If We Would, We May
The sermon emphasizes the importance of making a decision to follow Christ and accepting His conditions, with the consequences of that decision being either eternal life as His Lord or eternal judgment as His Judge.
The preacher delves into the meaning of 'flee' (pheugo) in the Bible, emphasizing its significance in seeking safety, escaping danger, avoiding evil, and shunning immorality. The sermon highlights the promise that when believers submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee, stressing the importance of continuous submission and resistance in spiritual battles. Various Bible verses are explored to illustrate instances of fleeing in the Bible, from escaping physical threats to shunning sin and idolatry.
Text
If any man will . . . let him follow me, He says, and some will rise and go after Him, but others give no heed to His voice. So the gulf opens between man and man, between those who will and those who will not. Silently, terribly the work goes on, as each one decides whether he will hear or ignore the voice of invitation. Unknown to the world, perhaps unknown even to the individual, the work of separation takes place. Each hearer of the Voice must decide for himself, and he must decide on the basis of the evidence the message affords. There will be no thunder sound, no heavenly sign or light from heaven. The Man is His own proof.
The marks in His hands and feet are the insignia of His rank and office.
He will not put Himself again on trial; He will not argue, but the morning of the judgment will confirm what men in the twilight have decided. And those who would follow Him must accept His conditions. Let him, He says, and there is no appeal from His words. He will use no coercion, but neither will He compromise. Men cannot make the terms; they merely agree to them. Thousands turn from Him because they will not meet His conditions. He watches them as they go, for He loves them, but He will make no concessions. Admit one soul into the Kingdom by compromise and that Kingdom is no longer secure. Christ will be Lord, or He will be Judge.
Every man must decide whether he will take Him as Lord now or face Him as Judge then.
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Follow
- The Basis of Decision
- The Conditions of Following
- The Consequences of Decision
- Turning from Christ
- Facing Christ as Judge
Key Quotes
“He will use no coercion, but neither will He compromise.” — A.W. Tozer
“Christ will be Lord, or He will be Judge.” — A.W. Tozer
“Every man must decide whether he will take Him as Lord now or face Him as Judge then.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must make a decision to follow Christ and accept His conditions.
- We cannot make the terms of following Christ; we must agree to them.
- Compromising with Christ will result in eternal judgment.