title follow me
Contents Follow me (Matthew 4:18-22)
The text is the scene where the disciples are called. If we had to choose a disciple, who would we choose? You will see good-looking, smart, family-friendly human virtues.
I. What kind of people did Jesus call disciples?
1. He called the fishermen to catch fish in the Sea of Galilee.
Simon called Peter, his brother Andrew (18), James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John (21) were all fishermen. They are ordinary people with no education, no family, no wealth. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says that He chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the strong. This is so that no body can boast.
2. Called those who are faithful to their lives.
At the time of their call, they were absorbed in their daily life. They were casting nets and weaving nets. Who is Jesus calling? Among the diseases, in the field of education, in the lives of workers, merchants, and farmers, he is looking for people who are sincere and faithful despite their different circumstances.
As theologian Von Hooper once said, “to be chosen, to be called is grace.” An ordinary 75-year-old Abram became a “source of blessing”, and David the shepherd became Israel’s shepherd. The fishermen in today's text also became disciples. We are called in the same way. This is grace.
II. How did Jesus call his disciples?
He called to follow me.(19) Whose voice is it? It is the voice that Jesus calls his disciples and the voice that calls me today. How many beckons of temptation in the world? How many people fall into Satan's temptations and stumble? Today, Jesus calls to me and says, “Follow me.” The sheep and the shepherd know each other's voice. (John 10:27) So, follow no one, but only Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life!
III. How did you respond to Jesus' call?
1. They responded quickly and immediately.
Jesus' commands must be obeyed immediately. No excuses or reasons are needed. In Genesis 12, when Abram was told to leave, Abram immediately obeyed the word and left.
2. They left everything and left.
Brothers Peter and Andrew, and James and John, left their boat and their father and followed Jesus. In order to follow Jesus, they had to leave their nets and boats for their livelihood. To become a disciple, you have to give up and give up on things of the world.
After meeting Jesus, Paul also gave up the honor, learning, and lineage he was proud of. To the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked for eternal life, Jesus tells the Ten Commandments. he was brave But when he told him to sell what he had and give it to the poor, he could not give it up and went away (Matthew 19:22).
The path of discipleship is not an easy one. (Luke 9:57-62) What is the obstacle that prevents you from following Esu? What are more precious things to me than Jesus? If there was a reason only four of the many in Galilee became disciples, it was because they immediately responded and gave up.
IV. Why did Jesus call them disciples?
He said he would make them fishers of men. A person who catches people means a person who evangelizes. The biggest reason we were called and became disciples is for 'evangelism'. We want to evangelize 270,000 to God, but we have a lot of worries.
So, how can you have confidence in evangelism?
1. You can evangelize because there is Jesus' promise that he will make me into a fisher of men.
2. We can evangelize because there is the Lord who is the example of evangelism.
Jesus set the example of evangelism through his public life. He also evangelized Zacchaeus, the tax collector, and even a woman from the city of Saramira.
3. The last great command that Jesus left after leaving this earth is evangelism. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Among the many things God has allowed the church to do, the greatest thing is evangelism. The evangelizing church is revived and the missionary church is revived.