Count the Cost… vs. 32-33

• 1^st – The Hope… vs. 32 [Luke 12:8-10]
  • Final preparation…
    • Having told the TWELVE the truth – the world would HATE them…
    • Knowing there were DOUBTS as to who would even LISTEN to them…
    • Jesus finished His preparation to send the APOSTLES by giving them HOPE and a WARNING!
  • Confess Jesus…
    • Therefore whoever confesses Me before men.
    • Him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven!
    • ANYONE [πᾶς] – meaning not just the those the TWELVE preached to – this applies to US…
    • Who [future] will BOLDLY say [ὁμολογέω] before MEN that they belong to Jesus…
    • Jesus will then also [future] BOLDLY say [ὁμολογέω] before the FATHER we belong to Him!
    • If there is something we really want to BUY – we must first count the COST…
    • We have to ask ourselves – is it worth the PRICE we have to PAY for it!
    • The COST for standing up for Jesus – means being HATED by the world…
    • But what we get in RETURN is FAR more valuable – it is worth the PRICE…
    • It means we will one day when we get to HEAVEN we will hear the words!
    • Matthew 25:23 – “Well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the lord.”
• 2^nd – The Warning… vs. 33
  • Deny Jesus…
    • But whoever denies Me before men. Him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven!
    • BUT – if [subjunctive] anyone DENIES Jesus before MEN…
    • Then Jesus will also DENY they belong to Him – when they stand before the FATHER!
    • Speaking of the JUDGEMENT day – the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:11
    • It means their name will NOT be found in the Book of LIFE…
    • Because they have DENIED the ONLY hope God gives us to be FORGIVEN!
    • Luke 12:10 – “To him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit – it will not be forgiven.”
  • Unforgiven…
    • There are TWO parts to being saved – BELIEVE in the heart – and CONFESS with the mouth!
    • If someone SAYS they believe in Jesus – but do not BELIEVE in their heart – NOT saved…
    • If someone BELIEVES in their heart – but refuses to CONFESS with their mouth – NOT saved!
    • It is HARD to stand up for Jesus in a world that has REJECTED Him…
    • There is a TEMPTATION to want to just blend into the CROWD …
    • But we need to be careful – because it was the CROWD who cried out CRUCIFY – John 19:15
    • Be BOLD – do not HESITATE – stand up and CONFESS we belong to the LORD!
    • Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead – you will be saved.”

• 2^nd – Make the Choice… vs. 34-39
  • 1^st – Bring the Sword… vs. 34 [Luke 12:52-53]
    • Second Coming…
      • Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth!
      • Do not THINK [νομίζω] – to believe a TRADITION from the LAW [νόμος]
      • It was commonly taught that the Messiah [Christ] would bring PEACE to the earth…
      • And it is TRUE Jesus will one day bring PEACE to the EARTH…
      • But that will NOT happen until the SECOND coming of the LORD!
      • Isaiah 2:4 – “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation – neither shall they learn war.”
      • When we hear people PRAY for PEACE – do NOT believe it…
      • The Antichrist – will deceive the world claiming to bring PEACE – I Thessalonians 5:3
      • But there will NEVER be PEACE on earth so long as MEN are the ones who RULE it!
    • First Coming…
      • I did not come to bring peace but a sword!
      • When Jesus came the FIRST time it was NOT to bring PEACE on the earth…
      • He came to bring PEACE between God and MEN through the CROSS!
      • Colossian 1:20 – “[Jesus] made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross…” [NLT]
      • But since NOT everyone wants to HEAR the Gospel – it becomes a SWORD that DIVIDES…
      • We can talk about almost any subject and people will RESPECT our opinion…
      • But the moment we bring up Jesus – His name has a POLARIZING effect…
      • People are either FOR Him – or they are AGAINST Him – Luke 11:23
  • 2^nd – Know the Enemy… vs. 35-36
    • Our Family…
      • For I have come to set a man against his father – a daughter against her mother.
      • And a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
      • And a mans enemies will be those of his own household!
      • When the TWELVE shared the name of Jesus – it would cause DIVISION…
      • The message of the GOSPEL split FAMILIES in TWO [διχάζω]
      • Because the ENEMY [nominative] – is IN our own HOUSE…
      • ENEMY [ἐχθρός] – is one of the TITLES of satan – Matthew 13:39
      • Ephesians 6:12 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood – but against principalities – against powers – against the rulers of the darkness of this age…”
    • Choosing sides…
      • We are at WAR – but we often miss who the real ENEMY is – we look at the PEOPLE [family]
      • But PEOPLE are puppets – BLINDED by the god of this world – II Corinthians 4:4
      • The key is to go to the ROOT problem – know who we are fighting…
      • But also do not miss the point – if we SIDE with our FAMILY who are NOT saved…
      • We are choosing to be on the SIDE of the ENEMY!
  • 3^rd – Chose Jesus… vs. 37-38
    • More than Family…
      • He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. 
      • And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me!
      • Anyone who LOVES [φιλέω] their family more than Jesus…
      • Is not WORTHY [ἄξιος] – they are not FOLLOWING [ἄγω] the Lord…
      • Luke would take this one step further – and say we must HATE our family!
      • Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to Me and does not HATE his father and mother – wife and children – brothers and sisters… he cannot be My disciple.”
      • It seems extreme to say we must HATE our family – but it is meant as a COMPARISON…
      • Our LOVE for the LORD must be that far ahead of our LOVE of family…
      • Because there can only be ONE king that sits on the throne of our heart…
      • And if we put FAMILY there – then we cannot FOLLOW God!
    • More than life…
      • And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me!
      • This is the FIRST mention of the CROSS [σταυρὸν] in the Bible…
      • It must have seemed ODD – as the TWELVE did not yet know Jesus would be CRUCIFIED…
      • Today the CROSS is a symbol of SALVATION – but to them it was a picture of DEATH…
      • Jesus was saying that if ANYONE wanted to follow Him – it meant they would have to DIE!
      • Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me – let him deny himself – and take up his cross daily – and follow Me.”
      • Many people look at the GOSPEL – and see a SINGLE choice they make to get to HEAVEN….
      • But FOLLOWING Jesus is NOT a onetime decision – it is a CONTINUAL choice…
      • It means DAILY denying [die to] what we want – and choosing to LIVE for God…
      • It means we get out of the drivers seat of our life – and let Jesus take the wheel!
  • 4^th – Find Life… vs. 39 [John 12:24-25]
    • Lost…
      • He who finds his life will lose it! 
      • Those who seek to FIND life [ψυχή] their life – will end up DESTROYING [ἀπόλλυμι] it…
      • Those who do NOT want to deny themselves – do NOT take up their cross…
      • Those who THINK they can find something better in THIS life – LOSE!
      • King SOLOMON had everything the world says we WANT…
      • He had MONEY – he had POWER [king] – he had WOMEN [thousand wives]!
      • Ecclesiastes 2:11 – “I looked on all the works that my hands had done… and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.”
      • Looking for HAPPINESS – answers to life in this world is chasing the WIND…
      • It is NOT about chasing something that is HARD to catch – there is NOTHING there…
      • No one comes to the END of their life wishing they had more MONEY or THINGS…
      • But many will come to the end and realize it was all vanity – WORTHLESS….
      • They wasted our life – LOST their life – chasing after the WIND!
    • Found…
      • He who loses his life for My sake will find it!
      • He who GIVES up [ἀπόλλυμι] his life for the sake of Jesus – will find TRUE life [ψυχή]!
      • The Apostle Paul was a very GOOD man – born a JEW – he became a Pharisees…
      • He worked hard to live as GOOD a life as he could – until he met Jesus!
      • Philippians 3:8 – “I also count ALL things lost for… Christ Jesus my Lord – for whom I have suffered the loss of ALL things – and count them as [manure] – that I may gain Christ.”
      • If we take a SEED and HOLD it in our hand – it will NEVER grow…
      • But if we let the SEED go – and BURY it – it becomes what God intended it to be…
      • We tend to CLING onto our life – we want to be in CONTROL…
      • But choosing to put our FAITH in Jesus – means LETTING go…
      • All of our HOPES – all of our AMBITION – all of our DREAMS…
      • The truth is in order to FIND life – we must first GIVE it away!
      • John 12:24-25 – “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone – but if it dies it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it – and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

• 3^rd – Get the Reward… vs. 40-42
  • 1^st – From the Father… vs. 40
    • Sent out…
      • He who receives you receives Me – and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me!
      • But those who are WORTHY – who LISTEN to the Gospel – Matthew 10:13
      • And are willing to take up their CROSS – do so for a REWARD…
      • RECEIVE [δέχομαι] – 6x in THREE verses – to take by the hand…
      • If they RECEIVE those Jesus SENT [the apostles] – they also RECEIVE Him…
      • And anyone who RECEIVES Jesus – RECEIVES the father who SENT [ἀποστέλλω] Him!
    • An Ambassador…
      • An APOSTLE is an AMBASSADOR sent by God to represent Him – II Corinthians 5:20
      • Therefore anyone who received His AMBASSADOR – also welcomes Him!
      • If GOD [Father] came knocking on our door – people would ANSWER…
      • But as we are SINNERS – and cannot come into the presence of HOLY God – Exodus 33:20
      • He instead send His AMBASSADORS to speak for Him…
      • Those who RECEIVE his APOSTLES [sent ones] – receive Him…
      • Those who REJECT his APOSTLES – shut the door in the face of the Father!
  • 2^nd – Salvation… vs. 41-42
    • A Prophet… vs. 41
      • He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward!
      • Anyone who receives [δέχομαι] a PROPHET who comes in Jesus name…
      • Will also be GIVEN [λαμβάνω] the REWARD of a PROPHET…
      • To understand that REWARD – we need to look at what a PROPHET is…
      • PROPHET [προφήτης] – is someone who SPEAKS for God…
      • Therefore anyone who RECEIVES a PROPHET – is REWARDED by hearing His WORD!
      • People might question if God is real – then why do they NOT hear him…
      • But God is not SILENT – people are just NOT listening!
      • God sends us out [apostle] into the world to be a PROPHET – SPEAK His Word…
      • If people want to KNOW the meaning of life – if they want to KNOW God…
      • All they have to do is LISTEN when He SPEAKS through us!
      • II Samuel 32:2 – “The LORD speaks through me. His words are upon my tongue.” [NLT]
    • A Godly man… vs. 41
      • He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive his reward!
      • Anyone who receives [δέχομαι] a GODLY man who comes in Jesus name…
      • Will also be GIVEN [λαμβάνω] the REWARD of a GODLY man…
      • To understand that REWARD – we need to look at what a GODLY man is…
      • GODLY man [δίκαιος] – someone who is ACCEPTED by God…
      • Therefore anyone who RECEIVES a GODLY man – is REWARDED by being accepted by God!
      • When Paul wrote to the STRUGGLING church in Corinth…
      • He gave them a simple COMMAND [imperative]
      • I Corinthians 11:1 – “Imitate me – just as I also imitate Christ.”
      • Example is a POWERFUL thing – we learn best by FOLLOWING others…
      • God sends out into the world to be a GODLY example – show people how to live for God…
      • If people want to KNOW how to be ACCEPTED by the LORD…
      • All they need to do is LOOK at the EXAMPLES He has given to them!
    • A cup of water… vs. 42 [Mark 9:41]
      • Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple.
      • Assuredly – I say to you – he shall by no means lose his reward!
      • If ANYONE gives a cup of cold water – even to the LEAST of the DISCIPLES…
      • AMEN [ἀμήν] – they will NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] lose their REWARD…
      • Meaning the FATHER notices even the SMALLEST acts of kindness…
      • And will REWARD anyone who HELPS to spread the message of the GOSPEL!
      • The idea of BILLIONS of people who need Jesus is overwhelming…
      • Where do we BEGIN – what can we DO – does God even want us!
      • The HARVEST is RIPE – a world that desperately needs to HEAR about Jesus – Matthew 9:37
      • God is looking for people to SEND [apostles] – who will speak His WORD [prophets]
      • Men and women who will be a GODLY example [righteous]
      • We might think we could NEVER do that – who are we to think we can be used…
      • But even a CUP of cold water – given to refresh the LEAST – does NOT go unnoticed…
      • God calls us all to be part of bringing the MESSAGE of HOPE to a lost world…
      • The only thing He is waiting for us for us to raise our hand and say:

Isaiah 6:8 – “Here I am. Send me.” [NLT]