Counting the Cost
Jesus said There's a Cost

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Here is Luke chapter 14 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version.  Please pay close attention to verses 26 to 35. 

___Luke chapter 14
 1 And as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, they watched him.
 2 And there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy.
 3 And Jesus answered the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?"
 4 And they kept quiet.  And he took him and healed him, and let him go,
 5 And answered them, "Which of you shall have an ass or an ox that's fallen into a pit, and will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"
 6 And they couldn't answer him back about these things.
 7 And he put out a parable to those who had been invited, when he saw how they chose out the best rooms, saying to them,
 8 "When you are invited by any man to a wedding, don't sit down in the highest room, because a more honorable man than you might have been invited by him,
 9 And he that invited you and him come and say to you, give this man the room, and you begin with shame to take the lowest room.
 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest room, so that when he that invited you comes, he will say to you, Friend, go up higher, then you'll have admiration in the presence of those who sit to eat with you.
 11 For whoever lifts himself up shall be brought low, and he that humbles himself shall be lifted up."
 12 Then he said also to him that invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, don't invite your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors, or they'll also invite you back, and you'll be repaid.
 13 But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
 14 And you'll be blessed, for they can't repay you, for you'll be repaid at the rising of the just from the dead."
 15 And when one of those who sat to eat with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."
 16 Then he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and invited many,
 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who'd been invited, Come, for everything's now ready.
 18 And they all began to make excuses.  The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it, please have me excused.
 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them, please have me excused.
 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and that's why I can't come.
 21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things.  Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and those who walk with difficulty, and the blind.
 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you've commanded, and yet there is room.
 23 And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so my house will be filled.
 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper."
 25 And great multitudes went with him, and he turned, and said to them,
 26 "If any man comes to me, and doesn't hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple.
 27 And whoever doesn't carry his cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple.
 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, doesn't sit down first, and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?
 29 Otherwise, perhaps after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to make fun of him,
 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, doesn't sit down first, and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?
 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador, and desires conditions of peace.
 33 So likewise, whoever he is of you that doesn't forsake all that he has, he can't be my disciple.
 34 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be seasoned?
 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the manure pile, but men throw it out.  He that has ears to hear, let him hear."

Chapter 2

Jesus said if you're going to be a Christian, there are some things to hate.  

 26 "If any man comes to me, and doesn't hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple.
 27 And whoever doesn't carry his cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple.
 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, doesn't sit down first, and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?

In verse 28, you must count the cost.  

I don't think it's exactly that you have to hate your family, and in another place, in the Ten Commandments, in Exodus chapter 20, we're told to honor our father and mother.  

But I think what Jesus is saying is that if you're going to be a Christian, Jesus has to be number one with you, and that in case of conflict with your family, you put Jesus above your family.  

As a youth, the Lord called Lester Sumrall to be a preacher.  But Lester Sumrall didn't want to be a preacher because he knew he'd have to take a beating from his Dad if his Dad found out Lester wanted to be a preacher.  

So Lester Sumrall came down with Tuberculosis.  The doctor said he didn't expect Lester to make it through the night.  

That night, the Lord gave Sumrall a vision.  

On one side, Sumrall saw a large Bible.  On the other side, he saw a large coffin.  The Lord said to Sumrall, "This night, you will choose one or the other."  

Sumrall said, "Well, I guess I'll be a preacher."  

But to avoid that beating, Sumrall had to run away from home.  

And the Lord helped him.  He became a famous preacher, with also a TV ministry.  (Google LESEA Broadcasting on the internet.)

You have to choose Jesus over your family and over everyone else.  

There's a price to pay.  

And what is the benefit?  You get your sins forgiven, and you're on your way to heaven.  

So then, as a matter of fact, it's worth any price to go to heaven and stay out of hell.  But just realize that it may cost you some family or friends.  


___James chapter 1
 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.
 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,
 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.
 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.
 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.
 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,
 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.
 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,
 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.
 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.
 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.
 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.
 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,
 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.
 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2
 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,
 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"
 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?
 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
 6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?
 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?
 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,
 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.
 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.
 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.
 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.
 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?
 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,
 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?
 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.
 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."
 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.
 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?
 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?
 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."
 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3
 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.
 2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.
 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.
 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!
 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.
 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,
 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.
 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.
 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?
 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.
 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.
 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.
 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4
 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?
 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.
 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.
 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.
 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"
 6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.
 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.
 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.
 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.
 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?
 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"
 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."
 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.
 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5
 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.
 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.
 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.
 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.
 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.
 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.
 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.
 8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.
 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.
 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
 11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.
 13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.
 14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,
 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.
 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.
 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.
 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,
 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.