Only by His Spirit
in us can we follow Him
“My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall
anyone snatch them out of My hand."
John 10:27-28
"...he who does not
enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper
opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own
sheep by name and leads them out."
John 10:1-3
"And when he
brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the
sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by
no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do
not know the voice of strangers.”
John 10:4-5
"Jesus spoke to them
again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows
Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 8:12
Following Him
means sharing His suffering
"[Jesus] said to them
all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for My sake will save it."
Luke 9:23-24
"For to you it has
been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for His sake."
Philippians
1:29
"The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and
if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be
glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us."
Romans
8:15-18
"...let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against
Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
Hebrews
12:1-3
"...he is a chosen
vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the
children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must
suffer for My name’s sake.”
Acts 9:14-16
Suffering tests
our commitment to Jesus
"...Jesus, looking
at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your
way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow
Me.' But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for
he had great possessions."
Matthew
19:19-22
"And he who does not
take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who
finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My
sake will find it."
Matthew
10:38-39
"Yes, and all who
desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
2 Timothy
3:12
"'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood
abides in
Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of
the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread
which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.'
"...many of His disciples, when they
heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can understand
it?'
"When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He
said to them, 'Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man
ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and
they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus
knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray
Him. And He said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to
Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
"From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no
more.
"Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?'
"But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:56-69
Suffering
strengthens our faith
"...count it all joy
when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
James 1:2-4
"Beloved, do not
think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the
extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His
glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If
you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for
the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He
is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."
1 Peter
4:12-14
"I also count all
things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in
Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but
that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which
is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead."
Philippians
3:8-11
Suffering conforms us to Jesus
"But may the God of
all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you."
1 Peter
5:10-11
"Therefore, having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into
this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and
perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 5:1-5
Suffering
brings a greater joy
"For to me, to live
is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh,
this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I
cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a
desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."
Philippians
1:21-24
"...he is a chosen
vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the
children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must
suffer for My name’s sake.”
Acts 9:14-16
"So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."
Acts 5:41
"...Jesus also, that
He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered
outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the
camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city,
but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our
lips, giving thanks to His name."
Hebrews
13:11-15
"My brethren, take
the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example
of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who
endure."
James 5:10-11
"But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this
is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you
should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, nor was deceit
found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in
return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed
Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins
in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might
live for righteousness."
1 Peter
2:20-24
Suffering accomplishes His purpose
"Not that I speak in
regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be
content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and
to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians
4:11-13
"For this reason I
also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to
keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."
2 Timothy
1:12
"...it was fitting
for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings."
Hebrews 2:10
"...though He was a
Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him."
Hebrews 5:8-9
"Whoever desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me."
Mark 8:34
So send I you to bear My Cross with patience,
And then one day with joy to lay it down,
To hear My voice, "Well done my faithful servant,
Come share my throne, my Kingdom and my crown."
*
The
melody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2WOUn_zPes
