Title : THE COMMAND TO FOLLOW
CHRIST
Texts: Matt. 9:1-10 and Matt.16:24.
Introduction: Following Jesus is
not an option for those who believe in Christ. It is repeatedly found in the
New Testament, where Jesus calls people and disciples to Follow Him. It
happened right after the miracle of healing a man with Palsy. Jesus called
“Matthew” the tax collector to follow Him, Levi who was called as Matthew
followed Him immediately. Jesus called the disciples with this great two words
“Follow Me.” (Matt.4:19; John 1:43 … etc)
Following Jesus is not an easy
task, that’s why we see multitude of people who decided to follow Jesus turns
back and started following the world. Following Jesus costs lot of efforts from
our side, also it is not “blind following” of chasing the wind. Those who
follow Jesus are promised to get hundredfold blessing in His kingdom. Several
prosperity gospel preachers give the teaching of Christian life without pain
and full of prosperity. Biblically it is not so, the follower of Jesus must
endure lots of trials for the sake of Christ and His gospel (John 16:33).
While Jesus was on the earth some
wanted to follow Jesus – Jesus rejected them; some did not want to follow Him –
Jesus called them and finally Jesus asked His disciples to make “disciples of
all nations” (Matt. 28:19 NIV). Many people in the time of Jesus followed with
different ambitions. Some wanted to see/experience miracles (Matt.8:16-18),
some came to eat/pass time with Jesus but few followed Jesus to hear his
teachings (Matt.7:28). Even today we see this kind of people in the church, who
comes to the church and goes out within a short while.
But Jesus in His command meant
something more than “self-centered” but “God-centered.” The primary verse for
today’s believers Matt 16:24, which teaches us to do something for Him (Jesus).
I made three steps commanded by Jesus to follow Him, as long as we live in this
world.
1. Follow Jesus; by leaving everything (Matt 9:9)
The followers of Jesus must leave everything for the sake of the gospel. The disciples of Jesus were busy people, who should work hard to feed themselves. But they obeyed the command of Jesus “Follow Me!” it needs sacrifice and service. It will be self contrary if I say today “Leave everything and follow Jesus,” it is leaving everything which hinders us to follow Jesus.
There are several hindrances
against us, in our daily lives as we walk with Jesus. It can be Finance/
Carrier/ Properties/ Relations … etc. Jesus wanted us to leave everything which
hinders us to walk with Him. Peter and Andrews were to leave their boats and
fishing net to follow Jesus, imagine they never thought of their food/ family
and relations. They immediately followed Jesus leaving everything behind. Today
many are following Jesus with fishing net on the other hand/ or following Jesus
with the things which hinders themselves to follow Jesus.
Matt.9:9, we see Matthew on the
other hand immediately responded Jesus by leaving everything he had in his
hands. God wants His followers to follow Him absolutely (I kings 18:21), in
many cases when we fail to leave things for God; he takes it out of us.
Matt 8:21-22, we see a man who
was called by the Lord but he was interested to bury his father, prior to
following Jesus. I imagine, this father not even died now – he wanted to wait
till his father dies. Nothing in us should hinder our walk with Jesus, but we
should leave the things which hinder us to follow Him.
A pastor loved his son so much,
even more than God. One fine day, he met with an accident and died in the spot.
He was shocked of this sudden accident. His complaint of God’s action his
preaching, Bible reading, all spiritual activities found empty of comparing
with his son. He kept a picture of his son inside the bible and looked at him
whenever he started reading bible. He stopped reading the Bible and cried to
the Lord “Why did it happen.” One fine day the Lord spoke to him in a mild
voice, “what for are you crying?” “Your son is with me, are you not happy about
it?” “It is the only way to make you closure to me.” The pastor stopped crying
and followed Jesus with one accord – removed his son’s picture from the
Bible.
When we are not interested in
leaving something hindering following Him, God removes it from us because “He loves”
our walking with Him. We must be willing to leave our position, properties,
money, habits, relations or whatever it may be, if it hinders our walk with
Jesus.
2. Follow Jesus: By Denying Yourself:
Matt 16:24, we see Jesus spoke to His Disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Denying oneself is the hardest job than leaving the things hinders our walk with Jesus. That’s why Jesus said this to the spiritually matured disciples. “Not preferring things for ourselves” is denying self. It is the key meaning of “Lenten days” – self sacrifice to imitate Jesus’ sufferings.
The disciples have left already
what they had for themselves, now it’s even harder commandment to deny our
preferences. In Mark 10:21 we see about a rich young man, who did not want to
give up his wealth, which he possessed for himself.
Similar question asked by Peter
in Matt.19:27-29, what do we get as we followed you leaving everything? Jesus
replied “Verily I
say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son
of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or
lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit
everlasting life” Therefore denying ourselves has a great reward in the
future, though it is hard as long as we live in the world. Are we ready to
follow Jesus by denying ourselves?
3. Follow Jesus: By taking our own Cross: (Matt.16:24)
“Take up his (own) cross” – not
the cross of Jesus Christ, neither it is an imitation of carrying literal cross
as Roman Catholics do in the “Good Friday.” Cross represents Shame, Pain,
suffering, weary, thirsty, heaviness and trials. Being a follower of Christ is
carrying these elements with joy and happiness. One must endure in all these
hardships to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. For the sake of Following
Jesus Christ one might have to lose his family, friends, wealth … etc. must
face hardships and suffering in the community. Usually the people of the world
do not bother about a person who is a drunkard or evil man in the society. But
they bother if he/she follows Jesus faithfully. It is a kind of cross a
believer must carry all through his life time.
There are millions of such examples we could see around the world, people persecuted for the sake of following Christ, beaten, abandoned and executed. All the true followers endured in that carrying of sweet cross looking at the heavenly glory. Even in India we see lots of saints lived an exemplary life to bring glory to the name of the Lord. Pastor K.E. Abraham and Sis Annamma Maman are few examples for carrying the cross of shame and abandoned from their homes. But the Lord lifted them up because of their rejoice in following Christ forsaking everything.
Are you ready to “Follow Jesus”
by keeping all the above things/ commandments? It is not easier to follow
Jesus; if we follow Him faithfully we will not get lesser reward from Him.
Sing every day the following Song
to assure your walk with God.
I have decided to follow Jesus; (3)
No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will
follow; (3)
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross
before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I
will follow; (3)
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus? (3)
No turning back, no turning back.
The Story of this great song,
About 150 years ago, there was a
great revival in Wales, England. As a result of this, many missionaries came
from England and Germany to North-East India to spread the Gospel. At the time,
north-east India was not divided into many states as it is today. The region
was known as Assam and comprised hundreds of tribes. The tribal communities
were quite primitive and aggressive by nature. The tribals were also called
head-hunters because of a social custom which required the male members of the
community to collect as many heads as possible. A man’s strength and ability to
protect his wife was assessed by the number of heads he had collected. Therefore,
a youth of marriageable age would try and collect as many heads as possible and
hang them on the walls of his house. The more heads a man had, the more
eligible he was considered. Into this hostile and aggressive community, came a
group of Welsh missionaries spreading the message of love, peace and hope of
Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed. One Welsh missionary succeeded
in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved
contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity. Angry, the village
chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first
converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the
Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years.
He sang:
I have decided to follow Jesus.
(3 times)
No turning back, no turning back.
Enraged at the refusal of the
man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. As both boys
lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You
have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.” But the man sang
these words in reply:
Though no one joins me, still I
will follow. (3 times)
No turning back, no turning back.
The chief was beside himself with
fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. In a moment she joined her two
children in death. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more
opportunity to deny your faith and live.” In the face of death the man sang the
final memorable lines:
The cross before me, the world
behind me. (3 times)
No turning back, no turning back.
He was shot dead like the rest of
his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had
ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered, “Why
should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a
far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some
supernatural power behind the family, and I too want that supernatural power.”
In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus
Christ!” When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole
village accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is the power of [God in]
demonstration.
(This sermon was preached
by Mr. Asap Singh in the preparatory Lenten day’s service at Thomas Chapel,
Sharon Gardens, Salem on 15th February 2012)
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