Following Jesus
God predestined for us to follow and look like Jesus (Romans 8:28-32) “and we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He
also called; and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified,
them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for
us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
Ephesians 5:1-8 spells out the how to do it; it says “be you therefore, followers of
God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given
Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among
you, as becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, but rather giving of
thanks. For this you know, that no whore-monger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and
of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things
comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not you therefore
partakers with them. For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in
the Lord; walk as children of light”.
God equipped us with all things necessary for us to be that follower of Jesus, and
grow up into His image (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That
we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ”.
You can’t follow Jesus, if you don’t deny yourself (Matthew 16:24-25) “then said
Jesus to His disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and
whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it”.
Everyone that Jesus called, He said to them “follow Me”. He told them that the
disciple is not above his master, nor the servant his lord (Matthew 10:24). He goes
on in verses 37-40 “he that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of
Me, and he that loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he
that takes not his cross and follows after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that finds his
life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it. He that received
you, receives Me, and he that receives Me, receives Him that sent Me”. Remember
that Jesus said that the first commandment is for us to love the Lord our God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). Jesus
says “I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). In John 10:27 Jesus says “My sheep hear
My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”.
After telling the rich man to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and come and
follow Him, His disciples were amazed and then answered Peter and said to Him.
Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed You, what shall we have therefore?
And Jesus said to them, verily, I day to you. That you which have followed Me, in
the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that
has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or fathers, or mother, or wife or
children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold; and shall
inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:27-29).
The apostle Paul declares in I Corinthians 15:31 “I die daily”, and in Galatians 2:20
he says “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in
me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me”. Again in II Corinthians 5:14-15 Paul says “for
the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
them were all dead. And that He died for all, that they which live should not
hereafter live for themselves, but to Him which died for them, ad rose again”.
In Romans 6:16-19 says “know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of
obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were the servants of
sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered
you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. I
speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh; for as you
have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity;
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness to holiness”.
The apostle Paul advised us to follow him as he follows Christ. We are told to
follow after peace (Romans 14:18-19) “for he that in these things serves Christ is
acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”.
The apostle James tells us to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7-8a, 10) “submit
yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near
to God, and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He shall lift you up”.
The apostle Peter writes in I Peter 3:10-13 “for he that will love life, and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let
him turn from evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of
the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but te face
of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if you be
followers of that which is good”?
The book of Hebrews chapter 12:14 says “follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord”.
Jesus Himself had to deny Himself in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-
42) “then comes Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to the
disciples. Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him, Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then
says He to them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death; tarry you here,
and watch with Me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed,
saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not
as I will, but as You will. And He comes to the disciples, and finds them asleep, and
says to Peter. What, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that
you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He
went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may
not pass away from Me, except I drank it, Your will be done”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 3, 2011
God predestined for us to follow and look like Jesus (Romans 8:28-32) “and we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He
also called; and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified,
them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for
us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
Ephesians 5:1-8 spells out the how to do it; it says “be you therefore, followers of
God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given
Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among
you, as becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, but rather giving of
thanks. For this you know, that no whore-monger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and
of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things
comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not you therefore
partakers with them. For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in
the Lord; walk as children of light”.
God equipped us with all things necessary for us to be that follower of Jesus, and
grow up into His image (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That
we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ”.
You can’t follow Jesus, if you don’t deny yourself (Matthew 16:24-25) “then said
Jesus to His disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and
whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it”.
Everyone that Jesus called, He said to them “follow Me”. He told them that the
disciple is not above his master, nor the servant his lord (Matthew 10:24). He goes
on in verses 37-40 “he that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of
Me, and he that loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he
that takes not his cross and follows after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that finds his
life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it. He that received
you, receives Me, and he that receives Me, receives Him that sent Me”. Remember
that Jesus said that the first commandment is for us to love the Lord our God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). Jesus
says “I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). In John 10:27 Jesus says “My sheep hear
My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”.
After telling the rich man to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and come and
follow Him, His disciples were amazed and then answered Peter and said to Him.
Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed You, what shall we have therefore?
And Jesus said to them, verily, I day to you. That you which have followed Me, in
the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that
has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or fathers, or mother, or wife or
children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold; and shall
inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:27-29).
The apostle Paul declares in I Corinthians 15:31 “I die daily”, and in Galatians 2:20
he says “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in
me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me”. Again in II Corinthians 5:14-15 Paul says “for
the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
them were all dead. And that He died for all, that they which live should not
hereafter live for themselves, but to Him which died for them, ad rose again”.
In Romans 6:16-19 says “know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of
obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were the servants of
sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered
you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. I
speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh; for as you
have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity;
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness to holiness”.
The apostle Paul advised us to follow him as he follows Christ. We are told to
follow after peace (Romans 14:18-19) “for he that in these things serves Christ is
acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”.
The apostle James tells us to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7-8a, 10) “submit
yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near
to God, and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He shall lift you up”.
The apostle Peter writes in I Peter 3:10-13 “for he that will love life, and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let
him turn from evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of
the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but te face
of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if you be
followers of that which is good”?
The book of Hebrews chapter 12:14 says “follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord”.
Jesus Himself had to deny Himself in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-
42) “then comes Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to the
disciples. Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him, Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then
says He to them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death; tarry you here,
and watch with Me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed,
saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not
as I will, but as You will. And He comes to the disciples, and finds them asleep, and
says to Peter. What, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that
you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He
went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may
not pass away from Me, except I drank it, Your will be done”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 3, 2011
