1 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:14,700 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto 2 00:00:14,700 --> 00:00:18,400 salvation and I praise God. That you are not ashamed to 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,000 speak and declare the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:24,600 The blood still has power. Amen. 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,900 Meet me in the gospel. I invite you into the gospel of 6 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:33,700 Mark, chapter 1, as we continue our study through this, Amazing 7 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:37,300 book. The centralizes, the person of 8 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:44,900 Jesus Christ. And meet me in particular, the 9 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:50,400 verse of chapter one found in 16. 10 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,700 Where we are told. Passing alongside the Sea of 11 00:00:56,700 --> 00:00:58,900 Galilee. He saw Simon and Andrew. 12 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:03,100 The brother of Simon casting a net into the sea for they were 13 00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:07,900 fishermen and Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make 14 00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:11,800 you become Fishers of Men and immediately they left their Nets 15 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,600 and followed him going on a little farther. 16 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,700 He saw James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother who are in 17 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:23,500 their boat, mending the Nets. And immediately he called them 18 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:27,300 and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the 19 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:36,100 hired servants and followed him. Follow me and I will make you 20 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:41,800 become Fishers of Men. These were the words that for 21 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:48,600 ordinary men heard on a seemingly Ordinary Day from an 22 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:53,400 extraordinary, man. This invitation from Jesus who 23 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,400 was preaching in Galilee, as we heard last week. 24 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,800 For some time, would not only change the lives of these 25 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,300 galileans but would actually change the course of history. 26 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,500 It's important to know that this moment between the rabbi from 27 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:10,400 Nazareth. And these fisherman was not the 28 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,000 first interaction that they had. This is not the first time that 29 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,200 they saw each other even conversed with one. 30 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,900 Another because we know from John chapter 1 and verse 35 to 31 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:22,500 42, you do not have to turn there. 32 00:02:22,900 --> 00:02:27,200 We see that Andrew was in fact, before a disciple of Jesus, a 33 00:02:27,208 --> 00:02:29,900 disciple of the Baptist, John the Baptist. 34 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,200 And there was a day where John the Baptist who had some of his 35 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,300 disciples before him saw Jesus and pointed to him, it says 36 00:02:37,300 --> 00:02:42,100 Behold the Lamb of God and upon hearing that Andrew with great 37 00:02:42,100 --> 00:02:47,200 excitement and eagerness and curiosity follows, the one that 38 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,400 John pointed to and asks this Jesus. 39 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,100 If he could spend the night or rather, where he was staying, 40 00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:56,700 and Jesus extends the invitation to him in this unnamed disciple 41 00:02:56,700 --> 00:02:59,400 with him to be with him for the rest of the night. 42 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:03,500 And it was the next day, whatever happened that night is 43 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:06,300 veiled to us, but it was enough for Andrew to be convinced. 44 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:10,100 This is indeed the Messiah. This is indeed, the one, the 45 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:13,900 prophets, spoke of. And so, he burst with joy and 46 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:17,600 runs first out of everybody. He knew to his brother Simon. 47 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:21,800 He comes to Simon and he says, Simon the long-awaited Christ. 48 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,400 The Messiah has indeed. Come. 49 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,800 Let me show you who he is. And Peter follows his brother 50 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,900 Andrew and he encounters Christ himself and Christ with great 51 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:33,500 Authority changes, his very name. 52 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:38,300 And so between that time and these verses before us today, we 53 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:42,300 are not sure the span, but one thing is for certain, it 54 00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:45,000 couldn't be too too long. When you consider the total 55 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,500 duration of Jesus ministry, And why is it important to consider 56 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:53,000 these details? Because as you, and I see Jesus 57 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,400 approaching these pairs of Brothers, he is not coming to 58 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,500 them as a stranger that they've never seen before or heard 59 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:04,800 before and calling them to conversion. 60 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,500 And you and his brother already recognize his messiahship early 61 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:13,100 on. But what Jesus is doing when he 62 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:17,700 comes to them, is that he is extending an opportunity to 63 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:20,700 these men to embark on a journey. 64 00:04:22,100 --> 00:04:26,900 That would support a Heavenly cause essentially, he is 65 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,000 inviting them into full-time Ministry. 66 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,300 Now, last week, you and I heard the message that Jesus preached 67 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:38,100 when he went to Galilee and saying repent and believe, but 68 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:42,400 while he was in Galilee, Jesus also commissioned a handful of 69 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,600 men so that they would serve a particular purpose for the glory 70 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,800 of his name and we should be grateful to God for a portion of 71 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,200 scripture. Like this, because it provides 72 00:04:54,200 --> 00:05:00,700 us some insights into the mind of God and how, and what he 73 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:03,600 looks for when he does recruit men. 74 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,700 And women to his service, this will really be exciting for 75 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:13,800 those who are eager to be of use to the master and that work that 76 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,900 God has for each of us, may differ certainly. 77 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:21,800 But despite the differences, the standard by which he calls us 78 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:26,900 into his work, is the same. He has the same standard and 79 00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:30,000 that's what we will learn today. That's what we will see today. 80 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,900 We may not know the long-term or the complete scope of the work 81 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:36,100 that God has ordained for every single one of us. 82 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,500 But we will see from these verses that we can be 83 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:42,700 positioned. We can do something on our part 84 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:46,600 to be prepared vessels. So that if and when the Lord 85 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:51,600 Jesus, who is alive today, seeks to recruit servants and position 86 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,500 them in a certain matter. We would be ready. 87 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:59,400 We would be ready. And I encourage you to learn by 88 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:04,300 leaning into here and absorb the following thoughts about how 89 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:06,700 Jesus Christ thinks and his ways. 90 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,700 Who did he call? I mean, what kind of people does 91 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:15,800 he call, how does he call, how does he call men and women 92 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,000 today? And to, what does he call us 93 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,400 for? What is the direction that he 94 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,800 has, in mind for his servants? For those who would answer the 95 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,100 call of discipleship, and make the priority of their existence 96 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,000 to do, what Jesus calls him to do. 97 00:06:29,900 --> 00:06:35,300 Number one, who does Jesus call? It is common knowledge among 98 00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:37,800 Christians that he goes for the lowly. 99 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,400 He goes to those who don't have a standard or rather a standing 100 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,000 in society, those who lack credentials those who are not 101 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,200 praised and acknowledged among the world. 102 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:52,400 And that is certainly true. You don't really see Jesus in 103 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,400 the gospels going to Pharisees seminaries and asking for 104 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,400 resumes, you don't see him exclusively looking for the 105 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,300 elite or Roman officials. Be part of his Evangelistic 106 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:08,000 team, Jesus. And this text goes toward 107 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:12,300 uneducated, unnamed, fisherman From Galilee. 108 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:16,500 That doesn't mean that he does not use men in great standings, 109 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:18,300 that doesn't mean that he doesn't look for people who may 110 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:20,300 have powerful influence in society. 111 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,100 I mean, look at Paul, but it does mean. 112 00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:24,700 Would it Comforts us to learn is that he does? 113 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:27,300 Indeed come to those, that the world would Overlook. 114 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,400 But here's the mistake, a lot of Christians make with that 115 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,900 wonderful truth of the grace of God that he does. 116 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,800 Is scooped up the lowly of the world so that he can exalt them 117 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,600 so that he would be exalted to believe that. 118 00:07:39,900 --> 00:07:43,200 And make the mistake that he has no qualifications of mine would 119 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:48,200 be, but we brung and the Very description of Mark, by the 120 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,600 spirit about these brothers gives us the clear indication 121 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:57,600 that Jesus looks for something. He sees something that attracts 122 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,100 him. To call. 123 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:02,700 What do you see here from these verses? 124 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:06,500 Take note how these men were found working. 125 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:11,400 They were found actively engage in some kind of business. 126 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,600 They were not laying on the sea shore of Galilee soaking up the 127 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,000 sun, 10 days in a row because they had no responsibilities in 128 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,500 life. These men were busy with their 129 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,100 hands. These men were, they were doing 130 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:26,800 some important tasks. They were faithful, they were 131 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,400 diligent, they were trying to feed their families and try to 132 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,299 build a future for themselves. And for those that they love, I 133 00:08:32,299 --> 00:08:36,100 challenge you to go to this book from cover to cover and make an 134 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:41,200 intentional study of how men and women were found when God 135 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,200 intervened in their lives and called To a special purpose, 136 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,100 what you will discover. A majority of the time is that 137 00:08:48,100 --> 00:08:53,400 God finds his men and Records them doing something so Moses 138 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,600 and David were shepherds. Elijah had an ox business. 139 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:02,200 Amos took care of sycamore trees and you see example, after 140 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,600 example, of different men, do the work very doing something, 141 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,700 when the Lord found them because because Jesus is not interested 142 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:12,700 in those who are slothful and those who are not faithful to 143 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:14,700 what They've been given in the moment. 144 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:20,400 Jesus looks for those because his work requires diligence and 145 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,100 energetic effort. And so he tries to find those 146 00:09:24,100 --> 00:09:26,500 with the same ambition, and whatever toil they are engaged 147 00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:30,900 with today. He comes to these men and he 148 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:32,800 sees them working. That's what he says. 149 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:36,100 And if we're tempted to think that God doesn't honor this kind 150 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:40,700 of attitude, then look at how specific Mark is and verse 16. 151 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:45,700 He saw Simon, and Andrew. The brother of Simon casting a 152 00:09:45,700 --> 00:09:49,300 net into the sea. Then you come down to verse 18, 153 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:54,200 He Saw James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother who were in 154 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,000 The Boat, mending the Nets. Why does that matter? 155 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,100 I believe there is reason the casting, the casting of the net, 156 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:06,800 speaks of effort and The Mending of the net speaks of faithful 157 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,200 stewardship. They were taking care of 158 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,800 something that was perhaps broken, something that needed to 159 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,500 be clean something that needed to be ready and prepared for the 160 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:18,400 next day and both activities. The casting and The Mending 161 00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:20,600 required. Great, patience, great, great 162 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,600 patience. Fishing was hard work. 163 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:25,900 Remember when Peter with his boys, they fished all night and 164 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:28,200 they couldn't catch. I think it was difficult. 165 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,200 It was demanding. And the patients and fishing. 166 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,100 Oh, surely that was a trait that Jesus was looking for. 167 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:39,000 Because if you want to, I'm talking to those who want to 168 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,000 serve God, if you want to serve him with longevity, you need 169 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:49,300 endurance, you need to endure. It is not always roses, there's 170 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:52,400 not always peaches and cream. There are challenges, there are 171 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,600 difficulties, there are obstacles. 172 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,900 There are things that will try to resist you. 173 00:10:57,700 --> 00:10:59,900 And this thought should not overwhelm us. 174 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:06,100 Because, as I read these verses and I realize that Jesus saw, he 175 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:09,800 saw Andrew and Simon. He saw James and John, I asked 176 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,900 my own Heart Lord. What do you see right now in me? 177 00:11:13,500 --> 00:11:15,900 What do you see in the activity that I'm engaged with on a 178 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:18,600 consistent basis? Do you see that Zeal? 179 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,100 Do you see that consistency? Do you see a man who gives up so 180 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:25,100 easily when it gets hard? What do you see in me? 181 00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:28,700 And again this is not to Heap burden, this is actually 182 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:31,500 something exciting because what the Lord looks for is 183 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,000 Credentials. Is it looking for a pedigree 184 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,300 wasn't looking for degrees? He was in the wrong place. 185 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:40,100 If he was doing that, what he was looking for is simple and 186 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:44,500 achievable character. Just these men who knew how to 187 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:48,600 get some callus on their hands, and who did their work right 188 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,500 faithfully. And I thought to myself how true 189 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:54,900 this is across the board with God's servants. 190 00:11:55,300 --> 00:11:57,900 One of my favorite scriptures that have changed my life and 191 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:01,800 how to view Ministry is with Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 12. 192 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,800 Verse 5, I want you to hear these words after Jeremiah, 193 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,000 after a few verses complains, he complains and complains about 194 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,800 the great evils and the wickedness. 195 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,300 And the challenges he was experiencing A prophet, God 196 00:12:14,300 --> 00:12:17,900 breaks the silence and he speaks and he answers to his man and he 197 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:21,000 says in chapter 12 verse 5. If you have raced with men on 198 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:28,200 foot, And they have wearied you. How will you compete with 199 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:32,800 horses? And if in a safe land you are so 200 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,500 trusting. What will you do in the thicket 201 00:12:34,500 --> 00:12:38,300 of the Jordan? This is what he is saying, 202 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,500 Jeremiah is weariness. Not the weariness that we know 203 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:46,500 the weariness that causes murmuring and and perhaps doubt 204 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:50,200 about God and his service. Those trials that came with his 205 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,900 work in serving God, as a prophet were an indication that 206 00:12:53,900 --> 00:12:56,000 he was not prepared for the challenges ahead. 207 00:12:56,700 --> 00:12:59,600 And God was telling him that you're not going to be able to 208 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,700 last in this Jeremiah if you can't handle it. 209 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:07,600 Now, if you can't see that, you need to be able To put your 210 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:09,100 hands to the plow and not look back. 211 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:13,400 Now, you will indeed turn back at one point and so, he calls 212 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,600 Jeremiah to hold on. He called, Jeremiah not to give 213 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:21,000 up and Andrew, and his brother Peter, we're such men, at least 214 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,000 we see him in a good light here. You compare it to Luke Chapter 215 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,900 5, as I said earlier, Jesus comes to them at another time 216 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:31,100 and there they are tired and Bone weary because they went all 217 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:34,400 night fishing and nothing was caught and Jesus steps into 218 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:35,900 Peters boat. He says could you push this out 219 00:13:35,900 --> 00:13:38,100 a little bit? And he does. 220 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:41,100 And after that, he says, why don't you throw your net on this 221 00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:43,500 side? And Peter says, Master, we have 222 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:46,300 toiled all night but because you said I will do it. 223 00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:49,600 I'm paraphrasing. And that is that is the heart of 224 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,600 these men. Even though I am dejected and 225 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,200 disappointed Lord, I will still do what you tell me to do. 226 00:13:57,700 --> 00:14:01,300 I'll still go where you, your call me to go and that doesn't 227 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:04,500 require a colossal intellect. That doesn't require some kind 228 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:07,300 of impressive resume that just requires a heart. 229 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:10,600 That's willing to say yes to anything that the master says 230 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,100 yes do. And this is who Jesus found in 231 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:16,300 and this is what he looks for Shirley. 232 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:19,000 And if we think that this is just taking too much out of a 233 00:14:19,008 --> 00:14:21,800 small text and just study the ways of God throughout the Bible 234 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,300 and it will confirm the conclusion. 235 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:26,000 I am making to you. Here's a second Point notice 236 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,400 that they were not just engage at a certain work, notice that 237 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,800 they were engaged in a certain work with certain people. 238 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:37,300 They were a team Simon with his brother, Andrew, casting the 239 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:39,900 net, and then you have the other team, James, and John, and the 240 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:42,100 same boat trying to fix something amend it. 241 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,400 And I don't think that's an insignificant detail because 242 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,300 there's suggestion there and the suggestion is so simple and 243 00:14:47,300 --> 00:14:49,200 clear. That in order for you and I to 244 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,500 enter any service to Jesus Christ, we must be willing to 245 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:55,100 serve them alongside those who also want to serve him. 246 00:14:57,500 --> 00:15:03,600 Christ and his disciples ship program requires us to cooperate 247 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:08,500 with those who are also sold out to the same cause He saw these 248 00:15:08,500 --> 00:15:12,500 men working together. And as they were working 249 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:16,100 together and fishing Christ, saw a great potential for them to 250 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:20,300 serve and fishing for Souls. That is something that many 251 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:23,500 people don't think about. But if you're going to serve 252 00:15:23,500 --> 00:15:25,700 Jesus Christ, you're going to serve them with some different 253 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:29,600 kind of people with unique personalities and different 254 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,200 weaknesses, and it's going to require some adjustment on your 255 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,300 part, in mind, in order to move forward in the program of God 256 00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:38,600 for our lives. I mean, if you have any doubt 257 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,200 that these guys had different personalities then realized 258 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,300 later on in Mark, James and John are called the sons of thunder 259 00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:45,800 for what reason. I'm sure there is something 260 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,900 about the personality. They earned that nickname, the 261 00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:52,100 sons of thunder here. Okay, what's up now, Peter? 262 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,600 I mean, the Bible is not shy to disclose that. 263 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,600 He had his own quirks that he was somewhat influential with 264 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,600 his personality that when he said to do something, many 265 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,500 people fall is all right. Peter said, let's go and to 266 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:08,300 think that these men walked around with halos, Three years. 267 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,400 Without any Clash is wrong. Remember? 268 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,300 We just get one little snippet, that more than once. 269 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:15,900 They were arguing with each other. 270 00:16:15,900 --> 00:16:17,500 Who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God? 271 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:23,100 And it breaks my heart to see people who Express a desire to 272 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:26,700 serve Christ who have great gifting evil even. 273 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:30,000 But they do not have any interest or any desire to submit 274 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,600 to the local church. And to serve god with the church 275 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,400 that he has, providentially led them to can a hand operate 276 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:39,900 without being connected to the body. 277 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,100 You and I know the obvious answer to that. 278 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,200 And what we have to understand is that these men here in their 279 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,800 in their Earthly business would be able to translate beautifully 280 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,600 into their spiritual service because we do not see Envy here. 281 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:56,800 We do not see troublemaking here. 282 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,200 We do not see insecurity here. Even when Peter had that 283 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,900 miraculous catch he was on ashamed to ask the others and 284 00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:07,599 other boats to come and help. And Luke chapter 5. 285 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:13,200 And, unfortunately, many people who stunt their growth, right? 286 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,400 And who can't move forward, because of the very things I 287 00:17:15,408 --> 00:17:17,400 just mentioned, they are insecure. 288 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:19,700 They see other people as competitors, who are serving the 289 00:17:19,700 --> 00:17:21,599 same cause, and the same Kingdom. 290 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,500 You cannot know, discipleship, long-term if you have those 291 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:28,900 things in your heart, but also, if you and I, if you and I are 292 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:33,400 willing to partner with those that God brings us with and to 293 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,300 serve those who God brings before us, then we will 294 00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:38,900 certainly be Christ. Honoring disciples. 295 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,500 Jesus wants members of a body, he doesn't want separate 296 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:46,200 members. He wants a connected body to do 297 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,800 his work. He calls these kind of men, 298 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,800 these kind of woman, based on what we see here, though, there 299 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,000 are many other truths that are included. 300 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,900 How does he call though? How does he call the text before 301 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:00,300 us? We see, first of all, that he is 302 00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:02,200 the one who initiates the invitation. 303 00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:06,400 These brothers didn't see Jesus, stop what they're doing and 304 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,900 saying Jesus, we want to be here disciples. 305 00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:11,900 We want to be a part of your immediate Evangelistic team. 306 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:14,000 We want to actually be Apostles of that position is still 307 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,300 available. Nothing of the sort, Jesus looks 308 00:18:17,300 --> 00:18:21,900 to them, he says to them, follow me and I will make you become 309 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:25,900 Fishers of Men. And upon that invitation, they 310 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:29,200 leave their jobs, they leave their families and they abandon 311 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:34,900 all for this cause and it would be extremely wrong to look at a 312 00:18:34,908 --> 00:18:38,300 narrative, text like this, and then, apply that as a standard 313 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:40,700 for all people, if they want to be serious disciples. 314 00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:42,800 What do I mean by that? Just because these men left 315 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,300 their jobs and their families doesn't mean you have to does it 316 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:50,800 mean I have to We have to consider the entirety of 317 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,900 scripture to realize how God works in our lives, as we seek 318 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:56,400 to serve him as we seek to follow him, where he would want 319 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,900 us to follow him. And when we understand that God 320 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:04,000 has an assignment for each of us and that will look different for 321 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,400 each of us, then we can be comforted to know that. 322 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,400 All I have to do is be willing to let go of anything. 323 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:13,900 And that is enough for God. This is one of the verses that 324 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,800 on top of the verse I mentioned earlier has comforted me and 325 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,200 still comforts me today. It stabilizes my soul in the 326 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,300 context of serving him. Paul gives a wonderful truth to 327 00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:26,800 these believers who had many questions about what should 328 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,900 change after they got saved. And he gives us direct 329 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:32,500 instruction to them that applies to all churches. 330 00:19:33,100 --> 00:19:35,300 And First Corinthians, I encourage you to try to turn 331 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:39,300 their in your Bibles in chapter 7 and First Corinthians 7 17. 332 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:43,300 Notice what the Apostle says to these Corinthian Christians. 333 00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:58,400 Verse 17. Only let each person lead the 334 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,400 life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has 335 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,700 called them. This is my rule in all the 336 00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:07,200 churches, what? A beautiful command, the 337 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,600 Corinthian Church was made up of different. 338 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,700 Believers, you had some who had different spiritual gifts, you 339 00:20:10,708 --> 00:20:13,100 have others who had different social statuses. 340 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:14,600 You have others who had different relationship. 341 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,400 Dynamic somewhere single summer Widow. 342 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,600 Some were married to unbelievers some wanted to get married. 343 00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:24,200 And with all those differences before Paul and his writing, he 344 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,500 wants to encourage every person then. 345 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:30,700 And now whether they are single married, slave or free, there's 346 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,300 a matter where you're at that. You can in that very Place seek 347 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,700 to honor God, don't be pressured to change and don't be frantic 348 00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:40,100 to change if you don't have Clarity for the next step. 349 00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,300 Just let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned 350 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:47,700 to him. And this is one of the strongest 351 00:20:47,700 --> 00:20:51,600 verses that encourages us as Believers God, indeed has 352 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,400 assigned a certain way of life for all of us. 353 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:58,200 He has an ordained purpose set before he turned in past that 354 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,000 you would explore, and discover step-by-step. 355 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,900 And so, we should be comforted by that truth. 356 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,300 And I think this is especially important. 357 00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:09,000 Because in the context, these Corinthian Christians were 358 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,900 saved. They receive conversion, but at 359 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,600 the same time, when they realize that they were safe, they want 360 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,900 to know what else needs to change in my life. and, How do 361 00:21:17,900 --> 00:21:19,400 we need to be circumcised or not circumcised? 362 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:20,900 Do I need to uncircumcised? I'm circumcised. 363 00:21:20,900 --> 00:21:22,900 Do I need to be married out? What do I do now? 364 00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:25,700 What do I do? And I can't help but think that 365 00:21:25,708 --> 00:21:29,000 that is so often true, especially with the person who 366 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,500 is first Saved, when they first come to Christ, there is almost 367 00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:37,200 in this desire to want to honor God and totality to know, it 368 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,700 will kill or where do I go from now, what do I need to do? 369 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:43,300 And to become frantic, they become frantic and that's not 370 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:45,400 just true for the believer at first, that's true for the 371 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,300 mature believer, who was constantly wanting Serve God and 372 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:51,200 to fulfill the assignment that he has set for them and so, you 373 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,300 know what happens, you get Christians that get Frankton. 374 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:55,700 Well, do I need to quit my job? I think I need to quit my job. 375 00:21:55,700 --> 00:21:57,400 I don't think I'm glorifying God in my job. 376 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,200 I don't know where I'm gonna go, but I think I just need to quit 377 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:00,900 my job. I think I got to spice things up 378 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:02,100 a little bit. Think the Lord wants me to do? 379 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:03,900 Do something faithful to him and radical? 380 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:06,400 Well, relax. Well okay, well maybe I need to 381 00:22:06,408 --> 00:22:08,400 move out of state because maybe they would be better if I go 382 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:09,800 there. If I do this, if I go, if I move 383 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,500 over there really is, sell everything. 384 00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:12,700 Just give it away. I don't know what I'm going to 385 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:17,800 do, but I'm just going to sell And and they're scared to even 386 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,500 take any of those steps because they don't have any Clarity from 387 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:22,800 God. And then what you have is 388 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,900 Christians for weeks and months living in some kind of a torment 389 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,000 that they're not really serving God and the something changes, 390 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,500 something radical happens. And good-hearted children of God 391 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:38,700 are frustrated. Because they want to. 392 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:41,800 They want to fulfill something. They have an urge for it, but 393 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,000 they don't know what to do. Look down in verse 24 of the 394 00:22:44,008 --> 00:22:47,200 same chapter. So Brothers in whatever 395 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,600 condition each was called there, let him remain with God. 396 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,800 In whatever condition each was called there. 397 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,000 Let him remain with God. He is now reinstating. 398 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,300 What he said back in verse 17 with a beautiful point to enrich 399 00:23:03,300 --> 00:23:06,800 the encouragement, we should remain in whatever circumstance 400 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,500 Divine Providence has led us into and in that place with 401 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:14,300 those circumstances honor God. Honor. 402 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:17,600 God look at verse 19 at the end of it for neither circumcision 403 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:19,800 counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but keeping the 404 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,100 Commandments of God. You may not know what needs to 405 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:25,800 change at this time. You may not know next step, but 406 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,300 one thing you can do and all that God is looking for, is that 407 00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:32,000 in the place that you are in right now, just obey him just 408 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,200 obey him. Obey him to the capacity in 409 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,500 which he has given you obeying with the context that you are in 410 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:40,600 just seek to obey him. And this is so encouraging. 411 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,000 You know why? Because it says their let him 412 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:51,600 remain with who with God. God is with you. 413 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,000 And as unsatisfied as you might be where you are as though, you 414 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,900 may have these Desires in these, these prayers that don't seem to 415 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:02,300 be answered as quickly as you would. 416 00:24:02,300 --> 00:24:05,900 Like, the thing that you can be comforted by, is that where you 417 00:24:05,900 --> 00:24:08,700 are right now? God is with you. 418 00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:13,300 And you can, no matter your status and relationship. 419 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,600 No matter the job that you have. You can write their fellowship 420 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,100 with God. He is with you. 421 00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:21,900 You can know him, you can enjoy him. 422 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,900 You can worship Him. You can receive from him, you 423 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:28,600 can grow in him. You were there with God and you 424 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,300 can stay there and honor. God, how does this all tie in? 425 00:24:32,300 --> 00:24:33,500 Well, this is what I'm trying to say. 426 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:38,400 Be comforted be comforted to know that God actually will call 427 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,600 us when he wants us to call. Less, but until then, you are 428 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:43,700 called to stay in the station that he is. 429 00:24:43,700 --> 00:24:48,400 Providentially put you in. And so let that burden roll off 430 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,000 your back and realize that when the next step will come, it will 431 00:24:52,008 --> 00:24:55,900 be so clear. Just like, with these disciples. 432 00:24:57,500 --> 00:25:03,300 Jesus makes it so clear. Follow me and I will make you 433 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:07,600 Fishers of Men. And when that called us come, 434 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,900 whether it is through his word where we know what we're 435 00:25:09,900 --> 00:25:12,900 supposed to do, in the context that were in or when there is 436 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,400 Manifest direction, that is Supernatural in your life, there 437 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,400 is an appropriate response and it is exemplified by these men. 438 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,000 Each element is with each pair Brothers. 439 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:26,100 The first one comes with Andrew and Peter. 440 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,300 We're told in verse 18 immediately, Immediately, they 441 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:31,800 left their Nets and followed him. 442 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,800 That is a word that Mark loves to use immediately. 443 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:41,200 No, hesitation, no second thought, That their history, 444 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,400 their business, the dreams with their business, would even come 445 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,800 close to competing with what Christ would want them to do. 446 00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:52,800 They dropped everything in that moment, the charge of Christ, 447 00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:56,100 whether it is revealed through his word or whether it is again, 448 00:25:56,100 --> 00:26:00,200 a manifest Direction, it deserved Swift surrender. 449 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:04,100 I will surrender. Lord, and this is again, why am 450 00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:06,300 I saying this? This is the Posh of the heart 451 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:08,400 that makes us recruitable for God's service. 452 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,800 He wants to know that you hold things in life loosely. 453 00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:16,400 And that if he says go, you will go and you will drop it and you 454 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,900 will go where he wants us to go. And listen, I know that sounds 455 00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:21,100 like a radical thing that's unique to certain people, but it 456 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:23,700 is still something that you and I can experience in this life. 457 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,400 Remember, when I was working in advertising and I knew God had 458 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,400 revealed in so many ways, you're going to be doing Ministry and 459 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,000 there were so many opportunities for jobs in the advertising 460 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,000 industry and somebody who had a good heart recommended to me. 461 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:39,000 Well why don't you just do that and do that part-time? 462 00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:42,300 But I knew it wasn't that it had to be full-time Ministry and so 463 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:44,700 I looked Somebody in the eyes who offered me, a great job at a 464 00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:47,100 young age. It's, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 465 00:26:47,300 --> 00:26:50,600 Many people have testimonies like that and that is what is 466 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,000 trying to be said through the example of these men. 467 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,400 That immediately you're willing to leave, whatever Jesus calls 468 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,400 you to lead. But look at the other facet, the 469 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:02,200 emphasis with Andrew and Peter is their occupation. 470 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:05,600 But with James and John, it's with who, it's with 471 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,900 relationship. They left though, they left our 472 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:10,600 occupation. They left and walk away from 473 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,100 their beloved father Zebedee. And he adds a detail. 474 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:18,600 The Hired servants, The Hired servants, meaning that these 475 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,600 fellow employees were very likely good friends to James and 476 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,300 John that they had memories that they had laughs. 477 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:28,200 And surely with their own father. 478 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:29,800 There was Comfort. There was a comfort with 479 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:31,700 familiarity. There was a safety, there was 480 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,900 close proximity with someone that you, you obviously love and 481 00:27:35,900 --> 00:27:39,300 care for, and they care for you. And yet, we are told that they 482 00:27:39,300 --> 00:27:44,600 left with the same promptness. and so, what is being said, here 483 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,900 that in light of Andrew and Peter, you must leave any 484 00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:52,500 security But in light of James and John, you must be willing to 485 00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:57,600 even pay the price relationally. Relationally. 486 00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:03,200 You know, there are many people who cannot truly pay the price 487 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,300 of discipleship because they just love the friends too much. 488 00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:12,500 They just love their family too much, and they know that if they 489 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:15,500 walk in a certain way or do a certain thing in the Name of 490 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,100 Christ, that it will affect the Dynamics of those relationships, 491 00:28:19,100 --> 00:28:20,600 you cannot be a true disciple of. 492 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,400 That is the case. It will cost you even 493 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,500 relationally. It will cost you sometimes to 494 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:27,400 move locations. It will cost you to have 495 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,400 friction at home because you're standing for truth. 496 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:33,500 It will cost you something. And Jesus still has a reward for 497 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:36,800 them, even Peter later on in Mark, you know what he says. 498 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,700 After the Rich Young Ruler did the opposite of him and the 499 00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:43,300 opposite of the other disciples. He says, in Mark 10:28 Peter 500 00:28:43,300 --> 00:28:46,600 began to say to him. See we have left everything and 501 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,400 followed you. We have left everything and 502 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,100 followed you. And this is the mark of 503 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:53,900 discipleship. Not that every person here has 504 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:57,000 sold everything and has left everything. 505 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:02,000 But that in your heart, you are willing to give everything that 506 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:03,900 you are convincing your soul. Oh Lord. 507 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:06,300 If you say, leave everything. I will leave everything. 508 00:29:07,300 --> 00:29:10,300 And so in true worship, we should be able to look to Christ 509 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:13,200 and say, see I'm willing to leave everything. 510 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,800 See, my heart is detached from everything your call on. 511 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,400 My life has Superior value over all things. 512 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:24,000 That is discipleship. Let me add one more thing to 513 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:25,800 this point about how Jesus calls us. 514 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:29,900 It was not just the response of the disciples that was immediate 515 00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:34,900 notice that the call was sudden. we see in verse 20 that the Lord 516 00:29:34,900 --> 00:29:40,200 immediately he went to James and John immediately when Jesus 517 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,800 calls us Okay. After the Revelation that you 518 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,400 have believed in that, he is the Messiah. 519 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,400 He is Lord, he is savior. But throughout our walk with the 520 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:53,100 Lord, when he calls you and I to a certain work, let me give you 521 00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:55,800 a heads-up. He tends to do it with 522 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,700 interruption. In other words, it is never 523 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:04,000 convenient, to answer the call to serve, Jesus Christ to the 524 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,200 flesh. There's never time at 525 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,400 Fletcher's, I think now is a good time that I'm an honor 526 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,500 Jesus Christ in a particular way, never. 527 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,200 He doesn't when they're busy, he doesn't while they're working. 528 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:19,200 He does it while they're with family, he comes and he says, 529 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,400 follow me. Now, there's no negotiation. 530 00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:24,000 Others have tried to do that down the road. 531 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:29,300 I didn't work out well for them. So no this the price and serving 532 00:30:29,300 --> 00:30:34,300 Christ is that it will call us at inconvenient times. 533 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,000 That it will demand young person, the prime of your life. 534 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,400 You can't delay serving the lord. 535 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,700 That was my mentality growing up in the church as though. 536 00:30:42,700 --> 00:30:45,600 Jesus was waiting for me. You know it Lord. 537 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:47,900 I'll wait till I'm 30. 30 something and then I'll get 538 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:50,600 serious about you. That is not how discipleship 539 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:55,400 works. You see Christ here teaching us 540 00:30:55,500 --> 00:30:57,900 that it has never committed for the flesh to follow him. 541 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,100 Serving him is not an addition to your life seeking. 542 00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:04,500 To be a disciple of Christ is not a piece of the pie of your 543 00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:08,100 existence. It's the whole pie, it overrides 544 00:31:08,100 --> 00:31:12,100 all things, it becomes the very reason where everything orbits 545 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:15,500 around that Central. Cause Jesus Christ, wherever 546 00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:17,700 you, tell me to go, whatever you tell me to do, I will do it. 547 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,000 This is what he is looking for these disciples gave it. 548 00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:26,300 This is how he calls. He expects immediate obedience 549 00:31:26,300 --> 00:31:27,900 in the joy of immediate obedience. 550 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,300 Let me tell you. This Christ will forgive you 551 00:31:30,300 --> 00:31:33,600 time, doesn't time. Doesn't forgive you. 552 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,900 And the more we delay in obedience, all were doing is 553 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:41,400 robbing ourselves of Greater testimonies and experiences of 554 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,600 God in this life. I often tell myself this and I 555 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:48,600 tell others from time to time, there is coming a day where you 556 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:52,200 and I will not be able to glorify Jesus Christ for all of 557 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:56,500 eternity in heaven. We will glorify Christ certainly 558 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,500 with perfect pitch, would Perfect Resistance to Temptation 559 00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:02,300 because there's no resistance to Temptation. 560 00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:06,900 We will know a type of Glory. And we will give a type of Glory 561 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:08,700 that will be unique and enduring. 562 00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:13,300 At the same time, there is a way in which we can glorify Christ. 563 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:16,300 Now that we can't and Heaven, Can you say no to Temptation in 564 00:32:16,300 --> 00:32:19,600 heaven? Can you die to self and have it? 565 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,000 How can you do that? You're gonna have a glorified 566 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:22,800 body and won't even be a thought. 567 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:26,200 Will you stand for Christ in heaven? 568 00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:28,500 When the multitudes will not stand for Christ? 569 00:32:28,500 --> 00:32:32,000 No no no. And the list goes on, but in 570 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,300 this life, yes that tells me. I only have one shot of this. 571 00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:41,100 I only have one shot and then I will stand before him and I will 572 00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:43,600 enjoy him and love him but I don't want to look back before I 573 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:47,300 get and say oh Lord if you just give me more time, I would not 574 00:32:47,300 --> 00:32:52,400 been so foolish. The cost of discipleship, I tell 575 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,100 you this, there's a great across of not being a disciple than it 576 00:32:55,100 --> 00:32:57,700 being a true disciple. What does he call us for? 577 00:32:58,100 --> 00:33:01,300 Where does he call us to? That's the next question though, 578 00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:03,400 the destination of these disciples are unique because 579 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,600 they would be prepared and trained to be apostles who would 580 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,700 lay the foundation of the doctrine of the church. 581 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:12,600 The principle is still the same. There is a direction. 582 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,400 When God calls us into a certain discipleship, a certain way of 583 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,500 life, notice what he says, follow me and I will make you 584 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:24,800 become Fishers of Men, I will make you become Fishers of Men, 585 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:28,400 as we daily, yield to his leadership, the ultimate goal of 586 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,500 the Lord Jesus and calling you my brother and calling you. 587 00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:34,100 My sister is for you to become something that you weren't when 588 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:39,800 you started. I found you as fissures. 589 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,200 But I'm going to make you become something that I have planned 590 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,700 for you. That is why we should never be 591 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:50,200 discouraged to think that we are unfit or unworthy. 592 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,500 Are undeserving to be of use to the King of Kings and the Lord 593 00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:54,500 of lords. You know why? 594 00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:57,900 Because his primary motivation and coming to these disciples 595 00:33:58,300 --> 00:34:01,500 was not their ability. Not even their maturity, the 596 00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:03,400 primary motivation of Jesus Christ. 597 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,700 Has I can do something in these men. 598 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:11,000 I can make them into something I can mold them into something. 599 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,100 Their hearts are in the place where it would give me the 600 00:34:15,100 --> 00:34:19,900 ability to create and me what I want to create rather in them 601 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:23,300 and then is no different for us. Listen we should without 602 00:34:23,300 --> 00:34:27,199 reservations surrender joyfully to the Lord because he is not 603 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:28,699 trying to find us in a certain way. 604 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:32,300 He wants to find us, just willing to say yes and then to 605 00:34:32,300 --> 00:34:37,600 submit to what he has in mind. That which he has ordained for 606 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,100 us. Personally, you know what that 607 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:42,600 means doesn't matter what your personality defect is, does it 608 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:44,600 matter what kind of life-altering trauma you had in 609 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:49,300 the past, he wants to make you into something, he wants you to 610 00:34:49,300 --> 00:34:52,800 become something. So the hesitation to follow 611 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,400 Jesus Christ because of your personal weakness or your 612 00:34:56,400 --> 00:35:01,700 history is irrelevant. Because he's not finding you as 613 00:35:01,700 --> 00:35:03,900 something. He's inviting you to become 614 00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:06,600 something. That's the cost of discipleship 615 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,900 and their and their context, it was to become great Soul winners 616 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,800 in your context, perhaps it will be a great mother. 617 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:20,500 And we see here that this verse tells us where the power of this 618 00:35:20,500 --> 00:35:25,600 transformation comes, I will make you become, I will the 619 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:28,200 power comes from him. So what's the fear and following 620 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:30,700 Christ? What's the worry in seeking to 621 00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:32,600 honor him? I've met people who say I'm just 622 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,700 worried to serve Jesus because I don't know what I will be in the 623 00:35:34,707 --> 00:35:36,000 days to come. I don't know what kind of 624 00:35:36,008 --> 00:35:37,700 mistakes I'll make I know myself. 625 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,200 Well, let me tell you something. The energy and the equipment 626 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,000 that the enablement. Does it come from you? 627 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:45,100 It comes from him. Oh yeah, if you rely on 628 00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:47,300 yourself? No, thank you. 629 00:35:47,300 --> 00:35:51,100 I'll stick with this. But when the Lord calls you, 630 00:35:51,100 --> 00:35:55,600 when he invites you, he also enables you, he enables you. 631 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:59,900 And I what is there to resist? How can you even think to 632 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:03,000 yourself for a moment? I can't, of course, you can't do 633 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,100 it. That's the point. 634 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,800 That's the point. So let this be a true that you 635 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,800 pray back to the Lord. Do you hear me? 636 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,500 Let this be a true that you pray back to the Lord if you infuse 637 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:16,500 the grace, if you put Truth in these disciples, that transform 638 00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:19,600 these galileans into some people that stunned the world and do 639 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,400 the same in me. Do the same with me. 640 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:24,400 Lord, I'm no different than these men. 641 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,300 I am weak. I have great, great weakness, 642 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:31,500 but Lord, if you said, you would make them become something that 643 00:36:31,500 --> 00:36:34,400 all how I long for you to make me into something or someone 644 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:39,200 change me and you submit to his power day by day by day. 645 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,300 And what's amazing about this is that it's a process as As you 646 00:36:44,300 --> 00:36:46,600 pray that prayer and I pray that you pray it. 647 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:48,600 As you pray, that prayer realized something very 648 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,200 important. Jesus said, I will make you 649 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:53,000 become and it was a three-year process. 650 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:56,800 You didn't wave his hand over them on the show and then they 651 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,500 became apostles. They become wonderful preachers. 652 00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:03,500 Immediately, they become Soul winners right away. 653 00:37:03,500 --> 00:37:04,800 I mean, remember, James and John. 654 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:06,800 They're about to go through Samaria and they say Jesus. 655 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,100 Can we call down fire from heaven and burned these guys? 656 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:15,300 These are the men that Jesus called. 657 00:37:17,300 --> 00:37:22,100 I will make you become, it's a process and Christ knows that. 658 00:37:22,300 --> 00:37:25,800 Unfortunately these children don't We get frustrated with 659 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,300 ourselves. We get disappointed. 660 00:37:27,300 --> 00:37:29,700 We throw in the towel. We turn our backs. 661 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:34,700 And yet Christ is committed. Committed to us for his glory. 662 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:37,700 And this is what I saw admire about the Lord. 663 00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:42,400 This is what makes me adore him. That I see here with his men, in 664 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,300 the immediate sense that he has a school and there is a 665 00:37:45,308 --> 00:37:49,000 curriculum and he he has step-by-step ready for us to 666 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:53,100 walk through and knowing Christ and becoming like Christ. 667 00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:56,600 And being fruitful for Christ is not something that happens 668 00:37:56,600 --> 00:38:01,500 overnight. It's something that Jesus has 669 00:38:01,500 --> 00:38:07,200 great patience for Here's an example of just how committed 670 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:10,400 Christ is. Among many other examples turn 671 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:13,900 to the Gospel of John very quickly in verse 14. 672 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:24,300 Excuse me, 14:8. John 14:8. 673 00:38:29,300 --> 00:38:34,200 Philip, one of the disciples. Set to him, Lord, show us the 674 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:41,900 father and it is enough for us. Look what Jesus says. 675 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:46,700 Jesus said to him, I've been with you so long and you still 676 00:38:46,700 --> 00:38:51,800 do not know me Philip Whoever has seen me, has seen the 677 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,900 father. How can you say show us the 678 00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:57,400 father. Philip. 679 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:02,300 With skepticism, perhaps. With doubt. 680 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,700 Says jeez. Can you just show us the father? 681 00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:07,200 Not, that's all we need. We don't need any more proof 682 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:09,800 about this whole thing and the Lord answered him. 683 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,500 He says, how can you ask that? I've been with you, and you've 684 00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:16,400 been with me for so long. And as I Look to this question, 685 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:20,800 I realized that Philip after three years, three years of 686 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:24,900 one-on-one of close proximity to Christ after hearing all those 687 00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:27,800 teachings, after seeing all those Miracles, after being able 688 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:31,200 to testify, the sinlessness of Christ eating with him and 689 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,900 sleeping in the same tent ISM and traveling with him, has 690 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:36,700 still not fully comprehend what he should have known at this 691 00:39:36,700 --> 00:39:40,300 point. And by this moment So, we asked 692 00:39:40,300 --> 00:39:43,000 the question. That was, that was inappropriate 693 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,700 for somebody who's been walking with Jesus, for this long. 694 00:39:46,100 --> 00:39:50,100 Show us the father, Christ's sake, you're not do not realize, 695 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:52,400 I am one with them. Do you not realize that I share 696 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,600 his deity? Do you not realize that if you 697 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:57,000 see me, you seen a perfect reflection of the character and 698 00:39:57,008 --> 00:40:00,800 the nature of the father. And the point is this is that 699 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:03,900 when you look at Phillip asking this question how Jesus though 700 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:08,400 there is a mild rebuke here still gentle, how true is that 701 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:11,400 of his children today? Who have walked with him for so 702 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,200 long and still can't get some of the basics? 703 00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:19,700 Who still don't understand. Not that the fact that he's God, 704 00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:22,500 but that he is Sovereign over your life. 705 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:27,600 But he is in control that in these fearful tumultuous times. 706 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,300 He will provide, he will perfect dissing. 707 00:40:30,300 --> 00:40:33,100 You look at these things and you realize that even believers who 708 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:36,400 sat through years of sermons twice a week old testament, New 709 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:39,100 Testament conference after conference YouTube sermons in 710 00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:42,800 between still are not convinced of certain things about Christ. 711 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:48,800 And listen anybody in any teaching, position knows how 712 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:51,500 heartbreaking that is that after you have hammered certain things 713 00:40:51,500 --> 00:40:54,000 over and over again. It just as though just spilled 714 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:56,800 out of the other ear and he had Christ here though as a faithful 715 00:40:56,800 --> 00:41:00,600 teacher does gently correct him? He doesn't look if you know I 716 00:41:00,607 --> 00:41:02,200 fill up. I don't even know why I got. 717 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:06,100 It's been three years submit your resignation, I'll find 718 00:41:06,100 --> 00:41:11,000 somebody else down the road. He's still committed to Philip. 719 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:17,100 He's still ready to use, Philip. He still has a plan for Phillip, 720 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:19,500 he doesn't put Phillip on the Shelf. 721 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:24,700 And I thank God for that. Because there are moments of 722 00:41:24,700 --> 00:41:26,100 doubt and there are moments of Wonder. 723 00:41:26,100 --> 00:41:28,700 And there's there are moments where though, I've read things 724 00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:30,700 and I've heard things that sometimes I've really believed 725 00:41:30,700 --> 00:41:34,100 in other times, I've wondered I can expect the Lord to look at 726 00:41:34,100 --> 00:41:41,200 me and not give up. And not throw me away. 727 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:45,400 The challenge me. Yes, because of faithful teacher 728 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,300 will. My question is, how can you hold 729 00:41:48,300 --> 00:41:50,600 yourself back from following such a wonderful Master like 730 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:54,600 this? How can you not give up 731 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:56,800 everything to follow him? One who will enable you? 732 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,700 And one who will be patient with you and one who will walk with 733 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:05,300 you until the end. Who is so committed to you? 734 00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:10,000 and I for his glory that even when we are not where we were 735 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,000 supposed to be, And our imitation of him and an 736 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:17,300 understanding of him. He sticks with us still. 737 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:20,700 That's Jesus. That's the Lord that you and I 738 00:42:20,700 --> 00:42:26,200 love and worship. so in this brief brief message, you have an 739 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:31,500 idea, at least of who, he calls, how he calls to what he calls 740 00:42:31,500 --> 00:42:37,000 you and I to Ultimately discipleship is not about doing 741 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:39,200 certain things. That's that's that's secondary 742 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:44,700 but becoming becoming who he wants us to become. and then he 743 00:42:44,700 --> 00:42:47,800 is there to do whatever he needs to do to make sure that all he 744 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,300 requires of us as a willingness to yield to that and humble 745 00:42:51,300 --> 00:42:53,200 ourselves, that for that to become more and more of a 746 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:57,700 reality, Usually, at the end of a message like this, you're 747 00:42:57,700 --> 00:42:59,700 familiar with this. If you come here, consistently 748 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:03,000 the gospel will go forth, but I'm going to change it. 749 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:06,500 This time, I want to speak to those who are already have 750 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:09,600 believed upon that Revelation, that Jesus Christ is, in fact, 751 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,400 the savior of the world. And I want to ask you. 752 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:14,900 I want to ask you a question. Have you lost your way? 753 00:43:16,900 --> 00:43:21,700 Have you lost your way? In discipleship to Jesus. 754 00:43:22,100 --> 00:43:25,100 What do I mean by that? Have you placed your identity in 755 00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:27,300 something other than what he has for you? 756 00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:30,600 Was there was there a moment where you were? 757 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:34,700 You were Lord whatever. Yes, but at this point, if 758 00:43:34,700 --> 00:43:39,000 you're honest, you're clutching onto things and you've made them 759 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:40,600 something greater than what they should be. 760 00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:44,000 Do you love your family more than Christ? 761 00:43:45,100 --> 00:43:47,600 Do you love your friends more than Jesus Christ? 762 00:43:49,500 --> 00:43:51,400 What's amazing about Peter being called? 763 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:54,000 And though it is so Exemplar, the beginning, you go to the end 764 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:55,800 of the book of John, you realize he goes back. 765 00:43:55,800 --> 00:44:01,100 Fishing fishing wasn't a sin, fishing isn't a sin and Peters 766 00:44:01,100 --> 00:44:03,300 case. It was backsliding because 767 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:05,000 Christ call them to turn away from it. 768 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:07,100 And he goes back to when he didn't have answers for the next 769 00:44:07,100 --> 00:44:08,900 step. And when he was wallowing in his 770 00:44:08,900 --> 00:44:12,600 shame, And yet, Jesus, because people question whether Peter 771 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:14,500 was doing the wrong thing, when he went back to fishing with his 772 00:44:14,500 --> 00:44:17,700 boys, all you have to do is come to the end of that chapter and 773 00:44:17,700 --> 00:44:20,400 realize that when Jesus restores Peter he looks at me. 774 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:24,300 And he finally says, follow me. Well, if he was following him 775 00:44:24,300 --> 00:44:26,100 all the way along, and why would he say that? 776 00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:30,100 It's because he lost his way. He lost his way and Jesus is 777 00:44:30,100 --> 00:44:33,300 calling him to recommit himself to complete and total 778 00:44:33,300 --> 00:44:35,100 discipleship. And I want to tell you this, 779 00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:38,000 that one of the tragedies, one of the tragedies of the 780 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,300 Christian Life is that you see people who are once following 781 00:44:40,300 --> 00:44:43,300 Jesus and they still hold onto the revelation of who he is. 782 00:44:43,300 --> 00:44:45,600 Peter didn't deny the fact that Jesus was alive. 783 00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:48,000 Peter didn't deny the fact that Jesus was in fact, he said he 784 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:52,200 was Peter just deviated from the purpose that God had called them 785 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:55,500 to. And some of you might have done 786 00:44:55,500 --> 00:44:58,300 that. Here's what I'm calling you to 787 00:44:58,300 --> 00:44:59,400 do. I'm calling, I'm actually 788 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:02,500 calling you discern action. I'm calling you to certain 789 00:45:02,500 --> 00:45:05,600 action in your own heart. That today perhaps the busyness 790 00:45:05,600 --> 00:45:07,000 of Life. All these different things have 791 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:12,400 crashed into your soul. And where you are today, 792 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:14,000 whatever God has called you to do. 793 00:45:14,100 --> 00:45:16,000 Whether that is church-affiliated Ministry or 794 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:20,100 not, you don't have that Zeal, you don't have dedication, 795 00:45:20,100 --> 00:45:22,800 you're kind of just floating through life and you could care 796 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:26,800 less really? You could care less Or perhaps, 797 00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:30,500 again, as I said earlier, the thought of Christ calling you to 798 00:45:30,500 --> 00:45:32,600 do something, surrender, to something, give up. 799 00:45:32,600 --> 00:45:37,900 Something is terrifying. Or perhaps you were so 800 00:45:37,900 --> 00:45:40,900 discouraged with a failure or pass failure that you cannot 801 00:45:40,900 --> 00:45:43,300 imagine ever being used by God again. 802 00:45:43,300 --> 00:45:46,000 And though he extends his hand, you push his hand away and say 803 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:49,300 I'm not worthy, that is trusting in your own flesh in your own 804 00:45:49,300 --> 00:45:53,400 ability. I'm calling you to follow Jesus 805 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:56,500 again. What I mean by that is not 806 00:45:56,500 --> 00:46:00,100 giving your life to him and salvation but willing to set 807 00:46:00,100 --> 00:46:03,200 your life up in your soul and your heart to say Lord, I am 808 00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:05,200 yours, whatever. You say, whatever you do, I want 809 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,100 to do it. I want to do it. 810 00:46:08,100 --> 00:46:10,100 You'd be amazed to know how many Christians are not there. 811 00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:14,700 But the same Jesus who restored a Peter after up here, after so 812 00:46:14,700 --> 00:46:18,100 many years, so many preaching, so many teachings. 813 00:46:18,100 --> 00:46:20,500 So many miracles was still willing to restore him. 814 00:46:20,900 --> 00:46:27,800 Say, follow me, follow me. I've seen fathers and mothers 815 00:46:27,900 --> 00:46:30,300 who are burning for Christ before they had children. 816 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,400 And after they had children and after difficulty in marriage and 817 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:36,300 after all these things, they stop. 818 00:46:36,300 --> 00:46:38,600 They stop going to church. They stop serving Christ in 819 00:46:38,600 --> 00:46:41,500 Ministry, but in their later years in life, they heard Jesus 820 00:46:41,500 --> 00:46:42,500 saying. Again, follow me. 821 00:46:42,500 --> 00:46:45,300 You once follow me, follow me again and it brought Revival to 822 00:46:45,300 --> 00:46:50,200 their home. Many people in this life are in 823 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:52,700 transitional moments. You're figuring out who to 824 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:54,400 marry. You are getting married. 825 00:46:54,400 --> 00:46:56,000 You're getting yourself established. 826 00:46:56,900 --> 00:47:00,900 And with all of that some way somehow the cause of Christ, in 827 00:47:00,900 --> 00:47:03,900 your heart, the Zeal to serve him has been buried. 828 00:47:05,300 --> 00:47:07,800 Jesus wants you to get married? Yes, he wants you to walk in 829 00:47:07,808 --> 00:47:09,300 that way. He wants to be responsible, but 830 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:12,200 is the priority of your life? Still, the purpose that he has 831 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:13,400 for you. Whatever that looks like. 832 00:47:13,900 --> 00:47:16,700 I hope you would answer this. Call of Christ who gently says 833 00:47:16,700 --> 00:47:19,800 follow me again. Lord, we ask you today in the 834 00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:22,200 Sunday service that is. We've heard this call to 835 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:27,400 discipleship that we would re reinforce our commitment to the 836 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:34,700 cause For some that is Ministry for others, that is simply just 837 00:47:34,700 --> 00:47:39,500 being mindful of you and what we do whether that's business, 838 00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:42,700 whether that's family. Raising children are raising 839 00:47:42,700 --> 00:47:50,400 funds, Well, we know that the universal call Salvation is the 840 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:53,600 same repent and believe but we also know that each of us in 841 00:47:53,600 --> 00:48:00,000 here have a particular assignment. some know that 842 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:04,900 assignment Lord, some don't but we just want to tell you this 843 00:48:04,900 --> 00:48:08,700 afternoon, Lord, whatever you say, we do whatever you want, we 844 00:48:08,700 --> 00:48:18,200 will give Reignite, our hearts. Pull our affections. 845 00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:24,900 And help us realize that you are inviting us into something. 846 00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:29,600 Unlike any other thing. And so, Lord, even for those who 847 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:31,700 have been following you over these years, we want to just 848 00:48:31,700 --> 00:48:35,200 take this time to worship you. And tell you a fresh Lord, you 849 00:48:35,207 --> 00:48:39,400 are worthy. You are worthy of my life. 850 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:43,600 Being Live For Your Glory. Whatever that looks like we want 851 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:46,500 to follow you in Jesus name. Amen.