Why Should We Follow Jesus? | Part 1

On May 13, 2013July 31, 2015 By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical1 Comment

When I was growing up, my dad always told me, “Be a leader, not a follower.” If you think about it, for someone to follow you, they need a reason. My Dad’s advice then meant, I needed to be someone worth following. So when Jesus comes to us and asks us to follow Him. We need a reason to follow Him. The Bible provides us with those reasons.

With that in mind, over the next two posts, I will answer the following questions:

Why should we follow Jesus?
What gets in the way of following Jesus?
What do we need to do to remove the hindrance from follow Jesus?

Let’s start with the first question:

WHY SHOULD WE FOLLOW JESUS?

In Matthew 8, several scenes attest to the power and authority of Jesus.

Jesus Heals Many

In 8:1-15, Jesus heals a Leper, a Centurion’s servant, and Peter’s Mother-in-Law. All three healings take place immediately, and with just a word. As soon as Jesus spoke, the leprosy was gone and the man was clean, the Centurion’s servant was healed before he returned home, and Peter’s Mother-in-Law was able to serve them moments after Jesus healed her.

Not only did Jesus heal these three people, but many more. Matthew continues:

“That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.” (Mt 8:16)

Jesus shows not only His power over sickness, but the spiritual world as well.

The Turbulent Sea

As we continue on in the narrative, Jesus commands His disciples to follow Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Several men pile in a boat, but soon a great storm arises. Fearful for their lives, they wake Jesus, who is sleeping, and the men say,

“Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

Jesus does what only God can do, He calms the sea and rebukes the wind, so that a sea threatening to swallow the boat and the men into a watery grave turns into a sheet of glass, allowing the men safe passage to the other side.

Two Demon Possessed Men

Once they reached the other side, two demon-possessed men who had been tormenting the region come out to meet Him. The men, controlled by demons, say,

“What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Mt 8:29)

The Demons explicitly say what the other scenes had been pointing to – Jesus is the Son of God. Not only did they recognize Him as God, but they also recognized His authority and right to judge and punish them.

What does Matthew 8 reveal?

Matthew reveals Jesus’ authority over all things. Which leads to the idea:

If Jesus has full authority over all things, and His authority points to Him being God, we must Follow Him, Surrender all to Him, and Worship Him.

So the answer to our first question reveals we should follow Jesus because of who He is – God.

Question for Reflection

Do you believe Jesus being God is a reason to follow Him?

Looking Forward

In the next post in this series, we will answer the questions: What gets in the way of us following Jesus? What do we need to do to remove the hindrance from follow Jesus?

Resource

This series is adapted from my recent sermon: Why Should We Follow Jesus?

What Does Our Mission Involve?

On May 10, 2013July 28, 2015 By Dr. Casey LewisIn Evangelism, Practical1 Comment

To understand what our mission as Jesus’ disciples involves, we must look to Jesus’ mission. As His disciples, His mission is our mission. In other words, those Jesus reached out to are the same ones we are to reach out to.

After Jesus finishes preaching His Sermon on the Mount, He comes down and heals several different groups of people. The miracles He performs not only informs us of Jesus’ authority, but also His mission.

Who Does Jesus Heal?

In Matthew 8:1-17, Jesus healed a leper, the Centurion’s servant, a woman, those possessed by demons, and those who had all kinds of sicknesses.

Lepers were outcasts, Centurions were Gentiles, and woman were considered second-class citizen’s. Jesus miracles then tell us we are to go to the outcasts, the nations, and those society considers unworthy. Not only are we to reach out to these groups, but we are to go to the spiritually oppressed. In other words, we are to go to all people’s.

What Are We To Proclaim?

Matthew quotes Isaiah in verse 17:

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

In order to understand Matthew’s use of Isaiah, we must realize disease, sickness, and spiritual oppression plagues us because of The Fall.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they plunged the entire human race into a corrupt world. Jesus’ death on the cross not only pays the penalty for our individual sins, but His sacrifice reconciles the world and brings about the restoration of all things.

Jesus’ death on the cross absorbed the sin bound up with our suffering.

If this is true, why do we still have sin and sickness?

It’s because we live in the already/not yet. Jesus’ earthly ministry and death inaugurates the kingdom, but sin will not be completely killed until He comes again.

Even though we still face the effects of sin, because Jesus took our illnesses and bore our diseases on the cross, we look forward to a time of perfection.

Conclusion

Since Jesus’ mission includes the restoration of all people’s, our mission as Jesus disciples should as well. We are to go to the outcasts, the nations, the second-class citizens, the spiritual oppressed, we are to go to all people’s.

We are to care for and share the gospel with them. We are to point all to the hope that is to come. The restoration of all things in Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection

How are you reaching out to those Jesus calls us to be on mission to?
What are some practical ways you would suggest to reach all kinds of people?

Resources

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Post adapted from my recent sermon, Jesus’ Mission in His Miracles.

Why Do We Fight With One Another?

On May 9, 2013July 29, 2015 By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Practical2 Comments

Why do we fight and quarrel with one another? What causes conflict in a community? James addresses these questions in his epistle. He starts chapter four with these two questions,

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Background

The churches James addressed were experiencing conflict. Conflict that led to either physical or verbal attacks.

I am sure we have all witnessed this at one time or another in a church business meeting. A passionate discussion ends in either physical or verbal blows. Not what you expect out of a church business meeting, but it happens. Why?

Our Passions are at war within us

James’ letter points to those in the community desiring leadership or teaching positions. Presumable for the power, authority, and influence that comes along with that position, which they could use to satisfy their passions and desires.

Isn’t that true for us as well? We have a passion or desire that needs to be met. Passions that war against us. Passions that win the battle causing us to lash out in sin in order to satisfy them. Passions that lead us to fight with another if they get in the way of us satisfying our need.

James’ insight leads to an interesting question.

If it is our passions that cause conflict, what doesn’t cause conflict?

It’s quite common to blame conflict on our environment. Our upbringing, school district, neighborhood are all said to be the reason for conflict. According to James, environment is not the main reason for conflict. While our environment may make conflict more likely, and addressing it may curb the problem, it is not going to eradicate it. So then, we can’t ultimately blame conflict on our environment.

Less common, but still used is the idea that evil forces outside of ourselves drive us into conflict. A devil made me do it attitude. Again, while evil forces may be at work on us, they are not the ultimate cause of conflict.

If we buy into the lie that conflict is the result of either environment or external spiritual forces, we will never realize the true problem – us. We are the problem. More accurately, our sinful nature is the problem. James is right. We fight and quarrel because we are sinners, and sinners have passions that are contrary to God’s will.

What is the Answer?

A Savior is the answer. We need the gospel. The gospel is the only thing that will change a corrupt heart. A gospel changed heart is regenerate. It is provided with the ability to choose between right and wrong. It is motivated to obey God, as well as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. So a gospel changed heart is the answer to killing conflict.

If we don’t turn to the gospel, we will continue to think we are good people, who have just been made bad by our environment or evil spiritual forces. The result will be continued conflict.

Question for Reflection

What do you think? Is my assessment right or wrong?

Resource

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How Should We Respond When Others are More Successful Than Us?

On May 6, 2013July 29, 2015 By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical2 Comments

No matter how great you are at something, there is always someone who is greater than you. No matter how successful you are, there is always going to be someone who is more successful than you.

It doesn’t matter who you are, you will have to deal with the success of others at one point or another.

How do we respond when others are more successful than us?

Man’s natural response is jealousy, resentment, and hatred, but that is not how Christians should respond. Rather, we should embrace, love, celebrate, and work alongside other Christians who are more successful.

While it is easy for us to say we should respond differently as Christians, it is hard to put that into practice.

How can respond in a Christian way to the success of others?

First, we must have a heart pierced by the gospel.

To respond in a Christian way requires that we be a person of faith. To be willing to promote and protect another, lending them our approval and prestige, requires a heart changed by the gospel.

Man’s natural response is not to promote another man over himself, nor is it to self-sacrificially love another. Only a heart that has been pierced by the gospel will do these things. Only a gospel changed heart will act in this way because only then can we imitate Jesus.

Jesus sacrificed Himself for the good of others. He esteemed man greater than Himself. Even while we were His enemies, Jesus did the unthinkable. He died on the cross for those who hated Him, for those who mocked Him, for those who did not love Him. He died so that we could have eternal life. All those who profess Him as Lord and Savior, He offers forgiveness.

So we see it takes a heart that has been pierced by the gospel to celebrate the success of others and promote another over ourselves.

The reason it takes a gospel pierced heart is because we can only imitate Jesus after we have been united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Second, we must be fully committed to God’s kingdom and glory.

Often we believe we have the right to be exalted, so we do all we can to make that happen. We fight and scratch and claw our way to the top and seek to get rid of anyone in our way. When others trump us, jealously ensues. Especially, when our praise is stolen.

Not only does the Bible testify to those actions, but the world reflects it. You only need to observe work politics for a short while to discover this truth.

If you think about it, however, only God has the right to be exalted. He is our Creator, and He alone is the all Powerful God of the universe. So we have to take the focus off of ourselves and put it on God in order to quench jealousy and envy.

We must be fully committed to God’s Kingdom and His glory.

Only then will we be willing to take the lesser position. To exalt another man over us, calling him greater. To surrender the rights we think we have. To push aside the idea of self-promotion, which leads to jealousy, envy, and disunity.

Third, we must realize envy, resentment, and hatred spring from worldly and selfish priorities.

Those that envy, resent, and hate another don’t care about God’s kingdom, nor do they care about God’s glory. All they care about is their kingdom, which is a worldly way of thinking and acting.

Thinking and acting that springs from a selfish heart.

When someone is better than us, accomplishing what we want to accomplish, we shouldn’t hate, resent, or envy them, because these actions spring from worldly and selfish priorities and are contrary to a gospel changed heart.

Fourth, we must fully trust God to provide.

One reason I believe people try to establish themselves over others is because they think that is the only way they are going to get ahead. They believe it is the only way they will get a promotion, or a job, and be able to provide for themselves or their family.

Thinking in that way shows that you don’t trust or depend on God to provide. Instead you are trusting and depending on yourself.

We must, however, fully trust God.

The Lord promises those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness will have their needs met and need not worry.

Fifth, we must recognize and kill the idols of acceptance, approval, and success.

In order to kill the idols of acceptance, approval, and success, we must realize we already have the greatest approval and acceptance we could ever want – God’s.

If we don’t realize God’s approval and acceptance is all we need, we will be let down. As soon as another who is more successful than us comes along, others will naturally gravitate away from us toward them. The praise they once gave us, will be reserved for them.

You see, worldly success, approval, and acceptance is short lived.

The world’s praise may satisfy us for a season, but it will ultimately let us down. Not until we realize that, will we work to kill these idols.

Questions for Reflection

How do you react when others are more successful than you?
What would you add to my list of five?

Resources

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon. You can listen here.

How Can We Distinguish Between True and False Teachers?

On May 2, 2013July 29, 2015 By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Pastoral, Practical, Preaching6 Comments

How can we distinguish between true and false teachers? Jesus provides us with a test in Matthew 7:15-20. He says,

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Beware of Sheep in Wolves Clothing

Jesus tells us there will be those who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing. They will act like Christians, sound like Christians, but they are not Christians. Instead they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, who want to do nothing but deceive those they are teaching.

Jesus tells us to “Beware” or “Watch out” for these teachers, which means we can’t accept everyone’s teaching before examining it and them. Just because they claim to preach the Word, doesn’t mean they do. Just because they claim to live by the Word, doesn’t mean they do. It is up to us to discern their fruit, which is their message and life.

Examine Their Message and Life

Given Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, we are looking for those who live by the narrow way and preach the narrow way. The narrow way involves all of what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Some of which are a requirement to be:

Poor in spirit – We see a necessity to depend on God.
Act as Salt and Light – A witness for the gospel.
Deal with our anger, lust, and marriage problems.
Have speech that is true.
Don’t retaliate, honor others, and don’t seek self glory.

If a teacher is not willing to teach the narrow way, he is a false teacher. If a teacher is not willing to live by the narrow way, he is a false teacher.

True teachers live and teach the narrow way.

If the person we are listening to does not live by and teach the narrow way, no matter how entertaining, we are not to listen to them because they are a false teacher.

We Have Work To Do

Given Jesus’ command and warning, when we come to attending a church service, listening to a podcast, or watching a preacher on T.V. we have work to do. We can’t be a passive listener seeking entertainment. We have to be active.

Being active involves listening attentively to the message. Taking note of what is being said. Checking the Scripture as the preacher speaks. And finally, examining the message afterward.

When it comes to listening to a sermon, we have work to do. We can’t sit by idle soaking in the message because the person speaking to us might be a false teacher.

The Reason We Should Make This Distinction

It is important we make this distinction because those who follow false prophets are headed down the broad road to destruction. Those, however, who follow true prophets are headed down the narrow road to eternal life.

You see, those on the broad road don’t want a narrow road message. Instead, they want their ears tickled. While, those on the narrow road don’t want a broad road message, they want to hear the true teaching of the Word.

So then, depending on who you are drawn to listen to, depends on what road you are following.

Question for Reflection

What preachers are you drawn to – narrow road preachers or broad road preachers?

Resources

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon

Are You On the Broad or Narrow Road?

On April 29, 2013 By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

When I was in elementary school, I looked forward to that time in the day when we left our class room and went to the gym for P.E. Most days we would play a team sport. Basketball, whiffle ball, or something like that.

Our teacher would have us all line up behind a line. Two captains would pick who they wanted on their team. As your name was called, you would cross the line and join your captain.

Inevitable there was always an odd number, so one person wouldn’t get picked, which meant they couldn’t cross the line and join a team. You didn’t want to be that kid because you had to sit out and wait until the next game.

At the close of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus too is drawing a line in the sand. His line doesn’t determine whether you get to play a game or not. It determines whether you are in the Kingdom or not.

While that line has been there all throughout Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, it becomes even more pronounced at the end as Jesus draws a clear distinction between two ways of living.

The reason He ends in this way is to force us to examine our own lives to determine whether we can cross the line and join Him in eternity or not.

What is required for us to cross that line and join Jesus in eternity?

Jesus begins by drawing a distinction between two roads. He says in Matthew 7:13-14:

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Jesus’ command is for us to enter by the narrow gate, not the broad gate. To travel the narrow road, not the broad road. Jesus gives this command because one road leads to eternal life, while One road leads to destruction.

Only Two Roads

Notice Jesus only provides two roads. He tells us we are either on one or the other. No one is neutral. You can’t hangout between the two roads. Everyone travels either the narrow or broad road.

These two roads head to one of two destinations, which means not all roads lead to the top.

The Difference in the Two Roads

These two roads differ from one another. The narrow road is hard, while the broad road is easy.

Why is the broad road easy?

It is easy because it is what comes natural to us. It doesn’t require we make any sacrifices. It doesn’t require we change our will.

Why is the narrow road hard?

The narrow road, on the other hand, is hard because it is unnatural. It requires we focus. We work at it. We change our will.

I was listening to a sermon this last week and the preacher said “When it comes to learning a second language, it is difficult for us, almost unnatural, whereas our first language is easy, almost natural.”

I can attest to that. In High School and College I learned Spanish. In seminary, I had to learn Greek and Hebrew. When it came to learning these languages, it was tough. Hours of focused work was necessary. I constantly flipped through vocabulary cards. As I studied diligently, there were times when I thought I would never get it.

When I spoke Spanish, or translated the Bible from Greek or Hebrew, conscious effort and focus was required. English, on the other hand, comes easy. Sure, I have to think about what I am saying, but not nearly as hard as with the others. It comes natural to me.

The same with broad road living. It is what comes natural to us. It requires no effort or focus on our part. Not so with narrow road living. It is unnatural and hard. It requires we exert effort.

How do we know which road we are on?

We can determine what road we are traveling by thinking about the distinctions we just drew.

If how we live on a daily basis comes easy to us, it’s natural to us, it requires we expend no effort, or we don’t have to change our will, we are probably on the broad road. If what we believe and the way we act is inline with society, we are probably on the broad road.

Take for instance the following topics.

The sanctity of marriage.
Sex before marriage
Lust
Exclusivity of Christianity

Each requires we pick one side or the other. Each has a popular opinion and a more restricted opinion.

Those on the broad road:

Reject the sanctity of marriage.
They reject the idea we must wait until we get married to have sex.
They reject the idea that lust is wrong.
They reject the idea that Christianity is the only way to God.

While those on the narrow road, take the opposing opinion, which is not always easy or popular. Nor is it what comes natural. Holding the narrow road opinion requires we consistently work at it. Above all, it requires our heart be changed by the gospel.

So we can tell what road we are on by looking at what we are doing. If we are doing what comes easy to us, and is natural to us, and if we are always inline with society, then we are probably on the broad road. However, if we are doing what is hard, if we have to change our will, if we are counter cultural, then we are probably on the narrow road.