To another He said "follow Me"
- Date: Sunday, June 26, 2016
- Speaker:
- Series: Worship Service
- Scripture: Luke 9:59, 1 Kings 19:9-21
"FOLLOW ME"
Luke 9:59
To Another He said " follow Me"
Theme: Christ Invitation
OTHER TEXTS: 1 Kings 19:9-21; Galatians 5:1,13-25
Introduction:
I don't know about you, but these words of Jesus at first glance caught my attention. Even though the moment was one in which my spirit was a little adift, maybe my thinking cap of faith was not yet operational. Maybe it was because the image of todays bulletin was fresh on my mind. You see, in it I assume is the representation of Luke 9:59, Jesus walking slightly ahead of the man next to Him and a couple more following closely behind.
My immediate reaction is; well, of course they follow Him, think of all they have experienced with Him. Who wouldn't follow Jesus.
Maybe it was my infantile mindset that led me to think, boy, if only we could have one, just one experience .....
I. GOD IS NOT INVITING US TO FOCUS ON EXPERIENCES.
a. In just one previous chapter we have a wealth of extroadinary experiences.
1. Jesus calms the storm.
2. Jesus frees a Gerasene man of demons.
3. Jesus resurrects Jairus' daughter.
4. Jesus feed the 5,000.
5. The Transfigutation
b. God does not invite us to focus on experiences but on His Word.
Faith does not come... but by hearing, and hearing the WORD of GOD.
II. GOD IS NOT INVITING US TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE.
Throughout Scripture we have a great cloud of witnesss (witnesses are not the focus, Truth is.)
Adam and Eve... Noah... Abraham.. Jacob...Moses.. Sampson... David.. Salomon.. all had flaws.. In todays' lessons Elijah and Paul represent them all well. Through them we learn that our God is the only true, living, loving, sovereign Lord of all.
III. GOD IS NOT INVITING US TO CONSIDER OURSELVES.
Jesus teaches us best through example... He did not consider being in the likeness of God somethimg to grab a hold of but empited Himself by taking the form of a servant, He became one of us to redeem us. How often are we reminded of Jesus focusing not on Himself but on His Father's will.
IV. GOD IS FOUND IN HIS WORD.
How precious is HIs Word.
In the 1st. lesson Elijah needs a little God in his day, he needs to find God... Not in the wind... Not in the earthquake... Not in the fire... but in His soft voice (Word) Elijah comes to the cave.... what an awesome discovery, God had been with him the whole time!! He is living the joy of Luke 9:51.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN... FOLLOW HIM... WITH HIS WORD FAITH WILL BE GIVEN, WE AND THOSE AROUND US WILL BE BLESSSED.
2. Noah