| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7777 Registered: 3-2004  |
We had a guest speaker at church to day. He preached on being either a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ. He based the follower on Luke 9:23, 24 Then He 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. For the fan he used Luke 9:57 - 62 "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, Lord, I will follow You wherever You go. And He said to him, "foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. Then He said to another, "Follow Me" But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father" Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God" And another also, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house". But Jesus said to him, "No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God". The fan does not reflect Jesus in His life. As the pastor spoke I could not help but reflect on adventism. I was not a follower nor was I a fan. The dictionary definition of a fan is an enthusiastic follower. That was definitely not me. I did not know enough about Him to be a fan, much less an enthusiastic one. I did not know the Jesus I have gotten to know since I left sadventism. What I learned as an sda was to follow rules (10 C). I was not taught to follow Jesus and definitely not to love Him. I put Jesus off for something else as I was taught to do. The Jesus I learned about is not the same Jesus I now know. I never thought I would say that, but I am. I learned the sda version of Jesus. THAT WAS NOT JESUS!!! That hit me in the face this morning at church and I am so glad. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. I thank our awesome God that I am a follower of Jesus Christ now and not a fan. Diana L | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10714 Registered: 12-2003  |
Diana, wow! I understand the "A-ha" moment you had. What a good contrast—fan or follower—and what an accurate assessment of the lack of either enthusiasm or passion for Him that was the story for so many of us. Colleen | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1352 Registered: 11-2007  |
sounds like a really awesome sermon! There is definitely a big difference! Sondra | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 512 Registered: 10-2008  |
Powerful. I can't help but think of 2 Cor 3:l5 and Romans 3:11 Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobates? 2 Cor 3:15. there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Romans 3:11 I can so relate Diana, I think before I KNEW Jesus I was just a fan. Now that I KNOW Him and He calls me friend my goal every day is to follow Him more and more. What a profound conclusion that speaker made. Diana, are the CDs available through your church of this message? Enoch | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7781 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes, CDs are made of every service. Do you want me to get one for you? You can go to the Central Christian Church, Henderson, NV website and there can watch the service. If you want I will see about getting you a CD and send it to you. Diana L | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 513 Registered: 10-2008 |
That would be great. I'll send you my contact info over on Facebook | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7782 Registered: 3-2004 |
Enoch, I got you a cd tonight. I will look on FB for where to send it. They also have the DVDs, if you would rather have that. But you can go on line to watch the service. Diana L (Message edited by Flyinglady on December 03, 2009) | ||
| Clintonc Registered user Username: Clintonc Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2007  |
Diana, The speaker was Kyle Idleman. He's a pastor from my old church here in Louisville, KY. He's my favorite speaker. His "fan to follower" series was one from a few months ago. Very powerful message. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7784 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey Clinton that is nice to know. I really liked his sermon. It is a very powerful sermon. Diana L | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10726 Registered: 12-2003 |
Clinton, have you seen yourself and Kristyn in the online Proclamation yet? Clinton's wonderful story is here: http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamation/2009/4/faithstory.html While Richard was designing this issue, I was saying to him--"I just grin whenever I look at that picture of him and his wife. I can't quite articulate what it is about it that's so compelling." Richard responded, "They're happy!" Indeed! That contentment and joy you both radiate is pretty scarce among the young couples I saw in my Adventist past... Colleen | ||
| Clintonc Registered user Username: Clintonc Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2007 |
Aww, thanks Colleen, We are happy! Kristyn says thanks, too. It's been a rough week for me for sure, but God is so awesome. I've hit a rough patch with my job, problems with management. My work environment is so toxic for me mentally and spiritually. As we all know as former-adventists, we know what a toxic environment feels like. God is faithful, today I working things out temporarialy, and I'm also applying for other jobs. I'm sure I'll end at the right place for me. God hasn't yet led me to a place I wasn't supposed to be. He may ask me to stay where I am, still. What I've learned recently is that part of moving from fan to follower is to accept when God tells me to move. God led us through a painful situation at our old church to a new one that turned out to be the exact place we needed. Sorry, I'm rambling, it's late. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. We're headed out to St. Louis for a family Christmas reunion tomorrow. Clinton | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 514 Registered: 10-2008 |
Clinton, I loved your article. I stayed up way past my bedtime to read it. Enoch | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7787 Registered: 3-2004 |
Clinton, love your story about your journey with Jesus. It is awesome how God brings each indidividual to Him. He meets each of us where we are and goes from there. Diana L |
