Mark 1:14-20
Answering the Call
Believers are called to serve. Once our salvation is secure in Christ, we become His body on earth. We serve Him because of His grace which has been freely given. Occasionally, our messages are unclear. Consider the following:
Introduction – Answer Machine Messages
A College student had the following message on his dorm answering machine: "Hi! This is Fred. If it's the phone company, I sent the money. If it's Mom or Dad, please send money. If it's the financial office, you didn't loan me enough money. If it's my girlfriend, leave a message-- and don’t worry, I've got plenty of money!”
John the Baptist and Jesus left no doubt what the message was. Their message was clear. They…
…Proclaimed a Radical Message 14-15
It was a radical message because it called for people to forsake their sin in repentance. They were to live lives in obedience to the Father.
For John and Jesus it was not an Unusual message!
It was a call to repent! It had nothing to do with religious stuff! They were to acknowledge their sinfulness and trust Him by faith.
To the people it was an Uncomfortable message!
There was both an inward and upward look. It was inward because people had to understand who they were in God’s eyes. It was an upward look because only He could redeem them. They had to experience a changed life!
It was also an Unattractive message!
For man, it was not the norm. Man wants to do it on their own. As Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it MY way!” We don’t like to think we have to rely upon someone else. Yet, our reconciliation to God comes only through trusting Jesus Christ.
Finally, we note it was an Unmistakable message!
There were people who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Scriptures tell us that even the demons knew Jesus was God. “For they knew that He was the Christ” Luke 4:41. Jesus knew who He was. He knew His purpose. He came to seek and save those who are lost. “For this purpose I have been sent” Luke 4:42-44
Illustration – Will Smith Equates Bible & Scientology
Will Smith conquered space aliens in "Independence Day," and now he apparently believes they are real.
Smith admits in the issue of Men’s Vogue on sale Tuesday that he has studied Scientology with Tom Cruise and doesn’t disagree with its basic tenets.
In doing so, he finally "comes out," joining Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and a handful of other Hollywood types in their devotion to this controversial religion.
For a long time, Smith has denied joining the Church of Scientology with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, explaining that it would go against the beliefs of his late grandmother. But for some time, insiders in Hollywood have insisted the Smiths were, indeed, brought in by Cruise.
Smith concedes that his kids are being home-schooled, just as are those of Cruise, Travolta and other Scientologists.
In the article, Smith refers to "Thetans," who are space aliens in the vernacular of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
"... in all of the experiences I’ve had with Tom and Scientology, like 98 percent of the principles are identical to the principles of the Bible," Smith tells Men’s Vogue writer Hudson Morgan.
"The Bible says, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' And you know, there’s a Scientology principle: 'Do not create experiences for others that they cannot comfortably perceive.'"
He continues: "The Bible talks about your spirit being immortal, that you were created for existence beyond your physical body. Well, that’s no different from Scientology. I don’t think that because the word someone uses for 'spirit' is 'thetan' that the definition becomes any different."
I have a feeling that clergy and practitioners of both the New and Old Testament might take umbrage with that idea. Scientology is considered a dangerous cult in some countries, including Germany.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
There are strange doctrines in the world today. One can believe in “Thetans” and be considered normal but to believe that Jesus is the Messiah…
When Jesus called His disciples He…
Applied a Reliable Method 16-17
Jesus met the people right where they were but He radically changed their lives. He did that by doing four reliable methods.
First, we discover that His method was Personal.
Jesus went one-on-one with people. He treated them as an individual. They were not treated as an object or number. He was real and relevant to them.
One thing which seems to be missing from ministry today is the personal touch. Churches are pursuing ranchers or CEO’s rather than pastors or shepherds. Jesus was and is a personal shepherd to His people.
Second, we note that His method was Practical.
Jesus found working, blue-collared people. They were mending their nets and making a living. He sought out ordinary people. The individuals he called were the ‘salt of the earth’ people.
Jesus did not call lazy people. Following Him requires effort and sacrifice. There is something to be said about hard working people. Christians should never be labeled as lazy. That applies to preachers as well.
Then we find that His method was Passionate.
Jesus believed in the mission His Father sent Him to accomplish. He was passionate in what He was doing.
How passionate are you in serving Jesus? Are we living for Him as we ought?
Finally, we notice that His method was Powerful.
He changed lives. He touched the blind, lame, deaf and dead and they were changed. Jesus was not just a man…He was the Son of God. Their lives were so radically changed; they were willing to sacrifice everything to follow Him.
Illustration – Life Changing Work
Paul Powell wrote in his book The Complete Disciple, “Many churches today remind me of a laboring crew trying to gather in a harvest while they sit in the tool shed. They go to the tool shed every Sunday and they study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and then get up and go home. Then they come back that night, study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes and grease their tractors and go home again. They come back Wednesday night, and again study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and get up and go home. They do this week in and week out, year in and year out, and nobody ever goes out into the fields to gather in the harvest.”
E. M. Bounds said, "What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men--men of prayer."
Jesus sought men, women, boys and girls for salvation and reconciliation. What are we doing about it?
The disciples left their nets, businesses and families to follow Christ. It was in them He…
Created a Remarkable Ministry 18-20
These were “rough around the edges” men. They knew hardships and difficulties. They were called by Jesus to attend His three year “School of Hard-knocks.” They never looked back.
In creating this remarkable ministry we find that it’s a Dangerous ministry!
People did not like His message or methods. The religious populace detested this itinerate preacher. He was uneducated and uncouth. Why, He connected with prostitutes and tax collectors. If He only knew what they were like He wouldn’t do that. He even claimed to have preceded Abraham!
How often do we pursue a “safe” ministry? Do we go into the dangerous neighborhoods to proclaim the gospel or do we avoid danger? Living for Jesus can be dangerous if we follow Him unconditionally.
We find that this remarkable ministry is also a Destructive ministry!
What do I mean by this? The gates of hell can not stand against the Words of Christ! We ought to be willing to charge hell with a squirt gun because we will never be forsaken by Jesus!
Vance Havner said, "When I pastored a country church, a farmer didn't like the sermons I preached on hell. He said, ''Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus.'' I said, ''That's where I got my information about hell.''"
Satan is our dedicated and committed enemy. His final residence has already been determined by God. We attack the gates of hell because they don’t move. They will not stand unless we choose to do nothing.
Then, it’s a Desperate ministry!
There are the souls of men and women at stake! Jesus knows how little time we have and that the harvest is on the verge of being over ripe. We need to behave as desperate men reaching desperate men. It is like one beggar telling another beggar where the food can be found.
Finally, it’s a Determined ministry!
God desires all to come unto Him. “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9. We need to be determined in our ministry in reaching the lost and teaching the saints the Living Word of God.
Illustration – A View from the Zoo
In A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond tells about the birth of a giraffe:
The first things to emerge are the baby giraffe’s front hooves and head. A few minutes later the plucky newborn is hurled forth, falls ten feet, and lands on its back. Within seconds, he rolls to an upright position with his legs tucked under his body. From this position he considers the world for the first time and shakes himself. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over the calf. She waits for about a minute, then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heels. When it doesn’t get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts....Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs. Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up! In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they’d get it too, if the mother didn’t teach her calf to get up quickly and get on with it! Source: In A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond Publisher; SermonCentral
Following Christ can be painful. But the glories which await us are unmistakable and unbelievable!
