“LEARNING TO FOLLOW YOUR LEADERS”
Text: Matt. 16:24,”Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Intro:
The gospels of Mark and Luke record ‘this” same statement by Jesus. It must be important. God said it more than once!
We Must Ultimately Follow The Leadership Of Christ!
Why is Following Leadership so important?
a). To be in obedience to the Word of God, we must learn how to follow leadership. (“In many churches there are Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians”)
b). To prepare the followers to become leaders. “Civilization is in danger when those who have never learned to obey are given the right to command.” (If you are not a good follower, you will not be a good leader.)
*FOLLOWING LEADERSHIP INVOLVES THREE THINGS:
1. “SUBMISSION BY CHOICE”
Submission-surrender; yielding to obey authority.
A. We must choose to submit to our leaders.
Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Your spiritual leaders must give account to God for how you followed them. That is why, you must learn to follow to keep from being ashamed at the judgment seat. )
B. We will submit for one of three reasons:
1. Because of our faith in God
2. Because of our fear of man (faulty)
3. Because we want to obtain favor (faulty)
a). gain Rank (position)
b). gain Recognition (popularity)
2. “SACRIFICE BY CHOICE”
*In our efforts to follow, it may mean we will have to sacrifice.
Luke 9:57,59-62, “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The main thing that we will have to sacrifice in order to follow leadership will be our pride. (Nobody likes being told what to do! But every follower must add the word humility to their dictionary and learn to live by it daily)
*Sacrificing for the Lord will involve two things:
A). A Personal Challenge-John 21:19
B). A Private Choice-John 21:22
3. “SERVICE AS UNTO CHRIST”
This is the key to being a good follower. You are not following man, although man may be who you see. You are serving the Lord! And He will reward you for being a good follower. Col. 3:24, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Now, when you serve the Lord with humility and happiness, God will give you an honorable life . John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
This will help you with your parents, your boss, your teachers, and your other leaders. SERVE AS UNTO CHRIST!
Conclusion:
The greatest leader that ever lived was the greatest follower who ever lived, Christ! And we must learn to follow His example! I Pet. 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…”
