Who Will Follow Jesus!

Who Will Follow Jesus?

 

 

Who will follow Jesus, Who will make reply, I am on the Lord’s side; Master, here am I?

I will follow Jesus, I will make reply, I am on the Lord’s side! Master, here am I!

* Preview. Some of our preachers proudly say: "I am not a Campbellite." Well, I am not either. I am just a Christian. Campbell lived in a different world, stressed by the French & Indian War, the War of 1812, and under frontier conditions. But I respect his memory and the things he did and taught. As he did, I strive to read the Bible to learn what it really says, not to prove what I already believe. I work for unity among those who believe in Jesus. And I believe that God really does forgive sins in and through Jesus! Whosoever will may come and drink of the water of life freely. Rev. 22:17.

"Then Peter began to say to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children and lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time - houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions - and in the age to come, eternal life.'" Mark 10:28-30

We all gain new brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers through our new relationship in Christ! God will bless us in this present world, as well as in eternity! [Jesus also gives the warning not to make the reward the goal. Those who try to make themselves first, will finish last! Christ’s church is just the opposite from the world. Compare Luke 22:24-27.]

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Eph. 2:19-22

1. Standing for the right. "But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!'" Acts 7:55-56

a) Jesus has been raised to glory on the cross. He has won the victory of the resurrection. When Jesus comes at the End of the World, He will judge all the nations.

b) We honor Jesus by standing up for Him in all that we do and say. We allow the light of truth to shine in us!

2. Holding up His banner.

a) David spoke to Israel: "We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand." Psalm 20:5-6

b) We announce to all that Jesus Saves! We make Him the Lord of our lives and we do all we can to carry out His mission of salvation. He has put into the hands of each one of us the work of "fighting the good fight, running the full distance of the race of life, and keeping the faith by being true to our promises to Him."

3. Listening to His orders.

"Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, 'Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen...' 'Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins...'" Acts 13:16,38

a) Matt. 28:19-20 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

Make disciples to Jesus the Christ.

Baptizing them into Christ.

> forgiveness of sins

> gift of the Holy Spirit

Teaching them to obey His commandments.

4. Serving Him today.

"...but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free." Eph 6:6-8

For each one of us, Christian living is service to Christ. As we do good to all, we are doing it to Him by proxy.