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We like to pray for God to do great things in our lives in areas such as Fruit, Character, as a leader etc. PRAY PERSEVERE FAST ETC. If those things don't happen then we say well God said NO. This is not always the case. Sometimes God doesn't answer in YES & NO. He answers our Prayer with a question "CAN YOU DRINK THE CUP?".
Matthew 20:20-22
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.
#She comes to Jesus in prayer in kneeling down - Asks for a favor ( Like we ask in our daily prayers - What favors do you ask?.................(Think.)
#Some times we don't know what we are asking. ………(Think)
#Can you drink the cup of Jesus?
Success or failure depends on our answer. Are we willing to pay the price.
Today let us talk about 3 cups that we must drink if we are to achieve our goals as disciples in the Kingdom of God.
1. The cup of Service
Matthew 20:24-28
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
JESUS: Served Disciples: Teaching, training, Washing feet, visiting, walking..
People: Preaching, Parables, healing, feeding..
How we can serve our disciples and the lost.
2. The cup of Suffering
Hebrews 12:1-6
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Jesus was willing to face opposition - Are you willing?
At the cross he paid the price - Are you willing to pay.
To surrender to God at difficult times need Faith. The cross was hard to face, but the faith that took Jesus to the cross was blessed by God. At the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sin. In the resurrection, God substantiated everything Jesus had claimed and everything the prophets had predicted. The cross and the resurrection give us reasons for faith in all God's promises. At the cross, Jesus shows us that faith in the most difficult moments will be rewarded.
3. The cup of Sacrifice
John 12:23-26
23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
# The key to making disciples, keep disciples faithful is sacrificial love.
Matthew 20:20-22
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.
Zebedees wife asked for a big favor in prayer.
# They wanted place on the right and left. (This was their desire)
# God was willing to fulfill their desire, But were they prepared to pay the price.?
# When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples deserted him and fled, including James and John.
# If they were willing to pay the price then they would have got a place on the right and left of Jesus in place of those robbers.(Mark 15: 27)
Mark 15:27
(Mark 15:27 They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.)
God wants to answer your prayer, the question is, are you willing to pay the price?
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