Count the Cost

Matt. 8:20 - And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Too many people have too casual an attitude about serving God.  Most of these people have this attitude because of the casual way the gospel and service is presented by the majority of preachers.

1.   Matt. 8:20 (18-22), Luke 9:58 (58-62) Foxes have holes.  Jesus told these people exactly what it would be like if they decided to follow Him.  He didn't do like a lot of "popularity preachers", doing anything to get a crowd.

2.   Luke 14:25-33 - Count the cost of the project before you start, so you know what to do in order to finish.

1.   Make a projection - example: Determine beforehand to be married until death, not until trouble comes.

2.   O. T. - Deut. 13:6-11 - The Jews were commanded to kill any person who tried to entice them away from God's service.  We have no right to kill people, but we must forsake their friendship and trust the Lord.

3.   Self-Denial.

1.   Matt. 16:24 - We must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus or WE CANNOT BE HIS DISCIPLE.

a.      Eph. 3:1, 4:1 - Paul considered himself to be the prisoner of the Lord.

b.   II Tim. 1:8 - We must be ashamed of other prisoners of the Lord, because we are supposed to be a prisoner of the Lord.

4.   Result of living for God.

1.   Rom. 8:13 - Live after the flesh - die.  Mortify the deeds of the body - live.

2.   Matt. 16:25 - If we save our lives, we lose it, if we lose it, we save it!

3.   Mark 10:28-31, Luke 18:28 - What you gain by leaving this world and following Christ.

4.   Luke 5:27,28 - Levi (Matthew) left all and followed Christ.

5.   Phil. 3:1-12 - Paul counted everything he had as being lost for Christ.  He was very happy serving God.

5.   See page 241 in Thompson Chain Reference Bible for a history of how the apostles died.

Are you willing to die for Jesus?  Not until you are willing to live for Him!

6.   Result of not living for Christ.

1.   You won't get out of this world alive, so don't hold back from dying for Christ.  We all will die of something.

2.   Picture a life of sin:  Drunkenness, Using drugs, Prostitution, Adultery, Broken homes, Child Abuse, Gambling, Ignorant Education, Ruined Marriages.