Oct. 13, 2024

Background:

• Jesus is Lord and Savior
• He will save us if we come to him and trust in him
• We must understand that our problems are not over when we come to Jesus because we are in spiritual warfare
• Satan wants us to give up totally, but we must understand that it is spiritual warfare and there is a cost in serving the Master
• John tells us about Jesus' person as the Lamb of God, his purpose to take away the sins of the world and work (John 1:29-30, 35-36)
• The first gathering: John's disciples were gathered and then followed Jesus - salvation first (John 1:35-42)
• The 2nd gathering in Matthew was a call to service

Key Sermon Points:

1. Following Christ involves radical change
   • They had to have faith to leave their productive business to follow Jesus, who didn't have a place of his own
   • It is important for us to understand that when the call went out, the disciples responded in faith
   • If Jesus would call us today, what would be our response?
   • We must go out and make disciples
   • We must practice the Good News and share it with others to pull people in
   • The disciples were obedient and instant to the call of Christ

     Is our obedience instant?

   • Following Jesus involves a conscious decision

   • Following Jesus is a radical commitment

   • They trusted Jesus enough to leave behind all that they knew

   • God's sovereign love extends to every part of our life (Romans 8:38-39)

   • God is sovereign and has full control and authority (Proverb 21:1)

2. Jesus told Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing business to follow him
   • These men had already knew Jesus
   • When Jesus called them they knew who he was and was willing to follow them
   • They made a conscious decision to follow Jesus
   • Once we embrace Jesus and follow him, he changes our lives forever...and we are no longer the same
   • To make a conscious decision means to deliberately do something with awareness and intention
3. Following Jesus involves a conscious decision
   • Following Christ meant that a true commitment was a risk to their lives and to not turn around
   • Commitment is the beginning of trusting God
   • If we trust God, it will work out
   • To commit everything to the Lord means to trust him with everything, which has been lent to us
   • We must trust God to care for us better than we can care for ourselves
   • We should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work things out in our lives
   • Peter and Andrew left their jobs
   • John and his brother left their jobs and family
4. Following Jesus is a radical commitment

• We may have to leave our family that may not be saved or following Christ
• Jesus wanted us to be prepared for the sacrifice that we need to do
• Following Jesus will cost us everything
• If we are not willing to give everything, then we ought not to follow Him
• Such burning desire only comes from the pilot of obedience when it's lit
• Obedience is the spark that lights the fire of passion
• A Good Fisherman has some of the same qualities that are needed for witnessing:
  • Patience
  • Perseverance
  • Good Instinct
  • Courage
  • Keeps himself out of sight
• Poor timing has cost a lot of good catch - ie not going when the Spirit says to go