WILL YOU FOLLOW ME?

The Call to Leave Everything and Walk With Jesus

Key Scripture

Matthew 4:19–20 “Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (NKJV)

“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

Key Spirit-Filled Thought

Jesus does not merely call us to believe something about Him—He calls us to follow Him.

The call of Jesus is not simply, “Come to church.” It is not merely, “Believe that I exist.” It is not even, “Add Me to the life you have already planned.” His call is far deeper:

“Follow Me.”

Jesus did not merely invite them to believe something about Him. He called them to walk with Him, learn from Him, surrender to Him, and eventually represent Him.

And that same call still comes to us today.

Following Jesus means surrendering the right to determine our own direction. It means allowing His voice to become greater than our preferences, His Word greater than our feelings, His purpose greater than our plans, and His presence more precious than anything we may have to leave behind.

Jesus did not tell Peter and Andrew everything that would happen before asking them to follow. He gave them a Person to trust before He gave them a map to understand.

That is still the call today.

INTRODUCTION

There are moments in life when one question changes everything. A person can spend years hearing sermons, attending church, reading Scripture, singing worship songs, and knowing Christian language, yet eventually every believer must personally answer the question that Jesus places before the heart:

“Will you follow Me?”

Not, “Will you admire Me?”

Not, “Will you agree with My teachings?”

Not, “Will you call yourself a Christian?”

Not even, “Will you attend church?”

But:

“Will you follow Me?”

When Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon Peter and Andrew casting their nets into the sea, He spoke words that would completely redirect their lives: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Imagine that moment.

Their nets represented more than fishing equipment. Those nets represented livelihood, security, routine, experience, familiarity, and the life they understood. They knew how to fish. They knew the water. They understood the business. They knew what tomorrow would probably look like.

Then Jesus walked into their ordinary world and called them into an extraordinary purpose.

He did not hand them a detailed five-year plan.

He did not explain every trial they would face.

He did not tell Peter about walking on water, denying Him three times, preaching at Pentecost, seeing thousands saved, or eventually suffering for the Gospel.

He simply said:

“Follow Me.”

And Scripture says, “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

Church, there is something powerful about that word immediately.

There comes a moment when revelation demands a response.

There comes a moment when hearing must become obeying.

There comes a moment when standing near Jesus must become walking behind Jesus.

Many people want Jesus as Savior while resisting Him as Lord. We want Him to forgive our sins, protect our families, answer our prayers, heal our bodies, open doors, and bless our future—but following Jesus means that He also receives authority over our direction.

Jesus is not looking for spectators.

He is calling disciples.

A spectator watches Jesus.

A disciple follows Jesus.

A spectator applauds what Jesus does.

A disciple obeys what Jesus says.

A spectator can remain comfortable.

A disciple eventually encounters a cross.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Notice the word daily.

Following Jesus is not one decision made twenty years ago. It begins with a decision, but it becomes a lifestyle.

Every morning the question comes again:

“Will you follow Me today?”

Will you follow Him when obedience costs something?

Will you follow Him when people misunderstand you?

Will you follow Him when He asks you to forgive?

Will you follow Him when He tells you to speak?

Will you follow Him when He tells you to remain silent?

Will you follow Him when He redirects your plans?

Will you follow Him when you cannot see where the road is going?

Will you follow Him into the streets where hurting people need the Gospel?

Will you follow Him into prayer when everyone else is sleeping?

Will you follow Him when following Him means leaving something behind?

Because somewhere between where Jesus finds you and where Jesus is taking you, there will always be a net that must be dropped.

Your net may not be a fishing net.

Your net may be comfort.

Your net may be fear.

Your net may be bitterness.

Your net may be reputation.

Your net may be a relationship.

Your net may be money.

Your net may be your own plans.

Your net may simply be the need to control everything.

But when Jesus says, “Follow Me,” He is calling us away from anything that keeps us from completely belonging to Him.

And here is the beautiful part: Jesus never calls us away from something merely to leave us empty.

He calls us from something because He is calling us into something greater.

Peter dropped a fishing net and eventually received a harvest of souls.

He left a boat and became part of building the Church.

He surrendered what was familiar and discovered what he had been created for.

The same Jesus is still walking through ordinary lives today.

And His call remains:

“Follow Me.”

POINT 1 — THE CALL OF JESUS IS PERSONAL

John 10:27

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Jesus does not merely call crowds. He calls people personally.

He called Peter.

He called Andrew.

He called Matthew while he was sitting at the tax office.

He called Philip and simply said, “Follow Me.”

Jesus knows exactly where you are when He calls you.

He knows your history.

He knows your failures.

He knows your weaknesses.

He knows your fears.

He knows what other people have said about you.

And yet He calls you.

Peter was not perfect when Jesus called him. Jesus knew Peter would make mistakes, speak too quickly, misunderstand things, sink after walking on water, and eventually deny Him.

Yet Jesus still said:

“Follow Me.”

Practical Illustration

When your phone rings and you recognize the caller, the identity of the person determines how seriously you respond.

Church, recognize the One calling you.

This is not merely another invitation.

The King is calling.

Spirit-Filled Thought

The voice that calls you already knows everything about you and still says, “Come.”

POINT 2 — FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES LEAVING SOMETHING BEHIND

Matthew 4:20

“They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

You cannot follow Jesus forward while continually holding onto everything behind you.

There are things the Holy Spirit will identify that cannot accompany you into your next season of obedience.

Some nets are sinful.

Others are simply weights.

Hebrews tells us to lay aside both “every weight” and “the sin which so easily ensnares us.”

Not everything slowing you down is necessarily sinful—but if it continually prevents obedience, it must be surrendered.

Practical Illustration

Imagine trying to climb a mountain carrying several heavy suitcases. Eventually you must decide whether reaching the destination is more important than carrying everything you brought with you.

Some believers are asking God for elevation while refusing to release unnecessary baggage.

Spirit-Filled Thought

Whatever Jesus asks you to release will never be more valuable than what you discover by following Him.

POINT 3 — FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES TRUST WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE THE WHOLE ROAD

2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Jesus rarely shows us the entire journey.

He gives enough light for obedience.

Abraham left without knowing exactly where he was going.

Israel followed the cloud.

Peter stepped out of the boat.

The disciples followed Jesus without knowing everything awaiting them.

Faith says:

“Lord, I don't understand everything, but I know You.”

The security of discipleship is not knowing every detail of the road.

The security is knowing the One leading you.

Practical Illustration

Driving at night, your headlights do not illuminate the entire journey. They illuminate enough road to continue moving.

God often works similarly.

He may not show you mile 100 when He is asking you to obey at mile one.

Spirit-Filled Thought

You don't need to see the entire road when you can see Jesus.

POINT 4 — FOLLOWING JESUS WILL TRANSFORM YOU

Notice Jesus' words:

“Follow Me, and I will MAKE YOU fishers of men.”

Jesus did not say, “Transform yourself and then follow Me.”

He said:

“Follow Me, and I will make you.”

There is transformation in His presence.

Stay near Jesus and He begins changing your desires.

Stay near Jesus and He changes how you speak.

Stay near Jesus and He changes how you treat people.

Stay near Jesus and He changes what breaks your heart.

Stay near Jesus and eventually His mission becomes your mission.

Practical Illustration

Iron placed into fire eventually begins taking on characteristics of the fire. It becomes hot. It glows. It can be shaped.

When we remain in the presence of Jesus, the Holy Spirit works upon us until the character of Christ increasingly becomes visible through us.

Spirit-Filled Thought

Jesus calls you as you are, but His love is too powerful to leave you as He found you.

POINT 5 — FOLLOWING JESUS WILL LEAD YOU TO PEOPLE

Jesus said:

“I will make you fishers of men.”

The closer you follow Jesus, the more you begin noticing the people Jesus notices.

Jesus saw Zacchaeus.

Jesus saw blind Bartimaeus.

Jesus saw the Samaritan woman.

Jesus saw lepers.

Jesus saw children.

Jesus saw sinners.

Jesus saw people others ignored.

Therefore, discipleship cannot remain trapped within four church walls.

If we follow Jesus, eventually He will lead us toward somebody who needs Him.

Practical Illustration

A rescue boat does not exist merely so its crew can sit safely in the harbor discussing how wonderful the boat is.

It exists because somebody is in the water.

The Church has been entrusted with the Gospel because people need rescue.

Spirit-Filled Thought

If you follow Jesus long enough, He will eventually lead you to someone who needs to hear about Jesus.

POINT 6 — FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES A DAILY CROSS

Luke 9:23

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Christianity without surrender eventually becomes Christianity without power.

Jesus connects discipleship with self-denial.

The cross represents the death of self-rule.

It says:

“Not my will, but Yours.”

When pride rises—take up your cross.

When offense comes—take up your cross.

When temptation comes—take up your cross.

When obedience becomes uncomfortable—take up your cross.

The cross is not merely something Jesus carried for us.

There is also a cross disciples are commanded to carry behind Him.

Practical Illustration

You cannot sit on a throne and carry a cross simultaneously.

One represents self-rule.

The other represents surrender.

Every day we decide who occupies the throne of our lives.

Spirit-Filled Thought

The surrendered life is not the loss of your identity; it is where you discover who God created you to become.

POINT 7 — FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY

After the resurrection, Jesus spoke to Peter again.

Peter had failed.

Peter had denied Jesus.

Peter had wept bitterly.

Yet Jesus restored him.

And remarkably, after everything Peter had experienced, Jesus returned to almost the same words with which their journey began.

John 21:19

“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”

Think about that.

At the beginning:

“Follow Me.”

After failure:

“Follow Me.”

After restoration:

“Follow Me.”

Jesus was essentially telling Peter:

“Your failure does not have to become your final chapter.”

Maybe somebody feels they have failed too many times.

Maybe you started following but wandered.

Maybe disappointment cooled your fire.

Maybe compromise entered your life.

Maybe you have been standing still spiritually.

Hear the mercy of Jesus:

“Follow Me.”

Get up again.

Return again.

Surrender again.

Follow again.

And keep following until you see Him face-to-face.

3 SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES

Luke 9:23 — The Cost

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Following Christ involves daily surrender.

John 10:27 — The Relationship

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Following Jesus grows from knowing His voice.

John 12:26 — The Promise

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.”

The greatest reward of following Jesus is ultimately Jesus Himself.

FINAL SPIRIT-FILLED THOUGHT

Church, Jesus is still calling.

Across generations His words have not changed:

“Follow Me.”

Some need to follow Him for the first time.

Some need to follow Him again.

Some need to follow Him deeper.

Some need to follow Him out of comfort.

Some need to follow Him into ministry.

Some need to follow Him into the harvest.

Some need to follow Him through a difficult season where they cannot see what comes next.

But the question remains:

WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM?

You may not know where obedience will take you.

Peter didn't.

You may not know what it will cost.

Peter didn't.

You may not understand everything Jesus is doing.

Peter didn't.

But Peter discovered something worth remembering:

When Jesus calls you, what you are walking toward is greater than what you are leaving behind.

The Holy Spirit is still breathing upon surrendered hearts.

He is still awakening sleeping gifts.

He is still restoring fallen disciples.

He is still setting hearts on fire.

He is still sending laborers into the harvest.

And perhaps the question of this hour is not:

“Jesus, will You go with me?”

Perhaps the question is:

“Jesus, am I willing to go with You?”

Lay down the net.

Step out of the boat.

Release the past.

Surrender the plan.

Take up the cross.

Listen for His voice.

And when Jesus says,

“Follow Me,”

may our answer be:

“Yes, Lord. Wherever You lead, I will follow.”

Closing Declaration

Jesus, I will follow You when the road is easy and when the road is difficult. I will follow You when I understand and when I do not understand. I will follow You through the valley and onto the mountain. I will follow You into the harvest. I will follow You when obedience costs me something. Holy Spirit, give me the strength to lay down every net, take up my cross, and follow Jesus completely. My life belongs to You. My future belongs to You. My gifts belong to You. My plans belong to You. Here I am, Lord—lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Live Illustration: “Drop the Net and Follow Me”

What you need: a fishing net or rope net, a few items to place inside it, and a wooden cross or visible cross at the opposite side of the platform.

Place the net on one side of the platform. Put several objects inside or underneath it representing things that can hold us back: a wallet for money/security, a phone for distractions, a small mirror for self, a calendar for our plans, a chain for bondage, and a piece of paper marked FEAR.

Begin standing beside the net.

Say:

“When Jesus found Peter and Andrew, they had nets in their hands. Those nets represented their livelihood, their security, their routine, and everything familiar to them. Then Jesus walked into their world and said, ‘Follow Me.’”

Pick up the net.

“Most of us don't carry fishing nets—but we still have nets.”

Pull out the phone.

“Sometimes our net is distraction.”

Pull out the wallet.

“Sometimes it's security. ‘Lord, I'll follow You as long as You don't touch this.’”

Hold up the mirror.

“Sometimes the greatest thing standing between us and Jesus is ourselves—our reputation, our desires, our way, our plans.”

Hold up FEAR.

“Sometimes we know exactly what God is calling us to do, but fear keeps saying, ‘Don't move.’”

Hold up the chain.

“And sometimes we're trying to follow Jesus while still dragging something He has already told us to leave behind.”

Now wrap the net loosely around yourself and begin trying to walk toward the cross. Struggle with it for several seconds.

Then stop.

“This is where many believers are. We love Jesus. We want Jesus. We want to go where Jesus is going—but we're trying to follow Him while dragging everything He told us to surrender.”

Then read Matthew 4:19–20:

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

Emphasize:

“Notice what they did NOT do. They didn't drag their nets behind Jesus. They dropped them.”

At this point, drop the entire net on the floor.

Pause. Don't speak for several seconds.

Then begin walking freely toward the cross.

As you walk, say:

“Some things cannot go where Jesus is taking you. Some things must be dropped. Some things must be surrendered. Some things must be left at His feet.”

Stand beside the cross.

“Peter dropped a net—but he gained a calling. He left what was familiar—but discovered what he was created for. He surrendered temporary security—and Jesus gave his life eternal purpose.”

Then turn toward the congregation and ask:

“What is in your net?”

“What are you holding onto that keeps you from completely following Jesus?”

“What has the Holy Spirit been telling you to release?”

“What would happen if today you finally dropped the net?”

Then finish with the central line:

“Jesus is not asking you to understand the entire journey. He is asking you to trust the One who said, ‘Follow Me.’”

For the altar call, leave the net lying visibly on the platform. Invite people forward with:

“If you're ready to say, ‘Jesus, I'm dropping the net. I'm surrendering what has held me back. Wherever You lead me, I will follow,’ I want you to step out and come.”

That visual of the abandoned net between the congregation and the cross can become one of the strongest images they remember from the entire sermon.