Am I Qualified?
Notes
Transcript
Opening Scripture:
Opening Scripture:
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.
Jesus called fisherman who were considered social outcast in their time because of their line of work… they were considered unclean.
The Fisherman were not even allowed into the temple to worship because of their occupation.
Jesus then calls a tax collector by the name of Matthew who was highly disliked because they 1) worked for Rome, and 2) they always were looking for an opportunity to cheat someone out of money.
The Pharisees even criticized Jesus for those who He had selected to be His disciples.
The First call that we receive from Jesus is the same call that He issued to Fisherman and a tax collector, and that is to “Follow Me”.
To be a Follower of Jesus we must understand that it means to Walk with Him daily… Those who He first called walked with Him daily…
Discipleship is about Walking with Jesus daily!!
The biggest Stumbling block that we find ourselves constantly tripping over is our sense of feeling unqualified…
**YOU WERE HAND SELECTED**
**YOU WERE HAND SELECTED**
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
In order to overcome feeling unqualified we MUST understand that we did not choose Jesus first, BUT instead He choose us according to the Father’s purpose and plan.
We were chosen out of Love… the same Love that Lead Jesus to the cross to pave the way for us to reign with Him in the Father’s kingdom for all eternity.
He hand selected us to be His Followers and appointed us to be His disciples.
Before we are anything we are first a son/daugher of the king and a disciple second.
Some have been appointed to offices within the Church but regardless if you have been called to a specific ministry/office within the Church should NOT stop you from being a devoted disciple of Jesus!
Because you are a disciple you have been given access in Jesus name!
**YOU ARE CALLED**
**YOU ARE CALLED**
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
When we make the decision to answer the invitation that Jesus has extended to us to be His followers we are then positioned into a place to be His disciples.
We can not be a disciple if we are not willing to share the gospel of Jesus!
To share the gospel we can simply tell our testimony and How He saved us
To share the gospel we can reflect the grace and mercy of God through Jesus!
To share the gospel we can simply tell someone that there is a gift of salvation awaiting them and show them the way to receive it.
We often times feel that it is only the Pastor’s, evangelist, deacons/deaconesses, elders, etc. that are to share the gospel… BUT that’s NOT what Jesus said in the word nor was that His intentions.
The body of Christ MUST echo the grace of God through Jesus Christ!
**READY TO WITNESS**
**READY TO WITNESS**
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We are given many gifts upon receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior… One of those being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to become a witness of Jesus in order to share the gospel of Jesus.
To mature in the Spirit you must feed the Spirit with the word of God!
Apart of being a disciple of Jesus is to constantly nurture and care for your spiritual man with the word of God!
Are you ready to witness?
**WALKING IN NEWNESS**
**WALKING IN NEWNESS**
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Through the price Jesus paid and by our sharing in His death and resurrection through baptism we are given the opportunity to be transformed and live in newness…
In Christ the former things have died and you have put on Christ and by doing so you have become a new creation!
Walking with Jesus is an opportunity to embrace newness within your life.
Through Jesus your past has been forgiven by the Father and you have been given a clean slate so that you may walk in righteousness by walking with righteousness
Are you ready to Walk with Jesus???
