Embracing the Cost of True Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: God's Active Presence in Our Lives

God's healing power is a testament to His active presence in our lives. Through testimonies of healing and grace, we are reminded that God is continually working, even when the journey is tough and answers are not immediate. These stories of miraculous interventions serve as a beacon of hope, encouraging us to trust in God's timing and His ability to respond to our prayers. As we navigate life's challenges, we are called to remain steadfast in faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [24:10]

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy." (Psalm 103:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced God's healing or grace in your life. How can you share this testimony with someone who needs encouragement today?

Day 2: The Cost of Genuine Faith

The story of the Canaanite woman illustrates the cost of true discipleship, which requires persistent and humble faith. Despite facing indifference and rejection, her unwavering faith was tested by Jesus to ensure its sincerity. This narrative challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith, moving beyond superficial professions to a genuine commitment. In a world where emotional responses often define faith, we are reminded that true discipleship demands perseverance and humility. [30:47]

"And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'" (Mark 5:34, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a situation where your faith is being tested. How can you demonstrate persistent and humble faith in this circumstance today?

Day 3: Overcoming Barriers to Discipleship

Personal comfort, riches, and relationships can be significant barriers to true discipleship. Jesus' encounters with those who expressed a desire to follow Him highlight the need to forsake all else for His sake. True discipleship is not for the faint of heart; it requires a willingness to let go of anything that stands in the way of our commitment to Christ. As we reflect on these barriers, we are challenged to identify and overcome the obstacles that hinder our spiritual growth. [51:09]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one personal comfort, possession, or relationship that may be hindering your commitment to Christ. What steps can you take today to address this barrier?

Day 4: True Commitment Beyond Words

Following Jesus requires a deep, unwavering commitment that goes beyond mere words or emotional experiences. True discipleship demands a life of radical faith and obedience, where we are called to live out our faith even when it is challenging. This commitment is not about superficial professions but about a genuine dedication to the teachings of Christ. As we examine our lives, we are encouraged to align our actions with our faith, demonstrating true commitment in all we do. [59:39]

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where your actions may not align with your professed faith. What changes can you make today to demonstrate true commitment to following Jesus?

Day 5: Embracing Radical Faith and Obedience

True discipleship demands a life of radical faith and obedience, calling us to examine our lives and be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of following Christ. This journey requires us to forsake personal comforts, riches, and relationships that hinder our spiritual growth. As we embrace this call, we are invited to live a life of radical faith, trusting in God's plan and being obedient to His will, even when it requires difficult choices and sacrifices. [01:14:36]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area where you feel God is calling you to step out in radical faith and obedience? How can you take a tangible step in that direction today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound and often challenging nature of true discipleship. We began by acknowledging God's grace and healing power, sharing testimonies of His miraculous interventions in the lives of our community members. These stories remind us that God is still actively working in our lives, even when the journey is difficult and the answers are not immediate.

We then delved into the story of the Canaanite woman from Mark 7, a narrative that reveals the cost of discipleship. This woman, despite facing barriers of indifference and rejection from Jesus, demonstrated persistent and humble faith. Her story illustrates that Jesus often tests the sincerity of our faith, not to be harsh, but to ensure that our commitment is genuine and not superficial. This is a stark contrast to the modern tendency to accept professions of faith based solely on emotional responses.

In Luke 9, we examined the encounters Jesus had with three men who expressed a desire to follow Him. Each encounter highlighted a different barrier to true discipleship: personal comfort, personal riches, and personal relationships. Jesus' responses to these men underscore the reality that following Him requires a willingness to forsake all else. True discipleship is not for the faint of heart; it demands a commitment that goes beyond mere words or emotional experiences.

As we reflect on these teachings, we are challenged to examine our own lives. Are we willing to pay the cost of discipleship? Are we prepared to forsake personal comforts, riches, and relationships if they stand in the way of our commitment to Christ? The call to follow Jesus is a call to a life of radical faith and obedience, one that may require us to make difficult choices and sacrifices.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Healing Power: We are reminded of God's active presence in our lives through testimonies of healing and grace. Even when the journey is tough, God is still in the business of healing and responding to our prayers. [24:10]
2. The Cost of Discipleship: The story of the Canaanite woman teaches us that true discipleship requires persistent and humble faith. Jesus often tests our faith to ensure it is genuine, not superficial. [30:47]
3. Barriers to Faith: Personal comfort, riches, and relationships can be significant barriers to true discipleship. Jesus calls us to be willing to forsake all else to follow Him. [51:09]
4. True Commitment: Following Jesus is not about emotional responses or superficial professions of faith. It requires a deep, unwavering commitment to live out our faith, even when it is challenging. [59:39]
5. Radical Faith and Obedience: True discipleship demands a life of radical faith and obedience. We are called to examine our lives and be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of following Christ. [01:14:36]
** [74:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:26] - Opening Prayer
[22:16] - Praise Reports
[23:02] - Testimonies of Healing
[24:27] - Church History
[25:50] - Prayer for Denise
[29:13] - Scripture Reading
[30:00] - The Canaanite Woman
[33:19] - Barriers to Faith
[35:02] - Testing of Faith
[38:12] - Persistence in Faith
[41:25] - Passionate Discipleship
[45:06] - The Cost of Discipleship
[51:40] - Personal Comfort
[59:55] - Parable of the Soils
[65:42] - Personal Relationships
[72:43] - Universal Call to Faith
[78:25] - True Discipleship
[81:44] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

God is still in the business of healing and you know while he might say no from time to time he certainly still says yes and so we want to give him thanks for that also I wanted to share with you that um as many of you know if you've been with us for any amount of time. [00:24:10]

The story of the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus in a panic over her demon-possessed daughter contains within it some disturbing details about the cost of discipleship you don't see it at first glance when you read the story but as the story unfolds you you start to see how Jesus doesn't just welcome anyone and everyone into the fold who professes ALG to him. [00:30:47]

There are a number of barriers that often present or prevent people from coming to Faith in Jesus Christ, doubts often prevent people from making a profession of Faith right, objections or arguments from friends and family and and the fear of possibly being ostracized by them can be a barrier to people coming to Faith. [00:33:19]

Jesus made it difficult for this grieving desperate woman to come to him, he erected barriers for this woman that only persistent, strident, violent or aggressive Faith could conquer he put her to the test and by the way that's not out of the ordinary for Jesus not at all he was known from time to time of erecting barriers in front of people in order to test their faith. [00:35:02]

This woman appears to have absolutely no bitterness no resentment whatsoever only a an Abiding Love for her daughter and a desperate need to see her delivered from her demonic torture all bets were off all bets were off whatever else she may have thought about Jesus and his rather direct response she knew he was the only only one that could help her daughter. [00:38:12]

God wants passionate and persistent Christians he wants violent and aggressive Christians what do I mean by that Jesus said and I think it's Matthew 11 the Kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing and forceful men take hold of it or as it's put in other translations the kingdom of God is violently advancing and only Violent Men take hold of it. [00:41:25]

Today it's all based on a charismatic preacher who can rasle and Dazzle from the pulpit right his fiery sermons heart rending stories and maybe that's even complemented with some good mood music that will really put you in the spot and many people induced by their emotions or a Winsome message they make a profession of faith and that's not necessary necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. [00:59:39]

Personal comfort is often a barrier to people coming to Faith in Jesus Christ number two personal riches personal riches and the pursuit of the almighty dollar and third and this is probably the most popular and the one that I see the most personal relationships the number one barrier that prevents people from coming to Faith in Jesus Christ. [01:14:36]

The Creator himself enjoyed fewer Creature Comforts than the animals he created the Creator himself enjoyed few fewer Creature Comforts than the very animals he created to follow Jesus Christ as the TW had done was to give up all of the Creature Comforts to include but not limited to possibly giving up the security of your home Jesus says and the comfort of a warm bed are you willing to give that up. [00:51:09]

The issue in view here was not whether or not these guys were fit for service in the kingdom of God it was whether or not they had saving Faith by which to enter it I'm talking true Faith true faith and those unwilling to to depart or to part with something be it their riches relationships or relief or whatever else it may be whatever it is that pet Idol that somebody holds holds on to. [01:18:25]

Salvation is for those who like that Canaanite woman come to the Lord in humility and in desperate need for his Redemptive touch that's the kind of heart that God Saves and responds to as Jesus said earlier in our study in Luke's gospel whoever wants to be my disciple whoever wants to follow me you must deny they must deny themselves and take up the cross daily and follow me. [01:21:44]

I want us all as Believers to take inventory are we complacent Christians or are we violent Christians who forcefully Advance the kingdom of God that are willing to do what God has called us to do or do we say well let me think here are we going to have air conditioning here what's this going to mean to my 401k what is this going to mean right God is looking for Violent Men Who will grab hold of the kingdom of God in a violent way. [01:14:36]

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