Part 11 - Jesus Calls Matthew

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 9:9-13

“9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

INTRODUCTION

Up to this point there were 6 Disciples with Jesus who had just come from the wedding in Galilee with Him.

Andrew, Simon Peter, John & James, Philip & Nathanael (or Bartholomew)

Today we see Jesus calling Matthew.

We know from clues in the Bible when and in what order Jesus called the first six Disciples, but were not exactly clear of the order of the last six.

I believe it was within just a few days of calling the first six.

Jesus was beginning His ministry and need those close to Him He could trust, and work with Him for His Father’s Kingdom, not against Him, as we will se as He goes through His ministry.

Matthew was sometimes called Levi, or Levi son of Alphaeus.

He was from Capernaum.

He wrote the Gospel of Matthew, and his name means “gift of God”.

Matthew was both patient, and hospitable.

What we learn from Matthew in the scriptures is that Jesus Christ is for everyone, even sinners and outcasts.

I. Matthew left all to follow Christ.

a. Matthew was gainfully employed, yet left all to follow Jesus.

b. The other disciples left their careers as well to follow Jesus, because they listened to the Holy Spirits direction.

c. We see that all the disciples to this point have put Jesus before money.

d. The love of money is the root of all evil.

1 Timothy 6:10-11

“10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

The love of money leads to all sorts of sin and falling away from the Lord.

Those who love money, the scripture says, wander away from the faith and pierce themselves with many griefs.

Do you have many griefs in your life?

Have you wandered from the faith and are you piercing yourself because of your love for money?

e. The love of money also ushers in pride, these are footholds for the devil to come in.

f. The devil preys on idle hands and minds.

g. Jesus must come before your money and you must extinguish your pride, or you can not have a relationship with Jesus.

h. The disciples didn’t think twice, but forsook everything to follow the Lord.

i. Are you willing to do so?

j. Matthew did.

Follow me – Jesus says

a. We don’t know what else was said, but the call of Jesus and the answer of the one called by the Holy Spirit.

b. The scripture says “and he arose” which means he immediately answered the call. Not tomorrow, not later when it’s more convenient, not in 20 years when I retire from work. Immediately!

II. Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to dinner at his house.

a. Although Jesus says follow me, we must accept His invitation and invite Him into our homes, and hearts.

b. Many came with Matthew to eat with Jesus and the Disciples.

c. Tax Collectors and sinners.

d. When the Pharisees saw this they asked the disciples, “Why does (your) teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

III. Jesus explains His ministry.

a. Jesus heard them questioning the disciples and answers them.

b. It’s not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick (sinners).

Jesus was saying, “It’s the sinners who need salvation”

“It’s those who are enslaved who need to be freed”

Jesus came for the sinners; He said “I came not to judge the lost, but to save them.”

This includes all sinners, not just the ones we feel are forgivable.

For it is God’s will that ALL are called to a knowledge of the truth, which is Jesus Christ.

c. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

There are those here today in this building, who think they belong to Jesus because they have sacrificed.

They are wrong.

There are those who believe they belong to Jesus because they have said a few “magic” words and now they are saved.

They are wrong.

Jesus says “I will have mercy, not sacrifice”

We must turn to the Lord, repent of our sin and forsake everything this world has to offer, or we are not worthy to follow the Lord.

Jesus Himself said;

Luke 9:62

“…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Do not begin to serve the Lord, and then turn from that service.

If you have been drawn away from your service to the Lord, either you have been redeemed and turned from the plow and need to return to the Lord,

Or you have not forsaken the things of this world to serve your Lord to begin with, and what you have done up to this point has been nothing but self-righteous sacrifice, and you are piercing yourself with sorrow and grief.

Deeds can not save you.

Works can not save you.

Your money and things of this world can not save you.

Sacrificing can not save you.

“magic words” can not save you.

Unless you repent of your sin, ask Jesus for forgiveness, and invite Him into your heart, make Jesus number one in your life,

Before money, and things, and your spouse, and your children and even yourself, you will not be saved.

There are those here today who think they are right with the Lord, and are not.

Their fruit shows this.

Jesus said, “Good fruit can not come from a bad tree, and Bad fruit can not come from a good tree.”

Are you producing Good fruit in your life?

Or is your life filled with strife, grief, sorrows, etc..

The scriptures say that from the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak.

This is how we know what is in our hearts.

What is your mouth speaking?

That is what is in your heart.

Is it good fruit? Or is it bad?

You want to know if your heart is right with the Lord, look at what is coming out of your heart and you will know.

Don’t waste another minute.

REPENT TODAY because the Kingdom of Heaven is here, now and the Judgment is about to follow.

When you stand before Jesus, you will not have your spouse with you, or your children, or your money, or the things of this world.

Judgment is your sentence, not a trial. The trial is here and now on earth.

When you stand before the Lord, it will be too late to repent.

It will be too late to seek the Lord. It will simply be too late.

Repent now, seek the Lord now, submit to Jesus today.

The Lord is quick to forgive those who seek Him, and restore those who come to Him.

ALTAR CALL

Part 10 - Jesus' First Miracle

SCRIPTURE READING

John 2:1 – 11

“1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”

INTRODUCTION

I. FIRST MIRACLE

A. WATER, WINE & WEDDING

Water = Holy Spirit

Cannot hold

God pours it out like oil upon us

Represented by Baptism in water

Continuously flowing

River of life

Wine = Fruit produced by Holy Spirit

Fruit of the vine

He is the tree, we are the branch

We produce fruit by Holy Spirit in us

Wine used as sign of covenant (marriage & communion)

Marriage = (on earth) symbolizes our marriage in heaven

Jesus the groom

Body of Christ (believers) the bride

Communion is the promise or betrothal

They drank wine to accept the covenant of marriage

Disciples drank wine to accept Jesus New Covenant

We take communion to show we accept His Covenant

B. THE PARTY WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY

Jesus’ mother Mary was already there

Jesus and the six disciples He had already chosen in the previous days were all invited to the wedding.

C. WINE OR GRAPE JUICE?

What does it matter? Why do we care?

To justify our behavior?

To “get away with something”?

To try to find contradiction in the Word?

To debate?

“They wanted wine”

Wine – G3631 “oinos” literal or figurative.

Used in Ephesians 5:18 as fermented

Used in 1 Timothy 5:23 as medicine for stomach

Unfermented wine (called sweet wine) “gleukos” G1098 was sweet because the extra sugar added had not fermented yet.

Strong Drink – “sikera” G4095 is liquor

This wine was fermented.

II. WOMAN, WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH YOU?

Wedding feasts usually last 7 days.

Coincides with our (the Body of Christ) union with our bridegroom Jesus at the rapture, where we will spend 7 years feasting in heaven while the tribulation occurs.

In seven days, it would be easy to run out of wine.

They wanted more.

A. SUBJECTION

Mary approaches Jesus with instruction.

Jesus reply’s “Woman…what do I have to do with you?”

We see from the language usage; “woman” which simply means “madam”, (not mother), that at this time, Jesus is no longer in the period of subjection to His mother.

It is believed that Jesus’ earthly father was dead by this time.

And He asks her, “what do I have to do with you?”

Or “Who are you to instruct me”.

B. JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus said ONLY what the Father in heaven said to Him.

Jesus did ONLY what the Holy Spirit instructed Him to do.

Who is Mary to instruct the Lord?

Jesus is telling her that the Holy Spirit instructs Him, and no one else.

Then He tells her that “the hour is not yet come”,

Or “It’s not time yet.”

Not that He wouldn’t perform a miracle, but that it was going to happen when the Holy Spirit lead Him, and no one else.

Jesus walked in the Spirit only.

C. THE LAST RECORDED WORDS OF MARY

Mary realizes she has overstepped her bounds.

So she submits to Jesus at His Word.

This is the last recorded words of Mary,

She called her servants and tells them, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Telling her servants to turn FROM her, to Jesus, because she realizes He should be the focus.

III. SIX POTS OF STONE

A. MAN

6 = the number of man (one less than 7 which means perfection or completion)

6 = how many disciples were with Jesus that day.

Jesus was the seventh (perfection & completion)

Pots were stone (baked clay)

We are the clay – He is the potter

B. WATER

The water is the Holy Spirit, we are the vessel

The Lord fills us (less than perfect) vessels with water, the Holy Spirit

C. FRUIT PRODUCED BY WORD OF JESUS

Then the Word of the Lord produces fruit through the Holy Spirit within us – the Wine

IV. AT JESUS’ WORD

At Jesus’ Word; Simon recognizes he is Peter

At Jesus’ Word; they cast nets into empty waters and pull up boat-loads

At Jesus’ Word; Nathaniel believed Jesus was the Messiah

At Jesus’ Word; water becomes wine

At Jesus’ Word, the Holy Spirit in us will produce fruit in our lives

A. SERVANTS OBEYED

We must be obedient.

When we obey the Word of the Lord, that is when He can work in us and through us.

Jesus said in Matthew 28, “Teach them to obey ALL that I command…”

B. FILLED TO THE BRIM

They obeyed and did all that was humanly possible, filling the vessels to the brim until no more water could fit in.

That is all we can do…allow the Holy Spirit to fill us until we can fit no more of Him in.

After we do that, THEN the Lord performs His miracle in us.

He changes us from the inside out, and causes us to produce fruit (the wine)

It is the Lord working in us, never us.

The only good that we can produce comes specifically from the Lord.

C. COMMANDED TO GIVE

The miracle happened, yet no one saw a thing…He simply waited for them to comply to His command to fill the vessels, when that was done, He simply told them to serve it.

Jesus is waiting for us to fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit.

When we comply, and do the only thing WE CAN DO, HE will do the rest in us and our lives.

CONCLUSION

JESUS CAN CHANGE THINGS

This, the first miracle of Jesus teaches us;

We are the clay and He is the potter

If we fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit, Jesus will transform our insides

Then Jesus will command us to serve the fruit of HIS labor to others

And they will say, “This is the best!”

Part 9 - Jesus Calls More Disciples

SCRIPTURE READING

John 1:43 - 51

“43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

INTRODUCTION

We see Jesus the day after He called Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John, heading with them towards Galilee to start His public Ministry.

Along the way, somewhere between the Jordan River and Galilee, the scriptures tell us that Jesus found Philip.

I. Jesus found Philip (the disciple, not the evangelist in Acts)

a) Jesus must have been looking for him to find him

1. The scriptures say that the Spirit of the Lord searched the world to find one righteous, and found Noah.

2. Proverbs 20:27 – “The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.”

3. We can not hide who we are from the Lord. We can not hide our hearts or our true intensions.

4. The scriptures say that only God knows the heart of man, and that is why He is the Judge who will Judge us righteously.

5. Philip well versed in the scriptures (John 1:45 & 46)

6. Also, later asked Jesus to show him the Father

b) Jesus is searching for those who are willing to follow Him

1. Philip recognized Jesus because of the Word of God

2. Jesus met the criteria of Messiah written in the Word of God by Moses and the Prophets

3. Philip was a man seeking the Truth, and the Father in heaven, which always lead us to Christ, because He is the ONLY way to the Father.

4. The Lord sought Moses, and David, as well as many prophets and Kings to serve Him.

II. Philip found Nathanael (Bartholomew)

a) A natural response to relationship with Christ is witnessing to others

1. When Andrew met Jesus, he ran to Simon to tell him

2. When Philip met Jesus, he ran to Nathanael to tell him

3. When we meet Jesus, we need to RUN to tell others

4. This is the basic instruction of the Lord to us in the Great Commission, GO – Teach them how to be saved – Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey all that I command.

b) Philip could not convince Nathanael

1. We do not have the ability to make anyone believe in the Lord

2. Only the Holy Spirit can convince a soul

3. Only when others meet Jesus are they saved

4. Most are skeptical, until the meet Christ face to face

5. Doubting (lack of faith) is not a sin, unbelief is

6. Jesus says, “Seek and you WILL find, knock and the door WILL be answered.”

Nathanael says – “Nazareth! Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Nazareth was looked down upon by Israelites, as the least of cities.

But God does the greatest with the least so that all know it was the power of God!

Such as with David.

c) Philip introduced Nathanael to Jesus

1. Philip doesn’t argue, simply tells Nathanael “Come and see”

2. We need to tell others, “Come and see for yourself!”

3. Introducing others to Christ

4. The Holy Spirit and presence of the Lord will convince their hearts

5. Simon doubted until he met Christ

6. Nathanael doubted until he met Christ

7. many doubt, until they meet Christ

Doubting is not sin, but unbelief is

III. Nathanael was skeptical even before he met Christ

a) Jesus knows of Nathanael through the Holy Spirit

1. Jesus meets Nathanael with “here is a man with no guile found in him.”

2. Nathanael was startled and says, “How do you know me?”

3. Jesus tells Nathanael where he was before he was called by Philip.

4. This was revealed to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. This Spiritual Gift from the Holy Spirit is called “Word of Knowledge”.

5. This “Knowledge” amazed Nathanael

b) Nathanael believes in Jesus because of this “Knowledge”

1. The Spiritual Gifts come from the Holy Spirit

2. They are for building and strengthening the Body of Christ

3. Here, the Gift of “Word of Knowledge” brought belief into the life of Nathanael

4. Thus building the Body of Christ

c) Jesus promises greater miracles than this

1. Jesus did greater things than this in His Ministry

2. Nathanael witnessed them

IV. I tell you the Truth; you shall see Heaven open…

1. Jesus says heaven will open, and they shall see the angles of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

2. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy by Jacob in Genesis 28:10 – 13

3. Jesus is the ladder in Jacobs dream

4. He alone is the way to heaven

CONCLUSION

Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Jacobs dream in Genesis 28:11 – 13

It is Jesus alone who can open heaven, and He alone is the only way to God the Father.

Have you met face to face with the Lord yet?

You can…Acknowledge your sinful to Him, ask for forgiveness, repent from sin, and the Lord is quick to forgive!

Your faith in Jesus and God’s grace given to you will save you from eternal hall.

If you know Jesus, are you running to tell others? You are supposed to!

You should be sharing the truth that will save others from judgment!

This week, go out of your way to share Jesus with someone! Invite a friend or neighbor to church next week.