This biblical teaching is a production of The Walk Ministries with Pastor Jeno Shaw. You can watch the video below, and then read the teaching notes that follow.
Overview
Who is the best?
In the Bible, there are a couple of places where the disciples were kind of in competition and were wondering how they stacked up against one another. Here’s one of those incidents between Peter and John.
John 21:15-23 (NLT)
15 “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then feed my lambs,’ Jesus told him. (16) Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said. (17) A third time he asked him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Then feed my sheep.’ (18) ‘I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’
19 “Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, ‘Follow me.’ (20) Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, ‘Lord, who will betray you?’ (21) Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ (22) Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.’ (23) So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?'”
So I thought I would have fun with this and see who I think is the most hard-core out of all the people to follow God.
Samson- (Judges 15:16): No doubt he was the strongest man and did some incredible feats, such as kill a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey, no less! Can you imagine the bodies upon bodies of men that had to have been stacked up on top of each other? The Spirit of the Lord was upon this one, obviously. While incredible, I dont think this is number one.
Now understand, there are seven spirits of the Lord found in:
Isaiah 11:2
2 “And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD .”
So here they are in order
- Spirit of the Lord
- Spirit of Wisdom
- Spirit of Understanding
- Spirit of Counsel
- Spirit of Might
- Spirit of Knowledge
- Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
Now Samson had the Spirit of Might upon him, which enabled him to accomplish these feats.
David, as a shepherd protecting his sheep, had to kill to protect his sheep.
1 Samuel 17:33-37
33 “‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Saul replied. ‘There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.’ (34) But David persisted. ‘I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, (35) I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. (36) I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! (37) The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!’
Saul finally consented. ‘All right, go ahead,’ he said. ‘And may the LORD be with you!'”
Quite impressive. Not only did David have to kill a lion and a bear, but also Goliath! This too is very impressive, but it doesn’t make for number one. Obviously, just like Samson, David had the Spirit of the Lord upon him as well.
Think about it; how do you catch a lion by the jaw and then proceed to club it to death? It takes a special anointing to do that. Don’t try this at home! Lol.
Without further adieu, the most hard-core follower of God is MOSES! Let’s take a look!
This passage is when Moses came down from the mountain with the commandments and saw all the people sinning.
Exodus 32:25-32
25 “Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. (26) So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, ‘All of you who are on the LORD ’s side, come here and join me.’ And all the Levites gathered around him. (27) Moses told them, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.’ (28) The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
(29) “Then Moses told the Levites, ‘Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.’ (30) The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.’ (31) So Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. (32) But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!'”
Note: Is this not bold or what! Moses is standing in the gap for his people and not only is he willing to die for them but to have his name erased from the book of life! How many of you are willing to do that! Moses could have been toast. I mean what if God would have taken him up on that. God could have said, “Okay, Moses, very well. I will erase your name from the book of life. Poof be gone!”
That was a very dangerous, bold move by Moses, and that takes number two in my book. Jesus, of course, is always number one.
Honorable mention and a very close third place, would be Paul.
Romans 9:1-3
1 “With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. (2) My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief (3) for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.”
Paul was not saying here that he would rather go to hell if it meant his people would be saved. Paul was saying he was willing to die, and that in his death, he would want his people to be saved. That is heavy!
When true love comes upon you, you want to show that love. That ultimate love is not what you think, but it’s dying for that other person or group of people that shows the ultimate love.
This love is not a man-made emotion. It’s something that God puts into your heart, this godly love for his people.
Father God, may I have your eyes to see your sheep, my brothers and sisters, as you see them. Download your love into me so that your love becomes my love, and may I honor this love all the days of my life, in Jesus name, amen!
Thank you, saints.
I truly love you all,
Pastor/Coach Jeno
