The Conquest of the Son of God

Introduction:

Connection:

How do you conquer in this world? What can be defined as genuine victory? How does our King ride forth into the battlefield? These are all crucial questions to understanding the Mission of the Church. Kings Conquer Lands and Enemies in their Kingdom Advance. How does Jesus do this? Not by the physical Sword, but by the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of the living God, that comes in the almighty and effectual power of the Spirit of God. This Kingdom conquers by Grace and New Life—an upside down Kingdom indeed.

Theme:

The Conquest of the Son of God

Need:

What makes for healthy discipleship? Healthy Disciples—who have been restored by the Gospel and follow their King. We need healthy discipleship in the conquest of our King.

Purpose:

To show the irresistible grace of the calling of our King, to exhort us to follow Jesus fully while living on mission, to declare the renewing grace of the Kingdom, and to leave us in awe of the power of God in Christ.

Recap:

Last Sunday we looked at the Dawning of the Kingdom of God! We saw how Matthew quoted from Isaiah to prove that Immanuel, God with Us, is also the Prince of Peace, who brings the Kingdom. We saw that Jesus preached repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven had drawn near, and required conversion for entrance into new life. And here we pick up with the Kingdom calling of Christ unto discipleship and restoration—two things we all need to either enter into, or grow in, this morning.

Open your Bibles to:

Matt. 4:18-25 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) King Jesus Calls with Irresistible Grace - v. 18-22

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV

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

(1) King Jesus Calls with Irresistible Grace - v. 18-22

So far in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus has just demolished Satan in mortal combat, and has begun preaching where John the Baptist left off … preaching about the dawning Kingdom of Heaven in the ministry of the King. Jesus was anointed as King in the Spirit at his baptism, he preached as the King to the Gentiles in Galilee, and here he uses his Kingly power as the Godman to call his disciples to his Kingdom, by irresistible grace and effectual power.

Brothers and sisters—this is no earthly king! This is the Mighty God, God in the flesh! The God who spoke creation into being by his Word—and the God who speaks new creation into being by the voice of the Spirit. When this King calls in power, his power calls in grace. And so during the public ministry of Christ in Galilee, the first official disciples of the King are summoned by grace divine!

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.

Who are the likely candidates of the Kingdom of Heaven? Royal subjects? Honorable men? Political rulers? Jewish Scholars? Roman Centurions? Noble Citizens? Rich Inhabitants? Nope. Poor Jewish Fishermen in the Gentile inhabited land of Galilee.

Here we see Simon-Peter, and Andrew his brother—just minding their own business in their calling as fishermen. And then the Lord of Glory strolled by, and summoned the powers of new creation by his voice—FOLLOW ME!

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Here are some regular guys, fishing away, probably complaining about the heat, probably upset at their little catch—and yet the King of Glory bursts in, with a command of power and grace in the voice of the Spirit of God—FOLLOW ME!

This was not a suggestion. This was not an option. This was a command! This was a summons! This was a calling from the Most High God. FOLLOW ME! Why? For I will make you fishers of men. FOLLOW ME! And you shall be my disciples. FOLLOW ME! And you shall be my people! FOLLOW ME! And I shall save you from your sins. FOLLOW ME! In the path of repentance and allegiance! FOLLOW ME! In the way of faith and trust. FOLLOW ME! And seek first my Kingdom! FOLLOW ME! And I will make you fishers of men. FOLLOW ME! And you shall be my Apostles. FOLLOW ME! As I build my Church.

‘But Jesus we barely understand who you are … But Jesus why should we follow a Carpenter … But Jesus we aren’t done our day of fishing yet … But Jesus we aren’t ready to leave our jobs … But Jesus we have work to do … But Jesus we have meals to prepare … But Jesus ……… Said neither of the disciples, nor any in the moment, as they are effectually called of God.

There was no hesitancy. There was no pause. There was no rational weighing of the arguments. There was no introspection and life examination. There was no redoing the budget. There was no weighing the best odds. There was no waiting! The King of Glory was calling with irresistible grace and effectual power—the Mighty God was speaking light and life into being—the Prince of Peace was transferring fishers into his Kingdom—the Saviour of Sinners was breaking down the stony hearts of his people, while drawing them sweetly by His Holy Spirit.

When King Jesus draws near to call one of his elect to saving faith, he never fails. All those whom the Father has given Jesus will come to Him and he will never cast them out. All those who are set apart before the foundation of the world by electing grace, will storm the gates of the Kingdom when he speaks the Word. All those who belong to the King will offer themselves freely on the day of HIS power. This is why I told you, said Jesus, that no one can come to me unless the Father draws him. But Jesus didn’t zap them—he drew them by the Word. God doesn’t need to use means—but he has chosen the means of the Word to draw his saints in the Spirit!

And when he does so … oh when a sinner is drawn … the iron bars are broken in pieces, the unbelief and pride is crushed underfoot, the rebellion is subdued by Christ’s conquest, new life is breathed into the dead soul, a new heart is given by divine grace, and a new desire is implanted within, and so notice what the text says:

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

IMMEDIATELY they left their nets and followed him! When our blessed King draws near to save & call his chosen people, nothing in all creation can stop Him—for his name is Jesus, and He will save his people from their sins! When Christ Jesus draws a sinner by the cords of his lovingkindness, He irresistably compels the soul with his loveliness and mercy. The dead are made alive!

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

When one of Christ’s sheep are awakened from their slumber to the beauty and glory of their Shepherd-King—when the scales of death fall from their eyes—they run to Jesus in faith and repentance. There is heavenly & magnetic power in the saving call of Jesus Christ, for his precious elect people.

Henry: This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus gives us good encouragement to depend upon the sufficiency of his grace. How strong and effectual is his word! He speaks, and it is done. The same power goes along with this word of Christ, Follow me, that went along with that word, Lazarus, come forth; a word to make willing in the day of Christ’s power Ps. 110:3.

But wait, Peter and Andrew weren’t the only subjects of this saving conquest. Our King had two others to enlist in his army:

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.

Peter and Andrew were casting their nets into the sea, and so were called to be fishermen for Christ—James and John were mending their nets, and so were called to be disciples of restoration. Just as Jesus summoned forth Lazarus from the dead by the word of his power, so too did he summon forth his disciples by the Spirit of Life.

James and John had an additional burden to overcome though. They had their earthly father in the boat with them. But the Everlasting Father—from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things—was bringing his children into his family. And so earthy fathers must bow the knee to the will of the Heavenly Father. And so James and John, enlightened by the Spirit of Grace, were drawn by the life-giving-voice of Immanuel. And so they too responded with immediate conversion & allegiance. When Christ sets forth his scepter of power—none can stay his hand:

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

They didn’t just leave their boat, they didn’t just leave their fish, they didn’t just leave their vocation—they left their father. The Holy One of Israel was walking their path, and the voice of the Almighty constrained their hearts, and so it happened as was promised so long ago:

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

And so with the life-giving-calling of King Jesus—they rose, went forth, and followed their Lord. No turning back. They submitted to the Word of God. They found their strength in the Spirit of God. And they followed the Son of God.

Has Jesus conquered your heart and won you to Himself? We are enslaved in our sin and unwilling to come to Him—but in the day of His power of Conquest—we are made willing and run to Him by the Spirit! Do you know what it is to be drawn to heed the call of Jesus Christ? This divinely magnetic experience of being won by the King?

Spurgeon: When the Holy Spirit comes home to a man, God’s arrow goes into his heart—it does not graze his helmet, or make some little mark upon his armor—it penetrates the heart, entering the marrow of the soul. Have you felt, dear Friends, that personal call? … Sinner, we shall know whether God calls you by this—if He calls, it will be an effectual call—not a call which you hear and then forget—but one which produces good works.

Have you tasted what it is for God to cause you to be born again unto a living hope? Have you experienced the new birth? Have you felt the power of divine life flowing into your soul? Does your heart beat with faith, hope, and love? Does your desire and delight find its resting place in the beauty of King Jesus? Does your will find determination to follow Christ in all of life? Have you rose forth to follow Him? Have you been made a new creature by the Spirit of life? Do you have a desire to fish for souls? To win others to the Gospel? To see Christ’s sheep brought into the fold?

Then take heart, dear one, for the voice of King Jesus has conquered your stony heart, called you with effectual grace, renewed a right spirit within you, and drawn you with the cords of his sovereign love. And until we come to give the glory to God for the beginning of our Christian life, by grace alone, we will never learn to live in our Christian life, for God’s glory alone! Salvation is of the Lord—from first to last, from beginning to end (Ps. 3). And how can we know that we have tasted that salvation?

John 3:5 ESV

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

1 John 5:1–3 ESV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Let us grow in the assurance of faith as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven—and let us press onward into the battle—let us be filled with the Spirit, let us bathe in the Word, let us soak in Prayer, let us be surrounded in Fellowship, let us delight in Worship—and let us go forth to win souls for Jesus Christ! Amen? Amen?

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men! … Are you fishing for men? Are we fishing for souls? Are we fishing for salvation? Are we longing for kingdom growth? Are we yearning for kingdom advancement? Are we labouring for more men and women to heed the call of Christ our King? The mark of a true disciple, is a heart to make more disciples.

Gill: The net they were to spread and cast was the Gospel; for Christ didn’t make them‎ fishers of the law, but fishers of the Gospel.

How do we do this Lord? How do we fish for men? How do we strive for souls? Only by following the example of our Saviour. By preaching repentance unto the Kingdom of Heaven. By preaching faith in the Lamb of God. By sharing the promises of the Gospel. By fasting and prayer for spiritual fruit and blessing. By wearing the armour of God. By scattering the word of truth. By unction from the Spirit of life. By door to door evangelism. By street ministry. By conversations at work. By campus witness. By talking with your friends. By sharing with your family. By spreading the gospel to your children. By sharing the free offer of salvation. By living worthy of the Gospel to those around you.

Where the Gospel of the Kingdom goes forth, bathed in prayer, the power of the Spirit attends with the irresistible voice of our King. God has uniquely placed us in the Kingscourt neighbourhood. We must fish for souls here! God has uniquely placed us with student connections. We must fish for souls on campus! God has uniquely placed us with a youth shelter down the road. We must fish for souls there! We must sound forth the trumpet of the Gospel or else we fail to be his true disciples:

Romans 10:13–17 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

How does God work faith in the hearts of his vessels of mercy? By hearing through the word of Christ. How does God cause us to be born again in the Spirit? Through hearing the Gospel of our salvation. As we share the Gospel—the Kingdom comes. As we plead for souls—the Kingdom grows. As we fish for men—the nets will be filled.

This is God’s way of salvation. This is God’s calling on disciples. This is God’s direction for His church. The question that remains for us is: will we be faithful to our calling of discipleship? Will we seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness? Will we be fishers of men? ………………..

May God close the doors of this building, to never open them again, if we do not fish for souls, as fishers of men.

Calvary, all we need is a Bible, lively Prayer, and the Fellowship of the Saints. Check. Okay, then let’s get serious about fishing! Let’s get serious about being fishers of the Gospel! Let’s get serious about the Mission of making disciples for Christ. Let’s get serious about the Kingdom.

Spurgeon: “The best attraction is the gospel in its purity. The weapon with which the Lord conquers men is the truth as it is in Jesus. The gospel has the same magnitude in every emergency - an arrow which can pierce the heardest heart, and a balm which will heal the deadliest wound. Preach it, and preach nothing else. Rely implicitly upon the old, old gospel. You need no other nets when you fish for men. Those your Master has given you are strong enough for the great fish and have mesh fine enough to hold the little ones. Spread these nets and no others, and you’ll have no need to fear the fulfillment of His Word. I will make you fishers of men. You see, we have a mighty work before us, a work which we are totally incapable of in and of ourselves. No minister of Christ can save a soul, nor can all of us put together accomplish this feat. In fact, it is impossible for all the saints on earth or in heaven to work regeneration in a single person. The whole business of saving souls, on our part, is the heigh of absurdity, unless we consider ourselves used by the Holy Spirit and filled with His power.

And I would add that if anyone denies this, then they are not fit to be fishers of men, for they will fish away the glory to due God alone for his sovereign grace. Let those who can sing the song of Romans 9 be those who shout the news of Romans 10. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

(1) King Jesus Calls with Irresistible Grace - v. 18-22

But our King doesn’t just save souls, he also came to renew all of life. Wherever his Kingdom comes, new life springs forth by restoring grace:

(2) King Jesus Heals with Majestic Power - v. 23-25

Matthew 4:23–25 ESV

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. 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. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

(2) King Jesus Heals with Majestic Power - v. 23-25

Oh blessed Jesus! He forgives all our iniquities, and he heals all our diseases! Oh glorious King! He summons us to discipleship, and he lavishes us with blessings. Oh dear Savior! He cleanses our souls and he heals our bodies. We have a whole Christ for all of life. By grace through faith we are saved—and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). This is the Gospel Jesus preaches, this is the Gospel we stand fast in, and this is the Gospel we must proclaim:

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.

Jesus didn’t just preach the Gospel of the Kingdom unto salvation, he proved his Kingship by miraculous power. We saw last week how the Kingdom of God is the reign and rule of King Jesus in power and grace. It is the realm and domain of salvation and new life. The Kingdom comes through new birth, renewed life, and restored allegiance. Well, the miracles of our King—prove the presence of His Kingdom (Isa. 32).

Hendrickson: Christ’s healing miracles had a threefold significance: a. they confirmed his message (John 14:11); b. they showed that he was indeed the Messiah of prophecy (Isa. 35:5; 53:4, 5; 61:1; Matt. 11:2–6); and c. they proved that in a sense the kingdom had even now arrived, for, as has already been indicated, the concept “kingdom” includes blessings for the body as well as for the soul. The Gospels everywhere establish a very close connection between the kingdom and miracles (Matt. 9:35; 10:7, 8; 12:28; Luke 9:1, 2; and cf. also Acts 8:6, 7, 12).

Jesus taught publically, preached heartily, and healed happily. He came to save from the penalty of sin and the fruits of sin! He came to save souls from wrath, and to save bodies from the grave. He came to save his people, body and soul. And the miracles of Christ attest to us the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Oh trust in Him for full and free redemption!

Hebrews 2:3–4 ESV

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Praise God for the great salvation in the Kingdom of God, attested by signs and wonders and miracles, that we might know that Jesus Christ is the promised Redeemer-King. Christ alone saves men and women, all who repent and believe—who heed the call to follow Him in all of life. Are you a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? Have you a passport with the Gospel stamped on it? Do you have the garments of the Kingdom? Faith, repentance, conversion, new life, fruits, and allegiance? Then rejoice with joy unspeakable! You have the healing grace and redemptive mercy of the King! And if you haven’t received the Gospel of the Kingdom—come now, repent, believe—for our King turns none away who seek him with all their hearts.

The Lord of glory was treading the ground of Galilee—and the news of this King was spreading like wildfire:

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.

Not only Galilee but also Syria, across the Jordan, from Pagan lands—they were coming to taste the blessings of the Kingdom of God. They were coming to receive healing from the Mighty Lord. They were coming to find restoration in the Author of Life.

Oh behold our conquering King! Sickness, disease, pain, demonic oppression, seizures, and paralysis—they couldn’t remain when King Jesus spoke the word, when the power of the Spirit flowed from him, when the Father’s will was to heal. He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found! His Kingdom is one of New Creation! New Life!

Hendrickson: It is evident, therefore, that the Son of God was going forth to war. He was destroying the works of the devil, teaching and preaching, casting out demons and healing sicknesses by the power of the Spirit, thus healing both soul and body, and more and more establishing the kingdom of God on earth (Matt. 12:28).

Now, this was a special time period of signs and wonders in the era of Christ and the Apostles. These signs confirmed the Gospel before the Scripture was complete. They were a foretaste of the eternal Kingdom of resurrection and life. They were a symbol of the perfect power and renewing grace of King Jesus.

God still heals today—but we shouldn’t expect the same level of miraculous intervention—for certain gifts have ceased. We can pray for it in faith—but always a faith that says not my will, but your will be done. He is able. And the miracles of Jesus prove that one day, he will make all things new when the last trumpet sounds—and we will raise imperishable to resurrection life in the eternal inheritance of the new creation. Saved from sin, death, suffering, Satan, hell, wrath, and darkness. Blessed hope.

But here was the problem. Unlike Peter, Andrew, James, and John—who were effectually called by God’s saving grace to be followers of Jesus Christ for who He was; many people and crowds were merely nominal followers seeking a special experience.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

We must never elevate the gift above the Giver. We must never elevate the stream above the Fountain. We must never rest content with bodily health, if we don’t have spiritual life. We must not rest in the outward blessings of the Kingdom—without being transferred into the Kingdom. We must not presume to be heirs of the Kingdom, unless we are living for the King! And so there were the disciples, and there were the crowds. And the two aren’t the same thing. Even today they are true disciples, and there are those just in the crowds.

Please, all who are gathered here today, examine your heart to ensure that you are a follower of Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit—and not merely an outward follower in the assembly of the church. See how many were in the crowd:

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

There will always be crowds that fall away—let us ensure, beloved, that we are truly his disciples. Jesus said in the Gospel of John:

John 15:16–17 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Spurgeon: Our King has many nominal subjects; but few there are who know him as their Lord, so as to be renewed in heart by the power of his grace: these alone truly enter into his kingdom.

Let us truly repent by His power, let us truly believe by His grace, and let us show the presence of His Kingdom in our hearts through the fruit of the Spirit. Then we shall know that he has chosen us indeed. For many are called outwardly, but few are chosen spiritually. Let us press on to confirm our calling and election—not resting as one in the crowd, but as one in His Kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven!

The healing of bodies proves the power of Christ to heal souls—and gives us the ultimate hope of resurrection life in eternity! His Kingdom is one of Renewal.

(2) King Jesus Heals with Majestic Power - v. 23-25

With our souls reborn in the Spirit, with the hope of our physical resurrection—conquered by the grace of the Gospel of the Kingdom—hear now our conclusion, and the calling of God on all true disciples of Jesus Christ:

(C) King Jesus Conquers by Grace & Renews with Power so that we might Follow Him in Missional Fire.

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!

Spurgeon: Nobody can make fishers of men but our Lord himself, and those whom he calls can only become successful by following him. Lord, as winners of souls cause us to imitate thy spirit and method, that we may not labour in vain!

May we find the fire of the Spirit empowering us as we proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom. May we see Christ’s conquest go on unto victory! For the Glory of our King, and the Triumph of His Gospel!

Shout for the blessed Jesus reigns; through distant lands his triumphs spread; and sinners freed from endless pains, own him their Saviour and their Head.

He calls his chosen from afar, they all at Zion’s gates arrive; those who were dead in sin before, by sovereign grace are made alive.

O may his holy church increase, His Word and Spirit still prevail, while angels celebrate his praise, and saints his growing glories hail.

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!

(C) King Jesus Conquers by Grace & Renews with Power so that we might Follow Him in Missional Fire.

Amen? Let’s pray.

Discussion Questions:

(1) How is the sweet power of irresistible grace displayed in the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be disciples of Jesus Christ?

(2) What does it mean to heed the call to follow Jesus and become a fisher of men? How does this apply to us?

(3) What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? And how was it displayed in the mighty healings of King Jesus?

(4) What is the spiritual difference between the true disciples of Jesus and the great crowds that follow Him?

(5) Have you been conquered by the grace and power of King Jesus? How do you know? And how then shall we live?