When Jesus was here on earth He stated on one occasion, "...FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men."
It is interesting that the Bible not only records that He told these men to follow Him, but also it records that they were smart enough to obey. Look at Matt. 4:20, it states, "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
Notice, the Bible says that when he called them to follow Him, THREE THINGS took place:
(1) “And they straightway.”
They did not waste any time. They immediately stopped what they were doing and followed the Lord. But notice something else about these men-
(2) They “left their nets”
Keep in mind that at this point, these men made their living fishing. The tools of their trade were nets.
Illus: What Jesus did then could be likened today to His asking a carpenter who is on his job to follow Him. Once he asks the carpenter to follow Him, immediately he leaves behind his saws, hammers, squares and follows Him.
But look at the third thing they did when He asked them to follow Him.
(3) “And they followed Him.”
The Lord is not here physically today telling men to follow Him the way He once did. However, the Lord today is still asking men and women to follow Him.
HOW DOES HE INSTRUCT MEN TODAY TO FOLLOW HIM? The Word of God shows us TWO ways:
(1) BY THE WORD OF GOD
The Psalmist said in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
One of the reasons today that people do not know which direction to go with their life, is because they spend to much time in front of the television set, and not enough time in the Word of God.
If we desire to have the Lord guide us, we must spend time in the Word of God, and expose ourselves to the preaching and teachings of God’s Word.
Illus: All Martin Luther the great reformer knew was Catholicism. But when the Lord was leading him out of Catholicism, he got into the Word of God and God’s Word began to show him that some of the things he had been taught were not in the path God would have him to take.
He later said, "For several years I have read the Bible through twice in 12 months. It is a great and powerful tree, each word of which is a mighty branch. Each of these branches have I well shaken, so desirous was I to know what each one bore and what it would give me. And the shaking of them has never disappointed me."
No wonder the Psalmist said, in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
God has always led men and women in the right direction when they followed the teachings of the Word of God. But there is another way we can be led in the right direction.
(2) BY THE EXAMPLE OF DEDICATED CHRISTIANS
Often someone who has not been saved very long will not know what the Bible teaches. They have to find a dedicated Christian that knows what this Bible teaches and follow them.
We Christians have an awesome responsibility, because there are always young Christians who are watching how we live the Christian life.
This is why God’s Word puts the warning out in Matthew 18:6, we read, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Paul was telling these young Christians in Philippi to FOLLOW HIM. But Paul did not limit that to himself, alone.
The Bible tells us there are two different kinds of people we should mark.
• BAD ROLE MODELS
Look at Romans 16:17, we read, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Paul said that these are trouble makers, and they are not good role models to follow.
But the second kind of people we should mark are -
• GOOD ROLE MODELS
We are not just to mark those that cause division among us, but also those who are good role models to follow.
Notice, in our text he says, "...and mark them which walk so as ye have US for an ensample."
Paul recognized there would be times when he would not be around so they could follow his Christian example, so he said, "...mark them..." which walk after Christ.
How can you know who is following Christ? If you had a young child at home and that child was at the point of death, who would you call on from this congregation to pray for that child?
• There are some people who profess to be saved, but you would not call them because you have seen some of the things they have DONE, and they have SAID!
• There are people that you have seen under stressful times, and their faith never wavered. These are the ones you would call.
Illus: One man was on his hospital bed dying, and his wife’s pastor came in to visit him. Before he left, he had prayer with him. After he left the man told his wife, “I do not care if that man ever comes to pray for me again.” His wife was shocked. She said, “Honey, why would you say a thing like that?” He said, “I have been a drinking man all my life, and when he leaned over to pray for me I could smell beer on his breath.”
He then said, “I am a dying man, I need someone right to pray for me, not the likes of him!” He then requested that his wife call another pastor that he knew was a man of God.
You do not have to go to a church very long before you can find out WHO IS WALKING CLOSE TO THE LORD, and WHO IS WALKING IN THE WAY OF THE FLESH.
Paul knew he was following Jesus. Everything Jesus told him to do he would do, so he told the Philippian Christians to follow him as he followed Christ.
This is what Paul had in mind when he said, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."
Illus: One of the greatest learning tools is watching others.
• Many have learned to be good bricklayers because they watched someone else lay brick
• Many have learned to be good carpenters because they watched good carpenters at work
• Many physicians have become good physicians because they watched other good physicians
• Many young preachers became great preachers of the gospel because they sat under some other great minister of the gospel
Listen, when you find a godly man or a godly woman, talk with them and follow them. They can teach you a great deal about the Christian life.
This is exactly what Paul had in mind. We can learn so much from good, dedicated Christians who are walking close to the Lord, if we will follow their examples.
This verse of scripture has many implications. In the first part of this sermon we found out it implies DIRECTION.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE!
Paul was concerned about the Philippian Christians. He knew if they followed the wrong people they would be led ASTRAY.
But this verse implies more than DIRECTION, it also implies:
II. DESTINATION
Again, I remind you that Paul asked those Philippian Christians to follow him.
WHY DID HE ASK THEM TO FOLLOW HIM? When someone asks us to follow them, they are implying that we have not reached our destination.
Many feel that the reason Paul was so successful was because he was always motivated to do more than what he was doing at the present time.
Look at verses 12-15, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
He never was complacent. He never lived his life as if he had ARRIVED; he was always going FORWARD!
A certain amount of permanent dissatisfaction with one's talents is probably a healthy thing. Those who are totally satisfied with their work will never reach their full potential.
Illus: The great pianist, Paderewski, achieved tremendous popularity in America. The world considered Paderewski's playing near perfection, but he remained unsatisfied and kept constantly at the job of improving his talent. He said on one occasion, "There have been a few moments when I have known complete satisfaction, but only a few. I have rarely been free from the disturbing realization that my playing might have been better."
Paul was this way; He always saw room for improvement in his life. He was never self-satisfied. Look at:
(1) Verse 12, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect,: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
(2) Verse 13, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended..."
(3) Verse 14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
As great as Paul was in the Lord, he recognized that he had not yet reached his full potential spiritually. He also recognized that these Christians had not reached their full potential, so he said, “Follow me!”
One of the tragedies in God’s church today is that there are so many Christians who are content with what they should not be content with. Complacency can rob us of so much in this life.
Illus: Someone once told a teenager that the greatest problem he faced was complacency. He responded, "Who cares?" ( Bill Gordon)
This is exactly what has happened in many churches today. “WHO CARES?”
Complacency has virtually brought God’s work to a standstill in many churches. For example:
• Where are the Sunday School teachers that used to pray around the altars for their classes to grow? Now many are content with whoever shows up.
• Where are the Christian parents that used to pray around the altars for lost family members? They are content now to watch television while their family members slide into hell.
• Where are the Christians that used to pray that God would stir their souls? They are content with the way they are.
• Where are the Christians that used to pray for God to send revival to His church? They are content with the church being powerless.
• Where are the tears that used to flow down the cheeks of God’s people as the Word of God was preached or some beautiful hymn was sung?
Complacency can destroy God’s church. Paul was never satisfied.
The devil knows if he can get the church to a place of complacency, God's work will come to a grinding halt. The church today needs revival probably more than ever before.
Illus: Evangelist Dr. George Grant, had been scheduled for services at a church that greatly needed a revival. The pastor and the people had become satisfied with defeat. Everyone was talking about why the church was not growing, but no one was doing anything about it.
The evangelist drove almost five hundred miles to that church for the revival meeting. When he got there, he walked into the pastor's office. The pastor looked up and said, "Hey, what are you doing here?" The evangelist said, "I was scheduled for a week of special services with you folks." The pastor said, "Brother, I am sorry. I forgot all about the revival meeting. I have been so busy that it slipped my mind." Dr. Grant politely dismissed himself and drove back home, because he knew this church was complacent and was not seeking a revival.
However, praise the Lord, there is hope for some. Notice in verse 15, Paul states, "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
Paul recognized there are some who want to move on to, “Spiritual perfection”. However, when Paul said, "...as many as be perfect," he was not speaking of sinless perfection.
Instead he was speaking to those in the congregation who were spiritually mature. What does "mature" mean? To be mature at any point in time is to be "completely developed" for that spiritual age level.
Before you can have maturity, you must do two things:
(1) RECOGNIZE THE NEED
Illus: Most of us have had the experience of trying to talk to teenagers about changes they needed to make in their lives. As mature adults, we parents can see things in their life they need to change.
But many times, as we talk with these young people about some changes that need to be made in their life, they look at us with this glazed-over facial expression, “Dude! What are you talking about!
Why do they do this? Because they are not able to recognize the need to change in their life. As a parent YOU CAN SEE IT, but they CAN NOT.
There is no hope for change, until they can personally RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR IT IN THEIR LIFE!
WHAT DO THEY SEE? They see that they are like their peers. They conclude that since they are as good as them, they do not need to change. The problem is, they are comparing themselves with others who are as bad as they are.
What they need to do, is not compare themselves to others, but to the Word of God. Once they do this, they will find out that they need to make some changes.
Illus: If you want to find out if a stick is straight, do not compare it to a crooked stick, but to a straight stick.
Before we can have spiritual maturity, we first have to RECOGNIZE THE NEED for it in our life. Then we have to -
(2) RECOGNIZE THE METHOD
It is one thing to recognize that spiritually WE NEED SOME HELP, but where do we get THAT HELP?
Paul recognized he had not arrived at his full potential. However, he is writing to these Christians who had not yet reached their full potential, and he recommends two things.
• THE RIGHT PATH
It is obvious from the life of Paul that he PRESSED TOWARD THE RIGHT PATH. Look at Philippians 3:14, we read, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is using athletic terms in this verse. Notice, Paul is not talking down to these Christians. He wants them to know he has not yet reached his full potential either.
He does this by saying, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He has chosen the right path, and he refuses to do anything but PRESS TOWARD THAT GOAL.
Illus: This is the same thing a man or woman does in a track meet. They set their eyes on the goal and THEY GIVE IT THEIR ALL!
Listen, when we, the children of God, do this to reach spiritual maturity, he said in verse 15, “…God shall reveal even this unto you.”
The second thing he recommended for us to achieve our full potential is -
• THE RIGHT PUSH
We all recognize a physical PUSH, but what many folks do not recognize is that every day there are people who are PUSHING them in the wrong direction.
FOLLOW THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE LORD.
Illus: It makes a big difference who we follow:
• Would you follow the advice of a marriage counselor if they have been divorced a half dozen times themselves?
• Would you follow the advice of a financial planner if they have had filed for bankruptcy?
• Would you follow the advice of a nutritionist if they were overweight and unhealthy?
No, we would look at people like this and say, there is no way I would follow someone like that! But many times you will find Christians who will follow others who have never followed the Lord one day of their life.
Look at verse 17, we read, "Brethren, be followers together of me..."
Conclusion:
When we make the decision to repent of our sins and turn from them to Christ, we become JUSTIFIED in the sight of God. There are MANY MORE decisions to make after we become a child of God, such as:
• Whether or not to follow those who follow the trends of the world, and become like them
• Whether to follow the Word of God
• Whether to follow someone who is following the Lord
The Philippian Christians in our text had to make these DECISIONS just as we have to make them today.
Paul said, “Follow me,” this implies:
I. DIRECTION (1 of 2)
II. DESTINATION (2 of 2)
