Follow Me – Harry Wildblood

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse traces God’s relationship with humanity from Abraham through Israel’s history, emphasizing the giving of the law to teach righteousness and the challenges Israel faced in truly following it. It highlights the transition brought by John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, who exemplified perfect obedience and inaugurated a new covenant through his life, death, and resurrection, enabling true followers to spiritually live by the law’s spirit rather than the letter. The message concludes by encouraging believers to endure trials, renew their minds, and fully commit to following Christ’s example to ultimately share in the heavenly kingdom and its promises.

Long Summary
– The discourse begins by emphasizing the phrase “Follow me,” attributed to Jesus, but clarifies that at the time Jesus spoke it, his followers could not fully comply or understand its full meaning yet. The full understanding and ability to follow Jesus came later, after significant spiritual developments.

– The speaker traces God’s dealings with humanity, focusing on His plan to develop the “body of Christ” over thousands of years, starting with Abraham. Abraham received great promises from God, but his descendants, Israel (the children of Jacob), were initially unprepared to fully appreciate these blessings.

– God’s long process of dealing with Israel included leading them into and out of Egypt to humble them, then giving them the Law at Mount Sinai. The Law was given because of transgression, to teach righteous principles. The law was a foundation, much like math and science are foundations for engineering.

– Key scriptures are cited:
– Exodus 19:5: “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: … a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.”
– Exodus 24:7-8: The covenant was ratified with blood sacrifices, showing God’s serious commitment and expectation.

– Despite the law promising life for obedience (Leviticus 18:5, amplified: “So shall ye keep my statutes and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them”), God and Israel knew Israel could not perfectly keep the law. Therefore, atonement sacrifices and the Day of Atonement were instituted to maintain relationship and teach lessons.

– Leviticus 26 is highlighted as a chapter where God promises blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing heartfelt commitment to the law, not just outward compliance.

– Isaiah’s warnings about Israel’s hollow ritualism are noted:
– Isaiah 1:11: God expresses disdain for mere burnt offerings without true devotion.
– Isaiah 1:16-17 calls for cleansing, ceasing evil, doing good, and showing justice and kindness.

– The historical cycle of Israel’s disobedience led to their punishment by Gentile kingdoms (the “seven times” punishment in Leviticus 26:18-28), exile to Babylon for 70 years, and eventual return to imperfect observance.

– The failure of the priesthood and rise of the synagogue system is discussed. The Pharisees emerged, claiming perfect law-keeping but often substituting traditions and looking down on others. They expected the Messiah to reward them.

– God’s true target was those Israelites who loved the spirit of the law with their hearts, even if they couldn’t keep it perfectly. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for a big change (Malachi 3:1).

– John’s baptism was a call to repentance and genuine fruitfulness, warning the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-10). He warned that the old covenant arrangement would be terminated due to their fruitlessness.

– Jesus’ baptism by John symbolized his laying down his humanity to do God’s will (Psalm 40:8; Psalm 48:10). Jesus received the Holy Spirit fully, unlike others who receive it “with measure.”

– After John was imprisoned (Matthew 4:12), Jesus began his public ministry, preaching repentance and the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 4:17). The kingdom is the opportunity to be part of God’s heavenly family, not just earthly life.

– Jesus demonstrated authority in teaching and miracles (Luke 4:31-36), astonishing people by his power over unclean spirits.

– Jesus called Simon Peter, James, and John as disciples, starting with an amazing miracle of the great catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11). Simon Peter acknowledged his sinfulness but was reassured by Jesus of his future role.

– Jesus called Levi (Matthew), a tax collector viewed as a traitor, showing Jesus saw the heart beyond social status (Luke 5:27-32). Jesus ate with sinners, emphasizing mercy over ritual sacrifice (Hosea 6:6).

– Jesus taught the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that followers must love God above family and material comfort (Matthew 8:19-22; Leviticus 14:26 contemporary English).

– At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-17). Jesus declared that on this “rock” (Peter’s confession), He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail (Matthew 16:18).

– Jesus foretold his suffering, death, and resurrection (Matthew 16:21-23). Peter initially rejected the idea of Jesus’ death, and Jesus rebuked him for thinking in human terms.

– The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) confirmed Jesus’ divine mission and the importance of his death, witnessed by Peter, James, and John.

– Jesus explained the meaning of discipleship: deny self, take up the cross, and follow him (Matthew 16:24-25). The “cross” involves enduring persecution for righteousness (Matthew 5:11).

– Jesus was crucified after Passover, fulfilling God’s plan. Peter initially bravely claimed loyalty but later denied Jesus thrice and was deeply remorseful (Luke 22:54-62).

– After Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and were empowered to truly follow Jesus, no longer just observers but active participants (Acts 2).

– Peter and John boldly preached Jesus despite persecution (Acts 4), refusing to obey the Sanhedrin’s orders to stop.

– Jesus taught that the “house” of Israel was desolate due to rejection of the Messiah (Matthew 23:38), and the invitation to the “great supper” was extended to the poor and marginalized (Luke 14:21-24).

– The gospel was then extended to the Gentiles, starting with Cornelius (Acts 10), marking a major expansion of God’s plan.

– Today, following Jesus means living by the Spirit, not the letter of the law (Romans 8:4). God views believers through Christ’s righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; 1 John 2:1).

– True followers are called to imitate Christ’s example in suffering and holiness (1 Peter 2:21-23; Hebrews 12:4).

– Trials and “fiery tests” are part of the sanctification process, producing “peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 4:12-13).

– Believers must discipline themselves to keep their thoughts obedient to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 10:5) and rely on God’s faithfulness to provide escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

– Transformation by renewing the mind is essential to prove God’s will (Romans 12:2), with trials yielding eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

– The speaker likens Christian training to astronaut training – rigorous preparation and testing to ensure readiness for the mission.

– Jesus promised Peter: “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards” (John 13:36), indicating that full following is possible only after Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Revelation 3:5).

– The conclusion highlights the privilege of blessing all the families of the earth through the kingdom, and the necessity of internalizing righteousness to teach others.

– Key Bible Verses Mentioned:
– Exodus 19:5
– Exodus 24:7-8
– Leviticus 18:5
– Leviticus 26:15
– Isaiah 1:11, 16-17
– Malachi 3:1
– Matthew 3:7-10
– Psalm 40:8; Psalm 48:10
– Matthew 4:17
– Luke 4:31-36; Luke 5:1-11, 27-32
– Hosea 6:6
– Matthew 8:19-22
– Matthew 16:13-18, 21-25
– Luke 9:28-36
– Matthew 5:11
– Luke 22:54-62
– Acts 2, 4, 10
– Matthew 23:38; Luke 14:21-24
– Romans 8:4; Isaiah 61:10; 1 John 2:1
– 1 Peter 2:21-23; Hebrews 12:4, 11
– 1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:5
– Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:17
– John 13:36; Revelation 3:5

This discourse deeply explores the spiritual journey from the Mosaic law covenant through Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing the heart attitude God desires, the failures and hopes of Israel, the preparation for the new covenant through John the Baptist and Jesus, and the empowerment of the early church to truly follow Christ after Pentecost. It stresses the cost and privilege of discipleship, the ongoing testing and sanctification process, and the ultimate hope of eternal life and participation in God’s kingdom.

Transcript

Now in this, you know, follow me. It sounds like these are Jesus words, but really this has to be based on something, and we’re going to see. Here’s a brief synopsis. When he said, follow me, they really couldn’t at that time.

So stay tuned. All right. Well, we want to trace God’s dealings to develop the body of Christ. This is done over many, many thousands of years, and we’re going to begin with Abraham.

Actually go back to Abraham. Well, Abraham was given great promises by God and wonderful blessings. But this great, his great grandchildren, Israel, you know, the children of Jacob, they weren’t ready to receive and appreciate these, appreciate these wonderful things. Well, through a very long process dealt it. Are we too loud?

It sounds like. No, okay, okay, this is fine. That’s fine. I’ll just plug my ear. But through a, through a long process, God dealt with Israel, bringing them first into and then out of Egypt, you know, to humble them, etc.

Well, then leads them to, leads Israel to Mount Sinai where he gave them his law. Why the law? Well, because they had to learn righteous principles. They were. The law was given because of transgression.

So, okay, first let’s have the principles, and it kind of reminded me, I’m an engineer, I went to engineering school, and the first thing you learn is math, and in fact they call it the math and science death march, you know, because if you don’t know that, there’s no way you’re ever going to be in engineering. But that math and science is not engineering.

You have to learn the principles on which it’s based first. So what is righteousness? God’s going to say, here’s the law, and he gives this many times he pro. Proposes the law in a very positive way.

Exodus 19:5. If you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you’ll be a peculiar treasure to me above all people. You’ll be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Now that sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? And they said, all that the Lord has spoken, we will do.

And he hasn’t given the the law to them yet, and then in Exodus 24, after Moses came back down the mount with the law, the interpersonal law, law of property, interrelationships, etc. Exodus 24:7, he took the book of the covenant and read it in the audience of the people, and they said, all that the world Lord hath said, we will do and be obedient. Well, that’s wonderful, wonderful intentions.

Then God is showing. You know, this is pretty serious here. So it’s ratified with blood, blood of, of oxen, peace offering, etc. Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you. Concerning all these words, and we know there’s a, a typical significance of this, but God was deadly serious about this covenant, and he wanted them to be too.

In fact, when Moses goes up for another 40 days, comes down, we know what happened. There were golden calf throws down the tables, and there were 3,000 Israelites killed that day. God was serious. He was deadly serious about this. But later he also told them, but if you do this perfectly, hey, good news, you’re going to live.

Leviticus 18:5, amplified version so so shall you keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a person keeps them, he shall live. Well, that’s wonderful. But God and Israel should have known. God certainly knew. Israel should have known there would be lapses.

So he knew that they couldn’t do the law perfectly. So he had the atonement day sacrifices. The daily sacrifices were arranged to maintain their relationship with God. It was also intended to be a lesson. But not everybody got the lesson.

In Leviticus 26, one of my favorite chapters, God said, if you would just try to do the law. You try to do the law, you’re going to get blessings, and he says, if you walk in my statutes, keep my covenants, and do them, you know, just do them from the heart is really what he’s saying. Just show me you want to do it. You appreciate it.

You’re going to get rain in due season. You’re, you’ll have plenty of crops, fruitage. You defeat your enemies. I’ll. I’ll walk among you and be your God.

You shall be my people, and by the way, this is finally fulfilled in Revelation 20:1.

So, but he says, but notice in Leviticus 26:15, he doesn’t say if you don’t do it properly. He says, if you don’t listen, you don’t try, because you hate my law. You hate the constraints of this covenant. Leviticus 26:15. But if you despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, that you will not do my commandments, but that you break my commandments, then it’ll be terror, disease, crop failure.

Your enemies will reign over you. You live in fear. So all of this is to get them back on track? Well, through Isaiah, what we find out, what we find out. Before we even read this, they started going through the motions.

They had pagan, you know, pagan worship and they were going through the motion. A lot of the priests, they’re just going through the motions. When God sent through Isaiah, he says, that’s not what I want. He says, God warns Israel that going through the motions is not the point. He wants his people to show their heartfelt devotion to him, his righteous, to his righteous laws and to loving kindness.

That’s what I want you to develop. Isaiah 1:11. I’m full. I’m full of the burnt offerings of rams and of the fat of beasts fed beasts. I don’t delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or goats.

God was saying, look, I’m not some pagan idol. We just kill a bunch of things, fling some blood around. Somehow I won’t kill you. Then, you know, make your crops. I mean, that’s what the pagans would do.

He says, I want you to see the principles taken. These principles, and I want these principles to you want. I want you to take them into your hearts. Isaiah 1:16, Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings.

From before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. God says, I want your heart. But he went on in Leviticus 16, you know, if all these chastisements he was doing wouldn’t work, he said, well, here’s what’s going to happen. If you’ll still not hearken me, then I’m going to punish you seven times. Now, notice it says seven times more.

We’re not going to discuss that. But if you’d like to know what that more is about, talk to me later.

Well, we know that they again and again went into idolatry, disobedience on 606. The seven times the punishment went into effect. The Gentile kingdoms reigned over them, and after 70 years in Babylon, some were longer. But after 70 years, many of them returned to rebuild the temple and observed.

They started observing God’s laws again, albeit in imperfectly. Imperfectly. Well, they realized that their priesthood had failed them. Their priesthood had failed them. The priests were now they were well, and they were almost like lobbyists in Washington.

They were trying to do whatever the king wanted, you know, and they’re just looking for favor and whatnot. The priests had failed them. So the synagogue system was developed to help teach the people the laws of God. But Phariseeism was developed. It became prominent.

And those who claimed to be doing the law perfectly, they thought they would be God’s favorites. Of course, we’re doing the law, we must be God’s favorite. We must be. But they bypass God’s true law in favor of their traditions. They look down on others as sinners who they didn’t feel were living up to their standards.

Well, finally, when all men were in expectation of the promised Messiah, the Pharisees felt that Messiah, of course, would be more than pleased to bless them for their efforts. That’s what they felt. But there was a big change coming in God’s relationship with his people. Big, big changes. They all should have known that they couldn’t keep the law and lay hold of everlasting life.

According to Leviticus 18:5, which we read earlier. Well, who was God really targeting? Who was he really looking for? Was he looking for all Israel? In reality, God was really targeting the Israelites indeed, who loved and appreciated the spirit of the law in their hearts, even if they couldn’t do the law themselves.

That’s who God was looking for. So he had a preparation for this big change we know about. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for this big change for the Israelites. Indeed. The Israelites indeed.

Malachi3 1. Behold, I will send my mass, my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. Malachi 35 then went out to him, then went out to him, Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem went out to. To John the Baptist and all Judea and all the regions round about Jordan and were baptized in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But Matthew 3:7, when many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism, he said unto them, o generation of vipers. Now why would he say that? Well, he was the son of Zacharias. Zacharias was a priest. He didn’t do his work in.

In Jerusalem. He was apart from that. But he would have to go to Jerusalem from. From time to time, and he knew what the priests were like.

What the Sadduce, what’s the saying? He knew what they were like. They were in there. No, they’re just trying to curry favor with the Roman Empire, etc. So he.

He knows about this? You know, his. His dad, I’m sure, told him. Here’s what’s going on. O generation of vipers.

This bring forth therefore meat, fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abrahams who are Father. He goes on and says, now also the ax is laid to the root of the tree. Therefore every tree which bringeth forth, bringeth not forth. Good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

In other words, what he’s saying this arrangement that God has set up, you went to Babylon, he came back. You thought, oh, we’re all good now. Well, that arrangement is going to be terminated because of the fruitage that you guys have been doing. What if you have been promoting? That’s not what God’s wants.

And not only is not going to take the fruitage, he’s going to destroy, destroy the nation. That’s what he was saying. So there’s a big, big change. That was a big change, but there’s another big change coming on. Well, John was saying about this big change coming.

God would no longer tolerate this hypocrisy. They had been the leaders of the nation, but they were supposed to be like shepherds who loved their sheep. But most, most of them were only hirelings. Most, not all, were only hirelings, serving themselves and their pride for their own personal gain, and John was helping the people with an opportunity to express love or righteousness through a baptism of repentance.

And I don’t think this was, oh, a thousand people all down and up. I think it was an individual thing, just like this was an individual thing, and I appreciated these three sisters. It wasn’t one group immersion, it was individual. The heart of each individual one was being expressed.

I think that’s what John was doing. You want to get back into harmony with the law, you can’t do it. Outwardly, they couldn’t do it. Still couldn’t do it perfectly. But this shows their love for the spirit of the law, as in Proverbs 23:26.

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Let my eyes observe thy ways. Well, at 30 years of age, Jesus comes from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. Now, this was not John’s baptism of repentance, but it was a symbolizing of the laying down of his humanity to do God’s will. Exactly what these three young sisters did today, John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.

So this is laying down their humanity to God’s will. Psalm 48. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Yea, thy law is within my heart. So here’s the forerunner expressing that in this baptism.

And God’s will was that he laid down his humanity in sacrifice to secure the ransom while being tested to receive the divine nature. Those are different things. Different things. He’s going to be tested for the ultimate, the ultimate gift, the ultimate reward.

So Jesus was God’s exemplar. He’s the one who is actually going to live. Leviticus 18:5. What all the rest of Israel could not do. The heavens were open to Jesus and the Holy Spirit was given to him fully without measure.

Now we know we don’t get it that way. It takes a little here, a little there, a little. It’s a with measure to us. Well, after this way was prepared, John was cast into prison. I think this is very significant.

In Matthew 4:12 says now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into galilee. In Luke 16:16, the law and the prophets were until John. That was to prepare the Israelites, indeed prepare everybody, through their appreciation of the law and the prophets. But since that time the kingdom of God is preached. Matthew 4:17.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to repent. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom of heaven. Now what does that mean, this kingdom of God? This kingdom of heaven?

Well, it means the opportunity to be part of the heavenly kingdom. Class, there’s a wonderful. The big change in this opportunity. If he did the law perfectly well, you live as a perfect human being right here on earth. There is no promise of divine nature.

In Leviticus 18:5, you’ll just live. Sounds wonderful.

But this opportunity to be of the heavenly kingdom. Class, in The Sermon Book 680, Brother Russell mentions, Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Said the master in Luke 12:32. He says, Only the royal family will get the kingdom. All others will be subjects of the kingdom.

You know, if you think about that, if there’s a kingdom, a king in Europe, the kingdom is really his family members, everybody else in the country who acknowledged him as king, they are subjects of the kingdom. Subjects of the kingdom.

But notice that Jesus, you know, I don’t know if you saw this thing about what was it the chosen or something.

There are some nice things that. Some things I really didn’t like, you know? Oh yeah, I’m the Messiah. Oh, sure. No, sorry, he didn’t do that.

Jesus was not proclaiming himself as the Messiah. He was revealing his identity by the things he did, by the things he taught, by the. By the things he endured. That was the lesson. So that in doing that, he said, okay, there’s the evidence.

I’ve laid it before. You draw your own conclusions. You draw your own conclusions. A little later we’ll see. Peter, do well.

Luke 4:31. He came down to Capernaum, a city of Gala, city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days, and they were Astonished at his doctrine where he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes. If you’ve talked to somebody who’s actually been through it, they’ve actually, you know, whatever it is. There’s somebody who has some book learning and they can read something out of a book and tell you kind of what they think it is, but somebody’s actually done it, and they’ve done it for years, and they actually know who wrote the book or they were the author of the book.

After, you know, 50 years of experience. Jesus taught as one who had authority. He knew, and you can tell when you’re talking to somebody who really knows, you know, they know others, they may tell you what they think they know. Yeah, but you can tell when somebody really knows.

Well, they were astonished at his doctrine. He taught as one who had authority and not as the scribes. The scribes. He had the book learning. Then he heals this man with an unclean spirit.

Here’s more proof. In Luke 4:33, there was a man which had an unclean spirit, unclean devil, and, and the man was saying, oh, the Holy One of God, you know, to him, and he, Jesus, said, hold your peace and just come out.

Hold your peace. So the people were amazed. For with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirit spirits, and they came out. So here’s more evidence of who Jesus was.

And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. Jesus was healing. He was preaching in the synagogues. This evidence was going out, and there were rumors.

I mean, they’re all looking for the Messiah, and I’m sure this is this rumors were spreading like hotcakes.

Well, the disciples of that exemplar, the disciples of Jesus at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus sought out Simon Peter in Luke 5. 3 and asked Simon to thrust out a little from the land, and he sat down and he taught the people out of the ship, and I think this is for better acoustics. If you’ve ever been on a really calm lake, you can hear somebody almost from a lot across the lake.

I mean, the acoustics are great. It’s all choppy, and that’s not the case. So he sought out Peter, but I don’t think it was for the acoustics, and it wasn’t to talk to the great multitude. He was looking for Peter. The.

The talk, the acoustics. That’s a byproduct of what he was really after. Well, Simon heard everything that Jesus taught. Everything. How could he not?

He was on the boat. But Afterward, Jesus wanted to make a greater impression. In Luke 5:4, after he had left speaking, he said to Simon, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught, and we’re familiar with this. Well, Simon politely agreed.

I mean, here’s the one, one who just gave this wonderful lesson, which he appreciated. He’s going to do anything to Jesus. Sure, no, no problem. Let’s just take a few minutes to do that. So he politely agreed, even after catching.

Catching nothing at all, all night in that very same spot. There are no fish there, but, you know, whatever you want, we’ll do. Then they caught an abundance of fish, so much that their nets broke, and Simon was overwhelmed. Simon thought of all people that he himself had no business being in the presence of such a holy man.

Sent from God, Simon Peter fell down at Jesus knees, saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man. O Lord, I am a sinful man. Now, how many times have we had the initial thought, I’m not worthy, I. I’m just not worthy. Well, of course we’re not.

It’s not about any worthiness that we may see. It’s about our hearts that God sees. It’s about our hearts.

So Simon Peter, Simon Peter was one of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and Jesus was sent to find him. That Peter is who. Jesus was there. That’s why Jesus was there. Even though Simon was ashamed of himself, Jesus reassured him that he would be of great use in the master’s service.

Luke 5:10 is so, and also with James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

So in Matthew, Matthew 14, we’re going back and forth between the accounts a little bit, and he said unto them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Well, here Jesus is saying, follow me, but they really couldn’t do it. But he’s saying is in the sense of observe me, watch what I do, learn of me, see what I endure, find out eventually who I truly am, and later, later you will be able to truly follow me in the fullest sense.

That’s what Jesus meant when he said, follow me. We also have the calling of Levi or Matthew. Now, when we find Jesus calling Levi, also known as Matthew, he was a tax collector for the Romans, and therefore he was considered a traitor. A collaborative. Collaborative, a collaborator with the Romans.

But Levi was an honest man in his dealings, as honest in his dealings and taxed his countrymen only according to the law, Roman law, and if he weren’t an honest man, Jesus wouldn’t have been there. It would. Jesus wouldn’t have been dealing with him, Levi. But Levi thought that Jesus wouldn’t, would view him as other Jew, as other Jews did.

But no, Jesus saw him, saw this publican named Levi sitting at receipt of custom, and he said unto him, follow me. I’m sure Levi knew about Jesus, his reputation, the miracles, all these things, thought, what a wonderful man, I’d love to meet him. But that’s never going to happen. Jesus comes to him, says, follow me.

I’m sure that Levi was astonished. Here was this Jew among Jews, Jesus himself, that looked at Levi’s honesty of heart, while others saw only his occupation in Luke 5:28, and he left all and rose up and followed him. Now Levi, in doing this, he left his source of income, because Esau in Jesus was much more valuable to him than as money from the Romans, from the taxing well. Immediately Levi, I’m sure, was overjoyed.

And immediately he wanted others to meet Jesus. So in Luke 5:29, Levi made him a great feast in his own house, and there was a great company of publicans and others that sat down with him. Publicans. There they were.

But then the taunts of the scribes and Pharisees provided it another lesson which the scribes and Pharisees didn’t get by the way. They asked him, why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? I think Jesus could have said, well, why don’t you? Why don’t you? You’re the ones who are supposed to be leading the nation.

Why don’t you help these guys out? Why don’t you? But he said unto them, they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. That’s what he was saying. If you think you’re the ones who have really lead the right way, help these men who you think are going the wrong way.

But go and learn what this mean. If I will have mercy and not sacrifice, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. It’s like what we read in Isaiah. You know, God is looking for your heart. He’s looking for you to do the right things.

You know, these wonderful things, Hosea 6:6. For I desired mercy, which is chesed, and brother Bill Ostrander gave a wonderful talk on chesed. If you look it up, look it up on Christian resources, it means loving kindness, and once you know about that, you’ll see that word everywhere.

You’ll just see it everywhere. In the Hebrew Scriptures, I desired mercy, chesed, loving kindness, and not sacrifice. As if you’re doing the right thing. You don’t need to sacrifice. You’re already doing the right thing.

Sacrifices are when you’re not doing the right thing to get back in harmony with God. I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge and practice of God’s principles more than burnt offerings. Burnt offerings by themselves mean nothing. It has to be accompanied with repentance, with a desire to do God’s laws.

Well, how many of us have been looked down upon by others who have received loving kindness through Christ and have been given an opportunity to follow him? Looked down by others in the world.

Jesus talked about priorities. Well, once you decide to follow him, you got to get your priorities straight. In Matthew 8, 8, 19, and a certain scribe came and said, master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest, and it’s like Jesus in the next verse says, well, hold on a second. You got to know what you’re getting into here.

Boxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man have not to not where to lay his head. Are you sure you’re willing to accept that? You may not even know where you’re going to sleep next. That didn’t dissuade him. But then another.

This is a different one. Another of his disciples said to him, lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. It sounds like perhaps there’s a good intention, but what he really meant was, well, I’ll follow you only after my father grows old and dies, and then it might be convenient. That’s what he really meant.

But Jesus said to him, follow me and let the dead bury the dead. You have the opportunity to do something much, much more important. Well, the world already condemned to death can take care of their own. You know, we have to do what’s right in sight of others. But we have higher priorities.

That’s what he’s trying to teach. Well, our priorities must be do. Must be to do God’s will first and foremost. In Leviticus 14:26. This is the contemporary English version.

You cannot be my disciple unless you love me more than love your father and your mother and your wife and your children and your brothers and your sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own love life. Just as Brother Joe said earlier.

Well, after many lessons, many sermons, miracles, raising the dead, stilling the storm, Peter is brought to the great realization and a vital lesson in a very special location. Now note the location here. This is at Cesarea Philippi. It was about 30 miles north of The Sea of Galilee. It was a center of pagan worship and thought to be the entrance to the underworld controlled by pagan gods.

Oh, these pagan gods are controlling the underworld? Well, Jesus asked his disciples, whom do men say that I am? John 6:14. Some say you’re John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah, some one of the prophets. He says, okay, you’ve been with me for a long time now.

Who do you say? You’ve seen the evidence. Who do you say that I am? You think you make your decision. Positive decision.

Good decision. Peter proclaimed, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Matthew 16:17. Jesus answered and sent at home, blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee. But my Father, which is in heaven now, Jesus did lots of miracles of his own, his own vitality and etc.

But there’s a lot more. How did God reveal this to him? Well, many proofs were given by God himself. The teachings, these are directly from the Holy Spirit given by God and the things beyond even the perfect man’s ability. Prince is stilling the storm.

When they all marvel and say, what manner of man is this? I don’t think perfect man can go out to a huge storm and say, oh, calm down now, that’s not the point, or raising the dead. Jairus daughter. Jairus daughter. This was witnessed by Peter, James and John.

And I appreciate in the fifth volume, page 343, Brother Russell mentions, the spark of life cannot be re enkindled except by divine power. A miracle. Well, that was done. That was done. This divine power was.

God says, I’ll use my divine power. I’ll raise this, and it’s for a testimony for others, for a witness for others. Thou art the Christ was the first key lesson. But then he says, I say unto you also that thou art Peter Petros, a piece of rock.

And upon this rock, Petra, this massive rock, this understanding that I am the Christ, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Well, this is the reason that notice the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This is the reason Jesus chose Caesarea. This is 30 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, where they’re up on the ozone here.

Well, the pagan ideas were totally wrong. The underworld, Hades, the grave will be opened not by pagan gods, but by the son of the one true God, who will rescue, who will secure the ransom price and purchase all mankind from the just sentence of death from adam’s. Sin. Hosea 13:14. I will ransom them from the power of the grave.

I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues. O grave, I will be thy destruction, and all in their graves shall hear this, his voice, and come forth. Jesus is saying, I’m the one who has the control over all of this.

God is going to give this to me. I want you to see that right here in Caesarea Philippi. Well, continuing to people, to Peter, he says, you’ll also have the keys of the kingdom of heaven. We know what that is. Cor.

First Pentecost, and then with Cornelia Cornelius. Jesus had just told Peter about his lofty position related to the kingdom. A kingdom which Peter did not. Still didn’t understand. But this p.

This sounded wonderful. Well, Peter had gone out as one of the 12 to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, many of these things. So Peter had evidence that there was reality to what he would be doing, and now this position of authority was given to him, and that’d be added and all through the Master. But here’s the next crucial lesson.

From that time forth began Jesus to show to his disciples he has to go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and be raised again and be raised again the third day. The reason I whisper is it seems that Peter and the others paid close attention to the be killed part of that. But they completely lost the part about be raised the third day. They weren’t expecting it at all. They were totally surprised.

So Peter rebelled. He’s thinking, well, this wonderful thing is going to happen. He rebelled at the unthinkable prospect of Jesus death. Be it far from the Lord. This is not unto.

Do not. This shall not be unto thee. Well, Peter loved Jesus. Peter loved Jesus. But it seemed that this would ruin all his lofty plans that he had just heard.

So Jesus said to Peter, get behind thee. Get thee behind me, saying he loved Peter. He says, you’re an offense. You’re not savoring the things of God, but things that be of men. You’re looking for these earthly things.

Well, Peter’s desire for position and honor got the best of him for the moment. So that this temporarily became. He temporarily became an adversary to God and to Jesus in whom God’s plans centered. But Peter’s opposition was temporary. Jesus now wanted to reassure all the disciples that his death would not ruin their future.

But that’s what would secure it. That’s what was necessary. It would assure it. But how would he do this well through the transfiguration. Well, six days later they went up in the mountain, took Peter, James and John up in the mountain to pray.

Jesus, his raiment has changed its white and glistening, and now, now with him is Moses and Elijah, verse 30, and what did they talk about? They talked about Jesus deceased, which should be accomplished at Jerusalem. They’re talking about his death, the center, the hub of all God’s plan.

It’s not a destruction of this wonderful things, it’s what’s necessary to assure them. So they talk about this, this hub, the key to all the blessings in God’s plan. This was a proof that Jesus death was not the end, but the most important thing the hub of the kingdom promises. So Jesus began to explain what their sacrifice would mean when they could finally truly follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24 if many man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Well, Peter, a couple minutes ago, you know, six days later, earlier, he wasn’t willing to not deny himself. He said, list what I want, you got to live. Matthew 16:25 for so whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Well, the Lord’s cross bearing consisted of doing the Father’s will under unfavorable conditions.

There’s a quote from brother Russell. It’s a pleasure for us to do the Father’s will. There’s no cross about that. But our cross bearing comes when we find that the truth is hated by others and draws upon us anger, malice, hatred, all these things. I think we’ve all been through that.

I know I have on several occasions. Matthew 5, 11. Blessed are. Yeah, it doesn’t say just for righteousness sake. It says, blessed are ye when shall revile you and persecute you, say all manner of evil against you for my sake.

They shall put you out of the synagogues. Time cometh, they’ll kill you thinking that they’re doing God’s service. Well, later on the night of Passover, Jesus was led away to be accused and crucified. He didn’t resist, but accepted God’s will for him. Keep in mind that Peter and the others were still observers.

They were still observers. They didn’t know what was going on and they were still not true followers. Peter had earlier proclaimed, I’m ready to go with thee, both to prison and to death. Nothing can stop me.

Jesus knew that he was well intentioned. But this is bravado. This was a, you know, masculine. I don’t Know, bragging. Well, later, Peter denied Jesus three times.

Really, When a small maiden asked him a question, he denied. At the question of a young girl, he denied Jesus three times, and he wept bitterly because once again Peter was ashamed of himself, and we know in Luke that Jesus looked right at him. Well, Jesus understood and later gladly reinstated Peter after his resurrection.

Well, now the big, big change. Big, big change. Well, after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter and the others could now comprehend the Master’s work and their mission. In that work, they’re no longer just observers saying, I wonder what he’s doing and why. No, they can now do it themselves.

They have a much better understanding. They could now truly follow the Master in the Master’s footsteps. Not just observers, but as sacrificers, as joint doers. They had now the determination of the body of Christ to bear their crosses come what may. Days after Pentecost, Peter and John were jailed for preaching Jesus.

I think that was mentioned earlier. Yes, brother David, in Acts. They were jailed for preaching Jesus name and healing in his name, and this was done by the very same man who had just recently had Jesus crucified, and that time Peter had denied Jesus and the others had scattered.

So what had changed? They now have the Holy Spirit. They can now truly be a follower, and now they held their ground, and they said, be it known unto you all that by the name of Jesus Christ, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

So the Sanhedrin said, well, we command you, don’t speak in Jesus name anymore. They said, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God you judge. They weren’t about to comply with him. These were the wise and prudent Sanhedrin who had sat in Moses seat.

They represented the nation, the whole house of Israel, but they were too proud to acknowledge anyone but themselves. Jesus had proclaimed a nice on 10amonth or two, you know, a little more than a month. I don’t know what day they actually said this to the same here, but as well as back on nice and 10 before his crucifixion. He says, behold, your house is left unto you desolate. In Matthew 23:38, those so that when those who were bidden, this was the Sanhedrin, those who really represented the nation, they were bidden to the great supper of Luke 14, meaning this was your opportunity to be of the bride of Christ.

That’s who Jesus really sent to, and he would. He would teach the scribes Pharisees. One of the things that was, I think, is amazing to me is when he healed the lepers, he said, go show yourself to the priests. Well, why would he say that?

Because the priests had the ones to judge leprosy. The priests were the ones who’d say, yeah, you have leprosy. You have this uncurable disease. You have it. I see it.

I acknowledge that. So when those. So they would know every one of those lepers, and when the leper then went and they’d say, oh, my word, what happened to your leprosy? Oh, this fellow. Jesus cured us.

They were without excuse. They were without excuse, but they ignored, through their own pride, they ignored the invitation. So the Israelites, indeed of the common people, were the ones invited to this great supper. Luke 14:21 Go out quickly into the streets and the lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and the maimed, and the halt and the blind, the ones that you think aren’t even worth dealing with. You know, the Sanhedrin.

Jesus, by this contrast, is spoken by Jesus. He says, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes, these babes, these poor and maimed and halted blind. But this did not fill all the places at the Great Supper. So the call widened. Go, go ye out to the into the highways and hedges and compel.

Which means urge, don’t force. God doesn’t force, but urge them to come in that my house may be filled. Well, after 70 weeks, Cornelius was the first of the Gentiles to be called to truly follow the Master completely. Well, what does following mean? Initially, Jesus said, follow me.

It meant just observe. You know, like, follow Daddy to work. You know, that kind of thing. See what he does. But you can’t do it.

But here, after Pentecost, they could really do it. So what does following mean to us now? Well, God’s standard of righteousness his law has not changed, but the way he views us has.

Romans 8:4, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We don’t have to live up to the letter. We can, but to the Spirit of law. He looks at our hearts. He views us through the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This was brought up earlier yesterday, I think, maybe today too.

Isaiah 61:10 and I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath clothed me with a robe of righteousness. That’s the reason why we can stand. He deals with us with chesed with loving kindness and has proved provided for our reinstatement when we falter because we do.

He knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust. This was mentioned earlier. First John 2:1. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

And there are many other things in the Scriptures that are showing provisions for reinstatement. For reinstatement. It was only after Pentecost that Jesus words could be fully understood when he said, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

So after Pentecost they could actually follow him. John 28:10 and I will give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish. Never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

I appreciate the ending of Romans chapter 8. Nothing. Nothing.

John 1:26 if ever any man serve me, let him follow me and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honor Will my Father honor? Some words of the apostles. Now these are the ones who were sent. Now notice that it’s ones who were sent, but they were sent by the resurrected Christ.

That’s when they truly became the apostles. They were sent by him, and these are the words of Paul of the apostle. Paul here says, be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. You know, don’t follow me because I’m Paul.

Follow me because I’m following Christ. Hebrews 12:4 follow peace with all man and holiness. 1st Timothy 2:22 flee from youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1st Peter 2:23 who when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges rightly. That’s a tough one. That’s a tough one. But it’s wonderful we have the opportunity to do it, to live it and see that change in ourselves as that comes to pass in our own characters.

1st Peter 2:23 for even here unto were you called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. We have chastening. This was talked about now. No chastening or correction now. Chastening.

It doesn’t mean you’re being beaten up. It means you’re getting correction and training for the present seemeth no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous nevertheless. Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Thanks. I needed that.

I needed that. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing had happened to you. But rejoice as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. When I think of these fiery trials, sometimes they’re brief, sometimes they go on for weeks, sometimes months, sometimes years.

But their purpose is the same. Their purpose is the same, so we can be when his glory is revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. So we must never give up, and I appreciate. Well, when I was looking for this, I didn’t realize keep under was one word, you know, First Corinthians 9:27.

But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. I remember brother Lyle Cook. He says, brother, you’ve got to learn to transcend the. Transcend the flesh. I’ll never forget that.

I hope I never forget to do it, but I’ll never forget it. Here’s a wonderful example I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Here’s a good one. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Whose thoughts are being talked about.

Those are our thoughts. We can’t change the thoughts of anybody else. We can’t change their minds. We can’t change their thoughts. That’s all for the future.

The ancient worthy is going to do that. But what we have to do is we have to cast down these human desires. Every high thought that might exalt us, or every bring into, every capped, every thought into obedience of Christ. That’s for us, and we’re given these wonderful tools to do exactly that.

First Corinthians 10:13. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it, and some have said, I had no idea how much I could endure. But they were thankful for the experience.

Romans 12:2, one of my favorites. If you ever get an email from me, you’ll See this at the bottom. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. That you may prove experience is what proves it, may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Oops.

You may prove it. For our light of affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling election sure. For if you do these things, ye shall never fail. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now, this reminds me of astronaut training. Now, what’s this about? Well, when they have an astronaut, usually the space shot, you know, the moon mission or whatever, is going to cost well over a billion dollars. So the guy’s going to get up on that. Get up on that rocket.

Those guys got to know what they’re doing. They’ve got to really know, because if they mess up, they’re going to waste billions of dollars. So they train them. They train them to train them so they can do this in their sleep. But then they test them.

They say in the simulator, say, well, let’s. Let’s shut down a thruster, see what they do. Let’s make them think their oxygen supply is going away. See if they freak out and abort the mission and we waste a billion dollars. No, no, no.

They got to be tested with every obstacle, so they will stay on mission. Brethren, we are tested to prove that we will stay on mission because our mission in the Kingdom is more important. That’s the important part. He wants us to be fully divine beings. He wants.

He wants us to be a divine son. We have to stay on mission. That’s why we were tested, and failure is not an option. Well, at the end, Peter said, or he said, Jesus said to Peter, whither that?

Peter says to Jesus, lord, whither thou goest, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, whither I go, Thou cannot follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Well, that was after Pentecost, Revelation 3. 5. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment.

And I will confess. That means fully profess. I will fully profess his name before my Father, before the angels. That’s what I want to have. What my Lord Jesus, to say to my Father, this one is special, and I want.

He’s going to say that for all 144,000, this one’s special. To whom that overcometh, I will give to you to the hidden manna. He’ll make him a pillar in my in the temple of my God. Grant him to sit in my throne as I was set down in the Father with His throne. Psalm 23 Surely goodness and mercy, which is again chesed, shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Brethren, the privilege of blessing all the families of the earth is what we will then have the opportunity to do. So in order to teach those lessons, we must learn the lessons ourselves, and have them in our hearts and our minds so they’re part of us and they’re indivisible from us. Then we can teach others those same lessons of what righteousness truly is.

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