In the fall of 1985, I turned on my FM radio at 10:30 to listen to a new radio station in our area. On this station was a preacher named Chuck Swindoll. I listened to a part of his message nearly every night during that time and remember him clearly giving a message of hope to the listeners. One morning, I woke up after listening to his message the night before and I said to myself—that is what I want to be when I grow up! I want to be a preacher!
That was the turning point in my life–the moment that I acknowledged and accepted the call to the ministry. I was mentored by listening to a radio preacher, followed by a church camp, and my first ministry experience of leading a prayer group in high school. This was the exciting beginning of the realization of God’s calling on my life.
Sitting in your chair this morning.—anticipating this week of simulation and practice I want you to ask yourself.
Where were you when you first sensed the call?
What did that look like? Who did you tell?
What did you do?
When was the last time you took time to consider your calling to ministry?
I want to take a couple of moments, this morning, to look at the text of Matthew 4.
Matthew 4:18-25 gives us a story of Jesus calling his disciples. As we reflect on this, I pray that during this time each of us will reflect on our call. It is our all—it is unique to each of us. The call is a mystery. We can’t explain it. We cannot adequately describe it. But, we all know it is there and how it happened.
So, looking at Matthew 4; we want to first consider the call.
v.18
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-19 ESV)
Jesus calls the disciples to “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus was walking by the sea. This was no accident. He knew who was going to be there. God had been developing them and their gifts for years before. It is also understood that there were more people out there by the sea than these two sets of brothers—the first set described here in verse 18 and the second set described in verse 21—Luke 5:10 says that they were partners with one another. But it was these four men Jesus had come to see.
They were fishermen. They were trained to catch fish and to mend nets. They were hard workers—as you could imagine. They were skilled in making a living through fishing—the business of it, the techniques of it, and the patience of it.
Jesus calls the disciples from where they were, as they were—he brought all of their skills and personalities together for a unique task.
In the same way; Jesus called us individually into ministry. As we have seen demonstrated through the StrengthsFinders survey, we all have different strengths and personalities. We all have different backgrounds and different calling stories. We all called and developed for his good purpose.
But, even as we consider the call and its blessing—we must not forget to consider the cost.
V20
Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:20-22 ESV)
The disciples left everything. They left their boats; their livelihood. And they left their father; their family.
Does this mean that they never returned to their boats or families again? No.
What we see is that they stopped putting their occupation or their families first, and put Jesus in control. He called them with a special call to follow him; to learn a new trade from him; to make them fishers of men. He cost comes in the form of families that we’ve left behind while we move from place to place. Sometimes, it shows up in those times when we are geo-bachelors—even our spouses and children are left behind. Some of you had other careers that you left.
But when we consider the cost, we know that we are doing it for our calling. Jesus asks us to leave everything to follow him.
Have you considered the cost?
Was it a relationship that went sour, because of the call on your life?
Was a health issue that came as a result of the call?
Was it a profitable and successful career?
Was it persecution?
Consider the cost to you!
When we consider the cost of our calling, we see truly how precious that calling is to us—otherwise, we would have never sacrificed in the first place!
This morning, in examination of Matthew 4, I ask you to
Considering the call, consider the cost, but don’t forget to consider the crowds.
V23:
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Matthew 4:23 ESV)
After the disciples left everything, the disciples followed Him—Jesus; and where did Jesus go? He went to the crowds. He went to the people who were hurting. He went to the masses that were searching for meaning in their lives.
These same disciples who started out on a fishing bank—went to the sick, the rulers, the downtrodden, and the rich. They went to the crowds with Jesus.
We are also called to go to the crowds.
This should not be confused with an idea that to be successful, we must have a large ministry. But, it is the realization of the fact that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.(Luke 10:2a ESV) Everywhere we look, there are people who need you to go to them—to bring the teachings of Christ, to proclaim the gospel, to bring healing and hope, and to bring his presence.
When we consider the call and the cost—there is a purpose. We don’t just sacrifice for the purpose of sacrificing. We sacrifice to fulfill God’s plan to reach the crowds. Throughout the Bible God uses people to reach this world for the gospel. This is what we are called to do—to go to the crowds.
So what about you? Have you considered your call? Have you considered the cost? Have you considered the crowds?
The crowds desperately need you to bring the good news to them. You have given so much already!
Remember your calling! Revisit it. The call may narrow. The people group may shift. But, Gods call is sure.
Listen to the words of Jesus as he whispers once again to you: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Let us pray.
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This sermon was preached at the Captain’s Career Course Worship Lab on 24 September 2012. All scripture marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.