Last week in the second part of our study of “saving faith” we learned that with the Biblical understanding of “saving faith” we can determine three points Jesus makes in His Great Commission (Matt.28:18-20), 1) “and teach all nations” we must be taught the truths about Jesus in order to believe them to the point of saving faith, 2) “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” obedience to Jesus comes with the commitment produced by saving faith, 3) “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” saving faith enters us into a loving personal relationship with Jesus, a relationship which neither will separate from.

This week Bro. Leo leads us in a study what “saving faith” produces in our lives, “follow me”.

When Jesus says “follow me” in the New Testament (17 times), is He giving us an invitation or a command or both? When we “follow Jesus” we make God’s will for our life our priority instead of our own, we can see the contrast in these examples, Matt.4:18-20, Luke 9:27-29, Mark 10:17, 21, Luke 9:57-62. When we “follow” Jesus, we seek His will in every area of our lives before we make our decisions.

We either follow the will of God or we follow our own will or the will of our culture, the in crowd (John 10:4-5). In vs.5 the word “stranger” is translated from the Greek word “allotrios” which means that which belongs to another. Jesus explains the importance of seeking His will with the example of several different herds of sheep in a sheepfold (large pen where Shepard’s would bring their sheep at night for safety) and each individual herd would only respond to their Shepard’s voice, because they recognize his voice and trust him to keep them safe and their needs provided (John 10:1-5).

Like the sheep in the sheepfold, we can and should listen to and seek God’s will for us instead of trusting our own will (Psa.23:1-6, Prov.12:15, Prov.14:12, Psa.37:23). In Psa.37:23 the word “ordered” is translated from the Hebrew word “kûn” which means fixed established and guided by the Lord.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Joh 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Luk 5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
Luk 5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Luk 5:29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Mar 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luk 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.