Taking The Steps We Watch Series

TAKING THE STEPS WE WATCH

Mark 1:16-38

Read at beginning of service

Mark 1:16-38 (NIV)

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" 25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

For the last 2 weeks I’ve been sharing with you a series of messages entitled IN PURSUIT: The Jesus Walk. In the first message I talked about "The First Step" – which is hearing the call to follow Jesus. There are three questions that were asked in that message – Who Are We?; Who are we following?; and Who are we to follow? There is this call that Jesus is speaking loudly and clearly into the hearts of every man and woman on the face of this planet! A call that some have chosen to ignore, a call that some say they are answering, and a call that some aren’t ignoring, aren’t just talking about it, but are pursuing!

The second message of this series was entitled, "Watching the Steps we Take". We learned that people can either be in the WAY WITH Christ, or they can be in the way OF Christ. We learned that pursuing Jesus, and walking the Jesus walks involves watching the steps He is taking! It involves making Jesus the absolute center of our life upon which everything else revolves. It involves getting behind Him and out of His way! You see there is a simple truth that may be seen in the Bible – there are either those who are pursuing Christ and are stepping where Jesus steps – those who are in the WAY WITH Christ. Or there are those who are either off the path, who are not stepping where Jesus is stepping and who are in the WAY OF what Christ wants to do in their lives and through their lives. God has a plan for every single one of us (even if you don’t think He does or you deserve it). The catch is, its up to us to desire to be a part of that plan!Today we come to the third message of this series, "Taking the Steps we Watch"! Following the Leader – going where Jesus is going! It is one thing to watch the steps Jesus is taking, it is another thing to actually take those steps your watching!