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An Invitation Unlike Any Other | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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I'm not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto
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salvation and I praise God. That you are not ashamed to
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speak and declare the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
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The blood still has power. Amen.
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Meet me in the gospel. I invite you into the gospel of
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Mark, chapter 1, as we continue our study through this, Amazing
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book. The centralizes, the person of
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Jesus Christ. And meet me in particular, the
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verse of chapter one found in 16.
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Where we are told. Passing alongside the Sea of
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Galilee. He saw Simon and Andrew.
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The brother of Simon casting a net into the sea for they were
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fishermen and Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make
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you become Fishers of Men and immediately they left their Nets
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and followed him going on a little farther.
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He saw James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother who are in
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their boat, mending the Nets. And immediately he called them
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and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the
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hired servants and followed him. Follow me and I will make you
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become Fishers of Men. These were the words that for
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ordinary men heard on a seemingly Ordinary Day from an
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extraordinary, man. This invitation from Jesus who
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was preaching in Galilee, as we heard last week.
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For some time, would not only change the lives of these
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galileans but would actually change the course of history.
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It's important to know that this moment between the rabbi from
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Nazareth. And these fisherman was not the
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first interaction that they had. This is not the first time that
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they saw each other even conversed with one.
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Another because we know from John chapter 1 and verse 35 to
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42, you do not have to turn there.
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We see that Andrew was in fact, before a disciple of Jesus, a
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disciple of the Baptist, John the Baptist.
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And there was a day where John the Baptist who had some of his
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disciples before him saw Jesus and pointed to him, it says
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Behold the Lamb of God and upon hearing that Andrew with great
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excitement and eagerness and curiosity follows, the one that
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John pointed to and asks this Jesus.
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If he could spend the night or rather, where he was staying,
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and Jesus extends the invitation to him in this unnamed disciple
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with him to be with him for the rest of the night.
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And it was the next day, whatever happened that night is
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veiled to us, but it was enough for Andrew to be convinced.
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This is indeed the Messiah. This is indeed, the one, the
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prophets, spoke of. And so, he burst with joy and
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runs first out of everybody. He knew to his brother Simon.
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He comes to Simon and he says, Simon the long-awaited Christ.
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The Messiah has indeed. Come.
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Let me show you who he is. And Peter follows his brother
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Andrew and he encounters Christ himself and Christ with great
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Authority changes, his very name.
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And so between that time and these verses before us today, we
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are not sure the span, but one thing is for certain, it
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couldn't be too too long. When you consider the total
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duration of Jesus ministry, And why is it important to consider
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these details? Because as you, and I see Jesus
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approaching these pairs of Brothers, he is not coming to
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them as a stranger that they've never seen before or heard
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before and calling them to conversion.
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And you and his brother already recognize his messiahship early
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on. But what Jesus is doing when he
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comes to them, is that he is extending an opportunity to
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these men to embark on a journey.
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That would support a Heavenly cause essentially, he is
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inviting them into full-time Ministry.
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Now, last week, you and I heard the message that Jesus preached
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when he went to Galilee and saying repent and believe, but
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while he was in Galilee, Jesus also commissioned a handful of
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men so that they would serve a particular purpose for the glory
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of his name and we should be grateful to God for a portion of
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scripture. Like this, because it provides
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us some insights into the mind of God and how, and what he
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looks for when he does recruit men.
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And women to his service, this will really be exciting for
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those who are eager to be of use to the master and that work that
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God has for each of us, may differ certainly.
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But despite the differences, the standard by which he calls us
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into his work, is the same. He has the same standard and
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that's what we will learn today. That's what we will see today.
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We may not know the long-term or the complete scope of the work
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that God has ordained for every single one of us.
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But we will see from these verses that we can be
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positioned. We can do something on our part
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to be prepared vessels. So that if and when the Lord
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Jesus, who is alive today, seeks to recruit servants and position
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them in a certain matter. We would be ready.
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We would be ready. And I encourage you to learn by
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leaning into here and absorb the following thoughts about how
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Jesus Christ thinks and his ways.
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Who did he call? I mean, what kind of people does
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he call, how does he call, how does he call men and women
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today? And to, what does he call us
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for? What is the direction that he
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has, in mind for his servants? For those who would answer the
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call of discipleship, and make the priority of their existence
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to do, what Jesus calls him to do.
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Number one, who does Jesus call? It is common knowledge among
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Christians that he goes for the lowly.
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He goes to those who don't have a standard or rather a standing
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in society, those who lack credentials those who are not
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praised and acknowledged among the world.
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And that is certainly true. You don't really see Jesus in
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the gospels going to Pharisees seminaries and asking for
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resumes, you don't see him exclusively looking for the
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elite or Roman officials. Be part of his Evangelistic
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team, Jesus. And this text goes toward
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uneducated, unnamed, fisherman From Galilee.
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That doesn't mean that he does not use men in great standings,
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that doesn't mean that he doesn't look for people who may
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have powerful influence in society.
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I mean, look at Paul, but it does mean.
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Would it Comforts us to learn is that he does?
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Indeed come to those, that the world would Overlook.
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But here's the mistake, a lot of Christians make with that
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wonderful truth of the grace of God that he does.
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Is scooped up the lowly of the world so that he can exalt them
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so that he would be exalted to believe that.
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And make the mistake that he has no qualifications of mine would
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be, but we brung and the Very description of Mark, by the
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spirit about these brothers gives us the clear indication
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that Jesus looks for something. He sees something that attracts
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him. To call.
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What do you see here from these verses?
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Take note how these men were found working.
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They were found actively engage in some kind of business.
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They were not laying on the sea shore of Galilee soaking up the
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sun, 10 days in a row because they had no responsibilities in
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life. These men were busy with their
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hands. These men were, they were doing
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some important tasks. They were faithful, they were
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diligent, they were trying to feed their families and try to
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build a future for themselves. And for those that they love, I
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challenge you to go to this book from cover to cover and make an
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intentional study of how men and women were found when God
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intervened in their lives and called To a special purpose,
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what you will discover. A majority of the time is that
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God finds his men and Records them doing something so Moses
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and David were shepherds. Elijah had an ox business.
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Amos took care of sycamore trees and you see example, after
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example, of different men, do the work very doing something,
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when the Lord found them because because Jesus is not interested
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in those who are slothful and those who are not faithful to
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what They've been given in the moment.
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Jesus looks for those because his work requires diligence and
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energetic effort. And so he tries to find those
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with the same ambition, and whatever toil they are engaged
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with today. He comes to these men and he
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sees them working. That's what he says.
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And if we're tempted to think that God doesn't honor this kind
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of attitude, then look at how specific Mark is and verse 16.
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He saw Simon, and Andrew. The brother of Simon casting a
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net into the sea. Then you come down to verse 18,
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He Saw James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother who were in
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The Boat, mending the Nets. Why does that matter?
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I believe there is reason the casting, the casting of the net,
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speaks of effort and The Mending of the net speaks of faithful
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stewardship. They were taking care of
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something that was perhaps broken, something that needed to
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be clean something that needed to be ready and prepared for the
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next day and both activities. The casting and The Mending
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required. Great, patience, great, great
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patience. Fishing was hard work.
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Remember when Peter with his boys, they fished all night and
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they couldn't catch. I think it was difficult.
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It was demanding. And the patients and fishing.
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Oh, surely that was a trait that Jesus was looking for.
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Because if you want to, I'm talking to those who want to
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serve God, if you want to serve him with longevity, you need
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endurance, you need to endure. It is not always roses, there's
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not always peaches and cream. There are challenges, there are
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difficulties, there are obstacles.
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There are things that will try to resist you.
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And this thought should not overwhelm us.
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Because, as I read these verses and I realize that Jesus saw, he
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saw Andrew and Simon. He saw James and John, I asked
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my own Heart Lord. What do you see right now in me?
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What do you see in the activity that I'm engaged with on a
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consistent basis? Do you see that Zeal?
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Do you see that consistency? Do you see a man who gives up so
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easily when it gets hard? What do you see in me?
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And again this is not to Heap burden, this is actually
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something exciting because what the Lord looks for is
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Credentials. Is it looking for a pedigree
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wasn't looking for degrees? He was in the wrong place.
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If he was doing that, what he was looking for is simple and
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achievable character. Just these men who knew how to
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get some callus on their hands, and who did their work right
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faithfully. And I thought to myself how true
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this is across the board with God's servants.
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One of my favorite scriptures that have changed my life and
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how to view Ministry is with Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 12.
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Verse 5, I want you to hear these words after Jeremiah,
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after a few verses complains, he complains and complains about
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the great evils and the wickedness.
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And the challenges he was experiencing A prophet, God
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breaks the silence and he speaks and he answers to his man and he
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says in chapter 12 verse 5. If you have raced with men on
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foot, And they have wearied you. How will you compete with
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horses? And if in a safe land you are so
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trusting. What will you do in the thicket
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of the Jordan? This is what he is saying,
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Jeremiah is weariness. Not the weariness that we know
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the weariness that causes murmuring and and perhaps doubt
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about God and his service. Those trials that came with his
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work in serving God, as a prophet were an indication that
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he was not prepared for the challenges ahead.
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And God was telling him that you're not going to be able to
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last in this Jeremiah if you can't handle it.
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Now, if you can't see that, you need to be able To put your
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hands to the plow and not look back.
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Now, you will indeed turn back at one point and so, he calls
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Jeremiah to hold on. He called, Jeremiah not to give
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up and Andrew, and his brother Peter, we're such men, at least
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we see him in a good light here. You compare it to Luke Chapter
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5, as I said earlier, Jesus comes to them at another time
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and there they are tired and Bone weary because they went all
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night fishing and nothing was caught and Jesus steps into
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Peters boat. He says could you push this out
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a little bit? And he does.
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And after that, he says, why don't you throw your net on this
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side? And Peter says, Master, we have
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toiled all night but because you said I will do it.
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I'm paraphrasing. And that is that is the heart of
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these men. Even though I am dejected and
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disappointed Lord, I will still do what you tell me to do.
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I'll still go where you, your call me to go and that doesn't
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require a colossal intellect. That doesn't require some kind
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of impressive resume that just requires a heart.
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That's willing to say yes to anything that the master says
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yes do. And this is who Jesus found in
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and this is what he looks for Shirley.
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And if we think that this is just taking too much out of a
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small text and just study the ways of God throughout the Bible
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and it will confirm the conclusion.
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I am making to you. Here's a second Point notice
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that they were not just engage at a certain work, notice that
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they were engaged in a certain work with certain people.
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They were a team Simon with his brother, Andrew, casting the
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net, and then you have the other team, James, and John, and the
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same boat trying to fix something amend it.
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And I don't think that's an insignificant detail because
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there's suggestion there and the suggestion is so simple and
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clear. That in order for you and I to
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enter any service to Jesus Christ, we must be willing to
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serve them alongside those who also want to serve him.
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Christ and his disciples ship program requires us to cooperate
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with those who are also sold out to the same cause He saw these
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men working together. And as they were working
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together and fishing Christ, saw a great potential for them to
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serve and fishing for Souls. That is something that many
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people don't think about. But if you're going to serve
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Jesus Christ, you're going to serve them with some different
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kind of people with unique personalities and different
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weaknesses, and it's going to require some adjustment on your
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part, in mind, in order to move forward in the program of God
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for our lives. I mean, if you have any doubt
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that these guys had different personalities then realized
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later on in Mark, James and John are called the sons of thunder
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for what reason. I'm sure there is something
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about the personality. They earned that nickname, the
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sons of thunder here. Okay, what's up now, Peter?
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I mean, the Bible is not shy to disclose that.
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He had his own quirks that he was somewhat influential with
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his personality that when he said to do something, many
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people fall is all right. Peter said, let's go and to
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think that these men walked around with halos, Three years.
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Without any Clash is wrong. Remember?
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We just get one little snippet, that more than once.
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They were arguing with each other.
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Who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God?
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And it breaks my heart to see people who Express a desire to
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serve Christ who have great gifting evil even.
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But they do not have any interest or any desire to submit
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to the local church. And to serve god with the church
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that he has, providentially led them to can a hand operate
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without being connected to the body.
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You and I know the obvious answer to that.
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And what we have to understand is that these men here in their
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in their Earthly business would be able to translate beautifully
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into their spiritual service because we do not see Envy here.
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We do not see troublemaking here.
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We do not see insecurity here. Even when Peter had that
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miraculous catch he was on ashamed to ask the others and
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other boats to come and help. And Luke chapter 5.
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And, unfortunately, many people who stunt their growth, right?
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And who can't move forward, because of the very things I
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just mentioned, they are insecure.
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They see other people as competitors, who are serving the
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same cause, and the same Kingdom.
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You cannot know, discipleship, long-term if you have those
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things in your heart, but also, if you and I, if you and I are
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willing to partner with those that God brings us with and to
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serve those who God brings before us, then we will
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certainly be Christ. Honoring disciples.
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Jesus wants members of a body, he doesn't want separate
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members. He wants a connected body to do
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his work. He calls these kind of men,
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these kind of woman, based on what we see here, though, there
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are many other truths that are included.
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How does he call though? How does he call the text before
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us? We see, first of all, that he is
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the one who initiates the invitation.
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These brothers didn't see Jesus, stop what they're doing and
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saying Jesus, we want to be here disciples.
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We want to be a part of your immediate Evangelistic team.
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We want to actually be Apostles of that position is still
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available. Nothing of the sort, Jesus looks
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to them, he says to them, follow me and I will make you become
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Fishers of Men. And upon that invitation, they
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leave their jobs, they leave their families and they abandon
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all for this cause and it would be extremely wrong to look at a
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narrative, text like this, and then, apply that as a standard
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for all people, if they want to be serious disciples.
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What do I mean by that? Just because these men left
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their jobs and their families doesn't mean you have to does it
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mean I have to We have to consider the entirety of
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scripture to realize how God works in our lives, as we seek
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to serve him as we seek to follow him, where he would want
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us to follow him. And when we understand that God
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has an assignment for each of us and that will look different for
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each of us, then we can be comforted to know that.
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All I have to do is be willing to let go of anything.
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And that is enough for God. This is one of the verses that
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on top of the verse I mentioned earlier has comforted me and
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still comforts me today. It stabilizes my soul in the
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context of serving him. Paul gives a wonderful truth to
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these believers who had many questions about what should
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change after they got saved. And he gives us direct
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instruction to them that applies to all churches.
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And First Corinthians, I encourage you to try to turn
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their in your Bibles in chapter 7 and First Corinthians 7 17.
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Notice what the Apostle says to these Corinthian Christians.
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Verse 17. Only let each person lead the
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life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has
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called them. This is my rule in all the
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churches, what? A beautiful command, the
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Corinthian Church was made up of different.
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Believers, you had some who had different spiritual gifts, you
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have others who had different social statuses.
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You have others who had different relationship.
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Dynamic somewhere single summer Widow.
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Some were married to unbelievers some wanted to get married.
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And with all those differences before Paul and his writing, he
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wants to encourage every person then.
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And now whether they are single married, slave or free, there's
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a matter where you're at that. You can in that very Place seek
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to honor God, don't be pressured to change and don't be frantic
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to change if you don't have Clarity for the next step.
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Just let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned
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to him. And this is one of the strongest
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verses that encourages us as Believers God, indeed has
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assigned a certain way of life for all of us.
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He has an ordained purpose set before he turned in past that
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you would explore, and discover step-by-step.
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And so, we should be comforted by that truth.
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And I think this is especially important.
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Because in the context, these Corinthian Christians were
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saved. They receive conversion, but at
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the same time, when they realize that they were safe, they want
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to know what else needs to change in my life. and, How do
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we need to be circumcised or not circumcised?
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Do I need to uncircumcised? I'm circumcised.
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Do I need to be married out? What do I do now?
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What do I do? And I can't help but think that
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that is so often true, especially with the person who
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is first Saved, when they first come to Christ, there is almost
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in this desire to want to honor God and totality to know, it
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will kill or where do I go from now, what do I need to do?
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And to become frantic, they become frantic and that's not
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just true for the believer at first, that's true for the
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mature believer, who was constantly wanting Serve God and
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to fulfill the assignment that he has set for them and so, you
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know what happens, you get Christians that get Frankton.
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Well, do I need to quit my job? I think I need to quit my job.
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I don't think I'm glorifying God in my job.
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I don't know where I'm gonna go, but I think I just need to quit
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my job. I think I got to spice things up
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a little bit. Think the Lord wants me to do?
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Do something faithful to him and radical?
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Well, relax. Well okay, well maybe I need to
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move out of state because maybe they would be better if I go
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there. If I do this, if I go, if I move
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over there really is, sell everything.
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Just give it away. I don't know what I'm going to
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do, but I'm just going to sell And and they're scared to even
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take any of those steps because they don't have any Clarity from
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God. And then what you have is
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Christians for weeks and months living in some kind of a torment
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that they're not really serving God and the something changes,
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something radical happens. And good-hearted children of God
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are frustrated. Because they want to.
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They want to fulfill something. They have an urge for it, but
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they don't know what to do. Look down in verse 24 of the
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same chapter. So Brothers in whatever
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condition each was called there, let him remain with God.
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In whatever condition each was called there.
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Let him remain with God. He is now reinstating.
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What he said back in verse 17 with a beautiful point to enrich
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the encouragement, we should remain in whatever circumstance
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Divine Providence has led us into and in that place with
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those circumstances honor God. Honor.
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God look at verse 19 at the end of it for neither circumcision
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counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but keeping the
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Commandments of God. You may not know what needs to
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change at this time. You may not know next step, but
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one thing you can do and all that God is looking for, is that
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in the place that you are in right now, just obey him just
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obey him. Obey him to the capacity in
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which he has given you obeying with the context that you are in
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just seek to obey him. And this is so encouraging.
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You know why? Because it says their let him
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remain with who with God. God is with you.
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And as unsatisfied as you might be where you are as though, you
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may have these Desires in these, these prayers that don't seem to
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be answered as quickly as you would.
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Like, the thing that you can be comforted by, is that where you
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are right now? God is with you.
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And you can, no matter your status and relationship.
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No matter the job that you have. You can write their fellowship
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with God. He is with you.
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You can know him, you can enjoy him.
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You can worship Him. You can receive from him, you
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can grow in him. You were there with God and you
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can stay there and honor. God, how does this all tie in?
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Well, this is what I'm trying to say.
24:33
Be comforted be comforted to know that God actually will call
24:38
us when he wants us to call. Less, but until then, you are
24:41
called to stay in the station that he is.
24:43
Providentially put you in. And so let that burden roll off
24:48
your back and realize that when the next step will come, it will
24:52
be so clear. Just like, with these disciples.
24:57
Jesus makes it so clear. Follow me and I will make you
25:03
Fishers of Men. And when that called us come,
25:07
whether it is through his word where we know what we're
25:09
supposed to do, in the context that were in or when there is
25:13
Manifest direction, that is Supernatural in your life, there
25:17
is an appropriate response and it is exemplified by these men.
25:21
Each element is with each pair Brothers.
25:24
The first one comes with Andrew and Peter.
25:26
We're told in verse 18 immediately, Immediately, they
25:30
left their Nets and followed him.
25:31
That is a word that Mark loves to use immediately.
25:34
No, hesitation, no second thought, That their history,
25:41
their business, the dreams with their business, would even come
25:45
close to competing with what Christ would want them to do.
25:49
They dropped everything in that moment, the charge of Christ,
25:52
whether it is revealed through his word or whether it is again,
25:56
a manifest Direction, it deserved Swift surrender.
26:01
I will surrender. Lord, and this is again, why am
26:04
I saying this? This is the Posh of the heart
26:06
that makes us recruitable for God's service.
26:08
He wants to know that you hold things in life loosely.
26:12
And that if he says go, you will go and you will drop it and you
26:16
will go where he wants us to go. And listen, I know that sounds
26:18
like a radical thing that's unique to certain people, but it
26:21
is still something that you and I can experience in this life.
26:24
Remember, when I was working in advertising and I knew God had
26:27
revealed in so many ways, you're going to be doing Ministry and
26:30
there were so many opportunities for jobs in the advertising
26:33
industry and somebody who had a good heart recommended to me.
26:36
Well why don't you just do that and do that part-time?
26:39
But I knew it wasn't that it had to be full-time Ministry and so
26:42
I looked Somebody in the eyes who offered me, a great job at a
26:44
young age. It's, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
26:47
Many people have testimonies like that and that is what is
26:50
trying to be said through the example of these men.
26:53
That immediately you're willing to leave, whatever Jesus calls
26:56
you to lead. But look at the other facet, the
26:58
emphasis with Andrew and Peter is their occupation.
27:02
But with James and John, it's with who, it's with
27:05
relationship. They left though, they left our
27:08
occupation. They left and walk away from
27:10
their beloved father Zebedee. And he adds a detail.
27:14
The Hired servants, The Hired servants, meaning that these
27:18
fellow employees were very likely good friends to James and
27:21
John that they had memories that they had laughs.
27:26
And surely with their own father.
27:28
There was Comfort. There was a comfort with
27:29
familiarity. There was a safety, there was
27:32
close proximity with someone that you, you obviously love and
27:35
care for, and they care for you. And yet, we are told that they
27:39
left with the same promptness. and so, what is being said, here
27:44
that in light of Andrew and Peter, you must leave any
27:47
security But in light of James and John, you must be willing to
27:52
even pay the price relationally. Relationally.
27:59
You know, there are many people who cannot truly pay the price
28:03
of discipleship because they just love the friends too much.
28:07
They just love their family too much, and they know that if they
28:12
walk in a certain way or do a certain thing in the Name of
28:15
Christ, that it will affect the Dynamics of those relationships,
28:19
you cannot be a true disciple of.
28:20
That is the case. It will cost you even
28:23
relationally. It will cost you sometimes to
28:25
move locations. It will cost you to have
28:27
friction at home because you're standing for truth.
28:29
It will cost you something. And Jesus still has a reward for
28:33
them, even Peter later on in Mark, you know what he says.
28:36
After the Rich Young Ruler did the opposite of him and the
28:39
opposite of the other disciples. He says, in Mark 10:28 Peter
28:43
began to say to him. See we have left everything and
28:46
followed you. We have left everything and
28:49
followed you. And this is the mark of
28:51
discipleship. Not that every person here has
28:53
sold everything and has left everything.
28:57
But that in your heart, you are willing to give everything that
29:02
you are convincing your soul. Oh Lord.
29:03
If you say, leave everything. I will leave everything.
29:07
And so in true worship, we should be able to look to Christ
29:10
and say, see I'm willing to leave everything.
29:13
See, my heart is detached from everything your call on.
29:16
My life has Superior value over all things.
29:19
That is discipleship. Let me add one more thing to
29:24
this point about how Jesus calls us.
29:27
It was not just the response of the disciples that was immediate
29:29
notice that the call was sudden. we see in verse 20 that the Lord
29:34
immediately he went to James and John immediately when Jesus
29:40
calls us Okay. After the Revelation that you
29:43
have believed in that, he is the Messiah.
29:45
He is Lord, he is savior. But throughout our walk with the
29:48
Lord, when he calls you and I to a certain work, let me give you
29:53
a heads-up. He tends to do it with
29:55
interruption. In other words, it is never
30:00
convenient, to answer the call to serve, Jesus Christ to the
30:04
flesh. There's never time at
30:06
Fletcher's, I think now is a good time that I'm an honor
30:08
Jesus Christ in a particular way, never.
30:14
He doesn't when they're busy, he doesn't while they're working.
30:16
He does it while they're with family, he comes and he says,
30:19
follow me. Now, there's no negotiation.
30:22
Others have tried to do that down the road.
30:24
I didn't work out well for them. So no this the price and serving
30:29
Christ is that it will call us at inconvenient times.
30:35
That it will demand young person, the prime of your life.
30:38
You can't delay serving the lord.
30:40
That was my mentality growing up in the church as though.
30:42
Jesus was waiting for me. You know it Lord.
30:45
I'll wait till I'm 30. 30 something and then I'll get
30:47
serious about you. That is not how discipleship
30:50
works. You see Christ here teaching us
30:55
that it has never committed for the flesh to follow him.
30:58
Serving him is not an addition to your life seeking.
31:02
To be a disciple of Christ is not a piece of the pie of your
31:04
existence. It's the whole pie, it overrides
31:08
all things, it becomes the very reason where everything orbits
31:12
around that Central. Cause Jesus Christ, wherever
31:15
you, tell me to go, whatever you tell me to do, I will do it.
31:18
This is what he is looking for these disciples gave it.
31:22
This is how he calls. He expects immediate obedience
31:26
in the joy of immediate obedience.
31:28
Let me tell you. This Christ will forgive you
31:30
time, doesn't time. Doesn't forgive you.
31:35
And the more we delay in obedience, all were doing is
31:37
robbing ourselves of Greater testimonies and experiences of
31:41
God in this life. I often tell myself this and I
31:44
tell others from time to time, there is coming a day where you
31:48
and I will not be able to glorify Jesus Christ for all of
31:52
eternity in heaven. We will glorify Christ certainly
31:56
with perfect pitch, would Perfect Resistance to Temptation
32:00
because there's no resistance to Temptation.
32:02
We will know a type of Glory. And we will give a type of Glory
32:07
that will be unique and enduring.
32:09
At the same time, there is a way in which we can glorify Christ.
32:13
Now that we can't and Heaven, Can you say no to Temptation in
32:16
heaven? Can you die to self and have it?
32:19
How can you do that? You're gonna have a glorified
32:21
body and won't even be a thought.
32:23
Will you stand for Christ in heaven?
32:26
When the multitudes will not stand for Christ?
32:28
No no no. And the list goes on, but in
32:32
this life, yes that tells me. I only have one shot of this.
32:36
I only have one shot and then I will stand before him and I will
32:41
enjoy him and love him but I don't want to look back before I
32:43
get and say oh Lord if you just give me more time, I would not
32:47
been so foolish. The cost of discipleship, I tell
32:52
you this, there's a great across of not being a disciple than it
32:55
being a true disciple. What does he call us for?
32:58
Where does he call us to? That's the next question though,
33:01
the destination of these disciples are unique because
33:03
they would be prepared and trained to be apostles who would
33:06
lay the foundation of the doctrine of the church.
33:08
The principle is still the same. There is a direction.
33:12
When God calls us into a certain discipleship, a certain way of
33:16
life, notice what he says, follow me and I will make you
33:19
become Fishers of Men, I will make you become Fishers of Men,
33:24
as we daily, yield to his leadership, the ultimate goal of
33:28
the Lord Jesus and calling you my brother and calling you.
33:31
My sister is for you to become something that you weren't when
33:34
you started. I found you as fissures.
33:40
But I'm going to make you become something that I have planned
33:44
for you. That is why we should never be
33:47
discouraged to think that we are unfit or unworthy.
33:50
Are undeserving to be of use to the King of Kings and the Lord
33:53
of lords. You know why?
33:54
Because his primary motivation and coming to these disciples
33:58
was not their ability. Not even their maturity, the
34:01
primary motivation of Jesus Christ.
34:03
Has I can do something in these men.
34:07
I can make them into something I can mold them into something.
34:11
Their hearts are in the place where it would give me the
34:15
ability to create and me what I want to create rather in them
34:20
and then is no different for us. Listen we should without
34:23
reservations surrender joyfully to the Lord because he is not
34:27
trying to find us in a certain way.
34:28
He wants to find us, just willing to say yes and then to
34:32
submit to what he has in mind. That which he has ordained for
34:37
us. Personally, you know what that
34:39
means doesn't matter what your personality defect is, does it
34:42
matter what kind of life-altering trauma you had in
34:44
the past, he wants to make you into something, he wants you to
34:49
become something. So the hesitation to follow
34:52
Jesus Christ because of your personal weakness or your
34:56
history is irrelevant. Because he's not finding you as
35:01
something. He's inviting you to become
35:03
something. That's the cost of discipleship
35:06
and their and their context, it was to become great Soul winners
35:10
in your context, perhaps it will be a great mother.
35:16
And we see here that this verse tells us where the power of this
35:20
transformation comes, I will make you become, I will the
35:25
power comes from him. So what's the fear and following
35:28
Christ? What's the worry in seeking to
35:30
honor him? I've met people who say I'm just
35:32
worried to serve Jesus because I don't know what I will be in the
35:34
days to come. I don't know what kind of
35:36
mistakes I'll make I know myself.
35:37
Well, let me tell you something. The energy and the equipment
35:40
that the enablement. Does it come from you?
35:42
It comes from him. Oh yeah, if you rely on
35:45
yourself? No, thank you.
35:47
I'll stick with this. But when the Lord calls you,
35:51
when he invites you, he also enables you, he enables you.
35:55
And I what is there to resist? How can you even think to
35:59
yourself for a moment? I can't, of course, you can't do
36:03
it. That's the point.
36:04
That's the point. So let this be a true that you
36:07
pray back to the Lord. Do you hear me?
36:10
Let this be a true that you pray back to the Lord if you infuse
36:12
the grace, if you put Truth in these disciples, that transform
36:16
these galileans into some people that stunned the world and do
36:19
the same in me. Do the same with me.
36:22
Lord, I'm no different than these men.
36:24
I am weak. I have great, great weakness,
36:28
but Lord, if you said, you would make them become something that
36:31
all how I long for you to make me into something or someone
36:34
change me and you submit to his power day by day by day.
36:40
And what's amazing about this is that it's a process as As you
36:44
pray that prayer and I pray that you pray it.
36:46
As you pray, that prayer realized something very
36:48
important. Jesus said, I will make you
36:51
become and it was a three-year process.
36:55
You didn't wave his hand over them on the show and then they
36:56
became apostles. They become wonderful preachers.
37:00
Immediately, they become Soul winners right away.
37:03
I mean, remember, James and John.
37:05
They're about to go through Samaria and they say Jesus.
37:06
Can we call down fire from heaven and burned these guys?
37:13
These are the men that Jesus called.
37:17
I will make you become, it's a process and Christ knows that.
37:22
Unfortunately these children don't We get frustrated with
37:25
ourselves. We get disappointed.
37:27
We throw in the towel. We turn our backs.
37:30
And yet Christ is committed. Committed to us for his glory.
37:35
And this is what I saw admire about the Lord.
37:37
This is what makes me adore him. That I see here with his men, in
37:42
the immediate sense that he has a school and there is a
37:45
curriculum and he he has step-by-step ready for us to
37:49
walk through and knowing Christ and becoming like Christ.
37:53
And being fruitful for Christ is not something that happens
37:56
overnight. It's something that Jesus has
38:01
great patience for Here's an example of just how committed
38:07
Christ is. Among many other examples turn
38:10
to the Gospel of John very quickly in verse 14.
38:15
Excuse me, 14:8. John 14:8.
38:29
Philip, one of the disciples. Set to him, Lord, show us the
38:34
father and it is enough for us. Look what Jesus says.
38:43
Jesus said to him, I've been with you so long and you still
38:46
do not know me Philip Whoever has seen me, has seen the
38:51
father. How can you say show us the
38:53
father. Philip.
38:58
With skepticism, perhaps. With doubt.
39:04
Says jeez. Can you just show us the father?
39:05
Not, that's all we need. We don't need any more proof
39:07
about this whole thing and the Lord answered him.
39:09
He says, how can you ask that? I've been with you, and you've
39:12
been with me for so long. And as I Look to this question,
39:16
I realized that Philip after three years, three years of
39:20
one-on-one of close proximity to Christ after hearing all those
39:24
teachings, after seeing all those Miracles, after being able
39:27
to testify, the sinlessness of Christ eating with him and
39:31
sleeping in the same tent ISM and traveling with him, has
39:33
still not fully comprehend what he should have known at this
39:36
point. And by this moment So, we asked
39:40
the question. That was, that was inappropriate
39:43
for somebody who's been walking with Jesus, for this long.
39:46
Show us the father, Christ's sake, you're not do not realize,
39:50
I am one with them. Do you not realize that I share
39:52
his deity? Do you not realize that if you
39:54
see me, you seen a perfect reflection of the character and
39:57
the nature of the father. And the point is this is that
40:00
when you look at Phillip asking this question how Jesus though
40:04
there is a mild rebuke here still gentle, how true is that
40:08
of his children today? Who have walked with him for so
40:11
long and still can't get some of the basics?
40:16
Who still don't understand. Not that the fact that he's God,
40:20
but that he is Sovereign over your life.
40:23
But he is in control that in these fearful tumultuous times.
40:27
He will provide, he will perfect dissing.
40:30
You look at these things and you realize that even believers who
40:33
sat through years of sermons twice a week old testament, New
40:36
Testament conference after conference YouTube sermons in
40:39
between still are not convinced of certain things about Christ.
40:46
And listen anybody in any teaching, position knows how
40:48
heartbreaking that is that after you have hammered certain things
40:51
over and over again. It just as though just spilled
40:54
out of the other ear and he had Christ here though as a faithful
40:56
teacher does gently correct him? He doesn't look if you know I
41:00
fill up. I don't even know why I got.
41:02
It's been three years submit your resignation, I'll find
41:06
somebody else down the road. He's still committed to Philip.
41:12
He's still ready to use, Philip. He still has a plan for Phillip,
41:17
he doesn't put Phillip on the Shelf.
41:20
And I thank God for that. Because there are moments of
41:24
doubt and there are moments of Wonder.
41:26
And there's there are moments where though, I've read things
41:28
and I've heard things that sometimes I've really believed
41:30
in other times, I've wondered I can expect the Lord to look at
41:34
me and not give up. And not throw me away.
41:43
The challenge me. Yes, because of faithful teacher
41:45
will. My question is, how can you hold
41:48
yourself back from following such a wonderful Master like
41:50
this? How can you not give up
41:54
everything to follow him? One who will enable you?
41:56
And one who will be patient with you and one who will walk with
41:59
you until the end. Who is so committed to you?
42:06
and I for his glory that even when we are not where we were
42:10
supposed to be, And our imitation of him and an
42:14
understanding of him. He sticks with us still.
42:18
That's Jesus. That's the Lord that you and I
42:20
love and worship. so in this brief brief message, you have an
42:26
idea, at least of who, he calls, how he calls to what he calls
42:31
you and I to Ultimately discipleship is not about doing
42:37
certain things. That's that's that's secondary
42:39
but becoming becoming who he wants us to become. and then he
42:44
is there to do whatever he needs to do to make sure that all he
42:47
requires of us as a willingness to yield to that and humble
42:51
ourselves, that for that to become more and more of a
42:53
reality, Usually, at the end of a message like this, you're
42:57
familiar with this. If you come here, consistently
43:00
the gospel will go forth, but I'm going to change it.
43:03
This time, I want to speak to those who are already have
43:06
believed upon that Revelation, that Jesus Christ is, in fact,
43:09
the savior of the world. And I want to ask you.
43:12
I want to ask you a question. Have you lost your way?
43:16
Have you lost your way? In discipleship to Jesus.
43:22
What do I mean by that? Have you placed your identity in
43:25
something other than what he has for you?
43:28
Was there was there a moment where you were?
43:30
You were Lord whatever. Yes, but at this point, if
43:34
you're honest, you're clutching onto things and you've made them
43:39
something greater than what they should be.
43:41
Do you love your family more than Christ?
43:45
Do you love your friends more than Jesus Christ?
43:49
What's amazing about Peter being called?
43:51
And though it is so Exemplar, the beginning, you go to the end
43:54
of the book of John, you realize he goes back.
43:55
Fishing fishing wasn't a sin, fishing isn't a sin and Peters
44:01
case. It was backsliding because
44:03
Christ call them to turn away from it.
44:05
And he goes back to when he didn't have answers for the next
44:07
step. And when he was wallowing in his
44:08
shame, And yet, Jesus, because people question whether Peter
44:12
was doing the wrong thing, when he went back to fishing with his
44:14
boys, all you have to do is come to the end of that chapter and
44:17
realize that when Jesus restores Peter he looks at me.
44:20
And he finally says, follow me. Well, if he was following him
44:24
all the way along, and why would he say that?
44:26
It's because he lost his way. He lost his way and Jesus is
44:30
calling him to recommit himself to complete and total
44:33
discipleship. And I want to tell you this,
44:35
that one of the tragedies, one of the tragedies of the
44:38
Christian Life is that you see people who are once following
44:40
Jesus and they still hold onto the revelation of who he is.
44:43
Peter didn't deny the fact that Jesus was alive.
44:45
Peter didn't deny the fact that Jesus was in fact, he said he
44:48
was Peter just deviated from the purpose that God had called them
44:52
to. And some of you might have done
44:55
that. Here's what I'm calling you to
44:58
do. I'm calling, I'm actually
44:59
calling you discern action. I'm calling you to certain
45:02
action in your own heart. That today perhaps the busyness
45:05
of Life. All these different things have
45:07
crashed into your soul. And where you are today,
45:12
whatever God has called you to do.
45:14
Whether that is church-affiliated Ministry or
45:16
not, you don't have that Zeal, you don't have dedication,
45:20
you're kind of just floating through life and you could care
45:22
less really? You could care less Or perhaps,
45:26
again, as I said earlier, the thought of Christ calling you to
45:30
do something, surrender, to something, give up.
45:32
Something is terrifying. Or perhaps you were so
45:37
discouraged with a failure or pass failure that you cannot
45:40
imagine ever being used by God again.
45:43
And though he extends his hand, you push his hand away and say
45:46
I'm not worthy, that is trusting in your own flesh in your own
45:49
ability. I'm calling you to follow Jesus
45:53
again. What I mean by that is not
45:56
giving your life to him and salvation but willing to set
46:00
your life up in your soul and your heart to say Lord, I am
46:03
yours, whatever. You say, whatever you do, I want
46:05
to do it. I want to do it.
46:08
You'd be amazed to know how many Christians are not there.
46:11
But the same Jesus who restored a Peter after up here, after so
46:14
many years, so many preaching, so many teachings.
46:18
So many miracles was still willing to restore him.
46:20
Say, follow me, follow me. I've seen fathers and mothers
46:27
who are burning for Christ before they had children.
46:32
And after they had children and after difficulty in marriage and
46:34
after all these things, they stop.
46:36
They stop going to church. They stop serving Christ in
46:38
Ministry, but in their later years in life, they heard Jesus
46:41
saying. Again, follow me.
46:42
You once follow me, follow me again and it brought Revival to
46:45
their home. Many people in this life are in
46:50
transitional moments. You're figuring out who to
46:52
marry. You are getting married.
46:54
You're getting yourself established.
46:56
And with all of that some way somehow the cause of Christ, in
47:00
your heart, the Zeal to serve him has been buried.
47:05
Jesus wants you to get married? Yes, he wants you to walk in
47:07
that way. He wants to be responsible, but
47:09
is the priority of your life? Still, the purpose that he has
47:12
for you. Whatever that looks like.
47:13
I hope you would answer this. Call of Christ who gently says
47:16
follow me again. Lord, we ask you today in the
47:19
Sunday service that is. We've heard this call to
47:22
discipleship that we would re reinforce our commitment to the
47:27
cause For some that is Ministry for others, that is simply just
47:34
being mindful of you and what we do whether that's business,
47:39
whether that's family. Raising children are raising
47:42
funds, Well, we know that the universal call Salvation is the
47:50
same repent and believe but we also know that each of us in
47:53
here have a particular assignment. some know that
48:00
assignment Lord, some don't but we just want to tell you this
48:04
afternoon, Lord, whatever you say, we do whatever you want, we
48:08
will give Reignite, our hearts. Pull our affections.
48:22
And help us realize that you are inviting us into something.
48:24
Unlike any other thing. And so, Lord, even for those who
48:29
have been following you over these years, we want to just
48:31
take this time to worship you. And tell you a fresh Lord, you
48:35
are worthy. You are worthy of my life.
48:40
Being Live For Your Glory. Whatever that looks like we want
48:43
to follow you in Jesus name. Amen.