There’s is no mistaking the true cost of individual discipleship for those called out of the darkness of this present evil world system. In fact, those called into the service of the Kingdom of God are to ensure they live close to the divine fire of the Spirit of God as they pass through this present dark world system. Over the may years of my life as a vessel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would learn this truth through many ups and downs as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The cost of discipleship is in fact truly very costly and demands all of you not just part of you. Truly discipleship is very, very costly to those who desire to live in this present dark sphere of life as true followers of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship Is Costly
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. There’s only one way to follow, Jesus Christ, that’s to take up your daily cross being willing to even die for Him if need be.
Discipleship is so costly due to the fact no one can hold on to this present dark world system. Yet say they’ve died to yourself in order to live faithfully unto Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior. True discipleship doesn’t agree with this present dark world system or its wicked ways lived in rebellion against the manifest Biblical will of the Word of God. Once again this is exactly why true born-again discipleship is very, very costly to those who’ve taken up their cross to follow, Jesus Christ, as both their Lord and Savior.
This is a lesson I’ve learned firsthand during my time spent here this side of heaven with all the many things I’ve suffered. Therefore, all who dare to truly live godly here this side of heaven will surely suffer greatly. Yet this is the cost of truly living a Kingdom lifestyle which is totally set apart from the darkness of this present evil world system. We each should always remember the cost of true God led discipleship carries with it personal sacrifice. So each of us who’ve accepted, Jesus Christ, as both Lord and Savior should understanding what we’ve each committed too.
It means we’re counting the cost by being willing to totally renounce all things which stand against. The heavenly calling which rest upon our life as we pass through this present dark sphere of life. Below you’ll find Biblical scripture references which will increase your personal intimacy with the manifest Word of God. These scripture references should be studied and applied to our life; in order, that each of us can accept responsibility for the present state of our individual callings.
Therefore please do consider your place in God’s great plan for the whole of humanity and the role you’d play in these last days before the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Counting the Cost & Renouncing All
Luke 14:25–33
“Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
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? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.”
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? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.’”
Deny Yourself, Take Up the Cross
Matthew 16:24–26
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’”
Mark 8:34–35
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.’”
Luke 9:23–24
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’”
Love for Christ Above Family & Self
Matthew 10:37–39
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Expecting Opposition & Persecution
John 15:18–20
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
2 Timothy 3:12
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Counting Everything as Loss
Philippians 3:7–8
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
These verses consistently present discipleship as costly: self-denial, cross-bearing (daily identification with Christ’s suffering and death to self), ranking Jesus above the closest human relationships, readiness for rejection, and a willingness to lose everything temporal for the sake of gaining Him. The call is not merely belief, but wholehearted, ongoing surrender.
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