2023 Wk 13:
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FOLLOW ME: #1
FOLLOW ME: #1
SCRIPTURE...
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
I saw a great sign this week at Walmart as I venture down the aisle near the fabric section.
It simply said… “Love is being stupid together!”
Working with youth- I find that they will jump to do something pretty crazy sometime== well— so will I, Hello!
Jesus called his disciples
with two words— Follow Me!
Then Jesus turned to some other fishermen saying...
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
“They immediately followed him...”
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT IT IS TO FOLLOW JESUS!
What is special about Following Someone?
There is something special in following someone— 3 THINGS
you need to know who they are
where they have been and
where they are going
So it’s great that the disciples chose to Follow Jesus!
they came to know Him — THE SON OF GOD by faith from God’s Word and by his actions,
they could see where he had been and
where he was going because hope and life followed him all along the way.
WHERE HAD JESUS BEEN?
That begins to change everything even if there is fear, doubt, pride, miss trust
True Faith looks to find Jesus and that faith shifts our focus on to Him even in the midst of our fear— so...
“You don’t have to wait for the CALM
Jesus will meet you in the STORM.”
~Darryl Love, Pastor Crossover Community Church
FOLLOW ME IS...
DOING THE FATHER’S WILL AND
TOUCHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITH HOPE AND LIFE.
I have been doing a lent devotion and this past week has been about the concept:
less of me and more of him— that can only happen through being a Follower.
We first think of the good times— feeding 5000, raising the dead, turning water into wine, but...
Follow Me...Even into temptation…?
Being with Father happens in the closet and in the wilderness!
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Jesus had been in the presence of the Father.
He’s the Son of God!
KNOW THIS: He is still calling disciples today to—Follow Me!
BUT ALSO KNOW THIS: The devil messes with us doesn't he?
The Devil is always trying to remind us where we have been
Constant fellowship with Jesus releases the guilt and shame
yes, you were so unrighteous
Jesus has made you righteous
You will never be too far from God…don’t entertain that thought— it is a lie.
STORY OF MATTHEW
There is a story of one of Jesus’ Disciples who fits this category to the “T”, seriously!
He was...
an outcast
he felt shameful
he was hated and despised by others
he betrayed his very own
his parents probably hated him too...
What did the “T” stand for? “Tax Collector”.
He was Matthew!
What was going through Jesus’ mind when he called Peter, Matthew, Mickey.
What was Jesus thinking!
WELL, IT’S NOT ABOUT US— it’s about Him.
He has the power to heal and even forgive sins.
WHAT IF, somebody not like us, comes to Christ and then begins serving at church and becomes a leader!!
God has gifted us all for His pleasure.
He wants to use us— it’s not right for us to tack our comfort level to that gifting.
We need to give it all whole-heartedly
SO WHAT IF, that somebody who is not like you, comes to Christ…?
drug dealer, prostitute, thief, whoever...They come...
will you leave or not accept what God Wants to do through them?
or what God wants to do through your?
Easter is Coming and the my prayer is that the graves that people are bound in will begin to open up and we will have to deal with people who are not like us.
The sick need a doctor and you are that medical team that God wants to use!!!
Following Jesus is not a call to a perfect world...
It’s a call to heal a dying world
It’s a call first for us dying to ourselves and making less of me and more of Him—
Crying out saying, “Lord, Make me more like you!”
IT IS AT THIS POINT THAT WE HEAR Jesus calling “follow me”
Jesus pours into us...
His Righteousness,
His goodness,
His love,
His life,
His forgiveness…
and then out flows the
shame,
guilt,
sin,
past mistakes,
hatred,
bigotry,
pride, and
so much more.
NUGGET OF TRUTH...
What does Matthew’s name mean? Anyone?
It means “Gift of God”
God saw him as a gift even when others did not accept him!
What does Father see in you?
What will you see in those who live around you or who might be coming Easter?
What is it to FOLLOW HIM?
WELL, WHAT DID JESUS DO?
He did the will of the Father and touched people with hope and life!
We often don’t attain, because we are still living out of a proud heart.
We need to come to the end of our self like Peter who when he saw Jesus stretch out his hand and say come—crawled out of the boat and walked towards Jesus.
We need to simply Follow Him with these three points to guide us!
Don’t allow who you use to be, to define who you are as a Follower of Jesus
Don’t allow a critical spirit to mess up the move of the Holy Spirit. (bitterness, gossip... can distract)
Don’t allow your comfort to determine God’s Call
Let me add one more...
Don’t allow worry of things you can’t control rob your joy in this moment.
Let’s deal with what Father wants you to do and do that!
HERE IS OUR TAKE AWAY TODAY:
To FOLLOW JESUS is to do the Will of the Father and to Touch peoples lives with that same hope and life that Jesus offered to others.
BE A FOLLOWER
BE A DOER OF THE WORD
BE ONE WHO TOUCHES OTHERS WITH HOPE AND LIFE
Let’s Pray
“I’M A FOLLOWER”
Resources:
TEACHING
https://www.crossovercommunitychurch.com/media/ftkwcrf/follow-me-week-1-feb-26-2023
https://www.crossovercommunitychurch.com/media/m223r3t/follow-me-week-2-march-5-2023
CCC SONGS
-----Part One
Vertical Worship - Not Done Yet (with lyrics)(2020)
https://youtu.be/OYdtiLkd2FU
Holy Spirit (In Your Presence)
There Is A King (Morning & Evening) by Elevation Worship
https://youtu.be/3CBJ7lkXWVA
I Speak Jesus by Darlene Zschech
https://youtu.be/jopkJhN7Ufk
--------Part ‘Two
There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do
https://youtu.be/37CZnA_OP3c
His Name Is Jesus - Phil Wickham (Lyrics)
https://youtu.be/KfaNmNmyBS8
Promises (feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine) | Maverick City Music | TRIBL
https://youtu.be/q5m09rqOoxE
**I FOUND THIS SONG WHILE SEARCHING FOR “His Name Is Jesus”
The King is in the Room
https://youtu.be/GM6pt2nf-m8 (spontaneous)