I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Sept. 25, 2005 Various
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: It was the last weekend in June – the 29th to be exact – the year was 1977. The weeks duties were over and as the young man was sitting in his room – he was wishing that his pay check was here – but it wasn’t due until Monday. It had been a long time it seemed since he was able to get a hold of his drug of choice. Three weeks since anyone was able to get anything – must have been a big bust somewhere he thought. In his boredom he took out his Kansas album cover and began to read it. Soon looked for something else…
• Looked for Bible mom sent with him – picture of VW with big engine…
• Beginning of Matthew – began to read – flipping through – H. S. began to woo him – and draw him – cried out –“I’m so confused – help me!”
• Little did I know that He took that prayer seriously…
• He began to orchestrate events over the next week to bring that help.
Though I had prayed at 6 – I was a long way from God.
• Though that prayer meant very little to me beyond fire insurance – there were times I talked with God – “get me out of this and I’ll be good”
• Did I believe He was there to hear? – well yes and no… I sensed He was there but I had no idea what claim He desired on my life.
• After all I was just a kid – what could possibly want with me?
• But a growing awareness was beginning to take shape…
Two days later on July 1, company moved across base – in scramble I got into a room with a Christian.
• While putting things away – new room-mate Geoff Wood – small talk – asked – “What do you guys think about evolution?”
• Corby said “yea, makes sense to me!
• I said no – think we were created by God.
• Though not a Christian – I knew the plan – times when God would come to me – call to me – drawing me – I would resist “I’ll follow you later!”
• But it was different now…
At the age of 18 – I had been on my own since 14 – Seen a lot – done a lot.
• Knew that everything to that point had left me empty
• And God’s Spirit was drawing me again…
Geoff had several comic books – witness tracts – they cut to my heart…
• He invited me to Wednesday prayer meeting – went but left early
• Went for walk – talked to God – wondered what was going on
• Deep sense of hope welling up in me – could these things really be true?
• So true, I could abandon myself to Him and find truth and purpose?
• Slept that night pondering these things in my heart
Thursday – 4th of July, lot of partying – commotion – Lt. thrown from 2nd story window – arrests – rough neighborhood…
• That night a dream – massive wall couldn’t get around or over – woke up
• Thinking about dream and events of last night – wondered what the next 2½ years held in store for me…
• Spirit of Lord – “Steve, you can’t do this without me” – I believed Him.
Next morning – Friday July 5, 1977 - told Corby – “I think your going to start seeing some changes in me” – don’t remember what he said – didn’t really matter.
• Geoff had told me – Bible study that night with YWAM missionaries – I was going to go…
• That whole day – sensed God’s Spirit drawing me
JN. 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
• Already knew what I must do…
• That night – Geoff and I walked over to the basement of chapel – as everyone getting their coffee and seats – I snuck off – went upstairs to main sanctuary
• I knelt down – asked Christ for His forgiveness – gave my heart to Him.
• Like a light coming on – like a burden being lifted…
• Went back down – during testimony time – told them just gotten saved
• Everyone surprised – Geoff thought I was already believer…
The basic understanding was already in me – just needed to be invited
• That day everything changed for me – because everything in me began to change! – I knew that it must - and I gave myself to that process
• I threw myself into it – with a tremendous sense of importance, purpose, calling.
• I knew that this could not be simply something I attached to myself
• I knew that it was something that must consume me.
• That Christ must possess me – and transform me into a completely different person.
• Why? – Because I had decided to follow Jesus! – no turning back!
I have wondered over the years as a follower of Christ and now as a pastor – why is it that so many do not have this same sense of destiny – purpose and calling?
I have given myself to understand this – I have made it my life calling to compel others to follow Jesus Christ!
• Whether heart moved to implore unbelievers to believe.
• Or heart at times grieved to implore believers to believe.
• My heart many times weeps with the heart of God – when even His “children” do not desire to follow Him.
So over the next several weeks I’m going to be unburdening my heart - in an attempt to clearly articulate what it means to really follow Jesus Christ.
Do you know what it means to FOLLOW Jesus Christ?
• Do you really? – implications for your life? – implications for lives of others?
• If not – listen up!
• After this series you’re going to understand clearly what that means
• Warn you now – Satan doesn’t want you to grasp this!
• He will try to stop you – don’t let that happen!
• Pray - Father protect – draw us to complete understanding. – H. S. cause Word to go deep – fertile ground – growth – life change – transformation
My intention this morning is to cause you to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus.
We all know, right, that every decision we make has consequences? Some more significant than others. When I decided to follow Jesus – I knew that it was the single most important decision I would ever make!
• Wow, pastor – that’s a pretty intense statement – you sure?
• What about the choice of a wife? – Career? – schooling?
Yes! – more important than all those – because my decision to follow Jesus would effect all those other decisions.
• If your serious about following Jesus – you can’t just chose anyone to marry – you can’t just decide on your career or schooling without His input!
• Pastor – do you really believe that? – YES! – further more – Bible says
So if you want to be a follower of Jesus Christ you need to count the cost and understand the implications of that decision – and I just want to say that if you’re not willing to follow Jesus – don’t pretend to be His follower!
• You’re not fooling Him – and you’re wasting your time!
When that happened around Jesus – on several occasions he would take the opportunity to clarify what it meant to be His follower – and the result was that many would stop following Him…
Discourse on Bread of life…
JN 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" …
JN 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
JN 6:67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
JN 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Over the next several weeks I’m going to clarify to you what it means to be a real follower of Jesus Christ – and I want you to make the decision to follow Jesus Christ with your whole heart!
But if after this series - you will not follow Christ - I’m going to ask you to be honest enough with yourself to stop the charade!
• Stay home and stop pretending to be a follower of Jesus Christ if you are not.
• The church isn’t a place just to hang out because you like the people!
• If you are investigating the claims of Christ – I welcome you
• But at the end of this series you’ll know what it means – and you’ll need to make a decision
My hope and prayer is that you too will decide to follow Jesus.
So using my own story as a template – let me share with you 4 things I understood before I decided to follow Jesus.
1. I had a _choice_ to make.
Many wanted to follow until they understood the implications – the impact it would make on their life – as long as it meant a free lunch – or physical healing – great!
But when it meant embracing ideas that were upside down to what you’ve always thought was the right thing to do – where does that leave you?
A choice to make – will I choose to believe Jesus – and follow him with a change of my actions in compliance with his teaching?
Or will I say – this far and no further?! – that’s not following
• You’re already not following Him now
• If a follower – need to follow at every turn and intersection – choices
What is the big picture choice I have to make?
• Between 2 world views… 2 different kingdoms 2 different kings!
• What’s a worldview?
Our Worldview Is:
• The lens through which we view, evaluate and understand all reality.
• Filtering what we will accept about God, our self, our origin, our destiny
• Defining life, death, values, morals, goals and relationships.
• interpreting events, people, evidence and ideas;
• answering Life’s Great Questions;
Our Worldview Tells Us:
• What is Important; Real; Valuable;
• How things Began; How we Should Live; What is Right and Wrong;
• How to Solve Problems; Where we are Headed;
If going to follow Christ… 2 things…
A Worldview to Release.
EPH 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful naturen and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
• A worldview defined by the sin nature – past tence
COL 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
• Philosophies, traditions, principles of this world – in conflict with the worldview we are to embrace as followers of Christ.
A Worldview to Embrace…
RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritualn act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
• Renewing of your mind will renew your worldview
If you’re going to follow Jesus you understand that it means forsaking the very fabric of everything that used to define your world to you, and embracing instead the world view revealed by the Word of God.
If you think you can walk the fence and embrace both – you’re fooling yourself and you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ!
I had a choice to make and so do you – I have decided to follow Jesus.
2. I Had a Citizenship to Change.
PHIL 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
When I put my faith in Christ to follow Him – it was to follow Him out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
COL 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,n the forgiveness of sins.
When I decided to follow Jesus… what were the implications?
I had a family, a Kingdom, association with the world to leave.
JAS 4:4 …don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
• My love for the world and it’s ways had to come to an end.
• I had to turn my back on it.
• I’ve known many that – it meant they had to leave their families in order to follow Christ.
• If that’s what it takes – that’s what it takes!
• Following Jesus may mean to turn your back on your own family.
MATT 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mothern or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
I exchanged friendship with the world for membership in the Family of God.
• If it doesn’t happen – you’ll be corrupted by it – friend’s music…
I had a family, a Kingdom, to join.
EPH 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,
• 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."
• Discipleship fills our house with tools and encouragement for growth
• It takes time and effort on your part! – not automatic!
• It’s not some mystical thing only attainable by a few!
• Will not happen instantly if you find the right key.
• It is not a personal and private matter!
• It’s not just head knowledge about the Bible! - many things in combination
Process of…
• Head knowledge gnosis awkward
• Heart knowledge
• Experiential knowledge Epi-gnosis intuitive
That process must occur in the life of every believer – if it isn’t – you are not following Jesus!
Bow heads – Are you following Jesus this morning?
• Have you turned your back on the world? And its ways – worldview?
• Are you embracing the worldview revealed in Word? – made choice?
• Still allowing old friends and family to influence you?
• Have you connected with the family of God?
• Is your godly righteous life causing persecution? Or are you hiding?
• Are you a disciple? Learning and allowing to transform you?
Now that you understand more clearly – will you follow or fall away?
Those are your only real options…
I invite you today to follow Jesus.
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
September 25, 2005
1. I had a _______________ to make.
A worldview to ____________________.
A worldview to ____________________.
2. I had a ___________________ to change.
I had a _________________ to leave.
I had a family to ________________.
3. I had ______________________ to face
4. I had a _____________ to learn.
