We attempt to negotiate our obedience to God to minimize our sacrifice. We are required to deny ourselves, to commit to our death for our faith, and to imitate Jesus. Jesus did not offer prosperity to people who came to Him. Hold everything we own in an open hand. Jesus came to teach us to be acceptable to him. He did not come for us to accept Him. Kingdom philosophy is opposite many religious doctrines – expect it. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God with this world attached to us. The gate is narrow.
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55: Jesus Rebukes James’ And John’s Desire To Misuse Spiritual Power
Luke 9:51-56
AS JESUS was making his way toward Jerusalem, he sent messengers before him. They entered a village of Samaria to make ready for Jesus’ passing through that place.
The Samaritans would not receive Jesus because he was going toward Jerusalem. Two of his disciples, James and John, became very angry over this and said:
“Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from Heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?”
But Jesus turned and rebuked them, saying:
“Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
So they went to another village.
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56: Jesus Teaches That All Else Must Be Forsaken
Matthew 8:19-22; Luke 9:57-62
A MAN came to Jesus and said:
“Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Jesus replied:
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Jesus spoke to another man, saying:
“Follow me.”
The man said:
“Lord, suffer me to first go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him:
“Let the dead bury their dead. But go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”
Another man said to Jesus:
“Lord, I will follow thee. But let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house.”
To him Jesus said:
“No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”