Forsake All, Sell Everything, Leave Family, & Follow Jesus
There’s a lot of things that churches preach that aren’t in the bible. There’s also a lot of things in the bible the churches don’t preach. How can you tell the difference? You trust In the preacher to give you something from God, and you take him for an example of how to be like Christ, saying to yourself, “if anyone is a Christian here, it must be the preacher.” This same preacher who has a pretty nice house, a car, and a family preaches with his lifestyle more than with his sermons. It’s something drastically different from the lifestyle of Jesus, His apostles, and the early church than what you see today.
Read or see a video with the below verses about selling everything and leaving family for Jesus
It’s because we don’t believe and obey His commandments. What does it mean to believe in God? People say, “Do you believe in Santa? Do you believe in aliens? Do you believe in fairies?” and what they mean is, “do you believe those things really exist?” Then they ask, “Do you believe in God?” A lot of people say, “Yes, I believe”, but what they mean is, “I believe God probably exists, but I don’t have faith in Him”.
James 2:19-20 – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
John 6:29 – Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 14:12 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.
If you actually believe in Him, it means that you are actually doing the things that He told you to do. If you don’t do what He commanded you to do, you don’t love Him; in fact, you hate Him.
Matthew 7:21 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
So what’s the difference in the lifestyles of Jesus, His disciples, and the early church? To leave all and follow God.
Jesus was a carpenter. He worked as a carpenter and had a mom, step dad, brothers, and sisters (Mark 6:3). Joseph wasn’t mentioned much in the later chapters of the gospels, probably because he died. Jesus was about 30 years old when He left His home (Luke 3:23), and if you are of the right age, here is where your example comes in: He left all He had; home, family, possessions, all of it. Immediately afterwards, He was baptized. Immediately after that, He went through testing. Then, and only after those things happened, he began to minister to others. Jesus conquered Himself, if He didn’t, He WOULD be conquered. You must also take up the cross and conquer yourself; if you don’t, you WILL be conquered. Leaving all you have, crucifying your flesh, going through tests, and ministering is 100% necessary. He did it, His disciples did it, and He preached it to everyone.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 8:18-22 – Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead (Also in Luke 9:57-62).
I used to think this meant, just let the dead decompose naturally and foreget about it… but no. Jesus was saying that every man that stays behind and does not follow Him is like a walking dead man. “Let those living dead men bury the dead”
Matthew 10:9-10 – Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Matthew 10:34-39 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it:and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (also in Luke 12:14-53)
Matthew 13:18 – Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:22 – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Matthew 13:44-46 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 16:24-27 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Matthew 19:16-30 – And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first (also in Mark 10:17-31 & Luke 18:18-30).
God doesn’t show any partiality. Whatever He applied to that rich man, He applies to us too. And really, how rich do you think he was? Compare what he probably had to what you have. Aren’t you better off than he was? We have home with air conditioners, cars that take us to places in no time, and many modern conveniences that this rich young ruler could only dream of. That should make you really afraid! Because if God’s judgment was against him for being rich, how much more rich are you? We know that Jesus was serious when he told this rich young man to sell everything and follow Him because His apostles did just that.
Luke 6:40 – The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luke 12:16-21 – And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
I think most people that we know have this dream – to work, retire, and then rest. So what did the man do wrong? He was rich towards himself. Can you be rich towards yourself and God? Can you serve two masters? Doesn’t Christ want all or none?
Luke 12:31-33 – But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 14:26-35 – If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Acts 2:44-45 – And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
1Timothy 6:9-10 – But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Timothy 6:17-18 – Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.
How is it that this thing that seems so foundational is so overlooked? This is not an option, it is a commandment! It’s about disobeying or oberying what He commanded! You can’t lay up treasures on earth and treasures in Heaven. How can you get the results that He got if you don’t live the same way He lived? This means that you’ll gain every good thing, but every bad thing as well; miracles and healings, persecution and death. People don’t want to leave what they have because it’s their treasure!
Peter, who was top of all the disciples, had no money:
Acts 3:6 – Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Is your lifestyle the same as Jesus was? Then how can you ask, “What would Jesus Do?” You haven’t even applied to your life what Jesus did in the first place.
Matthew 9:16 – No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
He’s all or nothing. If you’re not 100% with Him, you’re 100% out. You can’t just patch on a few of His teachings to your life but not take them all; you’ll just get ripped up!
You may say, “Well, there’s no one in front of me to lead me like Jesus!” If you say that, all I’ve got to say is… Do you believe in God?
