Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink Matt 20: 17‐28 1. The different visions of the disciples <17 – 21> a. When Christ was going up to Jerusalem to be nail on the cross, some of the disciples asked to be seated at the primary places beside Christ in Heaven. <Matt 16: 21‐23, 17:4, 19: 13, 20: 31, 26: 8‐10… Mark 9: 33‐34, John 21: 21‐22... Matt 26: 36‐56> b. As of today, there are many disciple of Christ who has different vision. The Lord said: “You do not know what you ask” i. Pray ask for worldly things like health, longevity, wealth, status, reputation, power and influence, success ii. Pray and ask for peace within the family towards eternity and development iii. Pray and ask for signs and miracles which are meaningless, knowledge, spiritual gifts / warm hearted which is ineffective, activities which brings no results c. The things which are important to the Lord, plans, time table i. The judgmental flood during Noah’s time / Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction ii. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment “, there are almost 200,000 deaths which proceeds to hell every day. iii. <Matt 9: 35‐38> In every city and town, the people are weary and scattered, just like sheep having no shepherd iv. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” v. Within the enlightenment of the bible, the Lord kept repeating and emphasizing this: 1. Abraham and Jacob’s life, <Exodus> The 5 miracles, the repeating messages in the book of Judges and Kings 2. Today, the most important thing to the Lord: Our Life, the matters of eternal, the matters of the Kingdom. 3. For these matters, the Father in Heaven had made the highest sacrifice: The death of His only Son / The worst kind of death / for the righteous to the sinners… 2. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink <22 – 24> a. The disciples told the Lord that they are able to. The Lord said: “You will indeed drink My cup” i. <Matt 16: 24> “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
ii. After Christ has died and resurrected, the Holy Sprit descended to the bodies of the disciples, and after they have received strength, they too have the strength to carry their own cross and executed wonderful works. b. The saints must carry their own cross i. After a person was born again, having died and resurrected in Christ, their life’s objective, content and methods of execution will have to be differentiated from the world. ii. Understand our background and qualifications as well as those questions which has been confusing our lives with a thanks giving heart and examine the Lord’s perfect will in it <John 9: 3> iii. For every day, we have to die and be resurrected in Christ, throw away our old selves and revived the strength and perfect will of the Lord iv. Because of the Lord, we do suffer persecution, ridiculed, suffer a loss or experiences bitterness through our adversaries <Matt 5: 10‐12> v. There is a price to be paid and suffer to be bared for the servants of the Lord and His church c. For all of the disciples which was trained by the Lord, they have to “drink the cup” and they have the strength to “drink the cup” = The Lord said: “You will indeed drink My cup” i. There are no exceptions, for “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” ii. Even though we may have times of weakness, but for the disciples of the Lord who are trained by Him will be able to “drink from the cup” iii. For the cup, you will not able to drink by your selves, but only through depending on the Lord’s strength, not only we could drink, but we are able to do great things as well 3. Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant <25 – 28> What kind of servant should be become? Do we serve others in blind humbleness, concession or have harmony with others? a. First, we must become a true servant i. Do not live for ourselves but for others. ii. Do not help others blindly, but for those whom are being called to be born again for we live to call others to the Lord and bless others. iii. Do not depend on our own will and strength, but depend on the Lord’s perfect will and strength b. Only then we could be exalted i. Because we live for others, that is why other will love us, respect us and follow us.
ii. Because we are born again, a person whom was called and we have the strength to bless others, which is why they will gain focus from the Lord’s citizens and the disciples. iii. Because we follow the Lord’s guidance, depend on the Lord’s strength. As a result, we will be exalted by others because the Lord’s graces, righteous, wisdom and strength is in our live. iv. If we don’t equip our selves, format properly and pray, we can’t be a good servant and a good leader.