To Be Where Jesus Is, We MUST Follow Him

Follow Me - Jesus calls Follow Me - Jesus calls

Belief more than just an intellectual acceptance ; a commitment.

Jesus’ Call To be where Jesus is, we MUST follow Him

Fan or Follower - Nicodemus

I’ll Follow…But First Let ME…

Forsaken All

Waiting - Etched by God

Flood light

Reflect Christ

Lord, whose Side Are You On - Joshua

God’s purpose for calling us to follow Christ

Jesus our example

Quench Not the Spirit

Deny yourself / Take up your cross

Holy living Follow Me - Jesus calls SAVIOR AND LORD Believe and Follow

Belief can be without contact Mat 7:20-24 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. To follow you must stay in constant contact with the one you are following…

 Belief without following is to be a spectator; a fan  Following without belief is simple curiosity; entertainment  Belief that results in following is discipleship

Mat 28:19-20 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Faith – Confidence in God - comes after belief and is the result of following Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Follow Me - Jesus calls Joh 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit [heart and motive] and truth.[action and word]" Belief is more than just an intellectual acceptance or a heartfelt verbal acknowledgment; it is a commitment to follow.

We define belief as the acceptance of something as real or true. 'Following' by definition requires more than mental assent, it calls for movement.

One of the reasons our churches become fan factories is that we have separated the message of "believe" from the message "follow." Separate the two messages and they get out of balance.

Following is not more important than believing; the two are firmly connected. They are the heart and lungs of faith. One can't live without the other. If you try and separate the message of follow from the message of believe, belief dies in the process.

HAVE YOU MADE A DECISION FOR JESUS OR HAVE YOU COMMITTED TO JESUS?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN HIM?

'Following' is more than a decision, Belief is to accept a thing as being True Following requires that we walk in the Truth that we claim to believe.

Many fans of Jesus have made a decision to believe in Jesus without making a commitment to follow Jesus. The gospel allows for no such distinction.

Many fans have repeated a prayer or raised their hand or walked forward at the end of a sermon and made a decision to believe, but there was never a commitment to follow. Truth is that I won’t follow Him unless I believe in Him But, if I don’t follow Him, then I don’t really believe in Him. Follow Me - Jesus calls Jesus never offered us the option of believing yet not following.. Believing ‘saves’ us from God’s wrath through Jesus’ death Following allows us to walk with Him in new life and power. Jesus never said believing would establish personal intimate relationship with Him. He is looking for more than words of belief; He's looking to see how those words are lived out in your life.

Jesus expects us to follow Him, go where He leads, mimic / pattern our words and deeds after Him.

When we decide to believe in Jesus without making a commitment to follow him, we become nothing more than fans – Jesus admirers. Words emotionally expressed and publicly declared mean little if they are not validated by faithful commitment.

Following necessitates doing. Saying (believing) and doing (following) are both required.

Rom 12:1-2 present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Joh_10:4 When he has driven out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. :5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

For it is not merely those who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s sight. No, it is those who follow the Law, who will be justified. Follow Me - Jesus calls Jesus’ Call…

Jesus says "Believe in me" about 5 times. Jesus said "Follow me" about 20 times.

John’s 2 disciples – (John and ???) Joh 1:35-39 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Peter and Andrew Mat_4:19 (Mar_1:17) “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fishers of men!”

Philip and Nathaniel Joh_1:43 The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, “Follow me.”

Matthew Mat_9:9 (Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32) As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s desk and told him, “Follow me.” So he got up and followed him.

You and me Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Joh_12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. Follow Me - Jesus calls Follow Me - Jesus calls To be where Jesus is, we MUST follow Him

Luk 9:20-27 (20) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." (21) And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, (22) saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." The disciples knew and acknowledged who Jesus was -

Jesus goes on warning them that knowing that was not good enough. Luk 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Mat_16:24 Mar_8:34

Jesus was telling them about His cross and suddenly He's talking about their cross?

WHO'S CROSS IS IT THAT WE ARE TO TAKE UP DAILY?? Not His - He did that. No it's our cross!

WHO GETS CRUCIFIED ON OUR CROSS? It's not others. It's us!

We have to take up our cross carry it around with us and crucify ourselves on it daily. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. As soon as our old ways, old wants, and desires push into our view As soon as our old self rears its ugly head demanding our time and attention We MUST nail our old life, our old self to that cross and get on with our new life in Christ - following Him.

Luk 9:24 For profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Follow Me - Jesus calls The person who decides NOT to follow Jesus will lose everything in the end. Being changed / transformed into new men and women in Christ requires radical changes in how we live and think--and how we treat others. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God has repeatedly called to each one of us to answer His voice and let him establish us, lead us, and guide us – step by step Many of us have heard His call and responded. Many of us have not responded but know that we need to do so. • For many of us - we haven’t been able to recognize His voice • For others we just ignore it and hope it will go away • Some of know full well who is calling and what He wants but fear stops us from responding

Following Him is the only way that we can approach God or reach Him without being condemned. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Those of us who have  acknowledged our sin and unworthiness (Confessing our SinS),  accepting Jesus sacrifice on our behalf (Confessing Jesus is Lord), Follow Me - Jesus calls need to recognize that our relationship with the Lord is not complete until we are living for Him. (Following Him)

Joh_12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

If you believe that I know best way to get where you want to go, you should follow me. (Avoiding road construction, backups, delays, etc.)

 CAN YOU FOLLOW ME IF YOU ARE IN FRONT?

 ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME IF YOU A TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT, STARTING AND STOPPING WHENEVER YOU CHOOSE.

 CAN YOU FOLLOW ME IF YOU LOSE SIGHT OF ME BECAUSE YOU ARE BUSY TAKING IN THE VIEWS?

 CAN YOU FOLLOW ME IF YOU DON'T SLOW DOWN WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP WHEN I SPEED UP?

 WILL YOU FOLLOW ME IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER GOAL, ANOTHER DESTINATION IN YOUR PLANS?

 WILL YOU FOLLOW ME IN THE FIRST PLACE IF YOU DO NOT TRUST ME?

DO YOU CLAIM THAT JESUS IS YOUR LORD?

DO YOU SERVE HIM?, TRUST HIM?, FOLLOW HIM?...

DOES YOUR LIFE PROVE IT? HOW?

WHAT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIVING DEMONSTRATES YOU ARE A FOLLOWER, NOT JUST A BELIEVER?

It is not about what you don’t do! It is all about what you do and why and how you do it !! Follow Me - Jesus calls Luk 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Follow Me - Jesus calls Fan or Follower John 3 - Nicodemus You see what Jesus said, You’ve read it, You’ve heard it preached and taught But, It's not knowing what He said but doing what He said that matters - It's Following Him that matters. Nicodemus had to choose between religion and a relationship with Jesus. There was no way for him to truly become a follower of Jesus without losing his religion. Fans are happy to follow Jesus as long as that doesn't require any significant changes or have negative implications. But, there is no way to follow Jesus without him interfering with your life. Believing in Jesus will cost you little. Following Jesus always costs much.

HAS FOLLOWING JESUS COST YOU ANYTHING?

TAKE A MOMENT AND JOT DOWN WHAT FOLLOWING JESUS HAS COST YOU.

HOW HAS FOLLOWING JESUS INTERFERED WITH YOUR LIFE?

• Most of us don't mind Jesus making some minor changes, small adjustments to our lives but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down. • Fans don't mind him doing a little touch-up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation. • Fans come to Jesus thinking tuneup, but Jesus is thinking overhaul. • Fans think a little makeup is fine, but Jesus is thinking makeover. • Fans think a little decorating is required, but Jesus wants a complete remodel. Follow Me - Jesus calls • Fans want Jesus to inspire them, but Jesus wants to interfere with their lives.

You can’t live like the world and be a follower of Jesus. You must be new, different, salt and light. You must reflect Christ in everything you do!

Nicodemus had made a decision about Jesus, but that's not the same as following him. Jesus would not accept a relationship with Nicodemus where he simply believed; Jesus wanted Nicodemus to follow. Jesus didn't just want Nicodemus just at night in private Jesus wanted Nicodemus 24x7, day and night, privat and publically.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO FOLLOW JESUS?

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO JESUS?

THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DID YESTERDAY?

THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU PLAN TO DO TODAY?

HOW DOES FOLLOWING JESUS MAKE THEM LOOK AND SOUND DIFFERENT THAN JUST DOING THEM?

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not be linked together with the un-Godly nor come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 2Co 6:15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Follow Me - Jesus calls The Would-be Followers of Jesus: I’ll follow – but…

ISRAEL: All that the LORD has spoken we will do Exo 19:7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

I’ll follow but I don’t want to rough it…Don’t want to give up my prestige / position Mat 8:19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Mat 8:20 Jesus *said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Luk 9:57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

I’ll follow but family first… Luk_9:59 ¶ He told another man, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, [Other mss. lack Lord] first let me go and bury my father.” Luk 9:60 [Mat_8:22] Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." You see it's not that this guys father had died....yet... What he was saying was, "Lord I'll follow you but there are some things I want to do with my life before I commit to giving you my full attention. Maybe when I've finished this project or that task or Perhaps after when my kids have moved out or When my parents have passed. Maybe after I've retired and my wife and I have had that trip and we've rested up from it. Follow Me - Jesus calls Then I'll be free to follow you with no distractions, 100% committed to you...

Mat_19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Mat_10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Don't wait for a better more convenient time - there is none. .

I’ll follow but let me look back to say Goodbye… Luk 9:61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." Lord, I'll follow you but it will be a shock to my friends and family. Let me prepare them for my departing Let me put my affairs in order then I'll commit to you 100% without reservation or hesitation. Luk 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." No one who follows me can ever look back.

I’ll follow but not if I have to give up my stuff… Mat_19:21 Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler ¶ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money [The Gk. lacks the money] to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” Mar_10:21 ¶ Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, “You’re missing one thing. Go and sell everything you own, give the money [The Gk. lacks the money] to the Follow Me - Jesus calls destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” Luk_18:22 ¶ When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money [The Gk. lacks the money] to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” Mat_19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

I cannot follow Him while I hold on to my old motives, priorities an plans. Mat_6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luk_16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Luk_16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luk_16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

WHAT THING TAKES UP THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION?

WHAT CONSUMES YOUR HOURS AND ENERGY? If you follow Jesus, He does. It is either His way or my way – I cannot have it both ways...

Gal_6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Follow Me - Jesus calls 2Co_9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Want to test where your heart is? Hold a garage sale! Put your stuff - not your kid's stuff or your spouse's stuff, but your stuff - up for sale. Watch the battle rage in you as you decide what to keep or how much to charge for it! How do you justify your choices? God is far less interested in what you give rid of than what you are not willing to let go of?

Where your treasure is located? The Lord is more interested on what you keep, what you hold onto – what you hold back in reserve - than what you get rid of... Mat 6:19-24 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Mat 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Remember Jesus response to the Widow's offering? Mar 12:43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, Follow Me - Jesus calls "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Luk 21:3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

Jesus demands that we have: No reserve No retreat No regrets

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOUR NAME SINCE YOU WERE SAVED/BORN AGAIN?

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU RECOGNIZED HIS CALL TO FOLLOW?

WHAT HAVE YOU LIFTED UP ABOVE HIM IN YOUR LIFE?

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Follow Me - Jesus calls Follow Me - Jesus calls

“ WE HAVE FORSAKEN ALL” Again, “brokenness and yielding all” comes to mind in Matthew 19 when Jesus tells His disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom from Heaven. He says “...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matt 19:24) The disciples were floored by His answer and asked Him, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responds, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Peter then says to the Lord: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19:27) Jesus answers, “Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed Me, in the regeneration [re-birth] when the Son of man shall sit on the Throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:28–29)

The word follow (Strong’s #190, akoloutheo) in verse 27 means “union, or in the same way or in the same likeness.” Those that “follow Him” here in this life will be the ones who will be blessed to receive a hundredfold in the coming kingdom.

The word forsaken (Strong’s #863, aphiemi) in the same verse means “to lay aside, to yield up, to let go or to give up.” Jesus does not mean we are to lay aside, yield and give up everything we own, our houses, brethren, fathers and mothers. Follow Me - Jesus calls He’s not talking about our possessions or our families here. He’s talking about our own desires, our own will, and our own plans—things that often stand in the way of God’s leading. Jesus is saying that anything that is more important to us than His will, needs to be laid aside and dealt with. God’s will needs to be first in our lives. Luke 14:26–27 If any man come to Me, and hate not [is willing to set aside] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 19:30 concludes with these words: “Many that are first [here in this life time] shall be last [in the next life]; and the last [here] shall be first [there].” Jesus is reiterating that in order to live the abundant Life, we must be willing to surrender anything and everything that stands in the way of God’s Spirit working freely through us. Then, and only then, will we inherit blessings in the coming future kingdom. As Matthew 16:24 says, we are to “deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Him.” Then, He says, we will be blessed to sit with Him on His throne in the coming Millennium.

Scripture tells us that these “last days” just before Christ returns will be especially difficult because “men will be lovers of themselves” . . . they will be “boastful, proud, and unholy.” (2 Timothy 3:2) They will not serve God for His will to be done, but rather for their own needs to be met, for their own benefit and for their own glory Mat 7:21-22 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Follow Me - Jesus calls 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

Unless we continually let God’s Spirit freely point out our own sin and self, the truth we possess in our heads will remain just a “theory.” We won’t be able to genuinely pass along God’s Life (His Love, His wisdom, etc.). We can only give out what we, ourselves, possess.

We need to be like Moses in Hebrews 11:27 “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

If the Spirit is truly the master of the body, then God’s power is always with us, no matter what is occurring in our lives. The enemy, of course, wants to kill us with all the things that happen in our lives, but God wants to use our circumstances, no matter how difficult they are, for His glory.

God can and does and will use everything in our lives for His glory if we let Him have our lives. Follow Me - Jesus calls Follow Me - Jesus calls Waiting on The Lord – Etched by God The central purpose of the Christian life is to be totally surrendered to the Lord so that His Spirit of power can direct our lives and we can reflect Him. God’s power freely working through us is what will make us those overcomers who will inherit His coming kingdom. God promises to “give power to the faint and to them that have no might He will increase their strength.” (Isa 40:29) In other words, if we are open and yielded (“weak”), God will pour His Spirit of power through us. Isaiah 40:31 …“those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.” The word wait (Strong’s #2442) in this Scripture is a very interesting word. It not only means “to abide and adhere to over time,” It also means “to pierce, to carve or etch an image into.” 'châkâh khaw-kaw חכה H2442 A primitive root (apparently akin to H2707 through the idea of piercing); properly to adhere to; hence to await: - long, tarry, wait. What this is saying is that only those who “wait” (have God’s image “carved or etched into them) upon the Lord, will be able to renew their strength. Isaiah 64:4 carries this meaning a little further: For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. The enemy wants to kill us with all the things that happen in our lives, but God wants to use our circumstances, no matter how difficult they are, for His glory.

HOW DID YOU COME TO JESUS? Follow Me - Jesus calls WAS IT MORE OF A SALES PITCH (GET OUT OF HELL FREE) THAN A CALL TO ALL IN, FULL TIME, COMPLETE COMMITMENT TO JESUS AS LORD?

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF COMING TO JESUS THAT WAY?

WOULD YOU SAY THAT MOST CHRISTIANS ARE SOLD OUT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW? HOW CAN YOU TELL? HOW DOES THAT PERCEPTION CHANGE YOUR OWN WALK WITH THE LORD?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AROUND SOMEONE WHO WAS CHANGED BY HIS COMMITMENT TO THE LORD?

HOW DID IT IMPACT/AFFECT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MEANT BY "FOLLOWING IS NOT TRYING EVERYDAY...FOLLOWING IS DYING EVERY DAY...?

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF TAKING UP OUR CROSS DAILY AND DYING EVERY DAY?

2 Co 6:2 says now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation. Heb 3:15 Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

You and I can only give God today - right now - this moment.

ARE YOU HITTING THE SNOOZE BUTTON ON GOD'S ALARM CLOCK? DELAYING HIS WAKE-UP CALL, HIS CALL THE GET UP AND GO? WHY ???

WHO ARE YOU REALLY FOLLOWING / SERVING?

WHAT IS REALLY YOUR LORD AND MASTER? Follow Me - Jesus calls Floodlight Ministry – (Reflecting Christ) When floodlighting is well done, the floodlights are so placed that you do not see them; You are not supposed to see them; What you are meant to see is just the building on which the floodlights are trained. The intended effect is To make it visible when otherwise it would not be seen for the darkness, To maximize its dignity by throwing all its details into relief so that you see it properly. Reflect Jesus, Let His Glory Shine and bounce off you illuminating you so others can see His light on you It is as if the Spirit within us, throwing Christ’s light all over us, John’s Epistles are all about this…

We are to see and stay focused on, looking to Jesus. His glory shines on us and is reflected by our lives, our words, and deeds so that when others see us they see Him – His glory reflected in and on us.

Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Joh 16:13-15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Unfortunately, glorifying God doesn’t happen automatically. Follow Me - Jesus calls Because we are born again and have God’s Spirit dwelling with us and in us, doesn’t assure us of always walking in the Spirit, reflecting Him.

Like experiencing His Love in our lives, the ability to glorify God involves a constant choice: Whether to reflect His Life or to glorify self. Psa 115:1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Jn 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Jn 12:49-50 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Rev. 18:7 How much she [the false church – religion] hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

The choice that is always before us: Exo 32:26-29 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Jer 9:23-24 “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

Throughout the New Testament we are commanded – Follow Me - Jesus calls  To let certain things have rule and to reject and not let many other things control or influence us  To put on and put off  To be renewed, to take captive, to etc., etc. These are things we must do or not do – choices we must make

When we choose to adhere to and follow what we want, feel and think versus what God has told us to do, we’ll quench His Spirit [1Th 5:19] in us and thus show our own image rather than His.

1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient [consistent] toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. [teachings; God’s message] 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

Tit 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

Tit 2:7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,

Tit 2:11-13 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, Follow Me - Jesus calls righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

1Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col 3:23-25 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Pro 3:5-7 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Rom 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Follow Me - Jesus calls What does it means to reflect Christ — to bear His Image — in all we do. Literally it is to let His light – His glory – cast our shadow. The shadow’s image is caused by the light – to exist it must follow the light that causes the shadow to be cast. It stands between the world on which the shadow falls and the light which creates the shadow in the first place. For a clear shadow to be cast it must follow and stay in the light that creates it.

Jesus called every one of us to FOLLOW Him – not to LEAD Him. We do not lead – we do not dictate or hold onto our lives. We follow the light of God. We lose our lives…to live His life – His plans and His purposes…

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. We must learn how to follow His Spirit’s leading,  be cleansed by His Spirit,  filled with His Spirit and  then walk by – to follow - His Spirit, so that we can show forth His likeness to the world, not our own. Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Jesus does not want us to make room of Him – He wants all of us. He wants us to obey His leading and Follow Him.

Pro 3:6-8 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Follow Me - Jesus calls Joh 10:24-30 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Jesus left us with a Great Commission - It’s the reason Christians are still on the earth. Matt 28:1820 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (NKJ) It’s for this purpose we work and learn and come together and go out.

John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. (NKJ) Do not be confused - we do not do what we do to earn God’s love. We do it because we have God’s love and we love Him in return. I don’t live like I do to be a Christian - I live like I do because I am a Christian. John 14:24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. (NKJ) Being forgiven is free - God has already provided it - I only need to acknowledge my need of it and accept it. Living victoriously - Having a Hope that nothing can touch Follow Me - Jesus calls Living daily, walking through life continuously guided and directed by God is another matter.  I must be willing to allow Him to live through me - to change me  I must be willing to give Him every one of my ‘right nows’  I must be willing to do the outrageous when He demands it  I must be willing to sit quietly and do nothing when He directs it I can’t do this alone - But he will help me and if I’m willing to answer when he calls, He will use me and establish me - and great things far above anything I can imagine for myself become possible. Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJ)Today he calls you - to be forgiven

Today he calls you - to new life – but it is a life He expects you to live All you need to do is answer the call and tell Him your His man or woman. Isa 6:19a 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. Follow Me - Jesus calls 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people: (NKJ) And God gave Him the message

Jesus gave us a task and a message Will you answer - Here am I, send me?

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Follow Me - Jesus calls Lord! Whose Side Are You On – Neither Jos 5:13-15 The defeat of Jericho 13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" What he was doing there?  On a reconnaissance mission?  Studying the city walls?  Trying to come up with a plan of attack?  Looking for weak points? Whatever, Joshua looks up and sees a man in front of him holding a drawn sword. His battle instincts triggered, Joshua walks forward with a challenge: “Are you for us or our enemies?”

Jos 5:14 He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" The man answers? “No, I have now come as commander of the army of the Lord.” NO!! Neither for us nor our enemies? What a reply! From Joshua’s point of view: “This man is either for me or against me.” But “neither”?? How does that work? It blew his friend-or-foe categories out of the water. This was not just a man but God who was in front of Joshua — and God isn’t bound by our “option A or option B” thinking.

Jos 5:15 The captain of the LORD'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you Follow Me - Jesus calls are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.Joshua is “near the city”— a risky place for an enemy commander to be. “Take off your shoes,” Joshua hears, “for the place where you are standing is holy.” Soon Joshua is standing barefoot in the middle of holiness as God outlines His battle plan.

Joshua’s story reminds me that God may be replying to my “This or that? questions with, “Neither.” It's not about Him approving following my plans. It's about me submitting and following Him and His plans. Just maybe, He would like me to recognize His presence, take off my shoes, and stand still for a while recognizing we're on holy ground letting Him outline a perspective and a plan I’d never have considered otherwise. Follow Me - Jesus calls God’s purpose for calling us to follow Christ. If more of us would learn to glorify God in our actions, there would be a spiritual revival like we couldn’t believe. Everyone would want what we have!

Glorify:Hebrew, kabod; Greek, it is doxazo. Glory means to shine, to demonstrate and to manifest the divine. (Exodus 16:7; 24:16) Glory represents the Lord’s presence.

Throughout Biblical history, God manifested Himself in the Shekinah Glory He was shown forth in the Pillar of cloud and fire that traveled with God’s people and that rested on Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 24:15-18)

That cloud / fire of His glory filled the tabernacle in the wilderness. Exodus 40:34-35: “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” Often the Shekinah Glory would come at the hour of sacrifice. (See Leviticus 9:6, 23.)

Solomon’s temple was another anointed place where God’s glory permanently dwelt. (See 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3) His glory could be seen emanating from the temple for miles around.

God’s glory could be seen through some of the Old Testament prophets’ visions (Ezekiel 1:28; Isaiah 40:4-5),

Through Stephen in the New Testament (Acts 7:55), and

Through storms and other displays of God’s character. (Psalms 19:1-6; 57:11; 96:3; Isaiah 2:10)

God’s glory is something we will all see when Christ returns. (1 Peter 2:12) Follow Me - Jesus calls To glorify also means to reflect, to show forth, to demonstrate and to express the image of an object or person that it may be seen by all. It means to add something to your character that it, in itself, does not have.

In the New Testament doxazo can mean to signify, extol and ascribe honor to. (John 11:4; 12:16, 23; 13:31; Matthew 5:16; 9:8; 15:31; Romans 15:6, 9; Galatians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:16) It is most often used of an external manifestation; something others can see…

To glorify God means to bring Christ’s innate glory or radiance to light, to manifest it or to reflect it. (John 17:1) Joh 17:1-8 1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. God’s glory is the tool that conveys and reveals the true presence of God in us.. In us, glory means to possession the character, beauty and majesty that are the Lord’s own. Follow Me - Jesus calls It means to show an exact representation of His being; reflecting His presence, His essence, His Life and His Name. For me to glorify God I must show all that God is in my life…. It’s showing His Self and not myself. It’s His glory ignited to light in us. To glorify God is to reflect Him in the way we live and respond to life’s situations and circumstances, so that others can visibly see that He is and His Word is true. Follow Me - Jesus calls Follow Me - Jesus calls Jesus is Our Example Jesus glorified God and God’s glory was fully present in Jesus. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. At one point when Jesus was talking about His soon coming death and resurrection, He made some telling comments about what ig takes to reflect God’s presence for the world to see: Joh 12:25-32 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. John 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. He is the manifestation of divine glory He is the express image of God the Father. He is the “King of Glory.” Hebrews 1:1-4: “God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who, being the brightness of His glory, and the Follow Me - Jesus calls express image of His person, and up-holding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” During Christ’s lifetime, He manifested the Father’s image perfectly; Jesus shows us the Father – He lived and reflected the Father in all He said and did…  whether sharing the Father’s Love to the Samaritan woman at the well  and His compassion to the children He taught,  or His Godly exhortation to His disciples  or His rebuke to the Pharisees.

In everything and in whatever Christ did, He glorified the Father. John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

And this is the exact mission and purpose that Christ has for us. Rom 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

We are to glorify Him in all that we do. John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Psalm 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Follow Me - Jesus calls 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Psalm 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Rom 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. We must always keep in mind that “self-image” will  never bring anyone to the Lord,  never restore any relationships and  never heal any marriages in spite of what the World says about us and our self image. It’s like we are on one end of a see-saw and our Lord and God is on the other end. When we are lifted up, He is lowered. If we are to lift Him up, we must lower ourselves. Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

We do not draw men to Christ, He does John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Even Jesus Himself in John 5:31 warned us about this when He said, “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.” If Jesus says this about Himself, how much more must it be true of us!

Only by reflecting and showing Christ’s image will others truly be touched, changed, and want what we have. Follow Me - Jesus calls Our purpose as Christians is to reflect the Lord, not ourselves. 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Jesus called every one of us to FOLLOW Him – not to LEAD Him.

We must learn how to follow His Spirit’s leading,  be cleansed by His Spirit,  filled with His Spirit and  then walk by – to follow - His Spirit, so that we can show forth His likeness to the world, not our own. Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Jesus does not want us to make room of Him – He wants all of us. He wants us to obey His leading and Follow Him. Pro 3:6-8 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Joh 10:24-30 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Follow Me - Jesus calls Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Jesus left us with a Great Commission - It’s the reason Christians are still on the earth. Matt 28:1820 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (NKJ) It’s for this purpose we work and learn and come together and go out. John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. Do not be confused - we do not do what we do to earn God’s love. We do it because we have God’s love and we love Him in return. I don’t live like I do to be a Christian I live like I do because I am a Christian. John 14:24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. (NKJ) Being forgiven is free - God has already provided it I only need to acknowledge my need of it and accept it. Living victoriously - Having a Hope that nothing can touch – Living daily, walking through life continuously guided and directed by God is another matter.  I must be willing to allow Him to live through me - to change me  I must be willing to give Him every one of my ‘right nows’  I must be willing to do the outrageous when He demands it  I must be willing to sit quietly and do nothing when He directs it Follow Me - Jesus calls I can’t do this alone - But he will help me and if I’m willing to answer when he calls, He will use me and establish me - and great things far above anything I can imagine for myself become possible. Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJ) Today he calls you - to be forgiven Today he calls you - to new life – but it is a life He expects you to live All you need to do is answer the call and tell Him your His man or woman and then FOLLOW HIM. Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. How many times has God called your name? How many times have you recognized His call to follow? What have you lifted up above Him in your life? "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:22-26) The person who decides not to follow Jesus will lose everything in the end. Being changed into new men and women in Christ requires radical changes in how we live and think--and how we treat others. God has repeatedly called to each one of us to answer His voice and let him establish us. For many of us - we haven’t been able to recognize His voice Follow Me - Jesus calls For others we just ignore it and hope it will go away Some of know full well who is calling and what He wants but fear stops us from responding Many of us have heard His call and responded. Many of us have not responded but know that we need to do so. There is no other way that we can approach God or reach Him without being condemned. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJ) Those of us who have acknowledged our sin and unworthiness accepting Jesus sacrifice on our behalf need to recognize that our relationship with the Lord is not complete until we are living for Him. "The Christian life is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work. I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires, which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked-the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself; my own will shall become yours." (C. S. Lewis) All self-esteem (I like what I do and what I am) must be yielded and replaced with God-esteem (I like what God does through me and what He makes me). We must remember that it is not what we can do for God, but what God will do through us—if we are clean and open vessels. True life, we said, only comes through the death of self-life. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I Follow Me - Jesus calls live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 JESUS SAYS THAT IN ORDER TO LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE, WE MUST BE WILLING TO SURRENDER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF GOD’S SPIRIT WORKING FREELY THROUGH US. THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL WE INHERIT BLESSINGS IN THE COMING FUTURE KINGDOM. Follow Me - Jesus calls Deny self / Take Up Your Cross Daily Mat_10:38 The one who doesn’t take up his cross and follow me isn’t worthy of me. Luk_14:27 Whoever doesn’t carry his cross and follow me can’t be my disciple. Mat_16:24 ¶ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually. Mar_8:34 ¶ Then Jesus [Lit. he] called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually, Luk_9:20-27 (20) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." Luk_9:23 ¶ Then he told all of them, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow me continually, Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Luk_9:24 For profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. Luk 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 Wise man / Foolish man….. Follow Me - Jesus calls Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Mat_19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Mar_10:21 Luk_18:22 Gal_6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 2Co_9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Mar 12:43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Luk 21:3 1Co 3:1 Spiritual Immaturity ¶ Brothers, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in the Messiah. [Or Christ] Follow Me - Jesus calls 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you weren’t ready for it. And you’re still not ready! 3 That’s because you are still worldly. As long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, you are worldly and living by human standards, aren’t you? 4 For when one person says, “I follow Paul,” and another person says, “I follow to Apollos,” you’re following [The Gk. lacks following] your own human nature, aren’t you? Rev_14:13 Our Actions Follow Us ¶ I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: How blessed are the dead, that is, those who die in the Lord from now on!” “Yes,” says the Spirit. “Let them rest from their labors, for their actions follow them.” Rev_19:14 Even at His coming we will Follow Him The armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, follow him on white horses. Follow Me - Jesus calls HOLY LIVING = kodesh / hagios

Mat_7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Mar 8:34-38 34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Luk 9:23-27 23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

2Co 6:14-18 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Follow Me - Jesus calls 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. [Exod. 25:8; 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Jer. 31:1; Ezek. 37:27.] 17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. [Isa. 52:11.] 18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. [Isa. 43:6; Hos. 1:10.]

2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Ti 1:6-14 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 13 Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Follow Me - Jesus calls 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

1Pe 1:13-23 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

2Pe 2:20-22 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. Follow Me - Jesus calls 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

2Pe 3:13-18 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.