One most needful thing, following Jesus.

One most needful thing, following Jesus.

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.  21:20 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?  21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Beloved, the greatest thing that can happen in your life, is to wholeheartedly heed the call to follow Jesus.

As He called the Bible days saints, so He is calling you too.

Matthew  4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.  4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Luke  5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

John  1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.  1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.  1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.  1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!  1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.  1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.  1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

When you decided to follow Jesus, the host of darkness will raise persecutions against you, to discourage you from following Him and even separate you from Him.

Romans  8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But then you must be determined to follow Him through thick and thin.

Revelation  14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

You must with purpose of heart cleave to Him , whatever the intensity of the challenges.

Acts  11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Jesus Himself will ensure, you are not plucked out of His hands and He will give you eternal life.

John  10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

He will also ensure you are fulfilled here and live with Him for all eternity.

John  12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Listen to examples of honour those who followed Him received.

Peter

Acts  4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Acts  5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Paul

Acts  14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.  14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  14:7 And there they preached the gospel.  14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:  14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts  19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.  19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:  19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Matthew.

Luke  5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Matthew left all to follow Jesus. He became one of His apostles. He wrote the book of Matthew and he will join Jesus in heaven to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. So make up your mind to follow Jesus, your reward here and hereafter might be, beyond your widest expectations.

Because you too will heed His call to follow Him, great things beyond your widest dreams will happen to you here and you will live with Him for all eternity.

Revelation  14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

His grace will be sufficient for you to follow Him.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Let us pray.