Sermon Tone Analysis

ANSWER THE CALL | Lessons from Dog

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 4:19-20

Follow.

My goal is not to be better person but to be better follower.

Forsake.

Who you follow will determine what you forsake!

Lot’s wife - monument.

Fish.

Jesus turns followers into fishers of men.

No fame is promised.

As you pursue your general calling, your specific calling will become more clear with time! (You can’t go to CBC without GED)

Following Jesus is both DEVOTION and DEVOTIONS!

If you missed my devotions, it does not mean I lost my devotion.

Story of Joseph and Egyptians!!!

“But my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.

I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.

So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly” Joshua 4:8-9

USA is the country with the highest pet dog population at around 75 million over 62 percent own a pet, 400 million in the world.

Lessons I learned from the dog?

1. Dog is always near his master

Can you afford him?

Can you maintain him?

Do you have time for him?

You existed in God’s mind before you were conceived in mother’s womb.

God loves you more than you will ever love him!

Make God your gold Job 22:25; your reward Gen.15:1; hiding place Ps.32:7

2. Dog will go where you go

Others followed promise land, Caleb followed presence of God.

He followed God everywhere!

Some only in good times, others only in bad times…

3. Dog walks by scent not sight

Dogs sense of smell is 1,000 to 10 million times better than yours (He has from 125 million to 300 million scent glands compared to 5 million for humans, the part of the brain that controls your smell is 40 times larger than yours)

When you follow, God actives your spiritual senses.

Not by feelings but knowing!!! It’s not what you see, its what you sniff

4. Dog enjoys small pleasures in life

Happiness is a choice, that choice is connected with your ability to let go of the offense

5. Dog can be trained (dancing, skateboarding, surfing, catching with paws, riding tricycle, backflips, horseback riding, using urinals, scoop their own poop)

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

Hebrews 5:8

Joseph waited 13 years.

Abraham waited 25 years.

Moses waited 40 years.

Jesus waited 30 years.

You waited 9 months before showing up.

Saul was not trained.

Inheritance easily received is not maintained

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Don’t just go through life, grow through life