WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.940 As we turn to the Word of God and the preaching 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:06.459 of His Word today, let us remember once again 00:00:06.459 --> 00:00:08.699 that during this epiphany season, this is the 00:00:08.699 --> 00:00:11.919 time that the Lord Jesus is revealed to us. These 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:13.740 are the portions of the Scripture and of course 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:16.859 all through the Gospels we see Jesus revealed 00:00:16.859 --> 00:00:22.019 to us. But here today we continue to see people's 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:24.199 eyes open more and more and we pray that the 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:27.339 Lord would also give us epiphanies into Christ 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:31.780 Jesus. Let us pray. O Lord God, we give thanks 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:33.759 then to you that by your sovereign grace you 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:36.140 have made us your people. You have surrounded 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:38.679 us with your mercies and your protecting care. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:41.880 Make us grateful morning and night, joyful in 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:45.600 your providential care and in your grace. Take 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.579 our eyes from our burdens and griefs and grant 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:51.340 that they may be always fixed on your goodness 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:54.679 and your grace. Teach us this day and always 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.320 the things that we need to know so that we may 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:01.119 serve you with all our heart, mind, being and 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:03.719 so make the words of my mouth and the meditations 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.519 of all our hearts pleasing in your sight for 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.859 the sake of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:15.459 our Lord amen For those of you that may be tuning 00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:20.200 in it is our habit to preach the gospel from 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:24.659 Advent the gospel reading from Advent until Pentecost 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:28.219 and So once again our sermon text is our gospel 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:32.370 reading Let us now hear God's word. Matthew chapter 00:01:32.370 --> 00:01:36.170 four, beginning in verse 12. Now when Jesus heard 00:01:36.170 --> 00:01:38.269 that John had been put in prison, he departed 00:01:38.269 --> 00:01:41.250 to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth, he came and 00:01:41.250 --> 00:01:44.390 dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the 00:01:44.390 --> 00:01:47.430 regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might 00:01:47.430 --> 00:01:49.810 be fulfilled, which was spoken by Isaiah the 00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:53.269 prophet, saying, the land of Zebulun and the 00:01:53.269 --> 00:01:56.049 land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond 00:01:56.049 --> 00:02:00.780 the Jordan, Galilee. of the Gentiles. The people 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.560 who sat in darkness have seen a great light upon 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.519 those who sat in the region and the shadow of 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:10.879 death. Light has dawned. From that time, Jesus 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.520 began to preach and say, repent, for the kingdom 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.919 of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.719 Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:23.699 Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:28.879 the sea, for they were fishermen. Then he said 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.960 to them follow me and I will make you fishers 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.840 of men they immediately left their nets and followed 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.039 him Going on from there He saw two other brothers 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:40.080 James the son of Zebedee and John his brother 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.379 in a boat with Zebedee their father Mending their 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:46.080 nets he called them and immediately they left 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.539 the boat and their father and followed him and 00:02:49.539 --> 00:02:52.740 Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:55.860 synagogues preaching the gospel of the kingdom 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:58.719 and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:03.020 of diseases among the people. That his fame went 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:05.680 throughout all Syria and they brought to him 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.580 all sick people who were afflicted with various 00:03:08.580 --> 00:03:11.620 diseases and torments and those who were demon 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:15.120 possessed and epileptics and paralytics and he 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.120 healed them. Great multitudes followed him from 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:22.699 Galilee, from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:26.050 beyond the Jordan. These are the words of Almighty 00:03:26.050 --> 00:03:34.689 God. Receive them in your hearts. You know, one 00:03:34.689 --> 00:03:37.830 of the things about being a parent is this, that 00:03:37.830 --> 00:03:41.310 we have an expectation that our children do what 00:03:41.310 --> 00:03:47.530 we ask. When they're little, what do we do? It's 00:03:47.530 --> 00:03:51.990 simple instructions. Eat your green beans. Don't 00:03:51.990 --> 00:03:54.699 stick your finger in the socket. Don't run in 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:58.400 the street and please come here Sometimes it's 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.259 other things we ask them we say come here come 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:04.939 here and they run from us and we have a gift 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:08.560 We have something for them. Maybe it's a few 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.379 M &Ms. Maybe it's a birthday present and they're 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:15.060 not with it But they run away and they don't 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:17.680 come You know one of the things that we really 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.420 want to strive with with all of our children 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:24.889 is to get them to obey right away, the first 00:04:24.889 --> 00:04:28.569 time that we call. Now, this is, of course, a 00:04:28.569 --> 00:04:31.670 great challenge for many. Well, really, truthfully, 00:04:31.689 --> 00:04:34.069 I think for all of us, right? We're challenged. 00:04:34.129 --> 00:04:38.089 We want them just to respond to our word. Come 00:04:38.089 --> 00:04:42.170 here, please. And then, when they don't, what's 00:04:42.170 --> 00:04:45.269 going on in our mind is, oh, man, what's the 00:04:45.269 --> 00:04:48.269 next step? Now, the truth is, we know, as Christians, 00:04:48.310 --> 00:04:50.670 we know what the next step is. We know that we're 00:04:50.670 --> 00:04:54.569 supposed to go out, get up, Go after them and 00:04:54.569 --> 00:04:58.750 discipline them right then, every time, so that 00:04:58.750 --> 00:05:03.410 they quickly learn to come when we call. Why 00:05:03.410 --> 00:05:06.470 do we do that? Well, we do it sometimes, to be 00:05:06.470 --> 00:05:09.350 honest, for our own convenience. But mostly, 00:05:09.470 --> 00:05:12.629 I hope that our desire is to see that our children 00:05:12.629 --> 00:05:15.790 stay out of danger. We want them, if they're 00:05:15.790 --> 00:05:18.589 dashing towards the street or to something dangerous, 00:05:18.709 --> 00:05:23.019 when we say stop. That they stop immediately. 00:05:23.899 --> 00:05:29.100 When we say come, they come. And so here today, 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:31.379 I want us to keep that in mind as we consider 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:33.420 the scriptures. There's three things I want you 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:38.240 to think about as we consider this passage. One, 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:42.759 during this epiphany season, we are told, it 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:46.079 is revealed to us that Jesus actively fulfills 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.040 the promises of God. Jesus actively fulfills 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:54.980 the promises of God. Second, like the disciples, 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:02.819 we must follow Jesus. We must follow Jesus. And 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:07.839 that Jesus himself proclaimed the gospel of the 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:12.199 kingdom. Our passage begins with the observation 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:14.560 that when Jesus heard that John had been put 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.790 into prison, that he left Nazareth, and headed 00:06:17.790 --> 00:06:24.589 to Galilee dwelling in Capernaum. There's a continuity 00:06:24.589 --> 00:06:28.089 from the ministry of John the Baptizer to Jesus. 00:06:28.670 --> 00:06:31.430 John's ministry of repentance for the kingdom 00:06:31.430 --> 00:06:35.589 of heaven is at hand, is continued by Jesus. 00:06:36.350 --> 00:06:39.470 Jesus' work is the continuation of the work of 00:06:39.470 --> 00:06:42.850 God towards man through all of history, beginning 00:06:42.850 --> 00:06:47.230 in the Garden of Eden. God's axe is laid at the 00:06:47.230 --> 00:06:49.069 root of the tree of Israel. That's what John 00:06:49.069 --> 00:06:52.490 says, right? The prophet of Jeremiah shows us 00:06:52.490 --> 00:06:57.670 that God uses the axe of empires to bring down 00:06:57.670 --> 00:07:02.350 nations God will use Rome as the axe that destroys 00:07:02.350 --> 00:07:06.889 the temple Jerusalem and all the Jews who oppose 00:07:06.889 --> 00:07:11.819 Jesus For years many across Judea had risen up 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:15.879 in rebellion to overthrow the Roman Empire Which 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:19.740 explains why you see pilot inherit concern with 00:07:19.740 --> 00:07:23.819 riots and why the priests and other conspirators 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:28.220 Against Jesus focus on Jesus as an evildoer deserving 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:31.660 death They keep insinuating that he's a rival 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:36.920 king and in one way he is but What he's doing 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.759 what they're doing is Hey, he's gonna cause a 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:42.819 riot. As a matter of fact, we're responding in 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:47.939 a riotous way because of Jesus. And so Pilate 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:52.240 and Herod both capitulate. The enemies of the 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.879 cross, this is real important, the enemies of 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:56.740 the cross know what buttons to push on the civil 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:00.100 magistrate to cause them to give an unfavorable 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:02.620 result against Jesus and his church. We've seen 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:08.240 that very recently. They know what the civil 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.920 magistrates' idols are. In other words, the idols 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:15.420 of the age that the officials will not cross 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.800 out of fear. We're seeing that develop all over 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:22.839 our country. So for the church, we should expect 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:27.439 to receive the same treatment as our Lord. So 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:30.899 what does Jesus do? He goes out and he preaches 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:35.350 and he teaches the gospel of the kingdom. What 00:08:35.350 --> 00:08:39.210 is this gospel? You know the great hymn. This 00:08:39.210 --> 00:08:43.570 is my father's world Do not forget God is the 00:08:43.570 --> 00:08:48.250 ruler yet The Lord is king Let the heavens ring 00:08:48.250 --> 00:08:52.750 That is the gospel of the kingdom every square 00:08:52.750 --> 00:08:56.169 inch of everyone's life Whether they're covered 00:08:56.169 --> 00:09:02.090 up and hiding it It is yet God's world It is 00:09:02.090 --> 00:09:05.519 Jesus declaring that it is His Father's world. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:10.639 And so let the heavens ring. So Jesus leaves 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:13.240 the town of Nazareth and heads northward around 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:17.659 the Sea of Galilee. John preached, and many came 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:21.240 from all over Judea and Jerusalem. So we have 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:24.659 Jesus who is going out, and we have John who 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:30.779 is stationary by the River Jordan. Judea, where 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:34.159 all those came from, Checking out John is understood 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:36.919 as the region of the southern kingdom all of 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:40.940 those who returned after the exile and Jesus 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:44.279 he doesn't go there He ventures out to the region 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:47.639 of the old northern kingdom which fell into judgment 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:52.659 of exile about 135 years earlier than the southern 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:56.960 kingdom Now God not only delivered the northern 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:00.500 kingdom into exile, but also directed the Assyrians 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:04.240 to plant into the land all kinds of Gentiles 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:09.000 and unbelieving nations. The two most northern 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.080 tribes in this northern kingdom are Zebulun and 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:16.220 Naphtali. And so our text provides a prophecy 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:19.759 of God's promise of epiphany or illumination 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.919 for the people in these regions. So, John, he's 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:25.600 proclaiming the truth, and it's primarily to 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:29.879 those who are already thinking of God. And Jesus 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.960 goes into a mixed land filled with all kinds 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.559 of people from all kinds of nations. Verse 15 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:39.899 reminds us that in the land of Zebulun and the 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:42.639 land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.659 the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:48.620 who sat in darkness, these people have been infiltrated 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:53.750 with all kinds of idolatries. In that darkness, 00:10:54.450 --> 00:10:56.789 Jesus goes. They've been sitting in that darkness. 00:10:57.549 --> 00:11:00.309 They've seen a great light. And upon those who 00:11:00.309 --> 00:11:03.370 sat in the region and the shadow of death, a 00:11:03.370 --> 00:11:10.129 light has dawned. Where people came to John, 00:11:10.389 --> 00:11:14.570 Jesus goes into the region here, revealing who 00:11:14.570 --> 00:11:17.909 he is. But this great light is not just for the 00:11:17.909 --> 00:11:22.070 Jews, but also for the Gentiles. Jesus does proclaim 00:11:22.070 --> 00:11:24.289 the same thing. He says repent for the kingdom 00:11:24.289 --> 00:11:27.110 is at hand and he does this beginning in the 00:11:27.110 --> 00:11:31.330 synagogues But throughout his ministry he will 00:11:31.330 --> 00:11:36.149 touch and heal and forgive Jew and Samaritan 00:11:36.149 --> 00:11:42.029 and Gentile alike This quote is from Isaiah chapter 00:11:42.029 --> 00:11:44.970 9 and it starts with that revealed shining light 00:11:44.970 --> 00:11:48.340 in this region and then then proceeds to go to 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:51.480 a very familiar passage. So this light is promised 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:55.220 by the prophet Isaiah to this very mixed area 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:58.659 of the world, and then we see later down in Isaiah 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:01.639 9 a very familiar passage beginning in verse 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:05.899 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:08.740 is given, and the government will be upon his 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:11.440 shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:16.600 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. Prince 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:19.440 of Peace. Of the increase of his government and 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:22.419 peace, there will be no end upon the throne of 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:25.480 David and over his kingdom to order it and establish 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:29.539 it with judgment and justice from that time forward, 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:34.340 even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:38.059 perform this. The Father is revealing that Jesus 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:41.580 as the Son whom he has placed on the throne is 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:45.220 the one Who will bring the light who will transform 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:48.960 not just Israel? But bring his promises of restoration 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:53.139 to all mankind in this mixed land of the northern 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:57.659 kingdom And of course all of this is made true 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:01.980 not by any work of man But by the zeal of the 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:03.720 Lord now you might be looking out there at the 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.820 world around you you might be seeing all kinds 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:08.919 of things going on And you're like this land 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:12.299 is lost and perhaps this nation is But you know 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:15.279 who's not lost? All the people whom God has called. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:20.120 So what do we do? We must live as lights and 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.259 obedience to Christ. And you say, how can I do 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:26.639 this against all these overwhelming odds? This 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:32.519 is how you do it, by the zeal of the Lord. Now 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:36.320 it is here in this region, as our narrative goes 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:40.039 on, that we see Jesus pursue and call his first 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:42.860 disciples. Unlike other rabbis of the time, what 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:45.879 would happen is you'd have a rabbi, he'd be teaching, 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:48.740 and then someone would come to him and say, hey, 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:52.639 can I be your student? No. Again, here we see 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:57.659 the sovereignty of God's work of salvation. Jesus 00:13:57.659 --> 00:14:02.200 goes and he calls. And so here we see Jesus. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:04.639 It says he was walking by the Sea of Galilee 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:08.929 and he sees two brothers. Simon and Peter. And 00:14:08.929 --> 00:14:10.950 what are they doing? They're casting a net by 00:14:10.950 --> 00:14:14.090 the sea. Why? Because they were fishermen. And 00:14:14.090 --> 00:14:16.549 Jesus says to them, follow me and I will make 00:14:16.549 --> 00:14:22.429 you fishers of men. And they immediately left 00:14:22.429 --> 00:14:26.250 their nets and followed him. And of course he 00:14:26.250 --> 00:14:29.409 goes on from there and he saw two brothers, James 00:14:29.409 --> 00:14:32.980 the son of Zebedee and his brother John. And 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:35.059 they're not only just out there doing this, but 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:37.200 they're with their father and they're mending 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:40.419 their nets and they're with their boat. And it 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:42.600 says, he called them and immediately they left 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:47.620 the boat and their father and followed him. So 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:50.480 Jesus walks along the shore of Galilee and comes 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:55.179 to Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Now remember, 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:58.970 Jesus had already met Andrew and Peter. As you 00:14:58.970 --> 00:15:01.409 know, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptizer 00:15:01.409 --> 00:15:04.370 and heard John announce that Jesus was the Lamb 00:15:04.370 --> 00:15:06.789 of God who takes away the sins of the world. 00:15:07.909 --> 00:15:11.129 Andrew of course follows Jesus and in turn brings 00:15:11.129 --> 00:15:16.129 Peter to Jesus. Our passage today occurs sometimes 00:15:16.129 --> 00:15:20.389 after this. Jesus walks up to both sets of brothers 00:15:20.389 --> 00:15:24.120 and bids them to follow him. And I will make 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.259 you fishers of men." So he's going to transform 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:29.139 them. He calls them, and then he's going to transform 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:32.600 them from fishers of just fish to fishers of 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:36.860 men. And this, of course, reminds us of the prophecy 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:40.080 in Ezekiel 47, where the vision of the new temple 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:42.960 is described with water proceeding out of the 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:46.080 temple, rising deeper and deeper, flowing farther 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.120 and farther into the world, all the way to the 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.590 sea. and it will heal the waters of the sea. 00:15:53.870 --> 00:15:57.190 It says this in verse seven of Ezekiel 47. When 00:15:57.190 --> 00:15:59.169 I returned there, along the bank of the river, 00:15:59.210 --> 00:16:02.210 there were many trees on one side and the other. 00:16:02.269 --> 00:16:04.970 And he said to me, this water flows towards the 00:16:04.970 --> 00:16:07.710 eastern region and goes down into the valley 00:16:07.710 --> 00:16:10.669 and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, 00:16:11.029 --> 00:16:14.230 its waters are healed. And it shall be that every 00:16:14.230 --> 00:16:16.990 living thing that moves wherever the rivers go 00:16:16.990 --> 00:16:20.340 will live. There will be a very great multitude 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:23.840 of fish because these waters go there, for they 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.240 will be healed and everything will live wherever 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.360 the river goes. And it shall be that fishermen 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:33.500 will stand by it from the Ngedi to the Ngalem, 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.679 and they will be places for spreading their nets. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:40.179 Their fish will be the same kinds of fish of 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:44.210 the Great Sea, exceedingly many. but its swamps 00:16:44.210 --> 00:16:46.850 and marshes will not be healed. They will be 00:16:46.850 --> 00:16:50.070 given over to the salt. Along the banks of the 00:16:50.070 --> 00:16:51.730 river, now here it is, along the banks of the 00:16:51.730 --> 00:16:54.490 river on this side and that will grow all kinds 00:16:54.490 --> 00:16:56.929 of trees used for food. Their leaves will not 00:16:56.929 --> 00:16:59.529 wither and their fruit will not fail. They will 00:16:59.529 --> 00:17:02.309 bear fruit every month because the water flows 00:17:02.309 --> 00:17:05.769 from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food 00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:09.890 and their leaves for medicine. Jesus is calling 00:17:09.890 --> 00:17:13.789 his disciples to be transformed into the foundation 00:17:13.789 --> 00:17:17.609 of the new temple and in that Become fishers 00:17:17.609 --> 00:17:21.450 of men Whom the spirit brings the light so the 00:17:21.450 --> 00:17:23.670 spirit flows out from the presence of God we 00:17:23.670 --> 00:17:25.789 see this in Ezekiel we see this in Revelation 00:17:25.789 --> 00:17:28.890 the spirit flows from the throne where the father 00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:32.230 and the son are sitting so he proceeds out and 00:17:32.230 --> 00:17:34.910 he brings life to the world and Everyone that 00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:37.670 he gives life to the fishermen are pulling in 00:17:37.849 --> 00:17:42.670 and adding to the living stones of the new temple. 00:17:44.210 --> 00:17:47.269 We're told that all four men immediately left 00:17:47.269 --> 00:17:51.029 their nets and followed Jesus. And for James 00:17:51.029 --> 00:17:55.990 and John, we see that they not only left their 00:17:55.990 --> 00:17:58.509 nets, but they left their father and their boats 00:17:58.509 --> 00:18:02.849 as well. These men heard the call to follow Jesus 00:18:02.849 --> 00:18:06.740 and rightly prioritize their lives. The whole 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.940 of the Gospels tell us that none of these men 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:13.059 abandoned their families or jobs or responsibilities 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:16.480 to follow Jesus, but they rightly ordered their 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:20.059 loves so as to submit every area of their lives 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:25.259 under the rule of following Jesus first and then 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:28.519 to attend to everything else with God's will 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:32.259 being done here on earth as it is in heaven. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.460 To be sure, The disciples through the ministry 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:40.140 of Christ showed all kinds of sign of sin and 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:46.460 boneheadedness. But Jesus called them and they 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:51.019 followed Jesus immediately. We see that Jesus's 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.980 influence and fame grows throughout all of Syria. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:58.140 Now the Syrian, when the scriptures talk about 00:18:58.140 --> 00:19:00.440 Syria, it's actually talking about this whole 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:05.690 region of the Northern Kingdom. So all. of this 00:19:05.690 --> 00:19:11.970 region of Jews and Samaritans and Gentiles. Do 00:19:11.970 --> 00:19:15.210 you wonder why Jesus' fame and influence doesn't 00:19:15.210 --> 00:19:19.849 grow in the world that you live in? Do you get 00:19:19.849 --> 00:19:25.210 up and follow Jesus immediately? Last week we 00:19:25.210 --> 00:19:29.910 were reminded in our service that we are no longer 00:19:29.910 --> 00:19:35.480 in bondage to sin that is reigning sin. And that 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:38.559 Jesus kept his word and sent the Holy Spirit 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:42.640 not only to transform us, but to remind us of 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:47.480 everything that Jesus has said. That is, every 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:51.500 bit of the whole Bible. So again, do we obey 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:55.099 the word of God immediately? What are we hesitating 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:59.880 on? What are we attempting to negotiate with 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:07.190 God over? God calls you. obedience now not tomorrow 00:20:07.190 --> 00:20:13.190 and not after lunch so confess your procrastination 00:20:13.190 --> 00:20:17.890 you know we are saved by grace but the conditions 00:20:17.890 --> 00:20:24.349 that God gives us right do not nullify grace 00:20:24.349 --> 00:20:27.150 but the conditions that God gives us to walk 00:20:27.150 --> 00:20:30.369 in obedience to him are fulfilled by his grace 00:20:30.369 --> 00:20:33.630 he sent his spirit that reminds us of Jesus' 00:20:33.970 --> 00:20:37.569 words and has given us a new heart and has renewed 00:20:37.569 --> 00:20:42.650 our mind. And he has taken us and given us the 00:20:42.650 --> 00:20:47.690 ability to walk away from sin. So put it to death. 00:20:49.089 --> 00:20:53.950 Follow Jesus first. Let his words, every part 00:20:53.950 --> 00:20:58.289 of scripture, determine the order of your priorities. 00:20:59.049 --> 00:21:03.049 Then again, following Jesus immediately, let 00:21:03.049 --> 00:21:08.349 each of you do what? Your thinking, your speaking, 00:21:09.289 --> 00:21:14.309 your working, your playing, how you relate in 00:21:14.309 --> 00:21:19.529 all of your relationships. And do it in quick 00:21:19.529 --> 00:21:24.309 submission to God. We too often demand this from 00:21:24.309 --> 00:21:28.480 others and do not expect it of ourselves. We're 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.700 often quick to point out everyone else's failures 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:35.259 and failure to follow Christ immediately Well, 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:40.259 they know what to do So why don't they do it? 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:44.900 All right, what does God charged you with? To 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:47.859 follow him immediately to remember his words 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:54.660 so once again Confess your sin confess your procrastination 00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:59.579 So that You too will be lights in the world and 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:03.279 you'll see the world around you transformed Jesus 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.359 has come bringing light into the world driving 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:10.180 out the darkness with all authority and His name 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:14.099 is wonderful and counselor mighty God everlasting 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:18.319 Father and Prince of Peace of this new creation 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.960 light and life has come and Light and life has 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.359 come to you and you are to share it with the 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:27.680 world We've been blessed by the new life given 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:31.019 to us by the Father by the work of Jesus through 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:36.819 the power of the Spirit Follow Jesus Obey immediately 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:40.059 and in this you will bring the light and life 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:43.740 of the gospel of the kingdom in Jesus to the 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:50.119 world Let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:53.019 that you sent Jesus to bring light into the world 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:55.859 and that he drives the darkness from your people. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.480 Help us we pray to see our sin and to follow 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:02.759 Jesus in all things without hesitation. Grant 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:06.440 us your spirit to bring your light to the world 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:10.440 and become fishers of men to your glory. We ask 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.960 all this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.099 who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.640 and ever.