FOLLOW Series 1: Unconditional Love by P. Ramon Alingalan

very much applicable for every one of us so it's called follow and it says there that um we can follow no matter what you believe no matter how you behave and requirements there's no requirement to follow but only to say yes to the invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ I'd like to show you one familiar uh how would I say this this is a familiar thing that we can see in the social media this is the modern way of asking us to follow click and subscribe I think all of us are very familiar here that we always see this in the social media and uh uh if you like if you you find the article or the person what the person is saying there is uh applicable to you or good for you you click and subscribe if you want to follow them so we have we have social media influ influencers nowadays and now we have we have food bloggers for those who are very into the food and uh Health advisors we also have uh people who are giving us a health have you been following any one of those like see Dr Willie om I don't know if you know him I think he's quite popular in the Philippines and see [Music] do but then these are the people that they are following they are following by the people because of the health benefits that they can hear from this people Sports personalities we follow uh if we are into the basketball if you are into badminton you follow those Sports personalities as for me I I I like go somehow iend to not to follow but uh of course Tik tokers there is a very very uh familiar and popular that even small children even small children are being are using Tik Tok to present themselves to say something on the Internet or in the [Music] YouTube those that those people will that benefit from this are the parents because of the uh small the children that are the being hit being followed by many there is another name for these people they are called content creators have you heard about that I'm sure you did you do your young people you should you I think you are familiar with this so today there are many people that are competing for our attention on a daily basis to follow them and that uh and so that they will have some father s uh for themselves but this is the truth that who you follow will influence you who you follow will influence you just recently um yulu if you think you should know who yulu is won two goals in the Paris Olympics and people in the Philippines have this par that they are so they they are being influenced by these people so who do you follow who takes much of your time and who influences your behavior as we start our campaign our new lesson new series of lesson lesson today to follow we will be embarking on a an approximately 8 weeks of lessons uh to go through the this series the first one will be today session one Jesus say and over the next several uh seven weeks more these are the sessions that we will uh be talking about we will be studying together we'll be preach here and at the church and at the same time there will be discuss in the coia coia by the way is a is a greatek word for Fellowship so in some in some uh uh places some churches are call S group small group family group and but the same meaning is for is for Fellowship so next week will be is an exciting after after what following what Jesus says what is the next step what it be and and so on and so on this our fa our faith will be developed more into uh becoming unto what the Lord Jesus Christ wants all of us so today as I've said lesson one Jesus says follow me his invitation by the way is without any PR if whether he is not asking whether if you are a good person if you know anything in the Bible if you have been a good husband good uh wives everyone is invited there is no pre-qualification there is no requirement his invitation actually is unconditional and this is the topic this is the that the title of our conversation today unconditional invitations Jesus gave a lot of invitations to many people especially to his disciples I think you would know who are those that disciples that uh he had who are those people that he invited throughout the course of his lifetime when he started this ministry until he was uh taken out until he went back to the father and one of them one of them is uh by name a person by the name of Matthew we are familiar with this person we know who really he was and probably the the the the call the invitation the calling of Matthew could be one of the most controversial calls of the Lord Jesus Christ because as we all know Matthew was a tax collector and in the old days being a tax colle collector is worse than a sinner if you are a tax collector you are worse than a sinner you are you are considered Accord to the Jews the LA the lowest of the lws so that that was that was Matthew and that is why it's very controversial when the Lord Jesus Christ asked Matthew to follow him so we will go through now we go through our our passage which can be found in Matthew 9 verse 9-13 in the the in the earlier part of verse it says that Jesus went on from there he saw a man named Matthew sit at the tax collector's boot of course he was there not just a bystander but he was the one collecting the taxes from the Jews themselves so he was regarded as a traitor because he was collecting money on behalf of the people who conquered them the Roman rulers he was considered a traitor by by his uh fellow countrymen and so this is perception of the Jews and uh you know just to reemphasize just to emphasize how how how wrong is this imagine if the Philippines is convered by a foreign Nation we don't quot anyone any any country imagine if Philippines is being conquered by another country and some of Europe of some of the Filipinos they could probably your friends would be asked to collect taxes from from you you from the philippinos what would you feel of course we will feel feel indignant we'll feel that this is not right how can you how can you approve how can you allow yourself to be used by the people the same people who conver us so this is the uh this is the scenario nowadays that we don't we don't hate we don't uh we don't label trators those to collect taxes from us like the what is the tax uh agency l i at at at so we don't we don't label them as taxes or rather traitors but uh we are also afraid of them because if we don't pay our taxes we'll be in trouble so Matthew as a tax collector was hated he was hated by everyone from the on the Reon because he allowed himself to be used by the Roman uh rulers and as a tax collector M was also Outcast this picture was taken from the movie Chosen and he was always like that alone nobody wants to go with him to as be associated with him only the dog and the dog as we all know in the earlier century and early days those are are unclean dogs are unclean animals but it's only that dog that accompanies Matthew at that time nowadays of course dogs are pets We Love Dogs especially those who are having dogs at home so of this background Jesus issued that Paul to Matthew he said follow me controvers call invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ to Matthew follow me and you can imagine you can imagine the disciples the shock of the disciples when when Jesus Christ called the Matthew to be part of them to be together with them especially Peter this was the role played by uh Peter I don't know the name of this person but it was Peter in the movie chosen and he actually said Lord are you sure why him why him Peter as we all know is was an aggressive person not necessarily a good person but he view himself as better than him why him Lord why him to be together with us to join us you know in in our lives in our real world there are there are there are people that will look down upon us I'm sure you have your own share of experience that people will look down on you because of uh color because of nationality and so on I myself have this uh experience when somebody question my Integrity question my ability I was promoted when I was working in Singapore uh way back uh many years ago I was promoted and not everyone was happy is the same word that was asked to from to my boss why him why why why I'm better than him in fact that was the that was the word and he talk to my boss he talk to the CE complaining that he's not worthy he's not qualified he was not qualified to be to be promoted so why him why him we experien that so going back to the invitation we received and we will receive many invitations from many from people from organizations and from companies probably and for our overseas students here you may be may have been invited uh to to be admitted in the school so but you while while before that you have went through the process I believe you went through the process you submit your your uh uh school records you submit your certificates and so on and you even probably went into an interview and when you receive that letter that letter telling you that you have been accepted into that University what is this is this uh uh sney University of Sydney I just came up I just think it out so when you are pure when you have received that uh in that confirmation congratulations you have been selected you have been you are inviting you to join to that was a great feeling and you could have celebrated and when you receive that for all for for us working adults you you have probably went through a this the same process where you had to present yourself you submitted many resumes to be accepted you given your uh credentials and when you went to for interview you you you present the best put forward and you said that I am qualified I have this I have done so then when you when you were accepted I don't know how many res you you have given it was a great feeling for those who are still searching for for job it will come it will come and of course wedding invitations yeah we are familiar with this you yourself invited people you were invited by those who are getting married and normally is those people that are close to them that uh they invite when when my daughter AJ and her name is AJ uh was about to get married they present us uh myself and my wife with a list of their invitees and from the invitees from the guest list we didn't see some of our relatives who were uh who were all were in sing who are in Singapore we asked them we ask her why you not inviting some of our relatives oh mommy daddy they're not my friends they're not my friends and uh it's my wedding oh you can you can feel the shock from from Angie when when she she uh she heard that what so we mean to say we don't have any say on your wedding but that happened but that long story short she accepted some of our relatives but in all these invitations what I'm saying is there are requirements right there are qualifications that you need that you need to have before you you get to be invited but Jesus invitation is B Jesus invitation is different the different from the social media influencer who just want you want you to be part of their number so that you can view and their followers will be different from the from the school from from the companies from the any events that you that they will ask you to to go through because Jesus invitation is unconditional regardless of who you are no matter what you are doing no matter is you behave how how are you behaving before even now Jesus is extending invitation to all of us to everyone and he said come as you are come as you are no requirements no qualification is UN [Music] conditional our church always before Sundays we give invitation come also join us at our church service some people are hesitant to come because for many reasons probably they are busy or something and even some people are saying is this another religion that you there will be sets of Dos and da so they are F hases time to join but we are not asking people to join our church or religion but extending Jesus's invitation to enter a relationship with you we like people to come not because we want to feel this place but we want people to have that relationship with Jesus and I believe God is using not only this church but all the churches all theur churches in the world and uh who are Christian churches not because we want we want numbers although although we we want it but that's not the main motivation for us we want to have to ask for you to join us in our walk in our journey with the Lord Jesus Christ to enter into that relationship we want you to exper we want you to experience rest want 11 283 uh that should be 29 yeah said come to me all you who are weary and virgin and I will give you rest take my y upon you and learn from me for I am gentle but humble in heart and you will find rest for your you find rest for your soul God is inviting every one of us so that we can find that rest in this world there will be ups and downs there will be many challenges that we will encounter some are big some are small but how you approach that that that that problem in our lives will depend on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ but when we are we when you are in the Lord Jesus Christ when you are following the Lord Jesus Christ there will be peace there will be um a peace that you know no matter what happens we know that God is there for us is there for us for even for those people who are looking for jobs it's been months now that you don't find a job but take heart because we know the God is with us you will find that peace you will find you'll find find the comfort that God is giving to anyone who will enter a relationship with you he wants us to experience as well through love in first John 4: 10 thises through love not that we love God but he loved us and sent his son as a toning sacrifice for our sins while we even we don't know we don't care about God even the times that you know all we want is to to be successful about ourselves God loved us already amazing amazing this love of God that even though you don't you don't care about God you didn't care about God the all you cared about was for yourself God love you no matter what you're doing no matter is your behavior G Jesus no condemnation no judgment calm as you are Jesus said because Jesus invitation is a call to a relationship amen Jesus call calling each one of us even though you are here already you have accepted you have been following the Lord Jesus Christ God is still calling each one of us to continue following in him going back to our text in Matthew after Jesus ised that invitation Matthew got up and followed him can you can you imagine the situation Matthew was just there on the table and the Lord Jesus Christ said follow me and Matthew immediately got up there's nothing in the Bible that says that say come uh let me finish what I'm doing let me start on this things let me or he didn't say I'm I'm a bit busy now I'm doing something uh for myself he did not nothing was mentioned in the bible he got up and followed him I wonder I wonder what made Matthew immediately followed Jesus I wonder I can only think that because because of his being hated because he was being ostracized and alone there was some discontent and disatisfaction in his he had money being a tax collector he had money during the time during the those time but there was so there was a discontent and the dissatisfaction in his life which money could not give he was looking for something that money could not give my wife likes to watch Netflix who among here like to [Music] watch she's following a series called the crown you have you know that you know that it's a story of the morning Archy in England in United [Music] Kingdom and the main character there is queen elizabth as you those who have seen here they have as we know all they all the class series they have all the Privileges I I I I I learned from my wife that que Elizabeth traveled without passport no that's how influential they were they are until now no but then inside they were unhappy they were not satisfied with what who they are they were not they were discontent of their own [Music] sitation all the riches of the world all the Privileges of the world could never feel that longing that a person has it's only in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that we will have we will be fully satisfied as we read brother Jason read earlier on that we are complete in the Lord Jesus Christ amen it's only in him I I don't say that money is not important it is important but we cannot find the true satisfaction or contentment in all these things [Music] and so he got up what did he do what did he do you know after that what did he do I don't you know what he invited the Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples for a dinner yeah while Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house many tax collectors and sinners came and at with him and his the thr of party mat through a party that's why we got the word Matthew party so Matthew through a party in in celebration of his acceptance in the group of his acceptance by the Lord Jesus Christ regardless of who he was regardless of what he did what he was doing he threw a party and he invited his own people people like him T like and sinners because nobody will come the people the Jews would not even step into the house of tax collectors or Sinners especially the elious people and the even the people are complaining why is your why is your master why is your Rabbi eating with Sinners is a no no and during that time because you will be contam ated according to them by their sins you will be you'll be made unclean they were they they are not like him but Jesus was very comfortable with people who are not like [Music] you Jesus is very comfortable with people like you and me Sinners for making mistakes Jesus very comfortable I don't mean that we don't we don't eat anymore with those other people but what Jesus with people that they are not like us but what Jesus wants us to learn is not to look down on anyone regardless not to look down on anyone if Jesus considered us worthy to come into our heart to come into our world let us not look down on other people also amen these two words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ follow me changed much's life forever as we all know he he he was the author of the first book of the Bible imagine in the Lord Jesus Christ did not consider Matthew worthy of his kingdom the same thing with us anyone who will follow the lord Jesus Christ regardless no matter what your what you believe no matter how you are how you are behaving God can change us God can change us I think some of us here would would um would remember how you were before you came to the Lord Jesus Christ you were like this you were I was one of them but God changed me this well did God Chang if you will look back God is so gracious of us the only requirements should follow to to say yes to his invitation and he will change us because of his love we will find out that he is gracious merciful it's a call to our relationship verse 11 when the phes saw this they asked the disciples why does your teacher eat with the the tax collectors and sinners as I've said they don't asso sheate to them they think that they are so high above and they will be contaminated by those [Music] Sinners when we decide to follow Jesus there will be people who will disagree with your decision I think when you decided you you can you can attest to this when if you were not if you were not born in a Christian family and you came to follow the lord Jesus Christ much earlier in your life there will be people who objected and who will object if they are following now relatives we have heard it say it's a new relation it's a new religion that you're going [Music] to friends we have been Reed by friends I had this I had this I I was I was I I had friends to our my drinking [Music] bodes but when I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as I was I stopped all this by the grace of God I was walking to the church and one of my friends said [Music] is said maybe because of your Holiness you will go beyond heaven for the sake of those who don't understand we go beyond heaven we will be ridiculed by our friends and even they will not go with us anymore we will lose them or somehow they lost us but then they found what is more important that this is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ even colleagues would say why why you doing this why you praying before meal I hope you're still praying even though in the the in in the in the company even though there are people with you they will criticize us the athletes who won in the Paris Olympics Christian athletes who ascribe to God everything because of God they were criticized why you have to do that they even want to ban all those interviews talking about God there are be people that will say why and on hearing this Jesus said it's not the healthy who need the doctor but the S who are the sick who are the sick people is this we are who are sing we are the SI and because of this Jesus said also for the son of man came to seek and save those who are lost who are [Music] lost you may say I'm not lost I'm not lost I'm here in Australia and I'm doing good you know I know my way home I'm not lost but anyone who is not in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is lost because without God we are lost regardless of what you're doing however successful we are or you are in your career in your family or anything without God we are lost we will be forever lost it's a tragedy of having Jesus not without Jesus Christ in our lives his call again is a call to a relationship that we may have life that we may not be lost my the last verse it says here but go and learn what this means I desire Mercy not sacrifice but I have not come to all the righteous but Sinners who are the sinners look at this if you fail God if you sin frequently if you did terrible things in your life even if you have many questions about God then you are qualified we are qualified to join Jesus if you I I I fit into one or two a few categories under this and I think God because he accepted me even though I'm still sinning now I'm still failing God and I think you this can be said for all of us you're still failing God you're still sing somehow but this is not a requirement it doesn't mean that we cannot go to God that we cannot have that religion here he already extended it to all of us now the question when he called Matthew when he calling Sinners to him the question that we can ask is is sin okay then is it okay then is sin okay with Jesus [Music] okay with Jesus does it matter to him what Matthew was doing was bad or does it does it matter does it not matter to him that people are sining and still calling them inviting them one thing is good God hates sins but our sins do not disqualify us to accept Jesus indication or to follow him it matters to God what we are doing it matters to God if we are sinning it matters to God if you fail in God but that does not disqualify anyone of us to continue to follow him he didn't demand that CHS first when he issued that image he didn't even demand that we believe he was the son of God before accepting is inol it's for everyone no requirements no qualification is unconditional and as you decide to follow Jesus you will experience his love mercy and Grace and and change will be inevitable inevitable result because God's kindness leads us through the the only thing is accept accept the invitation and as we go along as we journey with God as we walk with God change is inevitable it may be not abrupt it may not be immediate maybe gradual but change is inevitable Follow Me Jesus said now for those of us I think all of us here probably have accepted the Lord Jesus invitation to follow Jesus is still inviting us to grow in our relationship wait he still inviting us that you include me in your life whatever you are doing he is inviting us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ he is inviting each one of us to honor God with everything that we are doing he is inviting us that we may reflect the light that was given to [Music] us that you may the world may see who Jesus Christ is this is our theme let your light so shine before men that they may see your goodness and glorify God who is in heaven God is still inviting each one of us to be that l in you in your school at your work places when you play binton when we play golf God is inviting each one of us to be the light of whoever that we will come across it's a continuing invitation to follow Jesus to Walk In Love and obedience sadly some of for some some of the Christian Christians for maybe because they have been Christians for a long time they have been complacent with their walk in the Lord Jesus Christ but today today is God is renewing that call to a relationship it's renewing to hold not only to you but also to me that I continue in my walk in God I continue that my life the light of the Lord Jesus Christ in me will shine unto the world and to the people that we we associate with every day of Our Lives whether wherever you are bring Jesus with you that's what I tell myself also when I want to play God I said Lord I will bring you with me because sometimes because I'm I was competive I forget to bring Jesus with me I just play you know just's read Jesus with us amen read Jesus with us school work at home that said Jesus us and his challenge for each one of us as we start this our lesson now and as I call back the music came also the challenge for each one of us let still accept Jesus's [Music] invitation let us accept Jesus invitation to find maybe you have said yes I have accepted the Lord Jesus invitation many years that I believe God is talking to this one of us you have been a Christian for quite some time God is issuing that invitation again to walk with [Music] you let us accept Jesus invitation to bring him wherever we [Music] are that our his life we shine in us that people will see his goodness and his love when he issued the invitation the requirement is you must be a steer and we all are and that's why we are qualified [Music] and of all the invitations we have received and will receive this is the invitation we cannot afford to decline because our destiny is the V of we'll sing the song I want us all to reflect on the lyrics of the song and what we have what we have heard what you have heard that Jesus invitation is a call to [Music] relationship we're seeing crises enough but let it shine in us there will be a Tru that you be seen by the people around you that Christ is ined Enough whether we have problems whether we have good times in whatever situation circumstance that we are in let us declare that Christ is in that we may show the people who may not have hope that our hope is the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the day he will be our reward and everlasting life follow Jesus accept his let's sing this song for all of us Church [Music] everything I need is in you everything I need [Music]