The document discusses how following Christ is not always easy and can involve hardship. While Jesus promises blessings, he also warned that his disciples would face trials and persecution in this world. As Christians, we will struggle against our sinful nature and be engaged in spiritual battle. However, through the indwelling Holy Spirit we can find strength and encouragement to persevere. The difficulties we face should not negate the ultimate joy we have as believers in Christ.

1. FollowingChrist– 14th May 2016
“…letus throw offeverything that hindersand the sinthat so easilyentangles.” (Hebrews 12: 1).
No sane parenthas eversaid,“Iwishmychildrenwouldmisbehave,”andthere’sneverbeenaself-help
bookentitled Howto Live an Unhappy Life.We all wantblessings,happiness,andfulfillment,andwe
associate a happyconditionwithacertainamountof ease. AsChristianswe can learnthat Jesus
promisesblessingandfulfillmenttothose whofollow Him.We canread in John 4:14, “…butwhoever
drinksthe water I give them will never thirst. Indeed,the water I give them will become in them a
springof water wellingup to eternal life.”,Butmany people have beensurprisedthatthe wayof Christ
isnot as easyas theyhad hoped.Sometimes,followingChristcanbe downrightdifficult.
The fact is, blessingandhardshipare notmutuallyexclusive.The disciples“lefteverything”tofollow
Christ,andthe Lord promisedthem“ahundredtimesasmuch”blessinginreturn aswe can learnfrom
Mark 10:28-29, “Then Peter spoke up,“Wehave left everything to followyou!” 29
“TrulyI tell you,”
Jesus replied, “noone who has lefthome or brothers or sistersor mother or father or childrenor fields
for me and the gospel 30
will fail to receive a hundredtimes as muchin thispresent age: Jesuswarned
that all whofollowHimmustdenythemselves andbeara dailycross as statedin Luke 9:23, “Thenhe
saidto them all: “Whoeverwantsto be my disciplemustdeny themselves andtake uptheir crossdaily
and followme”. Whenwe follow Jesus,we mayencounterhardship,tobe sure,but that hardship is
witha purpose forwhat we live forasChristians thateventuallyreads toeternal joy withthe Lord.
Followersof Christalsoface resistance fromthe world. “Infact,everyonewho wants to livea godlylife
in ChristJesus will be persecuted”(2 Timothy3:12). Jesusdidnot promise Hisdisciplesthateverything
wouldbe a bedof roses forthem;infact just the opposite—He promisedthattheywouldhave trialsin
thisworld as we can read from John16:33,““I have toldyou these things,so that in me you may have
peace. In this worldyou will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.”.“ AsChristians
we must bearinmindthat Jesussaid:“But take heart!”…because He has overcome whateverthe world
may throwat Him!
We can learnfromRomans2 whichstatesthat God’smoral lawshave beenwrittenonthe heartof
everyhuman – givingall people aconscience toaidthemindeterminingwrongfromright:“ Theyshow
that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciencesalso bearingwitness,
and their thoughtssometimesaccusingthem andat other times even defendingthem”. (Romans2:14-
15). But whenapersonbecomesafollowerof Christ,he notonlyhasGod’s lawsinhis or her heart,but
alsohas the indwellingHolySpirittocompel himtowardlivingrighteously.We canreadinRomans 8:11,
“Andif the Spiritof himwho raised Jesusfrom the dead is livinginyou, he who raisedChristfrom the
dead will alsogive lifeto your mortal bodiesbecause of[a]
his Spiritwho livesin you”.We must note
that thisinno way meansthe Christianwill stopsinning,butitdoesmeanthe Christianwill become
more aware of hisownpersonal sinandhave a genuine desire todowhatispleasingtoChrist We
receive animportantteachingin Romans8:14-16, “For thosewho are ledby the Spiritof Godare the
childrenof God. 15
The Spirityou received does not make you slaves,so that you livein fear again;
rather, the Spirityou received broughtabout youradoptionto sonship.Andby him we cry, “Abba,
Father.” 16
The Spirit himselftestifieswithour spirit that we are God’schildren”.
In manyways,it is aftera personissavedthatthe struggle againstsinreallyheatsupinhislife.All

2. people are bornwitha nature that isbenttoward sin,whichiswhychildrendonotneedtobe taught
howto misbehave –because thatcomesnaturally.Whenapersonisconvertedtobecome a Christian,
the sinnature doesnot disappear immediatelywiththatdecision.Itisthenthe internal conflictbegins
inthe life of everybeliever. The apostle Paul,whocalledhimself a“bondservanttoChrist,”writesof the
struggle with hissinnature in Romans 7:14-25. In verse 15 he says, “Ido not understandwhat I do. For
what I want to do I do not do,but what I hate I do” (Romans7:15). Christiansengagedinthis battle
havinga true desire toavoidsin…but againwe must be mindful toavoidthe inherentnatural desire to
indulge the flesh. EvenasChristiansone could become frustratedwhen one findsthemselves“doing
whattheydon’twant to do!.”Andto furthercomplicate matters,Christiansnotonlydonot wantto sin,
but we alsoclearlyknowthatGod hatessin.Yet, unfortunatelyone may still sin…unlesswe steadfastly
seekGodsassistance and protection.
Paul goeson to explain:“Itisnolonger I myselfwho do it,but it is sinlivingin me” (Romans7:17).
EveryChristianwhoisattemptingtolive righteouslyiscalledtothis battlefieldforhis orherentire life.
We are in a spiritual battle.Butingrace and mercy,God givesthe faithful believeranentire suitof
armor to face this fightas we can readfrom Ephesians6:13, “Therefore put onthe full armor ofGod,so
that when the day of evil comes, you maybe ableto stand your ground,andafter you have done
everything,to stand”.The Christianlife is notsimpleand easy,butthe difficulties we mayface inthis
life shouldnot negate the ultimateJoythatwe seekasChristianbelievers. Throughthe indwellingHoly
Spirit,believers canreceive encouragement,strengthtopersevere,and inaddition constantreminders
of one’sadoptionintothe familyof God. We can learnthrough Romans8:18 “Iconsider that our
present sufferingsare not worth comparingwith the glorythat will be revealed in us”.
“…letus throwoff everythingthathindersandthe sinthat
so easilyentangles.”(Hebrews12:1).