Are you following Jesus? #3

Today lets look at the word follow as it relates to following Jesus.



When we put the word follow in its proper context in relation to our King this is the proper definition- to live with radical abandonment for His(Jesus) glory. the first thing we must do to follow Jesus is repent:



Matthew 3:2

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”



Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”



So what does repent mean? It means to confess we are sinners to God, to be sorrowful of our sin, to turn from our sin and head toward Jesus and away from our sin, and to renounce self! We are no longer belong to ourselves bur are willing slaves to Christ!



1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.



When we follow Jesus, we see from the disciples following Jesus and also from the mouth of Jesus it costs us some things. Here are some things that we may be called to leave behind:



*comfort



Matthew 8:19-21

19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”This sound like comfort to you?



*careers



Luke 5:27

Jesus Calls Levi(also known as Matthew)

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”



All the disciples left their jobs at least for a time. Are you willing to if God leads you to?





*possessions



Matthew 19:21-23

21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.



Are you willing to give everything away and follow Jesus? He may call you to do so...this young man could not do it!





*positions



John 19:39

39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.



Nicodemus was a big wig in the Jewish circle, obviously he did not care about his position as he went and helped prepare the body of Jesus for burial!



Are you worried about your position at your job or in society or are your going to follow Jesus no matter what?





*families



Matthew 10:34-37

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.



Do you love Jesus more than your own family? Are you willing to give them up for Jesus if that's what it takes?





*safety



Matthew 10:16-20



Persecution Will Come



16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.



If you haven't received at least verbal persecution chances are you are not doing much for Christ and physical persecution may be part of our following....are you willing?



*Your life



Matthew 10:26-28



Have No Fear



26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.



Following Jesus may cost your your life, it did for most of the original disciples, are you willing?



Hmmm are you willing? If your are to be a true disciple these are all on the table! Like I told you from the beginning, to follow Jesus is not easy and He never said it would be! Easy believism is not biblical!



Chew on this today....I know I am!



Tom