First: Count the Cost
Name of Assembly: United Apostolic Church
Type of service: Bible Study
Date: May 31st & June 7th, 2022
Series: SCRIPTURAL PRIORITIES
Lesson 6: “FIRST- COUNT THE COST!”
Scripture Text: St. Luke 14:25-33
“25 Moreover, And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 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. 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” – St. Luke 14:25-33.
INTRODUCTION
In our text Jesus Christ gave one of the greatest lessons ever taught on discipleship. Therequirements that He established for this noble position is strong and demanding. Our Lord demonstrated that being is disciple requires more than the token lip service that so many are paying today. Yet when we compare the rewards with the demands, the cost is extremely cheap.
Commitment to Christ must run deep to attain the biblical designation of “disciple.” The word“disciple” is the translation of the Greek word mathetes, math-ay-tes. Our Lord imparted to that simple word a wealth of profound meaning. As it is used by Him it refers to “a learner or pupil who accepts the teaching of Christ, not only in an intellectual way but also in lifestyle.” This involves a complete acceptance of the views and practice of the teacher. In other words, it means learning with the purpose to obey fully what is learned until what is learned is incorporated into one’s lifestyle. By extension, from this root word we get our English word discipline. Obviously, one cannot be a disciple of Christ without discipline.
Submission to discipline is one of the hardest things for our flesh to do. Clearly, though,this is God’s pattern for making people into what He wants them to be. Disciplining ourselvesuntil we can submit to the hands of the potter to be made as He wishes, followingthe Shepherd wherever He may lead, answering His call to go where He bids us, forsaking all to be His follower are all prerequisites for true discipleship.
Admittedly, one who comes to Christ but possesses little knowledge of the Bible maynot fully understand what God expects of him. Early in our Christian walk, we often donot fully grasp the real meaning of complete surrender to God. Nevertheless, as weprogress in our relationship with Christ, His plan for our lives begins to fall into place.Through prayer and fasting, Bible reading, church attendance, Bible teaching in SundaySchool and other teaching sessions, God’s demands for discipleship become clear to us.Consequently, our growth in Christ develops for us a keen awareness of what He expectsof us. To please our Master, we must become willing to meet any demand or pay any price.
When confronted with Christ’s requirements for being His follower, we must neverallow the flesh, world, or Satan to deceive us into thinking that the price is too great.Heaven is worth any price! The blessings and rewards of being a Christian on earth arebeyond description. The glories awaiting us either at death or the catching away of thechurch will more than repay us for any sacrifice we have made.
Whether you are contemplating becoming a Christian or are already one, I beseech you to count the cost carefully. While counting the cost, we must look beyond any temporary discomfort, sufferings, and change of lifestyle that we may encounter. We must remember that “…our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” – 2 Corinthians 4:17. Soon we will go on to our reward, we must not allow our present circumstances to blind us from God’s promises. God wants us to have a constant view of the entire spectrum of life and eternity.
Let us weigh our decisions in the scale of eternity before refusing to become His disciple.
Before we begin to build or do battle, first we must count the cost. This lesson will notinclude every detail of what we must render to God; it will offer only the larger picture,the basics, and the foundation. From here, it becomes a personal encounter between youand your master. To him you will stand or fall. “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it”(John 2:5).
The Cost of Discipleship
Here we discuss the direct teachings of Christ from our Scripture text:
1. One must hate his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, sisters, and his own life. “Hate” in this passage does not mean for us to have an intense dislike or disregard for, or to detest, our loved ones. The use of the word “hate” in this verse has been the cause of serious misunderstanding. The meaning of this word as it is used by our Lord in this verse is far removed from the normal suggestion of the word as it is used today. Jesus was certainly not instructing us in one breath to love and honor our parents and then in the next breath to hate them. Jesus was using the language of exaggerated contrast. The word “hate” here means “to love less.” Matthew 10:37 is instructive in this regard. “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.” The disciple is a follower of Christ whose love for Him is greater, by far, than all other loves. When a clash of loyalties arises on this point the disciples’ unrivalled love for Christ will cause him to choose Jesus.
2. We must bear our cross to be a disciple. Correlating Luke 14:27, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” with Luke 9:23, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” produces these guidelines relative to cross bearing:
a) We must deny ourselves. Self-denial is one of the most difficult steps for any of us to make. However, it is a necessary step if we are to be His disciples.
b) We must take up our cross daily. Our cross is not our domestic problems, financial obligations, or physical difficulties. These are problems of life that everyone, even sinners, must encounter. Our cross furnishes us with, and becomes the means by which, we are crucified to the world and the world to us (Galatians 6:14). It involves only those things we must bear or endure because we are a Christian but would not have to suffer if we were not. Our cross is our identity with Christ, our separation from sin, and our complete obedience to His Word. It is this that we must take up and bear daily.
c) We must follow Him. We can do so only when we follow the directives of the Word of God.
Counting the Cost
Before we build or before we do battle spiritually, our Lord admonishes us to count the cost. One thing Jesus never did was conceal the cost of being His follower. Not once did He indicate that following Him would cost nothing or require no sacrifice. Christ’s demands are great, but His compensation is greater. When we consider how great is the cost of not being His disciple, then the price of following Him becomes small indeed.
Some modernists have so reconstructed discipleship until, according to their doctrine, being a Christian does not require any noticeable change of life, discomfort, cost, or allegiance whatsoever. This is very different from Calvary’s demands upon our Lord. However, to follow Jesus as a disciple does have certain costs that He expects us to pay.
A. The Cost of Building
Jesus taught those who contemplated following Him using the illustration of a man building a tower. Anyone planning a project of such proportions would certainly sit down and first count the cost to see if he had sufficient funds to finish the project. Beginning to build without doing so could result in a foundation in place but insufficient capital to complete the job. The outcome of this would be the scorn of those who beheld his failure and mocked him because he was unable to finish.
Within ourselves we do not have sufficient means with which to serve God and complete the Christian effort. We do not need to fear, however, for God has provisions. If we are willing to pay the price required of us, He then will supply the rest.
The Scripture often describes living for God, walking with Him, and being His disciple in terms of building. Studying these illustrations and learning from them can be of tremendous benefit to us so that we do not fail.
a) Jesus likened our response to the Word to that of two men—one who built on sand, the other on rock. “24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” - Matthew 7:24-29. We are building our lives on one or the other. Regardless of which one we choose; we will encounter the same storms. Our destruction or survival depends on the foundation.
b) We, the church, are “… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” - Ephesians 2:20. Christ cannot just be one of many building blocks in our lives; we must build our lives upon Him.
c) Since Christ is the foundation—the chief cornerstone—no other foundation can be laid. Therefore, we use caution in how or what we build upon this foundation. “10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” - I Corinthians 3:10-15.
d) We are to build up ourselves in our most holy faith (Jude 20). “6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” - Colossians 2:6-8.
e) Beginning with the foundation of Christ and our faith in Him, we are to add to our faith and build on this foundation seven things in order to secure our position in Christ (II Peter 1:3-10).
I. Add to faith, virtue.
II. Add to virtue, knowledge.
III. Add to knowledge, temperance.
IV. Add to temperance, patience.
V. Add to patience, godliness.
VI. Add to godliness, brotherly kindness.
VII. Add to brotherly kindness, charity.
Building our lives in such fashion assures us of the following things, according to the apostle Peter:
I. Not being barren.
II. Not being unfruitful.
III. Not being blind and unable to see afar off.
IV. Not forgetting that we have been purged from our sins.
V. Not falling.
Engaging in the building project of life, becoming what God wants us to be, and building on a sure foundation involves tremendous cost on the part of a saint. Jesus sacrifice to purchase our salvation is clearly stated in the scriptures. History is replete with those who have given all, even to death, to follow the Lord. The work progresses as each generation not only count the cost, but also pays the price.
Whatever we have vowed to pay, let us not defer. Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, “4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”
We should never withhold what we have committed, as Ananias and Sapphira did. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” - Acts 5:1-11.
As David said, let us not offer to God that which costs nothing, “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” - 2 Samuel 24:24.
Christ made the cost of discipleship clear and plain. We have not been deceived or tricked; living for God does exact a toll but the rewards far outweigh the cost!
The Cost of Battle
Jesus next turned the minds of prospective disciples to an analogy of a king going to battle. Facing him are 20,000 men and he has only 10,000 men with which to go to war. Before engaging in a battle with such great odds, he first sits down in consultation, reckoning and counting the cost. He ascertains the odds before he makes a move. A formidable foe is out there, and he must decide either to pay the expected toll or else send an ambassador to negotiate a peace treaty.
From this example Jesus established that a military leader cannot win a battle unless he is willing and able to bear the cost. To win and to be a disciple of Christ, the cost is clear, and the price tag is readable. “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). Forsaking all, according to Jesus, is a prerequisite for being His disciple!
Discipleship thus becomes a battleground. We face a formidable foe in Satan, but we have assurance of victory because greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world (I John 4:4).
Repeatedly the Scripture compares living for God and being His disciple to war, being a soldier, conflict, fighting, and using weapons. Paul often drew parallels for Christians who were doing battle against the enemy of their soul. Today the fight rages on; therefore, we too can derive strength, support, and guidance from these illustrations. Many Old Testament struggles, both literal and spiritual, provide resource material for the student or teacher. Let us consider and add to the following instructions:
a. Paul warned Timothy to flee from some things and then follow: (1) righteousness, (2) godliness, (3) faith, (4) love, (5) patience, (6) meekness—thereby fighting the good fight (I Timothy 6:11- 12). There is a great fight of affliction (Hebrews 10:32-39). It was this fight that Paul fought well (II Timothy 4:7-8).
b. Satan, our enemy (Matthew 13:25-28), strategically places in our paths many snares and obstacles to defeat us in this battle. He attacks us with temptation, just as he did our Lord (Matthew 4:1- 11). When the enemy comes in like a flood, then the Spirit raises up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). Our foe can never rejoice against us, for though we fall, we shall arise again (Micah 7:8).
c. Battles need soldiers to fight them; this is where you and I fit in God’s plan. We are the soldiers of the Lord fighting against the unseen enemy of our soul and God’s kingdom. We live in the flesh, but we do not war after the flesh; this is a spiritual battle between forces not seen by human eye. Nevertheless, our fight is just as real as those fought by people in the flesh. As soldiers we suffer hardships, deprivation, and affliction. But whoever supposed the life of a soldier to be easy? Many restrictions, demands, and much training are the lot of a soldier’s life. Study as many items as you can think of in relation to being a soldier, applying them to yourself in a scriptural manner (II Timothy 2:1-5; 4:5).
d. God has provided weapons for this battle (II Corinthians 10:4), along with an impenetrable armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). He assures us that no satanic weapon formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
e. War is a bone-chilling word for any who have known its ravages and devastation. As gruesome as it sounds, this is what Christians are engaged in. Discipleship involves war, and to win this war, first we count the cost. Upon counting it we discover that the price tag reads, “Forsaking . . . all” (Luke 14:33).
Satan’s army is large and powerful, confronting us like a Goliath. But, as David, we go in the name of the Lord, ultimately achieving victory.
A war is on, and it will not cease for us until we win our personal victory either at death or the catching away of the church. Study this spiritual battle and warfare in view of the following scriptural passages:
1. Our weapons are not carnal, and we do not war after the flesh (II Corinthians 10:3-5). Satan’s strongholds are exposed here as: (a) imaginations, (b) high things exalting themselves against the knowledge of God, (c) thoughts not in obedience to Christ. Much of our battle is in our mind; here we rise or fall. Appropriate God’s weapons to yourself and win the war in your mind.
2. God’s warriors do not entangle themselves in the affairs of this life (II Timothy 2:4).
3. Fleshly lusts war against our soul (I Peter 2:11). Seek to identify these lusts, conquering them through His might (James 4:1; Galatians 5:16-21).
4. Paul charged Timothy to “war a good warfare” (I Timothy 1:18-20), lest he become a shipwreck concerning faith. This is a good fight of faith that is well worth any cost we may encounter (I Timothy 6:12). So many battles and wars are for such insignificant causes. Society is in a constant conflict over unimportant issues, especially when compared to eternal values. However, this war is a worthwhile conflict; those who win will receive a crown on that day (II Timothy 4:7-8).
Conclusion
God’s Word tells us what He wants us to engage in first. These lessons have carried us through the priorities that our Lord established for our lives. Our opinions on what we should do first are often in conflict with God’s plan. By His help let us rearrange our thinking and lifestyles to meet God’s criteria for us as Christians.
Allow the Holy Ghost to empower you and God’s Word to instruct you in your decisions. Our flesh works opposite to, and in conflict with, these divine forces of direction. Building and battling are a part of Christian discipleship. Although the cost may be great, the rewards are always greater than the price we are called upon to pay.
May God grant you a discerning heart and mind to know what God desires of you. May He enable you to put first things first. Then, as He promised: “All these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). When God makes demands on your resources, never turn away, as did the rich young ruler, or turn back and walk with Him no more, as many of His disciples did (John 6:66). Arise to the occasion, placing first in your life the One who was before all things and by whom all things consist (Colossians 1:17).