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READ: Mark 10:28
CHALLENGE: Follow Jesus
We will make spiritual sacrifices
vv28-31 – Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”. V29 – Truly I tell you, Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last and the last will be first
Jesus had just demonstrated the impossibility of a man earning eternal life. With man it’s impossible but with God all things are impossible.
If you got to hear the Allan Scott band you heard stories of people in completely hopeless situations, but God turned their lives around. Our impossibility is possible with God. With us, it’s impossible but with God all things are possible.
There’s an invitation to follow Jesus Christ. What does it mean to follow Jesus?
- LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND AND FOLLOW JESUS
When you purchase a ticket to a concert or a sporting event, there is evidence of a ticket. It might be on your phone or a literal ticket in hand. Likewise, you can’t walk onto a jet without a boarding pass or some type of evidence that you’ve actually booked a flight and paid for it.
What’s the evidence that we are following Jesus Christ? Peter exclaims that he left all to follow Jesus. It’s not just that he left all. He left all for the precise reason that he was following Jesus Christ and there was evidence of his commitment.
Following would include an attachment to Christ. Being a disciple means that you’re committed to following and listening. If you “followed” God in the Old Testament, that meant that you followed the teachings. For us to follow Jesus would mean that we obey what he commands.
So, the disciples left all behind and they followed Jesus Christ. It significantly impacted their lives.
It’s like marriage, there’s love and commitment and then there’s evidence in living. It takes commitment to stick with it. Discipleship requires commitment to Jesus.
Where did Jesus meet Peter? It’s good to remind ourselves of this first encounter. In Luke chapter 5, Jesus used Peter’s boat to teach the people. They were crowding Christ as he taught them so he asked to use their boat. Afterwards, he asked Peter to put out into the deep water and to let down his nets. Peter was reluctant to do it because they had fished all night and had not caught anything. However, he listened to Jesus and the catch was so massive that they had to call in another boat and the nets were breaking.
The catch was miraculous and Peter knew it. Peter gave up time to allow Jesus to use the boat and Jesus more than made that up to him.
Vv 8-11 – When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people”. 11 so they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him”
Now, let’s note a few things. There was a significant encounter with Christ and it didn’t leave Peter the same. And God spoke to him through a miraculous catch of fish. That same thing may not have meant anything to us but it certainly resonated with Peter and the companions who were astonished. God spoke to him in a way that he clearly understood. He saw something of the Lord and that was remarkable.
What drew you to God in the first place? What sense? What dissatisfaction? What disaster? What miracle? What was it that God used? And here’s the thing, God doesn’t always use the same thing.
I’ve heard many comments of where someone felt God was reaching out to them in a certain way. Who am I to question it, assuming they are heading in the right direction? God can speak to people however he pleases, that’s the beauty of God. Hopefully God uses your life to speak to others.
Peter is Just Like Us
*Peter was a sinful man when Jesus called him to follow him.
Peter was not a perfect person when Jesus redirected his life. And Peter acknowledged his own unworthiness to be in the presence of Jesus. He was sinful and he was doing things that he shouldn’t have been doing. He had some baggage!
A starting point to following Jesus is to realize how far short we fall. It’s to acknowledge that we are sinful and undeserving. Humility is a fantastic starting point with following.
Does recognizing sinfulness preclude you from serving God or are you exactly the kind of person that God will use? If you really feel unworthy, that’s OK! Obviously you can become a follower of Jesus Christ! The mission of Jesus Christ is to call sinners to repentance!
I believe that God would much rather use a humble person than one who is full of their own self-righteous sanctimonious judgmental holiness and think they are better than others. Never think that you’re not good enough for Jesus. Just know that He is good enough to rescue you. Your past does not define your future! Never let it be a hindrance.
The start to following God acknowledges our own unworthiness. We’re not perfect.
- Peter was nervous
Don’t be afraid, from now on you will fish for people. I have something better for you to do.
It’s not that there was anything wrong with fishing but Jesus had something better in mind for Peter. It’s still scary at times when you don’t know what the call will look like. What is the cost of following Jesus? What if I stumble? What if I can’t do it?
It’s like Moses at the burning bush making a million excuses as to why he can’t go to Egypt. It’s like the start of the ministry of Joshua where God says, do not be afraid. Be strong for I am with you.
It is nerve wracking at times to step out and try something new. The most intimidating thing that I ever did was to start a children’s club in the north. We had no leader and I had never worked with children in all of my years. I worked with teens and adults and that was it. Now I had to take the reins since it was my idea and no one stepped up.
That ministry continues today. I figure we probably have a 100 total people involved on Wednesday nights at Ridgeview Elementary. It’s really awesome and we love doing it. It was still scary when I first did it. It’s intimidating to teach for that first time. To step into a leadership role when you really don’t know what it will look like. Just follow Jesus!
Building this building was quite a journey and it was called forward in faith. Can we do this? I’ve had plenty of ministry experiences that played on the nerves and I had to remind myself that where God calls, He equips. He’s not going to let you down. When we are weak – He is strong!
Cody Carnes – firm foundation – “I’ve still got joy in the chaos. I’ve got peace that makes no sense. So I won’t be going under. I’m not held by my own strength ‘cause I build my life on Jesus. He’s never left me down. He’s faithful in every season. So why would he fail now? HE WON’T”
I know it’s intimidating to do something for the first time. It’s nerve wracking to get on a stage. It might be just being involved at all and feeling like you’re so unfit to serve. That would have been Peter. Don’t be afraid, I’ve got something new that I’m calling you into.
- Peter left their boats, nets, career, family and they followed Jesus.
They left something behind. So now let’s think back to this comment. We left all. He walked away from the boat. From the nets. From the job. From his parent. Peter, his brother, his two business partners, walked away to follow Jesus. James, John, Peter, Andrew. Four of the 12 apostles!
We left all. What have you left to follow Jesus Christ? To put him first? What’s the evidence? Do you see it in your time? What you give? Where you serve?
? What things might we leave in order to follow Jesus Christ?
Peter Left Things Behind
- Leaving Alternatives
I could have done a lot of things with my life. I was interested in the law and business but I felt God wanted me to be a preacher. Once that decision was made, your life is about service and not the finances. God called us to Ohio and we left family behind.
Illustration:
I could have done a lot of things but in choosing to serve, that means there are other things that I didn’t do.
- Leaving Sin
There’s certainly the concept of walking away from worldliness. Peter was not going to be living the same kind of life anymore. Forgiveness includes repentance.
How can we follow Jesus and the world at the same time? In our Tuesday morning Bible study we saw that friendship with the world in enmity with God. You can’t do both. I can’t chase Jesus and hang onto everything he saved me from.
When I was first a believer, I thought about these things. I was five and even then, I knew there should be a change in my life. So I can recall realizing that I stopped calling my brother a pig. At least there was that.
What is the evidence that you’re stopped doing something? I gave this up for Jesus. Or I didn’t pursue this avenue for Jesus. Partying, immorality, pornography, addiction. Something.
- Leaving Temporal Things
Serving is fairly easy as in it’s not dangerous. However, it’s more comfortable to do nothing than to do something. It takes commitment for all of our volunteers who help out with any of our ministries. Cleaning crew to Children’s Christmas program.
It takes time to serve. It takes time to support people and programs. It takes time for Celebrate Recovery, Wednesday nights, small groups, the Vine, cleaning, Food4Kidz, Community dinner, setting up a trunk for Trunk or Treat, leading or attending a small group.
You can apply the same principle to the super important marriage relationship. What time have we poured into that relationship to make it better? Marriage is a close relationship and the purpose is companionship. We need to make time to hang out together.
What time have I surrendered to serve the Lord? Some of you guys, I see the effort and it’s much appreciated.
- LOOK AT THE GAINS
V29 – Truly I tell you, Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions –
Let’s recognized what’s been gained. This is fascinating to me. In the present age, you’ll have more.
The key to gain is that we’ve surrendered for Christ. It’s not just sacrificing family for our career. It’s when we make sacrifices for Christ. I’m not talking about a “prosperity” gospel because I don’t buy that.
If you do it “for” that means that it’s for the benefit of that person. It’s not for you. I don’t want to do things mechanically. I reckon that we could give money because that’s what we do and then never think – that’s for Jesus. We might just do it.
Why are we praying. It’s for our relationship with God and it’s for those we pray for.
And it’s for Jesus and the gospel and that helps me even more. So, I may do things because it gives me a chance to give the gospel. There are plenty of things that are just about living life and that’s fine. But what am I doing for the sake of the gospel. It’s a profound question.
There’s no way that the church accomplishes so much without the steady sacrifices of many other people. But you have to remind yourself what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
Trunk or Treat is not just about candy and cars and chili! It’s about Christ. It’s about meeting our community and showing them love. Don’t forget the mission. We have gains when we do it FOR Christ.
- More Gain
I know for me that God has always provided. Whereas I don’t have my physical extended family. My children did have some serve in the grandmotherly role. Our children spent many an hour with Betty Brainard. Eventually even her husband started coming to church and that was great.
I’ve had church family and many brothers who stand alongside of me as we tirelessly work to help people and make a difference in this world. I have many people to support me.
So, God has given me family outside of my actual family so it’s not like it’s been a total loss to leave everyone behind. I know some of the rest of you feel the same way.
I would say that I have experienced what Jesus is talking about in this passage.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well. When we have the right priority, there is gain and it’s an amazing blessing to serve.
Following Jesus leads to gain.
(trans.) Like we have more gain, we also have …
- More Pain
You’ll have a lot and you’ll have persecutions too. That’s super interesting to me. Why should there by any pain in follow Jesus? Great question. I cannot totally answer it but there is a price to pay for towing the line.
Now, for me. You make common sense and biblical decisions and get pounded because someone disagrees. I don’t pound on people for disagreeing but my experience is not everyone is cool with you standing your ground and holding a good position. You make the right decision with the wisdom God gives and wise counsel God puts around you.
I believe that there is spiritual warfare and resistance as well. I was trying to communicate a phone number to someone. It was a dire situation but text after text bounced back. It was really weird that I could not get the number to send as we were desperately trying to help another person. I felt that was resistance.
There are times where you are flat out attacked and you realize that good things are happening so some push back is inevitable. You might lose some friends. You might have family work against you. There could be any number of things. The light will be battered by the darkness and we have to be ready for that.
You’ll have gain and you’ll have pain when you follow Jesus and that’s part of the turf. It takes a certain amount of toughness to do it.
John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
When I think of Christianity, it’s a fulfilling life. I wouldn’t change it.
- LIVE FOR ETERNITY
V30b-31 – and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Living for eternity is an important concept. As Paul told Timothy, to grab hold of what is life indeed. Anyone who believes and lives it, has eternal life. It might be the narrow path but it’s leading to a better way!
1 John 5:11-12 – And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John talks about how we can know that we have eternal life. And we can have the assurance of salvation. It’s something that you can know through faith.
We should live with the end in mind. Live knowing that someday we will face God.
Those who want to put God on the back burner will be on the back burner. And those who put themselves on the back burner will be ahead in the end.
Jim Elliot was a missionary martyred in Ecuador in 1956. They were reaching a lost tribe for Christ when he was killed by those he hoped to reach. He famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
We give up what we cannot keep for what we cannot lose! Keep that perspective. With all that we do or even the things that frustrate us, does it matter in light of eternity?
Like the sign in the office of George Bailey – All that you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.
I read in Ecclesiastes about our chase after the wind. Generations come and go and they are forgotten. And all the things that seem to matter so much in this moment do matter either. What matters is eternity.
Where will you spend it? Are we helping others to find their way there.
Leave the world behind, look for the gains, live for eternity. You’ll be well on your way.