THE COST OF TRUE DICIPLESHIP

 As we celebration the birth of our Savior, Lord and King Jesus Christ this Christmas I was quiet before the Lord and thanking the Lord Jesus for the atonement and the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus when the Lord spoke to me about the season we are in and how it will get more profound and intensify.

We mustn’t confuse “believing” in Christ Jesus with “following” Christ Jesus.  After all even the demons believe, treble and fear at the name of Jesus.  We must be FULLY SUBMITTED, COMMITTED AND OBEDIENT TO BOTH THE WRITTEN WORD AND SPIRIT OF THE LORD JESUS.

James 2:19 (NKJV)

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Matthew 16:24–26 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 14:15 (NKJV)

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.

The season we are in and quickly progressing in is a season of “true discipleship” and the true cost of being a disciple of Christ Jesus.  We MUST be willing to go through the “refiners fire” of the Lord Jesus! We must reflect and ask ourselves what will it cost each of us to follow Christ Jesus to do the work of HIS Kingdom and the works of the Holy Spirit?  Everything that is not godly or of the Lord Jesus is about to be shaken and challenged! Our free will to cast down every idol as well as the repentance of sins for the purposes of the Lord Jesus will be challenged and must be forsaken as we put Jesus first as LORD AND SAVIOR.  As Joshua spoke, choose this day whom you will serve WITH FULLNESS OF HEART.  Each breath and every moment we draw closer to the return of the Lord Jesus and everything that is not of Jesus will be consumed in fire, thus the “heat” of the “refiners fire” is intensifying as evil is called good and good is called evil in an ungodly world.

Joshua 24:14–15 (NKJV)

14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 

Malachi 3:3 (NKJV)

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the LORD

An offering in righteousness.

We must not confuse fellowships and friendships with being fully/truly submitted and committed with abiding and dwelling in ONE ACCORD with Christ Jesus.  Every relationship is being tested and refined as well as earthly possessions and every idol of the heart! We must put Jesus first and foremost in our lives and hearts.  We must return fully to our “First Love” Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Luke 14:26 (NKJV)

 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Abraham was called to sacrifice his only son, Job was tested to the point that even his own wife told him to curse the Lord and die.  Job’s friends accused him of sin, Job’s losses were many while trying to stay committed and devoted to the Lord.  His family, wealth, friends and health were test and tried.  We are going to go through much of the same to reach the fullness of Christ Jesus as the intensity and refiners fire is being turned up.  We must decide like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego if we are willing to give our lives unto death for the Lord Jesus.  We must choose the fire of refinement over the fires of eternal damnation and destruction.

Daniel 3:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 

Much of today’s church is building up gifting and callings but omit Holiness and righteousness of Christ Jesus!  It would be wise to remember that the Lord is returning for a Bride without spot or wrinkle!  The callings and giftings are irrevocable and they are no true sign of holiness, righteousness or even the true Holy Spirit! 

Romans 11:29 (NKJV)

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Matthew 7:21–23 (NKJV)

True Way into the Kingdom

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Ephesians 5:27 (NKJV)

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

We must each examine ourselves before partaking of the bread and wine of our Lord Jesus.  We must come before the Lord with purity of heart.  We must repent and get right with the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NKJV)

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

 

Psalm 51 (NKJV)

PSALM 51

A Prayer of Repentance

 

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba.

 

1      Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2      Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

 

3      For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4      Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

 

5      Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6      Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

 

7      Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8      Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9      Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

 

10      Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11      Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 

12      Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13      Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

 

14      Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

The God of my salvation,

And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15      O Lord, open my lips,

And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16      For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

17      The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

 

18      Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19      Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,

With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;

Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

 

We are called to the LIFE OF CHIST not merely to believe in the existence of Christ Jesus.  It would be wise to read and reflect on all of the Pauline Epistles of Timothy.

 

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NKJV)

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV)

Final Exhortations

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

May the fullness of Christ be with you!  Blessing, peace and joy from our Lord Jesus.