Real Followers are Spirit Led!

Acts 20:22-24

It has been argued that we live in the most prosperous country in the history of the world.

           As Americans we consume 78% of the worlds resources.

           We have become a society that acquires, consumes and wastes.

           We are continually trying to do something more grand than the last time.

           We live in a world that doubles in knowledge every 18 months.

           We have to always improve.

It’s our nature to try to do better.

           I am one of those people who can’t wait to see what’s next.

                      What will the next generation of computers be able to do?

                      Where is that flying car we’ve been promised?

           I absolutely love innovation and making things better.

Because of the way that we view progress, we view our lives the same way.

           How much did you make last year?

                      Wouldn’t you like to make more this year?

           What kind of car are you driving?

                      Do you have your next one picked out already?

           Perhaps you have your eye on a promotion at work.

           A Bigger house.

           As Americans we tend to be ladder climbers.

                      We want a better job, more money, a nicer car, and a bigger house.

You say, those things are natural.

Well they may be, but they could also have the potential to keep us from a more meaningful walk with Jesus.

           Just because something is natural, doesn’t make it right.

Now I want you to hear me because I don’t want anyone to get confused and angry.

           What I am saying is: where is your focus?

If you are motivated by getting to the next rung of the ladder,

or by keeping up with the neighbors, then it’s time for a vision test.

Are you working so much that you have neglected God?
Are you being completely ethical in seeking that promotion?
Are you undercutting someone else’s chances to succeed?

Real followers carry crosses instead of climbing ladders.
Real followers are Spirit led over success driven.

In the eyes of the world Jesus died a failure.

           A flop at 33.

                      Sentenced to death by his own proclamation that he was the Messiah.

                      And to those who expected a Messiah to bring an end to Roman oppression,

                                 this man was a poor pathetic failure.

But Real followers know better.

“The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.”

                      Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

The Jesus we serve did not call us to be successful.

           In fact he said “If you follow me, you might just be regarded as a failure.”

He suggested that foxes have holes and the birds have nests but if you follow him, you just might not have a place to live.

There is an obvious difference between being a follower of Jesus and following the crowd.

While on a trip to Switzerland, an America businessman was watching a Swiss clock maker carving the case of an ornate cuckoo clock.

As the businessman watched the clock maker carve out the case, he was astounded at his slow rate of progress.

           The businessman finally said, “You’ll never make much money that way.”

           “Sir,” the clock maker replied, “I’m not making money, I’m making cuckoo clocks.”

Jesus isn’t in the business of making a stronger portfolio.

           He’s in the business of making followers.

Jesus knows a life that has been thrown away.

He distinguishes it from the life of Real followers, He knows the difference.
And Real Followers know the difference too.

Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

1. Spirit Led people know they are never alone!

The road for a follower of Jesus is a road that can be lonely at times.

For those who are true committed followers of Jesus, we believe His promise to “remain with us till the end of the age.”

           The Holy Spirit is a person that lives in the heart of the Real follower.
           He provides companionship, and guidance.

Some confuse their own conscience with the words of the Spirit.

I imaging that could have happened to Paul here.

                      All of his friends begged him not to go.

                      They pleaded with him that he should not go.

These were Christian people, telling him that he should not do what God had called him to do.

I imagine, if He was not tuned into the voice of God, he would have listened to his well meaning Christian friends.

Has there been anything that you have been asked by God to do, but didn’t?

Maybe someone talked you out of it.

Maybe you talked yourself out of it.

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish what God is asking us to do.

                      But if we listen, we will eventually hear His voice.

           The difficult thing is that God does not ask us to do what is easy.

                      He doesn’t ask us what we want to do.

                      He asks us to do what He knows is best.

           So how good are you at hearing God?

A Man went to his doctor saying that he thought his wife was deaf but did not want to upset her, so he asked what he should do?

The doctor said, “Go into the room and, if your wife has her back to you, just say something in a normal voice and move forward saying the same thing until she hears.”

The man went home and, finding his wife at the kitchen sink with her back to him said, “What’s for dinner dear?.”

No reply, so he moved forward and repeated, "What’s for dinner dear?.

Still no reply.

So he Moved closer and again says “What’s for dinner dear?”

Still no acknowledgment.

He then positions himself just a foot behind her and again says “What’s for dinner dear?”.

She answers, “For the fourth time, tuna casserole!”

Are you tuned into the voice of God?

One thing that I really hope you are doing, is considering what God is saying about the future of this church.

                      About your future in the church.

                      About what He is asking of the Church and of you.

           What He asks, normally requires hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.

Paul counted the cost, He knew that following God meant Hard work, commitment and sacrifice.

That’s the difference.
Real followers Allow themselves to be led by the Spirit.

           The danger is, if you don’t listen to the Spirit, and do as directed,

                      then the Spirit’s voice fades into the background,

                                 and it’s lost in the static of the world.

Two men were talking over coffee one day.

           One said: “I’m concerned about my wife. She talks to herself a lot these days.”

           The other said: “Mine does too, but she doesn’t know it. She thinks I’m listening.”

God gave us the H.S. so that we could hear his voice and find comfort in his companionship.

           He is there as our guide.

           But we have to grow accustomed, we have to learn to listen too His voice.

2. Spirit Led people accept the challenge!

When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn’t know she was in line for the throne of England.

Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn’t motivate her.

                      She just didn’t take her studies seriously.

           Finally, her teachers decided to tell her that one day she would become the queen of England.

                      Upon hearing this, Victoria quietly said, “Then I will be good.”

The realization that she had inherited this high calling, gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly affected her conduct from then on.

I can almost Guarantee that Paul didn’t like the idea of dying for his relationship with Jesus.

But that’s where the call of God asked him to go.

How painful it must have been to know about all of the hardships.

                      Persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and ultimately death

What challenge is the Spirit asking you to accept?
Is he asking you to be more involved in the church?
Perhaps you need to hear his call to accept a position of leadership.

           Is he telling you to embrace someone that you would have shunned before?

Is he asking you to make amends for hurt feelings from 20 years ago?
Is he telling you to practice Christian morals at work.
Has he Challenged you to share your faith more openly?

           Perhaps he has moved you to make a couple of hospital visits,

or call a couple of old friends that you know are hurting right now.

He might be asking that you will find a way to be more involved here

Is he calling you to accept change in the church ministry programs or method of ministry?

Will you accept the call to let the Spirit lead you?

What is it that the Spirit is asking you to do?

                      Where does he want you to go?

It was G. K. Chesterton who said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried.”

           Actually, it hasn’t even been found difficult, because most people haven’t even gotten that far.

Paul knew that casual faith was not worth it.

           He had to do something to make his life count.

                      It only counts with Jesus.

           It only counts when we stop listening to all the voices around us, and tune into the Spirit of God.
 

3. Spirit Led people keep life in perspective!

It’s something like what Coach John McKay of USC said to his team after they had been humiliated 51-0 by Notre Dame.

McKay came into the locker room and saw a group of beaten worn-out and thoroughly depressed young football players who were not accustomed to losing.

He stood up on a bench and said, “Men, let’s keep this in perspective. There are 800 million Chinese who don’t even know this game was played.”

           That’s what you call perspective.