What do I know with Isaac Carroll
What do I know with Isaac Carroll
Today's Bible Reading: Matthew 8 - The Cost of Discipleship
Join me, Isaac Carroll, in our latest episode of "What Do I Know"
In this episode, the intricate dance between belief and true discipleship takes center stage. Drawing on my personal quest for understanding, I share insights into the difference between a performance-based faith and a genuine love for God. Through compelling biblical teachings and personal anecdotes, we dig deep into the cost of discipleship, exploring the significant sacrifices it entails. Echoing James' assertion that faith without deeds is dead, this discussion challenges listeners to consider their own faith and commitment. Whether you're a seasoned believer or new to the faith, this episode promises to offer valuable reflections on the enduring challenges and rewards that accompany the journey of true discipleship.
May God bless you and lead you always.
Welcome to the podcast. I'm Isaac Carroll and this is what Do I Know? Alright, last time in Bible study we were in chapter 8, and I think we stopped 13. So today we're going to pick up in verse 14. If you're ready.
Speaker 1:When Jesus came into Peter's home, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick in the bed with a fever, and he touched her hand and the fever left her and she got up and waited on him. Now, when evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed and he cast out the spirits with the word and he healed all who were ill. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah, the prophet, would be fulfilled. He himself took our illness and carried away our disease. Now, when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. Then a scribe came and said to him and Jesus said to him. And another of the disciples came to him and said but Jesus said to him and said Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him follow me and let the dead bury their own dead. Now, when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him and behold, a violent storm developed on the sea so that the boat was being covered by the waves. But Jesus himself was asleep and they came to him and woke him, saying Lord, save us, we are perishing. He said to them why are you afraid, you men of little faith? Then he got up and rebuked the winds of the sea and he became perfectly calm. The men were amazed and said what kind of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey him? And when he came into the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted him and they were coming out of the tomb. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way and they cried out saying Now, there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them. And the demons begged him saying and he said begged him saying If you are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs. And he said to them Go. They came out and they went into the pigs and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and they drowned in the waters. And the herdsmen ran away and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus and when they saw him they pleaded with him to leave their region.
Speaker 1:When I first read this chapter, I really thought I was going to be talking about evil spirits and demons. It seems this chapter speaks a lot about it. It even ends with the two demon-possessed men that they were possessed by a legion. I didn't really know what a legion was so I looked it up. Seems it's around 5,500 to 6,000. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting that. I mean, is there a limit to the number of possessions a person can have? I never really thought about it, but I started to think about it actually, so I decided to pray about it.
Speaker 1:How God wanted me to approach this subject. I watched that movie recently, the Forge. It was a great movie, but it says always lead in prayer. It's a great reminder that we should lead in prayer about everything. It should be our guide.
Speaker 1:So as I studied and I started preparing myself for this chapter, I wrote some guidelines, two or three different ones and I trashed them and just wasn't finding a lot of peace in the subject, like I wasn't heading in the right direction. And three days later I find myself the cost of discipleship, verses 19 through 22. I thought to myself why, lord, this topic has brought me much distress over the past couple of years and you might ask, why have I struggled with discipleship? Some events in my life have led me to question my understanding of Scripture. I had a hard time contrasting the idea of believers and disciples. I have always been strongly opposed to the idea that there was a difference. When did Jesus ever say go make believers in me. He didn't. He said go make believers in me. He didn't. He said go make disciples, teach them to obey.
Speaker 1:Disciples are very different than believers. Let me lay this problem out for you in Scripture. Being a disciple comes with conditions and this means that you are. It means that you are required to do certain things to be a part of the kingdom of God. All right, here we go Luke 14, 26. If anyone comes to me and he does not hate his own father, his mother, his wife, his children, brother and sister, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Now, I know this is going to need some context and some understanding, but right now we're not trying to concentrate on what's been said, but only the fact that there's a requirement Luke 14, 33. So, therefore, if any one of you who does not renounce all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
Speaker 1:Matthew 16, 24. Then Jesus told his disciples If any one of you would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 10.38. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Luke 6.40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Speaker 1:1 John 2.6. Whoever claims to abide in him must walk as Jesus walked. Matthew 7.21. Not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day Lord, lord, did not we prophecy in your name? And in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? And I will tell them plainly I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rains fell, the torrents raged and the winds blew, and it beat against that house, yet it did not fall because its foundation was.
Speaker 1:Now, all these scriptures are about discipleship and what it takes to be a part of the kingdom of heaven. It's just scripturally true. But how do they align with, let's say, ephesians 2.8? For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. This is not from yourself. It is a gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast. How about Romans 10.9? What about John 3.16,?
Speaker 1:Now, it would seem the only condition to be a believer would be to believe by faith. It would seem we have two opposing themes one of discipleship and obedience and one of belief on faith. Now this begs the question is there a difference? Can someone be a believer and not follow into discipleship and obedience, believer and not follow into discipleship and obedience? Well, the common answer I'm getting lately, and from a lot of different preachers, is yes, that you can indeed be a believer and not follow in discipleship.
Speaker 1:Back in November of 23, I did a podcast because I was forced to face this question head on and I desperately wanted an answer. But as I think on it now, I believe I wasn't given an answer because I wanted it for the wrong reason. I had been so adamant for so long. I needed the answer to be no, there wasn't a difference and one had to follow the other. I understand now that God didn't give me the answer because I wasn't spiritually prepared for it. I still didn't understand that the love of God wasn't based on my ability to be perfect, but my love for him. I'm still looking at my performance as an indicator of my success and not the proof of my belief. Failure isn't the proof that we don't love God, not at all. The proof we don't love God but ourselves is that we wish to be saved without ever wanting to do anything he asks us to do so.
Speaker 1:Today we read that there's a cost to discipleship. Reading in verse 19, it says and one of the scribes came to him and said Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay his head. Explain that following Jesus may lead you not to have a home. 21. And another of his disciples requested Lord, first let me go and bury my father. But Jesus told him follow me and let the dead bury their own dead. Well, the dead here who bury the dead are those who do not know Christ. They are spiritually dead and God may call you to follow him in places and at a time when the rest of the world would say you should be better off somewhere else. It all comes at a cost, and that cost might be family, it may be friends, it may be a job, it may be even your own life.
Speaker 1:Jesus gives this teaching in Luke 14. It says which of you wishing to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone will see it and ridicule him, saying this man could not finish what he had started to build. Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with 10,000 men, the one against him who has 20,000? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the king is still far off and ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Speaker 1:To answer the question scripturally is there a difference between believers and disciples or are they the same thing? Let me give you some scriptures and I'll let you be the judge. John 8, 31-32 says so. Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Matthew 7 and 21 that everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of the Father who is in heaven. John 3 and 36 says Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Acts 11 and 25.
Speaker 1:Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch Acts 14 and 22. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they preached the gospel to the city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith. Finally, matthew 28, were originally called disciples. Jesus himself said that those who believed in him. If you remain in his word, then you were truly his disciples. That truth will set you free.
Speaker 1:I read this story somewhere recently and I found it fitting for the purpose of understanding the concept of discipleship. Suppose I had a desire to climb Mount Everest, but I'm poor and I have no way to pay for the trip. And it's very expensive. But a wealthy businessman hears of my desire and he offers to pay for the entire expedition. He would pay for the expense of clothing, of gear, he would pay for my transportation and the guides and the training that I would need to be able to make this trip. It was all totally free for me. But if I accept this free gift, I have just committed myself to months of difficult training, arduous effort. Many people who are far more skilled than I am have died trying to climb Mount Everest, so there is a very good possibility that this climb may cost me my life. Yes, the trip may be free, but the cost of commitment was very high. I had to be willing to forsake everything if I truly wanted to make this trip, no matter what was going on at home, no matter what was going on around me, no matter the difficulties I had to commit if I wanted to make this climb.
Speaker 1:In the book of James he addresses the notion of faith that is proven by deeds, that without deeds, faith was dead and of no use to anyone. I believe this is why Christ sends a letter to the seven churches in the beginning of the book of Revelations. He does it to address the inadequacies of those who call themselves Christians and he states that the one who overcomes will be robed in white. Salvation may be free, but faith comes at a cost. I guess we'll talk about spirits and demons some other time. I'm going to end this one here. We'll pick up in chapter 9 next time. Until then, god bless you, goodbye.