#287 Impact Verbs We Value, Series# 1, FOLLOW

#287 Impact Verbs We Value, Series# 1, FOLLOW
By: Pastor Karl Thomas

“Transforming lives to IMPACT their world.”  Impact Verbs We Value

If you read the Gospels (History Books) about Jesus life. You can only come to one conclusion. Jesus is highly relational.
John 1:12 “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Matthew 4:19 “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.ʼ”
Mark 3:14 “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,…”

Luke 5:8-9  “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesusʼ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;…”

I canʼt hang out with you. I can’t respond in kind. You are out of my league!
Luke 5:10-11 “‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ … they forsook all and followed Him.”

Matthew 9:9-13  “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”
That would have caused confusion with His followers. He just called the most vile offender to follow Him.

Matthew if you can do this:    (CHECK THESE BOXES)   Then you can follow me.

VERSE 10
“Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.”

Jesus would like you.
Jesus was so comfortable with Himself that He made you feel great. He was comfortable with people who were not at all like Him.   If you are not comfortable … thatʼs my fault.

VERSE 11
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?ʼ” (Tax Collectors — Own category) Jesus was constantly shadowed by the religious people of the day.

VERSE 12
“When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.ʼ”  Are you calling me sick?  Come on … you’re a tax collector.

VERSE 13
“‘But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.ʼ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.ʼ”    Sacrifice —Church to often requires effort and behaviour modification.

Pharisee Message:    Change and you can join us.
Jesus Message:      Join me and you can change.   JESUS LOVE IS THE FORCE IN OUR DEVOTION!!! 

John 11:2-3
“… brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.ʼ”
BAD ATTEMPT … Lord Please I’ve been good … Lazarus helped poor people and supported your trip!
You have one short note to move Jesus to come for your brother … what do you say?

How much of my life serving Jesus have I made it all about me.
How much focus have I put on my behaviour and my performance.
Could it be that the whole focus of Godʼs Word, the whole purpose of Christianity, is to reveal Godʼs love for His creation.

Those closest to Jesus appear to be far more preoccupied with His love for them rather than their love for Him. We need to get delivered from a behaviour modification gospel. God Loves You!!!

John 13:23
“Now there was leaning on Jesusʼ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
ABOUT HIMSELF … 3RD PERSON … INSPIRED HOLY TEXT!!!
John used this phrase to refer to himself 5xʼs in the gospel he wrote. Right there in the Inspired Word!

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”    (Cheryl running down field a Dylans football game … REF … What???)
“world”:—the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.

Groupie:— a person, especially a young woman, who regularly follows a pop music group or other celebrity in the hope of meeting or getting to know them. Karly — Kevin Costner …  Cheryl — Brad Pit
God you are loving people who are going to disappoint you. You are going to get hurt. They wonʼt reciprocate.

Psalm 3:5 “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.”
Zechariah 2:8 “…he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.”
Psalm 115K12 “The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us…”

1 John 4:10
“This is love not that you loved God but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Romans 2:4
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness (kindness) of God leads you to repentance (change)?”
To experience the full measure of His kindness demands relationship.

FOLLOW ME:
1. Being a sinner is a prerequisite.  … Starts with being lost broken messed up … Make SAINTS!!!
2. Not getting it all is okay.  (Virgin Birth / Trinity / Atonement)
3. Relational and not Rule based.
4. Your focus is on where you are and not where your not. Are you with JESUS?

FOLLOW JESUS

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