Follow Me
Notes
Transcript
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
Right before this passage, Jesus was sitting with Peter around a campfire. It was here that Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Three opportunities to recant Peter’s denial of Jesus. Three times Peter was instructed to Feed Christ’s sheep. But then Jesus ends the time by saying to Peter, “Follow Me” One of the first things Jesus said to Peter when He chose him as a disciple.
Immediately Peter turning around and seeing John (the unnamed disciple here), he asks Jesus...
What about John?
The Lord’s answer is direct and a bit abrasive, but nonetheless necessary!
It’s the same answer we get from the Lord, when we stick our nose where it doesn’t belong!
Jesus says clearly to us – “Follow Me”.
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
I. By minding your own business.
I. By minding your own business.
What is that to you?
As Christians, we are finding it very difficult to mind our own business in light of what’s going on right now in our country.
As older Americans who have been used to freedom without the infringement of personal rights by government.
We are not doing well.
This attitude toward government is a part of our psyche, because we don’t expect anything from the government except to get out of our way. And why wouldn’t we feel this way, when our nation was borne out of rebellion to an overreaching government. The younger generation embraces a much more liberal position, and somewhat socialistic.
It is clearly evident in the way they look to the government now for the stimulus check. Or the way that local and state governments look to the federal government for a hand out every time there is a crisis. Or, filling out the census, so that we can get the money we deserve from Uncle Sam.
We are slowly becoming what we once stood against.
But, it’s all part of the Big picture – moving toward a one world system!
But, here’s where we fail.
We use our nationalism, whether Socialistic or Traditional as an entrance point to criticize and lambaste others who don’t agree with us, putting ourselves in the place of judgement, which is God’s place not ours.
Social networks have become the battle fields of verbal wars, rather than an exchange of ideas. And some of you, who think they don’t have a bias bone in their body, most certainly have shown your true colors. I speak today as your pastor, an under-shepherd of Christ, so I will step on some toes.
We are all guilty of expressing disparaging words and criticisms of others who we don’t agree with. It doesn’t matter whether they are wrong or not!
You Christian, do not have the right under God to criticize them. And yes, I speak for myself also!
Our unity cannot and must not be found in our political biases!
We must find common ground in Christ, and stop devouring one another!
If we are to follow Christ, we had better mind our own business!
II. By keeping your eyes on Him.
II. By keeping your eyes on Him.
What we focus on is of far greater consequence than we may think!
Because anything that we set our eyes on will control us to some extent.
Example:
As New Englanders, we understand that for five to six months out of the year we will deal with some amount of snow! And at least three of those months will deliver vastly greater amounts.
But, anything after a foot of snow is really of no consequence. Six inches and we just push it out of the way. A foot or more and we may not be able to get out of our houses for half a day. It’s a pretty common thing.
Yet, we sit glued to the television, with bated breathe waiting for the most recent updates (like it really matters) and then rush off to the store and clean out the bread and milk aisles!
We do it year after year!
We are programmed to it. That one snow storm is filled with FEMA reports, the highway dept interviews, The MBTA reports, and constant news about the sand and salt reserves, how fast people are buying up shovels, scrapers, etc.
Like, we’ve never seen this before!
We fix our sights on all the hype and negativity of the storm. Glued to the screen, as it manipulates our thoughts, our actions, our time! And none of it is fixed on Christ!
I’m sure you can think of a better illustration right now! I’ll leave that to you.
You see, we are controlled by these things, where Jesus desires our eyes to be fixed on Him!
If we are to follow Him, we must keep our eyes on Him!
So, how can we keep our eyes on Jesus when we face so many problems?
The following are some practical helps:
Turn off the TV if it controls you.
Stay off social media if you can’t handle it.
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12, NKJV)
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)
Start a Bible reading plan if you don’t have one now.
Memorize scripture in your time off.
Meditate on it
Choose scriptures that steer your heart toward right thinking.
Where will I find these scriptures you ask?
You can use a topical Bible like Naves or you can develop your list by taking notes as you read systematically through the scriptures.
Decide to encourage and lift up others, even those you don’t agree with.
“Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”” (Romans 12:20, NKJV) Also Proverbs 25:21-22
Take your failures to the Lord in repentance.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV)
