Are you following Jesus? #14

What is your greatest need? Sit back and think about that for a bit. So what did you come up with? Money? Health? Better husband or wife? Or what?



Your greatest need is Jesus! Hands down...He is it. Forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God. There has become a problem with this because so many have skewed the gospel and want to add things to it. I can hear you saying like what?



Some have added prosperity to it. Following Jesus does NOT equate riches! The bible is clear, matter of fact it may cost you everything!



Luke 9:56-62



The Cost of Following Jesus


57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 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.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”



Family, a home, a bed, death of a loved one, saying good bye to family, it all sounds harsh but Jesus makes it clear when we follow Him we lay it all down and follow...does that sound like prosperity? Or how about this one:





Matthew 19:16-22



Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler


16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.



Does that sound like prosperity? Ha! Jesus says our treasure is heaven to store it up there buy doing the Father's business here not gaining riches here! One more:





Matthew 19:23-25



23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”



Now Jesus did not say it is impossible for the rich to enter heaven but that it is harder. Why? Because money put obstacles in the way of our relationship with God if the money is not handled correctly. Let me be clear having money or riches is not sin, the way we handle it can be.



So do you see it is clear nothing in the bible talks about prosperity as a proof that you are right with God, only the shed blood of Christ can make you right with God!



Tomorrow we will look at health being an added to the gospel!



Tom

Rule, Rules Rules. In the old testament, followers of God had what we call laws to live by or rules. Following these laws that were given by God either made them right with God or wrong with God. They could not keep all these rules and were constantly on the wrong side of God which lead to serve consequences over and over again.



In the new testament we see God's plan play out. We can't do it God and he already knew we would not be able to so God sent His own son, Jesus to die for our sin, to cover what we could not. Thus following rules is not the key to being right with God, giving our lives to Jesus is.



A good what this looks like in the bible is Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a top of the line Jew. A leader among his people. Believed in God, tried to follow all the religious laws, but like everyone else could not. So he came to Jesus with some questions:



John 3:1-21


You Must Be Born Again

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”



To sum all that up Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again! He must have a new life, which can only be done through Jesus! Wow. It is not about rules it is about a relationship with Jesus!



This new life is seen in the old testament too:



Ezekiel 36:25-28



25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.



A new heart, a new spirit....God puts it in us when we receive Christ. That is why we can rest in Jesus:



Matthew 11:28-29



28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.



Oh the rest of Jesus! He removes the burden of the laws and gives us rest for our souls! That is great news! And that leads us to this now we have been born again, we have the rest of Jesus, we now want to follow and obey Jesus! It leads us to a want to follow the teachings and commands of Jesus. A willingness to follow and obey because we love Him and He loves us. He even gives us the Holy Spirit to help us obey and follow!



So here is today's question, Have you been born again? It is a must to be right with God! A good way to tell is if you enjoy following and obeying the One you love!



Tom