Purpose (Purpose and Calling II)

God's plan since the fall of creation has been to restore us to him. Sometimes it seems like the world wants to fix itself. The problem is what Solomon talked about in Ecclesiastes: there is nothing new under the sun! Despite that, the potter can always make something new. The clay can not say "I wish to fix myself" or "I am determined to mend my broken edges", but through God even the more corrupted things can become beautiful. When we last looked at the Purpose and Calling theme, we discussed that our recognition of being clay puts us in a place where we can be molded. But what does it mean to be made new? It means far more than just being an improved version of yourself; it means becoming something different altogether.

A Lot About Fishing

One of the most subtle pieces of imagery in the Bible is God’s use of the disciples’ occupation. Many were fishermen, either out of tradition or trade, and Christ uses that to emphasize what it means to follow Him.

Matthew 4:18–22 CSB

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

New Life… called to it

Peter and Andrew - Actively engaged in something else

James and John - Preparing for one thing; bound to others

Each example teaches us something about what happens when we are called to Christ. We may be actively engaged in one life like Peter and Andrew, or we might feel our path is set like James and John. I wonder how many times in my life I have been dissuaded or distracted from following Christ all because of a life that I thought was right for me?

There are other examples of this imagery, this time at the second time the disciples met “for the first time” (after resurrection)...

John 21:1–14 CSB

1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. 8 Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

New Life… made for it

Simple change: “throw your nets on the other side”

Big impact...

Suddenly started catching fish

The net didn’t break

If the first instance demonstrated God CALLING US to a new life and our cooperative role to play, this instance demonstrated God’s DIRECTING US to new life and His divine predestination for our restoration to Him.

FOR THE THEOLOGIANS IN THE ROOM: This is one reason why I have treated some of the great salvation debates with awe and curiosity more than debate and animosity. Some (Wesleyans and Arminians) say that salvation is a matter of our Free Will to respond to God’s invitation. Others (Calvinists) say that salvation is a matter of God’s divine election. When I look at God calling His disciples, I see a great mystery revealed to us that God is supreme… he directs through HIS power… but God also calls… an opportunity for obedience. In a sense, it’s both and these human debates over ideology distract from what is truly important: We are called, we go. God directs, and we are made new.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read the two instances of Jesus calling fishermen, the first in Matthew 4:18-22 and the second in John 21:1-14. Consider how both situations involve a call-and-response and the ultimate result through each event. 1) Do you have traits of an “old you” you struggle to move past? Have you tried? 2) Christ called Peter, Andrew, James, and John in the beginning to do something new and it required a degree of sacrifice. Does the idea of “sacrificing” a part of yourself scare you? 3) Christ called the disciples to ‘cast their nets on the other side’ and showed them how a small change can lead to a radically different life. Can you think of any way knowing God has created smaller changes in your life that have opened big doors to new things? How have you used those new doors to reflect Christ in the life of others?

We Crave Egypt

Stephen is a remarkable character who doesn’t get enough credit.

Early church leader.

First martyr.

Great confrontation before being martyred

Acts 7:37–43 CSB

37 “This is the Moses who said to the Israelites: God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. 38 He is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron: Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him. 41 They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made. 42 God turned away and gave them up to worship the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: House of Israel, did you bring me offerings and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness? 43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship. So I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.

Stephen is talking directly about the Golden Calf and referencing the same words we see in the interaction between God and Moses following that great sin.

Exodus 32:30–33:4 CSB

30 The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32 Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.” 33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.” 35 And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made. 1 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go up from here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring. 2 I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hethites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.

Harsh Words

Writing them out of the book-of-life (“heaven” or “salvation” as we might think of it)

Refusing to go with Israel lest their disobedience lead to their destruction

Lets return to Stephen’s next words...

Acts 7:51–60 CSB

51 “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” 54 When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

Stephen’s Calling - from curious child to the mold of Moses!

Rejected Egypt

Stood for Truth

Petitioned for the Earth

Stephen —> Moses.… but also, Saul —> Joshua

Total changed on the Damascus Road

Carried “God’s Children” to a new land

In this one anecdote, we see so much that looks like our world today.

The Pharisees forgetting what their religion points towards and turning back to an Egypt of the heart.

Stephen being transformed into something larger-than-life even taking on the role of Moses before seeing glory.

Saul, though unaware that the time, being predestined for a role to carry God’s people in the early church just as Joshua carried God’s people to the Promised Land.

WHO ARE YOU? Are you someone unassuming that God is using for glorious things? Are you a detestable sinner that God is demonstrating His glory through by His restorative power? Or are you a Pharisee, proclaiming the name of God but desiring of the same life and trappings of Egypt… a stiff-necked people?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read Stephen’s story in Acts 7:37-43, 51-60 and compare it to the confrontation between God and Moses and the rebellious Israelites in Exodus 32:30-33:4. 1) What does it seem like it means to be a stiff-necked people? How does ‘desiring Egypt’ in your heart seem to reflect this? 2) What is your “Egypt” that you often desire? What is a comfort of an old or more worldly life (maybe a habit, traits, or something deeper) you struggle with?

Calling is Freedom

Egypt is seen as the image of bondage, yet there was comfort and security in it.

Many of us see our old life, a self that “we created”, and we find comfort and security in that control.

This isn’t freedom; it’s an illusion. We can not bring freedom to our souls.

Shackled to habit.

Shackled to temptation.

Shackled to society and culture.

Shackled to death.

Shackled to a grave we bear on our backs day-in and day-out but we GLADLY DO IT because it is a grave that we KNOW and we feel we CONTROL.

But Christ has not called you to a grave, He has called you to LIFE. He has called you to PEACE. He has called you to blessed CONTENTMENT. He has called you to GLORY.

What Christ calls to may not be easier, but it is better because it is freedom of the soul which breathes into you a newness of life you never thought imaginable.

Christ calls you from the shore to a new life. Are you willing to put down you net for an unfathomable freedom?!