DO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ME?

(NKJV)

32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

Picture this:

At a small table, Jesus in all his glory sets down right in front of you and ask, “Do you want to follow me?”

Eagerly you answer the question and say? “Sure I’ll follow ya - anywhere!”

Then with slightly moistened eyes from sadness he says, “There will be a cost.”

“I’m sure” you answer, “I will pay it. How much is it? Please tell me, tell me now!”

You answer, “I’m sure. I will pay it. How much is it?”

Jesus adjusts himself in the chair so that his elbows are on the table and his fingers are laced together so his two hands become one and he looks straight into your eyes and says ever so lovingly but still with sadness, “Before you commit, let me explain the cost you will incur for following me.”

He looks up at the ceiling and then back at you and says,

()

“Well first you must be reborn. Not of the flesh like you were when you were born of your mother ‘that which is born of flesh is flesh’”, no, no you will be reborn of Spirit, ‘that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.’”

“Well first you must be reborn. Not of the flesh like you were when you were born of your mother ‘that which is born of flesh is flesh’”, no, no I tell you will be reborn of Spirit, ‘that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.’”

Perplexed, you look at him. “What do you mean ‘reborn of Spirit’, how can this be? What’s the purpose? I don’t get it.”

Perplexed, you look at him like a mule looking at a new gate. “What do you mean ‘reborn of Spirit’, how can this be? What’s the purpose? I don’t get it.”

Perplexed, you look at him. “What do you mean ‘reborn of Spirit’, how can this be? What’s the purpose? I don’t get it.”

Jesus leans forward, un-laces his fingers and cups then over your hands and says, “‘The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ You see in My Father’s creation the invisible moves the visible. The new man is formed and lives within you by something you can’t see. Then you take on the character and life moved by the invisible, fighting battles you never see, helping others though you never knew it, guided yet free to go anywhere on earth and serve by bringing others to Me. ()

Jesus leans forward, un-laces his fingers and cups then over your hands and says, “‘The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ You see in My Father’s creation the invisible moves the visible. The new man is formed and lives within you by something you can’t see. Then you take on the character and life of Me, moved by the invisible, fighting battles you never see, helping others though you never knew it, guided yet free to go anywhere on earth and serve by bringing others to Me. ()

“Next, you will suffer because of your alliance with me. Believe or not I once was accused, by the religious leaders who by the way are My people, they accused Me of working for Beelzebub My enemy. () You see he is My greatest adversary why would I work with him? He comes to kill, steal, and destroy everything I created; he is not a destroyer he is “the destroyer”. (, )

“You cannot live by the world’s standards and beliefs anymore. The world, for now is controlled by Satan, the accuser, he is the prince of this world. All his ways lead to death. See if you still love the things of the world then you love Satan but if you love the things of Me, then you have the love of My Father in you. Now, notice I didn’t say that you couldn’t enjoy this world. Enjoy and love are to completely different things. There are all kinds of great foods, beautiful landscapes, amazing animals, cool peaceful days in valleys, and warm sunshine after a cold winter, these are the things that I created for you to enjoy – but always love Me first over the world.” ()

Moving slightly to one side in your chair to get more comfortable, you look at Jesus and ask, “What about money? Do I have to give all the money up I’ve earned and be poor to serve you?”

Moving slightly to one side in your chair to get more comfortable, you look at Jesus and ask, “What about money? Do I have to give up all the money I’ve earned and be poor to serve you?”

Moving slightly to one side in your chair to get more comfortable, you look at Jesus and ask, “What about money? Do I have to give all the money up I’ve earned and be poor to serve you?”

Jesus looks at you with patience and love and says, “Money is the world’s way. Just as I said before it’s a heart condition – which do you love more me or the money?”

Jesus smiled and said, “I remember a rich young ruler that wanted to inherit eternal life. He came to me and asked me straight out what would it take for him to get the eternal life I promise. He was a pretty good person, he had kept most of My commandments, but he had a heart condition; he served another god the god money. He found his peace and security only in money. Knowing this I knew he could never completely trust me over his money unless he gave it up. You see you can’t serve two masters. So, I told him, ‘go sell everything and give it to the poor.’ When he left me, he was very sad, I never heard from him again.” (, , )

Jesus smiled and said, “I remember a rich young ruler that wanted to inherit eternal life. He came to me and asked me straight out what would it take for him to get eternal life, the eternal life that I promise. Now, he was a pretty good person, he had kept most of My commandments, but he had a heart condition; he served another god - the god money. He found his peace and his security only in money. Knowing this I knew he could never completely trust me over his money - unless he gave it up. You see you can’t serve two masters. So, I told him, ‘go sell everything and give it to the poor.’ When he left me, he was pretty sad and I never heard from him again.” (, , )

“The act of serving really all comes down whose more important, you or who you are serving. If you do good and brag about it – you serve your flesh. If you do good things in silence – you serve Me and your reward will come from My Father. Trust me when I tell you there is nothing on earth that even comes close to the rewards in Heaven.” ()

“The act of serving really comes down whose more important, you or who you are serving. If you do good and brag about it – you serve your flesh. If you do good things in silence – you serve Me and your reward will come from My Father. Trust me, trust me when I tell you there is nothing on earth that even comes close to the rewards in Heaven.” ()

“The act of serving really all comes down whose more important, you or who you are serving. If you do good and brag about it – you serve your flesh. If you do good things in silence – you serve Me and your reward will come from My Father. Trust me when I tell you there is nothing on earth that even comes close to the rewards in Heaven.” ()

You stir uneasily because you remember the self-indulgence and sexual immorality in your life. It’s as if He already know what you are thinking and says, “Do you remember a movie called Tombstone?”

You stir uneasily because you remember the self-indulgence and sexual immorality in your life. It’s as if He already knew what you are thinking and says, “Do you remember a movie called Tombstone?”

You grin because you didn’t expect this question from Jesus. You say, “Oh yeah, I loved that movie!”

Jesus grins and says, “There was a scene in the movie

Jesus grins and says, “There was a scene in the movie where Wyatt Earp asked Doc Holliday ‘What makes a man like Ringo, Doc? What makes him do the things he does?’ and Doc says ‘A man like Ring has got a great big hole, right in the middle of himself. And he can never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict enough pain to ever fill it.’ You see all that self-indulgence, sexual immorality, drunkenness, anything like that is an Abyss. It will create a hole in you that can never be filled – no matter how may cars and toys you own, how many people yo sleep with or how much you drink, it always leaves you wanting more. (, , )

Jesus grins and says, “There was a scene in the movie

Jesus continues, “Pride and not forgiving others go hand-in-hand. If you want to follow Me then both of them should die with the old you. Forgiving those who have harmed you is a part of the deal. You got to forgive your enemy, forgive those who mock you when you are down, forgive those who persecute you – even unto death. When I was falsely accused and convicted, then sentenced to death by crucifixion on the cross, they said things like, ‘ if He truly is the Christ, He saved others let He save Himself’ and then they would laugh. They were actually casting lots for My things just below My feet as I hung there in agony – they could not have cared less about Me.”

Where Wyatt Earp asked Doc Holliday ‘What makes a

where Wyatt Earp asked Doc Holliday ‘What makes a

man like Ringo, Doc? What makes him do the things he does?’ and Doc says ‘A man like Ringo has got a great big hole, right in the middle of himself. And he can never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict enough pain to ever fill it.’

He looks directly into your eyes and ask, “Do you remember what I said to them?”

man like Ringo, Doc? What makes him do the things he does?’ and Doc says ‘A man like Ringo has got a great big hole, right in the middle of himself. And he can never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict enough pain to ever fill it.’

“You see all that self-indulgence, sexual immorality, drunkenness, any thing like that is an Abyss. It will create hole in you that can never be filled – no matter many cars and toys you own, how many people you sleep with or how much you drink, it leaving wanting more.” (, , )

You look down with tears in your eyes.

He says “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” You see I’m not asking you to do something I wouldn’t do. I will always set the example for you; I am the beginning and the end; I am the Alpha and Omega. ” (, )

Repent and turn from those ways

Jesus continues, “Pride and not forgiving others go hand-in-hand. If you want to follow Me then both should die with the old you. Forgiving those who have harmed you is a part of the deal. You must forgive your enemy, forgive those who mock you when you are down, forgive those who persecute you – even unto death. When I falsely accused and convicted, then sentenced to crucifixion on the cross, they said things like, ‘ if He truly is the Christ, He saved others let He save Himself’ and then they would laugh. They were actually casting lots for My things just below My feet as I hung there in agony – they could not have cared less about Me.”

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Jesus looks and you and ask “Why do you look so sad? You remind me of the rich young ruler.”

He looks directly into your eyes and ask, “Do you remember what I said to them?”

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You squirm a little in your chair and then cry out, “I am not good enough to do this! I can’t follow you. How could any man follow you? We all fall short.”

You look down with tears in your eyes.

He says “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” ()

Jesus leans in really close to you and whispers, “Then swallow your pride and repent. You are right - not one person on this earth is worthy of the gift I have to give. Did you know even though I was falsely accused for things I did not do; I was rightly accused for the things you did. Me being on that cross was not a mistake, it was payment for your convictions - not mine.” ()

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

You see I’m not asking you to do something I wouldn’t do. I will always set the example for you; I am the beginning and the end ” ()

Jesus straightens in His chair and looks at you again and says, “Here on earth it’s not about the rewards it’s about serving Me no matter the cost. It’s about serving Me with love and adoration, a love and adoration worthy of a God that was willing to come off My throne and pay your debt.”

Gain peace without understanding

“Later though, it will be about the triumphal jubilation, the acclamation, of Father, Son, Spirit, and His children being together for eternity.”

Jesus looks and you and ask “Why do you look so sad? You remind me of the rich young ruler.”

-41

You squirm a little in your chair and then cry out, “I am not good enough to do this! I can’t follow you. How could any man? We all fall short of you.”

“Later, it will be about Me and you together – forever.”

In 1535, he was appointed Bishop of Worcester, in succession to an Italian absentee, and promoted reformed teachings and iconoclasm in his diocese. On 22 May 1538, at the insistence of Cromwell,[5] he preached the final sermon before Franciscan Friar John Forest was burnt at the stake, in a fire said to have been fueled partly by a Welsh image of Saint Derfel. In 1539, he opposed Henry VIII's Six Articles, with the result that he was forced to resign his bishopric and imprisoned in the Tower of London (where he was again in 1546).

Jesus leans in really close to you and whispers, “Then swallow your pride and repent. You are right not one person on this earth is worthy of the gift I have to give. Did you know even though I was falsely accused for things I did not do; I was rightly accused for the things you did. Me being on that cross was not a mistake, it was payment for your convictions not mine.” ()

“Do you still want to follow me?”

Jesus straightens in His chair and looks at you again and says, “Here on earth it’s not about the rewards it’s about serving Me no matter the cost. It’s about serving Me with love and adoration, a love and adoration worthy of a God that was willing to come off My throne and pay your debt.”

He then served as chaplain to Katherine Duchess of Suffolk. However, when Edward VI's sister Mary I came to the throne, he was tried for his beliefs and teachings in Oxford and imprisoned. In October 1555 he was burned at the stake outside Balliol College, Oxford.

The arch-conservative Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor, presided over the trial for heresy at the end of September, when Latimer took the opportunity to deliver a blistering attack on the see of Rome as the enemy and persecutor of Christ’s true flock. There was never any doubt about the verdict.

“Later though, it will be about the triumphal jubilation, the acclamation, of Father, Son, Spirit, and His children being together for eternity. Later, it will be about Me and you together – forever.”

Ridley went to the pyre in a smart black gown, but the grey-haired Latimer, who had a gift for publicity, wore a shabby old garment, which he took off to reveal a shroud. Ridley kissed the stake and both men knelt and prayed. After a fifteen-minute sermon urging them to repent, they were chained to the stake and a bag of gunpowder was hung round each man’s neck. The pyre was made of gorse branches and faggots of wood. As the fire took hold, Latimer was stifled by the smoke and died without pain, but poor Ridley was not so lucky. The wood was piled up above his head, but he writhed in agony and repeatedly cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy upon me’ and ‘I cannot burn’. Cranmer, who was made to watch, would go to his own death the following year.

“Do you still want to follow me?”

ESV / 855 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

“Now, here on earth it’s not about the rewards it’s about serving Me no matter the cost. It’s about serving Me with love and adoration, a love and adoration worthy of a God that was willing to come off My throne and pay your debt.”

“Later though, it will be about the triumphal jubilation, the acclamation, of Father, Son, Spirit, and His children being together for eternity. Later, it will be about Me and you together – forever.”

DO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ME?

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