A King to Follow

We saw last week the beginning of Jesus public ministry. We saw that Jesus the Son of God, who never commited a sin, demonstrates to us how to fight sin by trusting in the Word of God, not testing it, and worshiping and serving the Lord faithfully. He went toe to toe with all the devils temptations yet he did not fail once. So after the temptations Jesus is going to leave the wilderness after hearing about John being arrested.

Now as we go through the text today what I want you to see as our main idea is this…

If we are going to follow the King, we must renounce our previous life and follow and proclaim him all of our days.

Matthew 4:12–25 (ESV)

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people dwelling in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 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. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 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. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

For those taking notes I want you to see a few things.. The first is this…

The King is to be followed by all the nations.

You might notice in the text that Jesus is this text is a traveling man, and the nations are coming to him.. In fact he mentions 5 places in verses 12 and 13 and 6 places in verses 23-25. Why is that significant? Because the work Jesus was doing was impacting the nations. But it is showing us more than that. Matthew is telling us in the text that Jesus ministry is already having this global impact early in his ministry. If you have a map in your bible you can see that Galilee is in the northwest. Decapolis is in the northeast. Jerusalem and Judea are in the southwest, and beyond the Jordan is in the Southeast. Matthew is telling us look the work of the lord is going out, and as we will see in the rest of the text that all the nations should follow Jesus.

Reading the text and reading for the lesson this week it can be easy to draw the conclusion that Jesus is this new Joshua, some scholars go so far to say that Matthew is trying to show us that like Joshua Jesus is coming in to reconquer the land and set up his kingdom on earth.

and that is good news for us especially living in and around blanchard Oklahoma Jesus did not come for just Isreal he came for all the nations. So that all the nations would know him. In verse 15. Matthew calls Galilee the Galilee of the Gentiles which we have talked about before. So Jesus being for the nations starts his ministry in a place where the nations would be. Jesus was not just for the religious elite he was for the nations. And he starts his ministry for the nations because it was prophesied that he would do that very thing. That is found in the book of Isaiah. `

Isaiah 9:1–2 ESV

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

In verses 15 and 16 Matthew quotes this, The bible tells us that Jesus would minister in this place bringing light to the gentiles ushering in his kingdom.

If you continue reading Isaiah in verse 6 and 7 you will see Jesus would bring in this kingdom.

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Simon himself when Jesus was born said he would be a light for the Gentiles. Matthew mentions this because he wants you to see that in Jesus the scriptures are being fulfilled he says that in verse 14. And Jesus ends up preaching the same message to the world that John was preaching Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Second point you need to make note of is this..

In order to follow the King you must repent and follow him.

Jesus came with this message of repentance, and we talked about repentance a few weeks ago remember that I said. We need to acknowledge our sin, be sorrowful for that sin, and then turn towards God away from that sin. .

Jesus in his text is going to call four men to be his disciples who were fisherman. Simon ( who we know as Peter ) Andrew his brother. James the son of Zebedee and John his brother. And what is most striking to me is that Jesus calls their names and he says follow me, follow me and I love the response we get in the text… They just follow him. He calls and immediately they come. Notice the word Immediately is used two times. Church don’t miss whats here in the text its an important lesson for us all.

When God calls you to do something, calls you to follow him immediately go do what he asks. These fisherman left their boats, left their nets they even left their own father to follow Jesus.

To many us play around with the call that God has given us. Do I need to say that again. To many of us play around with the call God has given us. He calls you to do something just do it immediately. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

This is something that is hard for many of us.... including myself. If you are a believer you have to follow God’s call. Ic you want to really follow the King Jesus.

We see in this calling two incredible things. One God’s calling to these men, and another their response.

Let me talk about their calling for just a moment. It is likely because of where they were from that they missed out on the calling of being something other than their fathers trade which we see is a fisherman. Talking with someone this week and he said that around the age of 8 boys would go off to be trained in the word of God, and if they were skilled enough in the word they would move on to study under the Priests and Rabbi’s during that time around the age of 13. Its a possible these men were not men who would have been seen fit to follow these religious elites and become one themselves at least in their own eyes, so they would have to do their fathers trade. but God did not see it that way. He simply said follow me something they had likely wanted to hear and I will make you fishers of men.

There is a powerful calling for the believer from God in all our lives. In fact we need that calling to believe, but we see from these four men that followed Jesus they were ready to follow him. The left there old lives to follow the one who called them.

One man I read this week said. Jesus calls we must come.

Take this example to when God calls you to something leave behind your sin, leave behind even your own comforts, luxuries, families,Your situations really fill in the blank to follow Jesus.

Why do we repent and follow him? If you have been here the last few weeks you should know this right. We repent and follow Jesus because the Lord of the Kingdom of heaven has come.

There needs to be a transformation that happens in your life where you say to the Lord who Calls you... I will follow. If he says repent of this what do you do? You repent… If he says leave your life and go somewhere else what do you do? You do it.. True faith is not just saying I believe It’s actually believing…

Let me read you something that stood out from my study this week. the real point pressed on us here, and it will be pressed on us again and again in Matthew, especially at the end of chapter 10. Who or what is first in your life the fish, the nets, the boat, the career, the income, the brother, the father, the family? Are you willing to break from any or all "former loyalties"-occupation, friends, family, religion, etc.—in order to wholeheartedly serve one Master? Moreover, are you willing to do what this Master says? To go where he wants you to go? To give away what must now be given away?

We won't all be leaving the fishing profession to be called "apostles" or to be martyred for the faith. I know that. But I also know that when Christ calls you to repent and follow him, you better expect to be disrupted from your ordinary life. You better expect a sword to sever relationships, pierce your bank account, and cut off all those sins that so easily entangle you. You better expect such changes and many more.

When the Lord called me to ministry. I told him no I was pursing a degree is nursing like my wife and man after he began to tug at my heart to do it I felt miserable going through that school. Because I knew I wanted comfort over the King, but when I followed him and pursed theological education got my bachelors my masters of divinity I had peace with it. I wish I could go back and try even harder even though I did really well it I believe, then once I finished I just wanted to keep following him, but something horrible happened covid 19 and all the places where I thought he wanted me to follow him just went away. And so I served the church I was at got licensed to ministry but I knew the Lord wanted me to serve the church and so I began to reach out to churches seen if they had openings any way to serve besides being a Sunday School teacher, D-group leader because that is what God was telling me to do, and I ended up at everyday church as a pastoral intern started preaching more which I just really enjoyed felt like I was fulfilling my calling, doing other things yet I believe the Lord wanted to serve even more. So I met a fellow pastor and I am talking with him about possibly joining his staff doing some children’s Ministry/ and outreach ministry and during that time I get a call from someone you might know Nathan and he leaves me a message saying you want to preach for us a couple of weeks. and at the time I was preaching like every 6 weeks and I was like sure Ill come preach sign me. Little did I know what i was getting into right. Because the Lord had something else in mind besides me preaching just 2 weeks almost three years ago now.

And I remember when I walked into this little church with less people that are in here now felling this presence and my wife will tell you she felt it as well a presence saying if you are going to be obedient if you are going to follow me then you are going to pastor this church, and I wish I was like the disciples here saying I immediately said yes, but through God’s sovereignty of calling me here, and me saying yes. I followed the King because he is worth following even if it makes you uncomfortable. Has not been easy often I don’t think myself or us as a church have always followed him in such a way that my glorify everything he ask’s but I believe we are trying.

But I tell you that long story for the sole reason to show you will never find anything more satisfying than turning away from what the Lord wants you to turn away from and following what he does what you to pursue.

Now if you are wondering today why you should follow Jesus why you should give your life to him I have one last point for you.

Jesus' teachings and actions are the reason we follow him.

What is incredible about Jesus is not just his words but his actions. He teaches us yes to repent, he teaches what we need to know, but he also teaches all of us to be fishers of men. Our job as disciples of Christ is to make disciples. Many of us have lost that job. Some of the most encouraging words I have heard from members or people I have discipled is my life does not look the same as it did when I first met you. Now I want you to understand something the growth belongs to the Lord, but the Work still belongs to us as well.

We are going to see this more next Sunday, but what the disciples did was they believed and they repented they knew they needed Jesus more than anything else. They needed him. They did not just follow a guy just to follow him, they knew Jesus Christ was different that he was the Son of God that he was worth following in the first place because what he was teaching them and what he was doing to all those around him.

These men who were not educated men who were not thought of highly but they were going to be so equipped by following Jesus they themselves where going to see countless people not only come to Christ but grow in Christ likeness.

I have heard it said before and I believe I have said it before but I will say it again one of the things we get to experience on earth that we don’t get to experience in heaven is seeing someone saved, being so changed by the work of Christ.

You are called to be fishers of men. Have you faithfully followed that call of Jesus Christ in that way. Pouring into those who lives God has put you in.

Jesus in the text does some incredible things in this text we see he is teaching in the synagogues proclaiming the gospel but also he was healing every disease of the people. So much so that this news was extending beyond Isreal his kingdom is for the nations. People where bringing Jesus all the sick, all those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those who are oppressed by demons, those having seizures people who were paralytics and he healed them all …

I read this week saying … Jesus not only talks he heals… x2

Is that good. Jesus is not all talk he walks the walk and talks the talk . Church Its one thing to acknowledge that Jesus is a good teacher. We are going to read through the Sermon on the Mount the next several months and we are going to see that Jesus has some powerful words, the great truth that all people can live by but its another thing to believe and acknowledge the miracles.

Jesus backed up his Kingship by not just his words, but by his very own actions. There were people from all around the world being healed all while he preached the gospel. God does incredible things for us.

Later on we will read this in Matthew 11:4-5

Matthew 11:4–5 ESV

4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Jesus is not just some good teacher or some healer he is the Lord of his Kingdom. He makes the blind see.. the lame walk.. the lepers cleaned.. the deaf hear.. the dead raised.. And for you and I thats a King we should follow. thats a King that we should say I need to repent. I need to throw away my past life and follow the Lord forever for all of my days. That is my king. that is my Lord and I am ready to go where he calls me to go.

But what is that going to take. Friends we have been hit hard over the last few years at this church financially, spiritually, physically, but that does not mean we should forget why we are here in this place. We are not here just to come on Sunday mornings to go through the motions now we are mission says to Exalt the Lord , to lift his name high to praise him with all we have? why because he didn’t just teach he didn’t just heal he died on the cross so you and I could be healed from something greater our very own sin. I am telling you don’t be indifferent to your calling. Follow the Lord. Be encouraged because the Lord is at work in you and in this place.

Educate yourself-Equip yourself. I will work hard to prepare for you on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights but thats not enough and it shouldn’t be enough you have to let this bible mold you so you can be fishers of men. So you can what evangelize. It use to be people would go to the streets preaching the gospel telling others about Jesus now we don’t even have the nerve to tell our own families and co-workers and neighbors about Jesus Christ.

Something in this text to me is really cool, It said Jesus fame was spreading because of what he was teaching and all that he was healing. Maybe next time you share the gospel you can ask someone with a leading question because questions are always the best to me to engage. Who is the most famous person you know, and after you respond to their answer you can say Jesus. And then tell him all the things he taught and did and see what happens when you are faithful to the one who said to you follow me.

Friends we have a king to follow? Have you given your life to him? If you repent believe in the gospel and he will heal you from your greatest problem the sin in your life, but if you are a believer and I know many in this room are. Take that message to the nations, put aside your sin, and follow the Lord all of your days let us pray.