Real Followers sacrifice everything, Matt 4:18-22
Eric A. Snyder, Minister Farwell Church of Christ
January 6, 2002
Two Hells’ Angels met a priest who was walking with crutches. They asked him what the problem was. He told them that he had slipped in his bathtub. The "Angels" continued walking until one turned to the other and asked, "What’s a bathtub? The other one answered, "How should I know, I’m not Catholic.’’
Two nuns were driving down a country road when they ran out of gas. They walked to a farmhouse and a farmer gave them some gasoline; but the only container he had was an old bedpan. The nuns were happy to take whatever they were offered and returned to their car.
As they were pouring the gasoline from the bedpan into the tank of their car, a man drove by. He stopped, rolled down his window and said, “Excuse me, sisters. I’m not of your religion, but I couldn’t help admiring your faith!
Sometimes the it appears that the church is out of touch with reality.
People today are looking for real Christianity. They want to be challenged. Churches that can effectively demonstrate that they are aware of what is going on in the world around them and minister to those needs are experiencing dramatic radical growth. Most dynamic churches grow between 27 and 33% a year. Churches that just continue to do what they have always done tend to go 2 directions. Either they grow 2% pew year or they decline gradually until they are small enough to close the doors. Most of these churches either do not realize that they are dying or have decided that they are going down with the ship. Why is there a decline on interest in the church today? Quite simply because the church is not perceived as relevant to the community. When the church can show relevance and meaning in the community the church has broken the mold and begins to turn around. Now before you get confused Relevance means that we still preach and teach the truth of Jesus. But it also means we may have to use modern tools.
But that really is a huge issue that I would like to leave with you for the moment and look at another aspect of real Christianity. The church needs to demonstrate it’s worth by calling people to become real followers of Jesus.
Cheryl Lynn wrote a very popular song
“What you find, What you feel What you know it has all got To be real”
So have you found the real Jesus? There are a number of popular songs today where the artist is looking for a real savior. People, Popular people who influence our culture are looking for real life in something that is larger than themselves. U2 is one group that is looking for truth in Jesus Their song “in the name of love is about Jesus” You don’t have to look very hard to find people wanting to know more about what it means to be a real follower. In the next few weeks we are going to look at different aspects of a real follower’s life.
This morning’s text is Matthew 4:18-22
These guys were real followers committed to go wherever Jesus would take them. My stepfather was one of those guys who had a picture of what a real man was. Well I wonder do we have a good idea of what a real follower is. The guys we are going to read about today are real followers.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were 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. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Pray
There was a man who was having trouble with his leg so he went to the doctor.
The doctor said “you have a little gout I suggest you give up smoking and drinking for a while”
The man said what just so I can walk a little better?
The Great Physician knows what is good for us. He wants to help your walk get better.
1. True Followers give up whatever Jesus asks
What has Jesus asked you to give up?
Generally Jesus asks us to give up whatever we are holding onto with both hands.
He will ask you for the one thing that you said you would never give up? Because he knows that it controls you.
Do you know what I find interesting about this text. These guys could have said “we’d rather be fishing.”
And they say that God’s word has lost its finesse. There are those who don’t want to listen to authority form an old book. Now some of you wouldn’t rather be fishing. You’d rather be hunting, or competing, or golfing. What is it that Jesus has asked you to give up? Now, have you done it?
Listen because I don’t want you to think that you are immune to this point. This question determines what kind of relationship you and I are going to have with Jesus. If you’re sitting here today thinking well I am fine because I’ve been a Follower of Jesus for 50 years, please reflect. Nothing is more frustrating to me than when someone comes up to me and says “what a great sermon my sister needed to hear that.” Do you remember when the man did that to Jesus?
A man came up to Jesus and said I listen to your lessons please tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance. Luke 12:13 Jesus said My message is for you, Don’t be greedy or envious. Friends the message is for you.
Is the new relationship in the way? Better get those priorities in order.
Is the Job in the way? Better find a way to worship anyway.
Are you serving in a ministry role but have not sacrificed.
Are you clutching onto a ministry team so that you can control it
Perhaps Jesus is asking you to give up the last thing that you thought he would ever ask for.
It could be that some of us need to leave a way of thinking. There are some who might need to give up an attitude of prejudice, some are going to have to stop telling bigoted racist jokes in the lunchroom. Some are going to have to abandon their sexist behavior. Some are going to have to leave sinful habits. Some are going to have to let go of meanness and cynicism.
Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.
John Henry Jowett.
This church has been tested to the level of sacrifice in the past 6 months and in it continues to be tested in the future. Real followers here are desiring to make a difference. Sacrifices have been made in an effort to add staff here both financially and through other gifts. Currently we have over $5,000 designated to this project but the Job is far from being over our weekly designated offerings need to rise some more.
But this is not the only way real followers here are making a difference. Real followers make a difference here by bringing friends and family to church. By personally studying the Bible by Praying for the Church and the community daily. By serving when there is a task that needs done.
Being a real follower is going to cost you something. It might be money, it might be time, and it might be any other number of things. You say what am I supposed to sacrifice. Well you have to look to Jesus to find that one . So do you want to be a real follower? Have you given up what Jesus asked you to?
These Followers saw something real in Jesus and the gave it all up to become real followers. They would never have become real followers if the had not given up what Jesus asked them to.
2. True Followers are completely dependent on Jesus
Have you learned to depend upon Him for everything in your life?
Sign seen in a textile mill, "When your thread becomes tangled, call the foreman.”
A young woman was new on the job. Her thread became tangled and she thought, "I’ll just straighten this out myself." She tried, but the situation only worsened. Finally she called the foreman. "I did the best I could," she said. "No you didn’t. To do the best, you should have called me
If we want to have a real life, the best life we possibly can we need to learn total dependence on God.
Ruth Graham said in 1991 "Since God has put His work into your weak hands, look not for long ease here: You must feel the full weight of your calling: a weak man with a strong God."
In fact God is not interested in what you or I can do on our own, He delights in the tasks that we trust him for.
Imagine that these followers, these fishermen didn’t even take any fish when they followed Jesus. Complete trust gave them a complete life. Real trust gave them real hope. They did not decide to attend once or twice in a year or to catch Jesus at the feeding of the 5000. They were not just sold on Jesus they were sold out.
Mike Slaughter, Minister at Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio and author of the book Real Followers says Jesus spoke to everyone but the people fell into 3 categories. The Curious, The Convinced, and the Committed. Which one do you fall into.
These disciples were beyond the curious, they were convinced that this guy was for real and they wanted to become real followers. They fell into the realm of the committed.
The difference in Lifestyle is apparent the curious show up and leave when Jesus asks for sacrifice and commitment. The Convinced are there faithfully like a bunch of rhoadies at a rock concert. When Jesus asks them to make meaningful sacrifices and lasting commitment they don’t leave they just don’t respond.
But the real follower is found in the life of the one who is Committed. Jesus asks for commitment and sacrifice and they do it.
People who give it all up for the sake of the call
Steven Curtis Chapman
We will abandon it all
For the sake of the call.
No other reason at all
But the sake of the call.
Fully devoted to live and to die
The late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Holmes was on a train when the conductor came through collecting tickets. Holmes couldn’t find his ticket and became rather distraught. The conductor tried to console him by saying, "Mr. Holmes, don’t worry. When you find your ticket, just mail it in. We trust you." Mr. Holmes responded in frustration, "My dear man, that’s not my problem. I need my ticket to tell me where I’m going."
The mark of a real disciple is dependence on Jesus and allowing him to lead you where you are going.
3. True Followers go wherever Jesus leads
Do you realize how counter cultural this idea is. If people would obey the call to Follow wherever God wanted them to Go do you know what the impact would be in our world. Mission fields would be full. Churches would be packed, Bible colleges would be full. Hospitals would remain in the hands of the church. Ideally it is a plan for a perfect world. A world that we won’t experience until we are in Heaven.
Jesus said it’s not everyone who calls me lord that’s going to make the cut. But those who acknowledge me with their life.
So the hard questions may be tough but they are essential.
Does my life demonstrate the life of one who is sold out to Jesus?
Am I willing to Go wherever Jesus would want me to go?
What are the implications of that. It might mean Changing Jobs. It could mean finishing college. It could mean a complete lifestyle change. It might mean more involvement in the community, or the church. It might mean giving up that which is most precious to me.
If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high, or down low
I’ll go wherever you will go
(The calling)
S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."
Jesus needed and still does need people who are willing to follow him to the ends of the earth.
I’d love to tell you that you can make this kind of commitment casually and it won’t affect your fishing trips or your golf game but that is simply not true.
Becoming a real follower is something that is going to require decision dedication and dependence. But it’s what real followers do.
You may not be called to go overseas for a mission project you might be called on to be a voice of integrity and influence in your community. You may end up hearing his call to accept a role of leadership here. You might find him leading you out of one area of ministry and service and into another.
What category will you fall into Casual, Convinced or Committed
Signal Ellen, Invitation
In Luke’s version of this text Peter falls at Jesus’ feet and declares “Lord I am a sinful man” I know some people who don’t get involved because they have indulged in a sinful lifestyle.
Jesus said that he came to take away the sins of the world
If you need to get those things out of your life Jesus asks you to follow him.
Jesus is asking you to leave your sin he is asking you to come to him and depend on him for comfort, hope, strength, and life.
Jesus wants to use you to make his message known. Come be a part of the kingdom of God here and now. Acknowledge you have sinned turn form that lifestyle, Confess that Jesus has called you to be a real follower. Be baptized in the name of the one who knows you best. And come out of that water, not to go back to an old life, not to go back to sin, not to be casual, not to be convinced.
Walk a new life committed to Christ. Make a commitment to Jesus. He’s calling “Come” Make it real
