OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH 2017- THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

Memorise: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
Read: Luke 9:23-26
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 17-18, Jeremiah 10:1-16

1. After giving your life to Christ, you need to go further in your walk with God by becoming a disciple.
2. Many Children of God these days don’t know that discipleship has a price. They don’t even know that Jesus Christ, the Master, has a yoke that they must share with Him.
3. The early disciples, with great difficulty, got to understand this truth on the eve of the crucifixion. While agonising over the inevitable death on the Cross, Jesus Christ asked the disciples to pray and watch along with Him, but instead, they slept. Matthew 26:40-41 says: “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
4. We are so blessed to have a Master who knows our frame. He knows that the flesh is weak, even though the spirit is willing.
5. Our willingness to share in His yoke qualifies us to be His disciples.
6. Today, many people don’t want to be taught this aspect of the gospel. They prefer the doctrine of relativism, which teaches that the end justifies the means.
7. Those things that the Lord Jesus Christ abhorred are being courted by some so-called believers today. This should not be so!
8. In our Bible reading today, Jesus Christ gives a vivid description of the price we must pay to be true disciples of His. In Luke 9:23-24, He said: “….If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
9. This is the price of discipleship. There are many so-called “disciples” today who are far from being disciples.
10. Many cannot even deny their ungodly friends, not to talk of denying themselves. They hold tenaciously to the world contrary to the word in 1st John 2:15-17 which says: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
11. Beloved, are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ or do you want to be one?
12. Ponder on these things and don’t deceive yourself.
13. Always remember what the Holy Spirit said to us in 2nd Timothy 2:12: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.”

The truth is as a disciple of Jesus Christ we must be ready to face crucifixion. We have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him daily. We have to let go of all and live for Him alone. Luke 9:23-24 says:And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Paul understood this scripture so well and decided to live for Christ such that he had the conviction that if he dies it’s gain and his living is for Christ. Philippians 1:21-For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us- 2 Timothy 2:12. We must always remember Romans 8:17-18 which says: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Let’s strive to be His true disciples here on earth. May God help us in Jesus name. God be praised forever more for a disciple like our father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye. The ability to turn even more to Christ is released unto him in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, the grace to follow You in spirit and in truth, please give me today.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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