WHY FOLLOW JESUS

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and let him follow me.
For whoever wishes to keep his life safe, will lose it; And whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it.
For what shall-a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world at the penalty of the price of his life?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?"

Jesus told his disciples, "follow me…"

Why do you follow Jesus?

Again and again Jesus confronted them with the challenge of the Christian, everyday life.
(Matt. 10:37-39; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 9:23-27; Luke 14:25-27; Luke 17:33; John 12:25).

Is it easy to follow Jesus?

1. If you are going to live the Christian life and follow Jesus, you must be prepared to deny yourself.

Usually we use the word self-denial as a type of "bondage". We use it to mean giving up something.

What is self-denial to you?

Self-denial:
Suffering for Jesus once a week;
May be a day when we do without certain pleasures;
or luxuries in order to contribute to some good cause.

This is our of thinking or concept of self-denial.

But what did Jesus want you to know about self-denial?

To deny oneself means:

1. In every moment of life to say no to self and yes to God.
2. Once, finally and for all to dethrone self and to enthrone God.
3. To eliminate self as the dominant principle of your life.
4. To make God the ruling passion of your life.

2. If you are going to live the Christian life you must be prepared to take up your cross.

What does the cross of Jesus mean to you?

The Symbol of the Cross:

The really important thing is not the great moments of sacrifice.
"Obedience is better than sacrifice."

You may ask," What is God want from of me?"
God wants from you a "Crucified Life."

3. If you are going to live the Christian life you must be prepared to follow Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Illustrate:
When we were young we used to play a game called "Follow my Leader."
Everything the leader did, however difficult, and, in the case of the game, however ridiculous, we had to copy.

Are you ready to follow Jesus Christ?

Why do you serve Jesus? For what reason?

Matthew 19:27-30
Then answering Peter said to Him, Behold, we have forsaken all and have followed You. Therefore what shall we have?
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
But many who are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

It is always true that he who shares Christ's battle will share Christ's victory!

In human warfare it has been too often true that the common soldiers who fought the battles were forgotten once the warfare was ended.
The victory was won, and their usefulness past.
It is not so with Jesus Christ.

He who shares Christ's warfare will share Christ's triumph;
He who bears the Cross will wear the crown.

It is always true that the Christian will receive far more than ever he has to give up!

If your Christian decision means that you have had to give up friends, or family, can you do that?

From many things, you as Christian may have to be separated from.
You can never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus your Lord.

4. Our Goal is Not Just Existing = But Living!

Question: Is there a difference between existing and living?

There is peace in the soul, joy in the heart, and a thrill in every moment.
I don't want to just exist I want to live life to its fullest!
The man who plays for safety loses life.

Living = The man who is faithful may die but he dies to live;
Existing = The man who abandons his faith for safety may live, but he lives to die.

If you meet life in the constant search for safety, security, ease and comfort, we are losing all that makes life worth while.

For man is made in the image of God.
It is the man who risks all for Christ, who finds life.
Only the person who is prepared "to give his life - that there is a God".

What can he give to get life back again?"

In every decision of your life, you are doing something to yourself:

It is possible for a man to gain all the things he set his heart upon.

Jesus asks: "What will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

There is no price which will buy a faithful friend or a disciplined soul.

A man owes himself and everything else to Jesus Christ.
There is nothing that a man can give to Christ in place of his life.

Question:
Is it possible for a man to give all his money to Christ and to withhold his life?

Is it possible for a man to say "I love Jesus" and to withhold his life from Jesus?


  Dale Boehs

15.03.2007