Tag Archives: The Calling

Matthew 9- The Calling

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And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Matthew 9:9-10

When Jesus called his Apostles, what was he looking for? Christ wasn’t looking for theological knowledge, otherwise he would have called some Pharisees or Sauducees, no Jesus called on regular people, fishermen and tax collectors like Matthew. What qualities are Jesus looking for? Faithfulness, obedience, humble, ect these are qualities you don’t need a Master degree to obtain. To understand the amazement of God’s calling to become Born Again, we need to understand who Christs disciples were and what they accomplished because they followed The Lord

Today we look at Matthew, a tax collector, now that might not seem like a big deal to be a Jewish tax collector but when your understand what Matthew was really a part of , you could say he was the chief of all sinners. Think about it a Jewish man working for the evil oppressive Roman government enslaving his own people in poverty and persecution. Now when you put it that way, yeah it sounds really bad because it was. Matthews conversion to Christianity was just as miraculous as Pauls , I’m sure when most Jews saw Matthew with Christ and his Jewish disciples, they probably cringed or doubted the authenticity of Matthew

Notice it lists the “publicans” or tax collectors with sinners. The tax collectors , like Matthew, were the scum of the Earth. List the tax collectors with the prostitutes and lepers, these are the outcasts, these are the outsiders, however Jesus is going to call them and make them fishers of Men

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:11-13

The religious leaders wanted to know “Why does this Holy man eat with sinners”! Jesus said “He didn’t come for the righteous but to bring sinners to repentance” The Great Physician came to fix some souls, Christ didn’t come for the 99 , he came for the lost sheep to bring them home to our Heavenly Father

When Jesus called Matthew, it said “He arose and followed him” Matthew immediately answered the calling, He didn’t say I’ll get back to you or check his options, when Christ said Follow me, Matthew followed him, that was his main qualification, faith and obedience. The rest is history including this gospel which Matthew recorded for our edification and learning

Is Jesus calling you today? Get up and follow him, don’t worry about your past or don’t worry about your qualifications, The Lord will make you Born Again and a Fisher of Men, Amen!

John 1- The Calling

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Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. John 1:35-37

How do we get drawn to Jesus Christ? Today we are looking at The Calling, what draws people to Christ, is it yourself or is it the Holy Spirit? As Jesus walking by John the Baptist and his followers, John declared once again “Behold The Lamb of God”! What was the reaction of his disciples? They were immediately drawn to Christ

The disciples didn’t start debating or asking philosophical questions, they were immediately drawn to Christ, why? Because the Holy Spirit drew them to Jesus. The testimony of John the Baptist stirred something in their heart, and they knew this is The Messiah

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. John 1:38-39

So what did the disciples do next when they were drawn to Christ, they seeked after Jesus, they wanted to learn his ways, they wanted to know their Savior. They had a passion and desire to know Christ. They had a burning calling to follow Him

What did Jesus say? He asked them what they wanted? They wanted to know Christ, so he said Follow Me! Simple as that, Jesus didnt say what are your credentials or qualifications, he said “If you want to know me, follow Me”! 

Another thing to notice is Jesus didn’t plan or lay out their next 3 years before them. He asked them by faith to trust and follow Him. These disciples had no idea what they were getting themselves into, but by faith they followed Christ

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.  John 1:40-41

They declared “We have found The Messiah” , how did they know this? They knew because of the Holy Spirit, they knew because of the testimony of John the Baptist, they knew because of their desire to know Jesus, and by faith they followed Christ and became “Fishers of Men” Amen!