I
have joked over the years that ministry would be perfect if it were not for
people. I was asked recently, “What is the hardest part of pastoring?”. My
answer was easy: working with people. I was then asked: “What is the most
rewarding part of pastoring?”. My answer was also easy” seeing God work in and
change people’s lives.
We
see how to deal with people and how God can use us to positively impact people
for God in how Jesus dealt with and impacted people’s lives.
This
week we will look at how to deal with other followers of Jesus.
Matthew
4:18-22
While
walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter)
and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He
saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the
boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Jesus
calls us to be His followers. Jesus challenges us.
What
does a follower of Jesus look like?
John
12:26
If
anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant be
also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Followers
of Jesus follow Him and go where He is.
Followers
of Jesus serve others in the name of Jesus and honor the Father.
Jesus
challenges us as His followers to be where He is and do what He does.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is accepting Jesus’ challenge to follow Him
and be where He is and be doing what He does.
Matthew
16:8-12
But
Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing
among yourselves the fact that you have no bread. Do you not yet perceive? Do
you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets
you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets
you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about
bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they
understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of
the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus
challenges His followers to follow true teaching. Jesus listened to the Father
and not what others, even religious people, were saying.
Jesus
challenges us to believe His Word.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is believing God’s Word and not what the world
says.
Mark
4:37-41
And
a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the
boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And
they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are
perishing?” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be
still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why
are you so afraid? Have you no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and
said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey
Him?”
Jesus
challenges His followers to believe Him.
Jesus
challenges us to believe in His power and authority.
In
Matthew 28:18 Jesus says that all authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to Him. Jesus’ followers are to believe that Jesus has all authority and
power and that we are to trust Him and know that He will protect us and provide
for us.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is trusting the person and power of Jesus and
obeying Him as Lord.
Jesus
will challenge us be where He is and to being doing what He does.
Jesus
will challenge us to discern false teaching from true teaching and tp believe
God’s Word.
Jesus
will challenge our faith to trust His power and authority and obey Him.
Following, Trusting,
and Obeying Jesus
by Raising the Roof and
Removing the Walls,
Joe
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