Cornerstone Church June 8, 2008
“NOTHING BUT NETS”
Mark 1:14-20
I heard this story on the radio by the Bible League. Perhaps you heard it. Let me recount the story. It took place in North Korea. The teachers in the local school asked their students if they knew where their parents kept that special black book in their home. If they did, and they brought it to school the next day, they would receive a prize. Keep it a secret and do not tell anyone at home what you are doing was the teacher’s last warning. The next day fourteen students brought the special black book to school. They were Bibles. The teacher stacked them up on her desk and gave the children a ribbon to wear around their neck. When the children went home, their parents were gone. No one told them where they were. The next day the children were placed in orphanages because their parents had been placed in prison. Why? For the sake of the cross. North Korea hates God’s Word and God’s plan.
What a riveting story of the Cost of True Discipleship.
Are you willing to make such a sacrifice for the sake of the cross?
If we were honest we would have to admit that Christianity in America has become quite comfortable. We seem to play at church whenever we do not have anything else to do. Sure, we want a “fire insurance” policy to keep us out of hell but do we want to live as Christ’s disciples?
Disciple = A Wholly-Devoted Follower of Christ!
This morning we are going to look at the Lord Jesus Christ’s calling of His first disciples.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL – Mark 1:14-15
JESUS’ CALL TO THE FIRST DISCIPLES – Mark 1:16-20
Peter and Andrew – Mark 1:16-18
James and John – Mark 1:19-20
JESUS’ CALL TO US
INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
Mark 1:14-15
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
“After John was put in prison,”
The ministry of John the Baptist was temporary. It was a preparatory ministry to get people ready to hear from the Messiah Himself. John was Jesus’ forerunner who was predicted in the Old Testament prophecies (Exodus 23:20; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).
(paradidomai) = “After John was handed over”
Herod Antipas was helping to fulfill the Sovereign Plan of God.
This is a foreshadowing of what will happen to the Lord Jesus Christ when He will be handed over to die on the cross for the sins of the world!
Acts 2:22-24 NIV “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
John the Baptist clearly proclaimed that Jesus must increase and he must decrease. This faithful servant of God has just about completed his earthly mission.
“Jesus went into Galilee,”
Fresh from the wilderness and testing by Satan, the Lord Jesus begins His Galilean Ministry. Jesus’ wilderness venture was like D-Day (the Normandy Invasion). Jesus was now on the move to liberate mankind. The battle to redeem lost souls from a Christless Eternity in hell was now in full swing!
“…proclaiming the good news of God.”
Matt. 4:15-16 NIV “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
This is a quote from Isaiah 9:2. Jesus the light of the world was shining in the darkness! He was a beacon of truth and of salvation!
John 3:16-17 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
2 Cor. 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
“The time has come,” he said.”
This is not speaking about chronological time. This is talking about a specific time! Our sovereign God is working out every detail with exact precision (better accuracy than a Rolex or Seiko watch).
Gal. 4:4 NIV But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
John the Baptist was born just when God the Father wanted Him to be born.
Jesus was born just when God the Father wanted Him to be born.
John and Jesus started their ministries just when God the Father wanted them to start them.
Every prophecy which was given was fulfilled with accuracy.
“The kingdom of God is near.”
It is near because the King of the Universe is here! The time of God’s sovereign rule on earth is beginning with the first phase of His mission!
TWO ASPECTS OF JESUS’ MESSAGE WERE:
“Repent”
Repentance for Jew and Gentile is central to the preaching throughout the Book of Acts
Acts 20:21 NIV I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Acts 3:19 NIV Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Metanoia = After thought, change of mind
meta = after
noeo = to understand
It is like doing a U-turn or a 180
Positive: Turning to God (by faith)
Negative: Turning from Sin
We often think of repentance as negative and bad. We have the image in our minds of the disapproving older brother from the parable of the Prodigal Son instead of the father who loved his son and was looking for his return with eagerness.
We like to lay the blame everywhere else but on ourselves!
Exod. 32:22-24 NIV “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
“and believe the good news!”
Our faith is a trustworthy faith! It can hold up to the most ardent skeptic!
History
Archaeology
Eye Witness accounts
Transformed Lives
All prove our that our God is God! There is no other God beside Him!
Isa. 45:6 NIV so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Millions upon millions over the ages have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and have not been disappointed.
“Repentance without faith is remorse.”
Dr. Warren Wiersbe, pg. 112, “Be Commentary”
JESUS’ CALL TO THE FIRST DISCIPLES
Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
WHERE WAS JESUS?
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee,”
The Sea of Galilee will become an important place of ministry for Jesus.
Sea was approximately 14 miles by 6 miles
Fresh water
700 ft below sea level
The Sea of Galilee is also called:
Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1)
Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1)
Sea of Kinnereth (Num. 34:11)
WHO WERE THE FIRST ONES CALLED?
“…he saw Simon and his brother Andrew…”
WHAT WERE THEY DOING?
“…casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”
They were involved in earning a living!
They were casting a net and trying to catch fish!
WHAT DID JESUS SAY?
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said,
‘and I will make you fishers of men.’”
A firm command! Imperative Command! “COME, follow me!”
WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE?
“At once they left their nets and followed him.”
HOW ABOUT THE OTHER TWO?
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Mark 1:19-20 NIV
Mr. Zebedee is doing quite well with his business. He has hired hands plus his son’s working for him. He might be supporting as many as 5 families with his business!
HOW DID THESE BROTHERS RESPOND?
“…and immediately they left the boat
and their father and followed him.”
Matt. 4:22 NIV
WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?
Were these men insane? Not playing with a full deck? Loco in the cabasa?
This doesn’t seem like a rational act!
John the Baptist had been arrested! I’m sure that these men knew of this!
Eking out an existence in the ancient world wasn’t an easy task. These men seemed to be ahead of the game and were doing well!
Is this the type of behavior that reasonable people would display?
Was this a blind leap of faith?
Were they pondering the great questions about life?
Questions such as:
Is this all there is?
Isn’t there more to life than this?
Just think about this. Jesus comes walking by on a walk and commands them to come and follow Him and He will mentor them in the act of fishing for men!
They stop, drop all and follow!
It doesn’t make sense if a mere man was asking you to join his cause or to become a part of his revolution. But if the Eternal God of the Universe is the One asking you to become a part of His global plan what logical choice do you have but to turn and follow?
Isa. 2:22 NIV Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Put your trust in God’s plan! Repent and believe!
The Lord of the universe was calling them to serve Him! The Lord of the universe is also calling you to serve Him!
For those of you who are The Lord Jesus Christ’s disciples, Have you ever thought of what your life would be like if you hadn’t responded to God’s call?
No purpose in life!
No focus in life (other than having fun)!
Ho hope in life!
No future eternal life!
JESUS’ CALL TO US
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW CHRIST?
“The story is told of a farmer who put an advertisement in the classified section of the newspaper. It read, ‘Farmer with 160 irrigated acres wants to marry a beautiful woman with a tractor. When replying, please show a picture of the tractor.’”
Tony Evans, pg. 92, “Kingdom Agenda”
ARE YOU FOLLOWING CHRIST SIMPLY FOR THE PERKS?
You need a fire insurance plan, but do not care much about your agent?
You need an antidote for guilt and Christ offers this?
You need peace of mind and Christ supplies this?
DEVOTION TO CHRIST SHOWS UP IN HIS IMPORTANCE TO YOU!
Col. 1:18-20 NIV And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Following Jesus is having an intimate relationship with Him. It is a call to a radically different lifestyle. It is conforming your life and ways to Jesus’ life and ways.
WWJD (WHAT WOULD JESUS DO!)
J. David Hoke gives us the following insights into God’s call! The main title ideas were gleaned from him.
IT WAS A CALL TO ORDINARY PEOPLE
The Lord didn’t go looking for the most outwardly talented individuals.
He didn’t go to the synagogue schools.
He called fishermen! Hard working guys! He calls ordinary people!
1 Cor. 1:26-29 NIV Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things —and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
IT WAS A CALL TO BUSY PEOPLE
Simon, Andrew, James and John were active in life.
Family men
Shared a part in the family business (it wasn’t a 9 to 5 job)
Boats to maintain
Markets to open up
Orders to fill
Deadlines to meet
Employees and benefits to pay out!
What these men were doing was not wrong! The Lord simply had another plan for their lives! The question might be: “Would the good, become the enemy of the best?”
There is more to life than meeting deadlines, raising children, going to school, sitting in meetings, working and so forth!
God has an eternal plan for your life!
This was a threatening call!
It invaded their space!
These men were entrepreneurs!
They were independent!
They were self-sufficient.
They might have thought:
What about my goals?
Who will take care of me?
Important warning! Do not let the stuff of life crowd Christ and His call out of your life! I’ll miss church once to catch up on business. Then again, and again and soon business is more important than Christ! Maybe it is some hobby that stands in your way!
IT WAS A CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS
The Lord of the Universe is inviting you to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him!
This wasn’t an enlistment call!
It wasn’t a call to join a cause!
It wasn’t a call to a new career or vocation.
It wasn’t a call to attend church, fill the chairs for worship, or to join a Bible Study.
In America we have cultural Christians who know the buzzwords and know how to get by: Fellowship, Born Again, Christian.
The Lord Jesus Christ is calling forth people to follow Him! It was a call to become a slave to Christ! He is the Lord and Master and you are His loyal and humble servant!
IT WAS A CALL THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES
These followers of Christ had their lives turned upside down and transformed! They were expanded beyond their wildest dreams!
John became the Bishop of Ephesus
Peter was a leader in the early church and went to Rome
Andrew took the gospel to the borders of Russia
James was martyred early on in Jerusalem
It was the Lord Jesus Christ who transformed my life! I was busy working at the Ford Motor Company making a lot of money and having what I thought was fun! Unrestrained Hedonism! Sex, drugs and rock and roll!
Then Christ called me! It was only by His grace that I heard! I was almost dead! Certainly hardened and callused! I heard His call and responded! Turning from sin and turn to God by Faith!
I started to grow and mature! I got married! He called me into the ministry! It doesn’t make any sense!
But then should it? God is the One who made me a vessel of Honor! He is the One who deserves all of the glory!
CHICK GERBER
In school Janet and I knew a man named Chick Gerber. Does the Gerber name ring a bell? You got it, the baby food empire! When Chick answered the call of God to pursue the ministry he lost his position in the family biz! He traded financial security to serve the Lord as a pastor!
God’s plan for Chick was far more important than the money he could have had!
D. L. MOODY
D. L. Moody was a shoe salesman when the Lord called him! God used him to touch the world in a powerful way with the gospel message!
Imagine if all of these individuals held tightly to the reigns of their life! Directing every aspect of their lives! Always in control! Think of what they would have missed!
An opportunity to be the Servant of the Most High God! An opportunity to join Him in helping bring about His kingdom! An opportunity to be used by the Lord to proclaim the gospel that sets people free. That should be a compelling enough reason to drop all an follow Him!
Eph. 3:20-21 NIV Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
What’s the snag? What keeps us from fulfilling God’s entire plan for our lives?
We won’t let go of the nets we are holding!
We play tug of war with God!
We have rope burns on our hands!
He could rip the nets from your hands if He wanted, however, He asks us to drop them.
Please do not think that Peter, Andrew, James and John didn’t have anything else to do that day and dropped all and left! It was a risky venture they were pursuing!
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NETS WE CLING TO?
Dr. Joseph Stowell lists these!
1) People can be a net
An improper relationship with someone! Family loyalties and bonds keep us from fulfilling God’s will and plan. What about a mom or dad who holds their child back from world missions or the ministry because they won’t make money at it? Or because it isn’t as exciting to tell your friends at the club my daughter went to Multnomah Bible College instead of Harvard Law School!
2) Things (material possessions) can be a net
3) Plans, goals and dreams can be nets
4) Attitudes can be nets
Pride, self-righteous attitudes, insensitivity and other such attitudes can be nets.
5) Money can be a net
6) Secret sins can be a net
Something you just will not forsake that keeps the Lord from using you fully!
We need to understand that we give over to the Lord, that He asks us to get rid of, will only bless us later. The Lord isn’t a cosmic killjoy trying to eliminate any fun in our lives!
He has a revolutionary plan for our lives that begins with salvation, goes on to sanctification, and ends with glorification and eternal life with Him!
John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“That word ‘me’ in this call to ‘follow me’ is what
makes unconditional fellowship so compelling.
It is a compelling call because He is a
compelling person.”
“Following Christ”, pg. 66, Dr. Joseph Stowell
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Answering the Call of God to discipleship is reasonable.
It is a reasonable call to:
Invest your life
Invest your time
Invest your resources!
He asks us to become a living sacrifice for Him!
Rom. 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God —this is your spiritual act of worship.
Even if Bill Gates offered you a position to be his number two man or woman how would that compare to the Eternal God of the Universe asking you to fulfill His will and plan for your life?
Jesus is coming again! When He does, serving Him will make all of the difference in the world!
Rev. 22:12 NIV “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Jesus calls you first of all to entering into a relationship with Him!
It begins with salvation!
Do you know Christ as your Savior? If you were to die today, would you know for sure you would go to heaven? A choice is needed!
Jesus then calls you to follow Him and trust where He is leading you!
His plan and His will for you are perfect! It is flawless!
Is Christ in control of your life of are you in control of your life?
What nets are you holding on to? Are you willing to let them go to please the Lord if He asks you to?
Jesus is the One who mentors you and who equips you when you answer His call.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will make you fishers of men.”
Settle for… Nothing but Nets!
