Follow The Leader Series

There was a man who got lost in the desert. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance. He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note. The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need". Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveler.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note: “ Please prime the pump, believe me it works”! We have the same choice to make, do we hold on to what we have because we don’t believe there are better things in store for us, and settle for immediate satisfaction? Or do we trust God and give up all that we have to get what God has promised us? I think the choice is obvious. We need to pour in all the water, trust God with everything. Then once we have experienced what God has to offer, the living water, we need to tell other people, “Go ahead prime the pump, believe me it works”!

Often times we need to trust in God and let Him lead the way for us. If we are proclaiming ourselves as Christian, then why not follow the leader.

I hope at the end of our service today. You will come to know the meaning of Baptism, Foot Washing and the Lord’s Supper. I also want you feel eager to follow the example that Jesus set, and respond by agreeing to take responsibility in the church family when asked.

Let me say this church this morning; "A disciple of Christ is someone who lives every day to love Jesus and to bring others to Him."

1. BAPTISM

a) Admit that you are a sinner (Matt 3:1-2)

In our reding we find that people were coming to John to be baptised and Jesus was there too. What did the people need to do before been baptised? Confess their sins. Confess means to admit you have a problem. We are all sinners and need a Saviour.

Did Jesus need to admit that He was a sinner? After all He was baptised by John. No, He was SINLESS. So why was Jesus baptised? Because He knew that we would need to admit that we are sinners and He was setting an example. (Matt 3:13-15)

b) Believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16)

The jailer ask the question to Paul "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? paul’s reply was; BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS and you will be saved along with your family." (Acts 16:30,31)

It takes courage to believe, but if you really want something desperately, you will find it in your inner being to believe.

c) Turn away from sin (Matt 3:11)

Turning away from the things that we love and cherish is hard. Dropping our smoke, drinking, night clubing, swearing, backstabbing, gossip, telling lies, fighting, adultery, watching porn, abusing others etc...will take a real man or a woman to do so if we all can.

I like the words of the song; ’Turn yours eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangelly dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’ If we turn from our sins and focus totally on Jesus our Author and our Maker. The things that we cherish in our secret world will slowly vanish.

d) Be a disciple of Jesus. Know Jesus’teaching for yourself (Matt 28:19, 20)

We must make disciples of others. Let me say church that we will not convert anyone to Jesus if we are not converted ourselves. To make disciples, we must be disciples ourselves. First disciples then baptism