Follow Me

Pastor Hilton opens his message by reading Matthew 4:18-20, where Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to follow Him, promising to make them fishers of men. He emphasizes that this command to follow was foundational and did not end when Jesus ascended; rather, it continues through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that believers would do greater works because He goes to the Father, and He sent the Comforter to guide us into all truth. The early church followed Jesus' pattern in Acts 1:8, starting in Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Peter and the apostles declared they must obey God rather than men when persecuted. When the church was scattered, they went everywhere preaching the Word, and Philip's ministry in Samaria brought great joy and miracles because he followed Jesus into despised territory. Pastor Hilton draws a parallel to today: many have prejudices against certain people whom God wants to save, but we must follow Him beyond our comfort zones. He illustrates this with a story of a young man contemplating suicide who came to a church service, reminding us that we must not judge by outward appearance. The greatest need is for the joy of the Holy Ghost to overcome oppression and depression. Following Jesus requires cleaving to Him with purpose of heart, as Barnabas exhorted the believers in Antioch, and it is this wholehearted following that marks true Christians.