Following Jesus
by Dr. J.C. House
05/27/2023
John 21:19 - “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
Scripture reading Luke 9:23-26
“Where He Leads Me”
I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling
I can hear my Savior calling, Take thy cross, and follow me.
Where He leads me, I will follow, Where He leads me, I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with Him all the way.
We may have complicated discipleship in our efforts to help new converts. As those who text today would say “TMI”, too much information. This thought comes from an interesting statement that Jesus used to define discipleship. The first two words Jesus spoke to Peter and the other disciples were these words, “Follow Me”. I suspect that is the same message He would convey to us today, “If you wish to be my disciple, follow me.”
Matthew 4:19, “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
John 1:43, “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.”
Now, if that were our discipling plan, what would we do?
I. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD TO CHURCH
Luke 4:16, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” This does not need explanation, just obedience. We need it to be our custom as well…CHURCH.
II. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD IN PRAYER
Mark 1:35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Perhaps this is the most difficult discipline for the Christian. Consistent prayer. It may be difficult, but the Christian can enter into the prayer closet in the midst of a multitude. It takes desire and concentration to follow Jesus. Luke 9:28, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.”
III. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD IN SERVICE
Luke 9:37, “And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.” There is a lesson for us to learn here. The Lord had not gone apart to pray simply to enjoy an ecstatic experience of communion with God, not at all. His time with God provided Him with what He needed in order to minister to others. As a matter of fact, He said His purpose here was to serve. Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus defined greatness not in terms of how many people one has authority over, but of how one ministers to the needs of others. Matthew 20:26-28, “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM?
05/27/2023
John 21:19 - “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
Scripture reading Luke 9:23-26
“Where He Leads Me”
I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling
I can hear my Savior calling, Take thy cross, and follow me.
Where He leads me, I will follow, Where He leads me, I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with Him all the way.
We may have complicated discipleship in our efforts to help new converts. As those who text today would say “TMI”, too much information. This thought comes from an interesting statement that Jesus used to define discipleship. The first two words Jesus spoke to Peter and the other disciples were these words, “Follow Me”. I suspect that is the same message He would convey to us today, “If you wish to be my disciple, follow me.”
Matthew 4:19, “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
John 1:43, “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.”
Now, if that were our discipling plan, what would we do?
I. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD TO CHURCH
Luke 4:16, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” This does not need explanation, just obedience. We need it to be our custom as well…CHURCH.
II. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD IN PRAYER
Mark 1:35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Perhaps this is the most difficult discipline for the Christian. Consistent prayer. It may be difficult, but the Christian can enter into the prayer closet in the midst of a multitude. It takes desire and concentration to follow Jesus. Luke 9:28, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.”
III. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LORD IN SERVICE
Luke 9:37, “And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.” There is a lesson for us to learn here. The Lord had not gone apart to pray simply to enjoy an ecstatic experience of communion with God, not at all. His time with God provided Him with what He needed in order to minister to others. As a matter of fact, He said His purpose here was to serve. Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus defined greatness not in terms of how many people one has authority over, but of how one ministers to the needs of others. Matthew 20:26-28, “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM?
Recent
Archive
2023
January
May
In A MomentFree For Who? Free For You!Purity In PrivateMake Me A BlessingThe Hard Times Of LifeThe Burdens Of LifeHide and SeekThe Conflict Around UsHow To React To DifficultiesGod's GuidanceWhen It Seems Like There Is Nothing LeftA Drink For Your Thirsty SoulThe RaptureTomorrow's Secrets and CertaintiesSuffering For the Sake of OthersWhat Jesus PrioritizedHe Giveth More GraceI Never Knew I Could Do ThatHind Every MountainHeaven's HeadlineGod's Purpose For Your LifeFaith That Leads To ObedienceHaving A Biblical PerspectiveA Good ExampleGod Can See In The DarkGreat Is Our GodFollowing JesusJesus, My RosebudThe Shield Of FaithGod Laughs At Our WisdomThe Almighty God
June
Burned OutWhere Did All These Packages Come From?This GodEvery Decision Has A ConsequenceA Resume That's EternalWhat Will We See In Heaven?Watch Your MouthPut Down The Baby Bottle & Fire Up The GrillWhy Do Good Things Happen To Good People?The Undetected War WithinThe Battle Is Not Yours, But God'sEncouragementThe Value Of A Godly FriendWhat If God Said "Yes" To Everything?NotJust Mind Your BusinessA Day In The LifeThe God-Given Task To FathersThe Kind Of Christian I Would Like To BeStrength And CourageStill No Room For The SaviourHangry And A Bit Dramatic or Void Of Spirituality?We Will Understand It Better By And ByPreach The WordWhat My God Saith, That Will I SpeakDo You Read The Owner's Manual?Can I Know The Will Of God?
July
August
The Thing Which I Greatly FearedThe Best Way To Travel Life's PathwayA Distinct DifferenceSincerity On SundayJoy For Life's JourneyWhat Manner Of LoveMaking A DifferenceOnly Sometimes Usually Leads To NeverThe Order Of LifeOpinionatedGod Knows How It EndsWhat To Do When Troubles ComeHow Do You React To Difficulties?The World's Oldest ProblemWhat Are Your Intentions?The Impact Of A Single SoulWhat's Your Quest?Submitting To The LordA Gift Worth OfferingWhat Do I Have?Why I Love The BibleNot My PresidentThe Blessings Of ObedienceWhat Do You Need For Courage?