MT 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the
The disciples were instructed to follow Jesus, is this instruction for us????
Oh yes.
But how do we follow a guy who lived in earth 2000 years ago, died, some how became alive again, I mean its weird. How do we follow? Go on a pilgrimage as Richard says very educational and spiritually up lifting.
What did Jesus mean – I will make you fishers of men?
What did Jesus call them to do? What does Jesus call us to do and be?
- Called to task
MT 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.Jesus calls us to do something. He gifts us, teaches us, gives us experiences and I believe He expects us to use it all.
- Alongside this we are called to be, Called to be like Him. Being and doing can not be divorced. One leads to the other, or it could be said that each leads to the other. If you are Christlike you will act Christlike.
Luke 6: 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- But this Christlike development requires taking note of what God has for us. We are called to listen.
MT 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”Hey God is saying this about Jesus. Take not of Jesus words and actions on the bible. While we term it listening, sometimes it is more reading, but it is God speaking through the bible words – Take note.
- The final point is perhaps obvious. Maybe you could tell where I was going with all this, after all it isn’t rocket science – its more important than that. We are Called to obey.
JN 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth.
Now, at the start of the sermon I asked if this following thing was an instruction for the disciples of for us too. I think you realize that I think it is for us too. Each of us. And we have to live each point assimulate it into our lives.
And I mean for all of us. That means Marianne and the boys and I.
Over the past 9 or so months we have had to:
a. Evaluate our taskb. Evaluate our Christlikenessc. Listen to what God is saying to us as individuals and as a family d. And then be obedient.
Within that we feel that our time here as your pastoral family has come to a close. We have been lead by God through our bible readings, and by the Holy Spirits promptings and feel it is time for you to have a new pastor, and a new phase of ministry and for us to be open to what God has for us. At this stage we don’t know what that is. I could be a house dad next year or a pastor in a little country town or packing shelves. But if I am going to preach this stuff to you I have to live it too. So I have to say this is one of the toughest sermon illustrations I have ever come across.
But we must be in line with our callings or in line with our calling from God.
Now where does it place you? What is your call? Are you being true to it? Are you being true to God?
What about this church? Well, I believe in this church? God has placed everything He needs for this church to do His will at you feet.
But
You must, at this stage, we must – heed our call.
I encourage this church to
Evaluate your task
Evaluate your Christlikeness
Listen to what God is saying
Then do it – be obedient.
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