Fakers or Followers (5)

Fakers or Follower

What is the farthest thing out you planned for something.

Birthday party a Trip.

Planning the trip to Australia story -

Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. - Mike Tyson

The truth is most of us only focus on what is right in front of us

Temporary or Eternal

Today as we wrap up our series i want it focus on what we focus on.

All the stuff we spend most of our lives and energy chasing after -

money, fame, popularity, success all comes with the same problem.

At some point it all comes to an end.

Someday you stop working, you run out of money, it all ends

Ever heard “All good things must come to an end”.

I am not trying to bum you out.

Someday you will stop your sports, your friends will change.

not to pile it on - as good things go away, a lot of the bad things stick around.

But there is good news.

Jesus and the Gospel.

When we choose to follow Him we are able to get things like love, joy, peace, fulfillment, friendships, strength, great food for eternity.

With Jesus the best stuff stays and bad stuff eventually goes away.

Evil, pain, etc.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

If your taking notes tonight's main point is:

Fakers focus on the temporary. Followers fix their eyes on the eternal.

Let’s pray

Temporary or Eternal

This whole series has been about becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.

We have talked about having:

Fear over Faith

Honesty over Hypocrisy

Choosing Others over Self

Temporary or Eternal

Paul - full devoted - most of NT by Him - but did not start that way

Paul changed

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Following Jesu will make your life better, but it won’t make it easier

Temporary or Eternal

SO how do we stay faithful and keep our eyes fixed on the eternal when it gets hard?

Acts 20:22–24 ESV

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

1. Remember what God has done.

In every city Paul faced hardship, but God provide all the way

2. Do the right thing today.

Acts 20:22 ESV

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,

HE didn't know - he just put one foot in front o the other

Maybe that is where you are - you have leave behind fear, doubt

Just take a step

Hold onto what God will do.

Acts 20:24 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

God always keeps His promises

God is never done with you

Fakers focus on the temporary. Followers fix their eyes on the eternal.

Temporary or Eternal

Romans 5:2–5 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Temporary or Eternal

Focus on the things that last and the things that don’t will come.

The day is coming there will be more war or death or disease or fill in the blank.

None of the struggle could ever outweigh the eternal glory waiting for His Followers

So I ask are you a faker or follower?

Small groups.

Let’s pray