Sermon Central
-
Hear The Call Series
Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 31, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer? One of the ways we all initially follow Jesus is to hear his call - to become aware that Jesus desires for us to be in his family, to serve as He did, and to live forever with him.
Following Jesus: The Call
Introduction
If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer? One of the ways we all initially follow Jesus is to hear his call - to become aware that Jesus desires for us to be in his family, to serve as He did, and to live forever with him.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The entire story of Jesus is, in a sense, a calling out to all of humanity that says, “I love you, I was willing to die to save you from your sins; I’m preparing a place for you.” Of course many reject that call, but what about you today?If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
In Luke 4:43 Luke has noted that Jesus said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God …that is why I was sent.”.Good News - the message of the gospel is good news. Kingdom of God - reign and rule of God in our lives. Discipleship is following Jesus - allowing Him to be Lord of our lives - to reign and rule. It’s not always an easy decision. It’s not always an easy way of life . It is good because it promises the best life now, and the reality of eternal life after this life.
Our text is Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
What does this passage show us about the call of Jesus?
1. The Call of Jesus Comes From The Word (Luke 5:1)
Luke 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of
Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and
listening to the word of God.
I do believe God can speak to us in any number of ways. I have heard people say that God spoke to them in dreams, in a hunch, with a feeling, through a vision, and voice. One thing I know is that the surest way to know God’s will is to read it in the Scriptures yourself. Every other way is subjective - and possibly not a message from God at all. But the word of God is a sure source of God’s wisdom. When Jesus preached, he preached the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually
because, when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as
it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you
who believe.
If Jesus is calling you today through the Scriptures, will you answer?
2. The Call of Jesus is Determined (Luke 5:2-3)
Luke 5:2-3 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there
by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into
one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him
to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught
the people from the boat.
As people crowded Jesus, he became all the more determined to speak to them. He conscripted a nearby boat. It was left there by fisherman - they had fished all night and were washing their nets. Exhausted and not too happy for this stranger to want to get out on the water to hold a revival!
