Counting the Cost

The High Price of Commitment

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.”

(Luke 14:27-34; 9:23-24)

God is love and peace and joy and contentment. But He is serious business. You’d better be too.

Being a born-again Christian means everything. Everything you are, everything you have. That’s why the most miserable people in the world are Christians who aren’t willing to take it all the way. To them, church is uncomfortable, because it keeps confronting them with their sins. Sin is uncomfortable, because the Spirit’s taken all the guiltless fun out of it. Relationships are uncomfortable, because being a Christian in one place and a heathen in another makes life to keep up with. The call of God stirs their heart, but the call of the world purrs even louder. So with feet in two worlds, they know only the worst of each, the empty promises of sin and the nagging pain of an awakened conscience. Wow. And they thought God’s ways were hard. The road to the good life is narrow. And pretty steep in a lot of places. But the view is breathtaking, the experiences, unforgettable. And those who choose to walk it find everything their heart desires. Everything.

“God nowhere tells to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having.” – Oswald Chambers

Tomorrow’s Reading: You’ll find many of the basic, everyday disciplines of Christian living new and challenging, but get good at them. They are spiritual habits you’ll never outgrow.

Black Friday – *FREE GIFT*

If you died tonight, where would you go? Heaven or Hell?  If you confess your mouth, JESUS IS LORD & believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for our sin & rose from the grave, you will be saved! -Romans 10:9. For all have sinned & fall short of the Glory of God! -Romans 3:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God has everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23.

What is truth? Who has it? Let’s face it: In today’s world, it’s hard to know what’s true anymore. How’s your journey going? Has your search for real answers only led you down a dead end? Truth is more than just talk. Real truth is soul bending. It’s deep, profound and life changing.  We invite you to find this truth and enter The Passage.

God created you in His image. He wants you to know Him personally, so you may experience the love, peace and destiny He offers.

GOD’S DESIGN “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
GOD’S LOVE “For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
GOD’S PLAN “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

What prevents us from experiencing the life of love and destiny God desires for us?

Our Refusal

PEOPLE ARE SINFUL. Sin keeps us from knowing God personally and from experiencing His love, peace and destiny. Sin enslaves, blocks and separates us from God.

PEOPLE ARE SINFUL “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
Sin is our innate refusal to go God’s way and instead, to go our own way and do our own thing. God is holy, that is, perfect in who He is and all He does. Our sinful nature and actions offend God’s holy nature and result in a broken relationship and separated from Him.
PEOPLE ARE ENSLAVED “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin’” (John 8:34).

PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED “For the wages of sin is death…” (spiritual separation) (Romans 6:23)
WAGES = PENALTY
People are sinful and separated from a holy God by a great gap. We may try to cross that gap by living a good life, not harming anyone, attending church or other religious meetings, or by giving money to our favorite charities. All of these efforts fail because the sinful condition of the heart remains unchanged, enslaved to sin.

The third principle (Below) explains the only way to cross the gap…

The Message

Jesus Christ came to provide the bridge back to a destiny with God. Jesus Christ alone forgives and removes our sins so we can know God personally, and experience His love, peace and freedom forever.

HE DIED ON THE CROSS IN OUR PLACE “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God…” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ was able to pay the penalty for our sins not find Him guilty of any wrongdoing.

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD “Christ died for our sins…He was buried, He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers…”  (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
Christ’s resurrection proved that He has the power over death to enable us to live eternally with God.
HE IS THE WAY TO GOD “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

HE SETS US FREE “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, in our place. In this way He paid the death penalty that we deserve.

What would a person need to do in order to change their destiny to know God and experience the love, and freedom from sin that He offers?

Our Respect

We must individually receive Jesus Christ, because only He provides the destiny to God. Only then can we experience His love, and live in freedom for eternity.

WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
WE RECEIVE CHRIST THROUGH FAITH “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB).
Faith = trust, dependence on God
WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST, WE HAVE A NEW DESTINY.  WE EXPERIENCE HIS LOVE, FREEDOM, AND ETERNAL LIFE. [Jesus speaking] “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NASB).
To receive Christ:

1. Recognize and admit you need to be forgiven of your sins.
2. Admit you can do nothing on your own to free yourself from your sins.
3. Turn away from your sins (repentance) and place your trust in Jesus Christ alone.
4. When you trust Christ, you receive His complete forgiveness and an eternal relationship with God.

Knowing intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is not enough. Having an emotional experience will not change your destiny and allow you to experience His love, peace and freedom.

We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our will.

Think About It

These two circles represent two kinds of lives or paths that people choose:

SELF-DIRECTED LIFE Christ is outside the life. The different areas of life represented by the dots are self-directed and not in harmony with God’s desires.

CHRIST-DIRECTED LIFE Christ is in the life. This person has received Christ and His forgive-ness for their sins. Christ directs every area of life, resulting in harmony with God’s desire and plan.

Which circle represents your life right now?
Which circle do you want to represent you life?

YOU CAN RECEIVE CHRIST RIGHT NOW BY FAITH THROUGH PRAYER. (Prayer is just talking with God)
God is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. You must mean what you pray, for God knows your heart and you cannot deceive Him.

Here is a suggested prayer: Jesus Christ, I need you. I confess that I have sinned against You and have been running my own life.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please come into my life and forgive my sins and set me free. Begin directing my life. Change my destiny.  Make me into the person you created me to be. Thank you for answering my prayer by coming into my life and giving me eternal life. Amen.

Does this prayer express your heart’s desire? If it does, pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

How to Know…

HOW TO KNOW THAT CHRIST IS IN YOUR LIFE Know He answered your prayer and came into your life? You can know that Christ is in your life because of the 1 John 4:14-15:

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in

God and His Word are completely trustworthy.
THE BIBLE PROMISES ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL WHO RECEIVE CHRIST “And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.(1 John 5:11–13, NASB)
Thank God daily that Christ is in your life and He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5).  You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and you have eternal life, from the moment you invited Him in.  He will not deceive you.)

What if you don’t feel any different?

DO NOT DEPEND ON FEELINGS This train diagram illustrates the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling (the result of our faith and obedience).  Read John 14:21.

The train will run with or without the caboose (feeling). In the same way, we as Christians do not depend on feelings or emotions. We rely on the promises of God’s Word, not our feelings. The Christian lives by faith in God and His Word.

Enjoying God
THE MOMENT YOU RECEIVED CHRIST BY FAITH, AS AN ACT OF YOUR WILL, MANY THINGS HAPPENED, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:

1. Christ came into your life (1 Corinthians 6:17; Colossians 1:27).
2. Christ set you free from your sins and forgave you (Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1; Colossians 1:14).
3. You became a child of God (John 1:12).
4. God lavished His love on you (Romans 8:35–39; 1 John 3:1).
5. You received eternal life (John 5:24).
6. You began the new and satisfying life for which God created you (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Being freed and loved by Christ is all good! He changed your destiny.  Would you like to thank God in prayer right now for what He has done for you?  By thanking God, you demonstrate your faith.

To enjoy your new relationship with God to the fullest…

SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN GROWTH Our relationship with Christ grows as we trust God more and more with every detail of our lives. “The righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). This trust develops as we:

G	Go to God in prayer daily.  (Col 4:2)
R	Read God’s Word daily (Acts 17:11).  Begin with the Gospel of John
O	Obey GOd moment by moment. (John 14:21)
W	Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8)

GET INVOLVED IN A GOOD CHURCH (Bible-based, Christ centered) God’s Word admonishes us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together…” (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42–47). Several logs burn brightly together; but put one aside and its fire goes out. So it is with your relationship to other Christians. If you do not belong to a church, do not wait to be invited. Take the first step; call the pastor of a nearby church where Christ is honored and His Word is preached. Start this week and make plans to attend regularly. hear from you!

If you prayed this prayer & meant it. WELCOME to God’s family! Please email us at 11sixboyz@gmail.com to share the good news & we will help you walk with the Lord and we help find a good church for you. Jesus bless you abundantly! If you want to talk with someone on the phone please call 1-888-NEED-HIM

3. The Key of Discipleship

The Key of Discipleship – Not Follow up!

You may be called to disciple someone. Christians that have started to walk away from the faith or just need help understanding their walk with Christ may be brought to you. Also, if our Lord has given you the opportunity of seeing someone come to Him, then you may be called to disciple this “Babe in Christ.” Discipleship – “Let the teaching, and admonishing one another…” (Colossians 3:16). Discipleship is critical to the growth and strength of the body of Christ. We are called to help each other to “Live the Life!” Let’s go over some keys to discipleship.

• Discipleship not “Follow-up” – Discipleship is a long term commitment to helping a fellow Christian grow in Christ. The relationship is typically initiated by the new or growing Christian. Follow-up on the other hand is initiated by a mature Christian or evangelist right after a person comes to Christ. It is meant to make sure that a new Christian is going through with his or her new commitment. Often this done after mass crusades where hundreds of people make an emotional or mental commitment to accepting Christ. Many never follow through and join a good, Bible-based, Christ-centered church. We believe that one cause for this lack of true conversion is the absence of using the Law in evangelism.
• Disciple a new Christian – A new Christian will be hungry for God’s wisdom and for learning about being a Christian. You will not need to find him. He most likely will be lead to you. That does not mean that you cannot offer to help a new Christian. It just means that if he is truly saved then you should not need to chase after him. Here are some steps to follow in setting up a discipleship meeting.

1. Set up a definite day and time to meet. Show the person that you are committed to his growth and be prepared with material to discuss.
2. Pray at the beginning and end of each meeting. Learning to be comfortable when praying with someone else is important. Try to keep the prayers short and simple at first. With the Holy Spirit’s help he will quickly pick up speed and will become comfortable in praying with other people.
3. A new Christian will have many questions. He may be looking for the depth of your knowledge or may be simply very inquisitive. Let him know that you do not know everything and that you will commit to find out answer to his question. Then do it!
4. Read the Bible with him. This may sound simple but you will find that your time together will go quickly. You may also notice that he will try to avoid reading the Bible by wanting to talk about your church or religious doctrine or someone he knows that is not saved. These topics are important but reserve time to simply read a chapter or two (a good book to start in is book of John). He may not want to read at first. So you read it but make sure to ask questions so that he has an understanding of what was read. Once he is hooked on the milk of the Word he will never let go!

Now, Go make disciples of all nations!

So What Are The 7 Conditions For Becoming A Disciple of Jesus?

Some may be simple than others and some may be a great challenge for you personally. Keep in mind, we are all works in progress and God gives us the power to be obedient to these conditions as we walk in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. And please don’t forget the great benefits of becoming a disciple of Jesus, which are outlined in depth by listening this http://youtu.be/N3eSw3XeJ8c.

1. A disciple holds Jesus as the object of HIGHEST AFFECTION..

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Jesus does not mean literal hate in the previous verse, as this would be a contradiction of His life and teaching throughout the Bible. Jesus is using “hyperbole” here to shock His audience. His point is that we need to place God first in our lives. When we do this we will be the greatest son or daughter our parents could dream of, the greatest spouse, the greatest parent our children could possibly have.

2. A disciple conforms himself to God’s will by DYING TO SELF, by crucifying the flesh or the “old you.”

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

Dying to self means being willing to crucify the “old” you. This would include walking away from sinful habits, which will require you to seek the Holy Spirit’s power daily.

3. A disciple PATTERNS his life after Jesus Christ in order to be like Him.

“…Come after Me.” (Luke 14:27).

This is simply the call to follow after Jesus, living your life in obedience to His example.

4. A disciple STEWARDS possessions rather than clinging to them.

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

This does not mean selling everything you own and giving it to the poor. What it does mean is transferring ownership of everything to God and becoming a manager (steward) of His stuff.

5. A disciple “ABIDES” in God’s Word. (Greek: “meno” = dwell. stay, remain)

“If you abide in My Word, the you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31).

This simply means we do what God’s Word tells us to do, that we are not merely hearers of His Word having good intentions without any positive change.

6. A disciple LOVES others.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

This is the call to love others with “agape” love. This word means “unconditional” love. This is not a license for others to abuse you, but a challenge for you to love others the way Jesus loved others–sacrifically.

7. A disciple bears MUCH FRUIT.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

Note, “bearing fruit” proves you are a disciple. This is not a test to prove whether you are good enough to get into heaven. Fruit would include the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. There has been much confusion about fruit-bearing, and this video http://youtu.be/ykSaggTfmh8 should answer most of your questions. May Jesus bless you as you seek to become His disciple through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reason 7: Christian or Disciple? 7 Reasons Why Every Christian Should Become A Disciple

If you are not becoming a disciple of Jesus, in an environment of solid spiritual growth, you run the risk of being “lukewarm.”

Sure you go through the motions of the Christian faith but at the end of a month or a year, you see little to no growth. Sadly, spiritual passivity will lead to spiritual crisis, church-hopping, and/or personal crisis. The enemy uses snipers to pick off Lone-Ranger Christians. IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING, YOU ARE DYING. Remaining neutral is not an option in a world that is programming our minds to conform to lifestyles of sin. If you are not walking under the influence of the Holy Spirit you will be walking under the influence of your flesh or the “old self.”

” So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:16-17).

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Reason 6: Christian or Disciple? 7 Reasons Why Every Christian Should Become A Disciple

Becoming a disciple of Jesus opens the door for God’s blessing in this life.

Why would God pour out His blessings on us, if we were disobedient to Him? Surely God’s blessings are His to give, as He chooses, and it only makes sense for God to bless us when we are doing the things He tells us to. While we all love our children more than words can express, if they are disobedient they need discipline, not blessing. God deals with His children in the same way. Disciples are believers who are walking in the will of God, not in their own strength but in the strength that God supplies.

” If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:7).

” Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

Reason 5: Christian or Disciple? 7 Reasons Why Every Christian Should Become A Disciple

If you truly love Jesus, becoming His disciple is the most tangible way you can express your love for Him.

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14:21).

It’s easy to say we love God, but actions speak louder than words. Jesus summed up the commandments by telling us to love God and love others. This is an agape love that is unconditional. It means putting God before anything and everything and putting others before you. Loving God and others is one of the 7 conditions of a disciple of Jesus.

Reason 4: Christian or Disciple? 7 Reasons Why Every Christian Should Become A Disciple

Hearing “Well done good and faithful servant” is a reward many Christians will NOT hear.

Can we in all honesty expect to hear “well done good and faithful servant” if we have not been one? Imagine the disappointment you will feel standing before Jesus if you have nothing to show, nothing to be rewarded for a life spent living on this earth after becoming a Christian.

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28).

Would you die of embarrassment if Jesus came back tonight, shrinking back in shame at His coming, because you have never taken discipleship seriously?

Reason 3: Christian or Disciple? 7 Reasons Why Every Christian Should Become a Disciple

A litDtle sacrifice now equals major dividends, blessings, or rewards for eternity. This requires daily faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26).

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).

“Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully” (2 John 1:8).