01
Jul '24
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
01
Jul '24
Text: Luke 9:56-62
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
John 6:66-69
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Introduction: A missionary once said, “If your CHRISTianity COSTS nothing, GIVES nothing or SUFFERS nothing, it is WORTH NOTHING.” Jesus describes (3) kinds of people today:
1. COUNTERFEIT CHRISTians (Luke 9:57-58)
“Though none go with me… I still will follow… no turning back.”
2. BARGAINING BROTHERS (Luke 9:59-61)
“The cross before me… the world behind me… no turning back!”
3. DEDICATED DISCIPLES (Luke 9:62)
“I have decided to follow Jesus…”
Conclusion: “No man putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). A person plowing -“hand to the plow” – does not LOOK backward but rather FORWARD!
The BEST is yet to come!!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese