Make Him Known (2)

Gone Fishing

Anyone like to fish?

I love to fish - don't always have the time.

You must have the right bait, right spot, and right time

You get smelly and it takes patience

Fish story - tarpon

The truth is sometimes to catch sometimes you don’t

If it was easy, it would be called catching

I find it fascinating Jesus calls us to be fishers of men

Mark 1:16–17 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Last week we asked what so good about the good news?

God has a plan and gives us a purpose.

That purpose is to know Him and make Him known

As know Him more - I will want to make Him known - tell everyone

As I make Him known - I will know more of Him - I will grow

Jesus came to make disciples - not church members and believers - disciples

Being obedient - being a fisher - is a huge part of that

We are commanded to go and make disciples

Not the Great Suggestion - the Great Commission

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed. - Hudson Taylor

Gone Fishing

This is what I want to talk about today.

How did Jesus’ view and approach people?

How did Jesus confront sin?

As “Disciples” our goal is to look like Him so let’s see how He did it

Let’s pray

Nothing New

I do not think anyone would argue we live in a broken society.

People do whatever they want - no thought

We are divided and divisive

This is not new - Jesus’ time - Romans, Gentiles and Jews, divisions in the Jews

So how do we function in that environment

If the goal is to make Him known how do we even begin to approach in this broken world?

I think there are 3 things we can glean from the calling of Matthew that we need to build into our lives

1. Jesus sees the person, and not just the problem

Mark 2:13–14 ESV

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

1. Jesus sees the person, and not just the problem

Tax collector - Jew who worked for the Romans - could collect whatever they wanted 

- many were dishonest

- all were hated and ostracized by the religious

— they were traitors in the eyes of Jews

But Jesus saw the person

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1. Jesus sees the person, and not just the problem

Jesus does not look at what you done - who you are

Does not mean I can do whatever I want -

Matthew got up and left

He had everything he would ever want or need - was not enough

None of us are ever too far gone - we just need to get up and go when He calls

Look what happens next:

Mark 2:15–16 ESV

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew threw a party - and invited all his friends to meet Jesus

That leads us to the second thing:

2. Jesus seeks followers who can reach their world

Every one of us have a circle of influence

God has placed us in jobs, neighborhoods, schools to be a light and a voice

You are the best missionary to your friends

All those guys called earlier - Peter, John, Andrew would not of even associated with Matthew's friends let alone reach them

Telling them the good news and why it is good

It is only good news if it gets there on time

The greatest tool - small groups

Your living room

Coffee

Inviting to church

There will be repercussions

Mark 2:16 ESV

16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

It is not agreeing or overlooking sin

It is not compromising

Which leads us to the third thing:

3. Jesus confronts our real condition

Mark 2:17 ESV

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

3. Jesus confronts our real condition

Sin is still sin - no matter how you dress up a pig - still a pig

We preach love and grace - that is true

You cannot have grace without righteousness

You cannot have love - without justness and judgement

Jesus always confronted - go and sin no more

The doctor comes for the sick

Jesus is that doctor - there 4 types of patients

1.   Those who do not know Him

2.   Those who meet Him, trust Him, and follow

3.   Those who know about Him, but refuse to trust and follow

4.   Those who will not admit that they need Him

Which are you?

Go make Disciples

Jesus meets us right where we are at and loves us enough not to leave us there.

The question is, are we being obedient - are we fishing or faking.

Christians don't tell lies, they just go to church and sing them. How many times have you stood and sang, “Take my life and let it be” when you haven't given Him one ounce? - Leonard Ravenhill

Go make Disciples

It is not a suggestion

In two weeks - You have a story to tell

Let’s pray.