Real Followers are Spirit led, Acts 20:22-24
Eric A. Snyder, Minister, Farwell Church of Christ
January 20, 2002
Being a Spirit led follower means carrying a cross not climbing ladders
It has been argued that we live in the most prosperous country in the history of the world. As Americans we consume 78% of the worlds resources. We have become a society that aquires, consumes and wastes. We are continually trying to do something more grand than the last time. I remember when Intel announced its Pentium chip, next was pentium2 then 3 then 4 and the cycle keeps growing. We live in a world that doubles in knowledge every 18 months. We have to always improve.
It’s our nature to try to do better. I am one of those people who can’t wait to see what’s next, What will palm or Intel come up with next. I absolutely love innovation and making things better. Although the same
Mindset for innovation tends to be the same mindset with which Americans live their lives.
Because of the way that we view progress we view our lives the same way. How much did you make last year? Wouldn’t you like to make more this year? What kind of car are you driving? Do you have your next one picked out already? Perhaps you have your eye on a promotion at work. A Bigger house. As Americans we tend to be ladder climbers. We want a better job, more money, a nicer car, and a bigger house.
You say those things are natural. Well they may be, but they could also have the potential to keep us from a more meaningful walk with Jesus.
Just because something is natural, doesn’t make it right.
Now I want you to hear me because I don’t want anyone to get confused and angry. So don’t quit your job today or demand to go back to an entry level position. What I am saying is check out where your focus is.
Promotions come to those who work hard and deserve them, better financial positions come through competence and hopefully you will be blessed in that way.
However if you are motivated by getting to the next rung of the ladder, or by keeping up with the neighbors then it’s time for a vision test.
Are you working so much that you have neglected God?
Are you being completely ethical in your possibilities of a promotion?
Are you undercutting someone else’s chances to succeed in the business?
Real followers carry crosses instead of climbing ladders.
Real followers are Spirit led over success driven.
In the eyes of the world Jesus died a failure. A flop at 33. Sentenced to death by his own proclamation that he was the Messiah. And to those who expected a Messiah to bring an end of Roman oppression this man was a poor pathetic failure.
But Real followers know better.
The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
The Jesus we serve did not call us to be successful. In fact he said “If you follow me, you might just be regarded as a failure because you follow me.” He suggested that foxes have holes and the birds have nests but if you follow him, you just might not have a place to live.
How many times have you heard a story about the young man who goes to his guidance counselor and says “I want to go to school to become a minister, or a Christian music major? The guidance counselor then tells the student that to make a move like that would be the equivalent of throwing their life away.
So many times when a young brilliant person decides to give their life to Jesus the friends have a funeral. Have you ever experienced that? You finally realized that Jesus is what makes life worth living, and your friends throw you a farewell party. And while you’re standing right there they are saying things like “She was so young, she had her whole life ahead of her” or “It’s such a shame he had a very good career and things were only getting better”
The truth is there is an obvious difference between being a follower of Jesus and following the crowd.
I simple fact is that people value one over the other, but then again, so does Jesus. The one who said: If you acknowledge me with your life I will acknowledge you and give you real life”
While on a trip to Switzerland, an America businessman was watching a Swiss clock maker carving the case of an ornate cuckoo clock. As the businessman watched the clock maker carve out the case, he was astounded at his slow rate of progress. The businessman finally said, “My good man, you’ll never make much money that way.” “Sir,” the clock maker replied, “I’m not making money, I’m making cuckoo clocks.”
Jesus isn’t in the business of making a stronger portfolio. He’s in the business of making followers.
Jesus knows a life that has been thrown away. He distinguishes it from the life of Real followers, He knows the difference.
And Real Followers know the difference too.
Acts 20:22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
1. Spirit Led people know they are never alone
The Spirit is a personality
The bible tells us that at times Jesus was alone, But it never says he was lonely. The road for a follower of Jesus is a road that can be lonely at times.
For those who are true committed followers of Jesus we believe his promise to “remain with us till the end of the age. The Holy Spirit is a person that lives in the heart of the Real follower.
He provider companionship, and guidance. Some confuse their own conscience with the words of the Spirit.
I imaging that could have happened to Paul here. All of his friends begged him not to go. They pleaded with them that he should not go. These were Christian people telling him that he should not do what God had called him to do.
I imagine if He was not tuned into the voice of God in his life he could have very well listened to his well meaning Christian friends.
Has there been anything that you have been asked to do and didn’t get around to doing it? What happened then?
Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish what God is asking us to do. But if we listen we will eventually hear the answer. The difficult thing is that God does not ask us what is easy or what we want. He asks us to follow through on what he knows is best. So how good are you at hearing God?
A Man went to his doctor saying that he thought his wife was deaf but did not want to upset her by asking direct, what could he do?
The doctor said, "Go into the room and, if his wife had her back to him, just say something in a normal voice and move forward saying the same thing until she hears".
The man went home and, finding his wife at the kitchen sink with her back to him said, "What’s for dinner dear?".
No reply, so he moved forward and repeated, "What’s for dinner dear?". Still no reply.
So he Moved closer and again says "What’s for dinner dear?". Still no acknowledgment.
He then positions himself just a foot behind her and again says "What’s for dinner dear?".
She answers, "For the fourth time, tuna casserole!".
One thing that I really hope you are doing is considering what God is saying about the future of this church. The leaders here believe we have heard God’s voice to add staff. We pray that you are listening for His voice on that decision. Because it’s going to require hard work, commitment and sacrifice.
Paul counted the cost, He knew that following God meant Hard work, commitment and sacrifice. That’s the difference.
Real followers Allow themselves to be led by the Spirit.
The danger is if you don’t use the Spirit it’s voice fades into the background until you set it on the storage shelf and it never gets used anymore.
A fellow who had been reared in the city bought a farm and several milk cows. In the feed store one day he complained his best cow had gone dry. "Aren’t you feeding her right?" asked the store owner. "I’m feeding her what you’ve been selling me," said the man. "Are you milking her every day?" "Just about. If I need six or eight ounces of milk for breakfast, I go out and get it - I just let her save it up." The feed store owner had to explain it doesn’t work that way. With cow’s milk, like God’s presence, you take all that’s there, or you eventually have nothing.
God gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could hear his voice and find comfort in his companionship. He is there as our guide. But we have to grow accustomed to His voice
2. Spirit Led people accept challenge
Responsibility
When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn’t know she was in line for the throne of England. Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn’t motivate her. She just didn’t take her studies seriously. Finally, her teachers decided to tell her that one day she would become the queen of England. Upon hearing this, Victoria quietly said, "Then I will be good." The realization that she had inherited this high calling gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly affected her conduct from then on.
I can almost Guarantee that Paul didn’t like the idea of dying for his relationship with Jesus. But that’s where the call of God asked him to go.
How painful it must have been to know about all of the hardships. Persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and ultimately death
What challenges is the Spirit asking you to accept?
Is he asking you to be more involved in the church?
Perhaps you need to hear his call to accept a position of leadership.
Is he telling you to embrace someone that you would have shunned before? Is he asking you to make amends for hurt feelings from 20 years ago?
Is he telling you to practice Christian morals at work.
Has he Challenged you to share your faith more openly?
Perhaps he has moved you to make a couple of hospital visits or call a couple of old friends that you know are hurting right now.
He might be asking that you will find a way to be more involved here
Is he calling you to accept change in the church ministry programs or method of ministry? Will you accept the call to let the Spirit lead you?
What is it that the Spirit is asking you to do? Where does he want you to go? With everything Paul went through doesn’t that inspire you to Listen to the Spirit?
Does it make you ready to accept the Challenges, Changes and Responsibilities.
Paul knew that casual faith was not worth it. He had to do something to make his life count. It only counts with Jesus. It only counts when we stop listening to all the voices around us and tune into the Spirit of God.
3. Spirit Led people keep life in perspective
The American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while." The American then asked why he didn’t stay out and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I play guitar with my friends, I have a full and busy life."
"I have a Harvard MBA and I could help you." You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But senior, how long will all this take?"
To which the American replied, " 15 to 20 years."
"But then what?"
The American laughed and said that’s the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions? Then what?"
The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll into the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
Spirit Led followers know what’s important in life
To keep life in perspective we need to learn to choose God things over good things.
There are a number of good things that could be done in our world nut if God is not asking you to do them then leave them for something else. You need to concentrate on what God is asking you to do.
You say how will I know what those things are?
One formula that works is to try the 1 year rule.
Ask yourself “if I knew that I only had a year left to live what would I do”
What church things would I be involved in. What would I do to have a better relationship with Jesus. Ask yourself how much time you would spend with your family. What things would you decide are good to do but are not for you?
Signal Ellen.
If you need to make a decision to give it to Jesus
If you wan to become a real follower
Perhaps you need to start listening to the Spirit in your life and allow him to lead you. If you do we invite you to come.
