Crossover Service (December 31 2021)
TITLE: Be Followers of Jesus Christ
SCRIPTURE:
Titus 2:11-14 (NLT) - For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
INTRODUCTION:
Since we are in this evil world, we ought to the light that people see.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) - You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
When you enter a dark room, you must flip on the switch so that the ceiling light or the light fixture will turn on and brighten the room. These light fixtures are connected to some sort of power source. If the Lamp is not connected to the source, then there will be no light in that room until the issue is corrected. As Followers of Jesus Christ, we must always be connected to the source of all things, God.
Let’s look at some qualities that are expected of a follower of Jesus Christ.
A follower of Jesus Christ must be connected to the source: John 15:4-8 (NLT) - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
As we are entering into a new year, we must be deliberate in our actions. We must endeavor to be connected to God. We must make every effort to remain in God.
A follower of Jesus Christ must be teachable. Mark 4:25 (AMP) - For [a]whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Peter had a teachable heart. Peter had a vision about unclean animals. Acts 10:13-14 (NIV) - Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Acts 10:28-29 (NIV) – “28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
The Holy Spirit had an assignment for Peter and if Peter didn’t have a teachable heart, he will not be able to accomplish the task of teaching Gentiles the gospel. Peter was willing to change his way of thinking.
A follower of Jesus Christ must be faithful. God is looking for someone who will be faithful in the things that are committed to them right now.
Zechariah 4:10 (AMP) - Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these [b]seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord which roam throughout the earth.”
God has committed something in your hands, he is expecting that we are faithful until the end.
A follower of Jesus Christ must be humble. Luke 18:9-14 (NIV) – “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
We should learn not to be like the Pharisee who feels that he or she is better than others. They compare themselves with others. They look down on others. They think that they are spiritually mature that others. They feel that they are spiritually mature because they have been in the faith for many years (20). However, they don’t know that a spiritually mature person is one who is a doer of the word of God. One who is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and acts on the word from the Holy Spirit.
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