What does it mean to you to follow Jesus?

[Arthur Durnan]

Cinnamon dolce latte? Frappacino, cappacino, Al Pacino. True Coffee doesn't need a menu, it needs a cup. Perhaps the next time you're in Canada..........with your husband. On me.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Guest Biblicist]

To follow Jesus, in my life, daily. . .

1.) I must die to myself. Deny myself and forget about my personal "rights". The only "rights" I have are to death and hell.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

2.) Love covers over a multitude of sins. Even when I have been wronged.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

James 5:19-20 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

3.) Humility

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Matthew 10:24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

John 13:16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Mark 12:33 To love him [The Lord] with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

[Phil.2:12]

Let's get this out of the way from the start...Can we all agree that :

1. you can't "work your way into heaven" ?

2. there is no salvation without Jesus' sacrifice on the cross

***************************************************************************

Ok, with that established, what, if anything, does Jesus expect from you as His follower?

Thanks,

Fiosh

Actually, Fiosh, I see salvation as a two part gift. The first part is God's gift to us, the payment of our sin debt by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and the second part is our gift to God, doing the works that Jesus did when He was here on earth just like He said in John 14:12. The first part we've got down pat, but we are really struggling with our gift. When you prayerfully study the "marching orders" of Jesus found in Luke 4:15-19 (based in Isaiah 61:1), especially verse 18, you become aware that Jesus was sent to earth for more than paying our sin debt. In fact, 1 John 3:8 says "...for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil". Couple that truth with John 14:12 where Jesus says "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father". When you couple these two verses together, you begin to see that our Heavenly Father really wants His children destroying the works of the devil, just as His Son did. Now the crowning work of the devil was in giving his sin nature to mankind through Adam, thus causing the creation of God (man and woman) to be cut off from their rightful place in Heaven with God Almighty. This is not a work of the devil that we can do anythintg about but the destruction of this work by Jesus while in hell was accomplished and forms the basis for the free gift God so willingly offers to us.

So, we have the same "marching orders" that Jesus had there in Luke 4:15-19. However, our gift to God, the destruction of the works of the devil we can accomplish, is seriously lacking. I have been around Christians as a born-again believer for over 47 years, and during that time, I have crossed paths with some of the biggest hitters on our team (or so their press reports say), yet I have never seen one dead person raised from the dead nor seen one missing limb totally restored. That these things have occurred is testified to in various writings around the world, but I have not personally seen it, nor have I ever been used by God to perform these feats thereby destroying the very works of the devil which caused these conditions in the first place. This is indeed, a sad commentary.

I, as of this date, am not fulfilling the words of Jesus in John 14:12, and thus, I am not giving back to my Heavenly Father what He wants from me. Therefore, my walk with the Lord must lead to a stronger vessel, a more mature vessel, so that God could pour His power through this vessel and began using me to destroy the works of the devil just as Jesus said I could. I've got a long way to go and few years in which to fully mature as God wants me to before I stand before Him in Heaven. Would that I had understood this mission God wants me to accomplish when I was still a young or even middle-aged man! No sense in crying over spilt milk, just pick it up now and march steadily forward, allowing the Holy Spirit to mature me to the point where my Father can use me in destroying more works of the devil than I am now doing. That is how I visualize my walk with Jesus and how I see what my Father really expects of me.

One believer's perspective on the Walk we take with Jesus while still alive on this planet -- Wayne.

[EricH]

One would need to read the whole of the NT to come up with a comprehensive statement

[Fiosh]

Cinnamon dolce latte? Frappacino, cappacino, Al Pacino. True Coffee doesn't need a menu, it needs a cup. Perhaps the next time you're in Canada..........with your husband. On me.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

You're on, Arthur! It would be my distinct honor and privilege to break biscotti with you.

AMERICA, BLESS GOD!

[Fiosh]

Last year I was on a guided hike in Snowdonia at a particular point I lost confidence in the leader, later on when I perceived some danger ahead I decided not to follow him and turned back.

Later in the year I was out on a course for map reading and the use of the compass, the man that led that course had my respect for his obvious ability and I followed him, confidently.

I would say then to follow the Lord we need to understand and trust His ability to lead us, His power to perform His will, along with His desire to do so on our behalf, not just His ability as Messiah but that it applies to me, a personal saviour, the Lord is my shepherd.

Blessings, H.

Great analogy, trutster!

Could you expand on this to show how it translates to your "everyday" life. Can you give examples of how you live out your trust in His ability?

Thanks,

Fiosh

Greetings Fiosh,

Failure and weakness, mine that is, when by His providential care of me the Lord takes me to the brink or sometimes over the edge in my weakness and into failure it

[Fiosh]

Let's get this out of the way from the start...Can we all agree that :

1. you can't "work your way into heaven" ?

2. there is no salvation without Jesus' sacrifice on the cross

***************************************************************************

Ok, with that established, what, if anything, does Jesus expect from you as His follower?

Thanks,

Fiosh

Actually, Fiosh, I see salvation as a two part gift. The first part is God's gift to us, the payment of our sin debt by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and the second part is our gift to God, doing the works that Jesus did when He was here on earth just like He said in John 14:12. The first part we've got down pat, but we are really struggling with our gift. When you prayerfully study the "marching orders" of Jesus found in Luke 4:15-19 (based in Isaiah 61:1), especially verse 18, you become aware that Jesus was sent to earth for more than paying our sin debt. In fact, 1 John 3:8 says "...for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil". Couple that truth with John 14:12 where Jesus says "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father". When you couple these two verses together, you begin to see that our Heavenly Father really wants His children destroying the works of the devil, just as His Son did. Now the crowning work of the devil was in giving his sin nature to mankind through Adam, thus causing the creation of God (man and woman) to be cut off from their rightful place in Heaven with God Almighty. This is not a work of the devil that we can do anythintg about but the destruction of this work by Jesus while in hell was accomplished and forms the basis for the free gift God so willingly offers to us.

So, we have the same "marching orders" that Jesus had there in Luke 4:15-19. However, our gift to God, the destruction of the works of the devil we can accomplish, is seriously lacking. I have been around Christians as a born-again believer for over 47 years, and during that time, I have crossed paths with some of the biggest hitters on our team (or so their press reports say), yet I have never seen one dead person raised from the dead nor seen one missing limb totally restored. That these things have occurred is testified to in various writings around the world, but I have not personally seen it, nor have I ever been used by God to perform these feats thereby destroying the very works of the devil which caused these conditions in the first place. This is indeed, a sad commentary.

I, as of this date, am not fulfilling the words of Jesus in John 14:12, and thus, I am not giving back to my Heavenly Father what He wants from me. Therefore, my walk with the Lord must lead to a stronger vessel, a more mature vessel, so that God could pour His power through this vessel and began using me to destroy the works of the devil just as Jesus said I could. I've got a long way to go and few years in which to fully mature as God wants me to before I stand before Him in Heaven. Would that I had understood this mission God wants me to accomplish when I was still a young or even middle-aged man! No sense in crying over spilt milk, just pick it up now and march steadily forward, allowing the Holy Spirit to mature me to the point where my Father can use me in destroying more works of the devil than I am now doing. That is how I visualize my walk with Jesus and how I see what my Father really expects of me.

One believer's perspective on the Walk we take with Jesus while still alive on this planet -- Wayne.

What a wonderful approach! I've never heard it viewed quite this way before. Amen to what you said here: "Would that I had understood this mission God wants me to accomplish when I was still a young or even middle-aged man! "

When I think of the time I wasted that could have been put to better use! But God can use even that "wasted" time to form us into effective disciples.

If only we had faith the size of a mustard seed!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Wayne.

Peace,

Fiosh

[Fiosh]

One would need to read the whole of the NT to come up with a comprehensive statement

Very true. But I'll settle for what you see as the "highlights".

[Fiosh]

Jesus expects us to "deny yourself and take up the cross and follow me(Jesus)", and "follow me(Jesus) and let the dead bury their dead".

Well, it is a manifold message which he tells over and over in several ways, but the two most important messages are.

1) Deny yourself.

Which in itself is also manifold. First, deny your own ability to live for God. Sorry, you just can't do it. "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Second, deny your SELF, that is hedonism is abolished. Its not exactly the far eastern practice of asceticism, but it is a denial of the things of the world.

2) Take up the Cross and Follow Jesus.

Well, this just plain isn't taught in most "churches", at all. The cross is looked at as a sentimental object, as a tragic experience in the life of Jesus, in some cases it is even considered by alleged believers to be a defeat of Jesus. But Jesus himself said that, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me..." Peter said, "He bore our infirmities in his body on the tree, by who's stripes ye were healed." Now this is usually used by WoF people to promote a greed gospel or a miracle healing gospel, and I suppose there is some legitimate reason to see it as a healing verse, but the real healing it speaks to is that of salvation and healing of the heart.

Now I consider myself to have vastly come short on both these things, but I think following Jesus really is summed up in , "Deny yourself and take up the cross and follow (Jesus)."

Good thoughts, WSB. Can you say more about "how" we take up the Cross in our everyday lives?

Thanks,

F

[Phil.2:12]

Now I consider myself to have vastly come short on both these things, but I think following Jesus really is summed up in , "Deny yourself and take up the cross and follow (Jesus).

Good thoughts, WSB. Can you say more about "how" we take up the Cross in our everyday lives?

Thanks,

F

I'll take a stab at answering that question, Fiosh. We take up our cross when we deny our natural man the pleasures it seeks, which Paul in Romans talked about as always being at odds with our spiritual man. Indeed, the entire 8th chapter of Romans deals with this royal battle being fought between our soul and our spirit. Paul states the heart of the problem thus "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:12-13, KJV, emphasis added). In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul tells them that he is crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) indicating that he has,indeed, mortified or killed the wants and desires of the natural man and this has allowed him to mature in his spiritual man, becoming (as he pointed out in 2 Corinthians 3:18) more like Jesus as he goes from glory to glory.

Our cross we bear daily would be that maturation process whereby we deny our fleshly man the things he wants and allow the spiritual man to mature, going from one level of maturity (glory) to the next level of maturity (glory) so that in the end, we will actually look just like Jesus on the spiritual plane, where the demons of Satan (as well as Satan himself) live and carry out their work. This situation is illustrated in Acts 16 where the seven sons of Scvea tried to perform an exorcisim on a man possessed of a demon In the name of Jesus that Paul preached. The outcome wasn't pretty since the demon knew Paul and he knew Jesus, but he didn't recognize the seven sons of Sceva. The demon whipped the guys so bad that they fled the house they were in wearing nothing but their birthday suits, the first streaking event recorded in Scripture.

So it seems that the more we deny the deeds of our flesh (mortify or kill), the more we will mature in our Lord and the more the authority of Jesus will be recognized on the spiritual plane when we invoke it. This, to me, is what it means to "take up my cross and follow Jesus".

Edited March 10, 2007 by Phil.2:12