Follow The Lamb

Follow The Lamb – Audio Click Here

 

Notes:

THESE ARE THEY WHICH FOLLOW THE LAMB WITHERSOEVER HE GOEST

(Revelation 14:4)

Elijah said to the crowd at Mount Carmel, “If the Lord be God, follow Him” (1 Ki 18:21). Following comes down to humility, trust and acknowledgement. Once it is determined who is Lord; who is God – then it has been determined who has the lead.

Following is different than directing. When directed, the word is given and the leave to go accomplish the work. When led, they take no steps except those in the places where the leader has gone. They follow in his footsteps. “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (Jn 12:26).

Following the Lamb is not to be taken lightly. Essentially, men must forsake control and ownership of their will, comfort, desires, and body.

“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, ‘Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.’ And he said unto another, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.’ And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

(Luke 9:57-62)

Jesus said to others.

…“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24). All personal preferences would have to be abandoned and replaced by “nevertheless, Thy will be done.”

“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Mt 19:21).

…“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). Their work would be of a higher order.

The truth of the Shepherd is this: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (Jn 10:27). Jesus’ sheep will not follow another but will flee from others. And when He gives them other shepherds, those shepherds are tasked with feeding the flock and they themselves with following the Good Shepherd. They never become a replacement. They are never left to follow their own spirits.

Following the Lord is about intimate fellowship with Him and being aware of His leading and will in all things. It involves patient waiting upon Him before you speak, move, and live. Ezekiel spoke for God saying, “Woe unto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing” (Ezek 13:3). These are they which would declare the direction to others as though the Lord has led them but alas, they were led by their own whims.

Jesus made it very clear to Peter that it was Peter’s task to follow Jesus and not worry about John. It was also John’s task to follow Jesus. See John 21:15-22

Sin and Salvation

All of the Bible is about sin and salvation. The primary person is God – the one with Whom we have to do (Heb 4:13). And the primary work is that of Jesus – the Savior of the world (Jn 4:42; 1 Jn 4:14) of Whom God is testifying (1 Jn 5:9; Jn 5:37-39; Rev 19:10). 
THE STATE OF FALLEN MAN

• Alienated from God/Separate from Him (Col 1:21; Eph 2:17; 4:17-19)
• Ignorant of God/Darkened in Understanding (Eph 4:17-19)
• Defiled by Sin’s Corruption (2 Pet 1:4; 2:19; Tit 1:15)
• Guilty by Sin’s Consequence (Jas 2:10; Rom 3:19)
• Dead/Blind/Without Strength (Col 2:13; Eph 2:1-5; Rom 5:6)
• Enslaved to a Variety of Lusts and Pleasures (Tit 3:3)
• Void of any good thing or anything profitable God-ward (Rom 3:10-18)
• Under a curse and expectant of the righteous judgment and wrath of God (Gal 3:10-12)

THE EXPECTATION OF FALLEN MAN
The righteousness of God requires that we stand afar off from Him lest we be killed. Just as Adam and Eve were kept from the tree of life while they were in a fallen condition (Gen 3:22-24), so all men have been kept from the tree of life until they are redeemed from the earth (Rev 2:7; 22:1). But if they are not redeemed, they will be utterly destroyed. Indeed, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-3). Jesus spoke about hell fire (Mt 5:22; 18:9), outer darkness (Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), the lake of fire (Rev 19:20; 20:10,14-15), torment (Lk 16:28) and “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41).

And yet…“this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 Jn 2:25).

THE WORK OF CHRIST

• Christ partook of a body that He might be a faithful and merciful High Priest (Heb 2:14-18)
• Like a lamb led to the slaughter He was obedient to death (Isa 53:7; Php 2:8)
• In His own body He bore our own sins as He hung on the cross (1 Pet 2:24)
• He was made a curse to deliver men from a curse (Gal 3:13)
• Became sin that men might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21)
• He condemned sin in the flesh and took it out of the way (Rom 8:3; Ps 103:12; Dan 9:24)
• Made intercession for transgressors (Isa 53:12; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25)
• He presented His own blood to the Father, in the Holiest of all -heaven itself (Heb 9:24-28; 13:20)
• He defeated death, led captivity captive, and rose to God (Eph 4:8; 2 Tim 1:10; Heb 2:14)
• He ever lives to mediate, make intercession, and purify (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15-16; 12:24; Tit 2:14)

THE CALL OF GOD

• God sends a preacher with a message (Rom 10:14)
• God calls us by that message – the gospel (2 Th 2:14)
• God draws us to Jesus (Jn 6:44, 65)
• God opens our hearts to respond to the message (Acts 16:14)
• God grants repentance (2 Tim 2:25; Acts 5:31)

GOD’S PROVISION OF SALVATION

• We are washed from our sins and cleansed from all iniquity (Rev 1:5; 1 Jn 1:9)
• We are given faith to enable us to believe in God in the midst of suffering (Php 1:29)
• We are given an understanding to know God and His kingdom (1 Jn 5:20; Eph 1:18; Heb 6:4)
• We are reconciled to God & brought into fellowship with the Godhead (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18; 1 Cor 1:9)
• We are freed from the power and guilt of sin (Rom 6:18-22; 8:1-2)
• We are made a new creature (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15)
• We are given the spirit of adoption until the redemption of the body (Rom 8:15-26)
• We are promised an eternal home in the presence of God (Rev 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1-5)

November 1, 2016 – Life is in the Son

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:10-12)

There is simplicity in what men call “Christianity.” By “simplicity” I do not mean that it is elementary or mundane but that all of the promises of God come down to one: “eternal life” (1 Jn 2:25) and all of eternal life is found in one: Jesus Christ. The apostle John’s letters declare many of the simple truths involved in the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. The Spirit, through him, states the truth so concisely.

Unbelief. God has spoken and He has spoken concerning His Son. He has given a record or testimony of His Son and to not believe on Jesus is to say that God was wrong in His testimony. God has said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17) and the unbeliever says, “This is not God’s Son and God is a liar for saying he is.”

It is even common today to hear people say that they think Jesus was a good man and good teacher but not the Son of God or God in the flesh. This, however, is not an option. Jesus claimed to be God’s Son and one with the Father. If He, as some suggest, is not God’s Son than they ought to call Him a liar or a lunatic, but calling Him a good teacher would not be an option. But, of course, Jesus is the Son of God as God declared Him to be and even so with power by the resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:4).

The Record. God has given a record concerning His Son and the record is this: “that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” This is the record that we believe. Jesus uttered these words in His prayer to the Father in John chapter 17.

“Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17:1-3)

God’s record of Jesus was far greater than many men perceived with their natural eye. Some saw that He was a “good teacher” and “Rabbi”. Others perceived that He had power over the wind and sea and even demons. Still others learned that He had power to forgive sin. Many today see Him as a great example that we should follow after. Some only accept that He was a prophet. But who among men concluded that this is the One who can given eternal life? God, being the One who gave Him such power, bore record of this very truth. And all them that believe on Him receive this eternal life.

Do You Have the Son? Who has eternal life? Where can men go to seek it? How will they obtain it? The apostle responds with great simplicity and clarity: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life”. Everyone falls into one of these two “categories”. Either the person has the Son or he does not have the Son. Consequently, either he has life eternal or he does not have life eternal. All men will be separated eternally on the basis of whether or not they “have the Son”. This being true it is appropriate for men to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling all the while examining themselves to see if they are in the faith (Php 2:12; 2 Cor 13:5). For, if you have Him, He will give you eternal life.

– brother Pat Woods, (originally posted May 2, 2012)

Jesus Opening the Understanding – Erik Olmsted

From Fall Preaching Festival in Antwerp, Ohio: October 2015

Jesus is the Light of the World – Pat Woods

From Fall Preaching Festival in Antwerp, Ohio: October, 2015

 

 

October 25, 2016 – Jesus’ Rule is Just

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” (2 Samuel 23:3)

David was told some of what a ruler over men ought to be like. He, himself, was a remarkable man, a good king, and a man after God’s own heart. He was “the son of Jesse…and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam 23:1).

Yet after considering the magnitude of the responsibility and holiness of the man appointed to rule over men, particularly, the Lord’s people, he recognized that he fell short. But God’s grace was sufficient. David declared,

“Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure” (2 Sam 23:5)

In His everlasting covenant with David, God promised to send One who rule over the house righteously. Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, is the only King fit for such a rule. And upon being tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin; and after making His own soul an offering for sin; and after laying down His life a ransom for many; and after taking it up again defeating death and him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; Jesus said these words:

“All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Mt 28:18).

Jesus is ruling over men. He is just and rules in strict accord with the will of His Father. No judgment that He is makes is His own, and neither is it ever flawed. “The sceptre of [His] kingdom is a right sceptre” (Ps 45:6). For unto the Son God said, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom” (Heb 1:8).

The justice of Christ’s kingdom is the surety of our salvation. We have peace, joy and hope because Jesus will always do right AND it is right for Him to save those that believe in Him (Rom 3:26)

-brother Pat Woods

 

2016, September 21

​Lamentations 3:22

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Jeremiah did not write this because he was “looking at the bright side” of things. His people, Judah were overthrown by Babylon, their city and temple were destroyed and they were in captivity for 70 years. But he recognized the reality: the fact that they were still alive was owing to the tender mercies of God. 
Likewise, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The fact that we have not been consumed in fire is a display of mercy as well. It is good for us to consider that the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation. We have been given space to repent. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather desires that every man repent and come to the knowledge of the truth. 
We can allow the memory of our sin humble us so that we cry out to God – it is then that He shows His great compassion. 

Jeremiah continues, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him”(Lam 3:24).

Amen, Jeremiah!
– Brother Pat Woods

2016, September 18

​”Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:4

“If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”Romans 10:9&10

Our hearts control what comes out of our mouths.  So when God gives us a new heart, it’s obvious what others will hear when they are in our company.

From the heart the mouth speaks. 

It’s impossible for a believer to think of the cross without knowing the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.  How blessed we are.

– Sister Kasey Stokes

2016, September 15

​” For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10

” If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,  sanctified,  and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

We were created for good works. What good works were we created for? We were created for God’s good works! A work can only be a good work if it is something that God is working.  We were created to participate in God’s workings.  It is not up to us to establish our own good works, but it is right for us to join in on what God is working. How do we go about doing this? Well, we become joined to Him through Christ Jesus. Then and only then are we able to participate in the true good works of God. God can and will do great things in and through submissive people. We are called to be vessels which God can use for good works. This means we must empty ourselves of all pride and reliance upon our own desires, strengths, and abilities. We are only the vessel. Let us empty our vessel of ourselves so that God may fill us with Himself. Then and only then will we be vessels prepared for God’s good works.
– Sister Hillary Boyd