LUKE 9: 57-62LUKE 9: 57-62

IS MY CHRISTIAN LIFEINTENTIONAL AND

INTENSIFIED ?

LUKE 9:57-62

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” nowhere to lay His head.”

59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” kingdom of God.”

61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But

Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” God.”

WHY DO WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL AND INTENSIFIED IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE?

DEFINE DEFINE INTENTIONALINTENTIONAL: :

Done on purpose; DeliberateDone on purpose; Deliberate

DEFINE DEFINE INTENSIFIEDINTENSIFIED: :

Became or made more intense (strong, Became or made more intense (strong, powerful)powerful)

1. BECAUSE THERE IS A PRICE/COST IN FOLLOWING JESUS! – THE PROBLEM WITH MERE INVOLVEMENT… (VS. 57-58)

“ “To make the decision to just being To make the decision to just being involvedinvolved, and it is a , and it is a decision, is one that creates a system of decision, is one that creates a system of cheatingcheating. We cheat God . We cheat God of giving Him our very best, we cheat others of what we have to of giving Him our very best, we cheat others of what we have to offer and we cheat ourselves of the blessings of Christ that offer and we cheat ourselves of the blessings of Christ that come only when we become intentional and intensified in our come only when we become intentional and intensified in our commitment. Far too often we settle for being involved in the commitment. Far too often we settle for being involved in the work of Christ and never actually making a commitment to it.”work of Christ and never actually making a commitment to it.”

2. BECAUSE SERVING GOD MUST BE WITHOUT RESERVATIONS! - THE PROBLEM WITH MISGUIDED PRIORITIES… (VS. 59-60)

““Commitment to Jesus must take priority Commitment to Jesus must take priority even when it competes with other even when it competes with other

devotions.”devotions.”

3. BECAUSE SERVING GOD HAS NO TURNING BACK! - THE PROBLEM OF MISDIRECTED FOCUS (VS. 61-62)

Too often we focused on what we lose by Too often we focused on what we lose by following Jesusfollowing Jesus. Instead I believe that we should . Instead I believe that we should take a careful look at everything that we gain by take a careful look at everything that we gain by

following Jesus. We gain His presence, His peace following Jesus. We gain His presence, His peace and His power. and His power.

“IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT HAVING AN INTENTIONAL & INTENSIFIED COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING CHRIST.”