Sacrifice and Discipleship - David Eells - UBBS 8.14.2024

Sacrifice and Discipleship 

(audio) 

David Eells (8/14/24) 

I thought I'd share a little bit about sacrifice and discipleship. The Lord Jesus is known by His people as a sacrifice and as a Savior, but far fewer know Him as an example of an overcomer. Many don't see Jesus as an example of an overcomer because they don't see it as an opportunity for us to even walk in the steps of Jesus, which 1 John tells us that everyone that abides in Him are to walk as He walked (1Jn 2:6). So many of those not understanding the Gospel have really sold many Christians short on what the Lord has given us as a great opportunity.  

The Lord Jesus came as an example of an overcomer. He came to give us an example of what it is to walk as Christians. And not just as a sacrifice and a Savior. All those things are important, but they misunderstand, really, the very nature of Jesus. And I want to share just a just a little bit concerning that so we can understand this sacrificial life that Jesus gave is the same sacrificial life that He wants us to give.  

As we know, He told us to take up our cross and follow Him, or we weren't His disciples. Let’s look at Philippians 2. We're told this a few times concerning the Lord in the Scriptures. Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, (or a thing to be clutched to) 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. Now most Christians believe that the Lord Jesus came down in all the omnipotence of God. But actually He didn't come that way. He came as, we're going to see from this text, He came very much like a spirit-filled man who had the Life of Christ inside, and He was the first born among many brethren the Bible says. And many people don't understand that.  

But notice, He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant being made in likeness of men. You know, Jesus called Himself the Son of Man far more often than the Son of God. “Son of Man”, He wanted to emphasize His humanity and really, truly, He was the Son of Man. Romans 1:3 says that He was declared to be …born of the seed of David, according to the flesh, but ….the Son of God according to the spirit of holiness… His body really was the “seed of the woman”, the seed of David through Mary. He was truly human and truly God.  

And I'm going to read in Php 2:8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. So we see that the Lord Jesus came to walk as a man and to be sacrificed; actually He came to live as a sacrifice and to manifest the sacrifice of the cross, also.  

In Hebrews Chapter 2 is another text that’s really an eye opener for a lot of Christians to understand the very nature of Jesus. In verse 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. We don't think too much about Jesus becoming perfect. I think most people believe that Jesus was always perfect from the time He was a baby. The word perfect there means “complete”, it means “mature” or “full grown”. The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with man. (Luk 2:52) So it says here that He became perfect through suffering.  

It also says in Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, 8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; (Yes, Jesus learned obedience by the things which he suffered.) 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; 

Well, that's the truth, it's the word of God. Some people think it's blasphemy, but it comes right out of the Word of God. Jesus was truly an overcomer. He had something to overcome as we're going to see in just a minute. Most people think Jesus didn't have anything to overcome. Jesus suffered in coming to perfection according to what Heb 2:10 says.  

I'm going to go to Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Truly the sons of God are brothers of Jesus. Now, Jesus was the only “begotten” Son of God, meaning, “born” Son of God. But we have to be reborn sons of God. We're being born-again sons of God. Born again first in spirit, then in soul, and ultimately in body.

It says in verse 14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; (Jesus partook of the same flesh and blood that we do.) that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; The same flesh and blood of the “seed of David according to the flesh”. He called himself, “the Son of Man.” And of course, we know He was the Son of God and all true Christians are impressed with that fact. But sometimes they're not as impressed with the fact that He was the Son of Man and that He suffered as a Son of Man in coming to perfection and in bearing fruit and so on and so forth. People don’t see that.  

In fact, I'm going to show you verse 17 here, it says. Heb 2:17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren,… If we want truth and understanding we must believe exactly what the Word says. Once again, Jesus came as the Son of God manifesting in the Son of Man, as a spirit-filled Son of Man. It says in Romans 8, that He came …in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. (Rom 8:3) So we see that Jesus came to truly be an overcomer of His flesh. Going on in verse 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (or come to the help of) them that are tempted. So Jesus understands us because He's been there, He's done that; He was tempted. When Peter told Jesus He would not go to His cross, Jesus rebuked him calling him a stumbling block.

How could Jesus be tempted? Well, let’s go to Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; (Jesus suffered temptation.) but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. In all points He was tempted like us, yet without sinning. Is temptation sin? Obviously not. Temptation is not sin, but it does tell you that Jesus was in a real flesh and blood body.  

We read in Jas 1:14 but each man is tempted when he's drawn away by his own lust and enticed. When a person is tempted, it's because they're drawn by their own lust or desires and enticed. Everybody has flesh that's been passed on down through humanity. We know Jesus, from Romans 1:3, had that kind of flesh, the same flesh. The flesh is tempted because they're drawn away by their lust. Now the word “lust” here is translated from the same word that means “desire.” In fact, sometimes the word for lust is translated in a positive way in other places. It's just translated “desire.” The word lust just means “desire”. So they translated it as lust here because they knew it was negative and lust has a negative idea to us. Jesus had His own desire when He wanted to escape the cup of suffering but did not give in but accepted the cup.

But a man is tempted when he's drawn away by his own desires and enticed. The Bible doesn't say that this is sin. It goes on to say, 15 Then the [desire], when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death. So just being tempted by your desires is not sin. It's said about Jesus that that he was tempted in all points like as we yet without sin. In other words, He didn't give in to those desires. He had the desires very plainly, but He didn't give into them. He was a true overcomer. 

Isn't that what we're called to do? We can't do anything about the desires other than not giving into them. If you give in to them, if you stir them up, you make them stronger. The more you give in to them, the stronger they get; so we can do that. We've been passed on down through our heritage from our natural parents, the “desires of the flesh.” And we see here that Jesus was also tempted with the desires of the flesh. Now I'm getting somewhere with this so please stay with me.  

I want to show you how much Jesus suffered and how much He sacrificed even before the cross. He spiritually bore His cross a long time before He ever went to His physical cross. He tells us we're supposed to take up our cross and follow Him. So as we just read, when a person is tempted, they're drawn away by their desires. Jesus had desires, He just didn't give in to them. We don't have to either because of what He did on the cross; we do not have to give in to temptation. He has given us the victory.  

We are going to suffer in the flesh when we refuse to give in to it. 1Pet 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind (Again, He wants us as man, the spirit filled man, to have the same mind that was in Christ. In other words, God used Him as an example for us, to be armed with the same mind.); for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts (or desires) of men, but to the will of God. There are many desires of men we obviously don't have to serve, that are not even necessarily negative, and I'll point out a few things to you.  

Jesus gave up a lot of things in order to be Who He was even before the cross. If He was tempted in all points like as us, because of His desires, then He probably as a man, had a desire for a family, a wife and a home. He probably had desires for these things. He saw other people His own age desiring these things, and in themselves, these are not bad things, they're just desires, right? But He denied Himself many things, because He was really consumed with His Father's will. He was consumed with the harvest that was coming and He spoke of it many times.  

But He gave up His desires for all these things, much like the apostle Paul did. The apostle Paul gave up desires for these things because he was also consumed with the harvest. Now, we are also coming to a time in history when the first fruits Man-child, who is going to walk in the steps of Jesus, who is also going to be consumed with the harvest. So much so that other things will be less important to them, like they were to Paul, like they were to Jesus and Jesus is our example.  

The Bible says, That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (Ecc 1:9) Jesus spoke of coming again as a Man-child born to a woman in John 16 and we find in Revelation 12, just that, the Man-child born to the woman. We know that to be the first fruits of those to walk in His steps in these days. That's why I'm studying this, because we need to know what it is to walk in His steps. So now, what about these desires, that in themselves are not bad, but they would certainly distract from the purpose of God, and from the very very important thing of the harvest to come? 

Let’s look at Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. Well His disciples asked Him about this prior in verse 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not. 33 The disciples therefore said one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat? Jesus was talking about the thing that keeps Him alive. Meat is for the mature and milk is for those that are without experience in the Word. It says in Heb 5:13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. So meat is those that have experience of living and acting and doing the Word of righteousness. And Jesus was receiving His meat because He was fulfilling the will of the Father that sent Him and He was accomplishing His work.  

And going on in Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? (Can you imagine that the same thing could be said in our day? There's always been a harvest, hasn't there? We know that there’s a harvest in the last seven years, a great harvest! But also throughout history there's been a harvest and Jesus said, ‘don't be waiting for the harvest because the fields are already white.’) behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal;  

Notice the people that reap in this harvest. This is what God has called us to. No, we're not all going to be in the Man-child, nor are we all going to be in the two witnesses. But we're all going to be laboring in the harvest. In our little part of the world here at UBM, we've got brothers and sisters in the Lord that are laboring at the sacrifice of their own lives, at the sacrifice of being with their families; and at the sacrifice of things that they would love to do. They're sacrificing their lives to work in the harvest, to get prepared to feed multitudes of people. And I praise God for all of you. 

36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, (Well, that’s interesting, in a time when the disciples are basically giving up their livelihood, God is talking about giving them wages for working in the harvest. Many people today are worried about, “Lord, what am I going to do when the tribulation comes and this job is not there and so on?” Well, guess what? The Father is still going to pay you. He doesn't have hirelings, they do it for love, but He's still going to pay them. The laborer is worthy of his hire, He said.  

So there are people that are going to have needs in the coming days and I want to tell you, God's people are going to be busy in the harvest. They're going to know the end is near. They're going to be working towards the thing that the Lord has called us to work in from the beginning. Most people are just playing religion! They're living after their own “desires”. But the Lord was giving up His desires in order to fulfill this wonderful harvest.  

Going on, 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal (Sounds pretty important, doesn't it?); that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor. Some exhort, witness, or do evangelism and some enter into those labors and do teaching. Some are lazy busybodies.

The Lord Jesus’ normal, natural desires, were overpowered and overwhelmed by this desire to please the Father and to work in the harvest. And you know, the Great Commission is all about us going forth to do that harvest, too. And yet very few people have been obedient to it. Very few people are willing to sacrifice their desires to give up what they have in the world to do this. Moms have their own evangelistic work but they can pray for God to open other doors too. 

When Jesus went to disciple, we read in Mat 4:16 The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. The same thing is going to happen in our day. Some are laying a foundation for when the Man-child goes forth; a great light is going to be given to God's people who have been sitting in darkness.

And verse 17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left the nets, and followed him. 

Can you imagine with no more convincing than that! These men must have been prepared by God to be ready to follow the Man-child at this very simple plea, because they just immediately dropped their their livelihood, which of course they were feeding their families with. And as we just read that they would receive wages for working in the Lord's harvest, but they just dropped their living and they followed Jesus.  

Do you think that possibly a lot of people are coming to this situation? I'm convinced of it. I'm convinced that it’s not just the Man-child who was represented here by Jesus; and the two witnesses, which are represented by those disciples that He sent out two by two, which is a corporate body of two witnesses in our day. But also the Lord is preparing others. He’s not only preparing the Man-child, who's lived a sacrificial life, and are not consumed with their own desires. And the witnesses who are to be raised up by the Man-child are also not consumed by their own desires.  

Obviously, they were willing to drop their livelihood, the only thing that they'd  known all their lives, the very thing that they were feeding their families with. You may be asking, “David, do you think they had families?” Yes, they had families and most of these Jewish men were married at a young age. Some of them were arranged marriages which was very, common. I’ll speak more of their families in a moment.

But let’s read the rest of this text in verse 21 And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. 

Notice that they just gave up their livelihood to follow Jesus. Multitudes of people are going to find themselves in the same situation, with the overcoming grace of God to give up their normal desires. Not necessarily bad desires, just their normal desires like Jesus and Paul did, and these disciples are now doing. I know I'm talking to some people who have families and you thought that possibly this was going to constrain you from doing the work of the Lord, or possibly it's constraining you now from jumping into the harvest, right? It is clear Jesus’ disciples families were provided for. 1Ti 5:8 But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

Now Paul is saying in 1Co 9:5-6 Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? So this was after the Ministry of Jesus, and we see that Paul and Barnabas were single, but all the rest of them at this time in Corinthians, were leading about a wife, and I can guarantee you, children too.  

During the time when the disciples followed Jesus, we don't find any indication that their wives or their children were with them. But they were following Jesus, and guess what? Somebody was taking care of their families because they were seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness. The Lord was taking care of their families while they were doing this. They were giving up all the things that men normally desire in life in order to have the great joy of seeing the benefits of the Kingdom of God, given to God’s people and sacrificing everything to do this.  

Verse 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? Notice this, that all the rest of the apostles, and those disciples were forbearing working. They weren't working for a living, they were working for God.  

You know, when I first came to Pensacola, I was ministering in a revival. I hadn't been working at a regular job for some time. I've been just working for the Lord from the time I left Louisiana, many, many years ago. And while there, I had a lady walk up to me and asked me, “David, what about these verses, here? I mean, should you be working while you're doing what you're doing?”

I said, “I'll tell you what, why don't you go and ask the Lord that question? I already know it for myself, but I'd rather you get it from Him. Go and ask the Lord that question and tell me what He says.” So the next day she was back and she said, “David, I got a real clear answer from the Lord. He told me that you ARE working. You're working for Him.” I said, “That's right. He's the one ordained me. He appeared to me twice to do it. He ordained me to do what I'm doing.”  

You know what, folks? We all have to work. Paul said. If a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat, in Thessalonians, right? And so Paul, in verse 6, for the first part of his ministry was working for a living while he was serving the Lord and doing the work of the Kingdom. He was working for living, but notice none of the rest of the apostles were. He said he had a right to do exactly what they were doing, but he wasn't taking that right. I remember doing the same thing for the first ten years of my ministry. I worked while I ministered, while I taught and while I pastored. But there came a time, just like with Paul, I didn’t have time to work.  

By the time 2 Corinthians came around, Paul wasn't working either. He was taking wages from other people so that he could serve God continually, but for part of his ministry he was working. Now we all have to work; I'm not talking about not working, because like the apostle Paul said, we if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat.

But now notice that these men who followed Jesus, they were working for the Lord and the Lord was paying their wages. Now, I've been asked of people, “Well, how is it that in the Tribulation period people are going to be going out just serving God? How is it they're going to make a living, and how is their family going to make a living?” I tell you folks, the laborer is worthy of his hire. The Lord will see to it. He's doing it today with people who are walking by faith.  

He's done it with me, for 50 years in the ministry, He's taken care of us. I haven't had any visible means of support, but I was listening to the Lord and following Him and He always came through. I never took up an offering for myself.  When I went on tour they took up offerings for me. He brought us through some wonderful trials!

Trials that helped me to learn to walk by faith in the Lord, Who is always our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. But I wouldn't have traded those trials for anything, honestly. I would not have traded those trials to see the miracles of God providing for me and providing for my family, I wouldn’t have traded that for anything in the world.  

And God's been absolutely, totally faithful. I've seen Him do wonderful things like multiply food and seen Him multiply money. So we're not talking about not working, but there is coming a time when men, especially Christians, who cannot be a part of the Beast system any longer and not be able to work. But they will get wages because finally God's people are going to be into the same thing that Jesus and His disciples were into, and that is the harvest. Right now, so many people are living after the desires of their flesh. 

I want to say something else, we are told in Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Well, notice they ‘lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us…’ Paul had a right to lead about a wife, even as the rest of the apostles and that desire is not sin at all. It wasn't a sin for Jesus if He had wanted to be married and a family. He had those desires, they were not in themselves sin, except that the Father had a plan for Jesus, and these things would have been a weight. They would have kept Him from fulfilling the job the Lord sent Him to do. Am I preaching that men shouldn’t have these things? No, I'm not preaching that at all. I'm just saying that we have some desires that are perfectly legal but will not bring forth the end result that the Father sent us to do.  

Many of them would be weights holding us back. They are simply human desires. The Lord wants us to find our desire in the things that He desires. He wants to work in us, to will, and to do of his good pleasure. And I'm sure that the human desires Jesus had were totally overwhelmed by the desire that God put in His heart, and that was to see souls saved; to see the sick healed, to see deliverance of God's people! I'm sure that was His great desire and it's very fulfilling to see that.  

Now, these disciples were in very primitive situations. Look what it says in Mat 8:19 And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Well, would everybody follow Him in the rather primitive provision the Lord gives to people that do this? He says, 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. That didn't sound like He had a home or had any kind of worldly provision. Father provided for them, but it seemed like they were living a pretty primitive and simple life in order to get the Gospel out; they couldn't carry a lot with them. I know that there's spiritual revelations here too, but I'm just looking in the natural here. 

And in verse 21 And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus saith unto him, Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead. In other words, there are a lot of things that we might think are important that God doesn't think are as important as doing the will of the Father and bringing forth the Great Commission.  

So we are being called by the Lord more than anything, to seek to have His desires in these days, before these days actually come upon us. There's a repetition of history seen in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts about to come upon this world and God's going to find some people willing to take up their cross and follow Him in this work. He has others to do much of the support work. We've got a lot of brethren allied with us to do this; supporting us with their funds, supporting us with their gifts and their talents. They support us by giving up things that they normally could do in order to bring forth this harvest. And we praise God for them.  

Continuing in Mat 8:23 And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish. 

I've seen many people ‘tried’ who have come into our ministry. They have the funny idea that they may not have to sacrifice anything of their natural life; things that are normal to everybody, like the fellowship with their children. Did you know Jesus’ disciples sacrificed the fellowship they could have had with their wives and children, or building their homes? They sacrificed these kinds of things for the work of the Kingdom. And now we see that when they chose to follow Jesus, they even ran into tempests, storms, troubles, and different tribulations.  

People who came to our ministry to help, didn't realize that just because you're serving the Lord, doesn't mean you're not going to run into these ‘tempest, troubles and tribulations’. The Lord permits it. He lets the devil bring forth a storm or a tribulation and some people think, “Well, I must have missed God somewhere, because I'm going through this, and here I am trying to serve the Lord. Here I am doing this work of the ministry. Maybe I'm missing God somewhere.” No, we are told, through much tribulation shall you enter the Kingdom.  

This tempest came upon the disciples and the Lord was their Savior in the midst it. He didn't save them from the tempest, but He saved them in the midst of it. He didn't keep them from the trial, but He saved them in the midst of it. All of God's people who serve Him in this harvest are going to be opposed by the devil. It's permissible by God for this to happen, and we're going to be rejected. It's not because we've missed God, it's because we we're in the will of God.  

The disciples found themselves in primitive situations while they were sacrificing the normal desires of their life, and yet they were leaving all to follow Jesus, and they spoke to Jesus about this in Mark 10. I'm going to start in verse Mar 10:17 And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. 20 And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth. 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 

Saints, we're coming to such a time as this, where God is going to demand this from some people. Because of the Beast kingdom, many people are going to have to give up many things that they have, which are not necessarily bad in themselves, but in order to walk through the wilderness, in order to be tried, in order to be come forth as a gold, they're going to go through these things.  

Mar 10:22 But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? 27 Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God. 28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 

This very thing is coming very soon. There are people who are going to leave all to follow the Lord. I'm not talking about just in the capacity of these apostles or these disciples, but many others are going to leave all to follow the Lord. They're not going to be distracted by the things of the world. They can't carry these things with them and the Lord Jesus is going to bring them through wonderful times of provision. ‘They that reapeth, receiveth with wages’; Father is going to take care of them and provide for them.  

Mar 10:29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.  

Even today people are giving up the fellowship of family, houses and lands. They’re giving up these things, which the Lord said He would multiply back to them because obviously we've got family everywhere, we've got houses everywhere. Everywhere we go there's a provision, there's a door opened, and God says, now in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life. God is going to multiply back for those people who do give up something. Don't forget the Lord will give it back, He will multiply it back. The Bible says He will multiply your seed for sowing in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. 

31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. What do you think He meant by that? You know, if we put ourselves first and Him last, then we're going to be last in the Kingdom. But if we put Him first and us last, we're going to be first in the Kingdom and that's what He was talking about doing here. Like people who give up normal things of life to follow Him, not because they’re sin, but because they are weights. I think God's got a calling on all of us and it's going to be the Great Commission and we're all going to be fulfilling our parts as far as bringing this Great Commission forth. We should have been doing it for the last 2000 years, but God's people have really been caught up in materialistic Christianity rather than fulfilling what He desires for us. Now the desires that we have are normal, but we give them up as a sacrifice for the greater good of bringing forth this harvest into eternal life. God bless you, Brethren!