Who Are You Following? | DeVon Franklin | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Who Are You Following?

ONE, A Potter's House Church • Nov 11, 2024 • 50 min

Start a Devotional

Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Through the story of the blind man in John 9, DeVon Franklin illustrates the life-changing evolution of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Hardships and messy situations are not divine punishments, but opportunities for God's power and glory to be made visible in our lives. As followers of Christ, we must align our actions with our beliefs, embrace our God-given identity, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly above human approval or religious criticism.

Themes

Discipleship and Following ChristGod's Purpose in SufferingFaith and Active ObedienceIdentity and Authority in ChristStanding Boldly in Your TestimonyPersonal Divine Encounter

Key Points

1.
Discipleship means being a student and adherent of Jesus Christ, prioritizing following Him over seeking human popularity or online clout.
2.
Jesus sees you and picks you out for blessing even when you are unaware of Him or going through dark circumstances.
3.
Struggles and afflictions do not mean you or your family sinned; God allows hardships so His power and goodness can be visibly displayed through your life.
4.
True faith requires active obedience and accountability, matching your daily behavior to what you claim to believe.
5.
God frequently uses unconventional methods and messy situations to produce undeniable miracles in our lives.
6.
When God transforms you, former peers and spectators may criticize or doubt your change because they were comfortable with your old state.
7.
Believers must boldly claim their God-given identity and authority without shrinking back to gain human approval or compromise in relationships.
8.
Never let religious debates or consensus dismantle your personal testimony of what Jesus has done in your life.
9.
When people reject or cast you out for standing with Christ, Jesus actively seeks you out to reveal Himself and lead you into deeper worship.

Sermon Moments

“Even when you don't see Him, He sees you. He picked you out before you were even looking for Him.”

“His blindness was an opportunity for people to know God in a way they otherwise wouldn't... What you're going through is so God can use you as a display to show how good He is.”

“God specializes in pulling miracles out of messes... He uses a mess, defies conventional wisdom, and asks you to participate in your promise.”

“Faith without works is dead. It's not just about what you're believing, it's also about how you're behaving. Your behavior cannot betray your belief.”

“You've got to have a vision before you got vision. Stop procrastinating your promise away.”

“The reason you're losing friends is because they were comfortable when you were blind to the vices keeping you back, but once you got sight, they didn't know how to deal with the change.”

“Do not want love so badly that you compromise to get it... Set the tone for how you want to be treated.”

This Week

Perform an audit of your social media feeds to ensure the accounts you follow lead you closer to Jesus and build your faith.

Express daily gratitude for the foundational blessings you often overlook, such as your health, breath, and sound mind.

Align your daily work ethic and actions with what you claim to believe, acting in faith before seeing complete answers.

Take immediate practical steps toward the vision or calling God gave you rather than procrastinating or waiting for perfect conditions.

Step boldly into your God-given identity, refusing to compromise your spiritual values or accept less than your worth in relationships.

Share your personal testimony of how Jesus transformed your life, focusing on His goodness rather than engaging in empty religious arguments.

Spend daily time reading Scripture directly so your discipleship is grounded in Jesus' words rather than secondhand opinions.

Remember This

Discipleship requires active obedience, stepping into your God-given identity, and remaining grounded in what Jesus has done for you regardless of human opinion.

A Challenge for You

I asked the question, who are you following? We get through this season in one word: Jesus. If we follow Jesus, we're going to get through this season and every season after it.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.