Only Follow Him
INTRO: Last week I talked about our need to Only Trust Him. Today I want to continue on that approach and use for a thought, "Only Follow Him."
Last week we looked at the need to place our trust in the Lord. As easy as it sounds, that is very difficult for many to truly do. Today I want to talk about following the Lord. If we trust Him, then the next logical step is to follow Him. So, there are a few ideas I want to deal with when we look at following Him.
Hosea 6:1 - 11
1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.2
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.4
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.5
Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.7
But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.8
Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.9
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.10
I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.11
Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.NASB
for verse 3 - So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.We can see in this scripture, four things:
Our need to follow Him well - vs. 1, 2
He wants us back in His presence
He wants us in His presence
He wants us to stay in His presence
Second we see…
His blessings when we follow Him - 3
We can know we are with Him and He is with us
We can know He is real (as certain as the dawn!)
We can know He will bless us (like the spring rain)(as His record is he will be! )
Third, we can see…
The weakness of many who will not follow Him - 4-10
Their goodness does not last
There is a cost for not following God
Following God involves more than actions (involves attitudes)
God wants us (our lies) not our sacrifices or gifts
And fourth we see…
His desire to have us follow Him - 11
Gain the blessings of His fellowship
Follow Him in sweet obedience
Escape the captivity of sin
Jesus shared with us the blessings of following Him in John 8:12
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.Jesus also explained that we can be His sheep if we follow Him…
John 10:24 - 32 24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.26
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30
I and my Father are one.31
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?He claimed to be (and was) the Christ or Messiah
We make the choice of believing (and following) Him
We also make and pay the cost of rejecting Him as our Savior
When we reject Christ, we are as guilty as those wwho would have stoned Him to death - are youy stoning Him?
Later Jesus gave us some more insight about our need to follow Him
John 12:20 - 35 20And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.22
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.23
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.28
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.30
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.33
This he said, signifying what death he should die.34
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.From this we will deal with xxxx things…
Jesus should come first in our lives
We need to choose Him now while we are able
And last I want to look at what Peter shared with us about following the Lord…
1 Peter 2:21 - 25
21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.25
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.Christ paid a great price for our salvation
We should follow Him
We need to drop sin
We need to let Him protect and guide us
As I close, let me give you this to consider…
God has a plan for your life
Jesus, God's only Son, is the key to God's plan for you
Following Jesus is what you need to do
Choosing Him today is the best thing you can do
God loves you
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 022507am