Series: Things Jesus Wants Us To Know
Part 3 - Come And Follow Him (All The Way)
INTRO: Two weeks ago I started a series entitled "Things Jesus Wants Us To Know." Part 1 was, "He Is The One Sent By God For You." In that we saw that Jesus was and is identified as the only Son of God in whom we can place our trust and confidence in for salvation.
Last week I looked again at Luke 4 where we saw, Satan Can Be Defeated (Through Jesus). Jesus wants us to know this as He set the example and gives us encouragement to fight and resist Satan.
Today I want to look into Luke 5 and we will see our need to follow Jesus all the way.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus wants with your life? What would He say to you if He were standing here in the flesh? If He had a written agenda in His hand and handed it to you, what would His directions be? Well let's look into God's Word today and see what He wants us to know.
Luke 5:1 - 39
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6
And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.12
And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.13
And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.14
And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.15
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.16
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.17
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.18
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.19
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.20
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?23
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?24
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.25
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.26
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.27
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.28
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.29
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.30
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?31
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.33
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?34
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.36
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.37
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.38
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.39
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.Let us look at what we can see Jesus would want us to have…
An addition of His instruction - 1-3
Good advice is good advice
Keeps us on right track
Keeps us from trouble
Keeps our goals on schedule
Changes our goals
Good teaching is good teaching
Uncovers thoughts we should have
Uncovers thoughts we might miss
Uncovers a desire (hopefully) to do right
He would want us to have…
An adjustment of our direction - 4
May not be our of our choosing
May not look perfect
May not look too exciting
But it should be our action
As well He wants for us…
An attainment of His success - 5-6
There is no better success than His' success
He can bless when no other blessing is there
He can bless greater than we can imagine
He will bless when we are obedient
He would also want…
An allocation of His blessings - 7
Share His blessings with others - they will help
Share His blessings with others - it works
Share His blessings with others (it grows) - boy's lunch
Luke 9:12 - 17
12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.13
But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.14
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.15
And they did so, and made them all sit down.16
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.17
And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
All these will help bring to us…
An abandonment of our own purpose and an affectation of His purpose
- 8-11; 27-28
We lack the goodness
We lack the knowledge
We should seek His purpose
And last, He would want for us…
An alteration of our life - 36-39
We cannot just "tack on" new things of Christ to our lives
We must put on a new life (in Him)
We must put off our old life in the process
Let us understand…
We need salvation, not modification of behavior
We need salvation not just turning over a new leaf
We need salvation not just stop sinning
Let me ask and answer a question…
Why follow Jesus?
He wants us to follow Him
He calls for us to follow Him (like the disciples)
It is right for us to follow Him
He will bless us with His gift of eternal life when we accept and follow Him
Like the disciples…
We will help others follow Him
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 031807am