IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A COPY-CAT OR IMPERSONATOR, FOLLOW, ( JESUS CHRIST: )

 IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A COPY-CAT OR IMPERSONATOR,  FOLLOW, ( JESUS CHRIST: )

Biblical Truth Time With, Your Serving National And Global Nations Social Media, Apostle James R, Winfree, Sr.

In the Gospels of ( Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ), Jesus Christ's command of His disciples to follow Him, appears repeatedly ( Matthew 8:22; 9:9, Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27; John 1:43 ). In many cases, Jesus Christ was calling the twelve men who would become His disciples ( Matthew 10:3–4 ). But other times, He was speaking to anyone and everyone who wanted to know The Way, The Truth, The Life, The Pathway, and The Only Way to Heaven ( John 3:16; Mark 8:34 ).

In Matthew 10:34–39, Jesus Christ stated clearly what it means to follow Him. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household family.’

 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than JESUS is not worthy of HIM; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than JESUS is not worthy of HIM. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow JESUS is not worthy of HIM. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for JESUS sake will find it."

Jesus Christ’ bringing a “sword” and turning family members against each other can seem a little harsh after words like "whosoever believes on Him shall not perish" ( John 3:16 ). But Jesus Christ never softened the truth, and the truth is that following Him leads to difficult choices.

 Sometimes turning back may seem very appealing. When Jesus’ teaching went from the Beatitudes ( Matthew 5:3–11 ) to the coming cross, many who had followed JESUS turned away ( John 6:66 ). Even the disciples decided that following Jesus was too difficult the night He was arrested. Every one of them deserted Him (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50).

 On that night, following Christ meant possible arrest and execution. Rather than risk his own life, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus three times ( Matthew 26:69–75 ).

To truly follow Christ means He has become everything to us. Everyone follows something: religions, religious men and people, friends, popular culture, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only follow one thing at a time ( Matthew 6:24 ). God states we are to have no other gods before Him ( Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Mark 12:30 ).

 To truly follow Christ means we do not follow anything else. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Him." There is no such thing as a "halfway disciple." As the disciples demonstrated, no one can follow Christ by the strength of his own willpower.

 The Pharisees were good examples of those who were trying to obey God in their own strength. Their self-effort led only to arrogance and distortion of the whole purpose of God’s Law ( Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:24 ).

Jesus gave His disciples the secret to faithfully following Him, but they did not recognize it at the time. He said, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing" ( John 6:63 ). And "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (Verse 65).

 The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years, learning, observing, and participating in His miracles. Yet, even they could not follow Him faithfully in their own strength. They needed a Helper. Jesus returns in Spirit!!!

Jesus promised many times that, once He had ascended to the Father, He would send a "Helper" to them, the Holy Spirit ( John 14:26; 15:26 ). In fact, He told them that it was for their good that He was going away so that the Holy Spirit could come ( John 16:7 ). The Holy Spirit indwells the heart of every true believer of Jesus Christ ( Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:16; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20 ).

 Jesus warned His followers that they were not to begin testifying of Him "until you have been clothed with power from on High" ( Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4 ). When the Holy Spirit came upon those first JESUS Believers at Pentecost, they suddenly had all the power they needed to follow Christ, even to the death, if needed ( Acts 2:1–4; 4:31; 7:59-60 ).

Following Jesus means striving to be like Him. He always obeyed His Father, so that’s what we strive to do ( John 8:29; 15:10 ). To truly follow Christ means to make Him the One and only true BOSS. That’s what it means to make Jesus LORD of our lives ( Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5 ).

 Every decision and dream is filtered through His Word with the goal of glorifying Him in everything ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ). We are not saved by the things we do for Christ ( Ephesians 2:8–9 ) but by what JESUS has done for us. Because of His grace, we want to please Him in everything.

 All this is accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of every area of our lives ( Ephesians 5:18 ). He explains the Scriptures ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ), empowers us with spiritual gifts ( 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ), comforts us ( John 14:16 ), and guides us ( John 14:26 ). To follow Christ means we apply JESUS truths we learn from HIM AND His Word and live as if Jesus Himself lives and totally controls our lives. Amen.

Lovingly, Truthfully, Respectfully, Straight Out Of God's Living Word.

Sincerely, Apostle James R, Winfree, Sr.

( A.J.&.B.R.W.M. ).