The call to discipleship
This call is from God. We are called to set aside ourselves to the Lord, and HIs Will and Purpose for us….in the work that He gives us.
“Call” is an interesting term. When I was little I had a godly Grandmother, and she would often talk about “calling”. I had no idea what she meant (altho she was very patient with me, trying to explain about the Lord’ Will for our lives.)….until I was born again.
Later, when I received my call….
I heard the Lord plainly tell me what His plan for me was….and that I was to go to the altar to surrender to it…and follow Him.
The call of the fishermen was an amazing thing….who would have thought that ignorant fishermen would become the apostles of Christ!
(And aren’t we amazed when Jesus calls us to do something for Him!)
Matthew 4:18-21 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.
And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.”
One set of sons were casting a net for fish….and called to be fishers of men. The other set of sons were mending their nets….and John was called to mend the church, even in his life time.
There was the call of Matthew….a tax collector…another choice which would not seem right to do….but Jesus came and called him.
Matthew 9:9 “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.”
(I find Matthew’s call an amazing one….for he would have been hated and looked down upon because of his job….yet Jesus called him to be a disciple…and chose him to be an apostle. The first book in the New Testament is his…written by a converted tax collector.)
Our calling is not according to our abilities…..but according to HIs choice and grace. He gives ability….we simply must trust and obey.
(My husband, one Sunday, had just sang the song,…”Trust and Obey”, and sat down. The preacher at that time, then gave his message, and the Lord called my husband to preach. My husband thought, “Surely not me, Lord. You would not call me to preach.”
But the Lord told my husband, “You sang it,….now do it”. And he went forward to accept the call…to, in fact, ‘trust and obey’.)
It is also interesting that the testimony of John the Baptist was a call to Andrew….for when John said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)…Andrew and another unnamed man followed after the Lord Jesus….calling Him, “ Rabbi” or Master.
Then Jesus called…”Come and see”.
But the bringing of others did not stop….Andrew went and got Simon Peter.
John 1:41 “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
The next day…
John 1:43 “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me.”
And Philip went and got Nathanael…
John 1:45 “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”
Though Nathanael hesitated, because Jesus was from Nazareth….yet the call was…”come and see” for yourself. And when he did,….
John 1:49 “Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the KIng of Israel.”
When we have found Christ for ourselves….we should also witness to our family, and others of Him and His grace.
At first, the disciples calling…was to go around to Israel’s villages and preach….”the kingdom of God is at hand”. Along with that, they were given the power to heal…and cast out devils. (Luke 9:1-2)
Luke 9:10 “And the apostles, when they returned, told Him all that they had done. And He took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.”
Luke 10:17 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.”
It is easy, when the Lord gives you some success in your calling to feel elated….kind of wanting to pat yourself on the back….or jump up and down ….but thankfully….Jesus often calls us away from things…He reminds us what we should really be praising Him for.
Luke 10:20 “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
It is never what we do for Jesus Christ…in our calling. But what He is to us. For that is what we show forth….His life, His Word, and His character….through us.
This, the disciples had to learn….and for three years they followed Him…hearing HIs Words,….seeing Him heal and comfort the weak….and rebuke the callous and religious blind…..
….always following…
…even when others left Jesus.
John 6:60, 66 “Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”
They had been offended by His blunt words…that He was the only way to God.
Even after all they had experienced….they refused to completely surrender to His Authority over themselves.
Then…for the remaining disciples….the choice to follow Him….on…was made.
John 6:67-69 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that Thou are that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Discipleship is to place yourself under the authority and teaching of someone. When you become a disciple of Christ, you surrender to Him…as Master, Teacher, and Lord…for He is the Son of God.
The call to discipleship can come at any time.
We can be working hard to get ahead….and Jesus calls us to “come, follow Me”.
We can be sitting….hated by others….yet Jesus can call us to “Follow Me.”
We can believe the testimony of other preachers…and “come and see” for ourselves that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
Jesus will speak bluntly to us….He always did, and always will. He never sugar-coated His Words….but simply gave the truth….and called all of His, to walk in the Light of the Truth.
His call to discipleship is to “Follow Him”….into the work He has for us to do….wherever and with whomever He wills.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 