Follow Me

Follow ME

Matthew 4:12–25

• The Gospels say Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit drove Him all the way to Calvary. Does the Holy Spirit drive us? What you achieve in this will be the result of what drives you. What drives you will cause you to be whatever you end up being. What drives you will cause you to do whatever you end up doing. Be driven by the Holy Spirit to the cause of Christ on this earth!

I. The People that Follow Jesus:

a. First, I want you to see the kind people Jesus called and know that God can use you too. He chose ordinary fishermen – Galileans. God takes ordinary people and to does extraordinary things through them. God took Simon Peter, an extrovert, and used him. And Andrew, the classic introvert, and used him! He did not choose them for what they were. He chose them for what He could make out of them. He chooses us for what He can make out of us. Chosen vessels for His glory that carry around this great gospel message.

II. The Purpose of Jesus:

a. Luke 19:10 tells us: “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” That’s why He came. He was the first missionary. He has a soul winner’s heart. That was His purpose. If you are a follower of His, then His purpose must be your purpose. Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). If God said it, He will make it good! Would you be a fisher of men? Would you follow Jesus in His purpose?

III. The Promise of Jesus:

a. This promise is just as real to you today as when He gave it. “Follow Me—the Lord of glory, the Prince of Peace—an I WILL make you fishers of men.” You will if you do! If you will do it, then He will make you a fisher of men. God promised. He can do it through you. Here are four steps to fishing for men:

A. Launch Out into the Deep

• (Luke 5:4-11) He told them to “launch out into the deep.” That’s where most fail. Most never launch out. Most never get started. They argue with God and say, “God, I’ve already tried that, and it didn’t work!”

B. Depend on Him

• (Luke 5:5) The difference between failure and success is that word “nevertheless.” Soul winning is not going out and doing something for Jesus; soul winning is Jesus doing something through you.

C. Let Down the Net

• The net is the gospel. You’ve got to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. You’ve got to let down the net. The net only catches fish if it’s in the water!

D. Don’t Be Discouraged

• Don’t let past failure discourage you. No real fisherman gives up fishing when the fish don’t bite. Peter reached thousands, Andrew reached a few. And if you can’t catch a net full of fish, catch a single fish. You don’t know what God may do. Jesus said, “[You] follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He will make YOU a fisher of men. We Follow > He Makes > We Become.