1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,660 Message, and I know some of you say, well, 73 messages in John 2 00:00:03,660 --> 00:00:07,890 is really not that many when you look at some others I'll bat. 3 00:00:08,460 --> 00:00:12,780 But it's been a lot and a lot of it has been spent talking about what it 4 00:00:12,780 --> 00:00:15,450 looks like for us to follow Jesus. 5 00:00:15,660 --> 00:00:18,300 In fact, the longest subset series that. 6 00:00:21,270 --> 00:00:22,650 The series called Disciple. 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,510 What does it look like to be a disciple and what does a 8 00:00:24,569 --> 00:00:27,270 disciple do but follow Jesus? 9 00:00:28,709 --> 00:00:33,450 When we were as a staff together this two weeks ago now at this conference, they 10 00:00:33,450 --> 00:00:37,739 talked a lot about leadership development at the conference, and one of the things 11 00:00:37,739 --> 00:00:41,370 that they talked about there is how to train up the the person that you 12 00:00:41,370 --> 00:00:43,830 want to be able to delegate things to. 13 00:00:44,190 --> 00:00:46,890 The person that you wanna be able to have them do what you have been doing. 14 00:00:47,130 --> 00:00:49,530 And so they, they walked through this process that I thought was 15 00:00:49,740 --> 00:00:52,350 super helpful so that it begin to say to this person, you know what? 16 00:00:52,350 --> 00:00:53,040 I'm gonna do it. 17 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,531 I want you to watch it, and then let's talk about it. 18 00:00:56,670 --> 00:00:59,070 And then from there you go to the step two, which is, you know what? 19 00:00:59,070 --> 00:01:02,850 I'm gonna do the thing and then you're gonna help me do the thing this time. 20 00:01:03,270 --> 00:01:06,210 And then afterwards, Hey, I want, I want us to talk about what we were doing. 21 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,570 And then you get to the next step and you say, you know what? 22 00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:11,190 I'm helping. 23 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,039 You are gonna be the one that's, that's doing the majority of the task 24 00:01:14,039 --> 00:01:17,220 here, and then still afterwards, Hey, let's, let's get together, let's, 25 00:01:17,220 --> 00:01:18,480 let's talk about what that looks like. 26 00:01:20,039 --> 00:01:22,740 And then the, the fourth step there is, you know what, I'm gonna watch, 27 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:25,410 I'm gonna supervise, now I'm gonna watch, you're gonna do it all. 28 00:01:26,070 --> 00:01:27,990 And then we'll, we'll debrief afterwards. 29 00:01:29,190 --> 00:01:32,130 And then eventually the goal is you get to this place of 30 00:01:32,130 --> 00:01:34,020 saying, okay, now it's your turn. 31 00:01:34,979 --> 00:01:37,259 You're, you're the one, you're in charge. 32 00:01:37,259 --> 00:01:38,130 I'm here. 33 00:01:38,685 --> 00:01:42,315 I still wanna talk, I still wanna debrief, I still wanna follow up, but you're 34 00:01:42,315 --> 00:01:46,305 the one I, I thought that was super helpful and it made this idea of how do 35 00:01:46,305 --> 00:01:48,525 I train somebody up for what I'm doing? 36 00:01:48,765 --> 00:01:50,085 Really relevant and really practical. 37 00:01:50,685 --> 00:01:53,295 But this week I found myself thinking about this as it relates 38 00:01:53,295 --> 00:01:56,115 to this idea of following Jesus. 39 00:01:56,985 --> 00:02:01,185 In some ways, this is what Jesus has done with us in the Gospel of John. 40 00:02:02,190 --> 00:02:05,580 We've been looking at the life of Jesus and the life of the disciples 41 00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:09,478 throughout these 21 chapters, and we've seen the ups and downs of the disciples, 42 00:02:09,478 --> 00:02:13,049 and basically we've been watching as Jesus has been trying to prepare us 43 00:02:13,260 --> 00:02:16,769 for where he's gonna land together in the the end here in chapter 21. 44 00:02:16,769 --> 00:02:18,269 With these two words, follow me. 45 00:02:19,230 --> 00:02:22,109 We've been looking at the disciples and watching what it's been like for them 46 00:02:22,109 --> 00:02:25,980 to have the, the mountaintop moments of, of Peter's confessions, of following 47 00:02:25,980 --> 00:02:27,870 Jesus or the, the, the high points. 48 00:02:27,870 --> 00:02:29,940 And then we've also seen the very bottom points of what it 49 00:02:29,940 --> 00:02:33,150 looks like to follow Jesus, for example, Peter's denials in Christ. 50 00:02:34,650 --> 00:02:39,480 And now we come to the end and Jesus is saying, okay, I'm, I'm leaving now. 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:40,109 It's your turn. 52 00:02:40,829 --> 00:02:47,760 Now it's the, you do and the task at hand here is to follow Jesus. 53 00:02:49,665 --> 00:02:52,305 See this morning whether you are here as a Christian and you've been 54 00:02:52,305 --> 00:02:56,085 a Christian for the the last four or five decades, or you're here this 55 00:02:56,085 --> 00:02:58,125 morning and you're still trying to figure out what do I do with Jesus? 56 00:03:00,015 --> 00:03:02,385 Wherever you're at this morning, I want you to hear that it's 57 00:03:02,385 --> 00:03:04,575 your turn to follow Jesus. 58 00:03:06,105 --> 00:03:08,055 Take your Bibles if you will, John, chapter 21. 59 00:03:08,655 --> 00:03:10,395 I'm gonna do something a little bit different 'cause why not? 60 00:03:10,395 --> 00:03:11,865 We've done a lot different this morning so far. 61 00:03:12,675 --> 00:03:14,925 I'm gonna read the whole text together and. 62 00:03:17,054 --> 00:03:20,954 Says this, uh, truly, truly, I say to you, verse 18, when you were 63 00:03:20,954 --> 00:03:24,855 young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when 64 00:03:24,855 --> 00:03:27,584 you're old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and 65 00:03:27,584 --> 00:03:29,204 carry you where you do not wanna go. 66 00:03:29,894 --> 00:03:32,924 This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. 67 00:03:33,285 --> 00:03:35,564 And after saying this, he said to him, follow me. 68 00:03:36,494 --> 00:03:40,214 Peter turned and saw the disciple who Jesus loved following him, the one 69 00:03:40,214 --> 00:03:44,144 who had been back against Jesus during the last Supper and said to him, Lord, 70 00:03:44,174 --> 00:03:45,494 who is it that is going betray you? 71 00:03:46,394 --> 00:03:49,874 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 72 00:03:50,894 --> 00:03:54,045 Jesus said to him, if it's my will that he remain until I come. 73 00:03:54,045 --> 00:03:54,885 What is that to you? 74 00:03:55,274 --> 00:03:56,385 You follow me? 75 00:03:56,954 --> 00:03:59,624 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple 76 00:03:59,624 --> 00:04:03,195 was not to die yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die. 77 00:04:03,195 --> 00:04:05,445 But if it is my will that you remain until I come. 78 00:04:05,445 --> 00:04:06,344 What is that to you? 79 00:04:07,184 --> 00:04:08,144 This is the disciple. 80 00:04:08,144 --> 00:04:10,725 He's bearing witness about these things and was written things, 81 00:04:10,725 --> 00:04:11,924 and we know that testimony. 82 00:04:13,094 --> 00:04:15,824 Now, there are also many other things that Jesus did where every one of 83 00:04:15,824 --> 00:04:19,485 them to be written, I suppose, that the world itself could not contain 84 00:04:19,575 --> 00:04:21,524 the books that would be written. 85 00:04:23,625 --> 00:04:29,385 So to catch us up, Peter has just had his threefold restoration with Jesus. 86 00:04:29,655 --> 00:04:30,345 Peter, do you love me? 87 00:04:31,125 --> 00:04:31,995 I love you, Peter. 88 00:04:31,995 --> 00:04:32,415 Do you love me? 89 00:04:32,415 --> 00:04:33,015 I love you, Peter. 90 00:04:33,015 --> 00:04:33,375 Do you love me? 91 00:04:33,375 --> 00:04:33,675 I love you. 92 00:04:33,945 --> 00:04:35,565 And Jesus had said, Hey, feed my sheep. 93 00:04:35,565 --> 00:04:36,075 10 my block. 94 00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:36,525 Feed my sheep. 95 00:04:37,605 --> 00:04:41,090 And right on the heels of this, Peter says To, or Jesus says to Peter, Hey Peter. 96 00:04:41,565 --> 00:04:44,655 I have more for you, a as you're gonna be tending my sheep, as you're gonna be 97 00:04:44,805 --> 00:04:50,115 obeying me in this, uh, you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself 98 00:04:50,115 --> 00:04:54,345 and, and go wherever you wanted to, but when you're old, you're gonna 99 00:04:54,345 --> 00:04:57,165 stretch out your hands and someone else is gonna dress you and carry 100 00:04:57,165 --> 00:05:01,845 you where you do not want to go most. 101 00:05:01,845 --> 00:05:05,385 Look at those two verses and agree that this is talking about Peter's death, 102 00:05:05,385 --> 00:05:08,355 and that's what verse 19 says, but specifically a death by crucifixion. 103 00:05:09,495 --> 00:05:12,795 As Jesus says, they're gonna stretch out your hands. 104 00:05:12,825 --> 00:05:14,475 Even the word, they're gonna gge you. 105 00:05:14,535 --> 00:05:15,465 They're gonna dress you. 106 00:05:15,465 --> 00:05:19,845 That word dress is the same word that was used when Peter was in the the boat. 107 00:05:19,875 --> 00:05:23,235 And you'd see Jesus on the, the shore and he had jumped, he had 108 00:05:23,295 --> 00:05:25,815 girded himself up and jumped from the water to swim the shore. 109 00:05:26,295 --> 00:05:28,395 It's a word that can mean gid like a rope. 110 00:05:28,395 --> 00:05:29,655 It can also mean tie. 111 00:05:30,645 --> 00:05:33,705 And so there are some that believe that Jesus is alluding here, there when it says 112 00:05:33,705 --> 00:05:36,495 there were you used to dress yourself, but when you're old, you'll stretch out 113 00:05:36,495 --> 00:05:38,325 your hands in another world dress you. 114 00:05:38,715 --> 00:05:41,745 That were being dressed can also mean tie, meaning this could be the 115 00:05:41,745 --> 00:05:45,645 implication that as the, the, the victim of the crucifixion was tied to 116 00:05:45,645 --> 00:05:49,605 the crossbeam and made to carry his crossbeam out to the place of execution, 117 00:05:49,965 --> 00:05:54,135 that Jesus was alluding to the death that Jesus, that Peter was gonna die. 118 00:05:54,225 --> 00:05:55,755 Uh, being crucifixion. 119 00:05:56,655 --> 00:06:00,045 You may have heard that Peter was actually not crucified 120 00:06:00,045 --> 00:06:01,695 right side up, but upside down. 121 00:06:02,325 --> 00:06:04,605 And that comes from church history. 122 00:06:04,605 --> 00:06:07,425 We are hundred percent sure that Peter died martyr death. 123 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:11,880 The, the church father's church tradition from the earliest era testifies to 124 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,680 that, that he died under Nero's reign. 125 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:14,970 That he was a, a martyr. 126 00:06:14,970 --> 00:06:17,490 In other words, that he died for his faith in Jesus. 127 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:23,400 But this story that he died crucified upside down, began to come to popularity, 128 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,760 and the, the story goes, then he died upside down because he didn't consider 129 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,760 himself worthy to be crucified the same way that Jesus was crucified. 130 00:06:30,585 --> 00:06:33,945 Rather than doing that for fear of bringing shame on that 'cause Jesus, 131 00:06:33,945 --> 00:06:37,245 his savior, had been cr crucified that way that Peter had said 132 00:06:37,245 --> 00:06:38,835 instead, no, crucify me upside down. 133 00:06:38,835 --> 00:06:40,725 I'm not worthy to be crucified the way that my savior is. 134 00:06:41,805 --> 00:06:47,475 That was a story that first emerged about 180 to one 90 AD in the acts of Peter. 135 00:06:48,165 --> 00:06:49,515 Turn the acts of Peter in your Bible. 136 00:06:50,955 --> 00:06:52,905 If you have it, I got a new Bible for you afterwards. 137 00:06:52,965 --> 00:06:53,475 Okay. 138 00:06:54,015 --> 00:06:55,755 Execute is what we call an apocryphal book. 139 00:06:55,755 --> 00:06:58,725 It, it's not a book that's inspired, it's not the, the word of God. 140 00:06:58,755 --> 00:06:59,055 Okay. 141 00:06:59,595 --> 00:07:01,845 And it doesn't mean that everything in there is unreliable. 142 00:07:01,845 --> 00:07:03,105 That's why this took off. 143 00:07:03,465 --> 00:07:05,955 People said, oh, well, it's in the acts of Peter, but we can't be absolutely 144 00:07:05,955 --> 00:07:07,125 sure that that actually happened. 145 00:07:07,275 --> 00:07:12,285 The first church father to testify to this is origin in two 30 ad. 146 00:07:12,285 --> 00:07:16,305 And so if Peter was killed in two, in, in about 60 ad, then we're at 147 00:07:16,305 --> 00:07:19,665 least a hundred if, if not more than that, years after this saying 148 00:07:19,665 --> 00:07:20,715 that he was crucified upside down. 149 00:07:20,715 --> 00:07:24,165 All that to say, uh, we know that he, he died for his fate and that's 150 00:07:24,165 --> 00:07:25,965 what what Jesus is telling Peter. 151 00:07:26,655 --> 00:07:31,005 Jesus is looking at Peter and, and after he's had this great moment with 152 00:07:31,005 --> 00:07:34,940 Peter saying, Hey, Peter, listen, you're gonna feed my, you're gonna tell 153 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:35,980 my wife you're gonna feed my shoes. 154 00:07:36,195 --> 00:07:37,095 Peter follows this up. 155 00:07:37,095 --> 00:07:42,075 Or Jesus follow this up and says, and, and also Peter, it's gonna cost you. 156 00:07:43,425 --> 00:07:45,915 You're gonna die for your faith. 157 00:07:47,445 --> 00:07:50,565 You're gonna die for this love that you're professing, that you have in me. 158 00:07:51,975 --> 00:07:55,395 And then Jesus says to Peter, right on the heels of that, he says. 159 00:07:55,784 --> 00:07:56,475 Follow. 160 00:07:57,375 --> 00:07:58,005 Hey, Peter. 161 00:07:58,065 --> 00:08:01,815 Uh, your future looks like a, a, a a painful death. 162 00:08:01,815 --> 00:08:05,925 In fact, the word excruciating comes from the Latin word for crucifixion. 163 00:08:07,245 --> 00:08:11,535 Peter, you're gonna die a horrifically painful, awful death for following me. 164 00:08:13,605 --> 00:08:14,025 Follow me. 165 00:08:15,615 --> 00:08:16,425 Follow me. 166 00:08:16,695 --> 00:08:19,995 It's, it's sobering the word. 167 00:08:19,995 --> 00:08:21,795 Follow me, the word for follow there. 168 00:08:22,890 --> 00:08:25,560 Originally meant to just follow, like following the leader, the leader, the 169 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,180 leader, following the leader, right? 170 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,600 But then it came to take on this metaphorical sense of following 171 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,419 in the sense of the, the, the disciple following his master. 172 00:08:34,414 --> 00:08:37,830 And, and that's what Jesus is after here, and that's what Jesus has been after. 173 00:08:37,830 --> 00:08:41,580 Throughout the whole book of John, some of the first words out of 174 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:46,050 Jesus' mouth, that John records are the words, follow me to fill it. 175 00:08:47,340 --> 00:08:50,640 And the very last words that John records of Jesus in the Book of John 176 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,230 and John chapter 21 are the words. 177 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:54,810 Follow me to Peter. 178 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,920 See the book of John has been about, yes, us believing that Jesus is the 179 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,030 Christ and not believing in him. 180 00:09:00,030 --> 00:09:03,300 We might have life and life in his name, but it's also been about following 181 00:09:03,300 --> 00:09:07,650 Jesus in that and, and here Jesus wants us to know through his words to Peter, 182 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:11,130 that sometimes following Jesus doesn't always put us where we want to be. 183 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,420 But nonetheless, we'll call to follow. 184 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:18,570 For most of us, if not all of us in this room, it's probably not 185 00:09:18,570 --> 00:09:21,300 gonna end in our, for our faith. 186 00:09:22,515 --> 00:09:23,235 Nonetheless follow. 187 00:09:23,235 --> 00:09:26,625 And Jesus sometimes leads us to places we'd rather not go. 188 00:09:26,834 --> 00:09:27,915 Point number one this morning is this. 189 00:09:27,915 --> 00:09:34,365 Follow Jesus wherever he leads, follow Jesus wherever he leads. 190 00:09:36,885 --> 00:09:39,255 Salvation is free. 191 00:09:40,545 --> 00:09:42,135 Sanctification is not. 192 00:09:43,755 --> 00:09:44,685 Salvation is free. 193 00:09:44,685 --> 00:09:48,795 Meaning there is nothing that we bring to the table in God's equation of 194 00:09:48,795 --> 00:09:50,295 what it looks like for us to be saved. 195 00:09:52,005 --> 00:09:56,085 Even the faith that we have to believe in Jesus is my conviction is a gift of God. 196 00:09:57,285 --> 00:10:00,585 Sorry, I read Ephesians 2, 8 9 For by grace, you have been saved through faith, 197 00:10:00,585 --> 00:10:05,985 and this is not of yourselves, but it is a gift of God that no one may boast. 198 00:10:05,985 --> 00:10:08,865 See, I believe the way that God gets the most glory in our salvation 199 00:10:08,865 --> 00:10:11,835 is when we realize we couldn't even bring the faith to the table. 200 00:10:13,035 --> 00:10:16,005 Salvation is free, in other words. 201 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,090 But what salvation does is it launches us into a life of following Jesus. 202 00:10:21,090 --> 00:10:25,620 A life of sanctification and salvation is free, but sanctification 203 00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:30,030 is not See following Jesus costs. 204 00:10:31,230 --> 00:10:32,790 And there's a few ways to think about this. 205 00:10:32,790 --> 00:10:37,110 I, I'd like you to look at Matthew chapter 16 verses 24 through 26, where Jesus has 206 00:10:37,110 --> 00:10:39,390 talked about the cost of following him. 207 00:10:41,205 --> 00:10:45,315 Matthew 1624 it says, then Jesus told us disciples, if anyone would 208 00:10:45,315 --> 00:10:50,115 come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 209 00:10:51,465 --> 00:10:53,535 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 210 00:10:53,535 --> 00:10:55,935 But whoever loses his life, for my sake will find it. 211 00:10:56,715 --> 00:10:58,815 For what will the prophet of man if he gains the whole 212 00:10:58,815 --> 00:11:01,065 world and forfeits his soul? 213 00:11:01,695 --> 00:11:05,415 Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 214 00:11:06,585 --> 00:11:09,645 And so again, in our context, Jesus has just told Peter, Hey Peter. 215 00:11:10,935 --> 00:11:15,105 Following me is gonna mean you're gonna die following me, but 216 00:11:15,105 --> 00:11:16,095 still I want you to follow me. 217 00:11:17,385 --> 00:11:19,875 Following me is gonna cost you, Peter's gonna cost you everything. 218 00:11:21,705 --> 00:11:24,585 And to some extent, all of us need to embrace that same mindset. 219 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,245 And, and, and to get there, we need to understand a few things. 220 00:11:28,245 --> 00:11:31,305 First, following Jesus means dying to self. 221 00:11:32,055 --> 00:11:33,915 Look at the words that are highlighted on the screen there. 222 00:11:33,915 --> 00:11:35,535 Let him deny himself. 223 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:41,700 Let him die to himself and take up his cross And follow me, the the 224 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:44,130 cross is an instrument of execution. 225 00:11:44,190 --> 00:11:46,170 It's not an instrument of adornments. 226 00:11:47,490 --> 00:11:50,580 It's okay for us as the church to wear the cross around our neck so long as 227 00:11:50,580 --> 00:11:52,530 we remember what the cross represents. 228 00:11:53,820 --> 00:11:57,480 So for Jesus to say to his followers, especially in this time when people 229 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:02,670 were still being crucified, Hey, if you wanna follow me, take up your 230 00:12:02,730 --> 00:12:04,200 instrument of executions daily. 231 00:12:04,905 --> 00:12:05,265 And follow. 232 00:12:06,105 --> 00:12:12,405 Die to yourself daily and follow following Jesus means dying to self again. 233 00:12:12,525 --> 00:12:15,375 Most of us in this room are not gonna realize that literally the 234 00:12:15,375 --> 00:12:19,005 way that that Peter did, but all of us need to realize it spiritually. 235 00:12:19,574 --> 00:12:23,324 And this is anchored to what's called the doctrine of regeneration, which 236 00:12:23,324 --> 00:12:24,645 is what happens when we're saved. 237 00:12:25,425 --> 00:12:28,515 Second Corinthians five 17, the Apostle Paul says, if anyone is 238 00:12:28,515 --> 00:12:30,795 in Christ, he's a new creation. 239 00:12:30,975 --> 00:12:32,324 The old has passed away. 240 00:12:32,324 --> 00:12:33,435 Behold, the new has come. 241 00:12:36,465 --> 00:12:39,945 Or in Galatians two 20, Paul put it this way, he said, I 242 00:12:39,945 --> 00:12:41,925 have been crucified with Christ. 243 00:12:42,045 --> 00:12:45,885 It's no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the 244 00:12:45,885 --> 00:12:47,175 life I now live in the flesh. 245 00:12:47,175 --> 00:12:51,795 I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. 246 00:12:53,085 --> 00:12:55,155 Following Jesus means dying to self. 247 00:12:55,155 --> 00:12:57,675 And that's not a once in time moment for us. 248 00:12:57,765 --> 00:13:01,125 Church we're gonna talk about a little, but that's something that we. 249 00:13:02,850 --> 00:13:05,250 In fact, when Luke records this interaction that Matthew's 250 00:13:05,250 --> 00:13:08,610 talking about here, Matthew 16, he, he throws the word in daily. 251 00:13:09,150 --> 00:13:11,610 Let him deny himself and take him his cross daily. 252 00:13:12,570 --> 00:13:15,450 When we come to faith in Christ, the spirit comes and takes up resonance within 253 00:13:15,450 --> 00:13:18,450 us and hangs a shingle out front of our life that says under new management. 254 00:13:18,625 --> 00:13:22,980 But see, there's a lot of us that still remains the vestiges of 255 00:13:22,980 --> 00:13:25,260 the old man that's been crucified with Christ that doesn't like the. 256 00:13:27,285 --> 00:13:29,505 And so every single day we have to decide to follow Jesus. 257 00:13:29,505 --> 00:13:32,594 We have to understand every single day that that we have to die to ourselves. 258 00:13:32,594 --> 00:13:35,355 That part of us that doesn't like the new management has to die 259 00:13:35,745 --> 00:13:38,025 as we submit ourselves to Jesus. 260 00:13:39,795 --> 00:13:43,125 Everything, in other words that you were, is now subject to the ownership of Jesus. 261 00:13:43,964 --> 00:13:46,305 Your dreams, your ambitions, your hopes, your desires, your 262 00:13:46,305 --> 00:13:50,475 plans are all now surrendered to him and his will for your life. 263 00:13:51,824 --> 00:13:54,645 Lemme put it this way, for those of you who remember checkbooks. 264 00:13:55,770 --> 00:14:02,040 Salvation is giving Jesus the checkbook of your life with every check 265 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,230 signed, but everything else blank. 266 00:14:05,670 --> 00:14:08,220 In other words, Jesus gets to decide how to spend your life. 267 00:14:09,210 --> 00:14:10,635 You're giving him that full authority. 268 00:14:11,310 --> 00:14:14,340 You're handing it to him saying, Jesus, every check is signed. 269 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:17,010 Fill it out however you wanna fill it out. 270 00:14:17,790 --> 00:14:20,310 For those of you two young to remember checks that you never 271 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:22,680 wanted, a blank check with your signature floating around anywhere. 272 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,355 It because that meant that anyone could fill it in however they wanted to fill 273 00:14:26,355 --> 00:14:29,204 it in with whatever amount they filled it in and the the bank would honor that. 274 00:14:29,204 --> 00:14:32,415 'cause it's got your signature on it, y'all. 275 00:14:32,415 --> 00:14:35,025 When you come to faith in Jesus, you are handing him the blank 276 00:14:35,025 --> 00:14:37,694 checkbook of your life with your name on every check already printed. 277 00:14:37,694 --> 00:14:39,405 You're saying, Jesus, do whatever you want with my life. 278 00:14:40,635 --> 00:14:42,074 In other words, you are dying to sell. 279 00:14:43,005 --> 00:14:43,185 Lord. 280 00:14:43,185 --> 00:14:44,655 You want me to move to be closer to the church? 281 00:14:44,655 --> 00:14:44,895 Okay. 282 00:14:44,895 --> 00:14:45,314 I will. 283 00:14:46,590 --> 00:14:49,260 Lord, you don't want my kids to be so involved in athletics that 284 00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:52,560 it's, it's making it unable for us to be involved in the, the church. 285 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:54,569 Okay, fine Then, then they won't. 286 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:55,830 Why? 287 00:14:55,830 --> 00:14:56,910 Because my kids aren't my kids. 288 00:14:56,910 --> 00:14:57,870 They're your kids. 289 00:14:59,250 --> 00:15:01,290 Lord, you want me to take a pay cut and switch jobs so that I 290 00:15:01,290 --> 00:15:04,290 can be a better dad and a better husband and and be more present? 291 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:07,080 Okay, I will. 292 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,120 You want me to say no to this relationship that I did? 293 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,720 'cause it's been leading me into compromise of my purity 294 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:16,890 and my integrity before you. 295 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:19,980 Okay, I will. 296 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:25,950 That's what it looks like to die daily and to follow Jesus every 297 00:15:25,950 --> 00:15:27,960 single day denying our self. 298 00:15:28,350 --> 00:15:31,470 But again, if we're gonna follow Jesus where he leads, it's also more than this. 299 00:15:31,470 --> 00:15:33,090 It's, it's second as we go back to our 16. 300 00:15:34,275 --> 00:15:37,485 It's realizing that following Jesus means that we have to redefine life. 301 00:15:39,495 --> 00:15:41,775 We have to redefine what life really is. 302 00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:44,805 Jesus says whoever would save his life will lose it. 303 00:15:45,495 --> 00:15:50,295 Whoever loses his life from my sake will find its okay. 304 00:15:50,295 --> 00:15:53,595 If I wanna save my life, I'm gonna lose it, but if I lose it, I'm gonna find it. 305 00:15:54,615 --> 00:15:58,785 We're talking about two different views and perspectives on life in this. 306 00:16:00,195 --> 00:16:01,935 Some of you may know the name Johnny Eon. 307 00:16:03,525 --> 00:16:05,595 When Johnny Erickson title was a young woman. 308 00:16:05,595 --> 00:16:10,005 She was not a quadriplegic as she's now, but when she was a young 309 00:16:10,005 --> 00:16:12,705 woman, she had dreams and ambitions and hopes, and she abused for her 310 00:16:12,705 --> 00:16:14,355 life, and she was following Jesus. 311 00:16:15,285 --> 00:16:18,885 And then she happened to be at a, an event where there was a pool and she decided 312 00:16:18,885 --> 00:16:21,225 to go swimming, and she jumped into the water or she jumped into the lake. 313 00:16:21,225 --> 00:16:22,155 I can't remember which one. 314 00:16:22,365 --> 00:16:23,955 The water was too shallow. 315 00:16:24,075 --> 00:16:27,105 And, and so when she hit, she suffered a, a severe spinal injury 316 00:16:27,195 --> 00:16:29,295 that left her as a a quad lesion. 317 00:16:30,870 --> 00:16:34,020 Listen to what John Sata said in the, the hospital room. 318 00:16:34,020 --> 00:16:39,600 She looks back and, and describes her view 'cause following Jesus has led her 319 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:43,140 to paralysis and listen to what she says. 320 00:16:43,890 --> 00:16:46,290 She says, I hissed at heaven. 321 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,680 I hissed at heaven saying, God, I can't live like this. 322 00:16:49,950 --> 00:16:51,720 I will not live like this. 323 00:16:52,830 --> 00:16:55,920 Now, I knew that I could not take my life physically, and so I was tempted to end 324 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,900 it emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. 325 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,110 I told my mother to pull my bedroom drinks to turn off the 326 00:17:01,110 --> 00:17:02,160 lights and to shut the door. 327 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,910 And there in the darkness, I laid in bed for weeks. 328 00:17:07,260 --> 00:17:09,960 She goes on, she says, behind that closed door, my life, my self 329 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,480 pity literally became suffocated. 330 00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:17,579 She says, I mean, the dark morbid thoughts were worse than my paralysis. 331 00:17:18,180 --> 00:17:22,109 And so somewhere along the line into the dark, I whisper For God, if I cannot 332 00:17:22,109 --> 00:17:24,210 die, then please show me how to live. 333 00:17:25,665 --> 00:17:28,483 She said I was the most evil fainthearted prayer I had ever 334 00:17:28,544 --> 00:17:31,395 offered up, but it's all it took. 335 00:17:33,044 --> 00:17:36,405 If you know the story of Johnny Erickson, you know that from there, God has taken 336 00:17:36,405 --> 00:17:40,754 her and done amazing things with her life, that, that God has used her in 337 00:17:41,054 --> 00:17:44,955 phenomenal ways, but he had to lead her through this battle of not being 338 00:17:44,955 --> 00:17:48,014 content with where God led her, with what followed Jesus had led her into. 339 00:17:49,380 --> 00:17:52,140 So she can get to this place of redefining what life really is. 340 00:17:52,140 --> 00:17:53,070 And that's what her prayer was. 341 00:17:53,070 --> 00:17:54,630 Look, show me how to live. 342 00:17:54,870 --> 00:17:58,410 Some of y'all are in the valley right now, this morning, so frustrated where 343 00:17:58,410 --> 00:18:02,550 Jesus had led you this morning and your prayer needs to be something similar to 344 00:18:02,550 --> 00:18:05,970 Johnny's prayer to say, Lord, show me how to live where you've led me right now. 345 00:18:05,970 --> 00:18:06,960 'cause right now I don't. 346 00:18:07,260 --> 00:18:10,680 I don't see you to be able to see. 347 00:18:10,740 --> 00:18:12,000 Psalm 1611. 348 00:18:13,140 --> 00:18:16,500 Lord, show me the paths of life and your presence is fullness of joy. 349 00:18:18,930 --> 00:18:19,770 Paths of life. 350 00:18:20,250 --> 00:18:23,010 The paths of life, not as the world defines it, but as God defines it. 351 00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:26,460 So follow Jesus wherever he leads is gonna be that we've gotta die ourselves. 352 00:18:26,490 --> 00:18:28,560 Second means that we need to redefine life, and then finally it means 353 00:18:28,740 --> 00:18:32,850 that we've gotta believe that Jesus is worth it, that he's worth it. 354 00:18:32,850 --> 00:18:39,389 In mean In Matthew 1626, what will a prophet of man if he gains the 355 00:18:39,389 --> 00:18:41,070 whole world and forfeits his soul? 356 00:18:41,639 --> 00:18:44,070 Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 357 00:18:45,929 --> 00:18:48,840 The answer is, well, it's not gonna profit him at all if he gains 358 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:50,040 the world and forfeits his soul. 359 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,179 Let's do the inverse. 360 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,540 What will it profit a man to gain his soul, even if it means 361 00:18:54,540 --> 00:18:55,649 he has to forfeit the world? 362 00:18:56,820 --> 00:18:57,510 The answer is everything. 363 00:18:59,100 --> 00:19:00,090 'cause we'll have Christ. 364 00:19:01,709 --> 00:19:04,020 So we have to believe that we're gonna follow Jesus wherever he leads. 365 00:19:04,020 --> 00:19:04,919 We have to believe that he's worth. 366 00:19:05,970 --> 00:19:07,350 We gotta die to ourself. 367 00:19:07,410 --> 00:19:10,320 We've gotta redefine life, and we've gotta believe ultimately the 368 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,300 following of Jesus is worth it. 369 00:19:12,570 --> 00:19:15,870 Randy Alcorn has this statement that I, that I've always thought 370 00:19:15,870 --> 00:19:19,800 is, is, is sobering and, and hopeful for the believer. 371 00:19:20,550 --> 00:19:22,200 The sobering for the, the unbeliever. 372 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,640 He says this, for the Christian, this present life is the closest 373 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,730 they will come to hell Christian. 374 00:19:29,730 --> 00:19:32,580 Whatever suffering that you're going through right now, or have been through 375 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,040 the pain that you've gone through. 376 00:19:35,834 --> 00:19:37,669 Is the closest to hell that you will ever be. 377 00:19:39,885 --> 00:19:41,595 The verse of that goes on to say this though, for the 378 00:19:41,595 --> 00:19:43,875 unbeliever, it's the closest to heaven that they will ever come. 379 00:19:45,495 --> 00:19:48,225 Those pleasures that are so sweet, the things that you chase, the joys, 380 00:19:48,225 --> 00:19:53,445 the highs, the everything that you're after that you like Solomon, you, 381 00:19:53,504 --> 00:19:55,425 you grab and realize where did it go? 382 00:19:56,655 --> 00:19:58,185 Vanity of vanities life is 383 00:20:01,064 --> 00:20:04,455 Al Corn is saying that's as close to heaven as you'll ever give without Jesus. 384 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:09,960 To believe it's worth it following Jesus wherever he believed. 385 00:20:10,830 --> 00:20:14,640 And it says Jesus was inviting Peter to count the cost before 386 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,830 fully committing to decide whether or not it would be worth it. 387 00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:20,070 Hey, Peter, following me is gonna mean you're gonna die. 388 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:26,160 You're gonna die for following you and not die of old age, warming your bed 389 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:27,600 at home, surrounded by your loved ones. 390 00:20:29,070 --> 00:20:33,030 You're gonna die a painful, but follow. 391 00:20:34,695 --> 00:20:36,675 Something for all of us to do as well. 392 00:20:37,155 --> 00:20:39,045 In other words, to count the cost of discipleship. 393 00:20:39,105 --> 00:20:41,385 Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads? 394 00:20:43,785 --> 00:20:47,685 If you're a believer, I trust you've already decided that it's worth it, but 395 00:20:47,685 --> 00:20:53,385 from time to time, we need the reminder of why as we follow Jesus wherever he leads. 396 00:20:55,485 --> 00:20:59,175 Look at verse 20 though, and I want you to notice the movement here back in John. 397 00:20:59,835 --> 00:21:00,585 John 21. 398 00:21:00,855 --> 00:21:03,615 Jesus has just told Peter, Peter, follow me. 399 00:21:04,965 --> 00:21:07,365 Which would mean if, if you're gonna follow someone, well, 400 00:21:07,365 --> 00:21:08,505 where do your eyes need to be? 401 00:21:08,505 --> 00:21:11,775 Your eyes need to be on the one that you are following. 402 00:21:12,855 --> 00:21:15,495 And so I think it's intentional here, this scene and how John 403 00:21:15,495 --> 00:21:17,685 describes Jesus just told Peter. 404 00:21:17,685 --> 00:21:18,675 Peter, follow me. 405 00:21:18,735 --> 00:21:24,255 Notice the very next words Peter turned and saw. 406 00:21:24,315 --> 00:21:27,075 In other words, his eyes are not on Jesus, but Peter turns 407 00:21:27,075 --> 00:21:28,485 and he looks somewhere else. 408 00:21:29,340 --> 00:21:32,580 Peter turned and saw the disciple who Jesus loved following him, the 409 00:21:32,580 --> 00:21:35,070 one who would also lean back against him during supper and said, Lord, 410 00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:36,060 who is it that's gonna betray you? 411 00:21:36,060 --> 00:21:38,190 This is John, our author. 412 00:21:39,390 --> 00:21:43,410 And when Peter saw him again, his eyes are not on Jesus, but on John, he 413 00:21:43,410 --> 00:21:45,270 said to Jesus, Lord, what about him? 414 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:45,930 What about this man? 415 00:21:47,550 --> 00:21:50,490 Jesus said to him, if it is my will that he remain until I come. 416 00:21:50,490 --> 00:21:51,540 What is that to you? 417 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:53,850 You follow me? 418 00:21:55,950 --> 00:21:58,140 Verse 23 is providing some clarification. 419 00:21:58,140 --> 00:22:01,410 John writing this wanted everybody to know that he wasn't gonna live forever. 420 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:02,310 So he's like, Hey, look. 421 00:22:02,310 --> 00:22:06,060 The same spread abroad among the brothers, that this disciple was not to die. 422 00:22:06,270 --> 00:22:07,740 That's not what Jesus said. 423 00:22:08,130 --> 00:22:11,310 He just said, if it is my will that he remain until I come. 424 00:22:11,490 --> 00:22:12,720 What is that to you? 425 00:22:12,930 --> 00:22:15,450 So that's just a commentary from John, just so everybody knows that 426 00:22:15,450 --> 00:22:17,460 John didn't sit there and think that he was gonna live forever. 427 00:22:17,940 --> 00:22:19,110 That wasn't Jesus' point. 428 00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:20,460 It wasn't about John. 429 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:23,040 In other words, it was about Peter. 430 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:30,240 Jesus is in another act of mercy and grace here with Peter being patient with Peter 431 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:32,100 because Jesus says, Peter, follow me. 432 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:34,530 And Peter immediately is like, yeah, but what about this guy over here? 433 00:22:35,490 --> 00:22:36,810 What about her over here? 434 00:22:38,430 --> 00:22:38,970 What about them? 435 00:22:38,970 --> 00:22:40,950 Are you gonna tell them the same thing Jesus. 436 00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:45,060 And Jesus says to Peter, Peter, follow me. 437 00:22:46,020 --> 00:22:46,620 You follow me. 438 00:22:46,625 --> 00:22:48,060 This, this is about you and me right now. 439 00:22:50,010 --> 00:22:52,680 There's a scene in the line, the witch, or not the line, the witch in the wardrobe. 440 00:22:52,860 --> 00:22:54,750 The series, the, the Chronicles of Narnia. 441 00:22:55,500 --> 00:23:03,120 Um, I think this is in the Bueno force where Shasta meets the lion, and 442 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:06,485 there's an interaction between Shasta and the lion, between Shasta and Alan, 443 00:23:06,485 --> 00:23:08,010 and Alan being the Christ figure. 444 00:23:08,730 --> 00:23:11,310 And Alan says this, Alan says, I was the lion. 445 00:23:12,550 --> 00:23:16,275 And it says open mouth and said nothing. 446 00:23:16,275 --> 00:23:17,295 The voice continued. 447 00:23:17,295 --> 00:23:17,325 I. 448 00:23:20,370 --> 00:23:21,060 Arrogance. 449 00:23:21,060 --> 00:23:23,970 I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. 450 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,970 I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. 451 00:23:27,030 --> 00:23:30,870 I was the lion who gave the horse's new strength of fear for the last mile so 452 00:23:30,870 --> 00:23:33,090 that you could reach King loon in time. 453 00:23:33,180 --> 00:23:34,050 I was the lion. 454 00:23:34,050 --> 00:23:38,100 You do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay a child near death so 455 00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:41,880 that it came to shore where a man sat wakeful at midnight to receive you. 456 00:23:43,530 --> 00:23:46,015 Shasta says that it was you who wounded Arvis. 457 00:23:47,340 --> 00:23:48,145 That's when I said it was. 458 00:23:48,305 --> 00:23:48,425 I. 459 00:23:49,845 --> 00:23:51,014 Says, but what for? 460 00:23:52,034 --> 00:23:53,475 Why did you do that in her life? 461 00:23:53,475 --> 00:23:55,095 In other words, why did you hurt her? 462 00:23:55,995 --> 00:24:01,155 Alan says, child, I'm telling you your own story, not hers. 463 00:24:01,395 --> 00:24:03,524 I tell no one any story but his own. 464 00:24:05,685 --> 00:24:07,185 It's the idea of Peter and Jesus. 465 00:24:08,774 --> 00:24:10,665 Peter's like, yeah, but, but what about John? 466 00:24:10,965 --> 00:24:12,022 Okay, what gonna death is John gonna die? 467 00:24:14,504 --> 00:24:18,465 Jesus says, Peter, I'll take care of John. 468 00:24:19,695 --> 00:24:21,345 You follow me? 469 00:24:23,055 --> 00:24:24,255 Jesus repeats that. 470 00:24:24,255 --> 00:24:25,275 Call those two words. 471 00:24:25,550 --> 00:24:26,445 You follow me? 472 00:24:27,470 --> 00:24:30,705 And, and Jesus is done now talking in the gospel of John. 473 00:24:30,705 --> 00:24:32,805 With those last two words, follow me. 474 00:24:34,635 --> 00:24:37,785 I wonder this morning, what's distracting you from following Jesus? 475 00:24:38,745 --> 00:24:40,665 What's impeding your walk with Christ? 476 00:24:41,295 --> 00:24:45,825 What are the obstacles that are causing you to turn and take your eyes off? 477 00:24:45,825 --> 00:24:46,335 Jesus. 478 00:24:50,370 --> 00:24:54,179 We have our own rabbit trails that get us off track from following 479 00:24:54,179 --> 00:24:57,240 Jesus, which we need to forsake in order to return and follow him 480 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:58,470 whenever two this morning is this. 481 00:24:58,590 --> 00:25:00,120 Follow Jesus without distraction. 482 00:25:01,830 --> 00:25:03,840 Follow Jesus without distraction. 483 00:25:05,639 --> 00:25:09,899 Peter was distracted by John, but But what are we distracted by? 484 00:25:11,490 --> 00:25:12,330 What is keeping us? 485 00:25:12,330 --> 00:25:12,929 What's hindering us? 486 00:25:12,929 --> 00:25:13,800 What's holding us back? 487 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:14,760 What's impeding us? 488 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:18,420 What's slowing us down from following Jesus? 489 00:25:18,420 --> 00:25:20,129 The way that Jesus wants us to be following 490 00:25:22,710 --> 00:25:26,280 a couple of areas to think of first would be lateral comparisons. 491 00:25:27,180 --> 00:25:29,100 I think we do that a lot in the church. 492 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:33,810 We look side to side and we gauge how we're doing following Jesus 493 00:25:33,810 --> 00:25:35,670 based on other people around us. 494 00:25:36,175 --> 00:25:39,899 We might look at someone and say, man, why do they have a life that looks so 495 00:25:39,899 --> 00:25:43,350 perfectly put together when look at mine? 496 00:25:45,450 --> 00:25:49,800 We retreat into this mode of self pity, feeling like we, we don't measure up. 497 00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:55,080 This is especially insidious on social media. 498 00:25:57,870 --> 00:25:59,970 Nobody's putting the real life out on social media. 499 00:25:59,970 --> 00:26:03,540 In fact, so much so that they created a brand new social media app called 500 00:26:03,540 --> 00:26:07,440 Be Real to try to get people to stop being fake on social media. 501 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,370 I don't even know how that thing's doing anymore. 502 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,110 I don't know if anybody's still being real. 503 00:26:15,300 --> 00:26:18,840 But my, my wife showed me this week something, this ballerina farm. 504 00:26:19,860 --> 00:26:20,040 Yeah. 505 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,200 Some of y'all ladies out there are not north, south, up, down. 506 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:23,220 Like, you know what, what? 507 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,400 Like, this lady woke up, she says to make her own pork 508 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:28,650 shoulder sausage for breakfast. 509 00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:32,040 Like she's grinding the meat, she's milking her cow, she's making a home. 510 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,200 And, and, and so women look at this and they're like, 511 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:35,280 I'll never measure up to that. 512 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,540 That's okay. 513 00:26:37,410 --> 00:26:40,050 You're all buy great value and love your family. 514 00:26:40,050 --> 00:26:40,710 Well get off. 515 00:26:44,790 --> 00:26:48,600 All that to say, those lot comparisons carry over into our spiritual lives too. 516 00:26:50,250 --> 00:26:52,590 We look at other people and we're like, I don't measure up to that person. 517 00:26:52,590 --> 00:26:54,960 I'm not following Jesus good enough because I'm not following Jesus the 518 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:56,430 way that they're following Jesus. 519 00:26:58,860 --> 00:27:00,090 Or maybe we do it the opposite. 520 00:27:00,090 --> 00:27:02,370 We look at somebody, we're like, man, I'm, I'm so much more godly than that 521 00:27:02,370 --> 00:27:06,450 person is, but they're getting promoted and work, and I'm getting laid off why. 522 00:27:07,710 --> 00:27:10,200 And all of a sudden, instead of following Jesus in humility, we're following 523 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:11,970 Jesus in self-righteousness and thrive. 524 00:27:16,290 --> 00:27:20,100 Or we look at somebody and go, man, I discipline my kids well and I do 525 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:23,490 family devotions all the time with my kids, and yet their kids are way more 526 00:27:23,490 --> 00:27:25,020 well behaved than my kids off of Why? 527 00:27:25,260 --> 00:27:25,650 Why 528 00:27:30,780 --> 00:27:34,680 Ronald comparisons take our eyes off Jesus and put them on everybody around Jesus. 529 00:27:35,805 --> 00:27:38,655 If we begin to measure ourselves as part of what it looks like for us to follow 530 00:27:38,655 --> 00:27:41,505 Jesus based on how other people are following Jesus, then we missed a point. 531 00:27:43,335 --> 00:27:46,185 Our eyes are beyond Jesus serving. 532 00:27:46,185 --> 00:27:48,255 Comparisons too creep into the church, don't they? 533 00:27:49,545 --> 00:27:51,615 I can't believe that person doesn't do more to serve. 534 00:27:54,615 --> 00:27:58,185 I'm inherently better than that person because I'm serving on multiple teams. 535 00:27:59,655 --> 00:28:01,995 My role is more significant than their role. 536 00:28:03,390 --> 00:28:05,340 Well, why did that person get asked to serve INow? 537 00:28:05,340 --> 00:28:08,010 Well, when I wanted to serve INow, it should have been me 538 00:28:10,290 --> 00:28:13,740 and our eyes have gone to the horizontal comparisons again, instead 539 00:28:13,740 --> 00:28:19,140 of being fixed on Jesus, my job to serve Jesus the way that Jesus called 540 00:28:19,140 --> 00:28:20,790 me to serve Jesus, to follow Jesus. 541 00:28:21,775 --> 00:28:26,100 The writer of Hebrews in a familiar text that you probably know well, says, Hey. 542 00:28:27,764 --> 00:28:30,315 Let's lay aside every way you can see which clings so closely. 543 00:28:30,315 --> 00:28:34,095 Let's run with endurance the race that is set before us. 544 00:28:35,264 --> 00:28:37,395 Listen, Christian, you're running your race. 545 00:28:37,395 --> 00:28:38,955 You're not running my race, 546 00:28:41,085 --> 00:28:42,075 you're running your race. 547 00:28:42,075 --> 00:28:43,500 You're not running your spouse's race. 548 00:28:43,879 --> 00:28:44,420 My dad. 549 00:28:45,945 --> 00:28:46,905 You're running your race. 550 00:28:46,905 --> 00:28:52,965 You're not running the blanks race and in your lane. 551 00:28:53,385 --> 00:28:55,785 I did track on accident once in middle school. 552 00:28:57,315 --> 00:29:01,575 I remember enough of it to remember that I had a lane and I was really 553 00:29:01,575 --> 00:29:03,495 good at looking at the backs of everybody else that was running. 554 00:29:03,495 --> 00:29:06,555 I knew who they were because I saw them all in front of me, but I 555 00:29:06,555 --> 00:29:07,935 knew my job was to stay in my lane. 556 00:29:09,855 --> 00:29:15,045 Christian, stay in your lane and realize at the end of your lane is Jesus. 557 00:29:16,485 --> 00:29:16,725 Right? 558 00:29:16,725 --> 00:29:22,725 Over Hebrew says, looking to Jesus, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author 559 00:29:22,725 --> 00:29:25,005 and perfector of our faith, and for the joy that was step before him. 560 00:29:25,305 --> 00:29:27,255 Endured the cross, despising the shame, and de seated at the 561 00:29:27,255 --> 00:29:28,335 right hand of the throne of God. 562 00:29:28,365 --> 00:29:29,745 Follow Jesus. 563 00:29:29,805 --> 00:29:31,815 Keep your eyes on Jesus. 564 00:29:34,635 --> 00:29:39,080 Listen, if, if God wants that person to have a nicer job, what is that to you? 565 00:29:40,065 --> 00:29:40,695 You follow me? 566 00:29:42,590 --> 00:29:45,435 If, if, if God wants that person to serve in that role instead 567 00:29:45,435 --> 00:29:46,485 of you, what is that to you? 568 00:29:47,985 --> 00:29:49,245 Jesus is saying, you follow me. 569 00:29:51,165 --> 00:29:53,775 If God wants that person to be married with the family, you've always. 570 00:29:55,605 --> 00:29:56,565 What is that to you? 571 00:29:57,825 --> 00:29:58,515 You follow me? 572 00:30:00,945 --> 00:30:02,985 If God wants that person to live in the neighborhood that you've 573 00:30:02,985 --> 00:30:05,085 been I that you would love to live in, what is that to you? 574 00:30:06,855 --> 00:30:07,785 You follow me? 575 00:30:09,285 --> 00:30:14,175 One of the best ways for you to work on following Jesus without distractions is to 576 00:30:14,175 --> 00:30:18,945 focus every day, each day on where you are today and what he's giving you to do here. 577 00:30:22,064 --> 00:30:23,625 Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray. 578 00:30:23,625 --> 00:30:25,095 And you remember when he told 'em about food? 579 00:30:25,725 --> 00:30:28,935 He said, give us this day what our daily bread. 580 00:30:30,105 --> 00:30:34,155 He didn't say, I pray and say, God, give us our daily bread and I'm also, I'd 581 00:30:34,155 --> 00:30:37,215 like you to gimme my, my daily bread tomorrow and I'd like you to gimme 582 00:30:37,215 --> 00:30:40,185 my daily bread in the next week, in the next month, the next five years. 583 00:30:40,185 --> 00:30:42,794 I, I need my daily bread all lined up for me so I know exactly where it is 584 00:30:42,794 --> 00:30:43,754 and what I'm gonna be able to have. 585 00:30:44,835 --> 00:30:46,995 He also didn't say, Hey, come to God and say, Hey God, the daily 586 00:30:46,995 --> 00:30:48,165 bread that you gave me yesterday. 587 00:30:48,540 --> 00:30:49,770 It's kind of sta over there. 588 00:30:50,010 --> 00:30:50,640 I didn't like it. 589 00:30:51,270 --> 00:30:53,460 I don't know where you got that daily bread, but if you could shop somewhere 590 00:30:53,460 --> 00:30:55,620 else, Lord, for my daily bread today. 591 00:30:55,620 --> 00:30:56,310 That'd be great. 592 00:30:57,930 --> 00:31:00,510 Who says, give us this day, our daily 593 00:31:02,550 --> 00:31:02,910 elsewhere? 594 00:31:02,910 --> 00:31:04,710 Jesus said, why are you anxious about tomorrow and today? 595 00:31:04,710 --> 00:31:05,580 He's got enough problems. 596 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,180 A great way to follow Jesus without distraction is just 597 00:31:09,180 --> 00:31:10,380 to say, where am I right now? 598 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:12,780 What is, what does today have for me? 599 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:14,370 What am I facing today? 600 00:31:14,730 --> 00:31:15,960 What do I need to be doing today? 601 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,540 When I was at Master Seminary, they would often remind us so many times 602 00:31:21,930 --> 00:31:25,530 it, it became, it developed a complex within us that we're not John MacArthur. 603 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,139 They would look at us and they'd be like, there's only one John 604 00:31:28,139 --> 00:31:28,950 MacArthur, and you're not him. 605 00:31:29,190 --> 00:31:30,660 Some of y'all are out there and going, amen. 606 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:31,139 That's great. 607 00:31:31,139 --> 00:31:34,575 I'm glad my pastor is not John MacArthur, others of you going, and I, I wish 608 00:31:34,575 --> 00:31:35,580 my pastor, what is John MacArthur? 609 00:31:35,580 --> 00:31:37,290 I'm not, they, they told me enough times. 610 00:31:37,290 --> 00:31:37,740 I'm not. 611 00:31:38,190 --> 00:31:41,220 Um, but they were always followed up with this, and I've always loved this. 612 00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:44,160 They said, grow where your plant. 613 00:31:45,870 --> 00:31:46,470 Don't try to be here. 614 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:49,501 Follow me. 615 00:31:49,506 --> 00:31:51,840 Following Jesus isn't what it looks like for, for Pastor John 616 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,530 MCC Carpenter to follow Jesus or any other pastor to follow Jesus. 617 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:58,920 I gotta be Pastor PJ following Jesus. 618 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:01,140 That's my job. 619 00:32:02,220 --> 00:32:02,790 You follow? 620 00:32:02,790 --> 00:32:06,390 Jesus is what it looks like for you to follow Jesus, for 621 00:32:06,390 --> 00:32:07,680 what Jesus called you to do. 622 00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:10,920 That's left and right, Lord, what about, what about them? 623 00:32:11,310 --> 00:32:11,975 What's their life doing? 624 00:32:13,665 --> 00:32:14,385 What about this person? 625 00:32:14,385 --> 00:32:15,165 What's, what's their life? 626 00:32:16,575 --> 00:32:17,085 What's that to you? 627 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:19,035 You follow me? 628 00:32:20,325 --> 00:32:22,695 You don't need to know why someone's in a different place from where 629 00:32:22,695 --> 00:32:25,335 you're at in order to make the decision to follow Jesus on a daily 630 00:32:25,335 --> 00:32:27,225 basis, which is where we're going. 631 00:32:27,225 --> 00:32:29,115 Finally, look at verses 24 through 25. 632 00:32:29,775 --> 00:32:31,005 John lands his gospel. 633 00:32:31,005 --> 00:32:32,625 He ends the book with these two verses. 634 00:32:32,625 --> 00:32:35,505 He says, this is the disciple who's bearing witness about these things. 635 00:32:35,955 --> 00:32:39,405 And who's written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 636 00:32:39,405 --> 00:32:42,015 So in other words, John's saying, Hey, just like he did in the cross 637 00:32:42,015 --> 00:32:45,675 in John 19, he who saw as one witness, his testimony is true. 638 00:32:45,675 --> 00:32:47,085 John 1935. 639 00:32:47,145 --> 00:32:50,475 So here he's saying, again, I'm the one, I'm an eyewitness. 640 00:32:50,475 --> 00:32:51,405 I saw these things. 641 00:32:51,405 --> 00:32:52,965 You can rely on these things. 642 00:32:52,965 --> 00:32:55,185 The things that have written are true. 643 00:32:55,190 --> 00:32:58,965 And says in verse 25, he says, there are also many other things that Jesus 644 00:32:58,965 --> 00:33:01,335 did or every one of them to be written. 645 00:33:01,425 --> 00:33:04,935 I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books. 646 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:06,630 That would be written. 647 00:33:07,950 --> 00:33:10,050 A lot of people have said, well, that's a hyperbolic statement. 648 00:33:10,380 --> 00:33:11,370 That's an exaggeration. 649 00:33:11,370 --> 00:33:16,470 And, and yeah, sure, okay, but how much of an exaggeration? 650 00:33:17,670 --> 00:33:18,270 Think about this. 651 00:33:18,540 --> 00:33:22,170 The average person for an average adult, the average reading speed is anywhere 652 00:33:22,170 --> 00:33:24,420 from 200 to 250 words per minute. 653 00:33:24,690 --> 00:33:25,050 Okay? 654 00:33:25,350 --> 00:33:27,030 200 to 250 words per minute. 655 00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:29,550 So if you take the slow end of that, that. 656 00:33:30,945 --> 00:33:33,705 At the slower end of that range, a person could still read all four 657 00:33:33,705 --> 00:33:36,165 gospels in just under seven hours. 658 00:33:37,605 --> 00:33:37,785 Okay? 659 00:33:38,595 --> 00:33:39,735 Just under seven hours. 660 00:33:40,215 --> 00:33:42,885 Jesus was on earth for 33 years. 661 00:33:42,885 --> 00:33:45,345 His early ministry alone that we have was three years, 662 00:33:47,625 --> 00:33:50,355 which ama to seven hours of our time in the gospels. 663 00:33:50,655 --> 00:33:56,145 In other words, John didn't write all that he could have written as he's saying. 664 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,520 And maybe if he had written everything, he would've come close to fill out the 665 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,935 word we're talking about the son of God. 666 00:34:04,955 --> 00:34:07,230 But God incarnate, God in the flesh. 667 00:34:07,350 --> 00:34:09,775 A sneeze is noteworthy from the son of God. 668 00:34:12,389 --> 00:34:14,850 And John's just saying, I, I didn't write everything that Jesus did. 669 00:34:15,125 --> 00:34:21,000 So this is now the second time in a handful of verses that John's, I've been 670 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,290 very selective about what I've written. 671 00:34:24,630 --> 00:34:26,759 And if you go back, he said, I, I wrote these things back 672 00:34:26,759 --> 00:34:27,509 to the purpose of the book. 673 00:34:27,509 --> 00:34:30,989 That you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by 674 00:34:30,989 --> 00:34:32,250 believing you might have life in His name. 675 00:34:34,110 --> 00:34:36,540 And now he's saying, I, I've written a select amount of things. 676 00:34:36,630 --> 00:34:38,009 And you can believe these things. 677 00:34:38,009 --> 00:34:39,570 You, you can take these things to the bank. 678 00:34:39,570 --> 00:34:40,770 I'm an eye witness of them. 679 00:34:40,889 --> 00:34:42,330 You can believe that they're true. 680 00:34:43,380 --> 00:34:47,130 And I think John does this because this is where he wants to leave us. 681 00:34:47,730 --> 00:34:50,009 He wants to leave us with one more call in the book to. 682 00:34:50,925 --> 00:34:56,594 Book, what are you gonna do with Jesus and what's Not Stated? 683 00:34:56,594 --> 00:35:00,255 Finally, I mean, it would've been great for John, not that I'm gonna criticize 684 00:35:00,255 --> 00:35:03,315 the Holy Spirit's inspiration here, so I gotta be careful how I try this. 685 00:35:04,125 --> 00:35:06,135 I, I would've loved John just to end the book with a follow. 686 00:35:06,135 --> 00:35:06,765 Jesus. 687 00:35:07,965 --> 00:35:10,005 I've written what I've written, you can trust in it. 688 00:35:10,395 --> 00:35:11,355 Now, follow Jesus. 689 00:35:12,180 --> 00:35:15,180 I, I think that's what's being implied here. 690 00:35:15,240 --> 00:35:20,400 So my final call on us today is, I think as, as John ends the book, he leaves us 691 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,380 with the question, are you gonna do it? 692 00:35:23,310 --> 00:35:24,240 Are you gonna follow Jesus? 693 00:35:24,990 --> 00:35:27,690 I open it by saying, no matter where you're at, sees a believer, 694 00:35:28,170 --> 00:35:30,360 somebody who's been a believer for decades, or somebody who's just 695 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,160 recently come to faith in Jesus. 696 00:35:32,790 --> 00:35:36,510 All of us in this room have an opportunity today to answer the call, to follow Jesus. 697 00:35:37,140 --> 00:35:39,720 And so, third and finally this morning, follow Jesus today. 698 00:35:40,950 --> 00:35:42,570 Follow Jesus today 699 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:49,680 as we wrap up this study of the Gospel of John after 73 messages in two years. 700 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:51,450 The question is the same as it was at the beginning. 701 00:35:51,510 --> 00:35:52,500 Will you follow Jesus 702 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:55,080 again? 703 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:58,470 Peter's opening words or or Jesus's opening words at the 704 00:35:58,470 --> 00:36:02,400 beginning of the gospel of John, essentially to Philip follow him. 705 00:36:04,380 --> 00:36:07,260 Jesus is concluding words at the end of the Gospel of John to Peter. 706 00:36:07,740 --> 00:36:08,220 Follow me. 707 00:36:10,290 --> 00:36:12,120 I think that's our takeaway this morning. 708 00:36:13,650 --> 00:36:14,850 Follow Jesus. 709 00:36:15,930 --> 00:36:17,430 Will you follow Jesus today? 710 00:36:17,430 --> 00:36:21,180 Many of you in the room have answered the most essential component of that question. 711 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,450 In other words, you have surrendered your life in faith and repentance to 712 00:36:24,450 --> 00:36:26,040 Jesus as your Savior and your Lord. 713 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:28,230 You said, Jesus, I'm all in with you. 714 00:36:28,275 --> 00:36:30,390 I trust in you for the forgiveness of my sins. 715 00:36:30,390 --> 00:36:31,620 I trust in your resurrection. 716 00:36:31,859 --> 00:36:32,730 For eternal life. 717 00:36:32,730 --> 00:36:36,089 You've made that decision, that transaction where God took your sin 718 00:36:36,089 --> 00:36:39,390 and put it upon Jesus at the cross, and God gave the full righteousness 719 00:36:39,390 --> 00:36:42,900 of Jesus and has transferred it into your account through faith. 720 00:36:44,130 --> 00:36:48,120 That's the beginning moment of following Jesus, but it's not 721 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,435 a once in time following it. 722 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,630 It transcends a moment and becomes something that we 723 00:36:54,630 --> 00:36:56,940 have to do on a daily basis. 724 00:36:58,170 --> 00:37:00,839 That's why Luke in Luke 9 23 says. 725 00:37:00,870 --> 00:37:05,970 It records Jesus saying this, if, if anyone would come after me, let him 726 00:37:05,970 --> 00:37:13,710 deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me daily and follow me. 727 00:37:16,734 --> 00:37:21,330 I, I don't know, but I, I once heard Romans 12 preach that the, the passage 728 00:37:21,330 --> 00:37:23,160 present yourselves as a living sacrifice. 729 00:37:25,740 --> 00:37:27,210 That, that, that was presented and said, you know what? 730 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:29,130 We have to do that every single day because you know what a living 731 00:37:29,130 --> 00:37:30,450 sacrifice wants to do, don't you? 732 00:37:30,825 --> 00:37:32,925 A living sacrifice wants to crawl down off the altar. 733 00:37:34,605 --> 00:37:35,745 I don't wanna be sacrificed. 734 00:37:37,785 --> 00:37:39,075 And, and, and that's our flesh. 735 00:37:40,545 --> 00:37:42,525 Our flesh is, man, I don't wanna die to myself. 736 00:37:43,845 --> 00:37:46,245 What's the path of least resistance to follow Jesus? 737 00:37:46,245 --> 00:37:49,005 That's a question so many of us often ask on a daily basis. 738 00:37:50,025 --> 00:37:51,315 Jesus, I wanna follow you today. 739 00:37:51,315 --> 00:37:52,545 Just don't make it too uncomfortable for me. 740 00:37:55,395 --> 00:37:57,230 Jesus says, if anyone wants to come after me. 741 00:37:59,370 --> 00:38:05,610 His cross and deny himself daily, y'all, you feel like, man, I feel like every 742 00:38:05,610 --> 00:38:06,900 single day I have to doubt on myself. 743 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:07,350 Join the club. 744 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:14,280 That's what following Jesus looks like, y'all, until the Lord kills us or 745 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:15,450 calls us home, whichever comes first, 746 00:38:17,625 --> 00:38:19,830 and we stand in his presence fully glorified. 747 00:38:21,225 --> 00:38:25,395 And realize once we're all the absence of the presence of sin, until that day 748 00:38:25,395 --> 00:38:28,845 comes, then every single day you're gonna have to fight the old man. 749 00:38:30,645 --> 00:38:32,505 And our default is towards the flesh. 750 00:38:34,485 --> 00:38:39,225 And so if we aren't daily choosing to follow Jesus, if we aren't daily saying, 751 00:38:39,225 --> 00:38:42,675 I'm gonna deny myself, I'm gonna take up my cross and set myself to follow Jesus. 752 00:38:42,825 --> 00:38:46,275 We're not our day praying and pleading, God, me follow you. 753 00:38:46,275 --> 00:38:46,335 I. 754 00:38:51,045 --> 00:38:54,525 We are just asking to drift towards the default, which is our flesh. 755 00:38:57,255 --> 00:38:58,875 Follow Jesus daily. 756 00:39:00,255 --> 00:39:02,925 Every morning you wake up, you face decisions about whether or 757 00:39:02,925 --> 00:39:05,115 not you're going to follow Jesus. 758 00:39:06,435 --> 00:39:09,075 Some of those decisions might be, are you gonna follow Jesus today? 759 00:39:09,495 --> 00:39:11,625 Am I, am I gonna follow Jesus or my lust today? 760 00:39:14,115 --> 00:39:16,995 Am I gonna follow Jesus or am I gonna follow my greed today? 761 00:39:19,980 --> 00:39:22,890 I'm gonna follow Jesus, or, or maybe I'm gonna follow my anger today. 762 00:39:22,890 --> 00:39:24,720 I'm gonna give vent to my simple anger. 763 00:39:25,980 --> 00:39:28,500 I'm at home with my kids and my wife. 764 00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:29,520 Or when I'm on the road, 765 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:33,780 am I gonna follow Jesus or am I gonna follow my sloth? 766 00:39:36,630 --> 00:39:37,320 I just don't. 767 00:39:38,730 --> 00:39:39,300 I don't feel like it. 768 00:39:39,765 --> 00:39:40,045 I gotta 769 00:39:42,390 --> 00:39:44,310 follow Jesus or my own ambition. 770 00:39:47,174 --> 00:39:48,794 Can I have that checkbook back that I gave you? 771 00:39:48,799 --> 00:39:50,595 I, I, I'd like to fill out some of those checks. 772 00:39:50,595 --> 00:39:51,825 I've got some things I'd like to do with my, 773 00:39:54,855 --> 00:39:57,225 I'm gonna follow Jesus, or am I gonna follow my selfishness? 774 00:40:00,044 --> 00:40:02,714 I'm dying to self, I'm gonna put self on the throne. 775 00:40:05,205 --> 00:40:06,105 I gonna follow Jesus. 776 00:40:06,105 --> 00:40:07,274 Or am I gonna follow my heart 777 00:40:09,915 --> 00:40:14,265 the hardest, deceitful, and wicked what the scripture tells us. 778 00:40:15,835 --> 00:40:18,255 Am I gonna follow Jesus or am I gonna follow my friends? 779 00:40:22,455 --> 00:40:24,645 Am I gonna follow Jesus or am I gonna follow my boss? 780 00:40:24,675 --> 00:40:28,455 Oh, my boss is asking me to do something that I know is gonna 781 00:40:28,455 --> 00:40:29,595 cause me to have to push pause. 782 00:40:29,595 --> 00:40:30,975 I'm following Jesus in order to do that. 783 00:40:33,750 --> 00:40:36,435 Am I gonna follow Jesus or am I gonna follow my desire for comfort? 784 00:40:38,955 --> 00:40:40,695 And Jesus said, don't lead me to the cross. 785 00:40:43,095 --> 00:40:43,695 Can go to the cross. 786 00:40:43,695 --> 00:40:45,165 Just don't lead me to the cross. 787 00:40:47,355 --> 00:40:49,455 I gonna follow Jesus or my desire to please other people. 788 00:40:52,515 --> 00:40:54,855 I gonna follow Jesus or my fear of man, 789 00:40:58,995 --> 00:41:00,765 I gonna follow Jesus or my laziness. 790 00:41:00,765 --> 00:41:01,305 That's not fair. 791 00:41:01,305 --> 00:41:05,595 I use sloppy and laziness in both of those lists, so I'm not, I just realize that. 792 00:41:07,154 --> 00:41:10,305 All that to say, y'all, we, we face decisions every single day. 793 00:41:10,365 --> 00:41:11,774 Are you gonna follow Jesus? 794 00:41:12,855 --> 00:41:16,964 In fact, more than just that is not even just in the morning to, to wake up and 795 00:41:16,964 --> 00:41:19,214 say, I need follow every single Lord. 796 00:41:19,214 --> 00:41:24,975 I need you every minute of the day, every moment of the day. 797 00:41:25,845 --> 00:41:28,665 I need the spirit to carry a louder megaphone than my flesh. 798 00:41:28,694 --> 00:41:30,225 My flesh yells at me. 799 00:41:30,225 --> 00:41:31,754 My flesh screams at beat. 800 00:41:31,754 --> 00:41:33,944 The Spirit speak louder than the flesh to me. 801 00:41:35,939 --> 00:41:38,879 We have to decide moment by moment to follow Jesus. 802 00:41:38,879 --> 00:41:40,649 And you say, man, I don't know how to do that. 803 00:41:40,649 --> 00:41:41,759 I can't do that. 804 00:41:42,029 --> 00:41:42,930 You're exactly right. 805 00:41:42,930 --> 00:41:43,649 You can't do that. 806 00:41:44,490 --> 00:41:46,919 It's only the spirit in you that enables you to do that. 807 00:41:46,919 --> 00:41:49,350 I always go back to an illustration that one of my old pastors gave me. 808 00:41:49,589 --> 00:41:51,120 He said, you've got a war going on. 809 00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:54,810 There's two dogs warring with you, the flesh and the spirit. 810 00:41:54,810 --> 00:41:57,689 You know which one's gonna win the one you feed. 811 00:41:59,279 --> 00:42:01,259 And so you wanna make more decisions to follow Jesus. 812 00:42:03,420 --> 00:42:06,360 Lean into the spirit, feed the spirit to follow Jesus. 813 00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:06,930 Today. 814 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,170 Some of y'all in the room are facing very specific forks in the road, and I 815 00:42:10,170 --> 00:42:14,880 get that questions that God has on you about whether or not you're gonna follow 816 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:20,130 Jesus, calling you to leave a job that's increasingly requiring you to do things 817 00:42:20,130 --> 00:42:21,750 that are compromising your integrity. 818 00:42:22,530 --> 00:42:25,230 But you know, that's a, a massive step and really there's nothing else out 819 00:42:25,230 --> 00:42:26,580 there for you to leave that to go do 820 00:42:28,620 --> 00:42:31,500 or calling you to break off a relationship that isn't God honoring. 821 00:42:33,375 --> 00:42:36,075 And yet you think to yourself, man, but I'm so far into this relationship, how 822 00:42:36,075 --> 00:42:37,695 could I ever break up with that person? 823 00:42:40,545 --> 00:42:43,275 Or calling you to confess a sin that you've been hiding for years 824 00:42:43,275 --> 00:42:45,975 and you think, yeah, but if I bring that to the lights, what 825 00:42:45,975 --> 00:42:47,025 are other people gonna think about 826 00:42:50,235 --> 00:42:54,525 or calling you to finally knock on that neighbor's door next door to your house 827 00:42:54,675 --> 00:42:56,835 and invite them over for dinner and you think, yeah, but I've lived next 828 00:42:56,835 --> 00:42:59,655 door to them for three years, and the most I've ever done is just wave and 829 00:42:59,655 --> 00:43:01,035 smile at them as I fall into my drive. 830 00:43:04,335 --> 00:43:06,465 Calling you to have that gospel conversation with your 831 00:43:06,465 --> 00:43:08,505 family member, you think? 832 00:43:08,505 --> 00:43:09,915 Yeah, but I already know they hate God. 833 00:43:09,915 --> 00:43:10,725 They're not gonna respond. 834 00:43:13,755 --> 00:43:19,125 They're calling you to give more, calling you to start serving, calling 835 00:43:19,125 --> 00:43:22,185 you to get up earlier and get in the Word of God and, and listen. 836 00:43:22,185 --> 00:43:25,035 The thing about it is we're always gonna have the, the, yeah. 837 00:43:25,035 --> 00:43:25,125 But. 838 00:43:28,170 --> 00:43:29,760 We're always gonna have the, the, the. 839 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:32,550 Yeah, but, and, and we need to remember the, the, but God 840 00:43:35,185 --> 00:43:37,620 and, and so as, as we're being called to follow him, we need to 841 00:43:37,620 --> 00:43:40,045 be able to say, okay, Lord, I'm gonna follow you and trust you. 842 00:43:44,040 --> 00:43:45,810 I'm gonna trust where you're leading. 843 00:43:46,620 --> 00:43:47,910 Will you follow Jesus today? 844 00:43:47,910 --> 00:43:51,000 Look, church, I believe he's doing this with our church as well. 845 00:43:53,175 --> 00:43:55,875 You may be thinking to yourself, wow, this whole Move to Prosper thing 846 00:43:55,875 --> 00:43:57,195 kind of came together in a hurry. 847 00:43:57,195 --> 00:43:58,245 This seems kind of halter. 848 00:43:58,875 --> 00:43:59,265 I'm with you. 849 00:44:01,460 --> 00:44:04,995 I I, I'm with you on, I had lunch with the corporate offices. 850 00:44:05,055 --> 00:44:07,365 The, the responsive runs charter. 851 00:44:07,980 --> 00:44:10,710 Just to talk about extending our lease here in Frisco, and when I sat down to 852 00:44:10,710 --> 00:44:13,950 lunch with them, they said, Hey, would you consider moving up to Prosper? 853 00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:15,510 There was a church up there, they moved out. 854 00:44:15,510 --> 00:44:16,800 We'd love to have another church in there. 855 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:19,020 We feel like it'd be a real strategic location for you. 856 00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:22,560 Having no idea that when we were in California praying about coming out 857 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:25,950 here to plant here, we were praying about planting in Sali and Prosper 858 00:44:25,950 --> 00:44:28,770 and reaching that area because we knew that's where so many people were moving. 859 00:44:30,210 --> 00:44:32,640 I think God is moving us as a church up there saying, Hey, 860 00:44:32,640 --> 00:44:33,810 church, are you gonna follow me? 861 00:44:34,050 --> 00:44:36,690 But it's gonna be more than us literally, physically just following him by 862 00:44:36,690 --> 00:44:38,340 upbringing our church and, and relocating. 863 00:44:39,060 --> 00:44:41,250 The question is gonna be, are we gonna be a faithful church? 864 00:44:41,250 --> 00:44:43,080 A church that's reaching teaching and training? 865 00:44:43,470 --> 00:44:44,910 Are we gonna look in the world around us? 866 00:44:44,910 --> 00:44:48,180 And the fact that may, God's bringing the nations into our neighborhoods. 867 00:44:48,540 --> 00:44:50,790 He's bringing the Muslims and the Hindus and the Buddhists. 868 00:44:50,790 --> 00:44:52,320 He's already got the atheists here 869 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:56,670 and he's bringing 'em here and saying, I'm, I'm putting you in the 870 00:44:56,670 --> 00:44:58,380 path where there is a ton of growth. 871 00:45:00,870 --> 00:45:04,170 And so the call on us as a church is to say, Hey, uh, in, in, in five 872 00:45:04,170 --> 00:45:06,990 years, are we gonna be running two to three times as big because we're gonna 873 00:45:06,990 --> 00:45:10,260 answer this call as we move north and say we're gonna start reaching people, 874 00:45:10,260 --> 00:45:11,820 we're gonna start seeing baptisms. 875 00:45:12,030 --> 00:45:14,460 We're gonna start hearing people in the, the, the baptismal tanks. 876 00:45:14,460 --> 00:45:14,940 You know what? 877 00:45:15,000 --> 00:45:19,200 See, I used to be a Muslim until I met so and so from, from Compass Bible Church. 878 00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:20,310 You shared the gospel with me. 879 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:23,280 And now I'm here to, to testify that I pledge my life to Jesus Christ. 880 00:45:23,280 --> 00:45:25,260 And I get excited about seeing that. 881 00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:32,745 I, I, look, I don't wanna be the Church of Ephesus, revelation 882 00:45:32,745 --> 00:45:34,964 two, the Church of Ephesus. 883 00:45:34,964 --> 00:45:37,424 We read that and y'all, I think we would feel super comfortable 884 00:45:37,424 --> 00:45:38,475 in the Church of Ephesus. 885 00:45:39,855 --> 00:45:43,605 But the problem is Jesus says they left their first love AKA, they 886 00:45:43,605 --> 00:45:48,225 stopped following their doctrine was there, their theology was there. 887 00:45:48,464 --> 00:45:51,165 They had the degrees behind the pastor's names. 888 00:45:51,674 --> 00:45:52,095 But you know what? 889 00:45:52,100 --> 00:45:53,325 They, they, they stopped loving me. 890 00:45:53,325 --> 00:45:54,555 They stopped following me. 891 00:45:55,065 --> 00:45:57,465 Listen, I don't want our reputation to be that they're the church. 892 00:45:57,465 --> 00:45:58,065 That's the most doc. 893 00:45:58,070 --> 00:45:59,145 We sound in the area. 894 00:45:59,205 --> 00:46:01,875 I want our reputation to be that, that the people are getting saved and 895 00:46:01,875 --> 00:46:05,265 showing up and, and that church is growing because people love Jesus there. 896 00:46:05,325 --> 00:46:08,505 Look, if we love Jesus and we follow Jesus the way he's calling us to follow 897 00:46:08,505 --> 00:46:11,325 him, the the doctrine and theology that's gonna take care of itself. 898 00:46:14,350 --> 00:46:15,050 My fear is 899 00:46:17,660 --> 00:46:19,725 that we'll be the church's doc showing sound. 900 00:46:22,110 --> 00:46:25,320 The growth that we're seeing, any growth that we're gonna see is just 901 00:46:25,320 --> 00:46:29,310 because people leave one church and come to our church, and that's fine. 902 00:46:31,290 --> 00:46:32,520 That's not why we're doing it here. 903 00:46:35,130 --> 00:46:37,770 So that's a random sidebar on how I feel like God is calling our church 904 00:46:37,770 --> 00:46:38,910 saying, Hey, are you gonna follow me? 905 00:46:41,005 --> 00:46:42,030 Are you gonna follow me? 906 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:45,120 Will we follow Jesus? 907 00:46:47,340 --> 00:46:52,170 Again, John's gospel began with that call Philip follow me 908 00:46:53,425 --> 00:46:55,410 and John ends with that call. 909 00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:56,580 Peter, follow me. 910 00:46:57,390 --> 00:46:59,940 And then I think he answered the book saying, Hey, I've written all this stuff. 911 00:47:00,600 --> 00:47:01,440 You can believe it. 912 00:47:02,550 --> 00:47:05,100 There's far more I could have written, but I've written these things and now 913 00:47:05,100 --> 00:47:08,910 the ball's in your court, you've got everything that you need to follow. 914 00:47:08,910 --> 00:47:09,600 Jesus. 915 00:47:12,570 --> 00:47:14,250 We're kind of in that moment Now, will you follow? 916 00:47:15,270 --> 00:47:18,060 You're gonna step into a week where it, it is gonna be like this. 917 00:47:18,150 --> 00:47:20,910 You're gonna have a destination which is following Jesus. 918 00:47:20,970 --> 00:47:23,280 You're gonna have a destination, which is, you wanna end up at the end of the week 919 00:47:23,665 --> 00:47:25,080 and, and you've got a couple options here. 920 00:47:25,980 --> 00:47:31,050 You can follow Apple Maps or you can follow Google Maps and the world is 921 00:47:31,050 --> 00:47:32,640 gonna want you to follow Apple Maps. 922 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:38,250 It's prettier, it's cleaner, it works better with most of us who 923 00:47:38,250 --> 00:47:39,285 are sanctified and have iPhones. 924 00:47:42,645 --> 00:47:44,415 Cheap shot, but I've got the microphone and you don't. 925 00:47:44,415 --> 00:47:44,625 So, 926 00:47:48,134 --> 00:47:53,685 but if you've ever followed Apple Maps, it takes you places you don't want to go. 927 00:47:54,615 --> 00:47:57,435 And you look at the, the, the direction, the address that you plugged in, 928 00:47:57,435 --> 00:47:59,625 you're like, Nope, that's, that's the exact place that I'm supposed to, 929 00:47:59,685 --> 00:48:03,105 that I'm trying to get, but this ain't in y'all that's following the world. 930 00:48:04,845 --> 00:48:07,605 Or you can plug it into Google Maps and it's not as pretty. 931 00:48:09,330 --> 00:48:11,730 They're excelling your information to everybody and telling them where 932 00:48:11,730 --> 00:48:15,300 you drive and all that stuff, but at the end of the day, it's gonna 933 00:48:15,300 --> 00:48:16,020 get you where you need to go. 934 00:48:18,270 --> 00:48:22,110 May it be what you would've chosen from the moment you got in the car, but after 935 00:48:22,110 --> 00:48:24,720 getting to the wrong destination multiple times, you're gonna finally decide, okay, 936 00:48:24,720 --> 00:48:27,330 it's worth it for me to follow this one. 937 00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:29,700 Church. 938 00:48:29,940 --> 00:48:33,390 My prayer, my hope is that we don't have to follow the wrong direction 939 00:48:33,450 --> 00:48:36,210 too long before we get to that place of realizing the world's 940 00:48:36,210 --> 00:48:37,185 not leading me where I want be. 941 00:48:39,485 --> 00:48:39,835 Jesus. 942 00:48:41,845 --> 00:48:42,675 Lemme follow Jesus. 943 00:48:45,485 --> 00:48:48,750 I'm gonna pray and you'll stay seated because we're gonna have a closer this 944 00:48:48,750 --> 00:48:52,320 this morning and the closer this morning is gonna be the song I surrender all, 945 00:48:53,850 --> 00:48:57,810 which I think is just an apt thought for us as we conclude the Gospels of 946 00:48:57,810 --> 00:49:00,509 John saying, is that where we're at? 947 00:49:02,055 --> 00:49:03,975 If you're here and you're going, yeah, I, I'm, I'm there. 948 00:49:03,975 --> 00:49:06,255 I, and maybe you're here this morning, you're saying, I, I haven't made 949 00:49:06,255 --> 00:49:07,425 the first decision to follow Jesus. 950 00:49:10,035 --> 00:49:13,035 This song is, is what the ask is this morning. 951 00:49:14,175 --> 00:49:17,595 When you come to him in faith, it's to surrender everything. 952 00:49:18,975 --> 00:49:20,595 Say, Lord, here's the check. 953 00:49:21,180 --> 00:49:21,300 I 954 00:49:23,775 --> 00:49:26,445 wanna prepare for my sins and put my trust in you as my Lord and Savior. 955 00:49:28,065 --> 00:49:30,795 Know that even if you lead me through the valleys here on Earth, 956 00:49:30,795 --> 00:49:32,655 you're gonna lead me out of the valleys and into your presence. 957 00:49:35,745 --> 00:49:40,485 For others of you this morning, it may be that that kind of recheck, that 958 00:49:40,485 --> 00:49:44,835 checkup to say, okay, how, how have I been doing in following Jesus in my life? 959 00:49:47,505 --> 00:49:50,565 There's something to to consider, to reflect on, to think about, 960 00:49:50,565 --> 00:49:53,655 to say, am I really committed to follow Jesus wherever he leads? 961 00:49:56,685 --> 00:50:02,535 My ready tomorrow, not even tomorrow, the rest of today, to say, Lord, I, I'm 962 00:50:02,535 --> 00:50:04,425 gonna have decisions the rest of today. 963 00:50:04,485 --> 00:50:08,115 You're gonna drive Preston Road on the way home, so I know you're gonna 964 00:50:08,115 --> 00:50:11,475 have to choose to follow Jesus and not your flesh on that drive home. 965 00:50:12,885 --> 00:50:16,215 Say that tongue of cheek, but there's gonna be all kinds of things that are 966 00:50:16,215 --> 00:50:17,925 waiting from the world to trick you up. 967 00:50:19,335 --> 00:50:21,975 Are you gonna follow Jesus daily, momentarily? 968 00:50:22,215 --> 00:50:23,235 Every single thing you've ever seen. 969 00:50:23,250 --> 00:50:24,960 So I'm gonna pray we 970 00:50:28,320 --> 00:50:28,770 surrender.