I Have Decided To Follow Jesus Series

• God doesn’t want you disconnected – when follow Jesus – to family

• It meant connecting myself to God’s family – the Church

• Without the family support of the church – you won’t survive!

• And if you’re not connected to the family of God – by being a part of a church body – you are not a follower of Christ!

When faced with a decision about where my allegiances lie – I have decided to follow Jesus.

3. I had consequences to face.

Anger from my previous sphere of influence – family

• Almost like an attempt at an intervention

• Ridiculed me – dis’d me – made fun – tried to shame me

• Wasn’t easy – had some hard times

Jesus too – when began His ministry – family was concerned – thought he’d gone crazy…

MK 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

• Your friends and family may have same reaction

• Consequences I knew I’d face – and did – but determined to follow…

Though some may think you’ve gone crazy if you follow Jesus –

HEB 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

• The Christian life is not a cake walk – not easy – you will not get through this unscathed!

• If you are not willing to endure persecution, contempt, ridicule – don’t follow Jesus!

2TI 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ – you will draw fire – there is a bull’s-eye on you that says to the world – “shoot me – I’m over here!”

• If your life doesn’t irritate the world – your not following!

• America – not as bad – passive aggressive – but get worse

Through all of that – in spite of all of that - I have decided to follow Jesus!

4. I had a life to learn. - Discipleship

What is a disciple?

• Quite simply a disciple is a learner, or a pupil of someone.

• In the context of the Bible, a Christian is supposed to be a disciple.

• Who are we to be a disciple of? Jesus!

Jesus gives us a principle in…

Matthew 12:43-45. "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. "Then it says, ’I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."