How to Follow Jesus

What does it mean to follow Christ

It is not just interested. It is not I like that it appeals to me. IT is not pick and choose. IT doesn't mean watch me. Be entertained by me. It does not mean admire me. It does not mean name dropping. It does not mean watching other people follow him and wear their colors.

It does not mean on social media. I follow Jesus

This word follow is like this. An athlete that is signing up for training.

It is a apprentice. Here to learn a trade

Teacher and a disciple.

Military poster You James Montgomery Flagg

Believe me five times follow me 20

He did not say pray this prayer. HE said follow me and that assumed the belief. And predicted the prayer

Not looking for believe in him like you believe in Abraham Lincoln but to follow him be devoted to him. IT has more to do with how you spend your life than it does with a fire insurance policy

Easy to say I follow him but we can complicated it we can make it vage

Here is a story of a man that gives us an example of what it means to follow Christ. And how to do it.

The only reason his life mattered was he followed Christ . There were a thousand publicans that day in israel but we know one by name. The rest are buried and forgotten. Their lives amounted to nothing.

The only way you will matter is you will follow Jesus.

Say I am a carpenter. So were the men that built this church they are dead and f they did not live for Christ their life did not matter. Beer cans and cigarette packs in the soil under this church from the carpenters that did not follow christ.

I am a doctor the doctors of yesteryear are all dead with their patients they saved no one. But the doctors that lived for Christ. Martyn Lloyd Jones , Engineers buildings are destroyed and their clients are homeless in the flames, Lawyer of yesteryear their clients were freed from jail only to fry in hell. But finney made a difference because he lived for Christ. IF I have another child you pray with me about that anniversary today name him grandison.

Only one life will soon be past only what is done for Christ will last.

So how do I follow ?

Seize the opportunity vs 14

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

The opportunity is

It is subtle (unexpected )

HE was not expecting this on that day.

He is sitting at the receipt of customs just doing his Job. He has made no journey to find Christ. HE was not looking for him.

What's your name what going on with your job what do you owe

writing receipts figuring up how much they owed and billing them writing it in his register. Collecting money enduring the glare from mad taxpayers.

That morning there was not a thought of Christ on his mind.

He was interrupted By Christ

He found something better than what he was doing. All his plans changed because he got interrupted.

He was presented with an opportunity and he took it.

And if you ever follow Christ you must seize the opportunity

It so subtle

Imagine hime follow me great multitude

Me you talking to me yes come follow me.

THe opportunity is sudden

it is sudden

Now

Like a bolt out of the sky now

Maybe you are like Mathew you just sitting there with the crowd you were not expecting today to be interrupted but you realize this it is now it is now or never.

Right now he is calling

Jesus is tenderly calling you home—

Calling today, calling today,

Why from the sunshine of love will you roam

Farther and farther away?

Calling today, calling today,

Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.

Today is the day of salvation it was for Matthew and it was also the day of service

Suddenly he was aware he is calling me he is bidding me.

TOday now.

It is subsiding

And as he passed by

He never stopped

He passing

Listen Jesus is on the move and if you sit still he go on down the road and get someone that is willing to go.

HE is not waiting on the hesitation or the procrastinator.

Only one chance and it is all gone.

The chance to follow christi is subsiding the day is drawing to a close and he is going yonder.

The evil days are coming

Ecc_12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

One day when you lay dying you will see clearly the veil will be lifted.

Couple things lift that lethargy , that complacency , Go good scare will do it. Car wreck but it is short lived. 3 people crying weeping almost died. Short lived.

Sickness but by time get weak enough usually to late. Health scare

Seen big mean men holding their daughters hands saying I am sorry I love you being just a sweet as sugar.

It will break you and with that breaking will come the realization I blew it.

So sad to see the realization hit when it is to late

Jesus is passing.

Do you want to start following him tomorrow?

The devil's greatest word is tomorrow. Because tomorrow he tells you tomorrow till all your tomorrows are gone.

Go over to the booth and you will find an envelope in it with your purpose and all you need to accomplish the mission you were designed for. Why would you wait?

Do not wait bring yourself to action

It is simple

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

All there is to it

What could be more simple that that ?

No discussion not argument

Just instant obedience

That is so simple yet is it so profound

Why do people not follow christ they complicate it

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.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

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.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

What about my job just follow me

What about my family just follow me

Are you complicating it?

What is God calling you to do ?

You know what you find following Jesus is so simple.

It is so easy

It is so joyful

My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Whatever Matthew was worried about God already had it all figured out and he trusted him enough not to ask questions but it utter and total submission give no thought for tomorrow and for the details but trust those to God.

It is sacrificial Left all

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

It will cost you to follow Christ.

What is the cost

Everything

What do you mean by everything

Nothing is off the table he has a right ot whatever he asks for

Job , money , house , land ,holdings

And if that makes you nervous listen to this

Luk_14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Maybe I will ask for your mother or father , maybe your wife or child, your health , what ever is most dear. Your own health

I want to have it all and I want you not to deny me anything.

That is what it means to follow christ

He left all because Jesus paid it all

Have we left all ? have we really left all ?

Or do we like achan have things hidden under our tents ?

You know what you find he takes it all and you love him for taking it and not because it does not hurt but because you get more of him.

Listen the christian life is not for hold outs.

You want to follow christ . I will tell you how much it costs you not going to like it but I am going to tell you. Everything.

Step up to the Obligation vs 15

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

See no that he started following Jesus there was some obligations that came along with it

He was to use everything he had before for the cause of Christ

He used his

Influence is powerful

There was a large group of people that did not care for Matthew

Tax collectors, also known as publicans , charged taxes on behalf of the Roman government. These private government subcontractors would tax travelers who were carrying merchandise between properties or delivering goods along certain well-defined roads. Rome preferred to hire locals who were familiar with a region’s inhabitants, land, and roads. Some tax agents were responsible for such large territories that they functioned as subcontractors, hiring their own employees to collect the taxes. Zacchaeus seems to fit this category, as he is described as a “chief” tax collector (). Urijah taxing me

Tax collectors earned a profit by demanding a higher tax from the people than they had prepaid to the Roman government. This system led to widespread greed and corruption. The tax-collecting profession was saturated with unscrupulous people who overtaxed others to maximize their personal gain. According to Adams, “The toll-collectors were in a profession that was open to dishonesty and oppression of their neighbor” (Adams, The Sinner in Luke). Since the Jews considered themselves victims of Roman oppression, Jewish tax collectors who overtaxed their fellow countrymen were especially despised. Jews viewed such favor for Rome as betrayal and equal to treason against God. Rabbinic sources consistently align Jewish tax collectors with robbers.

Jesus said this

Mat_18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

He was despised not allowed in court untrustworthy sell out. He was a traitor last thing you would think of is a follower.

Every one had written him off and he thought his life was done he was to be hated for the rest of his life.

But he was given a chance to follow Jesus. He was chosen as one of the twelve. He was given a personal invitation

But he had influence with another group

A subculture he tried get them to Jesus.

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

What do you think it took to get that crowd there ?

You ever try inviting coworkers to church ? it hard to do

He used every bit of his influence to get that crowd to hear Jesus and to meet him.

He did everything to get them to the place were they could hear the same thing he heard the Greatest man that ever lived to say follow me.

When you use your influence to bring people to Jesus that is the most fulfilling use of it there is.

Don't you want to do something more noble with your influence than collect taxes?

It is a powerful thing do not take it lightly.

If you use it with the sincerity and earnestness of Mathew you can bring a great company as well.

Not only is Influence powerful but

Income is praiseworthy

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

he made a great feast

He left his Job and took part of what remained of his money and made a great feast for a great many. Bad resume no one would hire him.

How much do you think it would cost to feed a great many at a great feast

He was the 5th disciple and Jesus and there were many others and than a great company of publicans.

I know it is expensive to feed three growing boys. That are always hungry.

You know if you use your income to influence people to christ that is praiseworthy

It is part of following Christ.

You know what was meant by following Christ to use your income for the work of God. Not to keep it all for yourself and spend it all on things that will burn but to lay up treasure in heaven were moth and rust doth not corrupt.

I love taking ordinary money and turning it into a stream of income. I love taking this money and turning it into equity. My brother bought a house Urijah and he is now adding value to the house.

But that burns I love taking money and turning it to treasures in the heaven.

A lot of people look at giving to the Lord and tithing as drudgery but It is turning paper into gold.

Are you like mathew using your income to follow Jesus ?

Are you making a great feast for the Lord and inviting sinners to come and meet the master.

There is nothing greater you can do with your money.

Interest profitable

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

Once you take Jesus and you follow him you are no longer alone

You are placed in a body of believers

And it is part of the deal that you will be interested in them and fellowship with them

People saw they do not want Jesus but they do not want the body they do not want to be bothered by the disciples.

To get the Job done he uses us corporately

The christian life is not meant to be lived alone.

He spend a lot of time telling us how to treat one another how to love one another

How to work together

Joh_13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If you are alone on Sunday people do not know you are his disciple

Mal_3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

You know why you should come back tonight.

That is were his disciples will be. It is part of following Jesus

If you walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another.

If you do not you not walking in the light.

That is part of following him and you do not get a choice you are his servant.

And what a joy it is.

Shake off the Opposition vs 16

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

No sooner did he start following Jesus than these pharisees show up and start scrutinizing and finding fault.

They have a problem with people

How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

They see different than Jesus look what he saw 14 he saw levi they saw a liability.

No decent person would hang out with those people how does he expect to become a great teacher hanging around the likes of those.

When man saw him they saw him writing bills when God saw him he saw him as writing the gospel of Matthew people see us as we are But God sees what we can be

They cant help people they can only congratulate the people that are like them and condemn the ones that are not.

The opposition just criticized but they have no solution. They offer no hope no help.

Shake it off and keep going for God.

Pretty soon you will have helped a lot of people while the critics helped no one.

They have a problem with pride

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

If you do not need help if you are good he wants nothing to do with you

He is hear to help those that know they need help.

The opposition has a pride problem they think they are better but they do not know how they look in the eyes of a holy God

The loved the greetings in the market place and the goodly seets

Rom_3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Whited sepulchers

When they convert some one they make him two fold more the child of hell than they themselves.

The only people they do not have a problem with is themselves

There is a lion in the streets everybody's problem wherever they do not grow is themselves my problem is myself where other people see I need to grow and talk to me about it and I am unwilling to grow I say there's a lion in the streets the problem is mine. The point is this God does not give you truth until you're ready to say there's not a lion in the streets. He does not put new wine in Old bottles

They have a problem with The Prince

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

Always remember their problem is with Jesus

And they come to complain to you about him.

Why do people do that you will be doing what matthew is doing telling someone about the Lord and they will come up and say if God is so good than why are people starving

If I was god i would not let them starve. I tell them you are letting them starve now you could do something about it.

They try to pretend they are better than God

They really think they are better than he is.

Door knocking lady I have some things to tell him when I get up there he is not going to judge me I am going to judge him.

I would not eat with them how can he do that?

Shake it off

They have a problem with the pious

They are against Jesus they will be against you

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

The plot thickens now they have a problem with him because he is associated with Jesus

You will have opposition

People will not like you for what you stand for

They will harass you for no other reason than that you are a follower of Jesus.

Shake it off.

Savor the Omnipotent vs 19

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

You know what he is saying I did not come to reenergize the old system of works and the law

One day was required under the law for fasting and they added all theses other fast days and said it was necessary

Some of were doing it twice a week.

They were disfiguring their faces and they added to the law thier traditions and it was about bondage and misery

The Lord said no no these are my children I am the bride groom now is not the time for fasting it is the time for feasting they enjoy me and I enjoy them

Salvation brings joy that they never had before.

If I added to it I would break them the law has already broken them they do not need more law

This is new

I mean look at what matthew got when he became a follower of christ

He defends you

And Jesus said unto them,

Matthew had no one to stick up for him before

Now in the face of opposition Jesus interrupts them gets in the middle of that conversation and says can the children of the bridegroom fast as long as he is with them

Jesus was the bride groom and they were his children

He said leave them alone

They are with me you do not tell them to fast I will let them know when they need to fast and you do not determine it.

When we became a follower of the lamb we got a lion that will stick up for us and protect us and defend us

He will defend us to the point of giving his very life for us

I wonder if that was the first time Mathew had any one stick up for his say don't worry about them I got your back.

Even when we get in trouble he is there to help us with our own trouble

Boy I have been in trouble but thank the Lord I have a saviour that has whispered in my ear you are not alone I got your back.

When they mess with you they are going to be messing with me.

He delights in you

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Look they are with me they are my kids and we are feasting

We are enjoying eachothers company

I am feeding them

These are my children now is not the time to fast.

This is the beginning of our relationship

We are enjoying eachothers company they are just children and I do not expect children to fast.

Outward acts do not equate spiritual vitality they were fasting but they were not his children

He did not delight in them but he did the disciples as they sat down to a wonderful meal together

A great feast.

Psa_103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Pro_3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

He is delicate with you

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

Put a new patch on a delicate old garment it will make it worse.

Listen he gives you the truth as you have the strength to handle it.

So it does not make it worse.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

If you did this the bottles would burst he makes you new and ready for the truth than he gives it to you.

Young christians have a limited ability for spiritual activity

He feeds you till one day you can feed your self he carries you for a while than he expects you to walk but how gentle he is

Get him in the right place in your life and everything else will work out according to his plan.

A FATHER wanted to give his daughter something to do and there was a picture of the world on a sheet of paper. He tore it into smaller pieces and told her to see if she could put the pieces back together correctly, kind of like she would work a puzzle. The little girl agreed. Five minutes later, she showed her father the pieces put back together perfectly. He was stupefied. When he asked her how she had done the task so quickly, she said, “Oh, on the back was a picture of Jesus and I figured if I got Him right, the world would fall into place.”

Get Jesus in the right place in your life as your leader and you following him.

Heard about an old Shepherd that would lead his sheep back home and if it got too dark or too foggy so the Sheep couldn't see he would walk along slowly and tap his staff against the ground the Sheep would hear it and follow the shepherd using only their ears. When Jesus is leading us day by day we don't have to know where we're going we just have to listen to the sound of his voice and follow him

As we close

Think about this

Am I Seizing the opportunity or am I letting him pass by

Am I fulfilling my obligations ? influence income , interested in the disciples

Am I discouraged in the face of opposition?

Am I savouring and enjoying jesus? Or is it drudgery

Avoiding pitfalls

Be prayerful

Be purposeful

Be prepared