Between kinsman affection and following Jesus!
Last Sunday I said when I hear denomination people keep saying thank God praise the Lord cause pain in my heart! Today I like to talk about another thing that cause pain in my heart is kinsman affection and following Jesus!
1. Apostle Paul had this problem! Romans 9:1-3
a. I speak the truth in Christ-- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great
sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from
Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race. Romans 9:1-3
b. Unable to help kinsmen come to follow Jesus with us can cause much pain in our hearts! Acts 19:6
But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them:
Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
c. As for me, I forever admired Cornelius! He was able to get all his kinsmen and close friends to gather in
his house to listen to Peter’s preaching and were baptized into the Lord!
And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, called together his
kinsmen and his near friends. Acts 10:24
2. Jesus had this problem! John 7:1-5
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were
waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him:
You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who
wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
3. Jesus said these would happen in following him! It really happened! Matt.10:34-38
a. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' Matt.10:34-36
Recognize it, these things happen all these 2000 years! When a man leaves his traditional religion and
dedicates himself to follow Jesus, his kinsmen and friends persecute him…!
b. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt.10:37
c. And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matt.10:38
d. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my
sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matt.19:29
e. Denomination churches exist, because Jesus followers obey Jesus’ teaching of thou shall not kill.
Otherwise whenever and whoever leave the church and become a denomination got killed!
There would still be no denomination. There would still be one church of Christ on earth!
4. Jesus on following him: Luke 9:59-62
a. Jesus said to a man: Follow me.
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Luke 9:59
Jesus said: Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Lk.9:60
b. A man said to Jesus: I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.
Jesus said: No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.
5. Jesus made it clear: Who is my kinsmen? Matt.12:47-50
Someone told him: Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.12:47
Jesus replied: Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? 12:48
Pointing to his disciples, he said: Here are my mother and my brothers. 12:49
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. 12:50
6. The price and the reward of following Jesus! Mark 10:28-30
Peter said to Jesus: We have left everything to follow you! Mark 10:28
Jesus replied: I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age
(homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to
come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this on December 2, 2012.