They started out so right; they ended up so wrong. I’m speaking of the crowd that followed Jesus up the mountain. However, all Christians have seen the same pattern lived out in the lives of many who enter the church today. They start out following Jesus, but end up out of his presence living a life that is worldly and not Christlike.

The crowd on the mountain came to Jesus with earthly needs. They lived in poverty, with sickness and hunger a part of their daily lives. They were oppressed by the wealthy and the powerful Roman government. Still, they had not forsaken their Jewish faith and they believed the promise made by Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 18. A prophet, the Messiah was coming, and at each Passover their hope was renewed.

When Jesus appeared they recognized him and follow him. Their spiritual leaders had misled them about what to expect from the coming Messiah. They had been told to expect a Messiah who would solve their earthly problems. Their hearts were focused upon earthly needs and not the spiritual. Jesus came that we might be born into a heavily kingdom with a heavenly father. They wanted an earthly kingdom with an earthly king, and the earthly rewards that would come from being citizens of a powerful nation. They wanted to be the rulers and not ruled. They wanted to be the rich and not the poor. When Jesus did not step forward to fulfill their expectations, they planned to force Jesus to do their will.

Today false prophets tell people that being a Christian is about earthly rewards. They tell them to name it and claim it. They say that sickness is proof of a lack of faith. They try to force Jesus to conform to an earthly pattern and are not willing to be transformed by His Holy Spirit. They want to control Jesus, not to be controlled by Jesus. They demand Jesus do things their way, even if it means forcing Jesus to walk away.