The Call of Jesus: Mark 1:14, by John.

THE CALL OF JESUS
Mark 1:14-20

1. In this text, Jesus called fishermen to be disciples.
2. He carefully selected and called men in a variety of professions.
3. He still calls all kinds of people. Matthew 12:47-50. "Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"
(1) His devotion to His Father's will was absolute.
His earthly family could not be allowed to stand in the way.
(2) At the same time, we need to realize that we become the children of His Father in heaven when we put our trust in Him.
(3) The first call we receive is to become children of God!
4. Those who answer affirmatively are generally not the great ones. I Cor. 1:26-29. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
5. The call to salvation is the call of Jesus, a further call seems to me to be an intensification of that first calling.
6. Every call contains certain elements, provisions and promises.
7. The ancient Jews saw themselves as different from the prophets, but they should have worked at being like them.
8. If you see yourself as different from God’s preachers, you should seek to be like them, at least when they are at their best! Paul, Phil 3:17; "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." (4:9) "Whatever you have learned from me, or seen in me, put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I. THE CALL OF JESUS CONTAINS PROMISE.

1. Accept and you’ll change for the better. (You will become fishers of men).
2. Accept and you have, right now, life everlasting. John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." I John 5:12, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
3. Accept and you have a new home in heaven. (John 14:1-3) and a personal escort there by Jesus! V 3, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
4. Accept and you have the promise of His presence. John 14:15-21.
5. Accept and you will realize your dreams.
(1) Have authority.
(2) Power.
(3) Holy Spirit
(4) Weaponry (God’s Word, sword)
(5) Open harvest field Jn 4:35; Mt 9:37,38
(6) What is the greatest desire people have? To live eternally, and we hold the key to eternal life! The Gospel of Jesus!

II. THE CALL OF JESUS ASSURES OUR POTENTIAL VALUE.

1. Satan strives to devaluate God’s creation, you and me, to make us feel worthless. When all else fails, remember Jesus called us to give us greatness!
(1) We will do greater works than He did on earth. John 14:12, 13; "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."
(2) We will judge the world and angels. I Cor 6:2,3, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge Angels? How much more the things of this life!"
(3 We will bear much fruit! ) John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2. Every child of God has his own work no one else can do unless he refuses. Ill. Elijah and Elisha are good examples of what happens when we are obedient.

III. THE CALL OF JESUS INCLUDES OUR PREPARATION.

1. On-the-job training! Starts immediately! Jesus had just called the twelve apostles to follow Him.
(1) What was the first thing He did? Mark 1:21 tells us: "They ent to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach."
(2) The very first thing He did was show the disciples what they were going to be doing!
a. He taught the people.
b. He cast out an evil spirit.
c. He healed many.
2. To the disciples, He said, “follow me…”
3. To us, He repeats the call through them. Col 2:6, 7; "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, contiue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Ill. Mary and Martha both had specific parts to play in the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Martha she was concerned about many things, but Mary had chosen the better part. She sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him teach! That was her preparation!

Conclusion:

1. Promise, value and preparation are all involved in the calling of Jesus.
2. Start now for Jesus is calling you.
(1) Accept His promise of life everlasting!
(2) Realize that the earth holds no value like the value you receive and give in Jesus.
(3) Begin your preparation to serve God with your whole heart!
3. It may mean you will have to leave your family as James and John did, but it will be worth it all to you and to them. It is an exciting challenge and a hope fulfilled.
4. Jesus is calling! Say, “Yes! Dear Jesus! Yes!”


Emmanuel CC, 9/24/2006