Sunday, 20th July 2014
Rev Daniel Poon
Recently many things are happening around the world and every news channel is talking about the Malaysia Airlines. Today many people will be afraid to take flight in Malaysia Airlines. We are afraid about our health, finance, work, study and so many other things in our life. Therefore Rev Daniel raised the question – Why are you afraid?
In Matthew 8:23-26 (NIV) “23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The whole story starts with Jesus going in the boat and his disciples followed him. The disciples made the decision to follow Jesus. The Son of the God was with them, but they were still afraid. Why were they afraid?
1. What does it mean “to follow”?
In Matthew 16:24 (NIV) – “4 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'” The condition is applied everywhere, from admission to job. If we want to follow Jesus, the only condition is, we must deny ourselves. We must have the right attitude and the meaning to follow Jesus.
2. How to Follow Jesus?
1. Faith: We want to join a big company because that company has the potential to grow. Likewise, we want to follow Jesus because we know Jesus will give us a better life. There are two things we should focus on:
a. Misery by life: Many people come to Jesus because our life is miserable and we cannot solve by our strength. We find comfort in Jesus and sometimes we are touched by the preaching and worship in conference. These things we cannot touch or see, but can only be felt. It is all about the faith. Faith is the foundation to believe in Jesus Christ.
b. Touch by God: Many people come to Jesus because we know Jesus can do lots of miracles. We follow Jesus because we want a blessing, but is it blessing the only thing God wants us to experience? Two thousand years ago Jesus came and said “Repent and you will be saved”. Jesus wants us to be blessed in the eternal. Faith can be easily lost, if we only seek the blessing.
2. Obedience: In Luke 14:25-27 (NIV) “25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” If we really want to be a disciple, we must carry our cross (hard and difficult time) and listen to what God wants us to do. Even though we may not have anything in our life, we must have faith, just as how Moses and Noah were obedient to God’s word and they followed the God’s command.
3. Imitate: In 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV) “21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Jesus is the perfect role model for us to live our life. We follow Him, not for our own pleasure, but to live our life according to the God’s plan.
John 14:27 –“27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” In John 14:27 Jesus asked not to be troubled and feared by the world but to have peace in Him. The world gives us struggles and questions but He gives us the everlasting peace through Holy Spirit.