The Blessings of Discipleship Mark 10: /08/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

The Blessings of Discipleship 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!? 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (Mark 10:23-24)

The Blessings of Discipleship 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:25-26)

The Blessings of Discipleship 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:27- 28)

The Blessings of Discipleship 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel (Mark 10:29)

The Blessings of Discipleship 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:30)

The Blessings of Discipleship 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:31, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship Introduction This of course speaks of the grace of God that enables a person to break with his sin, with his old life, with his family, his friends, his money, in order to be a disciple of Jesus.

The Blessings of Discipleship 27 “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matt 19:27, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship  Discipleship Brings Blessings in this Life Our first reaction to Jesus is to look at what we are going to have to give up.  Our natural tendency is to be pessimistic.

The Blessings of Discipleship 23 …“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV),  We don’t think about what God is doing for us!

The Blessings of Discipleship Peter, the fisherman.  We do in a sense leave a lot. –Our worldly ambitions –Our self-will –Our independence –If we have any possessions there is a willingness to give it all up.

The Blessings of Discipleship 32 For the pagans run after all these things (Matt 6:32, NIV) Jesus tells us that their understanding of reality was pagan instead of inspired. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt 6:33, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship  That’s one of the biggest blessings you could ever have—an inspired version of reality. If you don’t go after worldly things, but after spiritual things, you’ll be blessed.  Do you want to be blessed or not?.

The Blessings of Discipleship If you choose worldly things, there’s an illusion of control.  You may get what you want, but it’s not God. Our self-will.  Jesus teaches a philosophy of life that calls us “to put off the old self” (Eph 4:22).

The Blessings of Discipleship 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship Our independence.  Independence is an American virtue.  This is a fundamentally childish idea of adulthood.

The Blessings of Discipleship This just shows how backward we understand our world apart from Jesus.  The result is that the blessings of discipleship aren’t seen as blessings.  They aren’t seen as blessings because they aren’t understood correctly.

The Blessings of Discipleship 29 I tell you the truth.” (Mark 10:29)

The Blessings of Discipleship 29 …“no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29- 30)

The Blessings of Discipleship  Whatever is given up will be replenished many times over. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:31, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship  Discipleship Blessings Are Greatest in the World to Come A Christian doesn’t have to worry about the after life. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. (Heb 11:26, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship  But when we compare what we have to go through now with what we are going to receive, it’s hard. It’s hard to live our lives now on the basis of a future reward.  What God says about eternity has to be as real as what we see right now.

The Blessings of Discipleship 3 …In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship  This is a reality as real as this building.  So where does it exist for you?  The reality of its existence is the basis upon which you and I make decisions and act.  The motive for our lives is based upon the invisible world.

The Blessings of Discipleship 35 so that they might gain a better resurrection. (Heb 11:35, NIV)  They did it because they could see the invisible reward.

The Blessings of Discipleship  Conclusion 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:23-31, NIV)

The Blessings of Discipleship Jesus was the greatest of all but took the lowest place of all. Are you willing to do that? Would you do that right now?

The Blessings of Discipleship Mark 10: /08/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles