Consider the Cost

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How many of us really forsake everything?

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Luke 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

29 lest, after he has laid the 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 to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

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Putting God before family and the world

This may seem hard to do. God does not want us to abandon our families but to put him first in our lives.

If we do this, then our families will be blessed.

If we do not do this, and allow the world and our families to take priority over God, then we are guilty of idolatry.

We need to spend private time with God, and seek His face and will for our lives.

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The Cross

The Cross represents our sins that Jesus bore for us. If we continue in sin, then we reject his atonement.

We must seek the Lord, and turn away from the sins of the flesh.

We must also follow the example of the cross, and forgive others who sin against us.

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Reference:

http://www.barr-family.com/godsword/sins-of-flesh.htm

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In Galatians 5:19-21 there are seventeen sins of the flesh listed, and Paul tells us in Gal. 5:21 that this is not a complete list but are examples by which we may recognize or judge the rest of them.

The Sins of the Flesh are listed as:
	Adultery  Fornication  Uncleanness  Lasciviousness  Idolatry  Witchcraft  Hatred  Variance	Emulation’s Wrath Strife Sedition’s Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings

Now let us look at each one so that we may understand what actions or thoughts belong in the category of "Sins of the Flesh".

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Adultery: It is a defilement of the marriage bed, and is the sin of uncleanness committed by two persons, one of which at least is in a married state.

Or we could describe it as the voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with someone not their spouse (Unfaithfulness). Jesus said that you can commit adultery in your mind, without acting on it

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Fornication: The sin of uncleanness committed by persons in a single state.

The voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons. This is illicit sexual intercourse and covers homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, close relatives, and the worship of idols.

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Uncleanness: Is a general term for all unchastity, in thought, word or action and covers especially all unnatural lusts like sodomy.

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Sodomy: Self pollution. The unnatural sexual acts (such as oral or anal sex) between any two people (married or not) or bestiality, that is having sex with an animal.

Uncleanness is the impurity of lustful, sensual or unprincipled living. That is, they have lost or are insensible to principle, virtue, or decency

This is a depraved or dissolute person. Of course, no one will ever admit to living this type of life but you should be told that sensuality and evil doctrine are often associated. In 2 Peter 2:10, the Greek word for "Defilement" is rendered as "Uncleanness"

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Lasciviousness: This big word means "Lustfulness". "wantonness", or "filthy". It is unbridled lust, that is unrestrained. This is outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.

It is the absence of restraint of their arousing sensual desires. Their mind is constantly on gratifying their sexual desires without regard to anything else. They use filthy conversation, shameless conduct (they do not care who is present when they seek to gratify their desires.)

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Idolatry: The worshiping of other gods, or of graven images.

All vices spring from Idolatry and are peculiar to it.

It is the sin of the mind against God. (Eph. 2:3). It is the excessive admiration or veneration of anything other than God.

Immorality, the sins of the flesh, are associated with and are traced to lack of acknowledgment of God and of gratitude to Him. That means that any type of immorality or other sins of the flesh, are also Idolatry.

The Idolater is a slave to the depraved ideas his idols represent (Gal. 4:8-9), and thereby to different lusts (Titus 3:3).

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Witchcraft: The real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to talk or associate with familiar spirits (a consulter with familiar spirits, De 18:10-11, a demonic spirit that stays with or near you, guiding you in actions and thoughts. giving you hidden, or secret information. leading false prophets)

To gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which in doing gives honor to Satan and detracts from the glory of God.

This follows idolatry;

conjuring (‘observer of times, De. 18:10-11, astrology),

soothsaying (a wizard De. 18:10-11, Lev. 19:31, 20:6, seeks information from the dead for those living, such as finding lost bodies, objects, etc.),

necromancy (necromancer Dc. 18:10-11, one who seeks to interrogate the dead [a medium] for consultation and or divination.), and all kinds of

magic (enchanter, De. 18:10-11, Lev. 19:26, one who uses omens and any form of magic to put a spell upon,).

Hypnotism (charmer, De. 18:10-11, the casting a spell upon or influence as if by a spell). A Witch (Dc. 18:10-11, witch, is one who makes use of magic formulas or incantations and drugs.)

Witchcraft is the practices or powers of witches or wizards, as due to dealings with evil spirits or the Devil. It includes the use of, or the administering of drugs.

Those persons who indulge in the use of mind altering drugs (not related to health) are in fact practicing witchcraft.

The Greek Word translated Witchcraft is pharmakeia, from which we get our word pharmacy (drug store). Its meaning is related directly to drug usage. There are three places in the bible where this word is used, in Galatians5:20, as witchcraft, in Revelations 9:21 and 18:23 as sorceries.

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Hatred: The internal hatred of any man’s person, even of our very enemies. This is forbidden and is also called enmity. It is the opposite of "agape" love (the highest level of love). It is an intense dislike or aversion. A very deep seated unfriendliness even hostility.

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Variance Fighting and quarrelling, by words scandalous and reproachful, what we commonly call scolding. It means to cut apart, to divide in two.

It is a tending to vary, to change inconstantly, reckless, or fickle in what we say or do which puts down another.

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Emulation’s A boiling and rising up of the spirits and passions, at the honor and happiness of another. It can also be called jealousy, envy or indignation at another’s pleasure. It is trying to equal or surpass because they (in your mind) are gaining happiness.

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Wrath Violent emotions of the mind, moving to revenge, and seeking the hurt and mischief of others. It is hot anger, extreme or violent rage or fury. Usually accompanied with vengeance or punishment. It is an anger that boils up and then soon subsides again.

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Strife Perpetual contradictions, either expressed by words, or working in the mind (for this strife may be in a man’s heart James 3:14, 16). This is also an angry contention, any contest for advantage or superiority (not sports), a self seeking ambition in seeking to win followers.

This is stirring up trouble in order to place yourself on top. This is trying to gain followers by falsehoods (lies), making them believe one thing when your purpose is really for your personal gain.

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Sedition’s Dissension’s or divisions in things domestic, civil, and religious. It is language or conduct directed against public order and safety of the state or the secret incitement of such disorder.

The state means the governing body of a family, a city, county, state, or country, or the leadership of a local church or its national associations.

Built into the laws are ways to legally make a change. Sedition’s is the unlawful attempt to divide and overthrow any ruling body. God instituted government.

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Heresies Are bad principles and tenets, relating to doctrine, which are subversive of the fundamentals of the Gospel and the Christian religion, and are the produce of a man’s own invention, and the matter of his choice, without any foundation in the word of God.

It is a self willed opinion which is substituted for the truth and leads to division and the formation of sects or cults.

Any belief contrary to established doctrine of a church or religious system.

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Envyings A feeling of resentment or discontent over another’s superior attainments, endowments, or possessions. It is a desire to possess the goods of another.

They have it, you want it. It could be over the things someone has like a car, house, money. It could be over the personal endowments of someone like handsome, beautiful, tall, short, hair. It could be because they were chosen to be your boss, to lead the club you belong to, while you desired that position.

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Murders The malicious and intentional killing of one human being by another because of ill will, spite, or desire to injure another. It is a willfully formed desire to do another an injury. It is also called Slaughter.

This is not an accidental killing or the taking of a life in a war battle, or the taking of a life of one being executed by a legal government. These three are shown in the bible to be either allowed or actually commanded by God. There is not the space here to go into the scriptures on this subject.

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Drunkenness The excess in drinking of beer, wine or strong drink, where the mind is intoxicated, and the body is enfeebled and unable to perform its functions as it should. It is often the source of many, or all of the works of the flesh.

Intoxication is the poisoning of the body This poisoning is also defilement of the temple of God, which is in the body of Man.

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Reveling is characterized as an excess in eating, coupled with drinking, dancing, singing, sex, and wantonness.

The Greek dictionary gives the definition as:

"A nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry."

They engage in noisy and unrestrained festivities which has also been called rioting in Romans

13:13, which is a consequence of drunkenness. Many times it also included wild unrestrained sex

while in the drunken state. (Ex. 32:6)

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Count the cost

Living a life for Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, will require many sacrifices and sufferings. We may be mistreated, cheated, lied about, and harmed.

We may not be rich, or successful, but end up in a humble position instead. We may even be martyred.

Yeshua counted the cost, and gave up his life.

Are we ready to do this?

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Forsake All

This is also hard to imagine. Do we give up our families, income, property and live in the streets?

I have to still think about this, but I feel it means that again, what is in the world that is ours should never be more important than our relationship with God.

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We should not be selfish and always look to meet our own needs.

We should share what we have and God will bless us for that.

Our hands should always be open to those in need.

Whatever we do to the “least ones” we do unto the Lord.

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Also, if we do have financial resources, we should save wisely to provide for our own families, and then be ready to follow God’s directions as to other uses He may have in mind that will benefit others.

We may have to sacrifice a good job for a lessor one, if God wills it for us. He may see witnessing opportunities in the lessor one, that would give Him glory.

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We may also experience the rejection by our loved ones for the path we have chosen.

This is very painful.

Our friends and families should always be treated with love of Yeshua, and the understanding that because God is first in our lives, that they will never be neglected. We actually love them more, because we have the love of God in our hearts.

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Thoughts

We have a high standard to live up to.

Only though the grace of Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, and the strength of the Holy Spirit can we achieve this goal.

For those who have not made a decision yet, consider the cost.

But also consider the rewards of eternal peace with God.

Eternal peace is not possible without repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through the shed blood of Jesus (Yeshua) who took our punishment on the cross, so that we could have eternal life, if we would only accept his sacrifice for us.

I hope you make the right decision.