John 15:20) All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12) We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. (Rom. 6:6) For I am crucified with Christ. (Gal. 2:20) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5:24) 

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship

The Living Spring

Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

3. Counting the CostJesus clearly taught His disciples about counting the cost of becoming a disciple.

In Mathew 21:28-32 Jesus tells a parable of a man who had two sons. He tells the first to go and work in the vineyard and he refuses to go, but afterwards repents and goes. The second says he will go but does not obey. When Jesus calls us as His disciples He tells us to go and work in His vineyard. To quickly say we will go and then turn back is hypocrisy and brings shame. We need therefore to count the cost first. We need to ask ourselves if we really believe the Gospel, if we really know the Lord. If we are convinced we should follow with all our hearts. There are many in the church today who say “yes Lord” but do not obey in practice.

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

3. Counting the CostJesus in Luke 14:28-33 reiterates that discipleship is an all-out commitment. There is no such thing as an uncommitted disciple. So likewise whoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he can not be my disciple. (v.33) Paul in Phil.3:7-8 sums up his own attitude. It is all worth it! In losing all we find all! In dying we live! But whatever gain I had. I counted as lost for the sake of hrist. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I might gain Christ. (Phi. 3:7-8)

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

4. The Disciple Must Follow JesusThe main Greek word used for ‘following’ is ‘akoloutheo.’  (Denying self, taking up the cross, and counting the cost, are simply preparations of the heart, attitude and mind to follow Jesus.) Following is taking His yoke upon us so that we might learn of Him. In this sense the ‘following’ is the beginning of discipleship. It is as we follow that we become a disciple. Note the reaction of James and John to the call of Jesus in Mathew 4:22. They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.Jesus waits patiently through our deliberations and considerations for our commitment to follow Him.

• The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship

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