The Cost of Discipleship

Turn if you would to Matthew 16.

Here in Matthew 16 Jesus was with the disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi and as he was teaching his disciples, he chose this moment to reveal clearly to them who He was...to confirm what they had already suspected...that He was more than what many thought Him to be...more than just a teacher, a rabbi, or a prophet...but that He was the Son of the Living God and that He through them, intended to build His Church...but in the midst of that conversation and in ones to follow this day, he also began to share something else...something that He had till this point held back from them...the fact that He had come to earth to suffer and to be killed in Jerusalem and then be raised to life again on the third day. 

Peter, shocked and appalled by this new revelation...took the soonest opportunity he could find to share what he thought about what Jesus had shared.

Let’s begin reading in verse 21...

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are [j]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.

It says Peter rebuked Christ. Now that’s a little hard to believe, even for the outspoken Peter. The greek word for rebuke here can be rendered to admonish or to tax upon.  The sense is that, rather than rebuke or chastise,  He was in fact, imploring Jesus...this cannot be true...you can’t let this happen.

But nevertheless, the Lord’s response to Peter here was pretty harsh, and appropriately so...because, though in Peter’s mind, he probably felt he was just showing appropriate concern, what he didn’t realize is that his thinking and his reaction was influenced by a wrong spirit.

The truth is, Peter had some things to learn about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

He was reacting from a self-serving mindset.  The expectation and hope of he and the other men that Jesus called that the Kingdom Jesus preached was imminent….in their lifetime...and that he, along with the other disciples...would have a major part in that new government.

And now the one who was their ticket to that reality was telling them He was going to be betrayed and crucified.  Well, that was unthinkable!  So, Peter, was seeing Christ’s ministry through a worldly mindset, motivated at its core by selfish, carnal ambition.

Little did he know that Satan was attempting to use Peter’s carnal ambition as a tool to discourage Jesus from fulfilling His purpose.  But Jesus wasn’t having any of it.

And so Jesus rebuked him, harshly…

And then Jesus lays out succinctly to Peter and the other disciples...and anyone who would follow Him, what the price of choosing to become one of His disciples would be. It wouldn’t come cheap.

Continuing in verse 24...

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

This certainly wasn’t a picture of imminent victory and triumph that, from a human perspective, one would expect from following the one you believe to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Jesus was recalibrating in their minds what continuing on this path would mean. Rather than expect imminent victory and triumph, they should expect....no desire...cheerfully make a deliberate choice...to do just the opposite if they wanted to be his disciples.

And though this was a choice he was calling on them to make willingly...he clearly wanted them to know it was one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62 that...“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus knew there would be many an opportunity and temptation to get side-tracked. There is an enemy who specializes in doing just that.  And he’ll use anything and anyone at his disposal to do just that.

So, it was important they be prepared...they understand what the cost would be for seeking to walk, and continuing to walk, that path… the path of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lays out that cost here in Matthew 16. 

Look again at Matthew 16, verse 24…

Jesus said... “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

This statement surely must have rocked the disciples.  It was one thing for them to hear that Jesus would suffer, be rejected, and die on a cross. That was shocking enough. Now He was telling them that they must, in essence, do the same thing!?

How? What does that mean?

I want to attempt to answer that today.

But before we do that I want to take a minute to discuss a word in this statement that for some may cause a visceral reaction because of how it’s been abused by some in the Christian community. That’s the word cross.

The Greek word here translate cross is Stauros, which can also be translated as stake or post; a pole or cross as an instrument of capital punishment.

Some have rightly pointed out that the instrument of death that the Romans used was often an upright pole or stake, rather than a cross shaped instrument as is generally portrayed in Christian imagery.

But the truth is the Romans used various instruments in this gruesome practice, depending on the form of crucifixion they wanted to apply.

The single upright stake only being one of the simplest, rudimentary forms. They were known to also use an instrument that was capital T shaped, another form that utilized the small t shaped configuration we are familiar with, and still another form that was X-shaped, and on occasion an upside down version was used, as in the case of the Apostle Peter.

And some archeologists believe that when the T shaped version was used, the piece that the victim would actually carry was not the entire cross. It was only the top cross-bar. The upright stake or pole onto which the top bar and the one carrying it would be hoisted, would have already have been in the ground at the site of execution, having been used for previous crucifixions and meant to remain there to be used for future ones as well.

So, though we have, understandably, issues with the way this symbol has been abused within traditional Christianity, we shouldn’t get overly dogmatic in our defense of what the actual instrument on which Jesus was crucified did or did not look like.

We just frankly don’t know for certain.

Also, a few thoughts about how this symbol of torture has been used.

One of the primary objections we have had with the way the Christian world uses this symbol is expressed this way...  why would we glorify the instrument that was used to murder our Savior? Why would you wear that symbol around your neck or display it in your homes or Churches?

And that’s a great question.  Why would we do that? Many Christians would say that it is merely a symbol reminding them of what was accomplished on that instrument.  The problem I think we all see is that a symbol can very easily, and has for many, become an idol, an object of worship, or short of that a kind of good luck charm.  To make it either of those things would obviously be a sin.

But turn to Galatians 6...

While it’s one thing to venerate or worship an object...it’s another thing to use it to reference a larger idea or concept. In fact here in Galatians 6 Paul does just that…

He writes in Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

We get what Paul is saying here right? He glories, not in that physical instrument of torture and death, but in what was accomplished when our Lord died there. That physical instrument was just a symbolic reminder of everything on a spiritual level that event made possible in the life of a Christian and ultimately for the all mankind.

So while we should rightly reject use or display of that symbol as an icon, an object of worship or veneration...referencing the stake or cross to bring to remembrance what was accomplished there is entirely appropriate. 

And that’s what Jesus was doing here in Matthew 16, verse 24, even before the event occurred. Using that symbol to describe a spiritual sacrifice that would be required for discipleship.

Verse 24 again... “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

You know, Christians have sanitized this idea of carrying this instrument of death to something less than it really is.

As if denying yourself was simply referring to the exercise of self-denial...giving up things or activities. As if picking up and carrying that instrument of death is simply a willingness to put up with an irritation...a few extra burdens and duties on your road to the kingdom.  And though these things are included...it’s so much more than that.

The disciples knew what Jesus meant when He made that reference.

They understood what it meant to take up the cross. They had all surely been witness to this cruel form of execution.  The image of men struggling under the weight of the instrument of torture and death that would be used to execute them as they carried it to their place of crucifixion would have been etched indelibly in their minds.  They understood that the choice to take it up that cross, or stake, or whatever it was...marked a death sentence...a point of no return…

What He was asking of them was total and complete sacrifice of themselves...no equivocation...no half-heartedness, no turning back. To sacrifice their lives in total dedication to the mission Christ had begun to restore all mankind to relationship with Him.

Turn if you would to Matthew 19.

Here in Matthew 19 a certain man came to Jesus and asked him a question. And in Jesus’ response He paints for us a picture of the kind of self-denial and sacrifice we are talking about.

Matthew 19:16-26 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

I’ve done all of that… I should be good right?! I’ve met the requirements. I’ve got the winning ticket! I’m in...right???!

This man saw His relationship with God as purely transactional.  And you can’t blame him.  That’s how most of the Jews of that day viewed their relationship with God. You do X and Y, you get Z. Blessing for obedience, cursings for disobedience… Transactional.

But that’s not what God wanted from Israel.  He wanted their heart, not their head. He wanted a relationship...not a transaction.   He wasn’t asking for what this man had done for him or could do for him… He was literally asking for Him...for the man himself.. body, heart, mind and soul.

We see that in Jesus’ response.

Verse 21...

V. 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Jesus is saying...ok, you’re right. You’ve checked all of the boxes...you’ve done pretty well all things considered. But if you want to be perfect.  And that’s the standard right? You have to be perfect to inherit eternal life… here’s what you’ve got to do….you’ve got to deny yourself...relinquish everything your life has been about to this point. Everything that you treasure. Give it up to the poor….and exchange that treasure for the one I’m offering you.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Jesus had seen deeply into the heart of this man...to what he treasured most in life...and he saw there a wrong spirit at work.

He could see that this man’s love for his money and status it purchased him in this life trumped any desire he might have for the hope of reward in the life to come. For this man, denying himself of his riches meant giving up the thing he’d built his life around. It was who he was...it was his identity...and he just couldn’t bring himself to walk away from that.

After the rich man, dejected, had walked away, Jesus turned to the disciples and made this comment.

Matthew 19:23 “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The love of money, the desire to get it and to hold on to it, can enslave a man, making it difficult to see and hope beyond the confines of this life.

Having said that...when Jesus says it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom, though he stated this in the context of physical wealth, we shouldn’t read the lesson he is teaching here too narrowly.

There’s a broader principle Jesus was conveying.

People can be rich in so many other things than just monetary wealth.  Being rich can mean different things to different people. Riches can really be anything you treasure or value, anything that provides you meaning, fulfillment or purpose in this life. These are things beyond money that can make you wealthy.

And depending on the degree your heart, your identity, is attached to those things...will be the degree to which you are willing to lay them aside if necessary to do so, to follow Christ.

And we have an enemy that would like nothing more than to tempt us choose those things over walking that path.

1 John 4:1 Christ’s followers are instructed to “Try, test, the spirits, whether they be of God.”

Satan's attempts to deceive us, to pull us away won’t be obvious.  The things that distract us, that will knock us off course, will usually be subtle.

He uses things that on the surface look harmless, even noble and right...and he’ll attempt to twist our relationship with those things…to cling to the meaning and self fulfillment they provide i this life to keep us from responding from our calling or to pull us off the path of the calling we’ve already accepted. To get us to walk away from following and serving Christ...to once again serving ourselves.

So it’s critical, with regard to the things that we would see as our riches, that we continually test, try the spirits…examine my relationship, my heart with regard to those things in my life that Satan could use to pull me away.

So, what kinds of things are we talking about?  What other things can we be deceived into following after that lure us away from following Christ back to serving ourselves?

Well...obviously that list could be long...and it could be different for each of us.  But I’ve settled on a few that could be common to some of us…a few of the more obvious ones for us to consider today.

So let’s go through them...in no particular order.

Here’s the first one...Let’s talk about our career...our vocation...Our life’s work.

For men especially, our careers can become all consuming.  Though, in this day and age, it can often be an issue for both men and women.  But men in particular tend to gain a sense of identity from the work they do. To many of us...what we are good at is a large part of who we are.

Turn if you would to Matthew 6

For men, and, as I said, for some women, it can be a constant challenge to keep our occupational calling in the right perspective with our spiritual one. 

But that’s what we are called to do.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31 ... do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Christ isn’t saying here that we shouldn’t give some focus on career...on our vocation… He isn’t saying we shouldn’t plan….we are told in 2 Thes. 3 that he who doesn’t work shouldn’t eat.

So making a livelihood a priority is important.

What He is saying is that we shouldn’t let worry about these things consume us. If they do, they have the potential to crowd out more important, spiritual priorities.

If there is anything positive that came out of the Pandemic and...granted...there wasn’t much...but one thing that was a positive was that it allowed...forced...families to spend more time together.

I noticed it in my neighborhood.  Fathers and mothers working from home, able to take walks together with their children on their breaks during the day. It was really heartening to see.

I’ve read that one of the reasons that some companies are struggling to come back is that the pandemic has caused some of their employees to re-evaluate their priorities and step back from the rat race to focus more on family.

I think it’s a positive trend but sadly I’m doubtful it will last.

Why? Because there’s a spirit in this world that has deceived men and women into putting such a focus on achieving success...climbing the ladder, gaining more and more...requiring more and more of our time...more and more of our focus...and that time, that focus has to come from somewhere….and too often it comes at the expense of time spent with our families….and for a Christian, at the expense of time spent serving in the Church of God, serving our brethren...and serving in our communities.

So, it’s important that we resist that spirit. That we not allow ourselves to be sucked into letting job, career...our life’s work and all the things that accompany it...supersede our calling to serve and give to our family and to others.  Resisting this world’s current and our own nature in this regard may require that we re-evaluate and re-order our priorities, our goals and ambitions...so that we might fulfill our calling to follow Him.

So, don’t let the enemy influence you to let career or vocation pull you off the path of discipleship.

Ok. What else can the enemy deceive us into following, giving our priority to, treasuring more than our calling to be a disciple?

Here’s another one that I think is common to most of us...and that’s our biological Family.

Ok, I get the irony here.  We’ve just discussed the need to deny ourselves in the area of career ambitions so that we can better serve our families. And now I’m about to tell you why we need to deny ourselves with regard to our families?

What!?

But the truth is...Family, and the obligations and pressures that family can impose on us, real or imagined, can also become a tool Satan can use to pull us off the path of discipleship.

Turn to Luke 14

I think we would agree that Family can provide some of the greatest riches imaginable.

Scripture even testifies to that.

Proverbs 18:22 tells us… He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 127:3 says...Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

But here in Luke 14:25-33 We read these very sobering words from our Lord...regarding our relationship to these blessings as disciples of Christ.

Luke 14:25

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

The Greek word for hate here is Miseo.  Which can be translated as hate but can also be translated, and I think more appropriately so in this passage, as love less.

For many in this life, in terms of relationships, family understandably trumps everything.  But for the Christian...our relationship with our spiritual family and the one who is the head of that family is to supersede all other relationships.

But keeping the right balance in those relationships is not easy...there is a cost involved. There is risk of misunderstanding, of broken or fractured relationships because of this choice we have making...because of choices that may need to be made between our commitment to follow Christ, to become a member of His spiritual family and our commitment to love our physical families…

And the enemy will often attack us in our struggles to keep that balance.

It could be the spouse becomes disillusioned and walks away and the other spouse follows them out of the church...away from the faith.

It could be an unconverted family member or members, who might object to children missing out on Easter or Christmas, or school activities or sports that fall on the Sabbath. Or maybe even pressure from the children themselves...so parents, feeling the pressure, give in...loosen their responsibility to come out of this world...let go of their responsibility to train their children up in the way they should go…and give in.

Or perhaps it’s the unconverted family members who consistently schedule family activities and gatherings on the Sabbath and pressure us to attend...so we give in...skipping church, declining opportunities for fellowship with our brethren...passing up opportunities to serve and nurture our spiritual family....in favor of spending time with their biological families.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  God doesn’t intend anyone to cut themselves off from their biological family. We as a church have erred in that regard in the past.  And there are situations and circumstances that none of us are in a position to judge and we shouldn’t judge. And each of us, as followers of Christ do have a duty to honor our parents, to make showing love to our biological families a priority. Just not the main priority. We are to love them less.

In terms of who we follow.....if we have counted the cost and made the choice to follow Him...there should be no question where our primary allegiance lie...no question where our real treasure is…

Compromise with our spiritual commitments for the sake of peace within our physical families can never be an option.

Neglecting our spiritual family in favor of our biological one breaks our commitment to the one we follow.  And if that line ever becomes hazy or if we find ourselves crossing that line a little too often… it may mean we need to set some boundaries. That may mean we need to say no to some people we love and whose love we desire….boundaries that make it clear that, while we love them we love our God more. And our love for Him, obeying and following Him will always take priority.  

And, if that is not respected, though it may be painful, we may need to pull away for a time, until a right, balanced, respectful, relationship can be restored. It’s never easy, but that’s the cost of discipleship we have to be willing to pay.

So, keeping the right balance with regard to our spiritual vs our physical families is critical to staying on the path to discipleship.

Ok, here’s a third one.

Let’s talk about religion for a moment.

Again, I see the irony.  We just discussed the need to put serving our spiritual family, the Church, our brethren, first, over or biological one.  And now you’re going to tell me the Church can be a vehicle Satan can use to pull me off the path of discipleship?  Really?!

Well...yes...but not the Church exactly...it’s religion.  Ok, so what’s the difference?

While the Church is part of a religion...religion is not necessarily the Church.  Where things get out of whack is when the two get entangled...when we can’t separate the Church from Religion.

What do I mean?

Turn if you would to Mark 7

The religious leaders of Jesus day were poster children for following a religion over following God. They had long since left off true obedience and service to God in favor of service to a litany of religious tradition and protocol.

Here in Mark 7 we find them attacking Jesus and his disciples for breaking their rules for handwashing.

Mark 7:5-9 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

It’s easy to criticize these religious leaders….mainly because Jesus so clearly points out their error.  But the truth is, there’s a reason they were allowed to get away with this.

A Lot of people frankly liked it that way. 

From a human mindset, it makes sense… We humans like rituals. We like traditions. We can gain great comfort from them. It’s in our human nature to cling to rituals over substance...because...well... It’s easy.

And frankly...many are just lazy. Rituals, traditions...they allow us to check the box and feel good about ourselves for doing it.

Let someone else do the heavy lifting...I’m content just doing religious stuff. 

No one would ever admit to this of course...but sometimes that’s the reality on the ground.

And if that’s where a person is...they can begin sleep walking spiritually...lulled into slumber and complacency by the trappings of religion.

That’s where many in Jesus’ day were and that’s where many religious people are today.

Back in 1995, when it became clear that our previous affiliation had rejected the truth and the decision had to be made to part ways, there were those who refused to leave...because they believed it was the organization, the religious system, you see, that constituted the body of Christ. They either refused to leave it to attend anywhere because they felt that to do so they were leaving the Church that Jesus built or, they left altogether thinking that because the organization split, it was evidence in their mind that this could not be God’s Church...the body of Christ.

I had many people who I knew and loved who fell into one of those two camps who unfortunately aren’t part of the body today. I know most of you did as well.

Here’s the thing...and it’s a painful lesson many of us had to learn over the last several decades. A religion is an organization...a systemized approach to how we do church. But the body of Christ...God’s Church is not the organization...it’s a spiritual organism...a spirit led body of believers. In fact, we affirm that fact in our baptism ceremony.

A man I respected very much...many of us respected...who walked that path…and taught about that path... once said....Don’t believe me, believe your Bible....  Maybe you remember that...

That man knew that and correctly preached that we don’t follow a religion.  Religions are made up of men. We aren’t to be followers of men. We follow the one who is the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, wherever and however He leads.  If the Church determines, through the leading of God’s Spirit, that some things about the system, the way we do things, some tradition, the way we do something needs to change...and it doesn’t contradict the truth of the gospel or require the breaking of God’s law, we need to continue to follow the Church as it follows Christ. 

If this church were at some point to cease following Christ...were to be led astray to other doctrines...to be disciples of men rather than of Jesus Christ...we need to walk away...our commitment to be His disciples require us to walk away...no matter how comfortable we are with the organization...no matter how painful that choice might be...and we’ve all had to endure some of that pain…

But that choice may be necessary so we can get back on the path to discipleship...to following Christ, the head of His body Church.

But to be able to see clearly to make that choice...we need to not allow our enemy to deceive us into confusing our being part of a religious organization with our identity as disciples within the body of Christ.

Ok. One more...

Turn if you would to 2 Corinthians 10

This final area is a tricky one...because perhaps more than the others we’ve discussed, it requires a great deal of self-examination, and self-denial.

And perhaps, more than the others I’ve mentioned, this area has the greatest potential for Satan to use as a tool to pull us off of the path of discipleship because it’s so integral to who we are.

What is it?  Our own human reasoning.

Here in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Paul, writing to the Corinthians, says what will be true of a disciple of Christ...He says...

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

That’s a very broad but very critical statement that gets, really, to the heart of this thing called discipleship. 

We are to cast down every argument and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…

Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Proverbs puts it another way…

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

That’s what denying the self on a very real, personal level, looks like..

We are denying our love affair with our own way of thinking...our own human reasoning, informed by our past experiences, our personal biases and belief systems, or our gut feelings.

When we choose the path of discipleship, we sacrifice our trust and confidence in those things in favor of trust and confidence in the truth of God as revealed in His Word. We subjugate our own way of seeing things to His way of seeing things.

Turn to 2 Timothy 4

But we see people, even good Christians, elevating their own reasoning, exalting their own arguments, all of the time...often in the face of scripture that would clearly tell them otherwise.

Prophecy tells us this would occur in the last days. And we’ve seen it haven’t we?

We see people being led away by old ideas masquerading as new ones...or seduced by what I’ll call leaders on the margins -

You know who these people are right? There is the one in the congregation who is seen as bucking the norm...a thought leader. Or they form their little clique around this person. Person usually is on the fringes...seen as somewhat of a free thinker, challenging, criticizing the leadership...challenging the status quo.  And little cliques of disciples usually gather around these people.

What does so and so think about what’s going on? This is what they are saying but here’s what so and so told me. Or, hey read this doctrinal paper that so and so wrote...People follow these kind of people right out of the Church. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

We need to understand that this isn’t some amorphous  “They” being spoken of here…

They could very well be you or I...if we’re not wary.

...If I’m not suspicious of my own nature that tempts me to be distracted by shiny objects. The proclivity of my nature that tempts me to want to feel special or right or respected....to have the inside scoop...to be on the inside track.

...You know yourself. You know what strokes your ego in this regard...Fill in the blank with what appeals to your own carnal nature.

When we are tempted to chase those shiny objects...to trust in our own reasoning…

It’s important...that we step back...be wary...and try the spirits.

Let that wariness lead you to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who searched the scriptures to determine if what they had heard was true.

Let that wariness lead you to heed the instruction in 2 Timothy 2:15 to study to show ourselves approved to God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

That wariness should remind us that as 2 Peter 1:20 tells us that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. You aren’t going to have a corner on the market of truth.

Be wary...understanding that as we read in Matthew 24:24 in the end false prophets and teachers will appear...deceiving the very elect. And as Jesus warned in Acts 20:29 that...savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

The bottom line is...Don’t trust your own reasoning...don’t rely on your own understanding...but trust, rely on what you find here in God’s Word...trust the counsel of those God has put in your life, put within the body...ordained for the purpose of protecting and nurturing the body...to help guide you in your journey as a disciple of Christ…

Be wary of and, if necessary, be willing to lay aside your own human reasoning so you might stay on the path of discipleship.

In closing I’d like us to revisit the account of the man who’s desire to hold on to his riches outweighed his desire to follow Christ. Turn if you would again to Matthew 19.

Here in Matthew 19 Jesus, after sharing how difficult it is for someone whose heart is tied to the things of this world to enter His Kingdom, goes on to share something about this walk that  gave the disciples hope and encouragement. And I’ve left off reading it till the end of this message in the hope that it can do the same for us here today...disciples in these latter days.

Let’s pick up the account again in verse 23…

Matthew 19:23-30 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

They understood that Jesus was talking more than about physical riches... and they were rightly distressed….“How can anyone do this...be willing to turn your back on everything you care about to follow this path?!”

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

God’s spirit, that comforter that would come after Christ ascended to the Father, would work within their heart and mind, changing their carnal nature, enabling them, if they submit to it’s lead, to walk that path.

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Yes, there is a cost to this path of discipleship to which we’ve been called. It involves a continual sacrifice of self….a willingness to forsake all...loving less anything in this life that would exalt itself above this path you’ve been called to walk.

But we can be confident that what lay at the end of that path is so much greater than anything we’ve left behind...anything we’ve sacrificed in this life. That is our future.

But you have to count the cost..and accept that cost….and continue to accept it...constantly trying the spirits to determine if what you are following is of God….examining who or what it is you follow lest the enemy use that thing to pull you off the path. 

It’s only in the losing of your own life that you will find it. It’s in the laying aside of the things you treasure, treasuring them less...that you can attain a treasure so much greater than anything this life has to offer… The only way to find that treasure...is deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.