First Be A Follower Series

Someone once asked a woman what she did for a living, and she said, "I’m a follower of Jesus Christ; disguised as a waitress!"

WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW JESUS, NOT SEEK A POSITION.

When Jesus first called the disciples, they were not called to be leaders.

„« He did not call them into leadership ¡V He just called them to¡K¡¥Follow Me¡¦

„« Peter, Andrew, James and John were not invited to be leaders. They became leaders only after Jesus empowered them to lead.

„« We are called to be FOLLOWERS first¡K if we failed that, we are not prepared to lead.

It¡¦s not like the show ¡¥Apprentice¡¦ ¡V they go through a series of tests in order to take up the top position. Not so for the disciples ¡V they weren¡¦t going for any positions; they simply FOLLOW Jesus.

In fact, the Bible says comparatively little about leadership and a great deal about ¡¥followership¡¦. About being a disciple. Most, if not all, started off as servants...

Look at some familiar examples:

„« Joseph - God has planned for him to be Pharaoh in Egypt but he wasn’t called to it. He was betrayed, sold, imprisoned, wrongly accused... his heart was to serve God and His purpose.

„« Moses - shepherding when God appeared to him. Reluctant. He served God’s purpose.

„« Gideon - threshing wheat in the winepress, God wanted him to free Israel from the Midianites. Not sure, asked God for signs.

„« David became a king, but when Samuel was led to anoint him, he was a shepherd boy. He did not seek it. And ended up having even to run for his life and suffer quite a bit before enthronement.

„« Prophet Jeremiah - called to deliver a message of judgment - sad news.

„« Esther became a leader when God, through Mordecai, called her to stand before the king to protect his people. Mordecai (Est 4:13): "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

They did not seek for any position. God’s call was always a call to serve His purpose.

They were exalted to honourable positions because they SERVE, not because they seek for it.

So what does it really mean to be His FOLLOWER? It basically means LEARNER.

A disciple is a STUDENT. But who are we learning from ¡V Jesus.

Matt 10:38 ¡§¡Kanyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.¡¨

Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matt 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But why FOLLOW ME¡K why not attend a course, learn some skills, take up some training? Why, because SERVING GOD is not about skills, intelligence¡K is about attitude. It¡¦s about being LIKE JESUS!

The 3 principles of followership:

PICTURE THIS:

ƒð Someone step into this room. Excited.

ƒð "Come, come and follow me. Show you something!" and he ran off...

ƒð Hear the cry. Curious. Drop out stuff or whatever we are doing; ran after him.

ƒð Where did he go? Up to 4th floor... around the rooms, down the other stairway...

ƒð You have to keep your pace, keep your eyes fixed on him... at every turn.

From the examples of all the great men & women of God who SERVED GOD well:

1. THEY HEAR HIS CALL

2. THEY LAY DOWN THEIR OWN AGENDA

3. THEY FIX THEIR EYES ON JESUS

Today, when we serve Him in any ministry - AF, SS, Choir, PA, ES...

„« we are actually responding to His call...

„« there is a job to be done and God wants me to do it.

So the important question you need to ask is: Are you hearing Him?

„« It cannot be my voice. It cannot be the church’s voice...

„« You respond only to His voice. You serve because you know HE WANTS YOU TO.

„« Not simply because pastor wants you to do something, not because KTCC needs you...

Only when you hear HIS VOICE, your service will be sustainable.

Only when you hear HIS VOICE, the motivation to serve will not cease or wane.

That’s why potential students at seminaries have to go through an interview, where they will help you ascertain your call. If you’re into full-time service because you feel like it, you like the glamour or prestige that goes with it, or whatever, then you’re on the wrong footing.

The prophets responded to God’s call. The disciples responded to Jesus’ call.

„« And they were able to make great sacrifices, to see that His work be done