Everyone Has a Call

Matthew 9:9-13

9       As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10       And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

11       And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12       But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

13       Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Title: Everyone Has A Call!

Share the story about me growing up and feeling like no one thought I would amount to much. (Except my mom)

I would have people say things to their children, “Don’t you do what Kincaid boy does!”

Having a temper would cause this response from other parents.

Growing up I had kids who wanted to be my friend but their parents didn’t

I just felt like I didn’t have a PURPOSE!

As I read this passage I felt I could relate to Matthew.

Let’s take a look at verse 9.

Matthew: Name means “Gift of God”

Two names was traditional (Hebrew and Aramaic)

Mark 2:14

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Luke 5:27

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”

Occupation: Tax collector

Nice home (All the people who were in the house at the time)

Position despised

Matthew was doubly hated: Jewish Tax collector

Location of his booth

We believe Matthew’s tax office was at the seaside.

Capernaum being near the boundary and on the caravan road between Egypt (Southwest) and Damascus (Northeast)

2 taxations

Import and Export taxes on trade goods crossing the frontier.

They saw such taxes as Rome robbery of money that rightfully belonged to them.

Jesus

In Passing, Jesus sees Matthew

Just by Matthews location Jesus knows his occupation

Then in turn, Jesus knows how people feel about Matthew

The Call

Says to him, “Follow Me.”

Found 21 times in scripture

20 times in the Gospels (6 – Matthew, 4 – Mark, 4 – Luke, 6 – John)

1 other time in Acts 12:8 (Angel of the Lord says it)

“Follow” – greek word: ακολουθει  meaning “Set out to be”

Not – You’re at dinner at someone’s house and while fellowshipping in the living room the host comes in and say’s “Dinner is ready, follow me!”

What this word is implying is “Becoming a disciple of someone.”

A father teaching his son a trade so that one day he could take over the business: “Follow Me”

Jesus wasn’t asking Matthew to follow him down to the local restaurant.

He is literally calling him to “Set out to be.”

“Set out to be …… Me”

μοι – “Me” : Pronoun (First Person, Singular, objective)

Be like him! (Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of Christ)

Christian: “little Christ”

The Response

He Rose!

Rose means to RISE – “initiating an action”

Reacting to someone or something

Followed Him!

Same Greek word

“Set out to be ….” Like Jesus!

Every one of us has a call on our life!

You might think “I’m not worthy ….. go down the list……”

The Cost

The Call Cost Matthew

His occupation (No 3.5 year sabbatical)

His Identity

His home/family

The Call Gave Matthew

A new occupation (The Purpose)

A new identity

A new family

Eventually - A new home in heaven

How often do we look at Jesus as someone who can do something for us?

What if it was Jesus looking to do something through us because of what he has done for us?

Giving us a PURPOSE

That’s the call!

Our Purpose

I feel safe to say …. “Everyone has a calling of God on their life!”

Scripture doesn’t say “For he knows the plans he has for just a select few!” (No)

For All!

Have you ever thought about this? What the call on your life is?

If you said, “I don’t know what the call is on my life!”

Ask yourself this question, “What’s my purpose?”

I found my purpose when I said yes to the call to preach.

Can’t picture doing anything else.

What’s your purpose?

For some it might be a “stay at home mom!” (List too long)

Altar call

For some of you he has a calling to a new occupation (Preacher, Evangelist, missionary, SS teacher, small group bible study  …..) God is calling you … “Follow Me!”

For some of you, this morning, God is calling you to him!

You need to stop doing what you have been doing ….

Drugs, alcohol, attitude, abuse, language, etc.

A call to change your identity. (no longer in the world but in Christ)

Once you have accepted this new identity you receive a NEW HOME/NEW FMAILY

The call will cost you!

The world, your hang-ups, your insecurities, your attitudes, your temper, ETC.

The call will give you!

A new outlook, a new perspective, a Purpose.

Eventually ….. a new home in heaven.