“Following Forever”
October 6, 2013
Mark 1:16-18
“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. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Matthew 9:9
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Six weeks ago or so I began a series of sermons on following Jesus. I didn’t know it would develop into a series – but it did. I became intrigued just thinking about our Awesome God, the Creator of all that is, picking us out of humanity and inviting us to follow Him. I mentioned last week that “many are called but few are chosen”. (Matt. 22:14) Everyone in the whole world is called to follow. Everyone is invited. God is not willing that any should perish. But the fact of the matter is that few find their way on that “Highway of Holiness” – because it is straight and narrow and hard to get on. Isaiah said,
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:8-10
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
I read a Gallop poll that was taken recently that said that 90% of Americans believe in God. When I was a kid and the question was asked, “Do you believe in God?” 98% responded that they did. So the figure is down a little – but still 9 out of 10 people believing in God is pretty impressive. Now, that poll didn’t say what God or what kind of God – just if you believed in God.
But if you ask the question of how many in America call themselves Christians then the answer is a little lower – but it is still pretty impressive. Most statistics say that over 3/4th of America’s call themselves Christians. That’s a lot. It doesn’t quite jive with what Jesus said. Why is that?
I think it is because Jesus had a little narrower definition of who His follower is than we do. Many people today define the ‘saved’; those going to heaven as anyone who believes in Jesus. Let’s look at how Jesus defines His disciple.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24
That puts a little different light on things, doesn’t it? Look at the characteristics Jesus gave – “they listen to My voice; they follow me; they love one another; they obey My teaching.” That narrows things down a bit, doesn’t it? (CHART)
The media report that about 40% go to church on any given Sunday – but actually that figure reflects those who CLAIM to be regular church attenders. The figure is actually closer to 25%. Then if you further sift out those who fit Jesus’ description of a true follower – you have a very small band of disciples. Jesus words are true, “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”
Are you one of the chosen few? The called or invited are everyone in the world. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. The chosen are those who respond to Jesus’ call to follow. Many don’t. The Bible records a few who are well intentioned – but for one reason or another find an excuse not to follow. Listen.
“He said to a man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22
Last week on Bill O’Reilly he had a Catholic scholar on who taught that the only way the rich could enter heaven was to sell all they had and give it away (preferably to the Catholic Church, I assume). That is not supportable by the Bible. The thing you have to get rid of is ANYTHING you value more than God. That’s different things for different people. It may be money or sports or people.
Remember the old saying, “Hell is paved with good intentions”? Good intentions are not enough. Believing in Jesus is not enough. Jesus’ brother, James, said, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19)
Believing is not enough. It is faith, of which belief is only one part, that pleases God (Heb. 11:6) Believing is important because without it you will not follow; you will not have faith; you will not get on that ‘Highway of Holiness’ that leads to eternal life. But – as ‘wisdom is shown by her actions’ (Matt 11:19) so is belief. If you truly believe – you will follow. The early disciples, when they responded to Jesus’ call to follow – believed Him; they trusted Him; and they committed their lives to Him. We must do the same.
So the journey begins! The adventure begins. We hear His voice and we respond in faith. The journey begins right where you are – as you are. And from this day forward – the day you begin your journey with Jesus – you are never alone. Jesus said He would never leave us for forsake us. He said He would be with us to the very end of the ages – and beyond!
Do you understand that as we embark on this joyful journey; this exciting adventure – that Jesus is beside you ALWAYS? He wants to personally disciple you. You need to know the final destination. It is heaven. But you also need to know the finished product is that Jesus wants to disciple you in. Here it is:
2 Corinthians 3:17-18:
“...And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Romans 8:29:
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...”
Jesus’ desire is that you be transformed by His Power; by His Spirit – into His own imagine. Every interaction; every event; every situation in life; every moment of every day is an opportunity to do things as Jesus would do things. It is an opportunity for you to be willingly transformed from your old fallen, carnal, selfish self – into Jesus’ image.
Don’t look at anything in the same old way again. Every argument; every problem; every obstacle; every event – is an opportunity to grow and become and be transformed. And don’t worry – if you blow it – you will encounter the same trial again and again and again – until you get it right. Even when you get ‘attaboys’ and rewards and successes and blessings – you need to respond to them correctly – in humility and not in pride.
Life is a place where we prepare for eternity. You were created for awesome things – things too wonderful to imagine. But just like you wouldn’t let someone drive a car without training or handle a gun without training – we are not equipped naturally to take up the responsibilities that we were created for. That’s why Jesus wants to personally disciple us through the Holy Spirit. He has a purpose in mind. And just like when I showed my kids how to handle a firearm and now am teaching my grandchildren to safely handle that dangerous and scary machine – Jesus wants us to submit to His instruction. He wants us to willingly conform to His desire and will. He is not like my firearm instructor in the army. You got out of line; made one mistake and he would be all over you like stink on a pig! Jesus doesn’t work like that. He gently leads. He only teaches the teachable. He only leads those who are willing to follow. Are you? Are you willing to follow wherever He leads; go wherever He goes?
Remember, the last few weeks I have taught you that there are many voices in your head. There’s a lot of noise up there! It is up to you to learn to distinguish them. The Bible says,
“...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
We need to learn to distinguish those voices in our heads and take them captive; we need to control them, in other words. Let’s go over them again.
Mind, emotion, desire, body, people, Satan – Jesus
Jesus speaks to us all the time. He is gently knocking at our hearts door. We need to hear and open the door to our hearts and willingly let Him in. We need to sit down with Him and have intimate conversations with Him. That takes training. The need is to be discipled – and Jesus wants to do that Himself.
Last week I challenged you to get out pen and paper and write down, “My plan to become a better disciple is ...” Then use the incredible power of your will to make it happen. Did you do it? What has changed this week in your life?
You have been created in God’s imagine with the incredible power of free will. Use that power to willingly become the awesome disciple God wants you to be. God’s will is for you to be transformed. It will happen only when it becomes YOUR will.
