The Call Of Christ

Matthew 4:18-20 THE FIRST WORDS TO PETER

18 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. 19 "Come, FOLLOW ME," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

These were the very first words that the first disciples heard from Jesus: “CCME, FOLLOW ME.”

John 21:18-22 THE LAST WORDS TO PETER

18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "FOLLOW ME!"

These were also the last words of Jesus at His final moment with Peter at the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus recruited 12 students, trained them for 3 years, put them to the test with 11 passes and 1 failure, and then commissioned them to do what they were groomed for.

• His recruitment of the Twelve was one-of-a-kind. No resume was submitted and no interview conducted.

• Just a simple call, COME, FOLLOW ME! With that, and with the help of the Spirit of God, lives were changed, and lives kept on changing ever since.

That’s the power of discipleship. It doesn’t stop with one generation. It doesn’t impact just one generation.

• Its influence goes beyond one generation. We can testify to that because we are now 2000 years away from the day Jesus spoke those words.

• And we are still talking about it – making disciples. We are still calling people to FOLLOW CHRIST.

What exactly is this: COME, FOLLOW ME!

• We need to understand this, because these simple words have been passed on from generations to generations.

• We are called to FOLLOW Christ. We are called FOLLOWERS of Christ. And we are now calling people to FOLLOW Christ.

The best way to understand it is to take it plainly – FOLLOW CHRIST!

• Spend time with me, you’ll know God and know how to live.

WE ARE CALLED INTO A RELATIONSHIP – to be like Jesus

Jesus Christ will change them and teach them how this life ought to be lived.

If we look at what happened to the disciples AFTER they FOLLOWED Christ, I think we can get a clearer picture.

• They became LIKE Christ. Their lives were changed, no doubt. But it did not stop at that.

• The disciples began to BEHAVE like Christ – they preach the Kingdom of God, they heal the sick, they call people to repentance…

• They became CHRIST on earth, in His absence. They ACT like Christ because that’s the purpose of life – serving God the Father.

What they have been seeing and experiencing in the 3 years with Jesus, now take place in their own lives.

• The life and ministry of Jesus has, in a sense, been “reproduced” in them!

• They were now representing Christ on earth, saying and doing the same things.

That’s the purpose of our lives. We are called to be His disciples, to BE like Him and DO like Him.

Strictly speaking, Jesus did not just call us to be saved.

Hear me correctly here. To be saved is God’s will, but that’s not all of God’s will.

• If God’s objective is to save us and give us HEAVEN, then He could very well bring us there the moment we accept Jesus.

• It doesn’t make sense leaving us here in a fallen, sinful world, if getting to heaven is His objective for us.

• In fact, we should be going there earlier and not later.

Some says God’s objective is to give us eternal life. That’s not very accurate too.

• Even in hell, you live forever. You don’t die in hell. You are separated from God but your soul lives forever. You have ‘eternal life’ in hell.

• Whenever eternal life is mentioned, it is always in RELATIONSHIP with God. John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

• God’s objective is more than that getting you into heaven and having you live forever. God wants you to RELATE with Him!

How is your relationship with Him today? Do you know what He desires to see in you?

WE ARE CALLED TO BE HIS DISCIPLES – to walk with Him

Jesus’ parting words to them re-emphasize His call.

Matt 28:19-20 “Therefore go and MAKE disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”