Know the Call on Your Life (Mark 1:16–34)
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CPT: Jesus calls people to follow him to a ministry of authority and healing.
Purpose: During Seek Week, we seek a closer walk with the Lord.
CPS: Know the call of God on your life.
Introduction
Attention
This week, starting tomorrow, we are entering together as a church into Seek Week. Seek Week is a week where we seek out the Lord’s face together as a church through prayer and fasting. I believe the Lord has aligned this up well as we talk today about knowing the call of God on your life. God has called you each to follow him to the greater life that he has for you. Know the call of God on your life.
In 2010, I was thinking through the call of God on my life. I felt that God had called me to finish up a biblical studies degree, and I did that. I didn’t know why. I was working as an Police Officer, and the degree didn’t do much in that profession.
But it became clear that God was leading me to something else, something that I didn’t know yet. I could see other Police Officers, and I could definitely see that there were some who were living out their calling. God had designed them to be doing exactly what they were doing. They were thriving in their calling.
But I knew in my heart of hearts that God was calling me out of this profession and into something unknown. God was calling me to trust him. It was a step of faith that led me in 2011 to San Diego to help out a small church plant in Paradise Hills.
Problem
The call of God can seem so unknown. Sometimes God seems to say to us, “Do you trust me?” How can we follow the call of God on our life? We will look at that in Mark 1:16-34.
Scripture Reading
16 As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.
17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
19 Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order.
20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21 They went into Capernaum, and right away he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
22 They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
23 Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out,
24 “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
28 At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.
31 So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed.
33 The whole town was assembled at the door,
34 and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Pray
These verses tell us quite a about what following Jesus means, and about knowing the call of God in our life.
First,
Following Jesus means a call to something greater.
Following Jesus means a call to something greater.
Jesus begins his ministry by the Sea of Galilee and begins to call his disciples. The first are Simon, later called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. Notice the call in Mark 1:16-18.
16 As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.
17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus sees Simon and Andrew casting their net into the sea, because they were fishermen. Fishing was their profession. The Lord saw them where they were. That’s an important point, because God’s call can come at any time. The Lord isn’t restricted to a church building or a religious ceremony. The Lord speaks to us wherever we are, and these two fishermen were at work in their business.
Jesus something beyond their wildest imagination. “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” That’s a direct call, and it needs an immediate response. The Lord doesn’t leave us with vague choices, or time to think it through. The Lord says, “Follow me.” The Lord calls people to an immediate step of faith. It’s a step of trust and obedience to God’s call.
It says they “immediately left their nets and followed him.” James and John did the same thing. Take a look at verses 19-20.
19 Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order.
20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
James and John leave their father in the boat! “Dad, you stay with the hired men. The rabbi has called us to follow him. We’ve got to go.” The Lord calls his people to a total commitment of faith. The Lord calls his people to say, “Lord, I am going to honor you before I honor anyone or anything else. The priority is God. The priority is the Lord. When the Lord is the priority, everything else falls in place.
Jesus talks about priorities in Mark 10:29-30:
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,
30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come.
What is he saying? The call of God on our life is a call to priority. Too often we have it upside down where we prioritize everything and everyone else, and leave God in the area of last resort. We say, “All of these things are priorities, and when we’ve exhausted everything else, we say, all we have left is to pray.”
That’s why I love what we are about to do this week with Seek Week. This is a week where we set right our priorities. Seeking out the face of the Lord for our year is something our church has done well in the past, and we will continue to prioritize our Lord and seek him going forward.
The Lord sees you where you are, and our priority is to follow him. We need to know the call of God on our life, and his call is a call to our priorities.
Following Jesus means a call to something greater. What I love here is that Jesus is not like other rabbis in the first century. In the first century, if you’re a rabbi, you teach, and people come asking to follow you. But not Jesus. No, Jesus sees people where they are, and tells them, “Follow me.”
And Jesus calls people to a life they never would have dreamed for themselves. I doubt Simon, Andrew, James, and John are sitting around thinking, “I am going to fish for people.” They probably figured out in their mind that this is their life’s work. But God had something greater.
Following Jesus is a call to something greater. Why is that? Because when you follow Jesus, you follow at his command, and his command drives us to love. What is his command? John 15:12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” Love is infectious. When you begin to love you will begin to fish for people. You will say, “This is what Jesus has done for me, and I want that for you because I love you. I love you because he loves you, and he loves me.”
We are constantly driven for something greater. Right now, football teams are fighting through divisional playoffs to try to make it to the Superbowl. I’ve been watching clips, and you see star players rallying their team. There is so much drive and purpose, because they want their team to make it to the Superbowl. They want to be the champions and lift up that Vince Lombardi trophy at the end. It’s a temporary trophy, because it will last for this season. Next season, they’ll be trying again, and another team will try to be the best in the NFL.
Jesus is calling Christians to something greater. The world is fighting for temporary trophies, but Christians are called to eternal rewards in glory. When Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people,” that is a call that deserves your passion, deserves your commitment, because it is the Lord’s call for his people. Know the call of God on your life.
Following Jesus means a call to something greater.
Second,
Following Jesus means a call under his authority.
Following Jesus means a call under his authority.
There is a driving theme through these verses in Mark 1, and it is the authority of Jesus Christ. Take a look first at verses 21-22:
21 They went into Capernaum, and right away he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
22 They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
Jesus enters into Capernaum, which is a small village by Galilee. It says in Matthew 4:13 that Jesus lived in Capernaum for a time. When he gets, his makes it a priority to enter into the synagogue and teach. Notice that for Jesus, there is a priority on the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 4:4 “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The preaching and teaching of God’s Word is necessary in every generation.
But the people realize that there is something unusual present in Jesus’ teaching. It says, “They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.” When the scribes teach, they teach, “This is what God says.” But when Jesus teaches, he teaches as someone who is the fulfillment and author of the Law. The Scriptures are pointing to him. Look at Matt. 5:17:
17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Jesus comes with authority because he is the fulfillment and the author of God’s Law and God’s Word.
Take a look back in Mark 1. Everything in these verses is pointing to the authority of Jesus Christ.
The disciples leave everything to follow Jesus because of his authority to say, “Follow me.”
Other teachers don’t compare to the Lord, because he is the one with authority.
Sickness is healed because of the authority of Jesus.
The demons shriek in fear because of the authority of Jesus.
There is something interesting in Mark 1. Look carefully at Mark 1:23:
23 Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out,
Notice that the man with a demon was in the synagogue. Demons are comfortable around the religious. If your motivation in religion is to follow a bunch of rules, to feel better about yourself and to try to be a good person, demons are comfortable around that. There is no authority there.
But if religion comes out of your relationship with Jesus, if your motivation is to follow him wherever he leads you, demons are afraid of that. Demons are exposed by Christ. Light exposes the darkness. The power of God is in the authority of Jesus Christ. Following Jesus means a call to submit under his authority.
James says it this way in James 4:7:
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Too many people are caught up in the things of this world, a world that is under the influence of Satan and would love to keep you weak and afraid. Many times Satan knows the authority of Jesus better than his people do. You see that in the text. Resist the devil and he will flee from you because of the authority of Jesus Christ in your life. Following Jesus means a call under his authority.
We live our lives under authority all of the time. For go to jobs and clock in, under the authority of the boss and of the time clock. Now, we need to work and do those eight hours not because we have nothing better to do. There is an authority of bills that need to be paid. There is a landlord to whom we have to pay rent, or a bank that we have to pay a mortgage to. We get a check and in the check we are paying an authority. The state of California and the US Government take taxes out of our check because of their authority. We have to submit to all of these authority figures. If we don’t submit to the authority of our job, the boss will let us go. If we don’t submit to the authority of the landlord, they’ll evict us from our apartment, because of the authority of the court.
We submit to authority all of the time. We submit to these authorities because we realize that there are good things that happen when we submit. If I submit at my job, I can get finances to buy food and clothing. If I submit and do what is right with the government, I don’t get the police showing up at my house.
It is good to be under the authority of Jesus Christ. How many of you that? It is good to know that I can resist the devil and he will flee, because of the authority of Jesus in my life. Know the call of God in your life.
Following Jesus means a call to something greater.
Following Jesus means a call under his authority.
Third,
Following Jesus means a call to serve.
Following Jesus means a call to serve.
There’s a beautiful story in Mark 1 of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law. You can picture as Simon is following Jesus, and seeing him do all of these incredible miracles, what goes through his mind when he finds out that his own mother-in-law is seriously ill. In the first century, a fever could mean many things, including death. Look at what it says in verses 29-31:
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.
31 So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Jesus leaves the synagogue, and they had over Simon and Andrew’s house (remember they were brothers). They comes with James and John, the other brothers.
It says that Simon’s mother-in-law is lying in bed with a fever. It doesn’t tell us how sick his mother-in-law. We know that she was lying in bed, so she was not doing well, and was probably pretty weak.
Fevers can sometimes lead to death. Today, many people have vaccinations that keep stronger illnesses at bay. But for us, even an infant, if it has a fever over 100.4 degrees, that can be a medical emergency. Certainly, Simon saw this as serious enough disease to get Jesus and bring him to her. It says, “They told him about her at once.”
That in itself is beautiful. The Lord uses people to bring Christ to them.
And the Lord comes. Verse 31 is a beautiful verse. “So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.” How many of us have been raised up by Jesus? How many of us has the Lord taken by the hand, and when he holds your hand, you know that you are okay, that you are in the healer’s presence?
But what strikes me about verse 31 is the mother-in-law’s response. Listen to what happens, and her response to the Lord. “The fever left her, and she began to serve him.” Isn’t that what happens when you’re life is changed by Christ? There is a heart of thankfulness, of thanksgiving, that starts to well up.
We say, “What can we do for the Lord?” That’s a big question, because you are talking about the Creator of heaven and earth. What can we do for him? Yet, God in his grace, calls us to a life of greater things.
When you follow Jesus, you follow his example. There is no one who has ever walked this earth in a better way than Jesus. He is the ultimate example for all of us. God took on human flesh, dwelt among us, and lived a life for us to follow. What does Jesus say about following his example? Jesus says this in Matthew 20:26-28:
26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Lord came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. It says, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” John 13:16 says that “a servant is not greater than his master.” We have a call on our lives to follow the master, to follow his example.
If we want to live a vibrant and strong Christian life, we need to know the call of God on our life. That call involves following him no matter what, following the example that he has left for his people, an example of serving others. He says, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.”
The Lord is calling his people his people to great things. That greatness is in following our Lord, and his call on our lives. Following Jesus means a call to serve.
What does this mean in a practical way? It means that we look at the priorities of our lives, and to think if we’ve put things over people. Are we truly loving one another? When you love, love takes sacrifice. It why Jesus says in John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” Love takes sacrifice for others. Love is going out of your way to check in on your friend.
When we love others, we serve others. Do you know the meaning of ministry? Ministry means service to God and others. What does the Bible say about ministry? Look at Ephesians 4:11-12:
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
Who are the saints? That is anyone, brother or sister, who is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You have been called to a work of ministry, a work to follow your Lord and to serve. There is no doubt, I know that if we serve together, our church will grow in love and unity in Christ.
Serving shows compassion for others. We see that in Jesus’ life. In Mark 1:32-34:
32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed.
33 The whole town was assembled at the door,
34 and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
It is evening time. The sun has set, and yet people are still coming. They are bringing to him everyone who is sick, everyone with a demonic issue, everyone suffering, everyone in need of the Lord’s healing.
It says that the whole town is gathered at the door. Jesus doesn’t cast them aside. He doesn’t tell them to come back tomorrow. He serves. He gives of his energy, he gives of his love, he gives of his compassion, and he heals people.
Church, the Lord is calling us to love others well. I’m convinced that if we can live by John 15:12, “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you,” our church will see tremendous fruit, because we are following the one who first loved us, and we are called to love others well.
We are entering into Seek Week this week. From Monday to Friday, as a church we are seeking God together this week through prayer and fasting. Fasting may mean different things for us.
For some of us, there are things in our lives that have been a boundary in our walk with the Lord. We fail to put time for the Lord because we are caught up in all the distractions. But Seek Week is a time for us to slow down, to refocus our priorities, and look together to Christ.
Some fast through a meal, and use that time for Bible reading and prayer. Some fast from something in their life that’s a distraction, whether it’s a television, phones, social media, whatever it is for you, and when that temptation arises, you take that time you would have committed there to pray and seek the Lord.
The point is that there is intentional, set aside time in your day, at a time when you would be distracted by something else, to instead seek out the Lord.
This week, think through the call of God on your life. How are you going to follow Jesus this year in 2023? The Lord says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” The Lord is calling you to something greater. How are you going to follow the Lord’s call and submit to his authority? How are you going to follow the call of God on your life to serve? In 2023, how will you live out his command to love one another as he has loved you?
During this Seek Week, seek to know the call of God on your life.
Conclusion
Following Jesus means a call to something greater.
Following Jesus means a call under his authority.
Following Jesus means a call to serve.
Conclude
Prayer
Last Song
Doxology
24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’
24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.
You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!
