Today I preached on following Jesus. There are many things and ways we can follow in this world, but there is only one way that is the correct way. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. There is only one way for us to obtain forgiveness of our sins and there is only one way into Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.
This world in which we find ourselves living in is plunging deeper into darkness and wickedness. People have a deep void in their hearts and they are trying to fill that void with drugs, alcohol, sinful lifestyles, and other things. Those things that they reach for may be fun and exciting for a season, but eventually the fun wears off and they discover that they are trapped in bondage and they can't escape. They may feel trapped and hopeless. There is good news for them and for each one of us. Jesus Christ can set the worse offender free from the bondage of sin and wickedness. One must confess their sin to the Lord and repent of it and then receive Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Lord will help and the Lord will heal if we submit to Him and His leading.
We have a choice in life. We have the choice to follow the world's ways which will lead to destruction and loss or we can follow Jesus Christ and reap the eternal rewards of knowing Him as Lord and Savior.
Luke 5:1-11
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In order for us to follow Jesus we must know who He is. It is easy to know about someone, but to really know someone intimately is something totally different. It is no enough for us to know about Jesus. We must come to Him and have a relationship with Him. We do this by humbling ourselves and realizing who we are. We are sinners and we can't save ourselves because we are weak and we are not good enough to earn God's forgiveness or a place in Heaven.
We are all deserving of being eternally condemned and placed in a literal hell forever. The good news is that God does not desire that anyone go to hell and He made a way for us to be reconciled back to Himself by sending Jesus Christ on a rescue mission.
God demonstrated His great love towards each one of us by sending Jesus Christ to this earth to live a perfect and sinless life. Jesus went obediently to the Cross where He shed His blood for you and I. It is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ where we find forgiveness of our sins, but we must receive this forgiveness by faith but trusting in His grace.
Jesus arose from the dead on the third day to show us that He is indeed God and He is now at the right hand of God the Father. One day the Lord Jesus will return as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Jesus didn't leave us as orphans, but He give the Holy Spirit to indwell every one that has placed their faith in Him for the forgiveness of sin.
We must repent of our sins and receive Jesus Christ as out Lord and Savior then we are to follow Him. Peter and his friends left everything and followed Jesus. What have we left to follow Jesus?
I hope that we have left something to follow Jesus. Some have left their families, friends, jobs, a particular sin, and other things to follow Jesus.
Following Jesus isn't easy especially in an increasingly hostile world. The world is growing more hateful and angry towards the truth of who God is and His followers. Persecution will come to us eventually so I feel it is vitally important for us to know whom we are following. Are we following Jesus or are we following the world? Are we fishing for people an trying to win them to Christ? I hope we are because that is exactly what the Lord Jesus wants us to do. Proclaiming the truth of God's Word and preaching the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world is what we the Church is supposed to be all about. People need Jesus!
I chose to follow Jesus Christ for He is the One who died for my sins. I will cling to Him no matter what persecution and hard times may come for I know to whom I belong and in whom I trust. I trust the Lord Jesus with my daily life and with my eternal home.
Are you following Jesus?
Lord,
I chose to follow You wherever You lead me.
Help me not to be afraid and anxious.
Help me to have the courage and strength I need to do those things You would have me to do.
Make me a fisher of people that I may help lead someone to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Lead us and guide us by Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen.
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