Teaching Notes

What if you decided you could swim this lake?  Would you simply jump in and start to swim?  No, you would want to know some detail about it.  Why?  Well, you wouldn't want to jump into something unaware and become a victim to it.  We should also think about our walk with Christ as one that we must prepare for.  No this does not mean you and I must do something before we are saved.  It means we must be willing to let go over everything that would stop us from crossing over to the otherside.  We do not want to become victims of the waves and the currents.  We want to do whatever God requires of us so that we can be able to withstand in this walk.

Figure the Cost

Luke 14:25-34 (The Message)

25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

MONDAY

Jesus was walking and he turned and gave thes message to those that were following him.  What he was actually saying to them was if there is anything in your life that is more important tham me, you cannot really be my disciple. He tells them they cannot even put their own desires and wished above him.  Nothing could take the first place in their lives above God. NOTHING!

Question for Today - Do you think Jesus was really saying that you had to hate your family? Or was he really saying that nothing can be above him in your life?

Prayer: Lord help us to be able to let go of anything that is moving you out of the first place in our lives.  Help not to put our own desires above what you desire for your lives.  Help us this day to seek to do things in your way because your ways are perfect.

TUESDAY

28-30"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'

Jesus ask them about someone that builds a house.  If that person decides to build a house they will first see what it will cost them and then make sure they have what is needed so they can accomplish that task.  You would not want to invest your money in building a house to only have the foundation laid and never complete the task.  He says if you do that, when people come past they will make fun of you because they will know you did not count the cost on what it would take to finish your project.  He is comparing this with counting the cost of salvation.  Jesus is not trying to turn people away, but instead have them think about what they are doing so they will finish the course and not stop short because they did not realize what would be needed to go all the way.  This goes back to yesterdays message.  If you are not willing to put everything else behind God, then you will become discouraged and want to stop the process.  You will only get the foundation laid but nothing else.

Question for Today: What do you think it takes to "count the cost"?  What do you need to do to help yourself stay the course on this Christian journey?

Prayer: Lord help us not simply lay the foundation, but help us to build upon it.  Help us to let you come in and set each brick in place.  Lord set each thing in place so that we can be the "house" that your Spirit dwells in.  Help us to stay strong on this journey and not become weary and want to give up.  Keep us because only you are able to.

WEDNESDAY

31-32"Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?

Again, Jesus is showing the importance of thinking about your journey.  He uses the example of a king.  A king would not place himself into a battle he cannot win.  He will see if there is something he can work out so he will not be defeated.  That should also be the mindset of the believers.  We should not walk into this Christian life not prepared to do battle.  We fight not against flesh and blood, but against spirits and powers in high places.  We are in a spiritual battle, even though this world seems not to think so. If you see that you are unable to stand in the battle you should get the help you need. That help comes from God. He will equip you so that you can stand, however it really means you must really take an inventory of yourself and see where you are standing.

Question for Today: What are the areas in your life that need working on?  Are there some areas that if "battle" hit you there you would be defeated?  What can you do to make yourself stronger for the spiritual battles in life?

Prayer: Lord we seek your guidance and strength to help us prepared for the spiritual battles in our lives.  Lord help us so that we do not go into this life unprepared and unfit for it.  Help us to be able to stand.  Gives us the ability to see where we are weak and in need of help. 

THURSDAY

33"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.

Jesus ends this scripture how he started it.  He say if you are not willing to put everything behind you, both plans (ideas, thoughts, agendas) or people (loved ones, friends, family, associates) you will not be able to be his disciple.  Do you know the reason why?  It will be impossible to be pleasing to God if you are always worried about pleasing others.  It will be impossible to be submitted completely to God's plan when other plans are fighting for first place.  In order to be a disciple of Jesus nothing can be in the first position but him.

Question for Today - How do you put Jesus in the first position in your life?  How do you know when you have not put him in the first position in your life?

Prayer: Lord today we want to be totally submitted to your way.  We do not want anything to stand in the way of our worship and service unto you.  Help us release anything that stands in the way, this day we pray.

FRIDAY

34"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"


The final point is about salt.  Jesus says that salt is excellent.  This means that salt is going to do what it was made to do.  It was meant to be salt.  It has many characteristics that are useful.  To add flavor, to perserve just to name a few. Yet, what if it lost its flavor?  It would no longer be excellent because it could not do what it was made to do.  It is then good for nothing.  The question then is are your really listening?  What Jesus is saying to us today is this, we were made for excellence.  We were made to be like salt.  We are to add flavor to this world, to perserve the truth of God just to name a few.  Yet if we lose our flavor (our ability to do what we were created to do) we are not useful to God.  God created us to worship and honor him.  He created us so that we could show his excellence through us. Yet if we do not allow him first place in our lives we become like useless salt.  God wants us to yield to him so that he can bring about excellence in our lives.
 
Question for Today - What excellence does God want to bring through your life?  Are you allowing him or are you resisting?  Meditate on this lesson from this week to see if God is trying to tell you about something that needs to be changed in you.
 
Prayer: Lord we want you to have total access to our lives so that your perfect and excellent work and show through.  As we go about the rest of this week and weekend help us to see how to be more of what you are calling us to be.  Help us to figure the cost of this journey and then prepare us to complete the task.