For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures read prior the the Sermon. Today's assigned Scriptures are: Genesis 9:8-17 ; Psalm 25:1-9 ; 1 Peter 3:18-22 ; Mark 1:9-15
Follow the Leader ...is an old familiar...... children's game.
I am sure... that we can... all recall memories... of following each other... in a line ......around a room or a playground, ...jumping over this, ...skipping around that, ...and watching intently ...to be sure we followed the leader ...precisely.
We might have played this game ...just for fun ... or ...someone might have used the game... to teach us... the role ...of a good ... follower.
In these days of Lent, ...I invite us all...to think about our role ...as followers.
In recent months ...we have moved ...from the anticipation ...of the birth of the Christ child ...to the knowledge... of Jesus ministry.
And in these weeks of Lent, ...through the Scriptures...we...will watch and follow our Lord... as he walks to Jerusalem ... on to Golgotha... and then ...to the Cross.
Beloved ... Jesus is clear Crystal clear
BIBLE He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)
Jesus goes on to share an eternal truth in Matthews Gospel that is difficult for many to hear and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. END (Matthew 10:38)
Following Jesus ... Following the one we call Savior & Lord is a requirement of Discipleship.
16 times ... in Matthew and Mark alone ... we hear the words Follow ... in reference to Jesus.
And whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
So, ... What does it mean... for us ...to follow... Jesus?
During Lent, ...we are called ... to face ... our ...true nature.
Our own ...true, ...yearning, ... needy nature ... as it is laid bare ...before us ...to examine.
It is not a time... for self-loathing ...or wallowing ...in self-pity.
It is a time ... of being honest, ...a time ...to look at ......our whole self ... body ... soul ... and Spirit.
A time for us to examine ourselves ... and see ...where there is room ... for God's grace ...where we may need to yield... to His Lordship.
This self-reflection ...is not easy... but it is necessary.
It is necessary... so that we may continue to be conformed into ... the image of Christ.
So, that we may reflect the image ... of Christ.
This reflection should be an ongoing process... but is emphasized by the Church ...during these 40 days.
Where Jesus leads ...we are called...to ... follow.
We are to follow...not sit back ... and mindlessly flip through channels ...of a stagnant ......spiritual life.
We are called into relationship ... relationship with the one we call... Lord.
And solid relationship ...requires... participation ...by both parties.
So Beloved... let us reverently follow Jesus...our Leader... into these days of Lent.
Let us examine once again ourselves, ... to look into life's mirror, ...to be honest with God, ... to seek the things that distract us... from God's ......kingdom work.
Or, ...to say it another way, ...we are to examine those things that keep us ......from being transformed ... and reflect ... the image of Christ.
Are we feeling so safe ...in ourselves, ...in our pews, ...our houses, ... our relationships ...that we no longer work ...to maintain spiritual health... and wholeness?
What are you tempted to believe or deny, ...to do or to neglect ... as you journey ...into self-reflection?
And Jesus, ...the One we are called to follow, ... knows about temptation.
God's very Spirit, ... in Mark's telling ...has descended upon Jesus ... and identified Him ...as the beloved Son.
Then this same Spirit......drives Him ...into the wilderness.
Jesus is driven into the wilderness. ...by God's Spirit.
And Mark makes it clear ... that Satan is there, ...that temptation... is there.
Though it might strike us as strange... that God's Spirit...... would drive Jesus into the wilderness.
We should recognize ...that the life of faith ...often leads us as followers ...into... the wilderness.
Is God's Spirit driving, ...or swiftly kicking you ...into the wilderness?
And Our wilderness ... is often ...the landscape ...of where we live ...where we reside.
The wilderness can even encompass ......at times ...the landscape ...of family.
Do you feel ...the dry desert air... of the wilderness of our culture?
Do you need driven...Do you need a swift kick from the Holy Spirit ... in order...to get you up... to wake you up ... and follow Jesus ... to follow the Leader?
Perhaps... we all do.
Perhaps we need to ...wake up... And put on our spiritual big boy ... and big girl pants... and ... follow the commands of our Lord.
We have a great privilege ...in the days of Lent, ...and in all the days ...of our life in faith ... to be led by God's Spirit.
We pay particular attention during Lent ...to how the wilderness of temptation ...can teach us, ...shape us, ...and help us ... to be more Christ Like.
To be better Christians.
The wilderness can prepare us ... To follow the leader......wherever...wherever... he may lead.
The wilderness can prepare us ...to boldly proclaim... I will go Lord... If you lead me.
The words from this Christian Hymn state it so very well:
Here I am Lord...Is it I Lord?
I have heard ...you calling ...in the night.
I will go Lord ...if you lead me
I will hold ...your people ...in my heart.
Beloved... during these 40 days of Lent ... we enter into the wilderness ...to see what God has in store for us.
To learn what God's Spirit ...has to teach us, ...so we will ... passionately...follow.
The wilderness... this time of self-examination ... should always lead us ...to ministry...... It leads to action.
Jesus...our Leader has walked through the wilderness.
And When he returned... We are told ... That He returned to Galilee ...and proclaimed to all:
BIBLE "The time is fulfilled ... and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news." END (Mark 1:15)
Beloved, ... the Leader of the Universe ...turns to those who have ears... And to us this day, ... And proclaims ... The time is fulfilled... The Kingdom of God is at hand... repent.
We are called to do something.... To Repent!
Repent means...To turn away from the direction in which we are heading ... often a 180 degree turn.
And after we turn ... we are called... to make another decision.
For Jesus proclaims to all ... follow me.
Jesus ... Our Leader is not stagnant... he is not standing still.
After the wilderness... Jesus emerges ...to complete ... to fulfill His ministry.
In our relationship with God... in life's journey... we have choices.
We can choose ...if and what ...we will believe.
We can choose ...which path ...we will... or will not take.
We can choose... if, ...who, ... how long, ...and how far ...we will follow. (Pause)
Beloved...Things have not changed ...all that much ...since our youth.
It was the same principle ... we had ... as children ...when we played... "Follow the Leader" ...
We could choose to play... Or...not to play.
We could follow ... or not follow ... the leader.
And even if we chose to play, ... we might latter choose ...to wander... in our own direction.
We were a follower ... only if ... we chose ...to participate.
We could successfully complete the game ... if we were willing ...to follow the leader ...wherever they would go.
It is that way ...in our life of faith.
We can choose ...whether or not... we are going to follow.
Yet ... To follow ......also requires an action ...It requires us ...to pursue ... to follow in the footsteps ... of the one ...who is leading.
The fundamental question that we each must ask is this...Do I truly trust Jesus?
Do I trust him to be not only my Savior... but my Lord?
Many receive him as their Savior... Yet they do not trust him as Lord...and therefore ...they do not follow?
O' Beloved ... Do you trust him? ...Do you truly trust him?
That ...is a question ...that we each must answer ...with the dawn ...of each new day.
As you reflect, ...on your inner life ... and as you begin to walk through these 40 days of Lent ... Ask yourself... Do I trust Him?
Each day... maybe multiple times during the day... we must decide ...who we will follow.
We must decide ...who we will serve?
Beloved... It is my hope and prayer.
That with the dawn of each day...you will boldly proclaim.
"... As for me ... as for me ... and my house, ...we will follow, ... and we will serve ... the LORD" (Joshua 24:15)
Amen and Amen!
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