Called to Change

Called To Change Called To Change Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Repent; Follow Christ; Jesus calls Matthew; Discipleship / Luke 5:27-32 Fitness is not beyond the ability of anyone. Sometimes it is beyond the purview of anyone until it comes calling. It beckons us to change direction of how we live our lives. Instead of seeking comfort and cravings we must change and seek fitness and health instead. In the same way no one is beyond redemption and all can find salvation. Jesus calls sinners to change the direction they are going and follow Him. Luke preserves the calling of Levi for us to see no one is beyond salvation but all are called to change. Do you hear the call to change and follow Him? Introduction - Fitness is not beyond anyone 1. Have you ever heard or been told by someone that they cannot get fit or that fitness is beyond them a. They genetically unable or big boned - or other such things? b. The truth of the matter is fitness is not beyond anyone i. It is however usually beyond the purview of anyone ii. Not seen as priority - at least not until it comes calling 1. Most people are not usually worried about their health until their health is in jeopardy 2. The call to change health wise comes in many ways - heart attack, disease, symptoms, diagnosis - etc c. The call to health and fitness beckons us to change our direction of following comfort and cravings and instead follow health and fitness. 2. Luke brings us to the calling of Levi to discipleship to tell us that in the same way that no one is beyond physical fitness - no one is beyond spiritual redemption and all can find salvation. a. Jesus call sinners to change the direction they are going and follow Him b. Jesus beckons sinners to repent and follow Him i. Have you heard His call? ii. Have you made the change to follow Him? › SLIDE Luke 5:27-28 CSB 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him. › SLIDE Luke 5:29-30 CSB 29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" › SLIDE Luke 5:31-32 CSB 31 Jesus replied to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." › SLIDE Crossroad › SLIDE Luke 5:27 CSB 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." 1. Jesus went out and saw Levi at the tax office a. This tax office was most likely in Capernaum i. It is believed that this tax office was on the road that would catch the fishermen ii. It is also believed that Jesus as He went to Andrew, Peter, James, and John would have passed by this tax office b. Levi at the tax office living out his days as a tax-collector i. Alienated from society because of his chosen profession 1. Despised as a traitor and extortioner 2. Jewish people rightly considered them traitors because as a tax collector they worked for the Roman government 3. Jewish people rightly considered them extortioners because they could keep whatever they over-collected ii. When a Jew entered the service as tax collector he was regarded as an outcast 1. Disqualified from being a judge or witness in a court session 2. excommunicated from the synagogue 3. this disgrace not only went to them but extended to the family as well A Roman writer tells us that once he saw a monument to an honest tax collector. An honest specimen of this renegade profession was so rare he received a monument. - William Barclay c. Jesus went out and saw Levi - almost as if He was searching for him specifically 2. As Jesus came to Levi at the tax office Levi found himself at a crossroad a. Jesus came and called to Levi i. Follow Me b. Levi had a choice to make - answer the call and change or ignore the call and stay the same › SLIDE The call to change brings you to a crossroad where you have to decide if you will answer the call i. Which direction will he go? 1. In his current state he is financially independent and on good terms with the government 2. He is also outcast from society and from fellowship - even family if they so desired to maintain their position in society ii. Anyone ever been there? 1. Made a choice - perhaps career choice and it came with consequences that seemed bearable because the compensation was great 2. Then desire to be accepted and be seen as a person again but trapped because you also desired the money or compensation c. Jesus words so simple and so full of love at the same time i. Follow me ii. Rabbis did not call sinners to follow them - let alone tax collectors iii. This call was to come after Him and obey Him 1. The call of not only discipleship but also of commitment to salvation and change his life › SLIDE Jesus call to follow Him is full of love and acknowledgement He sees us as worthy of forgiveness and purpose - answer His call › SLIDE Commit › SLIDE Luke 5:28 CSB 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him. 1. The call from Jesus enticed Levi so much he intently followed Jesus a. Though it cost him i. leaving everything behind - literally he forsook all - abandoned everything 1. This would have been a considerable sacrifice as tax collectors were usually wealthy - perhaps Levi was one of the richest apostles. 2. The other disciples were fishermen if this Jesus thing didnt work out they could get a net back into the water, but as a tax collector Levi would have no tax office to come back to as there was always someone ready to come take his spot ii. He gave up his wealth and privilege and position to follow Jesus 1. Not forgetting that despite a difference in circumstances - all disciples left everything to follow Jesus › SLIDE Luke 14:25-26 CSB 25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. › SLIDE Luke 14:33 CSB 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. › SLIDE Luke 9:59 CSB 59 Then he said to another, "Follow me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." The call to change comes with a cost b. To truly follow Christ it is costly i. But it is a reminder that the rich can also follow Jesus 1. They are not excluded from God's kingdom 2. Many would wrongly believe such because of the challenge Jesus gave to the rich ii. It is a difficult task because often much must be sacrificed by those who would follow Jesus 2. Answering the call Levi arose and followed a. When Jesus called Levi answered by following i. The language here is that he began at once to follow and kept it up - continuously never stopping ii. Levi didnt make excuses or ask Jesus to come back another day or another time when he would be ready › SLIDE Luke 9:59 CSB 59 Then he said to another, "Follow me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." › SLIDE Luke 9:61 CSB 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." › SLIDE Luke 9:60 CSB 60 But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." › SLIDE Luke 9:62 CSB 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." › SLIDE The call to change must be answered now and cannot be put off › SLIDE Celebration › SLIDE Luke 5:29 CSB 29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them. 1. Levi hosted a grand banquet for Jesus a. This was paid for and hosted by Levi - to celebrate i. Though it cost him dearly to follow Jesus - Levi was not sad about it › SLIDE Luke 15:7 CSB 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don't need repentance. ii. Levi was so over joyed he threw a party to honor Jesus 1. Who came and called him to follow Him 2. Who chose a unworthy tax-collector b. The guest list was all of Levi's associates i. More tax-collectors and their guests which would be family and more tax collectors 1. Basically it was the Who's who of the IRS ii. Levi was not ashamed of his choice to follow Jesus 1. He was not trying to hide it and live a duplicitous life - he welcomed Jesus into the middle of his life 2. It is believed and that Levi had 3 purposes in mind in throwing this feast a. To honor His Lord - who has called Him to a changed life b. To witness publicly to his new Lord c. To introduce his friends to Jesus - so that they might find the same compassion and love that he did when Jesus came and called him to discipleship i. These outcasts were not used to being accepted and Jesus offers them acceptance into the kingdom › SLIDE - John Wesley No man ever went to heaven alone; he must either find friends or make them › SLIDE The call to change is a call to celebrate and share the blessedness we have found › SLIDE Complaints › SLIDE Luke 5:30 CSB 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 1. Of course since no good deed ever goes unpunished the Pharisees come to complain a. These guys really put the pooper in party pooper bringing their religious complaints i. Complain - murmur - gonguzmos - annoying to say and it is a form of an onomatopoeic word that sounds like its meaning 1. Cooing of doves 2. Buzzing of bees ii. They complained about Jesus's ways to His disciples b. Why were the Pharisees there? i. They werent technically there - they were lounging around outside the festivities ii. In those days it was customarily acceptable to hang out outside the feasts and listen to conversation and what not through the doorways and windows. 1. Even carrying on conversation with those inside through the open doors and windows c. Critics and complainers are ever around and ready to provide their negative input - even when they are on the outside › SLIDE The call to change means ignoring the complaints 2. Their complaint was the association with sinners and tax-collectors a. How could they eat and drink with such people i. Eating and drinking in that culture and age said that you accepted one another to share a meal together ii. It denoted a camaraderie and fellowship › SLIDE Pharisees practiced salvation by separation and Jesus practiced salvation by association b. The Pharisees did all they could to separate themselves from sinners and unrighteous - its less messy and much easier to look down upon people when you arent busy stooping to their level i. The Pharisees would receive former sinners - but only after the repented became like them ii. Jesus would receive sinners and make them like Him c. The pharisees detested the fact that they would associate with certain people deemed beyond forgiveness or repentance › SLIDE The call to change leads to association with sinners as a sinner › SLIDE Cure › SLIDE Luke 5:31-32 CSB 31 Jesus replied to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 1. Those who need a doctor are sick a. There are those who recognize they need healing i. Healthy didnt need to seek out a doctor 1. Healthy - Greek word we get hygiene from b. Those who think they are healthy but are not 1. These people need the doctor but arent aware of their need 2. This is a dangerous position to be c. Those who know they need a doctor but refuse to see one i. They have the signs and symptoms and ignore them 2. Jesus then makes a connection from healthy to righteous and sick to sinner a. Jesus did not come to call the righteous he came to call the sinner i. To repentance b. In the same way a person must recognize they are sick to seek a doctor - Jesus calls those who would see and admit they are sinners - to repentance i. Repentance - meta - noia - meta change and noia - mind 1. From evil to good and from good to better 2. Always increasing in moral uprightness ii. Sinners are in need of repentance - in order to come to repentance one must see themselves as a sinner 1. Jesus came to call those who would see themselves as sinners - fallen short of the glory of God - so that they may repent › SLIDE Luke 18:9 CSB 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: › SLIDE The call to change is the call of Jesus to repentance Conclusion Jesus called Levi - a social outcast - to not only be saved but to be his disciple as well. A reminder that repentance and redemption is available to all - if we would answer the call of Jesus to change • Levi was believed to have been the one who taxed Andrew, Peter, James and John as they brought their catches in day in and day out. • Perhaps the one who gives you such trouble in your Christian walk or regular day to day business - instead of praying for God to deal with them - ask Christ to call them to follow Him. • Levi is a reminder the rich arent evil and beyond salvation - and also proof that being rich is no indication of position with God • Tax collectors were wealthy - but Pharisees would not say they were righteous • Pharisees were wealthy and believed it was proof of their righteousness - voted most likely for heaven › SLIDE Luke 18:25 CSB 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Unless you see your need for repentance and salvation - you will be lost and headed for destruction Jesus is the friend of sinners - and he was not ashamed to be listed as having been among sinners eating and drinking - being identified with them › SLIDE 2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. › SLIDE Today you are at a crossroad and Jesus has intersected your path - He calls you to come follow Him - the call to change - will you hear and answer that call? Are you willing to make drastic changes - to give up everything - to get up and follow Him now? Are you willing to be recognized among the outcasts and undesirable? Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:49 PM November 1, 2019.