An International Church Internet Ministry Proclaiming The LORD Jesus' Gospel To The Entire World!!!
SECTION ONE
MESSAGES FROM JESUS TO YOU
HOME PAGE
This section of our web site contains great sermons written by Stephen Richie that were given to him by The LORD Jesus Christ. The first sermon is "FOLLOW JESUS!!". Scroll on down and drink from The LIVING Water....JESUS!!! Please note under this section glossary that there are other sermons listed (located in the left margin of this section's home page.) Read and study each sermon. Contained within each sermon are The LORD Jesus' words of life available to every one who will hear them. May The LORD God Almighty open our spiritual ears to hear what Jesus has to say to all of us.
Many years ago I dedicated my life to Christ. It was easy for me to walk down the aisle, take the Pastor's hand and confess faith in Jesus Christ. As I matured, however, life became more complex. I had failures and trials. I felt that the world wanted me to conform to world standards: lust, gambling and all types of evil that the world had created. All temporal things. Things that would only last as long as I had the money to pay for them. Was there any hope in this life? YES! PRAISE GOD! I went to The Bible and opened it and The Bible fell open to John chapter one. I read through the chapter and came to verse 37..."and they followed Jesus". I read on and saw how others followed Jesus. First twelve, then hundreds, then four thousand, and then five thousand. I felt in my heart this is what I had been doing all along, but in a different manner. I was being led by Jesus. Suddenly I realized what I was to do. "I will follow Jesus". I wasn't the first nor the last to follow Him, but the decision has changed my life!
FOLLOW JESUS!
The Israelites followed Jesus in the wilderness after God led them out of bondage from Egypt. Day and night they followed Him. The Shekinah Glory of God's cloud led them by day and a pillar of fire led them by night! Moses, their leader, followed God. His life had been so radically changed that God gave him an authority over all of the Israelites. While still living in bondage in Egypt, Moses' authority had been vividly and wonderfully displayed by the ten plagues that God told Moses to prophesy to Pharoah so that Pharoah would have to confess openly that Moses' God was greater than his false gods. Pharoah let God's people go! The entire Hebrew nation followed Moses because God had chosen him to be their leader. The evidence was reported. God had chosen Moses to follow God and the Israelites were to follow God through Moses. They even followed him into the Red Sea to be saved from the cruel Egyptian Pharoah. (Exodus 14:22) The LORD's hand was select, though. The Egyptians followed after the Israelities into the great Red Sea but were swallowed up by the Red Sea after the last Israelite was out of the sea's bed. (Exodus 14:28). The Egyptians knew not God or His mighty power over even them. God had His chosen people safe. The Egyptians were led to destruction because they chose to worship false gods.
FOLLOW JESUS!
Daniel was one Israelite taken up by "The Great Nebuchadnezzar". Taken hostage to Babylon to be among the Chaldeans.....but Daniel followed God! He would not eat the rich food they were continually eating. Daniel chose to eat pulse and drink water. (Daniel 1:12).To us that is known as vegetables and water. The LORD blessed him (Daniel 1:15) and gave him visions in the night. (Daniel 1:17, 20) (Daniel 2:22). Even though later he was cast into the lion's den for refusing to cease from praying to The LORD God of Israel, The LORD was with Daniel.(Daniel 6:20-22) Daniel was delivered from the mouths of the hungry lions by an angel closing the lion's mouths. When the king saw that Daniel had been miraculously delivered from the lions' mouths by God, he ordered Daniel's accusers cast into the lions' den and they were devoured by the lions. (Daniel 6:24) Daniel was brave but this bravery came not from himself but from God. He followed God and the God of Abraham protected Daniel in his hour of greatest need. He gave Daniel strength through his devotion to God...Daniel followed God!
FOLLOW JESUS!
Elijah was under the scrutiny of the ministers of the false god Baal. (I Kings 18:19) Elijah challenged their false beliefs by instructing them to construct an altar to their false god while he constructed an altar to The LORD God. The ministers of the false god Baal called upon their false god to ignite their altar and consume their offering to them, but the altar was not ignited nor the offering consumed by their false god. Elijah called upon the one and only true God and God not only consumed the offering by fire, He also burned the wood, the stones, the water, and the dust around the altar. (I Kings 18:38) The 450 false prophets of Baal were then killed by Elijah for God had commanded in Deuteronomy that no false prophet be allowed to live. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13, 20) Not one of them was spared. God had ruled again! FOLLOW JESUS. The LORD God had rewarded Elijah's faithfulness to Him by granting him safety and sovereignty there in Samaria. (I Kings 18:38-45)
FOLLOW JESUS!
Not only in The Old Testament, but also in The New Testament we can see the blessing of following Jesus. Stephen chose to follow Jesus. He followed him to his death. (Acts chapters 6-8) His was a strong commitment to The LORD Jesus Christ that brought him to be stoned by a cruel crowd accompanied by Saul, a Pharisee. (Acts 7:58) Stephen was like Jesus. He was heard asking God not to lay the sin of his murder to those stoning him. He looked up into Heaven and asked God to receive his spirit. Stephen was stoned for preaching what he had seen and heard from The LORD Jesus. He was chosen by Jesus to deliver a message to the Pharisees and the Saducees but they refused to receive it. They did not understand the power of The Holy Spirit in this man Stephen. The LORD Jesus received Stephen's spirit and allowed him to die as a martyr never to be forgotten in history. (Acts 7:60)
FOLLOW JESUS!
Even the young Pharisee witnessing Stephen's stoning, Saul, came to follow Jesus after he was struck blind on the Damascus road while traveling to Jerusalem in his pursuit to persecute Christians. He heard the voice of The LORD saying "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4) Saul was actually blinded by The LORD Jesus as Jesus' magnificent bright light shown about Saul. He was taken to a house where Saul fasted and thought on the things that The LORD Jesus had said to him. Annanias, a devout follower of Jesus, was sent to Saul by God to heal him in God's power. The scales of blindness fell from Saul's eyes and Saul believed in Jesus and was baptized! He chose to follow Jesus and began to preach about the Son of God to all that were near and far. Jesus did not leave his name Saul. He gave him a new life and a new name- PAUL! He not only became the greatest missionary and preacher of the gospel but also the greatest writer about the the experiences he had while telling others about Jesus. He chose to follow Jesus and he was blessed by God and chosen by Jesus.
FOLLOW JESUS!
Earlier in The Old Testament, Joseph, an Israelite, was despised by his brothers. He was despised so much that they sold him into Egyptian slavery. BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS! Joseph was chosen by God to become the most educated and highest appointed man in Egypt second only to Pharoah. (Genesis 39:1-3, Genesis 41:41) He was only thirty years old when God exalted him to this position in Egypt. Joseph chose to follow God! He was blessed by God and he prospered in the land of Egypt. He would end up providing food to his own family and to the Israelites during a terrible famine. He was certainly used and blessed by God!!!
Stephen and Joseph were two men from radically different times but each one was chosen by God and Jesus to do the will of The Holy Father God Almighty. Almighty God completely changed their lives and I promise by the authority of The LORD Jesus Christ that He will do the same for you but there is one requirement that you must always strive for in your walk with Jesus. Yes, Jesus will give you the benefits and blessings. Yes, He will supply provision, faith, and protection. Yes, you will be given distinction also when He returns to earth for all those that believe in Him. But YOU, in turn, must develop a heart for Him and develop as a witness of what He has done and is doing in your life. You must seek after Him through the reading and studying of His Word. He must be the most important person in your life. You must prove yourself a true disciple of Jesus in your walk and talk while you are upon this earth.
FOLLOW JESUS!
Peter was a chosen disciple of Jesus and was the boldest of all of the disciples. He recognized Jesus as The Son of God. (Matthew 16:15-18) Jesus rewarded Peter and made him a great apostle of Jesus. Peter followed Him even to his own death. Peter, however, had his own doubts immediately before Jesus' crucifixion. (Matthew 14:24-31) Peter repented for this and received forgiveness from God for these doubts. Peter had many experiences with The LORD when Jesus walked the earth. Peter had been present when Jesus walked on the sea of Galilee. While fixing his eyes upon Jesus, Peter was able to get out of his boat and walk towards Jesus upon the water. When Peter began to notice the wind and waves surrounding he and Jesus on the water, he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink into the water. He cried out for The LORD Jesus to save him and Jesus reached out His hand to Peter and did so. Jesus and Peter walked back to the boat together. Peter learned that he must keep his eyes fixed upon Jesus in all things and you must strive for this also as you walk with The LORD Jesus Christ. KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS! He will lead you but you must follow Him and the only way to do so is to keep your eyes on The Savior. FOLLOW JESUS!! HE is the one and only God and Savior that you will ever need. Reach out today and let the Son of The Living God take you and teach you to follow Him.
I know there is a question in some of your minds today. How do I become a Christian....that is, a follower of Jesus? ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR TODAY! Jesus said "Believe on The LORD and thou shalt be saved!" "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." (Isaiah 1:18,19) There is no time to reason. Only believe on The LORD Jesus. (Romans 10:9) My friend, before you came into this sanctuary you were a sinner and you still are a sinner. There is a powerful message for you though. (I John 1:8-10) If we confess our sins, Jesus will be faithful to forgive us of our sins. If you truly repent of all of your sins, Jesus will forgive you. You must cast off the things of this world and learn to walk in the Spirit. It is a strong statement for you at this time but Jesus is not of this world and if you believe on Him, someday when you are on the other side of your last heartbeat, He will take you to a place known as Heaven. Yes, this world is going to pass away but your belief in Jesus will reserve you a place in Heaven with all of the others chosen to follow Jesus. FOLLOW JESUS! HE is the truth and the life of this world (John 14:6) and NO ONE comes to the Father God BUT BY HIM. You and only you will decide your fate for eternity today. Believe in Jesus and begin a new life in Him. LIVE FOR JESUS!
FOLLOW JESUS!
Jesus chose to be baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist. It is also fitting that you too be baptized. It is your seal into Heaven because it is your statement of faith in Jesus to the world that you are following Jesus and you want to testify to your belief in Him. FOLLOW JESUS! BE SAVED! Believe in Jesus Christ today and reserve your place in eternity with Him today. Be baptized as a witness to the world thus sealing your belief in The LORD Jesus by this public display of belief. Follow Jesus and begin to read your Bible. Learn to walk in His Spirit. Begin reading your Bible at the book of John and read as much as one chapter a day. Don't worry about understanding it all. Jesus has promised that His Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. The Holy Spirit will help you understand God's infallible Word if you are willing to follow through and become like Jesus. Pray for understanding. Jesus loves you and wants to save you! Come today and begin your new life in Christ!
HOLY FATHER GOD, TAKE THIS MESSAGE AND BLESS IT TO THE HEARTS OF ALL WHO READ OR HEAR IT. I PRAY THIS IN YOUR SON JESUS' PRECIOUS ETERNAL NAME. AMEN.
