Discovering the Way Forward

Sermon #2: Discovering the Way Forward By Looking to The Past

Matthew 4: 12-25

Text Scripture:

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 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. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 2

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Intro:

 World history has been filled with many “populous movements” that have altered the course of human history.  Two such movements were:

1. The Renaissance. 1300-1700 2. The Reformation. 1500-1600

 Both of these “Recovered” or “Rediscovered” that which had been lost!  Now, here is the thesis of this sermon: Discovering the Way Forward by Looking to the Past. By looking into the past, we too can learn how to move forward!  In short, sometimes the only way to discover the way forward - is to examine what was!

In my opinion, we are living in a time when America and the church as a whole, have lost their way.

As we examine this text passage of scripture, remember, the only way to find our way “forward” again, is by “Recovering” or “Rediscovering” our “Identity” and “Mission” as “Christians” – and the only way to do that is “examining what was!”

To “Recover” or “Rediscover” Our Way Forward Means:

1: Rediscovering Jesus 3

17 “From that time Jesus …”

 In reality, it makes no difference what follows this “snippet of scripture” - our only way forward - is Jesus!  No! All religions are NOT the same!  No! All religions do NOT lead you to the same place!  John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Salvation WITHOUT Jesus – will take you to hell! o And we are saved from hell – to Good Works!  Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  We must once again come to the realization that Jesus is our ONLY way forward!

1: Rediscovering Jesus

2: Reemphasizing REPENTANCE!

17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent …”

*I believe that the reason so many churches are having so many problems, is because they are filled with members, who profess to know Jesus, but it reality are as lost as Job’s Turkey – and if they died the way they are today – THEY WOULD SPLIT HELL WIDE OPEN!* 4

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

I’m here to tell you today that not everybody that attends church, is a member of the church, has been baptized, sits on the front row, pays their tithes, sings in the choir, teaches a class, serves as a deacon, says, “Amen”, preaches, or sings Amazing Grace – is saved! THE WAY FORWARD IS GOING BACK TO PREACHING WHAT JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS: “MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO YOU, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

And listen:

 Salvation “is” – (Repeat: Is) the product of REPENTANCE!  It is NOT - repeating a prayer somebody told you to say  It’s NOT - shaking the preacher’s hand  It’s NOT - shedding a tear  It IS through REPENTANCE and FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR  AND IT IS EVIDENCED BY A CHANGED LIFESTYLE! (Do what you want with that!)

*We must once again realize that REPENTANCE is the way forward for us today!

1: Rediscovering Jesus 2: Reemphasizing REPENTANCE

3: Realizing the Brevity of the Moment 5

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

1: Rediscovering Jesus 2: Reemphasizing REPENTANCE! 3: Realizing the Brevity of the Moment

4: Refocusing on Our Calling

18 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me …”

1. There is a calling from God 2. He selects us - not the other way around 3. We must stay focused on our calling!

ILLUSTRATION:

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

 British soldiers in a Japanese work camp 6

 To boost morale – they took on the project of building a railroad bridge across the River Kwai  They became so involved and attached to this project that when another unit of British Commando’s should up at the end of the movie to blow up the bridge, some of the prisoners didn’t want to blow it up  The project had become more important than the calling (Repeat!)  The calling? Win the war!  Jesus called the disciples to - FOLLOW HIM - and win the war!  Our calling? The Great “Commandment” & “Commission” (Love & go!)

There was a lot going on here:

The famous Jewish Historian, Josephus, tells us that the Jews of that time took pride in schooling their children in The Law.

 At age five Jewish boys and girls would enter the Bet Sefer, (The House of the Book), where reading and writing was taught using the Torah. (First five books of the Bible)  They graduated to the Bet Talmud (The House of Learning), where they studied the rest of the Old Testament Books  The brightest pupils then graduated to the Bet Midrash (The House of Study). The vast majority who didn’t pass the entrance exam to this level of tutelage returned to their family business: carpenters, fishermen, or farmers.  Before entering study to become a rabbi, the students (Age 14-15) took a test administered by the Head Rabbi. If he thought they could make the cut, they went on to become a Rabbi. 7

 They followed the Head Rabbi until the age of 30. Then, normally, students petitioned to follow them as they went out to do the work of a Rabbi.  Jesus breaks tradition – by recruiting His own disciples!  Note: The disciples are in the fishing business - because they weren’t smart enough to make the cut it as a Rabbi!!!  So, at this moment, they hadn’t made the cut at school and - they weren’t making the cut as fishermen either!  So, he invited/called these young men who were failures by the world’s standards to – “Follow Him” and change the course of history!

The way forward is to stay focused on the calling!

1: Rediscovering Jesus 2: Reemphasizing REPENTANCE! 3: Realizing the Brevity of the Moment 4: Refocusing on Our Calling

5: Being Repurposing by The Master

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you “fishers of men”.

Note: Jesus does NOT say: Follow Me and …:

 I will make you “better men”  I will make you “more religious”  I will make you a “better husband”  I will make you a “better dad”  No! 8

 He said I will make you “Fishers of men!”  He repurposed them - through a three-year “Molding Process!”  For three years they were mentored by him - day and night!  He taught them what they needed to know!

ILLUSTRATION:

 10 year old boy Judo  Bad car accident  Had to amputate left arm  Continued Judo  Coach could see something in the boy he couldn’t see  Continued to coach him  Only taught him one move  Every day, of every week, or every month they practiced that one move  Despite the boy’s pleas – the coach made him continually practice the one move  Tournament  Advance to final match  Opponent was quicker and had both arms  Match was a stalemate – until the opponent had a brief loss of focus  The one-armed boy then executed the only move he knew  To everyone’s surprise, he won the match  When someone asked the coach about how the boy won he said:

 Two reasons:

1. He mastered the most difficult move in Judo 2. The only defense the opponent has – is to grab the left arm of his opponent!

His coach “Repurposed Him” HIS OPPONENT HAD NO DEFENSE! (Devil) 9

1: Rediscovering the Man 2: Reemphasizing the Message of REPENTANCE again! 3: Realize the Brevity of the Moment 4: Remember the Meeting That Led to Our Calling 5: Repurposing Through Jesus’ Molding Process

Close:

I close the sermon today with this thought: Jesus Doesn’t Measure Success Like Us!

 In the Bible we see where He spoke to 5,000, & 4,000 – He was often pressed by the crowd who came hear Him and see Him perform miracles  We would count that as success! (Crowds - Mega-church Pastor!)  But note, after His crucifixion, there was only a crowd of around 120 followers gathered in the Upper Room!  He had grown His church from 5,000 (Possibly 20,000) - to 120!  Yet, to Him, that was success!  Why?  Because He had “Radically” Trained/Mentored Them To Do the Mission He Had Given them - He knew the harvest would come  And we are meeting here today – because of what 120 men did!

*I ask you today: IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE RADICAL FOR JESUS LATELY?*

ILLUSTRATION: 10

Church, you’re looking for a way forward for Jesus in the revival! Here it is:

(Blank Sheet of Paper)

 The Contract of My Life With Jesus  Sign it, date it, have it NOTARIZED by the Holy Ghost, and Put it on Record in Heaven  Stating: Jesus, you fill it in - as You see fit  I surrender OWNERSHIP and CONTROL of my life to You!  I surrender any right I thought I had to CRITICIZE, CONDEMN, AND COMPLAIN - regarding my situations – and - anybody else’s!  Lord, if you can step out of the VASTENSS of NOTHING and create everything – by simply saying: LET IT BE – THEN:

o You can guide EVERY aspect of my life - Personal, family, and ministry included! o You can correct my pastor - when he’s wrong o You can control the deacons, the Music Director, and all the leaders in the church o You can guide the budget o You can both silence my critics – and make me less critical! o You can add to my life and remove from my life as you see fit! o You don’t need my opinion or approval! o ALL YOU NEED FROM ME – IS FOR ME TO HONOR THE CONTRACT I HAVE MADE WITH YOU – AS YOU SEE FIT TO WRITE IT! o YOU NEED ME TO GET BACK ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF LIVING A “RADICAL” CHRISTIAN LIFE FOR YOU! o YOU NEED ME “FOCUSED ON MINISTRY!” 11

You want to experience personal and corporate revival that shows you – the way forward?

Here you go:

1: Rediscover Jesus 2: Reemphasize REPENTANCE! 3: Realize the Brevity of the Moment 4: Refocus on Your Calling 5: And Allow the Master to Repurpose You

The Heart of Worship: (Lyrics)

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless your heart, I'll bring you more than a song.

For a song in itself is not what you have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear - You're looking into my heart!

And I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about you, It's all about you, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it When it's all about you, It's all about you, Jesus

Preached: 2-12-17 @ Mountville Baptist Church Mountville, Georgia