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Part 4
by Samuel E. Ward
Introduction
(Luke 14:28-30 NIV) "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? {29} For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, {30} saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
In this discourse recorded by Luke, Jesus shows us that discipleship is a commitment to a life of serving God and not a mere assent to belief in a set of facts about Himself and what He came to do. Belief in the facts of the gospel is to be followed by devotion to the acts of the gospel.
In the first section of our study of discipleship we learned that. . .
I. There Are Demands Placed Upon Disciples.
We noted that . . .
A. Our lives are a sacrifice to God.
B. Our allegiance and affections to God take precedence over all others.
C. All of our possessions belong to God.
D. Our obedience to Christ's teachings must be total.
E. Our lives must bear spiritual fruit.
In the next major section of our study we will note that. . .
II. There Are Dangers Present to Disciples
A. Dangers to Disciples
1. The Devil Is Prowling
(1 Pet 5:8-9 NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. {9} Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
2. Overt Enemies Are Attacking
a. It was true in the beginning of the church.
(Acts 7:59-60; 8:1 NIV) While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." {60} Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. . . {8:1} And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
b. It was the experience of the early church.
(Heb 10:32-34 NIV) Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. {33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. {34} You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
c. It is to be expected for the present church (especially toward those who live godly lives).
(2 Tim 3:12-13 NIV) In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, {13} while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
3. Covert Enemies of Christ Are Lurking
a. Consider the experience of Paul.
(2 Cor 11:26 NIV) I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
b. Consider yourself warned.
1) Warned against the enemies' disguises.
(Mat 7:15 NIV) "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
2) Warned against the enemies' signs and miracles.
(Mat 24:24-25 NIV) For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. {25} See, I have told you ahead of time.
3) Warned against the enemies' heresies and exploitation God's people.
(2 Pet 2:1-3 NIV) But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. {2} Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. {3} In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. Our Flesh Is Working Against Us
a. Know the nature of the struggle between your flesh and your spirit.
(Rom 7:21-24 NIV) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. {22} For in my inner being I delight in God's law; {23} but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. {24} What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
b. Know the process where--sin begins and how it ends if unchecked.
(James 1:14-16 NIV) ...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. {15} Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. {16} Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
5. Our Worldly Friends' Devotion to Self-Pleasure Can Draw Us Away.
(Phil 3:18-19 NIV) For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. {19} Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
B. The Diminishment of Disciples
1. Secret disciples
a. Examples of secret disciples.
1) Nicodemus: A Pharisaic disciple who came to Jesus at night
(John 3:1-2 NIV) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. {2} He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
2) Joseph of Arimathea: a secret disciple who was overcome by fear of the Jews
(John 19:38 NIV) Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
b. Message to secret disciples: You must be open about your relationship to Christ and your faith in the gospel.
1) Jesus spoke openly.
(John 18:19-20 NIV) Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. {20} "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. "
2) Others felt compelled to speak openly.
a) The leper who was healed
(Mark 1:44-45 NIV) "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." {45} Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
b) The Apostle Paul
(1 Cor 9:16 NIV) Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
(2 Cor 5:14-15 NIV) For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. {15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
c) Everyone should feel compelled.
(Acts 4:26-31 NIV) "The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. {27} Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. {28} They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. {29} Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. {30} Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." {31} After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
2. Fearful Disciples
a. Examples of fearful disciples
1) Some of the leaders among the Jews
(John 12:42-43 NIV) Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; {43} for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
2) Some who had been blessed by Jesus
(John 9:19-22 NIV) "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" {20} "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. {21} But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." {22} His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
b. Disciples must be courageous in their confession of Christ and the gospel.
(Acts 4:13 NIV) When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
(Acts 9:27-28 NIV) But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. {28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
c. Disciples must pray for one another to fearlessly proclaim Christ.
(Eph 6:19 NIV) Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
Conclusion: The Best Way to Combat Fears Is to Confront Them
1. Know Whom you ought to fear.
(Mat 10: 28 NIV{28} Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
2. Know that silence emboldens the enemies while bold proclamation deters them.
(Mat 21:45-46 NIV) When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. {46} They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
(Luke 22:2 NIV) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
3. Know that the power and effect of the gospel should overcome our fears.
(Rom 1:14-16 NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. {15} That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. {16} I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
4. Know that God is displeased with those who "shrink back."
