Your Life, Also

Luke 14:26-33; Matthew 10:38,39

Have you considered what the Father desires from you in remembrance of Jesus Christ?

"If anyone comes to Me and does not...........bear HIS CROSS and come after Me, cannot be my disciple."

"So likewise, whoever of you (those following Him) does not FORSAKE ALL that he has cannot be My disciple."

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
Except for my emphasis, notice that the "his's" in Jesus' teachings are uncapitalized, meaning they apply to ME/YOU!

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, CONSIDER THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, CHRIST JESUS, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE AND THE REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM TO THE END." (Hebrews 3:1-6)

The joy of the Lord, in serving His Father, led Him to His cross, and the Father resurrected Him from that physical death. We give all glory to the Father in this, and all praise to the Son for His willingness to be faithful in the heavenly calling! But our Teacher tells us that the notion of the cross MUST work in those who follow Him. The end of this discipleship is oneness with the Father and Son who are One!

Not Ashamed Of The Testimony of Our Lord

2 Timothy 1:8-10

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

Paul informs Timothy that the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ pertains not only to Him but to Paul and Timothy as well. If it pertains to Paul and Timothy, it surely is profitable for instruction toward righteousness for every man of God!  All in Christ Jesus must understand this calling!

Interestingly, this holy calling was given to "us" before time began, revealed to "us" through the Savior Jesus Christ who abolished spiritual death and brought life. It always was the Father's plan that Jesus would be the "firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29).

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as SHEEP for the slaughter. Yet in all these things "we" are more than conquerers THROUGH HIM who loved us." (Romans 8:35-37)

For the Father's sake and His Lamb's we are accounted as SHEEP. We must understand that Jesus Christ's calling by the Father is our calling. Through this understanding we function IN HIS NAME!  It is not a physical destruction necessarily (as Jesus' was), but the removal of all soulish rubbish that would keep us from experiencing Him to the uttermost, and that others may see.

Greater Works Than These

John 14:12

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

We know that Jesus prophesied the kingdom of God to those who followed Him; He delivered those tormented by demonic spirits; He healed many who were sick; and He fed, miraculously, thousands from a small boy's lunch; He quelled a "storm of wind". 

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord', have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" (Matthew 7:21, 22)

By John, the 18th chapter, Jesus is being betrayed by Judas; Peter denies Him; the high priest accuses Him wrongly and Pilate condemns Him: He meets the end intended by the Father. He was in the process of "going to His Father". He was going to and through the cross. He was laying down His life so that we may also know the way.

All these things in the ministry of Jesus Christ were good things. Yet we know that without first the "death of the testator" (Hebrew 9:16), there would be no resurrection: the greatest work that Jesus Christ fulfilled. If you believe in Him, these good, supernatural works will not be left behind. Nor shall the greater works. 

You need that no man teach you how. We have a great and holy High priest: He heads the church, giving discernment by the Holy Spirit. But God has given men the understanding to tell you that you must!