The MARK of a Servant-Calling

As we look to focus on discipleship it is important that we understand both the need and methods of discipleship.

What greater example can be found that that of Jesus. After-all discipleship is the call to follow Christ.

Often their is some level of confusion among believers and they view discipleship as an alternative life after salvation. However, this is not the case. One cannot surrender there life to Christ without also being willing to follow Him.

The first command Jesus gave to his disciples was to follow me. Likewise, the call to every believer is to follow Jesus.

This brings us to our next question. What doe is it mean to follow Christ?

Over the next several months I would like to take a journey through the book of Acts and examine Christ as He discipled the apostles, or as are often called His disciples.

This first chapter of mark is full of discipleship examples. We have the ministry of John the Baptist, the wilderness temptation, the calling of disciples, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the prayer life of Jesus, and the healing of the leper.

While each of these stories hold many lessons for discipleship, this morning, I would like to focus on His calling of His disciples.

We see that those He called were already busy. Discipleship requires that a man or woman be faithful and consistent. This is not something that can be taught but rather must reside within the heart.

As we come to the calling of the Apostles we see that the first command was to:

“Come after Me.”

The call to salvation is a call to possess an intimate relationship with Jesus.

The call was to follow Jesus.. This was a physical call, and a spiritual call. It involved changing ones cultural norms, and viewpoints.

It was not a call to to impose their will on Jesus but rather to submit themselves so that He may impose His will on them.

Furthermore this was an unconditional yielding. The disciples were not told were their journey would go, how long it would last, or what the outcome would be. However, they were told that they would go down this journey with Jesus.

Often times we desire for God to reveal His plan before we move. Yet, His command to us is simply to follow Him.

Matthew 11:29 ESV

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In Matthew we see Jesus tell His disciples to learn of Him. This is the duty of every child of God. We should continually be learning from Him.

Just as we cannot have salvation without surrender to Christ, we cannot have discipleship without surrendering our ambitions to follow Him. Therefore, salvation and discipleship are two sides of the same coin.

Yet many Christians feel that salvation is not only the beginning but also the end to the Christian life. This just is not the case. Salvation is merely the first step in a life of following Christ.

You do not have to wait until you get too heaven to have peace and contentment. Joy is found in a life that is lived with Christ.

The second command was:

And I will make you fishers of men.

Discipleship really is two-fold. The first step is to become followers of Christ, the second is to assist others in their journey to Christ and in Christ.

Are you a fisher of men?

This is one area that the church has failed. We have brought souls to the foot of the cross but then we have left them there.

If we go forward to the book of Acts we see the disciples begin to do the task God had called them to do, but for several years they sat and learned at His feet.

To become fishers of men we must first become students of Christ.

We will look at the phases of spiritual maturity in upcoming weeks but I dare say that most church members are still in the infant-child phase of Christianity. Either they are ignorant of the Word, or they are selfish and only want to see what they can get out of church and religion.

However, that is not God’s call for your life.

It doesn’t matter if you are shy, lack confidence, or feel as though you have never succeeded in life, the call to spiritual Parenting (aka discipling others) is God’s will and call for your life.

As a matter of fact if we look at the word of Christ He said, Follow me and I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of men.

If you are not discipling others then you are not following Christ. It is that clear and that unconditional.

After calling the disciples to follow Him, He immediately went into the synagogue and began to teach others.

This is the fisher of men that He spoke of. It is an intentional effort to share with others the joy of the Kingdom of God and life in HIm.

ARE YOU A DISCIPLE?

Are you following Christ.

Are you investing your life that others may know Him?

Today, my call to you is the same call that Jesus gives, “Follow Jesus, and He will make you fishers of men.”