FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY 2

TEXT:

(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"

1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer

(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"

2. CALLED MANY: All are called

a. Jesus called those who were interested in him

3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES

a. TO BE WITH HIM

b. TO PROCLAIM

c. TO HEAL

d. TO DELIVER

THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD

1. TO BE WITH HIM

GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..

GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!

JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…

(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..

HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!

JESUS WANTS YOU…

HE IS NOT HIRING…

HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…

HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…

JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!

THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..

BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…

(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."

“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…

THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”

(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"

OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22

MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..

- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS

WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?

1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?

a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world

b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”

i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!

2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!

a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST

b. We represent HIM here on the earth

c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)

i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”

3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS

a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..

i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him

b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!

i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH

ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES

By being followers… we just listen and WAIT ON HIM….

IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THOSE WHO WAIT… ARE SET APART FOR HIM!

(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.

2. TO PROCLAIM

(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?

- Can only been what you have experienced.

- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone

- It must be from your own journey

IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY

- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!

- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..

A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..

o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..

(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

THE POWER OF AGREEMENT

1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH

2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Mat 11:12 NIV)

1. 'FORCIBLY ADVANCING'= 'to urge, constrain, overpower by force; to press earnestly forward, to rush

2. 'FORCEFUL MEN' = 'one who uses violence, or is impetuous, one who is forceful in eager pursuit'.

a. MEANS “HUNTERS” “SEEKERS” THOSE WHO ARE “RELENTLESS” OR “PASSIONATE”

3. 'SEIZE IT' = take away by force, snatch away...to seize on with avidity, eagerly,

a. IT DESCRIBES HOW THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ACT

b. THE ACTION OF THE PASSIONATE OR ZEALOUS: THEY “SEIZE” THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE

i. ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A PERSON WAITING OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF “BEST BUY” ON THE MORNING OF BLACK FRIDAY

(2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV) "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

SIR EDMUND BLAKE: IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZI’S IN WW2…

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

- Edmund Blake

WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD) THE ENEMY IS REPELED!

- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD)

- GOD IS OUR DEFENSE

- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND TRUTH.. GOD DOES!

3. TO HEAL

KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!

(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM

a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”

b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”

2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY

a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH

i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE

ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)

iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO

iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS

v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER

(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

“ECCLESIA” – CHURCH means “CALLED OUT ONES”

- CALLED OUT FOR WHAT?

o TO BE SET APART FOR GOD..

o TO DO BUSINESS FOR GOD..

 SIGNS AND WONDERS

 AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL

JESUS PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE…

(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

I AM FROM GOD…

- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I HAVE DIVINE POWER

- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I WILL DO MIRACLES..

WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?

JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!

(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."

NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES

NO TRUST IN GOD… NO MIRACLES

NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES

OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER

(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""

WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..

- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL

HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL

(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""

JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!

1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS

a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom

2. SET PRISONERS FREE

a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns

3. HEAL THE SICK

a. Physical healing

4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED

a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression

5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION

a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!

4. TO DELIVER

GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH

(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!

o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!

- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE

o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”

 THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)

(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."

JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS

(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

WE MUST WORK WITH JESUS..

WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..

(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY

1. BEING IN CHRIST

2. RESISTING HIS DECEPTION AND ACCUSATION

a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS, OUR ARMOR..

3. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…

(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

MAINTAINING OUR POWER..

(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.

WE WERE CREATED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM!