Tag Archives: In the same way

The Cost Of Discipleship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Parables - The Cost Of Discipleship - Luke 14:28-33 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Parables – The Cost Of Discipleship – Luke 14:28-33 – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (NIV)

Surrender

I give up. I surrender. I’ve counted the cost and I can’t do it. You can’t do what? I can’t build a tower or win a war. What do you mean by that? I know that I am weak. I have no ability to build a tower or wage a war. My own efforts would certainly fail. Why is that? I have no construction ability. I have a gift for hitting my thumb every time I use a hammer. It’s kind of pathetic isn’t it? Yes, it is.  But, are we really talking about building an actual tower here? Maybe, I’m not sure. What if we weren’t? Then, I would think that building a tower, might represent, me trying to build my life into something really impressive like a monument. How would you do on that construction project? I would fail even more miserably than trying to build an actual tower. Why do you say that? Well, I’ve already tried to build a life that would stand out and be really impressive. How did that work out for you? My own efforts just led me further away from you and into sin that really hammered my life. Only this time it wasn’t just my thumb that hurt. Your whole life hurt? Yes, it did.

So, you can’t build a tower monument to yourself? No, I can’t. How good are you at fighting a war? I’m better at building a tower than I am at fighting a war. That bad, huh? Yes, I’m afraid so. What kind of war have you been fighting? I have been fighting a war between right and wrong. I’ve wanted to do the right thing. I’ve wanted to make the right choices. How have you done? Haven’t you noticed? Yes, I have. Well, as you can see I’ve often liked the alluring and attractive easy sinful choice. So, I’ve chosen it. Have you been happy with your choices? Absolutely not, I’ve experienced so much pain and suffering I can’t stand it anymore. That’s why I’m giving up. I’ve counted the costs of trying to live my life apart from you. The price is too high to pay. I want to surrender my life to you. You do? Yes, I most certainly do.

Do you realize that there is a cost to follow me? There is? Yes, there is. What is the cost? If you want to follow me it will cost you everything. What do you mean by everything? What part of everything is hard for you to understand? Do you mean everything I have? Yes, I do. Do you mean everything I am? Yes, I do. Do you mean everything I hope to be? Now, you understand, don’t you? Yes, I think so. Can I ask you a question? Yes, of course. Won’t either choice I make end up costing me everything? If I choose to lead a self-centered, selfish, and sinful life, won’t living that kind of life cost me everything and lead me away from you forever? Yes, it will.  But, if I give myself to you completely, won’t you help me to live a life of loving, following, and serving you? Yes, I will. Then I’m done counting the cost. I surrender myself to you. It will be my joy and pleasure to follow you to wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask of me. That will be very good.

Lord, it is my delight and joy to give up everything I am, have, and hope to be as I follow you as my Savior and Lord. You are first place in my life. You have my heart, and mind and life at your disposal. Use me according to your purposes and plan, for your glory. Amen

Key Question…  Why is it worth giving up all you have, are, and hope to be to follow Christ as your Savior and Lord?

Living It Out…  Give up everything you are, have, and hope to be to Jesus Christ as you follow Him as your Savior and Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ really is asking you to give up everything you have, are, and hope to be to follow Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the love, joy, and peace you have in giving up all to follow Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give all your heart and mind and life to Christ as you follow Him today.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parables – Luke 14-33 – The Cost Of Discipleship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 131 - Romans 8:26-27 - The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 131 – Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

Help

I need that without a doubt. What do you need without a doubt? I need help without a doubt. I desperately need your help without a doubt. How have you come to realize that you desperately need my help? I have foolishly relied on myself. I tried and failed miserably to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. Learning the foolishness of my self-reliance and self-sufficiency has not come quickly or easily. I have suffered bruising and battering and brokenness as I have slowly learned that I desperately need to rely on you. I have learned painful lessons that I have no desire to repeat. That’s good. As painful as the lessons were, it was critically important that you learn them. Of that, I am sure.

I have more to say about relying on you. I’m listening. I cannot assume that I have learned the lesson of relying on you fully and completely. I cannot say that I don’t need to be on guard against drifting back toward self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Every day I will need to reaffirm that I will be relying on you to help me in my weakness. Every day I will need to give you control of my life. Every day I will need to ask for your help. That will be very good.

I have even more to say. I am still listening. I am so weak. I am so in need. I don’t need a little bit of help here and there and now and then. Realizing that you are weak and need help is a very good thing. Do not let your weakness discourage or defeat you. I specialize in working through weakness. I work best through weakness. I work most powerfully when you rely most completely on me. If you think you are strong and capable, you will only get in the way of my accomplishing God’s will in and through you. That is so helpful. That is so encouraging. For that, I am so very thankful.

I have more to say. Now it is I who is listening. I am praying for you. I am interceding for you. I am praying that God’s purposes and plans will be accomplished in and through you. I will give you prayers to pray. I will pray through you with groans that words cannot express. Be sure of this, I am with you to help you. Rely on me. That I will do. That will be very good.

Holy Spirit, I am weak. I need help. It has been foolish for me to rely on myself. No more of that! I will fully rely on you. Help me to pray when I have no idea how to pray. Intercede for me in accordance with God’s will so I will live a fruitful life, pleasing to Him. Amen

Key Question…  How have you come to better understand why you need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 131 – Romans 8-26-27 – The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Alive To God In Christ Jesus

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Romans 6:11 - Alive To God In Christ Jesus -  Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Romans 6:11 – Alive To God In Christ Jesus –  Growing As Disciples

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:11 (NIV)

Count

Count, now that is a very important word. Why is that? I’m going to let you answer that question. I want you to think deeply about your answer. I think you are giving me a clue. Yes, I am. Counting on something relates to what I believe. Yes, it does. What I believe will determine all my thoughts, words and actions. Yes, it will. So, I should be very careful about how I count in life. If I don’t count properly my life will not add up to all that you have prepared for me. Incorrect counting will prevent me from living the life that you have called me to live. Yes, it will.

Let’s talk more about counting. What do you count as true? I’m not sure what you mean. Do you count my word and what I say to you as being true? Yes, I certainly count your word as being completely reliable and true. Do you believe that all my promises are true? Yes, I do. What do you count as true when my word and your experience don’t seem to match? Can you give me some examples? Sure, I can. My word says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” does it not? Yes, it does. You know where this is headed don’t you? Yes, I do. There have been plenty of times that I have looked at all my gifts, talents and abilities and then told you there was no way that I could do what you were asking me to do. What does that sound like to you? It sounds like incorrect counting. Good answer. I have made the mistake of counting on myself rather than counting on you. Yes, you have. Would you like another example of incorrect counting? Yes, I would. My word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Can you tell me where this is headed? Yes, I can. Go right ahead. I have been quite a worrier. That sounds like an understatement. I have been a tremendous worrier. That’s more like it. Is your worrying a good example of incorrect counting? Yes, I have counted on myself to get me through trials in life. The more I have relied on myself, the more I have worried. You want me to count on you by turning every worry of mine into a prayer to you. Yes, I do. By now I should be a tremendous prayer based on how many worries I could have turned into prayers. Now, that’s a thought.

Let’s talk about your counting yourself as being dead to sin and alive to me. Why is it so important for you to believe that you are dead to sin and alive to me? You died on the cross for my sins. Yes, I did. You broke the power that sin had on my life. Yes, I did. You set me free from sin so I could live a new life in you. Yes, I did. You made me alive to you. Yes, I did. You want me to live out in my experience all that you have done for me. Yes, I do. If I don’t believe or correctly count on all that you have done for me then I will not be able to live a life that is dead to sin and alive to you. No, you will not. But, I do believe and I am counting on you. I do know that you have made me alive to you and dead to sin. Yes, I know. I am and will continue to offer myself up to you as an instrument of righteous that you can use. I am counting on you using me for your kingdom and your glory. Yes, you are and you can count on me to do that in and through your life.

Lord, thank you that you have made me dead to sin. Sin has no power over me. Thank you that you have made me alive to you. I will continually offer myself to you as an instrument of righteousness you can use for your glory. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Life – Romans 6:11 – Alive To God In Christ Jesus – Growing As Disciples – 4 Page Devotional Discipleship Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com