Matthew 4: 18 - 20
18 ¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Jesus call Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him he says: follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men.
That word follow did not and does not mean just to tag along behind.
In those words there was an invitation to become what he was. That was the core power of those words in it was the invitation to become just like him.
To follow Jesus to be a disciple of Jesus.
To follow: to observe to study to walk where he walked literally for those disciples it was to step in the prince that his feet had made period to learn but Jesus enjoyed to see what affected Jesus negatively period to watch and study and learn with the expectation of doing the same thing. They watched Jesus cast out Devils heal the sick they watched Jesus open blind eyes they watched Jesus Touch The Untouchables like the leper who came to Jesus full of leprosy and Jesus touched him and made him whole they saw Jesus speak to the storm and the storm had to obey his voice. Uline it all started with an invitation to follow me and the invitation to make Jesus their Magnificent Obsession.
In this world we live in we have all kinds of people, we have entertainers we have or Enthusiast we have athletes we have artist we have all kinds of people.
We've come to look at certain people among us as celebrities some are movie stars some are sports Giants who have mastered their sport summer singers and performers you capture the attention and the imagination of Millions.
And these celebrities seem to produce among us another group of people sometimes they're called stalkers because they go Way Beyond just a casual appreciation or enjoyment of their celebrity and their craft or their talent and they become obsessed with them. They follow them everywhere they go they find out everything about them they study their habits they are Way Beyond fans they are fanatics they're even Beyond Fanatics they become consumed with their celebrity they know their favorite colors or kind of flowers they like their favorite foods they learned their daily routines and eventually they go beyond just extreme interest and they actually become invasive and intrusive in the life of the celebrity they're obsessed with. You seen this on the news from time to time when some celebrity is being stalked.
They begin to walk in the same steps they said in the same chair that eat the same Foods then they even start showing up in the same places at the same timeMatthew 4: 19 - 20 Jesus call Simon Peter and his brother Andrew the follow him he says calling follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
That word follow did not and does not mean just to tag along behind.
In those words there was an invitation to become what he was. That was the core power of those words
To follow: to observe to study, to walk were He walked literally for those disciples it was to step in the prints that his feet had made. To learn what Jesus enjoyed, to see what affected Jesus negatively. To watch and study and learn with the expectation of doing the same things he did.
They watched Jesus cast out Devils heal the sick, they watched Jesus open blind eyes, they watched Jesus touch the untouchable like the leper who came to Jesus full of leprosy and Jesus touched him and made him and made him whole, they heard Jesus speak to the storm and the storm had to obey his voice.
It all started with an invitation to follow me and the invitation to make Jesus their magnificent obsession.
In this world we live in we have all kinds of people, we have entertainers we have enthusiast we have athletes we have artist we have all kinds of people.
But we've come to look at certain people among us as celebrities. Some are movie stars some are sports giants who have mastered their sport and some are singers and performers who capture the attention and the imagination of millions.
And these celebrities seem to produce among us another group of people sometimes they're called stalkers because they go way beyond just a casual appreciation or enjoyment of their celebrity and their craft or their talent and they become obsessed with them.
They follow them everywhere they go, they find out everything about them, they study their habits.
They are way beyond fans they are fanatics they're even beyond fanatics, they literally become consumed with the celebrity, they know their favorite colors what kind of flowers they like, their favorite foods.
They learn their daily routines and eventually they go beyond just extreme interest and they actually become invasive and intrusive in the life of the celebrity they're obsessed with.
You've seen this on the news from time to time when some celebrity is being stalked.
They begin to walk in the same steps they sit in the same chair, eat the same Foods, then they even start showing up in the same places at the same time and eventually they even try to get in their houses.
That's when the police get involved because at this point they feel that the person (the stalker is now a threat to the well being of the object of their obsession or their celebrity).
As I was praying I heard these words in my spirit: (consumed with Jesus.)
And as I pondered these words the stalker illustration came to my mind and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about Jesus:
How far beyond any Celebrity Status he is:
Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Elvis Presley, or any actor or any performer, or any sports hero all rolled together, don't even hold a candle to How excellent how perfect how beautiful how holy, how passionate how compassionate and merciful, how kind how long suffering how forgiving he is.
And I heard again consumed with Jesus.
And I begin to understand the holy spirit is issuing an invitation to you and I to become Jesus stalkers, to be consumed with Jesus, to be obsessed with knowing him, watching him, listening to him, learning what makes him happy, and what makes him sad.
Looking at the kind of company he keeps listening to the way He speaks, learning to see through his eyes feeling what he feels.
To walk in his footsteps, to sit where he sits, to love like he loves, to forgive like he forgives, to hate what he hates.
And then I begin to feel this conviction of the Holy Spirit: So many in the church today are just Jesus fans, they’re like someone who sits in their home and watches their favorite celebrity or movie star or performer on TV and they enjoy their acting an their performance or like a spectator in the stands watching their favorite athlete or sports hero and enjoying their performance on the field.
We watch them for a while maybe even play a little armchair quarterback for a while then we go to bed and forget all about them.
But I heard the Holy Spirit say to my heart: He is raising up a new breed of Believers in the church and they are not just going to be Jesus admirers or Jesus fans.
They're going to be Jesus stalkers they're going to be obsessed with Jesus they're going to be consumed with Jesus.
Every waking hour and even while they sleep they're going to be stalking Jesus studying his moves looking at his eyes listening to his voice watching where he puts his hands, they're going to follow him everywhere they're going to be right on his heels just like Elisha was on Elijah's heels.
I hear the Holy Spirit saying the day for the Casual Christian is over. The Casual Christian is the person who just adds Jesus to their life like one of their television programs, they just add him into to their programming, like a little sprinkling of salt on your food, like coming to church at least once or twice a month so you can convince yourself that you're still saved.
I have a warning for all the casual comfortable Jesus admirers, and convenient Christians. You better get your feet out of the Isles because the Jesus lovers are coming and they will run you over.
Because Jesus has become and is becoming their one Magnificent Obsession.
The word Magnificent means: majestic opulent; exquisite, sublime splendid, superb dazzling in brilliance and radiance, That which is superb above all others, the highest degree of, excellence, and elegance.
That’s Jesus: and every one of those words and a thousand more could not even begin to unveil his true beauty and glory.
The word Obsession means: the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, or desire.
There is a group of people in the church who are sick and tired of dead religion and tradition and they are once again falling in love with Jesus (not a historical Jesus, not a religious Jesus) not a dead Jesus, but a living Jesus. And they're hearts are on fire again.
And they are being consumed by him. Our God is a Consuming fire
Let me tell you something: The spirit of Ananaias and Saphira is being executed, destroyed. (The HolySpirit is sick and tired of the Ananaias and Saphira spirit?
What is the spirit of Ananaias and Saphira? ( it's the spirit that offers to Jesus bits and pieces of their lives and say that they have given him everything. It's a religious spirit, it goes through all the Motions but there's no heart in it.
It's a spirit of self-preservation(It gives what is easy, comfortable, a little change in the offering, a little thank you Jesus hallelujah, maybe even clap the hands, and possibly even speak in tongues a little bit..
But when you get home you never pick up your bible (Your wife or your husband and your children never hear you pray). You watch things on tv and listen to things on tv and the internet that would embarrass a sailor.
But You tell yourself that you’re alright because you know all the religious protocol, and you know how to look the part.
My friend: I love you, so I’m going to tell you the truth (That is a deceiving spirit. It looks the religious part, talks the part, but is lying to the Holy Spirit).
You remember Peter said to Ananaias and Saphira (Why hast Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy ghost) you have not lied unto men but unto God.
Friend you can fool some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can never fool the Holy Spirit, not for one minute.
I want to tell you they're coming: they’re coming to our town, they’re coming to our church, I want to tell you that they may not be the majority and I want to tell you that by contrast they may be few but the fire of their Obsession and the fire of their love and their fire of their devotion is going to shake hell.
I’m going to tell you right now, the now I lay me down to sleep, two hymns a joke and a scripture for a sermon church ain’t going to get the job done. We’ve got to have fire in the pulpit to melt the ice in the pews.
If our pews are frozen it’s because the fire has went out in the pulpit.
This new breed of fire baptized Jesus lovers are not only going to shake hell they’re also going to shake up a lukewarm church that is slipped into a long distance relationship with the Lord and all they have left is a casual admiration and appreciation for the savior.
They have become dull insensitive and indifferent, they've lost their passion and their Zeal they've lost their first love and didn't even know it happened.
But Thank God Many of those who fell asleep are going to wake up, many of those who have lost their fire and their Zeal and their passion for Jesus are going to get it back
Praise God: Their eyes will be Anointed with eye salve and they will see the Savior again and they will fall in love with him again, and they will be consumed with Jesus.
But it’s going to wake up another group in the church: Those who are satisfied with a casual long-distance religious affiliation with the name of Jesus. They will also wake up but they will wake up angry and resentful and critical and they will have the attitude of Judas (why was the waste of this anointing made). And they will resent the passion and the fire the devotion and the zeal.
And they will resist the Holy Spirit and they will wrap themselves up in religious grave clothes and they will die on the pew sitting in the church singing I shall not be moved.
Some people may think Pastor that sounds extreme (Pastor don't you think that you may be a little over the top?) Don't you think that you're making it too hard?
It's almost like you're saying it's either or
It's almost like you're saying there's no middle ground.
It’s almost like you’re saying if I let go of the plow I’m not fit for the Kingdom of heaven.
It's almost like you're saying get in or get out
It’s almost like you’re saying that the lukewarm are going to get spewed out or something like that.
Beloved I'm not the one who said it Jesus is.
*He said if you're not for me you're against me
*He said that if you're not gathering with me you’re scattering abroad.
*Finally he said: I would rather you be hot or cold so then because you are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth.
The world is full of celebrity fans of all different kinds but Jesus never called for fans he called for followers. He's called us to a Magnificent Obsession to be obsessed with him, to burn with holy Zeal and holy love and passion for him.
That's why we need the Holy Spirit so bad. (Only the Holy Spirit can really reveal Jesus to your heart) .
You remember when Jesus asked his disciples: Mt 16:13-17 whom do men say that I the son of man am? and they begin to answer) Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.) But whom do ye say that I am (then Peter all of a sudden with a flash from the glory world, said thou art the Christ the son of the Living God)
And Jesus answered him blessed art thou Simon bar-Jonah for flesh-and-blood hath not revealed this unto thee (no schooling no teaching no book learning) gave you this wisdom
This Revelation came from Heaven my Father in Heaven has revealed this unto thee. Jesus was saying this was a revelation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And only the Holy Spirit can put within us the same love the same Zeal the same compassion, the same love for the lost that Jesus has.
I hate to say it but in general the church has become institutionalized and sterilized and it's becoming colder and colder and colder and more and more formal and powerless all the time.
The Bible says: Mt 24: 12 Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
The church was never meant to be an institution. The church was always meant to be a fiery passionate living organism filled with the presence and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is to be his body in the earth: filled with the same Holy Spirit and power that filled Jesus life.
Let me go farther: If the world doesn’t see Jesus manifested in and through the church (they will never see him).
The world doesn’t need a history lesson on Jesus (The world needs to see in the church and through the church a vibrant demonstration and manifestation of a living savior that can save them, that can heal them that can deliver them and set them free.
They need to see Jesus lovers (Not just Jesus fans) They need to see us obsessed with Jesus and possessed by the Holy spirit, on fire with his Love, consumed by his passion.
I’m not embarrassed to tell you: I am obsessed with Jesus (He is my magnificent obsession) and I’m not ashamed to tell you that I am becoming possessed by the Holy Spirit.
He’s taking me over and I want it that way.
I don’t want to wait till I get to heaven to experience the glory and the power of God: I need it right here right now, I need it for myself and I need it to make a kingdom impact in this world.
(I need more than just his presence) as much as I love his presence, I need more than just the assurance that he is with me, and I need more than to just speak in tongues every once in a while, and I need more than just a church affiliation.
I need P O W E R. (Let me bring it Home where we live) We need POWER.
You need POWER
Power to cast out devils, Power to heal the sick, Power to set the captives free, Power to undo the works of the devil.
The Bible Says:
1Jn 3:8 For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him.
Jesus said: Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…
Lu 10:19 Behold I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Then Jesus said:
John14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And You might say to me: Pastor I’ve never really felt a real need for the power of The Holy Ghost in my life, I’m just satisfied to bask in his wonderful presence.
Well that may be fine for you: But what about that Young woman or that young boy who is contemplating suicide? What about that man who is bound by lust, and drugs and alcohol, or what about that young person who is so messed up in their psyche that they don’t know whether they’re a boy or a girl. And some of them are even going so far as to remove the body parts that distinguish them as either.
What I’m saying is this: His presence may be enough for you, but it’s not enough to deliver the homosexual or set the drug addict free, it’s not enough to open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears, (How many understand what I’m saying?
His Presence is for you
His Power is for broken, wounded, sick, hurting, bound, and oppressed humanity
I’m obsessed with Jesus because He not only gives me his wonderful glorious presence, (He also anoints me with his power). He not only wants to bless you, He wants to anoint you with his power and make you a blessing.
Come on and lift your hands and raise your voices and cry out for the Holy Spirit to come and manifest Jesus to you, ask him to make Jesus real to you.
Ask him to make Jesus your magnificent obsession.
He’ll do it (He’s obsessed with Jesus) He wants to reveal to you, that’s why he came.
Thank you HolySpirit
