27/02/2020
LOSE SOMETHING AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST AND FOR THE COURSE OF DISCIPLESHIP
( Let discipleship cost you)
Paul an outstanding but "the least of all apostles" of Christ said " I count it all lost" because of Christ ( 1 Cor.11:21-27; Phil. 3:4-8).
Are you ready to lose your:
1. Will
2. Choice
3. Ability
4. Time
5. Position/ Status
6. Job
7. Material possession and your health/ Life for the sake of being a disciple and for the sake of making disciples?
Think carefully about it. In this present age, we(Christians) find it difficult to let go any of the above in furtherance of the gospel.
Will you tune your will to please God? Are you willing to lead life that worth emulation in order that an unbeliever will welcome the truth from your lips.
To the unbeliever, he has the choice to do whatever he likes. The believer's choice is control by Christ. The choice is not yours in all matters. The Christian has no choice than a choice that seeks to promote the gospel by words and in deeds.
The believer is restricted in the use of his ability. You may have the ability to sing, but you can't sing like Patapaa. You can only sing to edify yourself and others and glorify the Lord. Your singing should make the unbeliever to glorify God. You should sing to win souls for Christ. In today's world, one can hit easily in the music industry if he chose to do profane lyric. But it took Diana Hamilton years to be who she is today. She could have hit the market earlier if she had chosen to use her ability (talent) the way she likes or the world will like. For the purpose of edification and evangelism, she chose to do gospel music.
Paul instructed the early Christians to redeem their time. King Solomon said " there is time for everything ". Again, he said the Lord shall bring all the deeds of man into judgement being it good or bad.
Dear one, How do you make use of your time? Can you recall a time you lost for spreading the gospel instead of a business trip? Have you missed an important meeting because you were on an evangelism trip? If your answer is yes did it cost you ?
It should cost as our time if we want to share the word of God with the unsaved. If not, why not?
When we are determined to do more for Christ, for some us it will cost us our position.
Paul said "I am a Pharisee" but for Christ sake I count it but dung.
How will you use the position you occupy or work to let others see the need for Christ in their lives?
Paul said in all things I made myself all for all so that I may win some. In our age, you can use your position to get what you want. Remember, you as Christian is in that position to help the disadvantage to get what they need. Use your position such that the unbeliever will see Christ in your position.
Permit me to skip work and health(life).
In Acts 4:32-37, Luke reported that many of the believers sold their lands and brought the proceeds to the apostles. Many lost their lands in central Jerusalem for the promotion of the new found faith.
You and I can image how much a plot of land at the post office area(Tarkwa) will cost.
The land in central part of Jerusalem should sell more than we can image. Consider a plot of land at Osu, or East Legon.
Image the cost, they sold it, they lose it for the sake of the gospel.
Brethren, are we ready to lose our properties or valuables for the sake of the gospel?Note that soul winning is our sole business and it is capital intensive. It demands certain logistics. These come at cost.
Who is responsible for it? It should surely come from us. We can only afford to gain than to lose. But for the sake of the gospel we have no other choice than to lose.
What valuable do you have that you want to lose for Christ sake? Make it available to the Church.
I fall short. What about you? Take our will oh Lord, help us to make a choice that will help us serve you better with all our abilities. Help us to make good use of our time. Help us oh Lord to serve you better with all that you have given us.
You died for us oh Lord.
Indeed, we can not pay the price, but let our lives in you cost us our valuables.
May the Lord be with us as we try to lose our valuables and even our dear lives in the promotion of the gospel and discipleship.
Good night.
Abeiku
