Luke 5:1-11

Chosen To Be Obedient

February 4, 2007

(Part 6 of  2007 series on “Who are we?”)

 

 For the past 5 weeks we have been focusing on different aspects of 2 questions that are important for us as individual Christians – and as a Church.

 

The first is:

 

Who are we?

Who are we as Christians?

Who are we as a Church?

 

Who are we?

 

And the second is:

 

What are we supposed to be doing?

What are we supposed to be doing as Christians?

What are we supposed to be doing as a Church?  

 

Who are we?

What are we supposed to be doing?

 

Who are we as individual Christians?

What are we supposed to be doing as individual Christians?

Who are we as a Church?

What are we supposed to be doing as a Church? 

 

We continue looking at answers to these questions today.

 

We’ve already noted that we can’t attempt to truly answer these questions by gathering our opinions of who we are as Christians – or who we are as a Church –

or what we should be doing as Christians – or what we should be doing as a Church. 

It’s not really our opinions that matter here – what matters is what God calls us to be – and what God calls us to be doing.

 

We have to start – not within ourselves – but with God.

 

So – here are the important questions for us to consider —

 

Who does God think we are?

What does God call us to be doing – as individuals and as a Church?

 

 To really find answers to these questions we have to look to God – to God’s word – and see what God’s idea is.

 

We’ve been using the passage in 1 Peter 2:9 as a “springboard” — so to speak — to look at various aspects of who we are as God’s people – how we can be the Christians – the people – and the Church God has called us to be – and how we can do what God calls us to be doing.

 

In 1 Peter 2:9 we read: 

 

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

 

            As we have looked at this passage, we have seen that it gives us an answer to the questions:

 

Who are we?

and

What are we supposed to be doing?

 

Who are we?

 

We are the glorious people of God – Peter writes –

 

What are we to be doing?

 

Peter writes that we have been chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

So — we are:

 The glorious people of God –

Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

 

That’s who we are – and what we are to be doing.

 

But – what does that mean?

 

It’s the specifics of what that might mean that we’ve been considering for the past 5 weeks and will continue to consider for at least 2 more weeks.

 

What does it means that we are:

The glorious people of God –

Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

 

So far we have:

Looked at the first chapter of John – and seen that it means that we are chosen to walk in the light of God – the light of Christ – instead of the darkness of sin.

Looked at Luke’s version of the Baptism of Jesus – and seen that it means that we are chosen for ministry.

Looked at John 2:1-11 – the story of the miracle at the Cana wedding feast – and seen that it means that we are chosen to be the best. 

Looked at Nehemiah 8 – where the Law of God is read as it is placed in the rebuilt and rededicated Temple following the Babylonian captivity – and seen that it means we are chosen to worship.

And looked at Jeremiah 12 – and seen that it means we are chosen to be triumphant.

 

Chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best.

Chosen to worship.

Chosen to be triumphant. 

 

Five things that being the glorious people of God – chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — can mean for us.

 

Today I want us to add a sixth thing to this list as we consider Luke’s version of the calling of Peter, James and John – Luke 5:1-11 – where I believe we will see that we are chosen to be obedient.

 

Read Scripture

 

I heard a story on NPR the other day about ice fishing in Minnesota.  This pricked my interest – for as some of you know – I enjoy fishing .

 

            There was a time in my life when there was hardly anything that I would have rather done than fishing. 

 

            I still enjoy it – and am already making plans to go fishing soon. 

 

I’ve bought plenty of lure in my day – and the trees around the lakes and ponds where I have fished still have many of them!  Some of them were “guaranteed” to catch by a “genetic breakthrough” that “makes fish want to bite — even if they’re not hungry”  – or so the TV ad says.  I really couldn’t see that it was that much better than any other lure — but it was fun to think that it was.

 

            Yea – I enjoy fishing.

 

           

I’ve fished in a lot of places – from many of the lakes in South Carolina when I was younger to many of the North Carolina lakes and ponds to the Atlantic ocean.  (I’m not too sure about deep – sea fishing, though).

 

But ice fishing in Minnesota?

That’s one I have never tried.

 

But –according to the story I heard on NPR — it is no longer done sitting on an iced over lake with your pole and your line down a hole you have cut in the ice – shivering and catching your death of cold – if not catching fish. Just like fishing boats have gone high tech – so have what they call “fishing shacks” – small structures they put on the iced over lake to live in while ice fishing.  Some are equipped with kitchens – beds – TVs with satellite dish – computer hook ups – generators to run all the electrical things – and of course heat.  The “fishing shack” business is booming! I’m not sure all these things help you catch fish – but at least they help keep you comfortable while you are trying. 

 

I might have to try ice fishing some day.

 

I do enjoy fishing – but you know – I’ve learned that “fishing for men’ is much more fulfilling than fishing for fish!   

 

In our scripture passage for today, Peter, James, John, and others were doing what I love to do — they were fishing.  For them, however, it wasn’t a recreational activity — it was their job — so you can probably imagine their discouragement that day when they came back from a night of fishing — but had caught no fish!  That would be like having a place of business but selling nothing.  It would have been very discouraging.  Too many nights like that and it would be disastrous!

 

            As they were washing their nets, probably complaining about the fact that they had not caught any fish, they noticed a crowd gathering along the shore.  Before long there were so many people that there wasn’t room to stand.  They had never seen so many people!

 

            A man they had never seen before came up to them and asked if He could use their boat.  They figured it would be OK — the fishing was so bad that they surely weren’t going to need it that day.  They got in their boat — and — with this stranger — put out into the lake.  As they got just a bit off shore, the stranger got them to stop — and began teaching the crowds that had gathered on shore.  Peter and his partners had nothing to do but sit in their boat and listen.

 

            What marvelous things they heard!

            What a marvelous message this man brought!

            They had never heard such words — or heard them taught with such love and grace — and such authority. 

            It was almost as if God Himself were sitting in their boat — teaching them. 

           

            He spoke about God’s love.

            He spoke about repenting of your sins and living in God’s ways. 

            He spoke about letting God change your life — and the life that God wants to bless you with.

 

            “The kingdom of God is among you!

Repent — and believe the gospel!”  He said.

 

            Who was He?

            Peter and his partners asked.

            Who can talk about God with such authority — and proclaim the kingdom of God with such authority?

           

            It was almost as if it was God Himself!

 

            Peter and his partners remembered stories of how the Messiah

would come and bring God’s kingdom into the world. 

           

            This couldn’t be the Messiah — could it?

           

            Or — could it?

           

            They were really not sure.

           

            After He finished talking to the crowds, the stranger looked at them — and told them to go out and let down their nets for a catch.

 

            Peter began to argue that they had tried all night and had no luck at all — but then He thought about these words he had just heard — and said —

 

            “If you say so …”

           

            He wasn’t sure — but it was worth a try.  

           

            Something told him that there was certainly something different about this man. 

           

            They went farther out — and lowered their nets.

           

            When they did — there were fish!

 

            Fish!

 

            And not just some — but enough to tear their nets!

 

            Fish!

 

            No one had caught this many fish before!

            It was unheard of!

 

            They signaled for their partners to come and help — and when they got there — they struggled to bring the nets in — and dumped so many fish into the boats that the boats began to sink.

           

            What a fish story that was!

           

            Peter sensed that something was very different about this man.

           

            No one could speak the things He spoke.

            No one could do the things He did.

            He must be the Messiah.

            He must be the Lord!

 

            And — He must get away from Peter — or Peter must get away from Him.

           

            Peter knew himself better than anyone else — or so he thought.

            Peter knew what kind of a person he was.

            Peter knew how wrong he had been all his life.

            Peter knew what a rough character he had been.

            Peter knew that he had no business being in the same boat with the Lord.

 

            “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

 

Peter begged.

 

            But — this stranger — the Lord — said something very unusual — He said:

 

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

 

            What else could Peter do?

            When they got to the shore — Peter – James – and John left everything — even the remarkable catch of fish — and followed the Messiah. 

 

            They were no longer going to catch fish — but people.  They were going to tell everyone they saw about the marvelous truths Jesus — the Messiah — was saying — the marvelous things He was doing — and the marvelous ways He changed their lives.

           

            They probably did not understand everything that it meant to do so – but they were ready to try to fish — but now for people.

 

            Who are we?

            What are we to be doing?

 

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

 

            Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:9. 

 

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Part of what that means is that we are chosen for ministry

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to be the best

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to worship

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to be triumphant

And – part of what that means is that we are chosen to be obedient

 

Chosen To Be Obedient

Chosen To Be Obedient

 

The United States Marine Corps has the motto:

“We are looking for a few good men.”

 Today they add, “…and women.”

When Jesus started his ministry, he too was looking for a few good people who would follow Him – who would be obedient to Him – who would learn from Him – who would do His work in the world. 

When Jesus called the first disciples from the lakeshore, He chose them from the common, ordinary people of the day. These men were not exceptional. They were just like each one of us. But Jesus inspired them to see themselves in a new light, and to give themselves to new possibilities.

They heard Jesus speak and experienced a miraculous catch of fish – Peter begged Jesus to leave – he was too sinful to be around Jesus – but Jesus issued them a challenge:

leave your nets and to become my followers

stop fishing for fish – start fishing for people

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

 

We are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

We are chosen for ministry

We are chosen to be the best

We are chosen to worship          

We are chosen to be triumphant

We are chosen to be obedient

Jesus’ call to be obedient to Him can still be heard today. 

There are times that some of us do not respond because we do not know how, but more often than not, we don’t follow Him – we aren’t obedient to Him — because we don’t know why we should follow.  We are not sure why we should be obedient. Our failure to be obedient is not based on our failure to understand what it means to be called – or chosen – by God — but it is based on the fact that if we realize that if we respond it will mean sacrifice and hardship – and we wonder why we should do this.

Too many times, when we hear Jesus’ call to give up everything — that we are to deny ourselves, take up a cross and follow Him, instead of being obedient we ask

Why?

Why should I?

Why should I deprive myself, give up other things I might be enjoying — get involved in the things of Jesus – the things of Church – which might require of me more that I would like to give – and to do more that what I would like to do?

Well – we should get involved in the things of Jesus – the things of the Church – because we are chosen to do so.

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

 

We are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

We are chosen for ministry

We are chosen to be the best

We are chosen to worship          

We are chosen to be triumphant

We are chosen to be obedient

Chosen to be obedient.

If we are serious about following Jesus, we can’t ask

“What is in it for me?”

or

“What will I get out of it?”

The life Jesus calls us to live is not a life of selfish existence. The purpose for life is to give, not to receive. Over and over again, in different ways, Jesus reinforces this point of view. As he said,

“Whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a person, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a person give in return for his life?” (Mark 8:35-37).

If we become followers of Christ believing that we will be given peace of mind from all problems and cares, we are misguided. Jesus said very clearly that He came not to bring peace but to bring a sword. He calls us to join him in waging a war against the sins that exist in the world. His way of life is total warfare against all that is wrong, destructive, and perverse.

If we become followers of Christ believing that we will be given all the material things we will every need,  we are misguided. Bearing a cross does not mean ever-enlarging bank accounts and acquisitions. He clearly points this out when he was asked by James and John to sit on his right and left side in the kingdom. This was not granted by Jesus. Following him is not favoritism but sacrifice.

We are not chosen to have peace of mind – we are not chosen to be instantly successful – but

We are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

We are chosen for ministry

We are chosen to be the best

We are chosen to worship          

We are chosen to be triumphant

We are chosen to be obedient

 

Chosen To Be Obedient

 

But – why should we be obedient to the call of Christ to give up all and follow Him?

What good reason is there that would make us be willing to be obedient to Jesus – to accept a cross – to make sacrifices — or to walk the second mile?

One answer is that, in Jesus, we find absolute truth. No one else ever lived and taught about God in the same way Jesus did. His revelation is unique. Time and time again his love and forgiveness are profound. God does not love as humans love. God does not forgive as humans forgive. God does not give as humans give. God is consistently and constantly the source of all love, forgiveness, and giving.

Being obedient to Jesus means that we experience these truths each day. Jesus is not one thing at one moment and another the next moment. He is reliable. Fortunately for us, His ways are not our ways.

Jesus saw in the humble fishermen on the shore of the Sea of Galilee the  possibility of greatness. He chose them to follow Him – and chose them to be obedient to Him.  And they responded in obedience.

Jesus sees in us the ability to do great things for Him – and chooses us to be obedient to Him. 

Jesus sees in you the ability to do great things for Him – and chooses you to be obedient to Him. 

Do you respond in obedience?

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

You are one of the glorious people of God – chosen to show the world the glories of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

You are chosen for ministry

You are chosen to be the best

You are chosen to worship          

You are chosen to be triumphant

You are chosen to be obedient

Robert Schuller tells the story of a senior pastor of a large church who had a negative self-image. Discouraged, he went into the sanctuary alone, got down on his knees at the altar rail in humility, and prayed, “O God, I know I am nothing. I am just nothing.” Just then the assistant pastor stepped into the sanctuary and overheard the senior pastor’s prayer. So he came alongside, and kneeling, also prayed “O God, I am nothing. I am just nothing.” As this was going on, the janitor entered the sanctuary and, being profoundly moved by the prayers of the two ministers, knelt beside the assistant and joined in their prayer, saying, “O God, I also know I am nothing. I am just nothing.” The senior pastor then realized that he needed to humbly, obediently, follow God – even if he did not feel he was worthy or had the gifts to do so.  Obviously God had other ideas! 

Christ called the humble fishermen — and he calls us — because He knows that love and redeeming grace could produce greatness. 

Obediently follow Christ – and great things will come for Christ.

So – what might this obedience to Christ mean for us?

It can take on many forms – but all of them involve doing what Christ calls you to do. For Peter – James – and John it meant being available for Christ – listening to Christ – and obeying Christ.

It still means being available – listening – and obeying. 

Last year Sally and I heard Christ call us to move from a place where we had lived – worked – and ministered for 23 years – and by last June it was clear to us that Christ was calling us to come here.  After the call was confirmed by Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry and the congregation, we moved here.  I can’t say we “dropped everything” as Peter, James, and John did – we are still dealing with unpacking all the things we brought with us – but we made the move – believing that God would bless us. And you know what? He did. And still is.  And I am confident will continue to do so. 

When Christ calls, be obedient, and you will be blessed.  

Another thing being obedient to Christ can mean is being willing to take every opportunity you have to stand up for Christ and share Christ with others. I hope you have read or seen on television – or maybe on my blog – about how Tony Dungy – coach of the Indianapolis Colts – and Lovie Smith – coach of the Chicago Bears – the two coaches who will be facing each other on opposite sidelines as their teams compete in the Super Bowl this evening – have used the media attention they have received for the past few weeks as an opportunity to talk about their faith in Christ and what it has meant to them.  They have made a commitment to use their fame to talk about their faith.

Maybe you won’t ever have a moment of fame as large as Lovie Smith’s or Tony Dungy’s – but we all have numerous opportunities to talk about our faith in Christ.  When your moments come – don’t pass them by – be obedient to Christ – share Christ – and you will be blessed.

Another thing being obedient to Christ can mean is taking action to help someone. 

Almost 20 years ago the young people at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia – a church that at that time was not much larger than Hopewell – saw that there were people in Columbia who were hungry – and decided that they could help do something about that.  On Super Bowl Sunday they took up an offering and sent it to a local agency that was giving food to the hungry. From the youth at one church deciding to be obedient to Christ’s call to share with others has come the Souper Bowl of Caring offering that we will take up today – and that churches throughout the world will collect.  Our offering will go to the House of Hope Ministry that gives homeless people in Florence a place to stay and helps them get back on their feet.

That’s part of what it means to be obedient to the call of Christ.

The examples can go on and on – and are probably as different as each of us – for Christ calls us to be obedient and to use out particular gifts and abilities in every way we can to serve Him.

Be available for Christ.

Listen to Christ. 

Obey Christ.

We are chosen to be obedient to the call of Christ to give all – and follow.

God in Christ is still calling out to you:

“Follow me.”

May our response be like that of the Prophet Isaiah, who was in the Temple at Jerusalem when he heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then Isaiah cried out, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

May our response be like that of Peter, James, and John – who obediently dropped everything and followed Jesus.

Who are we – and what are we to be doing?

 

you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

 

            Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:9. 

 

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Part of what that means is that we are chosen for ministry

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to be the best

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to worship

Part of what that means is that we are chosen to be triumphant

And – part of what that means is that we are chosen to be obedient

 

Chosen to be obedient.

 

Amen.