Introduction

Good morning, beloved friends. I am thrilled to be standing before you today, in this sacred space where we gather to honor our Lord and Savior. Today, we find ourselves on the threshold of a new revelation, a fresh understanding of the words of our Lord as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

In the fourth chapter, verses 18 to 22, the evangelist Matthew paints a vivid picture of Jesus calling His first disciples. The passage reads thus:

"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 send you out to fish for people.' 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."

What a powerful scene! Imagine the courage it took for these men to leave everything behind, to follow a man whose promise was as vast and mysterious as the sea they fished. Today, we will uncover the depth of that courage, the bravery that comes from following Christ, as we ponder three main points: Braving Battles, Bearing Burdens, and Building Bravery.

Braving Battles

In the heart of the Gospel passage, we find the disciples in their familiar territory, the Sea of Galilee. Their lives revolved around this sea, their livelihood was drawn from its depths, and their identity was tied to its waves. They were fishermen, battling the elements day in and day out, braving the unpredictability of the sea, the harsh weather, and the uncertainty of their catch. Their lives were a constant battle, a struggle for survival.

Yet, when Jesus called them, they left their nets behind. They stepped into a new arena, a new battleground, where the stakes were higher, the battles more intense. They were no longer fighting for fish but for souls, no longer battling the sea but the forces of evil. Their physical battles were replaced with spiritual ones, their earthly struggles with heavenly ones.

The first shift we see in the disciples is their willingness to brave new battles. They were not afraid to step out of their comfort zones, to leave behind what was familiar and step into the unknown. They did not shy away from the call to battle, but embraced it with courage and determination.

They were well aware of the challenges that lay ahead. They knew the cost of following Jesus, the battles they would have to fight, the sacrifices they would have to make. Yet, they chose to follow Him, to brave these battles, because they believed in Him, in His message, in His mission.

The disciples' courage was a calculated choice. They weighed the cost, they counted the risks, and they made the decision to follow Jesus. They were not forced into this decision, they were not coerced or manipulated. They chose to follow Jesus, to brave the battles that came with this choice, because they believed in Him, in His promise, in His power.

The disciples' courage was a collective effort. They did not brave these battles alone, but together, as a team, as a community. They supported each other, they encouraged each other, they held each other accountable. They were not just a group of individuals, but a band of brothers, united in their mission, their purpose, their calling.

The disciples' courage was a sustained effort. They did not just brave the initial battles, but the ongoing ones, the daily struggles, the constant challenges. They persevered, they endured, they remained steadfast. They did not give up, they did not back down, they did not lose heart.

Bearing Burdens

The Sea of Galilee, where our story takes place, is a place of work, a place of livelihood for these men ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO