Count the Cost
It's more than a generic question, more than an inquiry about religious steps that you have taken to affirm your belief in Him.
Jesus says in the gospel to count the cost, take up your cross and follow Him. Many chalk it up to something that doesn't really cost them, or hurt them too much. They realize that when they attend church, or speak Christianese, that some people will roll their eyes or look at them differently, some people will ignore them, and others will talk badly about them. But for the most part life will stay the same. Why? They have taken baby steps according to their church doctrine, denominational theology or other religious acceptable minor changes in their lives. The fact is, because they still mostly resemble the world, the cost isn't too much at all.
Have you considered pursuing God in Biblical faith and in a Biblical pursuit?
God is raising up a generation of people that will shed religion and run after His heart in a violently-passionate way to have communion with Him, reap the harvest and set the captives free.
Upon hearing that, many will raise their hands and shout "send me! I'll do it!"
It sounds great. It sounds as though you'll make a difference--and you will. But the cost of following Him the way we are intended will cause much offense. It primarily comes from the religious, which is the overwhelming majority of the church.
Theological "watchdogs" will use their dead theology to come against your relationship with God. The fruitless-but-well-studied-man with come against the fruit that you bear in your life. (What's in them doesn't like what's in you!)
God wants to have a real, intimate relationship with you. Have you ever considered that the Holy Ghost should be your best friend? A real friend. He has given you your own language of communication with Him, He fills your mouth when you pray in the Spirit. He is more than the still small voice, an electric feeling or anything else the church has confined Him to. He is our ever present help but more than that, you can get to know Him, because He will lay Himself, His thoughts and His will upon your heart when you diligently listen to Him.
Too many Christians have subscribed to dead theology, and therefore, they don't believe in tongues, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the mystical nature of the true relationship with God. The fear of man often trumps the fear of the Lord, and that is sad.
God is looking for Daniels in the earth today. He is looking for those who will not crumble to the weight of ridicule or bow to the critical words of man.
He is calling you to a deeper place with Him. He speaks to us in dreams and visions. He wants to meet you in the secret place. When you decide to embrace that, the cost is much. But when you hunger for more of Him, the relational benefits of your walk with God is more satisfying than anything imaginable, including man's approval!
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:37-39
The more you begin to run after God the more you will understand what Jesus was talking about. I know there are those who are saying of me "what happened to that guy?" or "he's gotten into some weird new age/cult-like stuff" (and I'm sure that's the kind and edited version too).
Religion always stifles what God wants to do in you. It stunts what He wants to do with you and through you, because your focus is on works and appearances rather than on encountering His glory.
Read the New Testament, especially the book of Acts and the Pauline epistles, and begin to apply those things to your life. You will see not only how much most Christians will be offended, but more importantly, what it looks like to live how God wants you to live when you walk His narrow path.
Peter and Paul lived in constant encounters with the Lord, and that's exactly how God intends for us to live.
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
Acts 5:15
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
Acts 10:9-11 (emphasis added by me)
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 19:11-12
These things would be considered diabolical or heretical by most of the church today, just as they were then. The apostles gave their life for their walk with God. Paul was an esteemed member of religion when he decided to be stripped of all that he had when he made the choice to do the Father's work. He was stoned, imprisoned and eventually beheaded for it.
You are being called to have union with God. The cost is much. The cost it is everything. There will be great offense and accusations of evil. But He is so worth it all, and it comes with a promise of reward (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29; Luke 18:29).
The Lord shared something with me in a series of 3 visions in one night, the details of which are incredibly special to me. Although I will not reveal them here in its entirety, the summary of what He gave to me was that if I kept my eyes fixed on Him, the storm of offense would be nothing more than a background noise, and that He would send me supernatural help in blocking out the noise of offense.
I'm here to tell you He will help you and guide you. He will comfort you. He will be there every step of the way, and bless you in ways that the world cannot understand.
Will you count the cost and follow Him completely?
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