(Called to be a Disciple)

# Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:31‭-‬32 

(End Goal)

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27 

(Jesus is our pioneer)

# He who has seen Me has seen the Father. 

=> Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? 

(Show by Words and Works)

1. The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  

2. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

John 14:9‭-‬11 

(How)

 # Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  

(Disciple denies himself)

# 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.  

(Disciple hates and loses his life for God's sake)

=> He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:24‭-‬25 

=> For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  

=> He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 

=> 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?  

Matthew 16:24‭-‬26

(Disciple hates his 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. 

=> And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  

Matthew 10:37‭-‬38

# “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.    

(Forsake all he has)

=> For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?  

=> Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  

# So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:26‭-‬33 

(Why to forsake? No one can serve two masters)

No one can serve two masters. 

=> Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 

You cannot serve both God and money.

Luke 16:13 

(Taking the cross)

=> And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

# And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

=> If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:24‭-‬25 

# No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life,  that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 

=> And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 

=> The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. (Reward)

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

II Timothy 2:4‭-‬7 

(Disciple gets the reward from Jesus)

# I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 

=> So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 

=> Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 

=> Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 

=> If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

I Corinthians 3:6‭-‬8‭, ‬13‭-‬14 

# For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then will reward each according to his works.

Matthew 16: 27