How Will You Respond When God Calls?

How Will You Respond When God Calls? Mark 1:14-20; Jonah 3:1-5, 10 January 24, 2021 1) What do you do when your phone rings? a. For me, answer has changed throughout my life b. As child, we would race to see who could get there first i. All landlines owned by ATT ii. Long cord in kitchen c. As young adult, still answered every call i. Then answering machines ii. Later voice mail iii. Then robocalls began iv. Caller ID d. Pagers e. Cell phones i. Most of us don't answer unless we recognize the number f. So, we don't respond to calls in the same way we used to 2) Responding to God's call a. Jonah i. Same call 1:1 ii. Tries to head for Tarshish iii. God causes storm to come up iv. Draw lots and narrow it down to Jonah v. Throw him overboard vi. Gets swallowed by a fish and remains in belly 3 days vii. Prays beautiful prayer viii. Gets coughed up on beach ix. God calls him again x. Goes & tells Nineveh that God will destroy city xi. They repent & God spares them xii. Good news, right? xiii. Not to Jonah xiv. But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." xv. So, Jonah is angry because God did not destroy Jonah's enemies b. Call of first disciples i. Follow me and I will make you fish for people ii. Not perfect analogy 1. No hooks 2. No entrapment in net 3. No luring a. Most synonyms are negative, but some are positive b. Bait/Beckon c. Entice/Invite d. Lead on/Train 4. When we pull fish out of water into atmosphere, they die a. Catch and release - from filthy, polluted, stagnant water into clean, clear, flowing stream b. From death into life iii. Both sets of brothers drop everything and follow 1. Job, business, livelihood, family 2. Simply leave it all behind on moment's notice iv. Our 21st century minds wonder about the psychology of it all 1. Barclay: "It is not to be thought that on this day he stood before them for the first time. No doubt they had stood in the crowd and listened; no doubt they had stayed to talk long after the rest of the crowd had drifted away. No doubt the already had felt the magic of his presence and the magnetism of his eyes." 2. Nice sentiment, but certainly not picture Mark paints. a. Of four gospel writers, only Luke provides and preamble to them following Jesus, with the story of the miraculous catch of fish b. But even in Luke, no indication they had ever met before c. Mark trying to show us authority of Jesus i. He spoke word of call, and they answered immediately ii. Soon, he will show authority over spirit world by speaking word of command to demons, and they will be both cast out and silenced iii. He will show authority over illness & disease by healing all who are brought to him iv. He will show authority over sin by telling man lowered through roof, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 3) To what were they responding? a. "The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the gospel." b. Time is fulfilled i. Since Ge.3, God has been at work to bring about this moment ii. God incarnate walking among us iii. Bringing love, grace, peace, wholeness c. Kingdom of God has come near i. Now is the time, not at death or Second Coming ii. Now, gates of Kingdom of God are open and we are invited to enter, to dwell, and to serve there d. Repent - turn around, change e. Believe in the gospel - good news i. Good news of truth 1. We did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. (Ga.2:5) 2. Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel. (Col.1:5) 3. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (Jn 8:32) ii. Good news of hope 1. Provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. (Col. 1:23) If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright - Amanda Gorman iii. Good news of peace 1. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. (Ga. 6:15) iv. Good news of God's promise 1. The Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ep. 3:6) v. Good news of immortality 1. It has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Ti. 1:10) vi. Good news of salvation 1. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. (Ep. 1:13-14) f. Good news has many layers, facets i. Further you walk with Jesus, more layers & facets you discover and incorporate as disciples 4) How will you respond when God calls? a. Like Jonah b. Or like disciples c. Left everything i. They knew that Jesus must be #1 priority ii. But in giving up everything, they were given even more d. Followed - wherever Jesus led them i. Didn't always understand, but they followed ii. All, except John, were martyred for their faith e. Followed Jesus' example i. Ministered in Jesus's name ii. Fished for people iii. Built a church f. Our call is the same i. Repent & believe ii. Follow Jesus iii. Fish for others 2