Don’t Be A Fan, Be A Follower

Luke 9:23

In dealing with the younger generation, they have introduced me to the understanding of their language. And what I have found out is much of their slang are entrenched and embedded with some deep revelation and many of them are biblically sound.

Just to name a few I’ve heard statements like keep your head on a swivel, which means to always be watchful of the things around you. What’s the scripture pastor? Well, Matthew 26:41 says, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Which means one must be watching at all times so that evil doing won’t be able to sneak up on you.

Here’s another one. Get out your chest, which means get out of your feelings. Give me scripture Pastor. Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

But there was just one that really arrested my spirit, grabbed my attention, and made me come to a standstill, and that was when I saw the acronyms DTR which stands for define the relationship. In other words, where do we stand? Where are we going from here? What is the next step of this connection? We have been shopping together, we have been to the movies together, we have had dinner, and you have even kissed me on the cheek, so now we need to define the relationship. The question here is: are we going study, are you giving me a promise ring, are we getting married, I need to know where are we going from here? I’m not going to be the side person, I’m not going to be second string, and I’m not going to be the leftovers, we need to define the relationship.

And some of you can relate to this type of conversation, because this is an official talk, the determining factor, the decisive, significant, and vital decision that takes place at some point in relationship to see the level of our commitment, our promise, our pledge and our vow to one another. In other words, where do we stand?

What they are saying is, I need to know if we have moved passed the crush, passed the probation period, and pass the infatuation period.

And this is conversation is so important, because I believe that there are too many of us who have the no strings attached arrangement with God, we have an uncommitted lopsided relationship with God. We have the, I don’t need him until I call on him. We have the, if he gets me out of this situation, I’ll get out of the next one by myself. Some of us just have a structured connection with Jesus, from time to time we just call on him when they need him, or when we are going through.

There are too many of us that are fans of Jesus, but not a follower of Jesus. Put it in scripture form. Luke 9:23 Jesus put it like this. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me, he didn’t say become a fan of me.

Here’s the point: we must know and understand that followers deny themselves, they take up their cross and follow him. A fan is simply defined as a passionate, a fan is an admirer. And I think I need to tell somebody this morning not to be a fan but be a follower of Christ.

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As we probe and examine the scripture, we can see cases where Jesus would put people in a position where they must decide what their position is going to be with him. and he was not playing with it.

Look at Luke 14:25-27 it says “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Now understand that Christ was not saying to hate your family because he is a God of love, but what he was saying is that he is to be the priority, over family and even self. He makes us chose.

In St. John 6:64-70 Jesus preach a sermon that would determine who in the crowd was a fan, and who were followers. In verse 64 he said “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, “Therefore, said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”