Follow in forsaking

Luke 14:28-33

• Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. 

• Nor will any wise potentate enter a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the best terms he can.

•  Even so, says our Lord, "in the warfare you will each have to wage as My disciples, despise not your enemy's strength, for the odds are all against you; and you had better see to it that, despite every disadvantage, you still have wherewithal to hold out and win the day, or else not begin at all, and make the best you can in such awful circumstances."

•  In this simple sense of the parable, two things are taught:  (1) Better not begin, than begin and not finish.  (2) Do not begin without fully preparing for what might stop you 

• Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one, the human will, in the exercise of that "faith which overcometh the world" (1Jo 5:4), and nerved by power from above, which "out of weakness makes it strong" (Heb 11:34; 1Pe 1:5), become heroical and will come off "more than conqueror."

• But without absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless (Lu 14:33).

God is calling to the forsaking of self this morning. There's is a lot of self in this walk with Christ. 

Some people walk with him...while others see him walking. They are forever seeing him walking and never coming to walk with him, because of the love of self.

Jesus says it is impossible for you to not have forsaken and follow me.

1. You cannot choose to follow Christ and choose to keep self.
2. It is impossible to follow Christ and still be found with love for self.

• In other words when you find yourself contesting against your will and the will of God, you have not forsaken.
• When you find your self undecided about how you spend your time, you have not forsaken. Because if you have you will understand that your time is no more and the time is not yours, but God's time to afford you the privilege of sharing the Gospel.
• If you find yourself having no time for God, you have not forsaken. Because if you had, you would be filled with what he has, and be willing to follow in his example.

Take note that with God there's is a process, YES come as you are. But as you come I need you to be willing to forsake all that is within you, that I can be within you.

Therefore it shouldn't take us by surprise when people are not doing God's work, because Jesus says himself one who is not forsaking cannot follow him. In other words unless we forsake all of us, he can never to us be practical. 

Some have been in the church for long, and have never experienced what it means to walk in Jesus's path, because they are not willing to be cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.

The lesson is that, a follower of Christ is to be constantly emptied of self, that he may be filled with Christ. And once Christ is in him it becomes natural to follow him.

#midnighttruths

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