I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

[Walter and Deborah]

Saturday 9-3-22 7th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Elul 6 5782 75th. Summer Day

Luke 9:18-62

18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Love, Walter and Debbie

Edited September 3, 2022 by Walter and Deborah
More info.

[JohnR7]

3 minutes ago, Walter and Deborah said:

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Yes, we need to die to self so we can live for God. But that is a lot easier said than done. Also why does God give us all of these desires if he wants us to deny them?  

[Walter and Deborah]

1 hour ago, JohnR7 said:

Yes, we need to die to self so we can live for God. But that is a lot easier said than done. Also why does God give us all of these desires if he wants us to deny them?  

You know I ask myself why, but to seek His kingdom, I find it is the greatest. 

Love, Walter and Debbie

[JohnR7]

1 hour ago, Walter and Deborah said:

You know I ask myself why, but to seek His kingdom, I find it is the greatest. 

There is nothing better than to worship God.

Often when I pray I go to the Throne of God

with Worship, Praise and Thanksgiving. 

[Walter and Deborah]

9 hours ago, JohnR7 said:

Yes, we need to die to self so we can live for God. But that is a lot easier said than done. Also why does God give us all of these desires if he wants us to deny them?  

You know come to think about after delighting yourself unto Him then He will give you the desires of your heart, but the thing is what is it to get them? one way I find is to deny yourself of ungodly and worldly lust.

[Walter and Deborah]

6 hours ago, JohnR7 said:

There is nothing better than to worship God.

Often when I pray I go to the Throne of God

with Worship, Praise and Thanksgiving. 

Amen!

Love, Walter

[JohnR7]

4 hours ago, Walter and Deborah said:

You know come to think about after delighting yourself unto Him then He will give you the desires of your heart, but the thing is what is it to get them? one way I find is to deny yourself of ungodly and worldly lust.

I wrote this on my wall by my fireplace: Trust in the Lord. Delight yourself in the Lord. Find satisfaction in Him. He will give you the desires of your heart. 

We need to purify our heart so our heart & desire  what God wants for us. We need to desire what is good & right & proper and true. Then, of course, God will give us good things because He is good and that is what He does. 

[TheBlade]

Though none go with me still I will follow No turning back , no turning back

[JohnR7]

On 9/3/2022 at 7:45 PM, Walter and Deborah said:

I find is to deny yourself of ungodly and worldly lust.

We are to die to self so we can live for God. It is difficult not to be double minded and flip in and out, back and forth. For years, I use to avoid TV to eliminate unGodly influences.