Following The Steps Jesus Left For You (332) - January 10 2026

Proverbs 17 verse 13 says, 13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
 
There is only one way for evil to leave your home. You must stop allowing it in your house. This is why people need Jesus. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). If Jesus does not dwell in your home then other things will. Freedom means following in the footsteps Jesus left you.
 
If you're tired of your spiritual atmosphere, of serving a evil spirit or tired of engaging in witchcraft, come into the light with Jesus. Change your god to God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus made a way where there was no way. It’s up to us to follow in the way of Jesus. It’s up to us to do the work. No one can make a person live holy, read their bible, fast, pray, and do all that’s in the Word that Jesus died for. It is instead up to us to choose this day Whom we serve.
 
 The topics this week include:
 - Why should we follow Jesus?
 - Jesus has already overcome the world.
 - Jesus paid a price for you.
 - Jesus left us with instructions on how we can be set free and set others free.
 - How do we know how to follow Jesus?
 - Jesus is the Word of Life, so read your bible, day and night.
 - What choices do we have for our life?
 - Who is responsible for our life choices and direction?
 
This program covers the following Scriptures from the Amplified Classic version (AMPC): 1 Corinthians 15:55-58, Matthew 16:26, 1 John 16:33, Romans 5:6-9, Matthew 28:19-20,  John 3:15-16, 1 Corinthians 6:17-20, Isaiah 61:1-3, Mark 16:15-16, Psalms 37:23, John 14:5-6, John 1:1, Proverbs 3:5-13, Matthew 7:13-15, Philippians 2:12.

Transcript

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(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) And welcome back to yet another episode of Touch of God. My name is Catrice and I'll be delivering the message to you this week. This week we'll be talking about following the steps Jesus left for you. For those of you who would like to follow along in your Bible, we are reading from the Amplified Classic Version. Last week on finding a church as a new believer, we discussed the following. The authority Jesus left believers to walk in doing the Great Commission. Some churches focusing on collecting money from believers instead of letting them know Jesus said, freely give this gift of healing, deliverance, prophecy to the people. Lack of believers reading their Bible leaves them in ignorance. Many times, offerings are taken up for healing, salvation, deliverance, and a word of prophecy. This is not why Jesus died for us. This lack of teaching in some churches and lack of believers reading the Bible and doing it has left some believers unequipped for their current times we are in. Without the truth, some believers do not know they are to walk in the authority Jesus left them. Last week's topics were what should believers see and be discipled in? What are new believers finding in some ministries today? What is the truth, the way to Jesus, the life to live? Eliminating confusion about the truth as a believer, comparing what is done in some churches versus what the Bible actually says. This week we will be discussing following the steps Jesus left for you. God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us while we were still yet sinners. Jesus made a way where there was no way. It's up to us to follow in the way of Jesus. It's up to us to do the work. No one can make a person live holy, read their Bible, fast, pray, do all that's in the word that Jesus died for. It is up to us to choose this day whom we serve. No one can make a person want to live righteous and holy if they don't want to. If the word says don't steal, then don't steal. If the word says don't lay down with a man until you're married, then do what it says. These instructions the Lord left us are to keep us safe. They are to keep us from making bad decisions that last a lifetime. You either obey and follow the instructions Jesus left, or you live under the consequences you created for yourself. Today can be a brand new day for those who choose to live right, do right, according to the word of the Bible. This week's topics. Why should we follow Jesus? Jesus has already overcome the world. Jesus paid a price for you. Jesus was left with instructions on how you can be set free and set others free. How do we know how to follow Jesus? Jesus is the word of life. So read your Bible day and night. What choices do we have for our life? Who is responsible for our life choices and direction? Let's start with why should we follow Jesus? When we need to be delivered from darkness and evil in our lives, we look to someone who has already done what we need to do. We look to someone who has already overcome this world, defeated the enemy, and he's defeated death. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 15, 55 to 58. Oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death and sin exercises its power upon the soul through the abuse of the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory, making us conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm, steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord, knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile. It is never wasted or to no purpose. Jesus provided a way where there was no way. Jesus is the only way to live the truth and the life a believer who desires holiness and righteousness wants. Why? Because when some people seek other ways to try and get what they want, there is a price they must pay. Some people do bad things for the payment of what they want. Some people do witchcraft, serve demons, and do all manner of evil. In the end, working with darkness can lead to a person putting their lives in danger. Let's look at Matthew 16, 26. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life, his blessed life in the kingdom of God? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his blessed life in the kingdom of God? These are all things that we need to think about as we make that choice, whether we're going to serve the Lord and Jesus Christ or we're going to serve the devil. Jesus has already overcome this world. Let's look at 1 John 16, 33. I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence. This is Jesus speaking. In the world, you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer, take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted, for I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of its power to harm you and have conquered it for you. That's Jesus letting you know that if you follow him and you invest in him, he can show you how he conquered the world, how he overcame, which is what individuals need to do that are listening to this. Let's look at Romans 5, 6 to 9. While we were yet in our weakness, powerless to help ourselves at the fitting time, Christ Jesus died for on behalf of the ungodly. Noun, it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor, someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves his own love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ the Messiah, the anointed one, died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified, acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God by Christ's blood, how much more certain is it that we shall be saved by him from the indignation and wrath of God? Let's look at Jesus paid a price for you. You need to know that God loves you. He did not leave you to do life on your own. Let's look at Matthew 28, verse 19, or let's start with verse 18. Jesus approached and breaking the silence, so this is Jesus approaching his disciples and breaking the silence, said to them, all authority, all power of rule in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all the days, perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion on the very close and consummation of the age. Amen. So let it be. Let's look at John 3, 16. This is what Jesus has done for you in order that everyone who believes in him, who cleaves to him, trust him, and relies on him may not perish, but have eternal life and actually live forever. So that's John 3, 15 to John 3, 16. So now in verse 16, for God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that he even gave up his only begotten unique son so that whoever believes in, trust in, clings to, relies on him, shall not perish, come to destruction, be lost, but have eternal everlasting life. So God is telling you that if you were to turn today and trust in him, that these are the things that he would do for you. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 6, 20. But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality and all sexual looseness. Flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is the temple, the very sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, whom you have received a gift from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price, purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made his own. So then honor God and bring glory to him in your body. So what God is saying for those who have chosen to become saved, it's no longer okay to have sexual immorality because now you're representing God. So when you become saved, you're representing the Lord Jesus Christ and he paid a price for you. And so now you're working for God, you're representing God. And so doing the things that you used to do in your old body are no longer acceptable because God needs a holy vessel. He needs you to be holy and pure and acceptable unto him so that he can work through you now to reach other people. But if you contaminate your body with sexual immorality, then you are unclean and you are not a vessel that God can easily flow through because sin separates us from God. So when we go and we do sin, we are separated from the Lord and even further away from him and we need to be brought close. And this is why Jesus paid a price so that we can be bought close. Let's look at what Jesus was on earth to do for you. Let's look at Isaiah 61. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me. It's upon Jesus because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the gospel, good news and tidings to the meek, the poor and afflicted. He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the physical and spiritual captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, the year of his favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to grant consolation and joy to those who mourn in Zion, to give them an ornament, a garland or a diadem of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment expressive of praise instead of heavy, burdened and failing spirit, that they may be called oaks of righteousness, lofty, strong, magnificent, distinguished, for uprightness, justice and right standing with God, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. So these are all the things that Jesus was sent here to do for us. Jesus was left with instructions on how we can be set free and set others free. Jesus left us the great commission so we can be set free and in return set others free. Matthew 28, 19 to 20, Jesus speaking to his disciples, Jesus approach and breaking the silence said to them, his disciples, all authority and power of rule in heaven and on earth has been given unto me. So we're just going back through what Jesus again has been given authority. Go then and make disciples. So this is a command when he says, go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all the days, perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion to the very close in consummation of the age. So God is trying to tell us something and we also have to take note that this is not a choice. If you're following Jesus Christ, you're doing the great commission because you've been bought with a price and now you're in debt to the Lord to go and to preach the gospel to others and to set the captives free. Just as you have been set free and bought and paid for with a price. Now the Lord wants you to tell your family members. He wants you to tell your friends. He wants you to tell your coworkers. He wants you to tell everyone that you've come across because the weight and the price that he paid for you, there is no price that is enough for what you've been freed from. And so we pass that along to another person that's in bondage and tell them about the Lord. The same thing occurs in Mark 16, 15 to 16. And this is Jesus saying, go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news, the gospel to every creature of the whole human race. He who believes, who adheres to and trust in and relies on the gospel and him whom it sets forth and is baptized will be saved from the penalty of eternal death. But he who does not believe, who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the gospel and him whom it sets forth will be condemned. How do we know how to follow Jesus? Let's look at Psalms 37, 23. The steps of a good man are directed and established by the Lord when he delights in his way and he busies himself with his every step. Verse 24, though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. So while we're doing God's work and he's directing our footsteps, even if we fall, God is looking to uplift us so that we can continue in the work that we're supposed to do. Through salvation, you can be saved and righteous. Let's look at John 14, 5 to 6. Jesus answering the disciples, Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. So how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. John 3, 16, in order that everyone who believes in him, who cleaves to him, trust him and relies on him may not perish, but have eternal life and actually live forever. For God so loved and dearly prized the world that he even gave up his only begotten son, unique son, so that whoever believes in trust in clings to relies on him shall not perish, come to destruction, be lost, but have eternal everlasting life. How are we supposed to be in the kingdom of heaven? How are we supposed to follow the Lord? Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. And we begin to follow him as we look at what Jesus did. The only way that you can look at what Jesus did is by reading your Bible. Jesus is the word of life. So read your Bible day and night so you can learn more about the life that Jesus led and follow him. If you're not reading your Bible, you're not going to know about what Jesus did for you, what he bought and paid for, for you or how Jesus lived. So you don't have a way to do that. And if you don't have an example in your life, you don't have to ask anyone what to do. You can just simply read and do as Jesus did. Let's look at John 1, 1. In the beginning before all time was the word Christ and the word was with God and the word was God himself. So why are we following Jesus? Because Jesus is the word. Why are we reading the Bible? Because Jesus is the word of life. He is the words that you are reading in the Bible. To connect more with Jesus and understand what he did, you have to read your Bible. Let's look at Proverbs 3, 5 to 13. My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. Since Jesus came, we just have to love God, love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The emphasis here is just talking about the word. For length of days and years of a life worth living and tranquility inward and outward and continually through old age till death, these shall they add to you. So God's words, this is what is going to add to you. Let not mercy and kindness, shutting out all hatred and selfishness and truth, shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood forsake you. Bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. So God is talking about his words in the Bible. Bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. So shall you find favor, good understanding and high esteem in the sight of judgment of God and man. So if you do this, if you keep God's word, you're going to find high esteem in the sight of God and man. Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. So as you're following Jesus's footsteps and you're following in what he did, you're not relying on yourself. You're not relying on your own understanding, but you're relying on what Jesus did. And that way, when you rely upon what Jesus did, you're no longer following the things that you did in your life. Because when you came to Christ, or if you're coming to Christ, you're not wanting to live that same life. But you want all things to become new in Christ. And the only way that you can do that to be in Christ is to leave your old self, your old habits, your old nature, your old characteristics, your old wants, your old desires, and your life now becomes what Jesus lived. Because as Jesus is, so are we in this world. So let's look at Proverbs 3, verse 6. In all your ways, know, recognize, and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths. If you know, recognize, and acknowledge Jesus, he will direct and make straight and plain your paths. So if you're going through a lot of things right now, and you need him to direct and make straight your paths, you have to start having a relationship with Jesus, talking to him every day, reading your Bible every day, praying every single day, so that he can make straight your paths. But that's going to take you being obedient to his word, and doing what it says, not just talking about it, not just listening to it, but carrying out God's word, following his footsteps. Be not wise in your own eyes, this is verse 7. Be not wise in your own eyes, reverently fear and worship the Lord, and turn entirely away from evil. Verse 8, it shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones. Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency from righteousness labors, and with the first fruits of all your income. So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord, his correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial. Neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor his reproof. For whom the Lord loves, he corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Verse 13, happy, blessed, fortunate, enviable, is the man who finds skillful and godly wisdom. The man who gets understanding, drawing it forth from God's word and life's experiences. Amen. What choices do we have for our life? Let's look at Matthew 7, verses 13 to 14. Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction. And many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow, contracted by pressure, and the way is straightened and compressed that leads away to life. And few are those who find it. So the choices for our lives are basically, it's good or evil. There is a narrow path that leads away to life. But a narrow path means you don't have a lot of options. You don't have all of these things that you think you have options because God is directing your path and you are following his directions. And so it's not any decision to be made. It's only in Christ and Jesus becomes your Lord and Savior. And that's why the path is narrow and contracted by pressure. But if you're not following Jesus and you don't desire to be in Christ, then you are in the world and the gate is wide because there's so many options. You have to choose this day whom you serve, who is responsible for your life and your life choices and your life direction. God left us a way through the Bible and the life that Jesus lived. It is up to each person who desires a better life to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Let's look at Philippians 2 verse 12. Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed my suggestions, so now not only with enthusiasm you should show in my presence, but much more because I am absent, work out, cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling, self-distrust with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidity, shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Jesus. Amen. When we're walking around and we're saying, I need to know information. Who's going to do this for me? Who's going to do that for me? It's not about other people doing these things for you. It's about you deciding to have Jesus in your life. It's about you deciding to be saved. It's about you deciding to walk down the narrow path and to lessen all the decisions in the world and to only do what Jesus did, to only follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to remain holy, to remain pure as a lifestyle. Simple excuses will not do anymore. As we come under the times that we are in, you are either holy and you are walking with God down the narrow path, or you have chosen the world and the wide gate, and you're not walking with God. You're not hidden in Christ, and you are open and susceptible to attack of the enemy. This is very important. We cannot choose for you what you should do because you are responsible for working out your own salvation. If you have pastors and preachers preaching in the church and they're preaching from the Bible, they're not leading you astray. What would be leading someone astray are their choices, the direction that they have chosen. We have to go forward, and we have to make different and better choices. Amen? So Jesus paid a price, and the choice is yours. If you walk in the footsteps of Christ and you stay on the narrow path, your word says if you seek him, you will find him, if you seek him with all your heart. If you're not seeking the Lord, you're not interested in him, or somehow you've made this about money, or you've made it about things that have nothing to do with God, then you will be on the wide gate and on the wide path. But Jesus died so that you would be following the narrow path and that you would have a way. Amen? Amen.