Sunday, January 17, 2016

Follow Christ



 

Pastor Allan opened his message with some remarks.  I took notes and present his digested sermon.

“It is time to stop playing church and start living for Jesus.  If something in your life needs changing, let God talk to you.  I am not the Holy Spirit, but consider that the Holy Spirit speaks through ministers.  Let your heart be open to change as God directs.  Be careful not to sit there and refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit.

The past weeks, God has me in a place that is not too comfortable and I am ready for change.

Remember the people at Antioch were first called Christians, because they walked like Jesus and acted like Jesus.  They were “Little Christs,” because they were like Him.

Let the world see Jesus in you.  Who are you following?  Is it your friend, or your spouse or is it our Lord.  Are you just showing up at church to see what is going on?

Each of us have divine appointments.  We are influencing someone.  Let it be for good.

Our worship leaders do a great job, and we have a wonderful time praising God, but how do we walk when we leave this sanctuary?

If you are following me, I will let you down, so I tell you now to keep your eyes on Jesus. 

We see a lot of new faces, and if you are looking for a church home, consider that perhaps God sent you here, and make a commitment.  Let God take you to a higher level in Jesus.  Step into a new Heavenly realm so  you can be earthly good.

Let us not focus on our weaknesses, but on our strengths.  Lord hear our prayer, give us more of you.  Breathe on me oh Lamb of God for you are worthy.  He sings back to us, “I have made you worthy.”

God desires to heal you, in your spirit, body and emotionally, so you can be a blessing to others.  If you get this tugging to pray for someone, that is God urging you to obey.

When we choose to follow Christ whole heartedly, we will become dead to the flesh.  Let those things that displease Him, fall off.  Don’t swing back and forth, on again - off again. 

Often after you make a quality decision, all Hell breaks loose, but determine to be dead to the flesh and allow Christ to work it out.

To be heavenly minded we must learn to slay the fleshly mind, and rid ourselves of sin, including wrath, anger and pride.  You have to WANT to remove them. We wonder why we still walk in the flesh.  We are reminded God is still working on us, sometimes a bit at a time.

When Jesus ministered he was moved with compassion as he viewed the crowds.  The people shoved, pushed and some crawled to get to him.  How diligent are you to see Christ?

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

We can’t be content to sit back thinking we have arrived, but we must move on and reach out to be kind and treat people as Christ would.

Let us have a State of Mind full of humility and meekness.  “If my people will repent and humble themselves and pray, I will heal their land.”

I can humble some people, but God says to humble yourself.

Every time you act as Christ, you may be criticized with people thinking you are a “push over.”  Don’t listen.  Remember your flesh is dead.

Decide how you want to live, and forgive one another, as you have been forgiven.  In the middle of being crucified, Jesus cried, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  God’s standard of forgiveness is to Keep on forgiving.

Paul wrote that without love - - all else is a waste of time.



 

3 comments:

Cheryl said...

Oh, to follow Jesus! To walk as He walked! There is a price involved, and so often, that cost deters us. But, to walk in total communion with Him is the sweetest way to live. God help us!

caryjo said...

Thank you, Hazel, for sharing how the Pastor shares. Always a spirit/heart grabber. Blessings.

Unknown said...

Amen, Hazel. It's only in humility we can find our Father's will and answers to prayers.

I also agree on the wrath and anger that are the by product of pride. Thanks for the reminder.