Followers

Followers

Revelation 19: ¹⁰ I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don't do it! I am a servant together with you and with other believers, all those who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed. Worship God!”

 

For the truth that Jesus revealed is what inspires the prophets.

 

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As the other speakers finished, I noticed the audience gave the obligatory applause. I was next. I gave my presentation and got strong applause, due to the interest in the subject.

 

• I felt good getting the applause.
• I wanted to get that same applause again and again.
• I wanted more and more people to know “my” name, so “I” could get a promotion.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was filled with awe. He saw such great wonders, so he decided to do something. He fell down to worship the angel but was abruptly stopped. “Don’t do it!” was the exclamation from the angel.

 

My Observations:

• The angel saw Satan get kicked out of heaven for trying to be worshipped.
• GOD is a jealous GOD and deserves to be worshipped alone.
• Any following that I create should be pointed to JESUS.

 

Developing a kingdom on earth can be dangerous. I mean, when people follow me, they are following a flawed person. But when they follow JESUS, they follow perfection. Following flawed humans can possibly cause deeper flaws in my character because I could be subject to manipulation.

 

JESUS is the one all of us need to follow. John the Baptist, different than the disciple, pointed people to JESUS. He did not think it was important to hold onto followers when JESUS was the Way, the Truth and the Life. I gladly point people away from following me and onto the path of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why did the writer try to worship the angel?
• Have you ever become enamored over a certain human you thought had more capabilities than you?
• Have you considered following JESUS with your life so you can see what perfection looks like and share it with others today?

Good Example

Good Example

1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ.

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 Going through life on my own, I had to figure things out by myself. When someone in my life did the wrong thing, I would seek another source to learn how to do the “right thing. The problem with that approach is people kept doing the “wrong” thing and I ran out of options.

 

• Many times I needed a good example and could not find one.
• Many times I needed some guidance, but could not find a guide.
• Many times I needed help, but was left helpless to figure it out on my own.

 Paul makes a huge statement when he says “Imitate me, then, just as I imitate CHRIST.” One could be fooled into thinking he thought more highly of himself and he was trying to build a following because he had it all together. This is quite the opposite. He was pointing to CHRIST.

 

• GOD wants me to tell people “I have a messed up life” BUT JESUS made me whole.
• GOD wants me to say to people “I am broken BUT JESUS made me whole.”
• GOD wants me to speak to people about CHRIST versus pointing to my actions.

 Saying that I am good will never work. I mean, I’m not “good” because JESUS is the only one who is. My righteousness is like used toilet paper. BUT JESUS cleaned me up and made me an ambassador for HIM.

 

HE saw through my sin and died for me anyway. What makes this special is, HE did this without blame. HE simply loved me. HE gets excited when I tell people about HIM. I can say “Imitate me only when I imitate CHRIST.”

 

• Do you need an example of CHRIST?
• Are you looking for humans to be the perfect example?
• Will you stop waiting for humans to fail and see the times when they imitate CHRIST as their example?

Starstruck

Starstruck

John 5: ⁴¹ “I do not receive honor from men. ⁴² But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

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Nervously awaiting my meeting, all kinds of thoughts raced through my mind. “What will I say?”, “Am I dressed properly?” and “Should I impress this person?” were just a few questions that races through my mind. I entered the president’s office and started our meeting with “What advice do you have for me?”

The reply made me know I asked the wrong question. “What do you do here at the company?” I felt I blew it after staying awake waiting on this 15 minute meeting.

• There were times when I placed people on higher levels.
• There were times when I was very concerned with titles.
• There were times when I looked for popular people to follow and believed their words implicitly.

JESUS tells the church leaders “You believe in famous people who tell their own stories, yet you do not believe in ME, who the FATHER has sent.” JESUS then explains that the words they cherish will be used against them because Moses wrote them about HIM.

• GOD wants me to be excited about JESUS more than any human.
• GOD wants me to lose sleep over meeting with JESUS more than losing sleep over meeting a famous human.
• GOD wants me to trust in the entirety of the Bible and know that it is all about JESUS.

Today, humans use words like “higher-being” or “universe” to speak of actions that come from the Living GOD. Even church leaders place the Bible over GOD HIMSELF by quoting its words without conveying the heart of bringing mankind to JESUS.

Instead of getting excited about what a human is doing or not doing, GOD wants me to pay close attention to the heart of JESUS. I am glad HE sends me to seek those who seek HIM.

• Do you spend a huge amount of time reading about famous humans thinking they could make your life better?
• Do you spend a large amount of time complaining about humans who think they are in charge?
• Will you spend a small amount of time speaking about JESUS and learn how to do so more and more each day?

Entourage

John 1: ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’

They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’

³⁹ ‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

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“Your team did a great job” someone said to me. It felt great to hear that a plan “I” put together worked well. When one of my star employee’s requested to move on to bigger and better things, I was faced with the possibility of my team not performing as great as it always had. I said, “yes” because it was the right thing to do.

• There were times when I wanted to keep things the way they were.
• There were times when I wanted to hold onto certain people no matter what it cost them.
• There were times when I wanted to keep a successful team together even when people wanted to do something different.

John showed true leadership by pointing people to “The Lamb of GOD.” He knew his disciples should not be stuck following him rather they should put their eyes on GOD.

• GOD wants me to develop a following for HIM, not me.
• GOD wants me to point people to HIM without thinking “I” need to be followed.
• GOD wants me to bring many disciples to HIM to increase HIS kingdom.

It’s all about the Lamb of GOD. Every action should not be done in the name of a brand of church, rather in the name of JESUS. HE wants me to build up HIS entourage so people will truly proclaim HIM as their savior. If people followed me and thanked me for my pitiful righteousness, they would be disappointed. JESUS is the one I want people to follow.

• Are you focused only on your brand of church?
• Do you think your brand of church has all the answers?
• Will you focus your life on building up people to surpass you in following GOD rather than holding them down to look at you?

Overlooked Items

Luke 23: ¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.’

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!’ ¹⁹ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

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Wanting to move up in the company, I picked and chose who I sided with. After careful planning I found the right mix of people who could pull me up to where I wanted to be. One person in particular liked flirting with the employees in a drunken state. “Want to come to our afterwork gathering?” was the question with hidden meaning. Hesitantly I said “Sure.”

• There were times when I overlooked what was going on to get what I wanted.
• There were times when I overlooked the poor qualities of the crowd so I could get my desires.
• There were times when I overlooked how people behaved and joined in on the “fun.”

Both Pilate and Herod could not find anything “wrong” with what JESUS did, especially since they did not follow GOD’s laws anyway. The church leaders stirred up the crowd to choose a murderer and a rioter named Barabbas to be released instead of JESUS. They overlooked Barabbas’ poor qualities to get what they wanted.

• GOD wants me to look at my poor qualities before I examine someone else.
• GOD wants me to “test the spirit” of the crowd in order to decide if I should hang with them.
• GOD wants me to bear fruit and not side with the crowd who does not serve HIM.

Being placed in a bubble away from sinners is not where GOD wants me to be. HE wants me to insert myself along side of people, telling them I am a sinner who has been saved by grace. BUT GOD does not want me to join in on the blatant sins that I could easily fall into.

HE wants me to overlook sins of people in order to forgive them rather than joining in. GOD wants me to show HIS grace so HE can show even more.

• Are you joining in with the crowd?
• Do you have complaints about someone GOD may be using for HIS purpose?
• Will you stop your blind complaints and allow GOD to lead you instead of following your desires?

Who Do I Trust?

Isaiah 2: ³ Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
⁴ He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

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²² Stop trusting in mere humans,
    who have but a breath in their nostrils.
    Why hold them in esteem?

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“Get that ‘_____’ Bible off of your desk” were the words of the managing consultant. He went ballistic enough for me to immediately comply. No one that I knew complained, he thought it would make us lose the contract. “Get away from me with that ‘____’ ” were the words of a gang member as I tried to invite him to church. In fear of getting shot I complied.

• Many times I have felt intimidated enough to hide my beliefs.
• Many times I have hidden my beliefs in order to get ahead.
• Many times I have gone with the crowd who could care less about GOD, in fear of being ostracized.

It seemed right to listen to self-made millionaires. I mean they have themselves together right? I soon found out that in many cases they suggested that I put this “GOD” thing on the backseat and learn how to “subordinate” to the people who had contacts. This was a crazy road that I actually considered. BUT GOD had a different thought in mind.

• GOD wants me to fear HIM instead of bowing down to “connected” humans.
• GOD wants me to elevate HIS position in order to fully respect HIS power.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS plan so I will be open to HIS masterful plan.

Fear of humans still occurs in me, but with GOD’s help I am less and less fearful of those who would harm me with physical, political or mental abuse. GOD wants me to turn my eyes from humans and turn to HIM.

• Are you following someone?
• Do you fear you will lose your position if you cross “that” person?
• Will you stop fearing people and start fearing GOD?