Luke 14:25-31 ESV
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
what will it cost for our lives and families to be built on the rock of Christ? For us to glorify His name in everything? facebook time for prayer time? our convenience our entertainment, our flesh. I want to finish the work that God has for me to do and steward all the grace He has provided, not to waste it, and have it considered unfinished, the work He has for me, when I die and receive only shame.
Let us remember the size and power of our enemy, with our own strength we can never overcome him. the flesh will rear its ugly head and cave in to the enemy at a most desperate moment if we fail to discipline and control it with the help of the Spirit. The world and its influence attempts to crush the life out of us, saying to us, bow before our gods or die in a furnace constructed for dissidents. false teachings create only confusion and are unable to cause us to stand against wickness in ourselves and the world. The devil is a cunning and powerful foe.
What will it take for us to defeat the world, the flesh and the devil, with the resources and weapons that God has given us to fight? The Holy Spirit, our human nature which can be disciplined and trained to aid in our battles, our wits, brains, wisdom, plans and war strategies -little as they may be, they can grow, with practice and use. The opponents are strong and powerful, but so are the weapons that God has given us, so are the mighty heavenly hosts -invisible as they may be, they are more than the visible enemy. God's word that He is for us, not against us is strong confidence, His courage and Spirit offers to fill our lives. How can we use all these things to devaste the Kingdoms of this world, to bring in, to usher in the Kingdom of heaven to its maximum effect? God still invades the earth with fire - upon the prayers of righteous and holy men as in days of old!
Do i find the world and its attractions too beautiful? Let me remember lot's wife who turned back to the world only to receive divine judgement. I am passing through the kingdom of this world. I am a soujourner en-route to another, heavenly kingdom, where i belong, where the land is more beautiful, where injustice does not rule but one who is holy, just and good! What is the price to get out of this world and die spiritually alive? death to all this world has to offer us, let us press on to a heavenly Kingdom.
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