This time of year we receive many invitations. There are those who graduating from high school or college. Soon there will be those who are preparing for a life together and we are invited to celebrate with them as they exchange vows. Of course there are multitudes of invitations to baby showers, Tupperware parties, and Amway or Kirby demonstrations. An invitation is personal. It is someone requesting your presence for a particular event.
In the Bible we find a number of different invitations.
We are invited to come to Christ for salvation:
a. All of us are in need of this invitation (Rom. 3:23) "All have sinned…"
b. All of us can accept this invitation (Rom 10:13) "Whosoever shall call upon…"
c. If you have never accepted this invitation, know that God desires for you to come to Christ and be saved!
We are invited to come to Christ to find comfort (Matt. 11:28) "Come unto me…"
We are invited to pray in times of need (Jer. 33:3)
(Jer 33:3) "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
This morning, I want us to consider another invitation from God. It is a challenging invitation. It is an invitation to be a disciple or follower of Christ. Now just what will that mean? It will mean our lives will never be the same. Consider the twelve…they could not go back to their former lives. No more fishing…tax collecting…etc.
(2 Cor 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Becoming a disciple is a life changing event. It is more than 'believing in Christ'. Being His disciple means 'living for Christ'. [3]
(Mark 8:34) "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
I. The Challenge to Forget Self: 'Let him deny himself'
A. This is not an easy challenge to accept
1. We're all prone to look out for number one.
2. We are programmed by this world to do that.
3. Even the twelve longed for high places
(Mark 10:37) "They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory."
B. Discipleship calls for giving Christ first place
(Mat 6:33) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
1. Christ must have the preeminence if we are to be His disciple.
(Col 1:17-18) "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
2. Who's on the throne of our life?
3. Who has first place?
4. Is it self or the Savior?
II. A Challenge to Full Surrender: 'Let him ... take up his cross'.
A. The cross is about death
1. Jesus had just revealed His impending death on Calvary. (v. 3 1)
2. Peter rebelled at this message (v. 32)
3. He didn't yet understand God's plan of redemption, and Jesus rebuked him for his resistance.
4. Taking up our cross doesn't mean that we will die physically as Christ did.
5. But it means being willing to do the will of God in our lives.
B. Taking up the cross is about full surrender
1. Christ surrendered Himself to the cross to save us
2. We are to surrender to Him in everything
3. What are we holding back from our Lord?
4. Have we placed limits on how far we will go for Him and with Him?
III. A Challenge to Follow Our Savior: 'Let him ... follow me'
A. Only the saved can truly follow Jesus
1. There have been many who say they are His disciples…but they do not really follow Him.
2. Jesus makes this very clear.
(Luke 6:46) "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
(Mat 7:21-23) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
B. The indwelling Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to follow Him.
(John 14:17) "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
1. Following Christ may lead through difficult places
2. We cannot do it on our own.
3. But the Holy Spirit enables us to endure hardship for Christ and to follow Him.
4. That's what discipleship is all about
Accepting This Challenging Invitation Makes Life Worthwhile
In Holding Back, We Lose the Best in Life
(Mark 8:35) "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
Have you received Christ as Savior? Are you now following Him as His disciple? Jesus said, "Whosever will come…" the invitation is open to all who will hear, receive, and believe. Why not come today?
1. Forget Self
2. Fully Surrender
3. Follow Him