The Call--(True Followers week 2)

Intro:

Turn to matt. 16:21

Last week we talked about the cost of being a true follower

It’s going to cost seemingly everything we love, but you get EVERYTHING in return

We’re going to be getting so much back. Jesus is always worth it

This week we’re going to be talking about The call we have from Jesus

The call is to follow Him…relentlessly

IN this passage Jesus is giving his disciples two approaches to life.

Deny Yourself-Live for yourself

Take up your cross-ignore the cross

Follow Christ-Follow the world

Lose your life for His sake-Save your life for your own sake

Forsake the World-Gain the world

Keep your soul-Lose your soul

Share His reward and glory-Lose His reward and glory

This passage is giving us 2 calls to follow. BUt a lot of times these calls can be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

I hope tonight we can clear up what these mean

English Standard Version Chapter 16

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Call 1-Take up your cross and follow me

This was a radical teaching of the day

Most people didn’t mention crosses

Because they were objects of immense torture

NOthing today could possibly compare to this horrendous death

A lot of people interpret taking up your cross as “carrying our burdens or our problems”

I don’t think this means that…i think taking up your cross is a lot more radical than that

To take up your cross means you’re willing to identify with Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death.

This means youre willing to associate with Christ even when it’s hard

Even when people aren’t going to like you for it

Even when you’re scared you’ll lose your friends…you’re following Jesus

Taking up your cross doesn’t mean silently putting up with the hardships in your life

IT doesn’t mean continually pepping yourself up so you can make it through the day

Taking up your cross means fixing your eyes on Jesus and running towards Him.

When you do that, a little voice is going to come inside your head asking “is it worth it”

Jesus is trying to explain at the end of this passage why it’s worth it, but we’re going to get to that in a minute.

What’s the next call we see?

Call 2- Follow me

To get the full scope of this we need to understand what and when Jesus said Follow me.

He told the disciples to follow Him and he’d make the fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)

When we follow Jesus we can accomplish His will

He pulls the people who follow Him out of sin (Luke 5:27) Levi sitting at tax booth.

When we follow the light of the world we won’t walk in darkness. (John 8:12)

Light leads, it exposes, it

Following Jesus gives us everything (Mark 10:21) Go sell everythign you have, and follow me.

Temporal treasures provide temporal happiness. Follow Eternal Jesus gives eternal happiness

ALl this Jesus does for us.

So what does it mean to follow God?

Obey Him before anyone

Cherish Him above anyone

Honor Him instead of anyone

Worship Him in front of anyone

Seek His truth above everything

Savor His goodness

Trust His faithfulness

Respect His justice

Fear His wrath

Cherish His grace

Prize His presence

Love Him before anything…That is how you follow God