Welcome to this new episode of the Gospel for the Nations Podcast. This podcast has been brought to you by Pastor Kareem. Our desire is to open the Word of God with you and to speak in a way that is clear, simple, and full of grace. Wherever you are listening from, we pray that the Holy Spirit will touch your heart through his word, strengthen your faith, and draw you closer to Jesus. We are to inform you that this week's sermon will be AI generated as we face some technical issues. Parable 22, The Cost of Following Jesus. Luke 14 verses 25 to 33 ESV. Introduction. Today we're going to look together at several essential truths that we have to understand as children of God and as disciples of Jesus Christ. When we receive, by the grace of God and through faith in Jesus Christ, the salvation of our souls, this salvation is a gift from God. It can neither be bought nor earned on our part. God alone, according to his holy will and his sovereignty, grants it to us freely. It is grace a gift from heaven, but one that was purchased at a great price through the blood of Jesus, his only son, on the cross of Calvary. However, following Jesus does not simply consist of walking behind him. It also means being his disciple. But now, being his disciple comes at a cost. This cost must also be counted, but not on a sheet of paper. It must be considered in our hearts, so that we may understand what we must now hold on to, not the things that are dear to us, the things upon which we have built our lives and that have taken first place in our hearts, but rather to put on our new identity, our new self, as citizens of heaven who belong to the kingdom of God. For what Jesus teaches through the passage we are about to look at is indeed radical. But Jesus was radical, and his message was divisive. Why? Because he came to reveal the way of the kingdom and to call his sheep, the ones whom the Father has chosen and predestined. It may seem difficult, but it is a heavenly reality that must also help us understand that there are certain conditions for being a disciple of Christ. Yes, because those whom Jesus saves and calls are also called to be his disciples. When a believer is saved, he is set apart and called to follow the Master according to the conditions that our Lord and Savior establishes, out of love for us and for the souls who are yet to be saved. Sometimes we think that following Jesus is simply an extension of our present life, a God who gives us everything we desire and everything we want in order to live a life of comfort and abundance, both physically and spiritually. For example, we may think, for my social, professional, or personal success, I am going to choose another God, which seems more powerful, and ask him to bless me. While still holding on to my own plans, my own desires, the people around me, or even my own passions. I want to accomplish my dreams and fulfill my ambitions. I do what pleases me, and God will bless me as long as I pray and go to church. But Jesus Himself does not tell us that at all. At this particular time, the church was not even there, but faith and works in Christ were there, though. So together, we are now going to see what he does teach us in the joy, the peace, and the grace that the Holy Spirit desires to communicate to us. Teaching. Reading of the parable. Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a 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 out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand. And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. V.25-33. We are going to take this passage verse by verse so that we may better understand what Jesus is telling us here. Reading of the context of the parable. Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, V.25. Here, Jesus is walking with a great crowd. It is made up of all kinds of people, curious people, religious people, ordinary people, rich people, poor people, educated people. But then he turned around, pauses, and begins to speak to them. What Jesus is about to say will challenge them and disturb them, in order to reveal those who were truly ready to follow him as his disciples. Those who believed that he was the Messiah, the Savior, the one sent by God to deliver them from their physical and spiritual oppression, and those who followed him simply because they hoped that he would heal them, bless them, or meet their needs, without having hearts that were truly willing to follow him. Let us first see how Jesus reminds them, once again, of what the scriptures had already taught concerning this matter, either to follow the one true God in truth and in love, or to follow him only superficially while still keeping other gods of this world in one's heart. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. V.26. The first condition is to love Christ above everything else. That is, to give him first place in our hearts. The command to hate the people who are closest to us, those who are dear to us, is not to be understood as we might naturally think. Here, Jesus uses a figure of speech that is well known throughout the scriptures. In the Hebrew way of speaking, the verbs to love and to hate are often used to express contrast and preference. Therefore, Jesus is not asking us to despise our family, but to give him such priority that, by comparison, every other attachment comes after him. This is exactly how Matthew records the same teaching in his gospel. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10, verse 37, esv. This principle of loving Jesus more than our closest relatives finds its origin in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 13, where God requires absolute faithfulness, even if those who are closest to us try to lead us toward other gods. Here, Jesus repeats that same requirement as the Messiah and Lord, he calls those who desire to follow him to be completely faithful to him in their walk as his disciples. Such a requirement would make no sense if Jesus were only a man or simply a prophet. But it makes perfect sense because he is the eternal Son of God, who came into the world to accomplish perfectly the Father's will and his plan of redemption. Then let me ask you a question. Does Christ come before your family, your passions, your desires, or your work? If the answer is yes, then that is the right answer. On the other hand, if the answer is no, I urge you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your heart and discern what is interfering with your relationship with Christ. When we belong to Christ, we become new creations. He is not only our Savior, but also our Lord, our Master. The two are inseparable. By placing Him first, He enables us, through the Holy Spirit, to love and care for others. This communion with Christ is essential if we are to accomplish the works that reflect the character of God in our lives. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. V.27. This passage clearly declares that being a disciple of Christ requires us to bear our cross. That is, to accept the sufferings, trials, and persecutions that Jesus Himself would be enduring on the way to Golgotha. It also means following Him, obeying His commandments, and putting them into practice. Suffering and obedience are the distinguishing marks of a true disciple, not suffering because of sin, but suffering for Christ's sake as we walk in our new spiritual life. When we compare this passage with Jesus' parallel teaching in the other gospels, we also understand that following Christ means being ready to give up everything that could take first place in our hearts. The scriptures give us the example of the rich and religious young man who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus answered by telling him to keep the commandments. Then he told him that one thing was still lacking. He was to sell all that he possessed, give it to the poor, and then follow him. The young man was unable to remain with Jesus because his heart was more attached to his wealth, the world and the things in it, than it was to God. Loving Jesus, Christ, does not mean that we have to be poor, because God's work could never advance if all his children lived in need. God blesses his creation. But his creatures must never turn anything into an idol that takes first place in their hearts. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise, when he has laid a 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. V.2830. What Jesus wants to teach us here is that if we desire to follow him, there will always be a price to pay, the cost of our obedience. When we choose to follow Christ, it is as though we were beginning the construction of a building. We have to understand that the cost will be great, that the seasons will certainly change, cold, dry, or hot, and that this building will remain standing through the perseverance and endurance that God Himself will produce in our faith. There is a wisdom that comes from above, and God reveals it progressively as he works in his people. He looks, he sits down, and he counts the cost. He considers the time, the perseverance, and the commitment that God's work will require of him. To finish the construction is to carry through to the end the mission that Jesus entrusts to each one of his disciples, remaining faithful so that God's work may be accomplished. Our lives may reflect the character of Christ, and they may lead to him the souls who will believe the gospel and be saved by his grace. If that building cannot be completed, then the testimony that is born to Christ will be affected. Ridicule and mockery will then take the place of a faithful witness in the eyes of the world. The other side of being able to go all the way to the end is that it shows the person who decides to follow Jesus cannot do it in his own strength. Who knows when or how the work will be completed? Only the Lord. That is where faith plays a major role. But if Christ lives in us, the Lord simply asks us to believe and to follow him by faith. It is he who, through the Holy Spirit, will bear fruit in our lives. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first, and deliberate whether he is able with 10,000, to meet him who comes against him with 20,000, and, if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. V.31-32. In this second illustration, Jesus gives the example of two kings, who are in conflict and are about to go to war. The king whose army is smaller must first consider whether he is able to overcome an enemy who is stronger than himself. If he cannot, then while the other king is still a long way off, he will send a delegation to negotiate peace with a king whose army is greater than his own. In the context of discipleship, Jesus teaches us wisdom, discernment, and the necessity of counting the cost of our commitment before choosing to follow him. Following Christ is not merely an emotional decision, but a lifelong commitment that begins with counting the cost. The implication for a disciple in this particular illustration is that he must not allow himself to be governed by his emotions or by his flesh when he chooses to follow Jesus. He must understand the significance of this decision of the heart, which also involves a radical change in the way he responds to the situations of life, allowing God to act instead of relying on his own understanding. Let us take a practical example. If we are serving as missionaries in a foreign country that is hostile to the gospel, where preaching is even forbidden, what attitude should we adopt? Should we seek conflict? Should we confront people aggressively? Or should we rather respond with love, peace, wisdom, and humility, in order to reflect the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? We find this same principle in the life of Peter. When Jesus was arrested by the crowd and the chief priests before his crucifixion, Peter wanted to fight with his sword. But Jesus commanded him to put it back into its place and to let them do what they had come to do, so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. In doing so, Jesus gave us the perfect example of submission to the Father's will, as well as justice and mercy toward mankind. Such an attitude is impossible to produce by our own strength. Without the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we would naturally react according to our feelings, our flesh, and our own reasoning, even concerning our salvation and the way we come to Jesus. Do we really come to Him by faith, understanding that what we are leaving behind has no value for us anymore? And even if the cost of following Christ is very high, is it not worth believing in him? But when Christ lives in us, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms us, so that we respond to trials with wisdom, humility, and obedience. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. V.33 What Jesus is telling us here is simple and practical. If you want to follow me, give up everything that takes first place in your life. In other words, give up yourself, and I will give you my life, so that from now on, you may live for me on this earth, and one day, forever with me, in the kingdom of heaven. This reminds us of another statement made by Jesus: for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it. Matthew 16, verse 25, yes.v. It also reminds us of the words of the Apostle Paul. Galatians 2, verse 20, yes.v. Therefore, if we seek to make our own lives shine, we will gain nothing that lasts. But, if we desire to make Christ shine through our lives, we will display the new life that He has given us, and live for His glory throughout eternity. What a privilege to follow Christ, and how beautiful it is to suffer for Him too. Conclusion. Jesus loves His Church, and He warns His disciples, as well as those who desire to follow Him, that it will not be easy, and that we must prepare ourselves for the trials that lie ahead. These trials may involve separation, separation from certain relationships, separation from the values of this world, and separation from our old sinful nature. From now on, there is a clear distinction between light and darkness, and the two cannot coexist. Following Jesus does not simply consist of walking behind him. He also calls us to obey him, to keep his commandments, and to put into practice everything that he has commanded us. A true disciple is not content simply to admire Christ. He follows him in obedience and faithfulness, living according to his will, and carrying out his work, in his name. Being a disciple of Christ must be evident in our way of living, our character, and our actions. We are called to be living witnesses of the Word, not only by believing it, but also by putting into practice what the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to do in obedience. As the Word of God declares in the Epistle of James, faith apart from works is dead. James 2, verse 26, yes v. This means that works do not produce faith, but they are its visible evidence. They demonstrate the authenticity of our faith and bear witness to our identity in Christ. Being a Christian comes with a great responsibility. The Lord Himself has entrusted us with a glorious mission to faithfully pass on everything that He taught and demonstrated to His first disciples, but also commanded them. They, in turn, persevered in that mission, remaining faithful to His commandments, regardless of the circumstances, even to the point of suffering, for the name of Christ. We are called to walk in their footsteps with the same faithfulness and the same obedience. Amen. May the Lord give us, by his Spirit, the conviction to follow and obey him faithfully, no matter the cost, no matter the circumstances, knowing that he will always be with us. Amen. Thank you for listening today. If the Lord used this message to bless you, feel free to share it, so others can also be encouraged and strengthened for the coming days. Keep seeking him. Keep reading his word. And keep trusting his grace every single day.