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Bro. Otis Fisher
And there went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them, Verge, how large is a multitude, but, all right, what's a multitude to you, Bill? So we could agree that there were many, many people here.
To me, a multitude is a great number of people. When he turned and he spoke to them, how did he make them all here? Roger, how did he make them all here? He didn't. You don't think he set up loudspeakers?
Well we don't know, but it's little things like that that bug me. Yes, important thing is that they heard. And this is what he said, if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Now David, our word hate is very, very strong. Does it mean the same thing here? Well he goes on and says, and whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Now these verses simply stating that you put God first.
A believer's devotedness to Jesus Christ should be such that, by comparison, it looks as if everything else is hated. Can we do that? All terms which define affections are comparative. As David says on a scale of one to ten, do you really love him more than you love self?
28, for which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost? Whereof he hath sufficient to finish it, lest, happily, after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish.
Well, that would have been foolish to do, but it has been done. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first and consulteth whether he be able with 10 ,000 to meet him that cometh against him with 20 ,000?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassador and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsake not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Now, we find that a person is saved by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, but a person will never follow and serve him until he is willing to make a sacrifice. Are you willing to make a sacrifice? Would you rather be home watching the ball game today?
That's what this passage is preaching. There is a difference between being a believer and being a disciple. What is the difference? Alright, now we come to the episode on salt. Salt's good. But if the salt hath lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?
It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. I guess there is nothing more worthless than salt that has lost its tang. These verses, as we look at things that compare in our life, do you love the Lord enough, so much, that you can say that I hate my life?
Joy to me, that's almost impossible, and with man it is, but if we are in him, if we have dedicated our life to him, and he has really saved us, then we are like that. There's so many things running around in my head that it's hard for me to get hold of them.
I'm reminded of the man that was saved from a fire, and one man saved him and carried him out, a young man. He liked the young man so well that he adopted him, and they bought him whatever he wanted, educated him, made him the most complete boy that could be.
Well, time went on, and the boy had opportunity to make a speech concerning the man that saved him. What do you suppose that he thanked him for, saving his life? All of the other things were added benefits.
He saved his life. We'll stand and we'll be dismissed. Bill, would you dismiss us please?