“Follow
Me”
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. There
is a game show on television called, “To Tell the Truth.” Two or three guests
are introduced as having a particular
occupation (such as a double spy). Actually,
only one of them is the real thing. It is
up to the panel of celebrity judges to ask
questions and then vote on who they think
is telling the truth.
B. In
modern day Judaism there are three main divisions. They are Orthodox,
Conservative and Reformed.
1. In the United States and Europe 90% of
Jews are Conservative or Reformed.
2. In the modern nation of Israel the vast
majority of Jews are Orthodox. The
Orthodox Jewish men can be distinguished
by their black coats, hats and long
beards. Less than 1% of the Jews living
in Israel today are Conservative or
Reformed. Several years ago there was a
bill before the Israeli Knesset which
would outlaw the recognition of
conversions by Conservative or Reformed Rabbis.
In New York City an Orthodox rabbi spoke
at a news conference and said if Jews
could not attend an Orthodox synagogue
they would be better off to stay at home
and pray. Obviously there are vast differences
of opinions regarding the question,
“Who Is a real Jew?”
C.
What if we were to apply that question to Christianity? What does it really
mean to be
a disciple of Jesus Christ?
1. The word, “disciple” is found 269 times
in the New Testament compared to the
word, “Christian” that is found only
three times.
2. David Platt, of Birmingham, AL.,
describes three levels of discipleship that are
found in the New Testament and in our
modern world.
a. Casual – people who follow at a
distance.
b. Convinced – people who have a degree
of belief.
c. Committed – people whose lives are
radically altered by following Christ.
D.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? In Matthew 4:18-22 as Jesus began his
ministry
He called four men to follow Him. “Now as
Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee,
He saw two brothers, Simon who was called
Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting
a net into the sea; for they were
fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I
will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately
they left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there He
saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee
their father, mending their nets; and He
called them. 22 Immediately
they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”
E. In
the verse preceding this text Matthew said that Jesus began to preach, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
(Matthew 4:17).
1. To “repent” means, “to change.”
2. These four men illustrate four ways in
which Jesus must change our lives.
I. A CHANGE IN PURSUIT
A. Jesus said, “Follow me.”
1. As Jews these four men lived under
the Law of Moses (the Ten Commandments
and all of the rules and regulations
that came with them). For a Jew, keeping the
law with its commands and traditions
was everything. The problem was that no
one could do it. No one could be
made right with God by keeping the law.
2. Jesus fulfilled the law. He said, “Do
not think that I came to abolish the Law or
the Prophets; I did not come to
abolish but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). He was
tempted in every way as we are but
was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
3. Our justification does not come by
pursuing legalistic law keeping. It is found
in our relationship with the one who
kept it – Jesus.
B. Every world religion with the exception
of Christianity is based on human
achievement.
1. Judaism is based on keeping the law
of Moses.
2. Islam is based on keeping Islamic
law.
3. Eastern religions are based on human
effort.
4. Christianity is based on what Christ
has done for us.
C. When Jesus said, “follow me,” he was
calling for a change of pursuit. Rather than
seeking your own agenda, your own
righteousness and trying to pull yourself up
through your own effort Jesus says,
“trust in me.” In John 14:15 He said, “If you
love me you will keep my commandments.”
II. A CHANGE IN POWER
A. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make
you.”
1. Do you ever become frustrated because
of your failure to live for the Lord?
2. Perhaps one reason for this is our
tendency to rely on our own power rather than
God’s power.
a. An old timer woodsman heard about
a new invention called the “power chain
saw.” He decided to buy one.
After a few days he returned it to the store
complaining it was the most
frustrating thing he had ever tried to use. It was
hard to push back and forth. The store clerk
took the saw and started the
motor to which the surprised
woodcutter said, “What’s that?” The power had
been there all along. He had not
harnessed it.
b. Our power in not in ourselves. In
2 Corinthians 4:5 Paul wrote, “We do not
preach ourselves but Jesus
Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for
Jesus’ sake.” Later in verse 7 he said, “We
have this treasure in jars of clay
that the surpassing greatness of
the power may be seen to be of God and not
of ourselves.”
B. Consider the change Jesus made in the
lives of these men.
1. Peter – was reckless, opinionated and
sometimes violent. When he followed
Christ he was changed to a servant
and shepherd.
2. John was known as a “son of Thunder.”
He had ambition and longing for
greatness (Matthew 20:20-28). He
became known as the “apostle of love” (1
John 3:1).
B. The story of the disciples is never a
“snap shot.” It’s a video – a continuing story of
transformation as Jesus shaped and
molded their lives. When we follow Jesus he
shapes and molds us at every stage of
life.
III. A CHANGE IN PURPOSE
A. Up to this point in life these four men
had been fishermen.
1. They made a good living. James and
John, along with their father, had a boat.
2. Their purpose was “self.”
B. Jesus said, “I will change your purpose.
You’ve been fishing for fish. I will teach
you how to be a fisher of men.”
1. Jesus wants to dramatically change
the purpose of your life.
2. He calls you to a purpose that is
higher, greater and more exciting than anything
this world has to offer. When Jesus
calls you to be a fisher of men you had better
be ready to have a bigger boat! Too
often we settle for the trivial purposes of life.
C. On another occasion Jesus expressed this
change in purpose with these words,
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he
must deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow Me.” A,W, Tozier said that
taking up the cross means three things.
1. Facing one direction. A person
hanging on a cross can only face one way. When
you become a Christian you have one
purpose. A lot of Christians try to face
different directions. We want to
face our own pathway and face in the direction of
God when it’s convenient. Jesus
said, “no man can serve two masters”
(Matthew 6:24).
2. No going back. Once you’ve been
nailed to the cross you cannot come down. In
John 6 after the crowds had left
Him, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, “Will
you also go away?” Peter replied,
“Lord, to whom shall we go” (John 6:68).
3. You abandon your own agenda. We do
not understand repentance. Many think
repentance is being sorry and asking
forgiveness for our sins. Repentance is
abandoning our agenda and replacing
it with God’s agenda.
IV. A CHANGE IN PRACTICE
A.
Notice what Peter, Andrew, James and John did in response to the call of Jesus.
1. They left their nets and followed
Him.
2. In the case of James and John they
left their father Zebedee and the boat.
B. Can you imagine the change that occurred
in their lives?
1. There was a change in their families.
2. There was a change in their
priorities.
3. There was a change in their comfort
zone. In Matthew 19 Jesus told the rich
young ruler to sell his possessions
and follow Him. The young man was
sorrowful because he had many
possessions. Later, Peter asked (vs. 22) “we
have left everything. What will
happen to us?” Jesus assured Peter of a reward –
not in this life but in the one to
come.
CONCLUSION:
A. Perhaps
the most important question you will ever face is, “What does it mean to
be a real follower of Jesus Christ?”
1. The real answer to that question will
not the be words you use.
2. The real answer will be the life you
live each day.
B. Who
will follow Jesus, standing for the right? Holding up his banner, in the
thickest
fight? Listening for his order, ready to
obey. Who will follow Jesus, serving Him
today?’ Who will follow Jesus, who will
make reply, ‘I am on the Lord’s side, Master,
here am I.’ Will you follow Him? Will you come to Him in
faith, repentance and
baptism today? Who will you follow?
