What Does God Want?

I. Introduction: Poetry “In This Short Life That Only Lasts an Hour” by Emily Dickinson

a. One of the shortest poems I have read. It is only two lines.

b. “In this short Life that only lasts an hour; How much – how little – is within our power.’

II. Prologue:

a. Many individuals feel a sense of uncertainty for our new Year 2021 due to the turmoil and turbulence of the last year 2020. Last year, we experienced a global pandemic that impacts all the nations and civil unrest in the United States.

b. It is still not over. We crossed over to the New Year 2021, carrying the same problems from the year 2020.

i. COVID-19 Pandemic statistics.

1. The COVID-19 Pandemic is still here.

2. As of January 29, 2021, Worldwide, 102 mil cases of COVID-19 and 2.2 mil deaths.

3. The U.S. had 25.8 mil cases and 433,000 deaths.

ii. Unemployment and business statistics.

1. The pandemic still impacts people and businesses in 2021.

2. Small business revenue has been down 20%

3. Chapter 11 bankruptcies have increased since last year[1]

4. In the U.S., there were 4.8M unemployment claims (Ongoing) on January 16, 2021.

iii. The closures of schools, churches, and businesses.

1. Many school doors are still closed. Parents are struggling with their children to do online learning.

2. Many people had to close the doors of their businesses. The hard-earned money and sacrifice of entrepreneurship are gone suddenly.

3. What about the churches? The very place many of us find comfort, peace, and spiritual nourishment are no longer open to the public. We now have the online worship experience.

iv. Oh yes, the Year 2021 is starting to look and feel more like a continuation of the Year 2020.

c. The uncertainty has made many of us feel like we have entered into an unknown space.

d. Do you all remember how last year, in January 2020, we had all these sayings?

i. 2020 the year of vision.

ii. 2020 the year of focus.

iii. 2020 the year of alignment

e. Suddenly our vision, focus, and hopes of alignment were dashed to pieces.

f. Now, the question is, what does the future hold for us in the year 2021? What is going to happen in the Year 2021? What are the goals and the objectives? What are the mottos for the year 2021 from businesses, churches, and educational institutions? What should the people focus on this year? Here’s the bigger question….

g. What Does God Want from me?

h. It seems to be the primary question some folks are asking today. What does God want from me?

i. After much thought and prayer, brothers and sisters, I believe I have an answer.

III. Who Should We Follow?

a. First, let me suggest that we need someone who can lead us during this time of the unknown.

i. We cannot follow anybody.

Illustration: “Perhaps the most famous artistic depiction of the phrase is Pieter Bruegel’s The Blind Leading the Blind. The distemper on canvas painting was completed in 1568, and is currently in the collection of the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples, Italy.

1. The artwork depicts six blinds, men, following one after the other. Meanwhile, the first man falls down because he cannot see.

2. Matt 15:14 says, “And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

ii. Oh no, brothers and sisters, we cannot follow anybody.

iii. We must follow the one who knows all things. We need to follow someone who knows the God that is omnipresent and omnipotent. The one who has all power and holds the world in his hand.

iv. We need to follow someone who can heal and deliver during the pandemic.

v. I propose that somebody is Jesus.

vi. Who shall we follow? We need to follow Jesus.

b. Who is Jesus?

i. He is the Word.

1. I am glad you ask. According to John 1:1-3, He is the Word.

2. If there is ever a time, we need the Word of God in our lives is now. If there is ever a time we need to pick up our Bible and apply it to our lives, it is now.

ii. He is the light

1. Not only is he the Word, Verse 4 and 5 tell us that he is the light.

2. I told you that living during this pandemic and civil unrest, it seems like we had many dark and dreary days. Therefore, we need the light of revelation to help us change our perspective.

3. We need the light of love to help us do right to our neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends, who are getting on our last nerves.

4. We need the light.

iii. He is the savior

1. He is the Word, the light, and our savior. The very point this author tries to prove throughout this gospel.

2. Jesus is our savior.

3. Verse 18 tells us that Jesus is “the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father.”

c. Therefore, brothers and sisters, I will not follow anybody, but I am determined to follow Jesus.

d. This year in 2021, we need to follow Jesus and become his disciple.

e. It leads me to my next question. Why should we follow Jesus?

IV. Why Should We Follow Jesus?

a. Why should we follow Jesus? I know somebody here today wants to know. If you do not mind, I would like to bring a couple of witnesses to the stand.

i. In verse 40, it tells me that Andrew decided to follow Jesus because John the Baptist says that he is a witness that Jesus is the chosen Lamb of God.

ii. Brother Andrew, can you tell us why we should follow Jesus?

1. I believe I hear Brother Andrew saying, “We should follow Jesus because he is all-knowing. Jesus knows more about you than you know about yourself.”

a. Brother Andrew says, “I heard Jesus witness to a woman from a marginalized community, a woman that belongs to a different race. A woman of Samaria, who was despised by the Jews. A woman that others did not consider good enough. A woman that others had negative things to say about her and her lifestyle. Tell the people, I have seen Jesus help make that woman want to live again. He told her that “whoever drinks of the water that I will give shall never thirst; but the water that I will give will become a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

b. Brother. Andrew says, tell the people they should follow Jesus to gain a new perspective on life during the pandemic. They should follow Jesus to renew their strength. They should follow Jesus because he knows what already happens and what lies ahead in 2021.

c. Follow Jesus because he is the better guide in 2021.

iii. Thank you, Brother Andrew, but If you don’t mind, I need to call your brother Peter to the witness stand.

iv. Brother Peter, In verse 41, it tells me that your brother Andrew decided to become an evangelist and told you about a man named Jesus. You chose to follow Jesus for yourself.

1. Brother Peter, can you tell us why we should follow Jesus?

2. I believe I hear Brother Peter saying that we should follow Jesus because he can supply our needs, whether great or small.

a. There is nothing too big of a challenge for him. I saw him feed five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish. There is nothing too big for Jesus.

b. Also, there is no care too small for him to do. Brother Peter says, I watched Jesus turn water into wine for a wedding. If he made wine for a wedding, then you know that it is no matter too small that God will not do for you.

c. Tell the people preacher that Jesus can handle your lack of finances during this pandemic, Jesus can help with your anxiety with social distancing, Jesus can help you with your fears of catching this deadly virus.

d. Peter goes on; it is the very reason I tell saints in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

e. Follow Jesus because He cares for you.

v. Thank you, Brother Peter, but I need to make room on the stand for Brother Philip. Brother Philip, can you please take the stand?

1. Brother Philip, I understand that you were one of the disciples that Jesus personally recruited within our text. I find it amazing that in verse 43, all Jesus had to say is “Follow Me” and you followed. Tell me, Brother Philip, why should the people follow Jesus today?

2. Philips says, Tina, I believe the people need to understand that Jesus is a healer and a deliverer.

a. I want the people to know that Jesus has all power over all sickness. Tell the people that I saw Jesus heal a cripple man at the pool of Bethesda. When no one else would help the man, Jesus did. When the doctors could not help him, Jesus did. Even the angels overlooked this poor man, but Jesus didn’t. Tell the people Jesus is a healer.

b. Let the people know I did not see Jesus heal only one person. Tell them that I had seen him heal a blind man from birth. So, let the people know that Jesus has more power than cancer, more power than Lupus, more power than diabetes, more power than arthritis, and more power than coronavirus.

c. I said Jesus is a healer.

vi. Thank you, Brother Philip. If you all do not mind, I need to bring one last witness to the stand.

vii. Brother Nathanael, are you there? It is my understanding that, at first, you were a little reluctant to follow Jesus. I need you to testify what made you change your mind about following Jesus. You see, I still believe I have a few people who may not be convinced that we need to follow Jesus during these troubling times. Can you please testify, brother Nathanael?

1. I heard Jesus say one day say “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6). I see him be life when the world sucks it out of you. I have seen him be life in dead situations.

a. Tell the people; I was with Jesus when I heard him tell a woman whose brother died that “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live even if he dies…” (John 11:25).

b. Tell them, I seen him go to the grave that belonged to the same woman’s brother—a man who had been buried for over four days. Tell them I seen Jesus had the people remove the stone from the entrance of the grave. I heard Jesus call the man’s name, Lazarus, Lazarus Come Forth, Lazarus. And the dead man came forth. Lazarus Lazarus Come Forth Lazarus!

c. Tina, Tina, Come Forth Tina!

d. Job, job, Come Forth Job!

e. Business, business, Come Forth Business!

f. Church, church, Come forth, Church!

viii. Today, I believe we have some people who need to know that Jesus can help you with the dead things in your life. Somebody may have closed their business, but I want you to understand that your business can come back to life with the help of God.

ix. You may have lost your job, but keep the faith, keep applying, get your skills up to part because God can bless you with another job.

x. You may have had Covid-19 or been diagnosed with Covid-19 recently, but I want you to know God can still heal you, keep the faith.

xi. It is the reason why I say Jesus is the one we should follow.

V. Follow Jesus

a. Follow Jesus by putting his words into practice – for he is the Word.

b. Follow Jesus by becoming the lights of the world and showing love to other people– for he is the light.

c. Follow Jesus by encouraging others to become his disciples as well – for He is the savior.

VI. Conclusion

a. Because If you don’t follow Jesus, who else are you going to follow?

i. Who is better than Jesus to lead in the unknown of 2021?

ii. Who else are you going to follow?

1. Are you going to follow your best friend, who is in the same predicament as you?

2. Are you going to follow your favorite tv star and icon who doesn’t even know you?

3. Are you going to follow social media? You know what they say, it’s not true until it hit social news, or shall I say fake news.

4. Are you going to follow Oprah and the O’ Magazine or Iyana, Fix My Life?

5. Who else are you going to follow?

b. Is there anyone else better than Jesus? I said, is there anyone else better than Jesus?

c. I heard the Psalmist Vashawn Mitchell say

i. I climbed up to the highest mountain I looked all around, couldn’t find nobody Went down into the deepest valley Looked all around down there, couldn’t find nobodY I went across the deep blue sea Couldn’t find one to compare... To your grace,

ii. Your love, Your mercy Nobody greater... Nobody greater than you

iii. Searched all over...

iv. Couldn’t find nobody I looked high and low... Still couldn’t find nobody Nobody greater... Nobody greater no... Nobody greater than you

d. What Does God Want from Me?

i. I proposed that he wants us to follow Jesus.

e. What does God want from us this year in 2021 as we face the unknown? Just follow Jesus and become his disciple.

[1] Ten Facts about COVID-19 and the U.S. Economy (brookings.edu)