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The Cost of Following Christ

The Cost of Following Christ

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The Cost of Following Christ. Mt. 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Disciple = A learner; a student A follower of Christ - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: The Cost of Following Christ

The Cost of Following Christ

Page 2: The Cost of Following Christ

Mt. 16:24

• Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Page 3: The Cost of Following Christ

• Disciple = A learner; a student• A follower of Christ• It is an honor to be a follower of

Christ – there are many blessings bestowed on the one who follows Christ

Page 4: The Cost of Following Christ

• But in order to have these blessings the one who follows Christ must be willing to “pay the price”

Page 5: The Cost of Following Christ

I. Self - restraint

• Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself (self-restraint), and take up his cross, and follow me.

Page 6: The Cost of Following Christ

• This does not mean we should torture or bodies and refuse to enjoy the joys of life• We must exercise self control ---

control of the sinful passions • What things must be denied?

Page 7: The Cost of Following Christ

Titus 2:11-12

• For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Page 8: The Cost of Following Christ

1 Jn. 2:15-16

• Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Page 9: The Cost of Following Christ

• Self-control is a law of spiritual development – the one who fails to practice self control will not grow

Page 10: The Cost of Following Christ

• It is also a law of protection - if we ignore this law we are exposed to injury

Page 11: The Cost of Following Christ

1 Cor. 9:27

• But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway

Page 12: The Cost of Following Christ

• But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (NKJV)

Page 13: The Cost of Following Christ

• A mother does not allow her child to eat poison or unhealthy food• For the same reason God forbids

“ungodliness and worldly lusts” in our lives

Page 14: The Cost of Following Christ

II. Self - Sacrifice

• “And take up his cross” (Mt. 16:24)• Burdens = the cares and strain of

daily life

Page 15: The Cost of Following Christ

• Thorns = some limitation, mental or physical, which makes life more difficult and often miserable• Cross = the pain we voluntarily

suffer on behalf of others

Page 16: The Cost of Following Christ

2 Cor. 12:7-10

• And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Page 17: The Cost of Following Christ

• And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Page 18: The Cost of Following Christ

• Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong

Page 19: The Cost of Following Christ

• “Every man must bear his own burden, endure his own thorn, the cross may be escaped; but without the cross there can be no crown.” Frank Cox

Page 20: The Cost of Following Christ

III. Self - Expression

• “And follow me” (Mt. 16:24)• The life of one who follows Christ

in not only restraining one’s self – it is also activity• It is a development of the higher

self – the spiritual man

Page 21: The Cost of Following Christ

• It is living as God wants us to live• We must follow near Christ –

which includes obedience to His word and following His steps

Page 22: The Cost of Following Christ

1 Pet. 2:21-23

• For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Page 23: The Cost of Following Christ

• Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Page 24: The Cost of Following Christ

• To go before Christ would be presumption• To turn aside from Christ would

show that we are worldly• If we follow Him from afar it

would mean we are cowardly

Page 25: The Cost of Following Christ

IV. The cost of not following Christ

• 1. The joy of obedience• 2. Access to the throne of God• 3. The assurance that all things

work together for good• 4. The welcome home!

Page 26: The Cost of Following Christ

• Being a follow of Christ is costly –HOWEVER the cost of not following Him is far more costly!

Page 27: The Cost of Following Christ

References

• Thoughts adapted from brief outline by Frank L. Cox