From Ben Fronczek... Our Precious Faith (Part 1)

Our Precious Faith (Part 1)  By: Ben Fronczek  

Can you just imagine what life would be like without having any faith whatsoever?

-  You’d never believe anything was going to work out to your benefit,

-  You would probably never try anything new because you’d fear the consequences. Life would probably be dull and without any excitement.

- Where there is no faith there is not courage to try anything new.

- You would have trust issues. You wouldn’t know who you could trust or believe about anything.  And because of this, you would probably always want to be in control because you would never have faith that anyone could do something as good as you.

- You would also not believe in anything you could not see for yourself, and even then you’d probably have doubts. Without faith you could not believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, in Heaven, or anything in the spiritual realm. As a matter of fact, there would not be too many historical or scientific facts that you could accept without faith.

-  Without faith you could not expect or hope for anything. Faith and hope go hand in hand.

- One writer I came across even said that, “Life without  faith is impossible,”    and he is probably right.

Whether you realize it or not the ability to have faith in someone or something is one of the greatest gifts that God has given each and every one of us.

But even though each and every one of us are born with, and are capable of having and expressing faith, for whatever reason some choose not to take full advantage of what God has given them. Actually none of us do 100%.

Faith is so important to God the one who wrote Hebrew wrote in 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe(or have faith) that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

So what is faith? In Hebrews 11:1 it says that, “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  The NLT says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

For us as Christians, our faith moves us to trust in what God says in His word even though you may not have any physical proof or evidence it is so.

 Faith is what actually connects us all to our all powerful omnipotent God. Without faith everything about God would just be a story or fairytale to us.

When we short circuit our faith in God and what He promises, it brings about some unfortunate and tragic consequences including feeling powerless, afraid, hopeless, sad, and condemns our soul to hell.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “True faith is never found alone; it is always accompanied by expectation. The man who believes the promises of God expects to see them fulfilled. Where there is no expectation, there is no faith.”

God’s will for us is to live by faith all the time.

So what are some blessings that come when we live by faith. Pretty much the opposite of what I mentioned at the onset of this lesson.

Living by faith takes the pressure off us so we can enjoy life.

- Faith helps one believe things are going to work out for our benefit..

- It enables us to try and do new things because faith drive out fear.

- We are more courageous.

- It enables us to trust and believe in others. We don’t feel like we have to control everything because we can trust others to do things for us.

- Because faith and hope go hand in hand we become more positive and hopeful of those things that have not yet happened and that keeps our life exciting, full of expectation, positive, and joy filled.

- Where  ‘Life without  faith is impossible,’ with faith almost everything is possible. Do you remember what Paul wrote, he said “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength.”     

That’s a statement of faith.

- And the greatest blessing of all is the fact that faith enables us to believe and trust in God, in Jesus, in the Spirit, in angels, in heaven itself.

- Faith even open our eyes up to the work of the devil and demons.

- And finally, the apostle Paul lets us know that one of the greatest defenses against any attack or temptation from the Satan or his forces, is faith.   In Eph 6, after he tells us to put on the full armor of God, he instructs Christians to “take up the shield of faith, (WHY, because with it) you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Your Faith is a shield. Your faith is what can protect you from all the evil, the temptations, and all the garbage that the devil, and his demon, and what this world wants to throw at you.

Paul said that your shield of faith can literally  “extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.”  What a powerful defensive weapon God has given us!      Our Faith is what protects us.

Developing faith and using it  will even shield you from many negative and tormenting emotions, like fear, worry, lust, doubt, guilt, and more.

When a flaming dart or temptation comes your way, the best way to overcome or prevent those feeling of fear or worry, or doubt is to pull out your faith and resist those things right away when they first come your way and try to enter your mind.

In Romans 1:17, Paul wrote that the righteous will live by faith.  When something evil, negative, or unholy comes our way we need to make a habit of letting our faith rise, lifting our shield of faith to protect our self rather that react with an emotional response.

Let me illustrate… Satan may try to wear you down and make you feel inferior, like you’ll never amount to anything, not accomplish anything…. But your faith should stand up and say, “Wait just a minute! GOD LOVES ME! He loved me so much that He was even willing to ends His son to die for me… so that I can live with Him in Glory forever. And I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!!!!”

Satan can shoot darts of temptation at us tempting us to lie, cheat, steal, lust, argue, or curse… But faith says, “Not hold on, I’m not longer a slave to sin. I don’t have  to do it. As a matter of fact, God told me to be holy because He is holy!!!”  Faith like that extinguishes those temptations.

Satan can send of discouragement our way; maybe the loss of a job, or a friend, or maybe we don’t get something we had hoped to get, or something does not go our way.  But faith say, “I trust you God! You have told me that all things will work out for those that love you… and I love you!!!”   Get the idea?

But just like there were different size shields some of our shields are smaller than others. The Roman infantry soldier during this time carried large rectangular shield that could cover them from their shoulders to their knees. They were made of wood covered with leather which was soaked with water when flaming arrows were used against them. Likewise our faith should extinguish those evil darts that come our way. Another advantage of the Roman shield is that it could interlock with other soldiers shields giving them even more protection. The same thing happens when we lean on another faithful Christian for support. But the bigger the shield the more protection.

I would imagine that a babe in Christ does not have a shield quite as big as seasoned, mature Christian. Why, because we are also told that “Faith comes from hearing, by hearing the word of God.”  Rom. 10:17

The more a Christian hears God’s word, reads God’s word, studies God’s word, practices God’s word, the more his faith has an opportunity to grow and the more protection and strength we will have. WHY?  Because of what we know and understand we become stronger and our shield grows.

What a wonderful gift this thing which can grow in us, and strengthen us, and protect us, and comfort us, and enable us to see beyond this physical realm and so much more.

Over the next couple weeks I would like to bring you a couple of more lessons on this wonder blessing that God has given us which we call faith.

My Challenge for you today is: 

I want you realize that you don’t have to buckle when tempted. You don’t have to let people get to you. You don’t have to let every little dart from the evil one hurt you. You can protect yourself by pulling out your shield of faith. It is your God given armor. Why is it so powerful? Because our faith is rooted in God, and in knowing that He loves us and will protect us.

In closing I would like to read you 2 passages of scripture showing more about the grand nature and blessing of our faith.

1 Peter 1:3-7  “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, (faith) ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. ⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

⁶ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”  NLT

Your faith is more precious than all the gold in the world.. It saves you it protects you it fills you with hope for the future and so much more.

Hebrews 10:19-25   “⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (We should be faithful because God is faithful) ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... The Tree of Knowledge

The Tree of Knowledge

The Corinthians for all their giftedness [1 Corinthians 1:4-7] were missing the person and character and purpose of the God who had shown himself in and as Christ. Knowledge had become the center-piece of their religion and many of them by their intellectual ability found themselves separated in some ways from the pagan world around them. Not really by Christ, you understand, but by their grasp of the truth about Christ. They had found truth; they had become knowing ones! But, in sinners, the capacity to know, and knowledge as its fruit, has the almost invariable effect of "puffing up" (8:1).

Their intellectual grasp had freed them from polytheism and other pagan superstitions but it was this very sense of freedom that was going to their heads.

F.W. Robertson said:

"The real emancipation from false gods is reverence for the true God. For high knowledge is not negative, but positive; it is to be freed from the fear of the Many in order to adore and love the One. [in youth] the pride of intellect sustains us strongly; but a time comes when we feel terribly that the Tree of Knowledge is not the Tree of Life...Separate from love, the more we know, the profounder the mystery of life becomes; the more dreary and the more horrible becomes existence. I can conceive no dying hour more awful than that of one who has aspired to know instead of to love, and finds himself at last amidst a world of barren facts and lifeless theories, loving none and adoring nothing."

A man isn't getting to know God if the more he learns the more he leans on himself. An expanding stock of knowledge isn't the same as an expanding heart. True knowledge should increase the mystery of what is wondered at even if it is better understood. This is true of God or a dandelion. If looking at a fluffy dandelion drives us to wonder, we ought to be casting a glance heavenward and wondering about the God who made the dandelion. We ought to have the experience of one boy who grew up and found:

As wider skies broke on his view,
God greatened in his growing mind,
Each year he dreamed his God anew,
And left his older God behind. 

And how could someone truly know "there is no God but one; and there is one Lord Jesus" [8:6] and still hold his brothers and sisters in contempt? Once they were all fellow-pagans, filled with ignorant superstition, self-service and happy immorality. Friends together in a great moral and spiritual darkness. Then some of them met God! The God who made himself known in and as the crucified One; and everything was filled with light. Caught up by the grandeur of the message they joined it (not quite) as they would join a new school of thought. And when they discovered some of their brothers and sisters couldn't grasp the exalted concepts of one God and one Lord, they came to despise them.

Through coming to understand and to be blessed by the cross (!) they learned to despise those for whom Christ died on the cross?

This whole section shows there were tensions and cracks in the fellowship between the "strong" and the "weak". The strong thought the stupidity of polytheism was obvious (compare 8:4) so the only thing for the weak was for the strong to teach them and for them to grow to be like the strong. In the meantime, not everyone had the freedom that comes with correct views (8:7).

The ignorant were weak in knowledge, but that's not the same as being weak in purpose to please God (compare Romans 14:6-8). If the strong, claiming to "know" God walk all over their weaker brothers and sisters to their destruction (8:11), they are despising and slaying those ignorant ones for whom Christ died. If that's the case, then who are the truly strong and weak? But more to the point, how could they know the God who in and as Christ Jesus became on of the weak to save the weak?

The cross is strength operating from the position of weakness. The cross is God standing alongside and siding with the weak against the world-spirit and its corrupt powers that enslaved the sinful weak.

The cross says the weak are worth dying for. To act in opposition to that in the name of "knowing" God is not to know the God of the cross who died for the weak and ignorant (among whom the knowing ones were once numbered).

Jeremiah 9:24 (quoted twice by Paul in the Corinthian literature) says: "'Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."

The job of the strong is to make the weak strong (no bad thing) but they wanted to carry it out from a position of power and strength rather than to become weak. "Make them come up; after all they're the ones with the problem, they're the weak and we are the strong. We have truth on our side."

In this they refuse the pattern of the Christ who was crucified "in weakness" (2 Corinthians 13:4) and who in becoming weak became strong to carry out God's purpose [Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 4:5-7]. If He who knew God in completeness made the ultimate move toward weakness to gain the weak what does that say about the knowing ones who despise and isolate the weak and the ignorant?

Paul makes the point that because of Christ's example in showing us what knowing God means (1 Corinthians 9:22; 11:1) the weak have veto power over our knowledge and the true and genuine liberties that come from it.

Well, it isn't quite veto power over our knowledge, but veto power over some of the things we do with that greater knowledge (which is the potential for greater power). The needs and vulnerability of others places limits on our power and puts a fence around our liberties. The loveless heart that worships knowledge will resent such restraints, but the lover doesn't wish to be completely free.

Greater knowledge is not despised, nor is it ever consigned to oblivion. It is given a context it is knowledge "en Christo" and its purpose is to serve the God who has shown himself as the reconciler of the world in and as the crucified Christ, the one who identified with the weak.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com

From Mark Copeland... Strong In The Grace Of Christ (2 Timothy 2:1)

                    "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                  Strong In The Grace Of Christ (2:1)

INTRODUCTION

1. The danger of apostasy is very real, as evident from Paul's second
   epistle to Timothy...
   a. Those in Asia had forsaken Paul, including Phygellus and
      Hermogenes - 2Ti 1:15
   b. Some had strayed from the truth, in particular Hymenaeus and
      Philetus - 2Ti 2:16-18

2. The possibility of apostasy explains Paul's admonitions to Timothy...
   a. Such as those found in the first chapter - cf. 2Ti 1:13-14
   b. Such as that found at the beginning of the second chapter - 2 Ti 2:1

3. To avoid apostasy ourselves, we too must "be strong in the grace that
   is in Christ Jesus"...
   a. But what grace is there in Christ?
   b. And how can we be strong in this grace?

[These are questions we shall answer in this study.  First, let's
review...]

I. THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST

   A. FREEDOM FROM THE GUILT OF SIN...
      1. In Christ there is no condemnation for sin - Ro 8:1
      2. For we have forgiveness of sins, redemption through His blood
         - Ep 1:7
      -- We are therefore "justified" (declared "not guilty") by His
         grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus! - cf. Ro 3:24

   B. VICTORY OVER THE POWER OF SIN...
      1. Jesus offers to free us from the dominion of sin - Jn 8:31-36
      2. He does this by giving us His Spirit - Jn 7:37-39; cf. Ro 8:2,
         12-13
      -- We are therefore "strengthened" by God through His Spirit inf
         the inner man - cf. Ep 3:16

   C. ABILITY FOR FRUITFUL SERVICE...
      1. Jesus revealed that we cannot bear fruit apart from Him - Jn 15:4-5
      2. By His grace we are enabled to be a functioning member of His
         body - Ro 12:6
      3. We can have an abundance for every good work - 2Co 9:8
      -- We are therefore "enabled" by God for service as stewards of
         His grace - cf. 1Pe 4:10-11

   D. HOPE FOR A GLORIOUS FUTURE...
      1. Jesus has given us "good hope" by His grace - 2Th 2:16
      2. By His grace we become heirs of eternal life - Tit 3:7
      -- We are therefore "positioned" to be the recipients of even more
         grace to come! - cf. 1Pe 1:13; Ep 2:7

[This review certainly does not exhaust the benefits of His grace, but
hopefully will encourage us to heed Paul's admonition to be strong in
the grace of Christ.  Now for some thoughts on...]

II. BEING STRONG IN HIS GRACE

   A. THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD...
      1. Initially, by obeying the gospel of Christ through:
         a. Faith and confession, through which comes righteousness and
            salvation - Ro 10:9-10
         b. Repentance and baptism, through which comes forgiveness of
            sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38
      2. Continually, as the promise of His abiding presence is
         contingent on:
         a. Keeping His Word - Jn 14:21,23
         b. Observing His commandments - Mt 28:20
         c. Avoiding lukewarmness of service - Re 3:15-19
      -- The grace of Christ comes to those who are "doers" of the Word,
         and not "hearers only" - cf. Jm 1:22-25

   B. THROUGH FERVENCY OF PRAYER...
      1. Prayer is the conduit through which we receive wonderful
         blessings in Christ:
         a. Forgiveness of sins when we sin - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9
         b. Strength from God by His Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
         c. Peace that surpasses understanding and overcomes anxiety
            - Php 4:6-7
      2. Thus the many admonitions to be diligent in prayer, such as:
         a. "continue earnestly in prayer" - Col 4:2
         b. "pray without ceasing" - 1Th 5:17
         c. "be serious and watchful in your prayers" - 1Pe 4:7
      -- The grace of Christ comes to those who come boldly to the
         throne of grace - cf. He 4:14-16

   C. THROUGH INTERACTION WITH BRETHREN...
      1. Fellowship with other Christians is very important:
         a. It was a mark of the early church - Ac 2:42
         b. Christians are to be interdependent on one another - 1Co 12:12-14,17-22
      2. Thus the admonitions related to encouraging one another:
         a. Through daily exhortation, to avoid unbelief - He 3:12-14
         b. Through frequent assembling, to stir up love and good works
            - He 10:24-25
      -- The grace of Christ comes to those belonging to a body in which
         each part does its share - cf. Ep 4:15-16

CONCLUSION

1. Brethren, wonderful is the grace of Christ!  Yet Christians were
   cautioned...
   a. Not to receive the grace of God in vain - 2Co 6:1-2
   b. To be careful lest anyone fall short of the grace of God - He 12:15

2. To ensure that we benefit from the riches of grace in Christ, then
   let us be strong in grace...
   a. Through obedience to His Word
   b. Through fervency of prayer
   c. Through interaction with brethren

Are you diligent in your efforts to be strong in the grace of Christ
Jesus...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... What is next?

Eyes WIDE OPEN, FUNNY EXPRESSION AND WRINGING HANDS tell you something.  What is Next? That is what it says to me.  Anxiety, apprehension, uncertainty, along with the expectation of "BAD NEWS" seems to be just around the corner.  All of us have experienced this feeling one time or another.  We just KNEW something BAD was next, something we just KNEW we were not going to like.  This happens occasionally, but what if it happens when we read the Scriptures???? Read on to see what I mean...

Acts, Chapter 22

 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.” 

  2  When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,  3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.  4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.  5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.  6 As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.  7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’   8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’ 

  9  “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.  10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’   11 When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.  12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,  13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.  14 He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.  15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.  16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ 

  17  “When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,  18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’   19 I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.  20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ 

  21  “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’ ” 

  22  They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”

It is easy to criticize the Jews for reacting so violently at Paul's mention of the Gentiles, but even though they were wrong, The Jews can still teach us something about the Scriptures.  Their lesson to us is simple: Do not approach the WORD OF GOD with preconceived ideas.  Before you begin to say "I don't do that", think about this...  Today, millions of people have been "converted" to Christ by a simple recitation of the "sinner's prayer".  This occurs nowhere in the Scriptures; it is a man-made idea.  One that many religious people cling dearly to.  Before you become too upset, re-read verse 16 above.  God says that one washes away sins at the time of BAPTISM; THAT IS HOW ITS DONE!!!  "What is next" for you? Will you react as the Jews did (verse 22) or investigate what the Bible says about baptism for yourself.  Right now, I feel like the kid in the picture because frankly, I too, WONDER WHAT IS NEXT????!!!!!

From Ben Fronczek... The Cost of Following Jesus

The Cost of Following Jesus

(Based on a sermon by Phil Morgan)

Luke 9:57-62. 

“⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” ⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

In our reading today, Luke records for us in this passage an account of THREE (3) MEN whom Jesus met as He travelled along with His disciples. Two of these men declared that they wished to follow Jesus; to become His disciples. The other was one whom Jesus SUMMONED to follow Him.

What immediately strikes me is the way in which Jesus handles these inquirers (and I think that this is Luke’s reason for recording the details of these meetings). MOST men with a cause are busy trying to recruit as MANY people as they can. Most preachers are busy trying to get as many members for their church as they possibly can (and most have good intentions). I like seeing new members myself!

It’s natural. It’s what we expect to see. But Jesus seems radically different here in His approach. He seems to try to DISSUADE men from following after Him – or at least that’s what it looks like.

An old retired minister was sharing some advice with a younger minister. The old man said to him, “Son, always endeavor to keep your church as SMALL as you can!” That’s strange talk isn’t it?! And that was coming from a man who himself had served a quite large congregation. But what he meant was, ‘Preach the truth of God’s salvation, and the demands of following Jesus, SO CLEARLY that ONLY those who have counted the cost and are ready to give up ALL for Christ will join themselves to you.’

Now, it’s my desire to see as many as possible come to Christ – BUT I DON‘T JUST WANT TO GET A CROWD . . . that shouldn’t interest any of us! I want to see people turning to Christ whole heartedly and become truly dedicated disciples of our Lord Jesus.

And so, it’s interesting to read of Jesus’ way of dealing with those who expressed a desire to follow Him; He seems to be trying to DISCOURAGE them. BUT NOT REALLY.  Actually,  Jesus’ desire is that people WILL follow Him – but He wants them to think it through first . . . to count the cost involved . . . so that once they DO follow Him they’ll never turn back. Even as He spells out what is required in such clear and shocking terms, I believe in his heart He is longing for them to accept it – He’s rooting for them – but the cost is the cost . . . it’s non-negotiable . . . and they MUST be prepared for it.
 

I’d like to look at these three men who Jesus confronted with His demands, and consider, “THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS”.

We read of the first man in VERSES 57-58. And from Jesus’ conversation with him we learn that:
 

#1. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY SECURITY. 

In other words things of this world do not make the Christian feel secure. [read 57-58] “⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

It’s quite a bold statement this one makes, isn’t it?   “I will follow you WHEREVER you go!”

Jesus replies that to follow Him “WHEREVER He’s going” will not be an easy road. He’s not one of these “high-flying” Rabbis who jets from village to village, staying in the best hotels, and collecting nice offerings from the crowds that come to hear them. No, His is a true “FAITH” ministry!

When Jesus stepped out of His throne in glory to come to the earth and live and die for us, He left behind all that He had. He exchanged wealth for poverty – out of the ivory palaces into a rude cattle shed. He exchanged rulership for servant hood.

He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head”. What an irony . . . the King of glory – heir apparent to the throne of the Universe – doesn’t even have a place to call “home”. He had no earthly security. He was loaned accommodation by those who loved Him. He borrowed a coin to tell a story. He borrowed a donkey to ride into Jerusalem and fulfill prophecy. Why, He was even buried in a borrowed tomb! (It was just as well that He didn’t need it for too long!) HE had NOTHING. Oh, but here we see His love shine thru when we realize what He gave up to stand up and die for you and me.

And those who follow Him must be prepared for the same road. It’s not the things of this world that make us secure, there is NO real EARTHLY SECURITY. Note, I DIDN’T say “THERE’S NO SECURITY” at all,   because there is security in following Jesus.  The true disciple is not secure because of possessions, money, or homes, or such things. God’s faithfulness, and our hope for life beyond this one gives us a sense of security like nothing else.  And it’s not anything that can be taken away! Even if the Christian has nothing, is orphaned and poor as dirt in this life,  he or she is more secure than the richest, most powerful of people without Christ.

A genuine disciple of Jesus should not depend on things of this world to make them feel truly secure. If you’re going to follow Jesus – and walk His road – it just may cost you everything! Through the ages and even today, a decision to walk with Jesus has cost people jobs, their reputation, for some their possessions and for some, even their life. So it’s important to COUNT THE COST! But remember the words of Jesus, He said: “WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT!”

Then we read of a second man in VERSES 59-60. And from Jesus’ conversation with this one we learn that:
 

# 2. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON ANY EARTHLY TIES. 

[READ 59-60.]

“⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Here we have a conversation that has shocked many people; it shocked me when I first read it! Jesus CALLS this man to be His disciple, but he begs leave to go and bury his father first. Doesn’t this seem like a reasonable request? You may feel sorry for the man as you read this. BUT JESUS REPLIES: “Let the dead bury their own dead: I’ve called you to preach for me.”

The point Jesus makes here, and let no-one mistake it, is that if you’re going to follow Jesus Christ then duty to Him and the claims of His Kingdom come before ANYTHING and ANYONE else. 

Jesus said in Matthew 1034ff, 

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn“  ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— ³⁶ a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ ³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

NOW you get the picture of the kind of devotion that He is calling for! He’s not calling for us to dishonor parents, or shirk our responsibility to family, BUT IF WE ARE PRESSED INTO A CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO, HE SHOULD COME FIRST!  And indeed, some have had to lose family or turn their back on what they practice to follow Jesus. The follower of Jesus should have no earthly ties that supersedes our Lord !

Let me cast a little further light on this conversation in our text. When this man says, “Let me first go and bury my father”. Understanding Jewish practices shed a light on what’s going on here.  The initial burial took place shortly after a person’s death when the diseased is placed in a family tomb. After which the family would mourn for 7 days, & then another 30 to a lesser degree..

However, the entire mourning period was not fully over until the flesh of the deceased had decomposed, usually about a year later. The final act of mourning came when the son gathered the bones into a bone box called an ossuary. The son would return to re-bury the bones in this special box in a slot in the tomb wall. If that’s the situation here, and it seems reasonable to assume it was, then this man who has been called by Jesus could be asking for up to a YEAR’S delay before following! Jesus said, or Jesus implied that, “Others can take care of that my friend – the demands of the Kingdom are more urgent – MY call cannot wait!

Then finally, we come to the third man in VERSES 61-62. And from Jesus’ conversation with this one we learn that:
 

#3. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS Should have NO EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS. 

[READ vss. 61-62.] 

“⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” ⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Again, doesn’t this seem like a reasonable request? Would you deny a soldier going to war one last chance to bid his loved ones farewell?  But again, Jesus clearly spells out the cost of following Him. “Sir, you’ve already declared you are ready to follow me - YOU’VE PICKED UP THE PLOW – if you put it down now because of your hankering after your family back home, you’re not fit for the Kingdom of God!” What is Jesus saying? “DON’T LOOK BACK!”

When Peter, James and John followed Jesus, they literally “DROPPED” their fishing nets to go after Him. And right when it looked like business was picking up too! (Jesus had just got them a bumper catch!) They went back for nothing. The Master had called..

If you’re going to follow Jesus, there must be no going back.
 

Jesus illustrates this another way, He said: “Which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’”.

Commenting on those words, JOHN STOTT wrote this:
 

“The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers – the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow Him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today, so-called ‘nominal Christianity’.

What he is saying is that there are pews filled with people who wear the title, Christian’, but after starting out good they pull back and now refuse to follow their Lord all the way. Why, because they can’t give up some things from the past, hence they never reach their full potential in the kingdom and stand incomplete like the towers Jesus talked about.

The true follower of Jesus allows NO EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS. We don’t  turn back for anything or anyone when push comes to shove.

CONCLUSION:
Jesus’ words are strong her in this text, aren’t they?  These are some of the things that will cost you and me to follow Jesus. In short, it will cost you EVERYTHING. He calls for us to commit ourselves completely to Him, and hold nothing back, and if necessary – give up all for Him. Jesus said to the first man: “COUNT THE COST”. He said to the second man: “LEAVE IT BEHIND”. And He said to the third man: “DON’T LOOK BACK”.

What’s He saying to YOU today?
 

Well, you’ve heard the COST of following Jesus. You might well ask, “Who then would ever want to following Him if this is what He expects of us?”

Perhaps to answer that we should consider the COST OF NOT FOLLOWING HIM!  – NO ETERNAL LIFE   – NO GUIDANCE (or meaning) IN THIS LIFE. NO OPPORTUNITY TO GLORIFY GOD, and the prospect eternal damnation.

Your home, your money, your things, your bank accounts, you jobs, your farms, your friends and family are important, but none of these things will get you into heaven where we are promised an eternity of wonder, glory, and bliss. That’s why none of these things are as important a Jesus, and having a relationship with Him. Jesus once said, “What good is it if you gain the whole world, yet loose your soul?”

My encouragement today is to put Jesus and His will, and the things of God first in your life. And don’t be like these 3 individual  who only came up with excuses as to why they couldn’t, or wouldn’t follow Jesus. Jesus also said that the path, and gate is a narrow way, and only a few will choose that path. Be one of the few that will puts Jesus first and enter and stay on that narrow path.  Why, because all other paths lead to the grief and destruction of our soul.

From Jim McGuiggan... Apollyon and Forgetful Green

Apollyon and Forgetful Green

I believe that God through the tinker, John Bunyan, has given a gift to all who are weary with the brawl against the world-spirit. The battle has been going on so long and they feel they can stand no longer and are sorely tempted to lay down their arms and drift with the current to places they do not love and don't want to love. You might think his gift is something some poor soul you know could use right now; if so perhaps you could pass this on.

It's from Pilgrim's Progress of course and I've adapted it only a very little. Nobody tells this piece of the Story better than this. Christian is on his way to Zion and meets one of Satan's right-hand men. So Christian went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was hideous to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride; he had wings like a dragon, and feet like a bear, and out of his belly came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he glared at him with a disdainful look and began to question him.

APOLLYON: Where did you come from and where are you going?

CHRISTIAN: I am come from the city of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the city of Zion.

APOLLYON: Ah, that means you are one of my subjects; for all that country is mine;

I am the prince and god of it. How is it, then, that you have run away from thy king? If I were not sure that you did it so that you could do me more service I would strike you to the ground now with just one blow.

CHRISTIAN: I was, indeed, born in your dominions but your service was hard, and our wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So when I was come to years, I did, as other wise thinking persons do, I took stock to see how I could do better for myself.

APOLLYON: There is no prince that will so easily lose his subjects and neither will I as yet lose you; but since thou complain of your service and wages, be content to go back, and what my country will afford I do here promise to give you.

CHRISTIAN: But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; and how can I with fairness go back to you?

APOLLYON: Hah, in doing this you have fulfilled the proverb, you exchanged a bad for a worse; but it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves his servants, after a while to give him the slip, and return again to me. You do the same thing and all will be well.

CHRISTIAN: I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him; how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor.

APOLLYON: Thou did the same by me, and yet I am willing to pass by all, if now you will yet turn again and go back.

CHRISTIAN: What I promised you was in the days when I wasn't old enough to have sense; and besides, I count that the Prince, under whose banner I now stand, is able to absolve me, yes, and to pardon also what I did while I served you. And besides, O destroying Apollyon, to tell the truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country, better than yours so you can stop trying to persuade me: I am his servant, and I will follow him.

APOLLYON: Consider again, when thou are in cool blood, what thou are likely to meet with in the way that you choose to go. Thou know that for the most part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful deaths! And besides, thou count his service better than mine and yet he has never yet come from where he is to deliver any that served him out of their enemies hands. But as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered from him and his servants, either by power or fraud, those that have faithfully served me; I delivered them right out of his hands! And so will I deliver you too.

CHRISTIAN: The reason He doesn't deliver them at present has a purpose: to test and enrich their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as for the bad end you say they come to, they think and call it glory! They don't much expect present deliverance and they are happy and content to wait for their glory; and then they shall have it, when their Prince comes in his and the glory of the angels.

APOLLYON: You have already been unfaithful in your service to him so what makes you think you will receive wages of him?

CHRISTIAN: In what way, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him?

APOLLYON: You fainted at first setting out, when you were almost choked in the gulf of  Despond. You attempted wrong ways to be rid of your burden when you should have waited patiently till thy Prince had taken it off. You sinfully slept and lost your choice things and you were almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. And when thou talk of your journey and of what you have seen and heard you inwardly desire vainglory in all you say or do.

CHRISTIAN: All this is true, and much more which you have left out; but the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful and ready to forgive. But besides, these infirmities possessed me in your country for there I greedily sucked them in but I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my Prince.

APOLLYON: Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and people: I have come here with only one purpose: to stand against you!

CHRISTIAN: Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the King's highway, the way of holiness so take heed to yourself.

APOLLYON: Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare yourself to die; for I swear by my infernal den, that you will go no farther: here will I spill your soul. And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast but Christian had a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that. Then did Christian focus his mind for he saw it was time to bestir him and Apollyon, just as determined, made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by which, in spite of all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded  him in his head, his hand, and foot. This drove Christian back a little so Apollyon pressed after him even more strongly but Christian again took courage and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day and by this time Christian was almost quite spent for you must know, that Christian, by reason of his wounds, was bound to grow weaker and weaker. 

Then Apollyon, seeing his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him slammed him down in a dreadful fall and Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, "I am sure of you now!" and with that he had almost pressed him to death, so that Christian began to despair of life. But, as God would have it, while Apollyon was just about to deliver the killing blow, to make a full end of this good man, Christian reached out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise," (Micah 7:8) and with that he gave him a deadly thrust, which made him recoil as one that had indeed received his mortal wound. Seeing that, Christian made at him again, saying, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37) Hearing that, Apollyon spread his dragon wings and flapped away and Christian saw him no more. (James 4:7). In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard, as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all through the fight; he spoke like a dragon while and on the other side, what sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart.

During that whole time I never saw him give so much as one pleasant look until he saw he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword; and then he really did smile, and look upward! But it was the most dreadful sight that ever I saw. So when the battle was over, Christian said, "I will here give thanks to him that has delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, to him that did sustain me against Apollyon." And so he did!

Then there came to him a hand with some of the leaves of the tree of life, which Christian took and applied to the wounds he had received in the battle and was healed immediately. He also sat down in that place to eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that was given him to him earlier so, being refreshed, he got ready to journey on with his sword drawn in his hand; for he said, "I know not but some other enemy may be at hand." But he met with no other affront from Apollyon all the through this valley.

Later Samuel, Christian's son and his mother Christiana are travelling in that area with Greatheart and the young man asked if this was the area where his father had had the combat with Apollyon. His guide confirmed that it was. "Your father had the battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage, just beyond Forgetful Green. Listen, that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts." "The most dangerous place in all these parts." Hmmm.

However hard it has been, however painful, however many losses you have sustained, however many times your sins have cut you and bruised you to till you cried out in your pain, "I am leaving, I am leaving" and yet here you are. Reading such things and vowing to get back up.

Remember the losses every now and then but never forget that here you are!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.