Matt 4v18to22 four fisherman follow

I) When we walk with God, we must follow. Matthew 4:18-22

A) File: Matt 4v18to22 four fisherman follow.doc

B) Audio: When we walk with God, we must follow.

C) Series: Walking with God

II) Intro to the series: As we study the life of Jesus:

A) We must examine what it means to walk with Jesus.

B) We must examine His life with the cross in view

C) Last time: It’s all about the Father’s Business.

1) We saw Jesus’ example – Father’s business over and above other concerns – including family.

2) If that’s the case – then the only way we can walk with God is by following Jesus.

III) Explaining the story:

A) Simon (Peter), Andrew, John, James,

1) Harmony – Jesus picks up the first disciples (John 1:35-51)

(a) Not an explicit call to follow. Appears John and Andrew were following John the Baptist, Andrew went and got his brother Simon (Peter). Possibly John did the same.

(b) The next day, Jesus found Philip and said “follow me”. Philip went and got Nathanael.

2) These men experienced water into wine, clearing the temple, Nicodemus, Samaritan woman and ‘harvest’, preaching in Galilee, heals an official’s son, rejected at Nazareth, now (paralleled in Mark 1:16-20).

B) These four: relationship with Him already, now next level.

1) So apply as those already ‘following’ now called more specifically. This is a turning point.

(a) From this point on – teaching more disciple-specific, preaching excursions, etc.

IV) READ Matt. 4:18-22 When we walk with God we must follow.

A) Lit. Come here after me. Not a verb or a command per se.

B) duete – Adverb meaning to come here modifying “I will make”

1) “come to me all who labor and are heavy laden...”

2) “come to the wedding feast…”

3) “come see a man who has told me everything I ever did…”

C) opiso – a preposition meaning after, back or behind.

1) positional – combined with previous it means to come to Him to take up a position behind or after Him.

D) Jesus’ instruction – I lead, you follow.

1) Follow – a perfect translation.

2) Crystal clear meaning – follow the leader.

(a) Walking with Christ – following is a basic mark of a true Christian – in fact, it is mandatory.

(i) John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me.” Imperative.

(ii) Illustration: Shopping with little ones.

(iii) Shepherd Illustration: John 10:4 the shepherd goes before the sheep and they follow him.

· To walk with God, we must follow: John 10:38 says, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”

1. John 14:6 – there is no other way to walk with God.

· Are able to follow: John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

· Follow Christ alone: John 10:5 “a stranger they will not follow”

(b) Following is necessary for coming to Christ

(i) John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” – we do not initiate salvation – God does.

V) 3 things about truly following Jesus:

VI) First: Truly following Jesus must put God first

A) Simon Peter and Andrew put Jesus ahead of their fishing business.

1) But what about the nets? The business? Income?

B) James and John did too, but also ahead of their Father.

1) Maybe his feelings were hurt.

2) We are born children of this world and our family business is sin and rebellion – to follow Jesus, to walk with God, requires that we put Him first.

C) These were acts of faith. Faith that God would provide, that it would be worth it.

D) Matthew 19:16-30, we see it again with the Rich young ruler!

1) Jesus challenged him to put God first – ahead of possessions

E) John 12:42-43,

1) Leaders who did not follow – synagogue, cared more about man’s opinion than God’s opinion

F) Putting God first means He is not a co-pilot

1) Illustrated by people in John 6:2 “…a large crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick.”

(a) He fed them, they tried to force Him, they found Him on the other side of the lake, He says “you are seeking me because you ate your fill.” to prove it, He spoke about the bread of life and they grumbled, He said they must eat His flesh and drink His blood. This caused some to turn away because of putting their own notions ahead of the true teaching – putting God first.

(b) They asked for another sign, He denied them, and many turned away from Him. They put themselves first, they wanted to control God and set themselves ahead of Him as judge.

(c) John 6:66-69, the right attitude is to stick with Him, focus on Him, to spite how hard the teaching is.

(i) Must be our attitude with the Word of God – if we don’t agree with it or like it, we must change!

VII) Second: Truly following Jesus must change us

A) Obvious in this context – these fisherman leave their fishing and become followers of Jesus – preachers even.

1) Cannot be a fisherman walking around the countryside with Jesus, going town to town preaching, starting the church in Jerusalem, etc. To follow, we must give up some things.

2) To give up bad things is obvious

3) But God may require we give up some things that are ‘good.’ Hard-working, making a living, involvement with ‘good’ causes.

4) The best things are often sacrificed for good things.

B) Regardless of the specific demand, we know this principle – that those who follow Jesus WILL change.

1) John 8:12 “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”

2) A light we did not have before: see things different, walk different

C) In the gospels – everyone who followed Jesus changed:

1) The disciples – vocation, priorities, even character

(a) Specifically Matthew – tax collector to servant of God, Peter – boldly speaking to humbly speechless

D) When Jesus calls anyone to follow – it is a permanent call to eternal life and to the service of God. 2 Cor. 5:15

1) We CHANGE from living for ourselves to living for Him.

VIII) Third: True following Jesus must be immediate

A) It uses the word euthus, “immediately”

1) No delay or preparation.

(a) Disciples did not sell nets, boats, find replacements, etc.

2) God, I’ll start ____ when I ____.

B) Example of burying the Father. Luke 9:57-62.

1) The implication – collect inheritance.

C) Hand on the plow looking back.

1) no longer of this world

2) Jesus redefined family – those who do the will of His Father.

IX) You can’t possibly follow God on your own.

A) The goal of this message is not a “to-do” list but to humbly commit to follow Jesus.

1) You cannot walk with God without following Jesus

2) Not some tangential ‘deal’ you can have

B) Is Jesus calling me to follow Him? For the first time? In some specific way?

C) Have I failed to follow Jesus in a way that He has asked? Am I ready to repent so I can truly walk with God?

January 21, 2007

Sermon Series: Walking with God. Learning what it means to walk with God by walking with Jesus through His ministry.

Today’s Message:

When we walk with God, we must follow. Matt. 4:18-20

When we walk with God, we…

A) __________________ follow: (John 10:38, John 14:6)

B) __________ ________________ to follow: (John 10:27)

C) Follow Christ __________________ (John 10:5)[1]

Truly following Jesus:

must __________ ____________ ____________. (also Matthew 19:16-30, John 12:42-43)

must _____________________ us. (also John 6:66-69)

must be __________________________.[2] (also Luke 9:57-62)

Application:

Is Jesus calling me to follow Him? For the first time? In some specific way?

Have I failed to follow Jesus in a way that He has asked? Am I ready to repent so I can truly walk with God?

January 21, 2007

Word Find, Matt. 4:18-20

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Matthew 4:18-20 (ESV): “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.”

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[1] A) Must; B) Are able; C) alone;

[2] 1. put God first; 2. change; 3. immediate;