To Follow Jesus!!

“Follow” to get behind; to get in back of; to be in the same way; going in the same way; signifying a likeness, companion or union. 

To follow someone means not taking the initiative, not suggesting a certain path and not challenging the direction you’re going.  My Way or the Highway!!!

1.  To follow Jesus means reaching out to people!

NIV Matthew 4:19

 19.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 

2.  To follow Jesus means discarding dead ways.

NIV Matthew 8:22

 22.  But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

3.  To follow Jesus means not hesitating.

NIV Matthew 9:9

 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.

NIV John 1:43

 43.  The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

4.  To follow Jesus means to deny yourself.

NIV Matthew 16:24

 24.  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

5.  To follow Jesus means to let go of materialism.

NIV Matthew 19:21

 21.  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

6.  To follow Jesus means to listen.

NIV John 10:27

 27.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

7.To follow Jesus means to sacrificially serve Him.

NIV John 12:25-26

 26.  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  

Service means sacrifice!!! 

     “By the death of personal desire and personal ambition a man becomes a servant of God.  Only by spending your life do you keep it!!” 

LOYALTY is what Jesus is talking about!!!

     “We have only to think of what this world would have lost if there had not been men prepared to forget their personal safety, security, selfish gain and selfish advancement. The world owes everything to people who recklessly spent their strength and gave themselves to God and to others. No doubt we will exist longer if we take things easily, if we avoid all strain, if we sit at the fire and husband life, if we look after ourselves as a hypochondriac looks after his health. No doubt we will exist longer--but we will never live.”

Playing it safe is not a part of being a follower!

(tell the lion story)

Being a follower is risky business!  It means loyal service to our Master no matter what He asks or where He leads!!

8.  To follow Jesus means to follow Him without getting distracted by other things or other people!

NIV John 21:15-22

 19.  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

 21.  When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

 22.  Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

     “Let a man serve Christ where Christ has set him. As Jesus said to Peter: "Never mind the task that is given to someone else. Your job is to follow me." That is what he still says to each one of us. Our glory is never in comparison with other men; our glory is the service of Christ in whatever capacity he has allotted to us.”

How many times have we said to Jesus “Lord what about him or her?”  All the time thinking we’re the ones making all the sacrifices and doing all the work!!  We allow others to distract us from following Jesus.  It is our vanity, our envy, our jealousy, our anger, and our frustration with other people that cause us to get off track.