Why Believers Are Not Afraid of Unbelievers

 

HEBREWS 12:2 

Looking unto JESUS, The Author and Finisher of our Faith,

Who for the Joy set before Him endured the cross,

despising the shame,

And is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

    When our focus is on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, spending time alone with Him in prayer and meditation of The Word of God, we will be able to endure the mocking cries of those who do not believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of All. 

    Our goal from the day we become born again believers through faith in The Name Above All Names -- JESUS CHRIST -- is to persuade others to believe in Him also. We call this soul-winning. Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise." 

    But our job doesn't stop with just telling someone about JESUS and what He's done for us, we must also encourage them to live a holy and righteous life in Christ through the power of God's Holy Spirit. It is The Spirit of God that is breathed into us which gives us the power and strength to preach and teach and disciple and evangelize wherever we are. Without the power of God's Holy Spirit anyone who declares themself to be God's anointed leader is a liar, for The Spirit of God is not in him or her. 

    When Paul preached the gospel of salvation through JESUS CHRIST in Caesarea to King Agrippa, the king stated that 'he was almost persuaded'. Paul made a very compelling defense, yet the king, at that time, was not quite convinced that this gospel was true. 

    Many believe the Holy Bible to be outdated. And that it is no longer applicable to today's generation of self-centered fulfillment. An unwillingness to change and an inability to see the need for change will continue to bring about the downfall of any nation who chooses to attack Christians who refuse to disobey God. Though the enemies of the cross may appear to be winning, that appearance is an illusion, for God is still on the throne and He is still in control. 

    As believers, we, too, must endure our crosses; for each of us who believe must put aside that which is in this world and take up our crosses, too. Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to follow Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 

    And each of us who make up the body of Christ must be prepared to suffer for the sake of the gospel of salvation through JESUS CHRIST. We must be found worthy to suffer. To get there we need to spend much time with our Lord and Savior. I used to regard my gardens as my sanctuary. There I would pray and write and sing and listen to God speak to my heart. I am older now and cannot play in the garden like I used to. But I can sit there and listen to Him even now. 

    The sufferings we go through are not as important as how we go through them: with HOPE, with GReAT exPEctAtions, with JOY, with a strong desire to see our Lord and Savior at the end of our sufferings. 

    We have a Peace That Passes Understanding when we have JESUS in our hearts and The Holy Spirit in our lives. A Peace that only comes from knowing that JESUS CHRIST is our LORD (ruler of our lives, for we have surrendered ourselves to His Authority) and SAVIOR (saving our souls from eternal damnation and punishment in hell). 

    Expect to be jailed for being a Christ-follower. Expect to be tortured for being a Christ-follower. Expect to be killed for being a Christ-follower. Expect to be taken into glory for being a Christ-follower. 

    We are not volatile, nor are we violent. As Christ stood silent before His accusers, so should we who follow Him. We do not debate with fools. The Word of God is their Judge, not us. I am a Christian, a faithful follower of my Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST. 

    Are you? Are you focusing on what God wants you to do or are you focusing on what you want to do in this life He has given you? The choices we make now will impact our destination after we die. And then it will be too late. Do you want to know real Peace? Then you need Jesus. Do you want to know Unspeakable Joy. Then you need Jesus. For whatever it is you are looking for to make you happy, you won't find it without knowing JESUS CHRIST as your personal Savior. It is a commitment each of us has to make on our own. Each one of us is responsible for the soul-saving decision of whether or not we believe in The Name Above All Names. And that includes you who are reading this. 

    I am not afraid. I have all of my armor on (Ephesians 6:10-20) and I am ready to be of service to my King. I am not ashamed of my Jesus. I am loved by Him and I love Him in return.

WE ARE NOT ASHAMED -music video-Carman

I Am Christian's Feet

 

MATTHEW 16:24

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your way, take up your cross, and follow Me."

    Just as Jesus called His disciples then, He calls each of us who want to follow Him even now. 

    Calling the disciples:

Matthew 4:16-22; Mark 2:13,14; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 5:1-11; Luke 5:27,28; Luke 6:12-16; John 1:35-51.

    Calling all people:

Mark 8:34 

And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 

 Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

    I am Christian's feet and I am a "whosoever". 

    I am Christian's feet and I am beautiful. 

Romans 10:15 

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Isaiah 52:7).  

Nahum 1:15 says to "look to the mountains for the one bringing good news". Therefore my feet have been made sturdy to walk upon these mountains. - - 

Psalm 18:33; Habakkuk 3:19. 

My path is broadened that I might not stumble -- Psalm 18:36. 

    I am Christian's feet and I walk in The Word {Exodus 15:26}. I walk by faith {2 Corinthians 5:7}. I walk in The Spirit {Galatians 5:16}. I walk in The Light {John 12:35}. I walk with wise companions, not foolish people {Proverbs 2:20}. I walk The Way of Holiness {Isaiah 35:8}. I walk the path of life {Proverbs 15:24}. 

    I am Christian's feet and I follow Jesus Christ...wherever He leads me. For I have taken up my cross and I would rather live and die with Him than without Him. 

Matthew 16:25, 26

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. 

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps.

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS - Lydia Walker

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER 

WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT - Hilde M. Bedsvaag 

WALK WITH YOU - Michael Bethany 

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Follow Christ

 

   

Matthew 4:19

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

    Not all fishermen use lures. Some use nets. Some use spears. But those fish are meant to be eaten. 

    When a Christian goes fishing, they are the bait. The Love of God exemplified in Christ in us is the lure. God is the Fisherman. The Holy Spirit is the line...and the net. The fish are the people who have yet to hear and believe and receive the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

    How does Christ make us fishers of men (mankind)? Through our faith in God; by trusting in Christ as our Saviour and allowing The Holy Spirit to mold us into holy people. 

    It is not enough to believe that God is. Everyone believes in some kind of god, even those who believe there is no God believe their own words to be true: making themselves their own god. Some will even go so far as to believe that some of the Holy Bible is true, picking and choosing verses as if they were shopping in some spiritual grocer's. 

    "Follow Me", Jesus says. "Follow Me wherever I go. Let Me lead you through valleys, valleys dark, valleys dense. Let Me tend to your needs and nourishment. Let Me carry you when the Way in which we must go is too difficult to walk alone or too deep to swim across. 

    "Follow Me to the synagogues, to the temples, to the people who need to hear My Father's Words. To the people who are searching for The Word of Life. To the people who are hungry for The Bread of Heaven and The Living Water. 

    "Follow Me to the needy, the poor, the broken, the lonely, the desperate, the tormented, the possessed. Follow Me to the hurting, the weeping, the judged, the dead and dying. 

    "Follow Me to the courtyard. Watch Me remain silent and behave in like manner. Follow Me to the cross when you take up your cross. Follow Me to the grave and enter My garden.

    "Follow Me and I will walk with you. Follow Me and I will talk with you. Follow Me and I will sing over you. 

    "Follow Me," Jesus says, "and I will make you fishers of men."

CALLED TO FOLLOW CHRIST 

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

I Give Myself Away - Wm. McDowell

I Found God (When I Stopped Looking For Myself) - Ben Laine

I Will Follow - Chris Tomlin

My Soul Follows - David & Nicole Binion ft. Travis Greene

I Have Decided - Forerunner Music/Jaye Thomas

    

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Serve Christ

 

    John 12:26

If anyone Serves Me, he must follow Me: and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, The Father will honor him. 

    To serve Christ is to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to know where He began His ministry and start from there. 

    The first place He went is to be baptized in the river-Matthew 3:13-17.

    Secondly, Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for forty days, after which He was tempted by Satan three times-Matthew 4:1-10. 

    Thirdly, He evangelized, preaching the gospel of the repentance of sins and living a changed life-"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17

    Fourthly,  He encouraged people to join Him as He ministered to the people in the towns He traveled through-Matthew 4:19; John 1:35-51. He discipled men from various walks of life into the gospel of salvation-Matthew 10:4 (the disciples 12). 

    Fifthly, He ministered to the needs of the people everywhere The Father sent Him. All required forgiveness. Many required healings. Some were raised from the dead. As The Father spoke, The Son obeyed-John 5:19; 12:50. 

    Sixthly, He was arrested for treason and tried in a mockery of a trial; forced to carry His cross after being tortured, the weight of which He could not bear alone. He hung on this cross He had to carry and was buried in a borrowed tomb.

    Seventhly, He rose from the dead, having conquered death, hell and the grave. He received a new body in which He was unrecognizable to everyone who knew Him until He spoke or their eyes were opened to who was speaking with them.

    Ultimately, He ascended into the eternal presence of His heavenly Father. 

    Throughout His earthly ministry Christ retreated several times from the public eye to pray, to speak with His Father in private. To receive strength and instruction and loving devotion. Having Him thus as our example, we, too, should desire to get apart from the madding crowd and seek alone time with our heavenly Father. 

    We see that to serve Christ is to follow Christ. Come, let us serve Him together. 

CALLED TO SERVE CHRIST

I Will Wait For You - Shane & Shane

Spirit Break Out/Not By Might - Sean Feucht & Kim Walker-Smith

Belong To You - Here Be Lions

Strength of My Life - Vertical Worship

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me - CityAlight

I Will Serve The Lord - Carman

Not My Will - Kim Walker-Smith

Where You Go, I'll Go - Jesus Culture 

Guard Your Heart - - Follow The Pattern

 

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3402

Followers: imitator, emulator

From the Greek word 'mimétés' (pronounced mim-ay-tace'): the root of the English word mimic. Properly, the positive imitation that arises by admiring the pattern set by someone worthy of emulation. Mimétés is always used positively in the NT (seven times) – of followers of Christ emulating a God-approved example. The supreme model is God Himself (see Eph 5:1). 

Ephesians 5:2 "Therefore, be followers of God, as dear children."

This word 'followers' is used only seven times in the New Testament. Though some translations use the word 'imitators' instead of 'followers', the meaning is the same. 

1. 1 Corinthians 4:16 - followers of Paul (his example)

2. 1 Corinthians 11:1 - followers of Paul even as he follows Christ

3. Ephesians 5:1 - followers of God

4. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - followers of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, and the Lord, with joy in the Holy Spirit

5. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 - followers of the churches of God in Christ Jesus who also suffer at the hands of their own nation

6. Hebrews 6:12 - followers of the faithful

7. 1 Peter 3:13 - followers of what is good

FOLLOW THE PATTERN

Philippians 3:17 

Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.

Philippians 4:9

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

2 Timothy 1:13

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD

John 10:3, 4

3. The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen for His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.

4. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

FOLLOW THE SPIRIT's LEADING

Romans 8:3, 4

3. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

4. so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    We lead by example, whether we lead others in the way of death and destruction (Matthew 10:25) or in the Way of the Lord . The better way is God's Way. If we're going to be God's faithful leaders, then we need to be God's faithful followers. 

    A servant is not greater than his master. (Matthew 10:24; John 13:16; John 15:20). A faithful leader is a faithful servant. We follow Christ wherever He leads us, even to death. He is bringing us out of this world into His world, into our heavenly home. 

FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST, OUR PATTERN

    Knowing that Christ suffered at the hands of his own countrymen, why are we expecting not to suffer at the hands of our own countrymen, our own nation, our own cities and towns? Jesus Christ told His disciples (and us) to take up our crosses and follow Him.

Matthew 16:24

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

1 Peter 2:21-23

21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22. “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

23. When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

    Don't be surprised when the men and women you have called friends turn their backs on you when you profess Christ as your Lord and Savior; when your ways are not their ways. Don't be alarmed by family suddenly criticizing the change in you. Stand firm in your newfound faith in Christ. You are not alone.

    But continue to follow Christ faithfully. Read your Bible. Study your Bible. Highlight areas that make an impact on you. Underline verses that reach you. Date these things in your Bible, if you can. Use the flyleaf and the back blank pages. You should see my study Bibles. 

    Keep a journal or notebook with your Bible. There may be times when you need more space to write your thoughts and the insights you have gained in your studies. This will help you remember what you are learning.

     "​A faithful follower I would be​,"​ is what the hymnist wrote way back in 1862, when he penned the words to "He Leadeth Me." 

FOLLOW THE PATTERN MEDLEY

Loving God, Following Christ

 

1 John 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 5:32; Matthew 4:17

"Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." For he that is in the world goes about "like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 

But He that is in me seeks the lost, "He has come to call sinners to repentance." "From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

It is the great commission He gives His disciples, His followers: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

If we are true followers of Christ, we are preaching the gospel, we are sharing Christ with the world, we are supporting those who go out farther than we can into the world to share the gospel with many, many others. 

If we are true followers of Christ, we follow Him in love, agape love: an unconditional, no-strings-attached love. The Word reminds us to "love one another as I have loved you". How has The Lord loved us? --Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion." 

--John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

--Mark 12:31 "The second (commandment) is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

We are not force-fed the gospel, therefore we should not be attempting to force-feed others. We who preach/share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ are to be doing so in love, His love; in power, His power (which we have been given when we are given His Holy Spirit); with authority, His Authority. 

Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ believes from the heart. The moment  we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, we are saved. Romans 10:8-10, 13 "But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  --  "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

Salvation is granted on an individual basis. We must each come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is a personal relationship that He desires to have with each one of us. I can pray for your salvation, but you have to choose whether or not you will be saved. 

Micah 4:5 "For all the peoples [now] walk Each in the name of his god [in a transient relationship], As for us, we shall walk [securely] In the name of the LORD our [true] God forever and ever."

Matthew 4:19 "“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

To follow Jesus is to walk with Jesus. Come, let us walk with Jesus now.

Tho' None Go With Me Still I Will Follow

      

We have reached that stage in life, and in our world, 

where we must make a decision to either 

follow the demands the world makes on us

or follow Jesus. But how should I follow Jesus? 

First, I must follow Him in LOVE, unconditionally and without exception Loving everybody, regardless of their identity, race, gender, ethnicity or politics.

1 Corinthians 14:1

LOVE should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. (CEV)

1 Corinthians 13:2

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not LOVE, I am nothing.

Second, I must follow Him in RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Proverbs 15:9

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Proverbs 21:21

He who follows RIGHTEOUSNESS and mercy Finds life, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and honor.

Proverbs 3:21-22

My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment (Godly wisdom). 

They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

Thirdly, I must follow Jesus in FAITH.

1 Timothy 6:11

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, FAITH, love, endurance, and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, FAITH, charity, peace, with them that call on 

the Lord out of a pure heart.

Fourthly, I must choose to FOLLOW Christ when He calls me. 

Matthew 4:19

And he said unto them, 

"FOLLOW Me, 

and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to FOLLOW after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and FOLLOW Me.

While these steps may seem difficult to do, we were given a HELPER to help us accomplish the tasks God gives the Church to fulfill: His Holy Spirit. 

John 15:26

“But when the HELPER comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."

Acts 5:32

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Luke 12:12

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour

 what you ought to say. 

And what is the number one thing we see about the Holy Spirit whom God has given us? He is HOLY. Therefore, we must be HOLY, too.

Hebrews 12:14

Follow PEACE with all men, and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

For it is God’s will that you should be HOLY: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in HOLINESS and honor,

not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

1 Peter 1:15-16

But as He which has called you is HOLY, so you be HOLY in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be HOLY; for I AM HOLY. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of Peace SANCTIFY you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved BLAMELESS unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Though none go with me, I will FOLLOW CHRIST. 

Some Folks

Not every follower of Jesus Christ was a believer. Some followed skeptically, not quite sure what to believe, though they could see the miracles happening right in front of them. Some followed to catch Him in a lie, hoping to dissuade others from listening.

 (John 10:20)

Some folks who followed Christ only wanted a healing, but left soon after. Some folks believed that not only could He do a miracle for they who pursued Him and surrounded Him, but for their families, as well. (John 4:46-53)

Some folks who followed Him wanted to kill Him; (John 8:59: 10:31) they tried to stone Him before they actually were able to get Him crucified. Some folks who followed Jesus wanted to believe but found it hard to obey what He said to do, so they stopped following. (the rich young ruler: Matthew 19:16-22)

Some folks who follow Jesus only wanted the money that came into the treasury, not the One who owned the cattle on a thousand hills, or paved the streets of heaven with gold. For a handful of silver coin, that man betrayed Jesus and turned Him over to the authorities. 

Some folks follow Jesus while the journey is easy, but leave when the journey becomes personal and difficult, as when Peter betrayed Jesus when He was arrested. (John 18:17-27)

Some folks followed Jesus everywhere but in prayer. For the disciples He chose to pray with Him or stay near Him fell asleep. It was exhausting to be on the go all the time and try to stay awake long enough to be with The Father, too.  ( Luke 22:39-46)

Some folks who follow Jesus are not of any Israelite tribe, but still they seek to be in His presence. (John 12:20; John 4:39) Some folks follow Jesus because a family member told them about Him. (John 1:40-42, 45)

When we begin to follow Jesus, we must decide for ourselves which of these “some folks” we are. I want to follow Jesus so close I am stuck like glue (Psalm 63:8).