RJ - Follow Jesus, HE IS THE WAY
Notes
Transcript
Nathan - Emu Park - Mel Sell handover
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Men’s Catch up - Saturday 19th Nov 8am @ Rocky Harley davidson shop
Christmas Party - Sunday 27th Nov 5-8pm Northside Pool
Data base
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John chapters 14-17 - What we have here is a farewell address.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure from this world. He has made it clear that he would have to go away for a time, and he is here comforting his disciples, explaining to them how they will get on in this world without him.
John chapters 14-17 contain some of the most beloved passages in the whole Gospel. This entire section is practical. It applies deeply to you and I. True, Jesus was speaking to the eleven who remained with him there in that room, but he was preparing them to live in the age between his first and second comings. And that is the age in which we live!
What Jesus says to his disciples, therefore, applies deeply to you and I
1. I AM THE WAY
1. I AM THE WAY
THE WAY - PATH OR ROAD
In fact early Jewish Christians were known of as the “THE WAY “ followers of the anointed ( with Christ being the anointed one)
Jesus is the way
He is the way to the Father
He is the way to salvation
He is the way to life
He is the way to healing
He is the way to reconcilation
He is the way to victory
He is the way to freedom
He is the way to joy
He is the way to heaven
JESUS IS THE WAY!!
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
WIDE & NARROW GATE PIC
AS a little girl looking at the pic story - revelation of Jesus being the gate and way
Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus is talking about salvation and sanctification
Those that are still to be saved & those that are walking the journey with Him
3.“JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART”
3.“JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART”
One of the biggest dilema we have these days, is that many people do not know where they are going! They are devoid of direction, identity, purpose. Held captive by the enemy, trying to fill a void that only Jesus can fill.
Thats why they’re called the lost.
Tne catch cry is “follow your heart”
GPS Pic & Story
We laugh at that, say how stupid, I would never do anything like that, but the reality is we can easily follow along blindly, not questioning the path we are taking and ending up somewhere we don’t want to be and probably shouldn’t be.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
4. WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM FOLLOWING JESUS?
4. WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM FOLLOWING JESUS?
18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The significant part of the invitation wasn’t “sell all” but “follow Me”. Whatever keeps us from following Christ is the one thing seperating us from eternal life.
What is it?
Ask yourself, Am I following you Lord?
What is keeping me from following you?
4. JUST FOLLOW JESUS
4. JUST FOLLOW JESUS
The simplicity of the gospel is “Come follow Me”
In Matthew 4 - Simon Peter & Andrew ( fishing with their nets) immediatley stopped what they were doing and followed
In the same chapter - James & John, left their nets, their boat and their Father and followed.
In the last few months - the desire to walk hand in hand with Jesus has become parramount.
In these days the message to the Church is loud and clear!
FOLLOW ME
FOLLOW MY LEADING
FOLLOW MY WORD
FOLLOW WHAT I WANT TO DO
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.