Follow Me

I thought about titling this message “In the Beginning”, but I thought that if I did that, your minds would go to Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That is not where this message is going. It is a different beginning.

I. Spirit Led: Mark 1:12-13

 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. ¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

A. Spirit Led: Please note that it was the Spirit that drove Christ into the wilderness. The Christian life is not always easy. We like to emphasize the abundant life, but the reality is that we will also encounter various tests and trials. We can do everything right and still find ourselves in a difficult time of testing.

B. Tempted by Satan: Jesus Himself was tempted. How much more are we going to be tempted. We need to keep our guard up at all times. Satan would love to destroy us, or at least make us ineffective.

C. Angels: The angels helped Jesus. God will send His angels to help us as well, as needed.

II. Repent and Believe: Mark 1:14-15

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

A. Repent: The Greek word translated repent means to turn. The primary focus of repentance is not a turning away from sin, but a turning towards God. In turning to God, we will also turn away from sin. The primary focus should be on God. Turning away from sin will follow.

B. Believe: We need to believe the good news of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. If that is all we know, we know enough to share.

III. Follow Me: Mark 1:16-18

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

A. Follow Me: This simple message is so powerful Follow Christ. That is the basic calling to each one of us.

B. Fishers of Men: This call is not only to the apostles, or pastors, missionaries or evangelists. It is a calling to all of us. We should be watching for every opportunity that comes our way to share the hope that is within us.

C. Immediately: The disciples followed Jesus without hesitation. If only we could all be as quick to obey the call of Christ.

This message of beginning is twofold. It is the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. It is also the beginning of the call to all to be disciples of Jesus.

It is the call to Follow Him.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

These are the sermon notes from the message that I preached 2/19/23, All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible. The memory verse for this week is Mark 1:15 … “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

If you would like to hear the message as it was preached you can view it at: https://www.facebook.com/100064322333786/videos/1248374509369696

Endure

This morning is a lot nicer than the last two Sunday mornings. Today, I did not have to come down to the church to shovel snow or spread salt. Whenever I am here spreading salt in the parking lot I am reminded of the parable of the sower and the seed.

Matthew 13:3-9

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ⁸ But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Jesus himself, explained the meaning of the parable.

I. The Path: Matthew 13:18-19

 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Not everyone who hears the word will respond favorably. It would seem that the sower was being wasteful, or not very careful with his seed. He just scattered it everywhere.

We too, should share the gospel everywhere. We should not worry about it being rejected. We should tell everybody the good news of God’s love. You never know who will respond. Sometimes, plants grow in places that are surprising. Even so, God can touch a hardened heart. There is always hope.

II. Stony Ground: Matthew 13:20-21

 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

When a person responds to the gospel message and gives their heart to the Lord, it is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of our walk with God. Sadly, not everyone who says the Sinners Prayer will enter the kingdom of heaven. Some will fall away. The stony ground represents the hardships that we are called upon to endure. Some will be persecuted for their faith. Here in the United States, this might be as simple as being teased or mocked, or excluded. In other parts of the world there are still people who are called to die for their faith.

There are other forms of hardship. Tragedy, illness, various types of misfortune can still strike Christians. Life is not always easy. How we respond to these difficulties is the key. Some may blame God and walk away. Others will cry out to God and draw closer. Let us be among those who draw close to God during the testing of our faith.

III. Thorns: Matthew 13:22

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Hardships can try our faith, but so can success. Sometimes, some people, enjoy the blessings of God so much, that they forget about the God who has blessed them. They are too busy to read their Bibles, say their prayers, or go to church. They allow the things of this world to pull them away from God. They slowly drift away.

I do not know at what point a person goes from being saved to being unsaved, but I do not want to find out. We should not be trying to see how close we can be to the world and still be saved. We should be trying to see how close we can get to God while we are still in this world.

IV. Good Ground: Matthew 13: 23

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Some will get saved and walk with God throughout their lives. Each one will be fruit. They will not all be the same. It is important that we not become jealous that we are not producing like others. Nor are we to become proud if we are succeeding more than our neighbor. Each one should run their race. Each one should finish the course set before them.

V. Endure

A. Matthew 24:13*

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

We do not stand in our own strength. We must continue to call out to God, to seek to know God, day by day, throughout our lives.

B. Hebrews 12:1-2#

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It will not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Look to Jesus to be your example, your inspiration, and your source of strength.

C. II Timothy 4:7-8#

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

I gave my heart to the Lord as a child. I have served Him throughout my teen years, my young adult years, my middle age, and now am in my senior years.

It is not over yet.

It is important that I finish the race. It is important to commit myself each day, to the Lord who loves me….and you.

Do not let your love for God grow cold.

Finish well.

Endure.

__________________________________________________________

These are the sermon notes from the message that I preached on 2/5/23. All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible. The * symbol identifies the memory verse for this week. The # symbol identifies past memory verses.

If you would like to hear the message as it was preached you can view it at: https://www.facebook.com/100064322333786/videos/534351045172217