Worship Call 0667 GPS, Map or Guide?

Two words which were at the crossroads of each of the twelve’s disciples’ lives. It marked a path that if taken would be the course that would lead to each picking up their own crosses, and may I say gladly, (except for Judas) and it was the coarse that gave life in abundance. An life eternal. A life that would lead to them in the future of sitting on twelve thrones over the tribes of Israel.

Yes, there would be a cost involved. But to consider that no eye has seen, and no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him, what small price we would pay in comparison.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Jim Elliot

Missionary to Ecuador

Gave his life in the line of duty

And this is another fine day in the Lord.

The journey into eternity, the journey on the path to Glorify God and Enjoy him forever began with the words

“Follow me.”

Mark 2:14 (NASB95) — 14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

WE began yesterday with these powerful words spoken by our Savior,

“Akolouthei moi” Follow me

In the next few days, we look at the aspects of the command to follow

1. To follow to a destination

2. Orientation to authority

3. Discipleship

4. The cost of following

The Present Active indicative akolouthew is the command to follow.

36.31 μαθητεύωa; ἀκολουθέωc: to be a follower or a disciple of someone, in the sense of adhering to the teachings or instructions of a leader and in promoting the cause of such a leader—‘to follow, to be a disciple of.’[1]

There is much to consider with regard to the Command of the Lord but let’s begin with

Following to a destination

“I am going to a certain place that you do not know, Follow me there.”

Jesus said to His disciples

John 14:1–6 (NASB95) — 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

If in fact, you say that you have eternal life and that you are going to where you are going after death, on what basis may I ask?

How do you find a place where you have never been? GPS? Map?

Is your GPS reliable? Ever got lost using a GPS? If not, you don’t use it enough.

Ever got lost using a map, especially when the location is not the on the map?

are you looking for the place without a guide?

Are you the husband that refuses to ask for directions?

Are you following another, who knows how to get there, to the place you want to go? That other being the Lord Jesus Christ.

The two in the garden followed direction that led them right out of the Garden and to the place of death. Are you so sure that your own map will not lead you to a place that you do not want to go?

What kind of glorious information do you have that will lead to heaven, and dismiss the words of the Lord who says

“Follow me.” Akolouthei moi

The one whom we, Christian’s follow, is the one who made the declaration

John 14:6 (NASB95) — 6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus also said

Matthew 7:14 (NASB95) — 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Eternity is an awful long time to have arrived at the wrong place because of bad directions.

“Follow me.” Akolouthei moi

Has a second inference which is

Authority Orientation

The first thing within the United States Military Structure that the recruit learns is Subordination to Authority.

Earlier in history of boot Camp when one could not orient to Authority they were washed out and sent home. All military success hinges of upon an instant willingness to authority.

The Christian life is no different. The first hurdle in the Journey that leads to maturity in the faith is orientation to God’s Sovereignty.

IN the opening chapter of Joshua, Moses had died, and it was that General Joshua was to take over has the field commander for the conquest of the Land of Canaan.

Joshua 1:1–9 (NASB95) — 1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua was to follow God’s plan.

Notice the verse

. 8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Even the success of the high command depends upon its willingness to give homage to the Authority above them.

It is Yahweh who is the commander and chief of the armies which Joshua was to follow. Not his own way but God’s way. After all it is his plan. Is it not?

Joshua was the General over the ground forces that would go in and conquer Canaan, but Joshua was not the supreme leader. Joshua was subordinate under Yahweh.

Joshua 5:13–15 (NASB95) — 13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’shost said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Your life is not your own, and until you realize that, and submit to the Authority of God and to His word, your life in Christ is at a standstill. You may be saved but standing before the Lord at the evaluation seat of Christ you will stand there naked with noting to show for the Life that Christ died for.

The way to the place where our lives are maximized for the glory of the Lord begins and ends as it was with Joshua on his face saying to the Lord

“What has my lord to say to his servant?”

Following the command of the Lord is orientation to His Authority.

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