Fully Devoted to Christ

Introduction

We are fully devoted to Christ, our neighbors, and the nations.

We – The church is a community of believers. We do not walk in discipleship alone, and each believer plays an active role in accomplishing the mission of the church. We will individually walk together in unity.

Are – If the church settles on past pursuits it risks stagnation and death. This is because the church is a living organism more than it is an organization. Granger MC will move and change, continually pursuing Christ, our neighbors and the nations.

Fully Devoted – Jesus calls us to full devotion. He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. At Granger MC, we will continue to take the next step to make Jesus first in every area of our lives.

To Christ – Our devotion is first and foremost to Christ as Lord and Savior. We will pursue maturity in Christ as we worship, not only on Sundays, but every day through our regular use of the Word and prayer.

We’ve taken time (and we’ll take more time) to answer questions like “What is going on?” And “How can we live in the world today?” But we are taking some time right now to answer the most important question, “Who are we?” Once you know you WHO and WHOSE you are, the other questions (while still important) lose their urgency.

Our Neighbors

The Nations.

We are fully devoted to Christ. . .

Luke 5:1–11 (ESV)

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, (Sea of Galilee) 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Scene takes place on the lake of Gennesaret — Sea of Galilee

two boats — avg fishing boat = 20-30 ft long - back from night fishing — they would fish at night and sell the fish at the market in the morning (no Capn Crunch or Dunkin)

Washing their nets and stretch them out to dry to keep them from rotting and breaking

As Jesus had been teaching the crowds, they began to press in wanting to hear him teach them.

Gets into Simon (Peter)’s boat and pushes off a little from shore

Sea of Galilee makes a natural amphitheater

What was he teaching?

Word of God

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Strange request for two reasons:

1 — Jesus is a carpenter and itinerant preacher telling a fisherman how to fish

2 — Jesus is asking Peter to do something that makes no sense.

Too late in the day

too far from shore — most fish were caught in the shallow waters where the dragnets could easily catch fish.

BUT AT YOUR WORD - Huge statement!

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

I love how it doesn’t say “When Simon Peter saw it he . . . did a little dance — screamed, Do it again! — Instagrammed it with #Iminthemoney.

he recognized he was in the presence of God.

In the presence of God he realizes his own sinfulness and recognizes he doesn’t deserve to be in the presence of God and asks Jesus to leave him (where was he going to go?)

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

In other words, Peter is not fully devoted to Jesus.

Fully Devoted is every day.

The context of this story is Peter’s work week.

Peter didn’t tell Jesus that he was talking Sunday talk and it was Monday work.

The process and decisions of discipleship happen more in the 167 hours your away from church than in the 1 that you are.

Luke 9:23 (ESV)

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Discipleship is not a MOMENT, it is a MOVEMENT (Follow Me)

Jesus never said, “Pray this prayer

There is a greater opportunity to reach people for Jesus in the 167 hours you are away from church than the 1 hour that you are here.

The Fully Devoted take Jesus at His Word.

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

There are no excuses.

Peter didn’t have a “better idea” for Jesus. He didn’t try to figure Jesus out before he acted. He didn’t ask Jesus to explain a bit more before he lowered the nets.

It wasn’t “Upon further consideration” or

(What would others think? What would the other fishermen on the shore say as Peter did something so silly as to try to fish in the deep during the day?)

Jesus calls us to take him at his Word based on his character. Sometimes all we have to go on is God’s Word and promises.

Genesis 12:1–4 (ESV)

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Exodus 3:11–12 (ESV)

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

The Fully Devoted respond with worship.

acts of worship and worshipful acts.

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

When Peter recognizes Jesus’ work in his life he responds in worship

Then responds with worshipful acts.

He didn’t say “Stay here - I’m going to go do my job - make some money - you’ll be here when I get back and I’ll ‘worship’ you here and then go back out there.”

All of life is worship — you either act out of worship or apart from it.

The Fully Devoted cannot be partially invested.

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

It doesn’t say, “They were so moved they commited to read the Torah a little more.” OR “They promised to tithe a tenth of the fish.”

They left:

Their job

Family

Friends

A huge pile of fish

The only way this makes any sense is if Jesus is worth more than what is left behind.

Philippians 3:12–15 (ESV)

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way,

The greatest enemy to devotion is distraction.

The Fully Devoted have no reason to fear.

What if God calls me to do something radical? What if he really wants me to leave everything?

There are too many unknowns. Where will it take me? What will I need to give up? Start doing? Stop doing?

Perhaps these were some of the same thoughts Peter had.

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Afraid of what?

Confrontation with the holy

Unknown about what following Jesus would entail

How will he survive?

Think about where this journey of being fully devoted led Peter — Walking with the presence of Jesus

— Witness to miracles

— Life so changed that he is willing to die a martyr’s death.

Conclusion

While in England Dwight L Moody heard evangelist Henry Varley say, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is totally yielded to Him.” Moody was captivated by these words and resolved, “By the Grace of God, I will be that man!”

What would Granger, Edwardsburg, Elkhart, Mishawaka, South Bend, look like if it found not just one man or woman fully devoted to Christ but a whole church — better yet, a whole community full of follower of Jesus willing to leave anything and everything if needed and live fully devoted to Christ?

“But at your word. . .” (fill in the blank)

What is Jesus calling you to do to become fully devoted to Christ?