Can You Drink of the Cup (Compilation)
To follow Jesus requires a deep commitment and willingness to suffer for his sake, leaving behind worldly desires and attachments.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the difficulty and sacrifice involved in following Christianity. He highlights the need for complete dedication and leaving behind worldly desires. The preacher mentions the concept of drinking from the cup, which symbolizes the suffering and betrayal that Jesus experienced. He emphasizes that true discipleship requires enduring mental, physical, and spiritual pain. The sermon also mentions the division and rejection that followers of Jesus may face, including being ostracized by family members and doubted by others.
Full Transcript
Jesus Hansen said, you know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? You see, the thing between where you are now and the baptism of fire is a cup. What's a cup? What was a cup? Well, I'll tell you what one ingredient was.
It had betrayal in it. The men who swore allegiance to him, when it came to the crisis, they quit. Can ye drink of the cup? What's in the cup? I believe in that cup there was internal suffering, mental suffering, and spiritual suffering.
Do you want to drink the cup? I say it was internal. Why? Because in Isaiah 53, it let me say, he traveled, deserted by others, and in the darkest hour, not only deserted by men, deserted by God. Can you drink of that cup? You want to travel? You see, what people are seeking for today is a painless Pentecost.
There isn't such a thing. The day of Pentecost was fully covered. What happened immediately after Pentecost? They prostrated.
Yes, they did. They went to jail. It wasn't prosperity.
It was prison, pain, tibation, persecution. If you're going to follow the Lord, it's religion and the family. Your father and mother will hate you.
Jesus got to a place where his brothers said he was insane. You know, people say, I want to be like Jesus. I doubt it.
You want to get kicked out of your family to go to your loved one? You want to be so true to God that the promise comes in doubt to you, that Jesus tells you? You really want to be like Jesus? Well, why don't you practice it? Why don't you have 40 days and 40 nights of practice? I'm sure it was not only internal. I'm sure it was mental pain. I'm sure it was bodily pain.
Christianity has not been weighed into balances and found wanting. It's been tried, found difficult, and rejected. It's too tough.
There's no part-time service. Leave all and follow me. Can you drink of the cup? We're able.
So they drank and they were crucified. Today it's considered sadistic if you say people have to take up their cross even. Don't tell young people about the cross.
They'll be discouraged. Well, are you suggesting Jesus wasn't smart? If you're going to be my disciple, kiss the world goodbye. You see, when people are born again these days, they don't get separated from the world.
Most likely they're pastors, the most worldly gatherers around. But if you're going to get what he wants to give, if you're going to get the real, true baptism of the Spirit, drink the drink of that cup.
Sermon Outline
- The Cup of Suffering
- What's in the cup?
- Internal suffering
- Mental suffering
- Spiritual suffering
Key Quotes
“What's a cup? What was a cup? Well, I'll tell you what one ingredient was. It had betrayal in it.” — Compilations
“There isn't such a thing as a painless Pentecost.” — Compilations
“If you're going to follow the Lord, it's religion and the family. Your father and mother will hate you.” — Compilations
Application Points
- Following Jesus requires a full commitment to leaving behind worldly desires and attachments.
- Suffering and hardship are a part of the Christian life, but they can also be opportunities for growth and transformation.
- True discipleship means being willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus, even if it means facing persecution and hardship.