Title: Follow Me / (Matthew 4:18-22)
The most important geographically during Jesus' public life is "Galilee in the Gentiles" (15), and the most important message is "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (17). The most important method of ministry is to call the disciples to preach the gospel, that is, to follow me (19). There is a difference between the records of Matthew and John about Jesus calling his disciples. But they are complementary. Jesus expanded the kingdom of God with a strategy.
I. What does it mean to follow me?
The first is obedience. The disciples had to abandon their boats, nets, customs seats, and even their father in order to obey them. There is no obedience without sacrifice. The second is to repent. Matthew was told to repent when Jesus said that He came to call sinners. The third is to accept the command. We must take the Lord's yoke upon us and accept the command to follow. Fourth, trust. You can never follow the Lord without believing in Him. Fifth is to be patient. The life you follow for the rest of your life requires patience.
II. 3 Steps of the Word to Follow Me
1. The call from darkness to light.
Peter was not called to be an evangelist from the beginning. When he realizes that he is a sinner and is washed with the blood of the Lamb, he begins to serve with a new heart. In the first stage, you are called to be born again.
2. The Call from Believer to Worker
Even though Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, if he had continued to catch fish, he would have lived a comfortable life of faith. But after hearing the Lord's command to come and follow me, they left their boats and nets and followed the Lord. We are the servants of the Lord, sent by the Lord. "Here I am. Send me." Like Isaiah, we must work as soldiers of Christ. This does not mean that we should all give up our jobs and become clergy. Rather, we must work responsibly for what we are doing and where we are.
3. Called to the apostles
Let me conclude.
We, who have been called by God, should not be satisfied with just becoming a saved people. You must be used as a fisher of men, and in addition, you must fulfill your mission as an apostle as a witness of Christ. I hope that all the saints will carry out their mission as apostles.