Josh 24:15 (UKJV) And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, you choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

False gods of Ancestors (follow your family)

False gods of Neighbors (follow the crowd)

OR the REAL GOD (follow the one true God)

Who will you choose?

1 Kings 18:21 (UKJV) And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Matt 6:24 (UKJV) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches.

Who do you follow?

There was a Bible published recently that made headlines in the news. It was controversial because of what it did not have in it. The editors went through the Bible and took out everything in it that pertained to a particular topic. They said no one has paid attention to what the Bible says on this particular subject for so long that there was no need for it to be in their anyway. What topic did they leave out? They left out all scriptures that pertain to money. You cannot serve God and riches. Take out the money passages from the Bible and you only serve yourself, not God.

Look at this episode from the life of Jesus.

John 6:64-69(UKJV) ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who should betray him. 65  And he said, "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come to me, except it were given to him from my Father". 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and no longer walked with him.

Do you believe?

Jesus said things in this passage that were hard to understand. People left Him. They were superficial perhaps. Too shallow. Not true believers.

Will you walk with Jesus? You have to follow the unpopular sayings of the Bible, not just those that are popular at present. You have to be willing to follow even when it could cost you everything on earth, but gain you everything in heaven.

Foxes book of Martyrs tells about Polycarp, a elder in the church at Smyrna lived during the fourth great persecution of Christians that started in AD 162. He heard that persons were seeking for him and escaped, but he was discovered by a child. After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul and condemned to be burnt in the market place.

The proconsul then urged him, saying, "Swear, and I will release thee; -- reproach Christ."

Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?"

Have you decided in your life that no matter what happens you will still follow Jesus?

John 6:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, Will you also go away?

What would you answer to Jesus if He asked you this?

What are you answering today by the kind of life you live?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Only Jesus can give you eternal life.

Choose Jesus.

Choose Eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Do you believe?

What is your decision?

Decide to follow Jesus Christ today.

Heb 3:7-8 (UKJV) 7 Therefore (as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you will hear his voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When should we decide to follow Jesus? Today.

How do we follow Jesus? By doing what he asked us to do.

1. Believe

Heb 11:6 (KJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith only? No:

James 2:14-26 (NKJV) 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

2. Repent

Acts 2:38-41 (UKJV) 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation". 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added about three thousand souls.

3. Confess

Romans 10:10-11 (NKJV) 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Acts 8:36-38 (NKJV) 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

4. Be baptized

1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV) 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Gal 3:26-27 (NKJV) 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

5. Follow Christ daily

Luke 9:23 (NKJV) 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.

How should we decide to follow Jesus?

Wisdom:

Prov 4:25-27 (UKJV) 25 Let your eyes look forward, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right hand or to the left: remove your foot from evil.

When should we decide to follow Jesus Christ?

2 Cor 6:1-2 (UKJV) 1 We then, workers together, urge also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he says, I have heard you in an accepted time, and in the day of salvation I have helped you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Eccl 12:1 (NKJV) 1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":

Rev 3:20-21 (UKJV) 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcomes, I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sitting down with my Father in his throne.