KNOWING THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE COMMITTING ONESELF TO IT.
THE CALLED & CHOSEN:
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OURSELVES TOGETHER AND BE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR COURSE OF DISCIPLESHIP IN CHRIST.
IF WE MUST REIGN WITH HIM, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OURSELVES PREPARED.
2 TIMOTHY, 2:-12, THIS VERSE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COURSE OF WINNING SOULS TO THE KINGDOM DESPITE ALL ODDS, SO THAT WE MAY ALSO SHARE HIS JOY WHEN HE COMES.
TO SHARE IN HIS INHERITANCE AS HEIRS OF THE FATHER AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST, IS TO BE READY FOR WHATEVER PERSECUTION SATAN MAY HAVE PREPARED.
MATTHEW, 16:-24, JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES AND TOLD THEM TO DENY THEMSELVES, TO TAKE UP THEIR CROSS, AND FOLLOW HIM; THIS STATEMENT IS FOR ALL BELIEVERS REGARDLESS OF DENOMINATION.
WE MUST PRIORITIZE OUR SALVATION AND OUR COMMITMENT OF BRINGING OTHERS TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION, OVER WORLDLY DESIRES AND EMBRACE SUFFERING BY SACRIFICING OUR PLEASURE AS CHRIST HIMSELF SACRIFICED HIS POSITION IN HEAVEN TO COME AND DIE FOR THE SINS HE DID NOT COMMIT.
EPHESIANS, 2:-6-8, DESCRIBES HOW JESUS RENOUNCED HIS DIVINE HONOR TO BECOME HUMAN AND SUFFER FOR WHAT HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT.
LUKE 14:-24-35, FOCUSES ON THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP IN CHRIST AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE COST BEFORE COMMITTING ONESELF TO IT.
IT EMPHASIZES THE REQUIREMENTS OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP; WHAT IT TAKES TO NAVIGATE THE STORMS AHEAD, AND THE RADICAL SHIFT IN PRIORITIES AND THE WILLINGNESS OF A COMMITTED DISCIPLE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS CHRIST.
IN CONCLUSION: THE LOYALTY OF A TRUE DISCIPLE MUST SURPASS ALL OTHER PRIORITIES, INCLUDING PERSONAL AND THAT OF ONE’S FAMILY.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF; “THE WAY OF THE CROSS.”
A NON-DENOMINATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS.
WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO ALL SOULS AND EMPHASIZE THE GRACE OF ETERNAL SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, WHILE INFORMING THE WORLD OF THE MERCY OF GOD FOR SINNERS NOW THAT THERE’S STILL TIME TO REPENT AND WARN THE STONE-HEARTED OF THE IMPENDING CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DIE UNREPENTANT.