08
Aug '25
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
08
Aug '25
Introduction: Have you made up your mind? Are you going to follow Jesus? Look at what you will gain. Look at what you will lose. Does it make a difference? Will the God of the Bible use your influence? Let’s see an example of how this works.
Paul’s in prison. He has helped establish a Church. Watch how the Lord used both Paul and the Church. Will you apply the principle?
1. First, comes the ROOT by SETTING the EXAMPLE – CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE! (Phil 4:9) – “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Interesting to note, all of these verbs—“learned, received, heard, and seen”—are in the aorist tense, meaning a past event. In other words, the CHRISTians in the Church of Philippi witnessed the INFLUENCE of the man of God, Paul.
Think about the INFLUENCE you are having on those around you. Here are at least two areas where God is using your INFLUENCE:
In your Family: Both Dad’s and Mom’s have a tremendous opportunity to SET an EXAMPLE for their children. Husbands and wives have the same powerful role to facilitate spiritual, emotional, and mental development and growth in each other. Can you testify?
Another area of SETTING an EXAMPLE is not only in your FAMILY but what about the MINISTRY? Through teaching, preaching, serving, and ministering is another way that the Lord is using your INFLUENCE—TESTIMONY.
How are you doing in these two areas? Need improvement? Why not start today?
2. Next comes the FRUIT! Not only does God GUIDE but He also PROVIDES! (Phil 4:10) – “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.”
By the way, the word “careful” is phroneo, which can be translated affection or to think of. Evidently, after not knowing the whereabouts of Paul and then discovering he was in Rome incarcerated two years later, the Church sent a gift delivered by Epaphraditus. Paul is telling them THANK YOU!
The word “flourish” means revived. In other words, God’s people did the Work of God, thus fulfilling the Will of God! Are you doing the Work of God by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Conclusion: This devotion should cause us to evaluate our God-given opportunities. Then seize the moment.
Check out your INFLUENCE: Where do you need to work on improving? Why not pray and then purpose in your heart to fulfill your calling?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese