“Follow Me”

 Preacher: Pastor John H. West, III
Date: May 2, 1999
Notes:

Our Text: John 21:19

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Death Can Glorify God

Jesus said this to indicate by what death Peter would glorify God.  It is interesting how death can glorify God.

Simon Says...

There is a game that children everywhere love to play.  It is called, "Simon says."  You remember playing this game, don't you?

"Simon says put your hands up," and everybody puts their hands up.   "Simon says put your hands down," and  everybody puts their hands down.  "Simon says clap your hands," and everybody claps their hands.   "Stop clapping your hands."  Wait a minute, you made a mistake.   Simon didn't say stop doing that.  What the leader says doesn't count.   Only what Simon says counts.

This game, "Simon says," is designed to teach children how to listen and obey.  The key to this game is to do what Simon says.  Every time I think about this, I wonder why Simon is so special?  Simon is the man.  Simon is the leader.   Simon is the one to follow.  Everybody else is to be ignored.  The moment you act without Simon's instructions, you are out of the game.

Jesus Says...

There is an element of Simon says in your walk with God.  Our walk with God is not a game, but the similarity is that we are to do whatever Jesus says.  I don't know what makes Simon special, but I do know what makes Jesus special.   Jesus is:

Listen to What Jesus Says

When He speaks, everybody needs to listen.  When Jesus speaks, even the birds stop their singing.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  (Psalm 46:10)

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.  (Habakkuk 2:20)

Those scriptures don't mean that the church should be quiet in worship (and it is awfully quiet in here this morning).  We need to make a joyful noise before the Lord.   However, when God speaks, we need to be still and hear.  When Christ speaks, we must obey.  If you are a child of God and His Spirit is living in you, then you must obey.

Feed Jesus’ Lambs

Jesus is speaking specifically to Peter, but His words pass through the centuries to us.  Three times, the Lord asked Peter, "Do you love Me."  Three times Peter said, "Yes."  Three times, Jesus said (in varying ways) "Feed My lambs... feed My sheep." 

Jesus told Peter that when he got old, someone would bind him and lead him where he did not want to go.  In other words, Peter was to die by crucifixion, in the same manner that Jesus died.  Jesus said, "Follow Me."

Follow Me

Jesus says, "Follow Me."  Someone is struggling to make a right decision with their life.  Jesus says, "Follow Me." 

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  (Matthew 4:19)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (Matthew 16:24)

Today, the first Sunday in May of 1999, Jesus says to us to take up our cross and follow Him.  We must follow the Master:

Some people wear "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets.  However, that bracelet doesn't mean a thing if we don't practice what Jesus did.  It is one thing to wear a bracelet and another thing to know what Jesus did and yet another thing to do what Jesus says to do.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 
(James 1:23)

Be a doer of the word, not just a hearer.

Three Points to “Follow Me”

Point #1

To follow someone, anyone, means you must give up leadership over your life.  We must decrease so that God can increase.  Self must be dethroned so that God's Spirit may be enthroned.  Not my will, but Thy will.  We can't do it both ways.   We can't simultaneously follow Jesus and have things our own way.  People want to vote for their own preferences in the church.  People want you to know what they think about certain matters.  If things don't go their ways, then they boycott everything.  However, do they ask what God says?

They forget that Christ is the leader of the church.

Point #2

We must follow Jesus all the way, even if it is to the death.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  (John 21:18)

Peter would be bound and taken where he does not want to go... to be crucified.   Tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down. 

How radical is your commitment to Christ?  Many will follow Jesus when it is easy and comfortable, but when things get hard, the crowd thins out.  Jesus wants to know if you will follow when persecution comes and trials and tribulations come.  Will you follow in hard times?

If it costs your life, you haven't lost anything.  What will it profit to gain the world and lose your soul?  To live is Christ and to die is gain.

Point #3

We must follow Jesus regardless of what others will do. 

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.  (John 21:19)

Jesus said, "Follow Me."

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  (John 21:20)

Peter points the finger at John.  "If I have to die for You, what about John?"

Follow Jesus no matter who tries to dissuade you.  Choose Jesus over your friends.   Jesus is a mighty good leader.  He will lead you into green pastures. 

All The Way

I'm going to follow the Master all the way.  It doesn't matter what any one says.   I have got to follow Jesus all the way.  Do you want to come and go with me?