Dr. Tom Hover
January 8, 2023
Luke 9:23,57-62 / Â II Kings 7:1-11, II Kings 6:25-29
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
Text: Luke 9:23,57-62
Introduction: To be a follower of Jesus is to be a Disciple of Jesus! Discipleship Defined: The word discipline is taken from the root word for disciple. As a noun, Disciple means Follower. As a verb it describes a process whereby leaders and teachers produce Followers and Learners. A Disciple of Jesus Christ is a Learner and a Follower of Jesus who teaches and shows others about Jesus. The closest contemporary word to “disciple” is probably “apprentice.” A disciple is more than a student who learns lessons by means of lectures and books. He is one who learns by living and working with his teacher in a daily “hands on” experience. So, I hope you hear clearly and correctly this message because all I am going to do is give you exactly what Jesus says about Following Him! About being His Disciple and learning what discipleship is really all about.
I. JESUS COMMANDS COMMITTED DISCIPLESHIP
Luke 9:23
A.) Four things Jesus teaches us in this verse about His Disciples - They are to Be:
1. CROSS BEARERS “take up thy cross”
2. FOLLOWERS “follow Me”
3. SELF-DENIERS “deny himself” Luke 9:24
4.. ONE WHO REALIZES DAILY DEPENDENCY ON GOD “Daily”
B.) Discipleship to Jesus meant Self-Sacrifice.
C.) In the following verses, Jesus teaches His truth to three Would-Be Disciples.
II. JESUS CORRECTS CONFUSED DISCIPLESHIP
LUKE 9:57-58
A.) The Setting: Jesus has been teaching on Discipleship.
Matthew 8:19, calls this man “a certain Scribe”
B.) The Time: Six months before the cross.
C.) The Bold Statement: Luke 9:57
“I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”
D.) The Clarifying Answer: Luke 9:58
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.”
E.) One Confused Would-Be Follower.
F.) Jesus Calls us: Not to be a Fan but a Follower; not one who just gives a Compliment but gives Commitment; not Rashness but Reality.
G.) Jesus Corrects this Confused man: Because he was one who had Sentiment without Sincerity, Motion without Devotion and Adherence without Perseverance.
III. JESUS CONFRONTS CONDITIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
Luke 9:59-62
A.) Jesus Confronts those who would put conditions on following Him.
No one wants to give Jesus a flat refusal, so they put conditions on our Lord’s Unconditional Call to follow Him. These next two Would-Be Disciples were trying to offer a sort of conditional discipleship.
B.) Jesus Confronts them and all would-be followers.
Today who are sinfully inflicted with the “BUT” and “ME FIRST” Syndrome. Nicknames for these two could be “Brother Comings But” and “Mr. Me First”. Both offer the same Contradiction in terms. You can say “but” and you can say “me first”, No one can say it with Lord in the same sentence. “Lord”, “but”, and “me first” cannot go together without contradiction. (“But” the adversive conjuncture)
C.) Jesus Confronts their statements.
Their statements did not seem to be unreasonable at all. “to go and bury my father”, “go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.” Jesus calls us from one of the highest duties of man to an even higher duty, the duty to God to follow Jesus. Jesus’ answers to them seem hard. Luke 9:60 “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Matthew 6:24, Matthew 6:33
Jesus calls us to break from the old life and to hurl ourselves into the future in a very decisive way. Not to equivocate but to decide! To Unconditionally Set Each of our Feet into the Foot Steps of Jesus. Have you put conditions on your call from Jesus to Follow Him? Is there a sticking point in your life? You know the “I want to follow Jesus “But” or “Let Me First”. Make a decisive unconditional commitment to follow Jesus Today. To decide not to decide is to decide! Matthew 12:30
A real Disciple of Christ is a mind through which Christ thinks; a heart through which Christ loves; a voice through which Christ speaks; a hand through which Christ helps.
Jesus gave Himself FOR ME
So, He could give Himself TO ME
So, He could live His life THROUGH ME.
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
PM
AND WE HOLD OUR PEACE
Text: II Kings 7:1-11, II Kings 6:25-29.
I. THEIR DELIGHT II Kings 7:8
A. They Delighted In Their Refreshment Job 23:12, Jeremiah 15:16
B. They Delighted In Their Riches Ephesians 1:3 Delight His Presence; His Provision: His Power; His Promises; Etc!
C. They Delighted In Their Raiment Those who have come to the Lord Jesus for salvation have also traded their rags: Isaiah 64:6 , for His robes: Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 19:8
II. THEIR DILEMMA II Kings 7:8-9
A. Their Realization Their statement, "We do not well!", sums it up pretty good. Matthew 5:16, John 7:38
B. Their Reasoning These men decided that the blessings were not just for themselves only, but that it was "a day of glad tidings!"
C. Their Resolve They resolved to go and tell others about what they had found. Acts 1:8
III. THEIR DECISION
Their decision was a remarkable one that produced remarkable results! Evangelism is just One beggar showing another Beggar where to find Bread.
A. Involved Courage
It took courage for these outcasts of society to approach the city gates. They stood the chance of death and certainly of total rejection. COURAGE is Not the Absence of FEAR, But the CAPACITY for ACTION Despite of Fear! It takes courage to share the message of Jesus with a lost world. Usually, they do not want to hear what we have to say. However, I still believe the message must be shared: Romans 10:13-14
B. Involved Compassion
For these men to go to a city full of people that had no doubt mistreated them, despised them and ignored them took great compassion.
C. Involved Conversions
When the message was heard, it was met with skepticism at first. Then it was believed and the city was saved as a result.
Because four men refused to hoard up their blessings, a multitude was saved!
