VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
Jesus told his disciples in Jn 12:26, “If any man serve, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” Thus, we see from this text, Jesus said, if any man will serve me, he’ll follow me, he’ll be where I am, and he’ll be honored of my Father. If you serve Jesus:
You’ll follow Jesus – “let him follow me.” We see evidence of following the Lord in the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They went into captivity in Babylon in Dan 1:3. They simply obeyed what God told Jeremiah to prophesy in Jer 29:4-13, for instance. Jeremiah consistently preached that those in captivity should go to Babylon where they should continue living, working, marrying, and having children, while praying for the peace of their captors. He told Zedekiah that he should go to Babylon in Jer 38:17. These boys went and they followed what the Lord gave them to do. In Dan 2:47-49, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served God, and followed him into positions of leadership in the king’s realm.
You’ll be where he is – “and where I am, there shall also my servant be.” He didn’t say, I will be where my servant is. He said my servant will be where I am. In Dan 3:16-18, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s image, they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. In Dan 3:23-25 Jesus was in there with them. But notice, the men who threw them in there died at the entrance to the furnace. Jesus had to be in that furnace before the boys were thrown in there, or else they would have died at the entrance, as well. You see, Jesus is already where he wants his servants to be before they get there. “Where I am, there shall also my servant be.”
In Dan 6:10, Daniel prayed to the Lord toward Jerusalem even though there was a decree against praying to God. He didn’t pray because he was obstinate. He prayed because he was following the Lord, 1 Ki 8:44-49. When he was thrown in the lion’s den, the angel was in there, Dan 6:20-22. The Lord was there before Daniel was there. Contrast what happened to the men who tried to frame Daniel in Dan 6:24. The lion’s had the mastery of them before they ever hit the ground. That angel shut the lion’s mouths before Daniel ever arrived. “Where I am, there shall also my servant be.”
When you serve the Lord and follow him, you don’t have to worry about what’s down the road. Jesus will already be there. Forget the idea of trying to jam God into your plans; just serve him and follow him. You’ll be where he is and he will take care of any of the problems that arise.
You’ll be honored by his Father – “him will my Father honour.” In Dan 3:28-30, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were honored by God. Notice that the king called God the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. What an honour. And they were promoted in his kingdom, despite the attempts of their adversaries to have them killed.
In Dan 6:25-28, Darius called God the God of Daniel. What an honour. And Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius. Wouldn’t it be something for your family and friends to know God as your God?
Conclusion: you don’t have to promote yourself and you don’t have to try to get God to go along with your vision and plans. Just serve Jesus and follow him. He will make everything work out in his time.