Follow the Leader - Part 3

Follow the Leader - Part 3

Speaker: Pastor Jeremiah

Following Jesus means learning His heart, including what He calls us to reject. In Part 3 of Follow the Leader, Pastor Jeremiah examines Proverbs 6:16-19 and challenges believers to recognize pride, dishonesty, harmful intentions, and division in their own lives.

The message makes a clear distinction: rejecting sin never gives us permission to hate people. Genuine love seeks their good, blesses those who oppose us, and begins with honest self-examination. Through personal examples, Pastor Jeremiah encourages listeners to welcome conviction, take responsibility, and respond with repentance rather than excuses or shame.

EPISODE ROADMAP

02:44 - Knowing what God hates. Romans 12 connects genuine love with rejecting evil while continuing to bless people.

06:36 - Seven things named in Proverbs. The passage identifies attitudes and actions that damage our relationships with God and others.

11:03 - Start with yourself. Examine personal compromises before pointing out the world's problems or someone else's failures.

13:47 - Pride and reluctance to act. The message challenges the habit of expecting someone else to share the gospel or serve those in need.

21:24 - Guard against division. Resentment and fault-finding can undermine love within the church. Pray for others and desire their growth.

27:12 - Ask God to search your heart. Scripture can uncover compromises we have dismissed, inviting an immediate response of repentance.

32:47 - Pray for a clean heart. Transformation requires a teachable spirit and willingness to let God address overlooked areas.

37:35 - Take responsibility and return to God. Everyday conduct, private choices, and our response to correction reveal what we truly value.

43:44 - A quiet response. Listeners are invited to ask the Holy Spirit for one area to surrender, trusting His love and help to change.

SCRIPTURE CONNECTIONS

Selected passages named or paraphrased in the message; timestamps are approximate.

• Romans 12:9, 14 - Genuine love rejects evil and holds to good, while blessing those who persecute us. These verses frame the distinction between hating sin and loving people.
• Proverbs 6:16-19 - The central passage names pride, lying, shedding innocent blood, devising wicked plans, rushing toward evil, false witness, and stirring up conflict.
• 1 Samuel 16:7 - God looks at the heart. The message warns against measuring spiritual maturity only by outward appearances or comparing ourselves with others.
• 1 Corinthians 10:12 - Those who think they stand firm should be careful not to fall. This supports the call for humility and consistent spiritual habits.
• Psalm 139:23-24 - Invite God to search your heart, reveal harmful ways, and guide your life.
• Psalm 51:10-12 - David's prayer for a clean heart, renewed spirit, and restored joy provides a model for repentance.
• Hebrews 12:6 - God's correction flows from His love, inviting us to receive conviction as an opportunity to grow.
• 1 John 4:4 - God's presence within believers grounds the closing encouragement to depend on the Holy Spirit rather than willpower alone.

TAKEAWAY

Ask God to search your heart and reveal one area that needs surrender. Respond with repentance, receive His love, and rely on the Holy Spirit to help you follow Jesus with integrity and love for others.