Adapted from 2017 sermon series: Reset_pt3: Reset My Habits

21 Days of Prayer (Jan 2020)_pt2: Who Are You Following?

This month, during 21 Days, we are studying an interaction Jesus had with a man seeking eternal life.

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We learned, last week, that this man was wealthy in this life, and was seeking the next thing...

But Jesus gets to the bottom of what this man is truly seeking...

Lets take a another look...

Matthew 19:16–26 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

“With God all things are possible” - Jesus is laying the foundation for the understanding that all men must be born again.

Today, lets peel back another layer.

We’ll continue this story in Luke chapter 18...

Luke 18:28–30 NIV

Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke 9:57 NIV

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

We’re learning from Jesus about stakes (very high stakes) that most of us have never experienced, nor ever desire to experience.

But - as we learned last week - there is a cost to following Jesus.

Salvation is FREE, indeed. Praise God for that!

But to follow, can cost us. Period.

Last week, we discussed the things we must let go of in order to experience the LIFE Christ has given us.

Letting go is a cost, but we see here that He RESTORES so much more!

“no one will fail to receive… many times more!”

[PAYOFF] - This cost is not a penance.

defined: voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong.

It’s simply the laying down of yourself, to pickup what He’s given you.

There is a cost

This story with the rich man also reminds me of another place in the Bible where Jesus speaks with others about following Him...

Luke 9:57–62 NIV

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Again, Jesus seems to be very strict and harsh, here.

But if we fail to understand our Savior’s motive, and dig beneath the surface into the context of these words, we miss His priceless lesson...

v57-58 - Who requested? It was the man

Jesus distrusted the too-ready enthusiasm.

This man, like us many times, failed to count the cost.

Usually, this results in giving up, or pulling back.

v59-60 - Who requested? It was Jesus, this time (much like calling YOU)

Jesus argued this mission was greater than traditional duty.

Funerals were usually 7 days (tradition) + there would have been the matters of the estate.

This man would have been swept away in the business of home duties (too busy), over pursuing the immediate call of Christ.

v61-62 - Who requested? It was the man

This response seems to be the most reasonable...

But, let’s - again - remember who called out to who...

This man said, “I will follow you, Lord; but...”

Jesus reveals there are is business to tend to over following Him

There are no “buts”

This man would have been swept away in the business of home duties and things of culture, over pursuing the immediate call of Christ.

[TRANSITION] - The question for us today is...

Who are you following?

[PAYOFF] - Am I following...

Jesus, the way or my own way?

Matthew 4:19 NIV

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

His plan is greater!

And, His plan does involve YOU, and the things in your life, used for Him!

These men were fishermen

“My plan is greater!… Fishers of men!”

“But you must trust me, you must drop THOSE nets and get out of YOUR boat.”

What nets am I holding onto still?

What boat am I putting my trust in still?

“I will supply your nets and boat.”

1. I will put down the weights

We learned last week that it’s not all sin, but it could be a weight...

Hebrews 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[PAYOFF] - Jesus isn’t calling us to pain and suffering, nor to loss...

He’s truly calling us to run the race marked out for us!!

And like any good coach, he’s cond

2. I will pick up the tools

Along with letting go, there is also some picking up...

Ephesians 5:8 NIV

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

Ephesians 4:23–24 NIV

to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22–24 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 5:8 NIV

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

“Live” this is an action verb. INTENTIONAL!

Ephesians 5:8

We are creatures of habit, so letting go will be work, as well is picking up

We must pickup some GOOD (GOD) habits.

The Four Habits

Prayer & Bible study

Connecting with other believers

Living a Spirit-led life

Giving of yourself

Now that we have put down the old way, and picked up the good habits, it’s time to work...

3. I willdig-in

Hebrews 10:19–25 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Breakdown:

Most Holy Place...

New and living way...

Curtain...

High Priest...

Draw near...

Sprinkled and washed...

Let us hold unswervingly!...

AND

A conjunction, connecting our holding fast, to our relationship to others!

All this focus on internal self and cost to self, for the race set out for ourself...

[PAYOFF] - ONE ANOTHER! - We must dig into this thing called Connect Church! We are the one another!

Take Away

There is no comfortable way to follow

There is no cost-free way to follow

There is no following without letting go

There must be intentional “doing”

But there is always more to His LIFE than our life

He told us that in order to find life, we must let go of life, but holding on we’ll lose life.

- If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Galatians 6:9 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

“Harvest” - so much more than I could ever imaging in this life!

- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

I will be intentional about following Jesus!

No fitting it in

No just getting by

No couch Christianity

But, following!