WORTHY FOLLOWERS

Text: Luke 14:26-33 – If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ²⁹ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ³⁰ Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Introduction:

I. A Pattern of

 Luke 14:26 – If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:37 – He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Deuteronomy 6:5 – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

“As Christians, I challenge you. Have a great aim. Have a high standard. Make Jesus your ideal…make Him an ideal not merely to be admired but also to be followed.” – Eric Liddell

II. A Pattern of

Luke 14:27 – And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 – For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵ And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 2 Corinthians 12:15 – And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

• Control

Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 “I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.” – Charles Spurgeon

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• Expect

2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

• Anticipate

1 Peter 4:12-13 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

“A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” – Martin Luther

• Study and the Bible

2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

James 1:22 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

• Consistently

 Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

• Church

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

• Jesus

Matthew 4:18-19 – And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. ¹⁹ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

III. A Pattern of

Luke 14:33 – So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:24 – The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

 “If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” – C. T. Studd

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

“Let God have your life; He can do more with it that you can.” – D. L. Moody

Conclusion: