Follow Who?

In Matthew 4:19, we have Jesus saying  "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." And, as teachers often do, I explained that the word "follow" means to "follow closely."  But we often miss the point, that Jesus said to follow "me."

Christians often decide that since their own group is correct, they should not listen to other groups. While there is some wisdom in this, there are also problems. I believe heavily in soul-winning and witnessing. What do I do if someone from another group is winning large numbers of souls, and he wants to offer me advice?

In Mark 9:40, Jesus said  "For he who is not against us is on our side."  Someone who couldn't get along with the apostles had been casting out demons in Jesus's Name, and the apostles had forbidden him to do it. But Jesus claimed that man as one of His own. Following Jesus closely means that you can get along with other Christians. It doesn't mean that you refuse to fellowship with, or have anything to do with them, because you think that your group is right.

Follow How?

In Matthew 4:19, we have Jesus saying  "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

In the Greek, "follow" is actually two words. They mean "Follow closely behind." Half-hearted Christians have something wrong with them; they are not closely following Jesus. That's why they win few, if any, souls to Christ.

And there's something else in this verse that we often miss: it is Jesus's responsibility to make you a fisher of men. YOUR responsibility is to follow Christ closely. Then Jesus works in your life to make you more successful.

Something is Wrong Part 2

We're now going to tie in  2 Chronicles 7:14 with Mt 4:19:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

If you are not a fisher of men, something is wrong. Jesus explained that if you follow Him, He will make you a fisher of men. The problem is not with your talent, ability, or even your spiritual gifts. It is the responsibility of Jesus (not you) to turn you into a fisher of men. If you are not doing this, then you are not following Jesus. You need to admit that something is wrong.

Some Christians turn to Calvinism, attributing their failures to the sovereignty of God. Other Christians point to the failures of successful Christians, praising themselves for not having fallen into the same sins, while ignoring the fact that they have not had the same successes. Some Christians turn to busy work, fumbling about church business without accomplishing anything that wouldn't have been accomplished without them.

Brethren, if you are not a fisher of men, you need to admit: something is wrong.

Admit That Something is Wrong

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We have seen some ways to humble yourself: seek lower positions, rather than higher ones; and submit to God's ordained leaders. Now, here is another one: admit that something is wrong.

The previous verse shows the context: 2Ch 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

 God told Solomon that if things were going badly, it was because God was not blessing His people. God wanted His people to respond by admitting that something was wrong, not pretending that everything was all right. If there were a drought, God didn't want His people pretending that everything was fine, because there was still water in some of the wells. When locusts devoured the land, He didn't want His people to pretend that everything was fine, because indoor plants were still growing. When people were dying in an epidemic, He didn't want His people pretending that everything was fime because someone just had a baby.

When people aren't getting saved, and Christians aren't growing, God doesn't want us to pretend that everything is all right. He doesn't want Christians to pretend that things are fine because they hold leadership positions. He doesn't want churches to pretend that things are fine, because they are giving spare money to the poor.

God wants His people to admit that something is wrong, humble themselves, and turn in the right direction.

What is "Grace"?

1Pe 5:5-6 ¶ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

We have seen that a key to success in serving Christ is humility: we are to seek low positions, not high ones; and we are to submit to the human authority that God puts over us. Doing this gives us humility, and humility gives us grace.  So, what exactly happens when God gives you grace?

Paul explained what grace did for him: 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Paul wrote that grace had changed him, and it made him work hard for the Lord; grace gave Paul the desire and ability to do God's work. Have you tried to serve God, but failed? Did you eventually give up trying? If so, you need grace, which God gives to the humble.

Who Rules Over Us?

Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Thess. 4:9 ...for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

We have seen that humility is a key to spiritual success, and that submitting to authority is a key to humility. We also saw that the people whom God has put over us are able to teach us His Word; if they are not able to do this, God has not put them over you, regardless of their titles. Now we see that the people God has put over us "watch out for your souls."

A person who has seized leadership in violation of Scripture often finds it necessary to engage in church politics in order to hold onto that leadership. The person has to work against feared opponents, justifying his sin by claiming that it is necessary in order for him to carry out God's work.

One hallmark of a dying church is criticizing other Christian churches, because the leadership fears that their people will go to those other churches. The result is that when some of God's people finally do get out, they don't go to church anywhere. God, however, teaches us to love one another. A person who teaches you otherwise does not have authority over you, regardless of his title.

Heb 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

2Ti 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Hebrews 13:7 is rarely preached on for two reasons: it offends the followers, and it offends the rulers in a church. The verse clearly teaches that people who have not taught a congregation the Word of God cannot be their leaders. They don't have to be the best teachers, and it doesn't require than to teach every Sunday, but before God makes a leader out of anyone, He makes a teacher out of him.

We have already seen that God tells us to take the lowest rooms in a church and to trust Him to advance us if it is His will. People who maneuver their way to the top through back-room church politics have not trusted God by obeying  this command. They don't have a faith that we should follow.

And then it continues: "considering the outcome of their conduct." When people seize leadership out of God's will, failure often follows. Attendance declines, soul-winning declines, baptisms decline, and the quality of God's Word being taught declines.

These people can hold any office or title they want, but they don't have authority over you.