Jesus Unfiltered - Follow - What's it Mean to Follow Jesus?, Part 1

You probably heard a lot of people say, follower of Jesus or I'm a Christian. What is that really mean and how do you know for sure you're really following Jesus. One answer that. Stay with me yesterday. Thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edges of international teaching and discipleship ministry the Bible to know if we went out and asked to follow Jesus likely get 10 different answers goes right to the source Jesus just before we get started looking. Try using chips. Was there a quick download when you go to LivingontheEdge.org and click listen now or Filling notes on the let's jump in and join Chip for his message from John chapter 9 John chapter 9 opens with the story of a blind man and very destructively.

He's blind from birth that we know it's not his fault, or its parents fault but it's a very special miracle because God will be glorified as you read later in that story, you'll find that some people can't even believe it's the same man. But even bring his parents in and they testify they cross-examined him twice because I think maybe he's lying. And at the heart of that is Jesus, opens his eyes and does a messianic miracle.

Now you'll never understand the real meaning of that man who is blind into you go back to chapter 8 and find out that it came after the most intense and unique conflict up-to-date that we find in Jesus life that I mean there was a point in time where they were ready to kill him. They were ready to stone him.

He's going to say something about himself. They're going to have this dialogue. This debate where the issues of his calling and his claims against the religious establishment will be so intense that they will be blind in what you just listen to is Jesus helping them understand there's some people in the world that are physically blind and he can make them see and there some people he can see and they think they're not blind but they are to ask you to open up your notes because were going to talk about what it means what it really means to follow Jesus and I want to suggest, as we come to get our arms around that that everybody in life. Everybody follows something or someone. I mean, some people are very I mean intentional about it.

Very conscious. Other people were very unconscious, but they just don't know that there following someone.

There's probably 100 different ways people follow things like put a six down here that just seems see if these don't ring a bell with you. Some people follow in the footsteps of their family. I know a family that if you're born in this family, son, grandson, I'm if you're born of this family, the personal life is you going to this family business. You go to this college you will live geographically near mom dad grandfather great-grandmother mean the whole world revolves around Christmas's are always at this house, Thanksgiving, or I everything in the world revolves around the family that's, there there like that's what gives them perspective. That's what really matters more than anything else.the second is some people follow a philosophy of life that I have a friend who is a excellent businessman and I'm always talking him. But you know if you then read the Bible much. I have been reading it not as much as I know you want me to unit intimacy with God. I'll talk with him about that is let Chip here's my philosophy.

The golden rule just I just do the other people the way I want them to do to me and he does he's he's got more integrity than like anyone I've ever met. He's kind he's generous with his us were like you don't you just follow that rule and I have another friend from my days in Santa Cruz and his entire philosophy of life. I would talk deeply. A lot of occasions was one word said so what you mean when you want to do what's whatever series.

Whatever about anymore. Whatever he says.

I mean whatever discount to go with the flow.

Whatever happens, and then I'm skinny, third is I find some people follow religious leader, a spiritual path you know Nina is the Dalai Lama or this new age teacher or someone with some enlightened way and if they follow that path. But light always promises is direction perspective and it's going to deliver the life that you really want 1/4 is some people follow. I just their own intuition there there sort of eclectic they sorted is pulled from the salad bar of philosophy in life than parents and families it but basically I got it, you know, I just cannot figure out.

I think I know that's what's best for me and you ask them what you base that on me. I just my intuition on in my gut.

That's good for you, whatever that is, whatever it is with anyone. This is what I think is best for some people just follow with popular I mean if everyone's kids are doing this their kids doing this if you start the kids at this age of this age.

That's what they do. If the Internet and everyone says you know this is what you need to eat. They all eat that any whatever the fads where the you know they just follow the crowd and whatever is, popular, their disorder have a world is like like like retweet you know and and finally there's some who follow what what I just call a formula for success. This was this is how I grew up and it goes something like this.

Education is paramount. Work hard, practice get disciplined be an overachiever over prepare getting the best schools get a good paying job and wealth and success will make you very happy and so in each one of these.

Here's all I want to say is that all of us. I call this people's personal blight, but this is their perspective that even if they don't know if this is their perspective. It light promises fulfillment light promises living this way provides values a process of filter interpretation and so there on a path following one of these. Or maybe 10 or 15 or 30 others as I thought to be kind of fun. Since we all follow something or someone to just probe a little bit together and find out what you follow and what I following so I have three questions for you ready if you have a template out question number one is who or what do you think you follow if I really can't push and dispersing comes run. Who or what do you think you really follow.

That is, that the direction for my life decisions.

What really matters why I say yes why say no okay.

The second question, and I mess with the here just a little bit, but it's because I care who or what does your time, money and energy reveal. You follow can see I have this weird thing that happens is mentally and I don't think I'm being honest.

This is what I think I follow is really important, but when I look at my time or my energy or my money for some if we just looked at you know you through your whole who are the people that you follow on Twitter if we could go through all where all the buttons that you push like or where you retweet it to you. Follow or which of the Ted talks are like your top five.) I mean does it say on our little devices everywhere follow. You can follow us by this this this this coming that tells a lot about what you're interested in where our passions are, so my time and my money really reveal who I really follow instead of who I think I fell in the last question is why would anyone follow Jesus Christ. Why would any disease, he would you say if any mental follow me deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Why should we. Why should they and John chapter 8 beginning at verse 12. He answers that question, but he answers it for them and he really answers it for us. So what you see is a context in which she says some very radical things, then you have some content which is a fierce debate and it comes to a climax. Here's the contact numbers. Here's what's happening sister that you are there so you can get what's happening member. There's the feast of Tabernacles people been camping out the maybes lean to's and they're all over the place on top houses and you know kids think it's camping out.

There's all this food there's all these parties is all this dancing there's remembering all those 40 years in the wilderness is just great. And then there's the feast of Tabernacles is also called the feast of lights and so there's this whole section called the women's court or the treasury is in the next. It is the temple area is called the holy place where the actual sacrifices and things are brought in and then there's the holy of holies. And so Jesus after the feast of lights and if you remember that in this area. This courtyard is quite large, there were like before candelabras that were like 75 200 and some feet that was huge with a slight it would remind them of member when the children of Israel the light the fire above it would move than they would move in the cloud by day and so Jesus and said you know the water out of the rock, that's me, and now he says literally, grammatically, he says I am in the emphatic position the light of the world, not like I am the light of the world. If any man. If anyone follows me. You'll never walk in darkness, but you will have or possess the light of life. I mean it's radical so they been thinking about all of God's history.

It's in the very place where all these big candelabras were with the lights.

It's all over, and he comes out at dawn we've already seen the scene with the woman caught in adultery. And then he makes us outrageous statement. It's a promise. It's a declaration I am you follow someone, I am the light of the world promise if you follow me, and by the words in the present participle.

If you continue to follow me, you will never walk in darkness, but instead you have the light of life. Now in about six months. He's gonna go to the cross. A lot of times he's done lots of ministry in rural areas and long time to heal someone or does a miracle assist please don't tell anybody meet with you just please, just like go to the priest and get this in care of his every time you tell someone thousands of people make my life impossible to continue my ministry, but he's done with sort of the secret Messiah ship, he is now in Jerusalem at the place of the tabernacle. He's going public and he's declared, I'm the light of the world that the Pharisees are like going nuts and the religious leaders now is a way to second the Jewish law says that the testimony one person is invalid. We need the testimony of two, so now they going to go into this big debate about why. In fact, what he saying can't be true. Jesus answered, even if I testify my own behalf.

My testimony is valid for I know where I came from and where I'm going, but you have no idea where I came from or where I'm going you judge by human standards, high pass judgment on no one but if I do judge, my judgments are right because I'm not alone. I stand with the father who sent me in your own load is written at the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself. My other witness is the one who sent me. The father he speaking of God the father. Then they ask him where is your father and by the way, this is probably a dig. There is many rumors about Jesus by now they're trying to cut them down every way possible and the rumors are. He's the pastor's son of Mary, who got pregnant by someone else before she married Joseph where is your father I'm in your real father and the Jesus responds you do not know my father if you knew me you would know my father also. He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area in the place where the offerings were put where we just described. Yet no one sees Tim because his time and not yet come not verse 21. There's a shift in verse 21 he said look I have credibility. I have two witnesses, there's me, there's the father you you guys we been through a lot.

You don't have a clue of who I really am, and that's why you have no spiritual perception.

And now he's going to take it to the next level and noticing your notes the next section he warns of the consequences of unbelief means can be very direct and say to them the consequences of your continued unbelief. You won't even look at the facts. He said earlier. He said if you don't believe my words it leads believe the works of the miracles that I've done. He's going to say in this section because of their unbelief still die in their sin. He's going to say that the only time the ever realize who he really was, is, after the cross and the resurrection. And then you got a notice in the very last verse.

There's one group of people who actually believe because he there's about 15 of the steps that lead up in the Levites, they would, they would say Psalm on each step and it was in a lot of pageantry and those fees will now it was Dawn and so you got a crowd of people listening to him and then you had this group who's really wanting to kill him and get rid of him and see you got this mixed group, but now he's talking to the religious leaders, but a lot of people are listening and going while I mean this would be heated.

Don't don't think like a presidential debate with the senator from Illinois you have the 2.4 minutes.

Would you like to make a statement thank you very much of it yet. You know, and that mean and now the next question goes to this is vein popping if you ever been to Israel or downtown New York right and you watch culturally Jewish people talk to one another when they're kinda ticked off and pretty animated. I mean when they're not ticked off and not animated pay can I get that Sure is all yours in the right and this is what's going on in this is this is intensity with a capital I. So here's what happens.

Notice verse 21 once more Jesus said to them, I'm going away and you will look for me and you will die in your sin that's pretty radical where I go you cannot come. This made the Jews ask will you kill himself. Is that why says where he goes, we can come but he continued now is trying to help them see you are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I'm not of this world. I told you he just remind you is being directly being clear I told you that you would die in your sins. If you will not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins, who argue they ask just what I've been claiming to be all along.

Jesus replied I much to say and judgment of you but he who sent me is reliable and what I've heard from him. I tell the world they didn't understand that he was telling them about his father. So Jesus said when you lifted up. John always uses this phrase for the cross and the resurrection.

Later when you lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am and I do nothing on my own but speak just what the father has taught me the one who sent me is with me is not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. And then this little sidebar even as he spoke. Many people put their faith in him.

Now it's interesting because you give can imagine this crowd. It seems now, he takes his attention and speaks to those people who believed in him were not sure whether they have partial belief or they have full belief or whether he's the Messiah he's going to just he's going to now say look, let me give you the acid test of discipleship. If you really want to be a follower. This isn't just an intellectual belief, so there's this mixed group of you know, there's a hostility and debate going over here. There's people who believed over here and so verse 31, almost to the end of the chapter, I want to tell you in advance what is in a say as I read I want you to catch it. First thing is gonna say is that if you obey my word, it will result in freedom give a talk at the acid test of discipleship.

You have to obey my word.

This is an intellectually believing something about me. This is about relational and obedient.

Second, he's gonna say if you love me and by that I don't think of love is just a really good feeling.

But if you love me have very personal alignment. If I am your light and the alignment of your life, then the result is you hear God's voice, you would hear God speaking to you and the third thing is get a teaching visit. If you keep my word.

You'll never die. If you keep my word essays essay the acid test of discipleship has had to do with just an intellectual belief that it will be a belief that leads to a following where the focus of your life centers around this man who now claims to be the Messiah, the son of God and later one with the father back in just going to guess your listening to Living on the Edge with shipping chips message today is from follow volume 2, series Jesus unfiltered follower explores what Jesus meant when he said to his disciples follow me those two words of change the lives of countless millions over the centuries, and you can experience that same life-changing power. But that's an idea you'd like to pursue listening to this teaching again will help you get there to do that or to share the series with a friend. It's easy only up if you're a radio or podcast listener. Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. We'd love to get this resource in your hands will chip your teaching today really gave us a picture of Jesus. Well not being very meek or mild. And it's not like the Pharisees were trying. They were trying extra hard and very seriously, just not in truth, so they were way off the mark.

Yeah Dave. I think that is so true.

I mean this is very strong, clear teaching from Jesus himself, and at times I feel overwhelmed that I get convicted, and I realize I'm trying and trying and trying in some areas and then I just feel stuck while want you know I developed a habit about 30 years ago when I would get stuck. What I realized was I was believing lies or I'd had struggles that continued over and over and over and I need to attack the lies not just my behavior or my emotions and so I came up with these these cards and I we call in the Jesus unfiltered truth cards.

For example, I get frustrated when people interrupt my schedule when they cut in front of me because, down deep, what I believe is my stuff, my time and me is more important than other people know that's hard to actually admit.

So what I wrote on the card is. I get frustrated and angry when people interrupt my life… And then I write on the bottom stop that. I flipped the card over and from John 13 Jesus says if I being your Lord and Master serve you. Blessed are you when you do this for one another.

So what I realize is that blessedness comes from service.

But instead of trying hard and beating myself up.

These truth cards are read them over in the morning.

I read them overnight identified a few lies and then I get the truth and so we made these up for you and let me tell you it has radically changed my life.

The Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available to you.

Love the put them in your hands because transformation doesn't happen by trying hard transformation happens by renewing our minds thanks to all the Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available now while supplies last. When you tap special offers or go to your website. LivingontheEdge.org. The reset of 21 cards like the one strip uses. Each card is a common lie or spiritual battle we all face and on the flipside, it has a passage from the Gospel of John to help you renew your mind with the truth whether there for you or someone else.

Order your set of Jesus unfiltered truth cards and get free shipping by calling us at 1-888-333-6003 tapping special offers ordering online that LivingontheEdge.org will now hear strip with his application. Thanks Dave, you know, as I started the teaching out today.

I said that everyone, whether were conscious of it or not we follow something or someone that I am in that the wisest man of the world, said there is a way literally. There is a path that every person is on that seems right to them. You know I think when Jesus was speaking to these Pharisees and was telling the truth and who he wasn't sharing the opportunity what they could have. I think some of them I think they got while could all of my thinking about God be wrong. I think others probably just said you know this is young Rabbi what scene when you know we went to the official schools and you know where the people that had the truth and you know there's some people that after that encounter with Jesus, their life changed. Not just for the better but eternally they responded to the truth. They came to the point and they said, you know, this path is bringing me death. And you know it takes a lot of courage takes a lot of courage to admit the path you're on is wrong in one of the things I asked people in sort of private counseling moments is do you like your life, and many will say no, not at all you know this path of how I'm living how I'm working in my singleness how I'm treating my wife this path of how I'm treating my kids this path of what I'm putting into my mind. What I'm putting into my body. This path is bringing me death when I want you to know today. There's a path and the path is Jesus and you don't have to live the same way could I encourage you to just read the book of John, with eyes open and heart open and say Lord reveal yourself to me in a fresh way, there's a new path is the path of life. Take it just before we close. I want to thank each of you is making this broadcast possible through your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really love like Christians. A few phone chips teaching helpful which are not yet on the team. Would you consider joining today to give a gift today.

Just tap the donate button or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. If you prefer to give online you can donate securely by going to LivingontheEdge.org.

Thanks in advance for following God's will, he will be sure to join us again next time when chip continues its current series. Until then, this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this addition of living on the