Sermon outlines.

 

Bramley Church of the Nazarene. 7^th Feb 2010

 

Prayer:

 

Matthew:  Exploiter to Encourager.

 

Hymn: Be still for the presence of the Lord.

 

I’m going to keep to the encouragement theme because I think we should encourage all:

In the Christian Faith-Fellow Christians-non-Christians (outreach) The young should be taught sound doctrine.

Personal i.e. Even as a new Christian we are a standing, walking talking living witness to the Lord.

 

Scripture: Mark: 2 13-15

 

13  And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

14  And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

15  And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

 

John: 12 26

 

26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

 

1)       Taxman & sinner. (Dispised)

 

He was a tax collector for the Roman’s, the most powerful nation on Earth at that time.

He would have had a good life and fairly wealthy, everything this world could offer.

He lived and worked in Capernaum on the shores of Lake Galilee, a striving bustling area at the time.

He would have earned good money and held parties at his house to entertain his fellow tax collectors and probably roman officials. Most of them were there only for the free food & wine.

But he would have been despised by fellow Jewish people and thought of as a robber and called a sinner. He was robbing the Romans too. Robbing as much money from all to become rich.

Tax collectors were so distrusted at that time that they could not bear witness in a court of law.

 

 

Matthew.

 

 

He was sat at his booth doing his work, when Jesus passed by and simply said: ‘follow me’ he dropped what he was doing and followed Jesus.

Interesting is that last talk I mentioned Barnabas: set apart Barnabas for the work….

We don’t know how Barnabas came to the Lord, but we do with Matthew.

It shows that whether we are drawn, or in Matthews case, we are asked/led, and want to serve God.

When Jesus simple said ‘follow me’ it must have gone straight to his very soul, to his heart and mind. Really bringing instant peace, mind blowing change. Something miraculous happens, something so personal it shook him to change his ways instantly. (The Lord had set him apart for His work)

 

He went from serving the Romans, worshipping money, to serving & worshipping the Lord.

 

Follow me…I have always liked the term ‘the good shepherd’ because like sheep we are lost and wandering, until Jesus.

 

Hymn: The Lords my Shepherd.

 

Matthew: now:

 

      2) Disciple & Loved

 

He held a party that night, a celebration for his friends and invited Jesus. Hoping that his friends would be saved too.

He had taken Jesus to his Heart, and then took Jesus home.

A)     He wanted to share the word

B)      Prepared to give up his wealth

C)      Give up his old life. Your old life to a new life, giving things up for God. Once you get that in your head, then you can become an effective Christian, an encouraging Christian. Don’t you think then you start working for the Lord?

D)      He was prepared, as Jesus required giving up his old life and ways completely.

E)       It looked like going from wealth to poverty! How wrong.

It must have shaken his friends, & the Romans giving up what he had.

Then when he held the party, the Pharisees were shocked to see Jesus talking to the tax collectors, but Jesus knew they were self-righteous and thought they didn’t need repentance.

He was despised by many but now loved by Jesus, and also now had genuine friends in the fellowship with other Christians.

Look at the fishermen; he was taxing them and now friends with them.

Matthews’s main theme was to proclaim Jesus as the messiah that they had been waiting for by telling Jesus’ lineage complete and reading from the Old Testament.

He spoke to the Jewish people in their language and how Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets.

Fulfilled is frequently used to indicate that the Old Testament prophesies were fulfilled in Christ.

This was Matthews’s primary purpose to preach that Jesus was the messiah.

 

Most could not see that Jesus was the messiah they wanted and expected a king to rule, they wanted someone on their terms, desires and what they wanted and expected him to do.

How often do we do this today, and not the desires of Gods heart instead of our own?

 

They were expecting a King, a mighty warrior, they got a King, the King of Kings, and he certainly was mighty, the almighty God, they wanted someone to free them from Roman oppression. They wanted someone on their terms and not Gods and most just could not see that. Jesus was coming to save them, each and every one of them personally, but not as they imagined.

 

 

Matthew would never have realised but Jesus was going to use his skills for Gods purpose.

Jesus would have known that with Matthew doing the job he had, that he could record the Lords prayer, Sermon on the Mount etc. (The sermon on the mount: complete version only in Matthew.)

Look at Matthew, what an encouragement he must have been to Jesus, to his fellow disciples and to all the people he came into contact with. He must have left an impression when telling his testimony. Elaborate this, what you had a good job, plenty of money Etc.

We know he must have been confident and very positive to do what he did.

To totally trust Jesus with his life. That’s what he was doing, giving his life to Jesus. They were no state benefit then!

He must have been filled with the Spirit of God, of truth and of Love.

 

 

Matthew.

 

      3) Lessons from his life. His life as an encouragement to us all.

 

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11).

 

Jeremiah 24:6 I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not
uproot them. ... seeds that grow in proper ground…verse in bible.

This is Gods people, we are Gods people and he will never leave us.

 

He will not have realised at first what he was giving up, didn’t realise what he had found straight away.

But knew it was right.

Jesus wanted to get across, its not what your leaving behind, but what you’ve got now & forever.

We don’t have to give up our jobs, but we must give up our lives and our time.

We must ask?

Acts 9:6 Lord what shalt thou do with me?

 

Every one of us as skills/gifts, some know it, some don’t but God does! When Jesus called you were you prepared to drop everything and follow him? Are you now, its not to late! (So lets be hard working Christians)

Jesus used Matthew to show all at the feast when they asked why he ate and drank with tax collectors, but he said the well don’t need a physician but the sinners to repentance.

 

Have you asked Jesus to use you, for Jesus to use your skills, to show you your skills?

Jesus has called you for a reason, a plan an amazing complex plan.

We can never really understand this plan? But God can and does to use everyone in every situation & every circumstance.

But we have to be like Matthew, to put our trust in Jesus, to realise it’s all worked out and in His hands.

 

Are we like her, like Matthew?

Positive, responsive & prepared to be bold, God gives us countless opportunities and its up to us to see, hear and act.

The bible has all the answers, I know every answer to every question is there?

The answers to the world’s problems are there.

Gods plan is to use us, like Matthew, his plan is to shape us into productive, positive, happy, joyful Christians, hard working and bible believing.

 

There’s another thing here too, Matthew would have taxed the fishermen who Jesus had also called as disciples, what would they think? But they joined together in the same cause, sinners of all kinds, and people of all different walks of life working together for Christ. People together, now there’s a thought for today.

What this tells me is that their past thoughts and his past are forgotten, their slates wiped clean. Yes they must have doubted at first, as did the Christians to Paul, but like Paul he would have been encouraging the good news of Jesus, and that breaks down all boundaries and barriers.

 

 

Matthew.

His whole life was and is an encouragement to all, because he believed in the power of Jesus.

He was a sinner and became loved.

Matthew must have been weighed down with guilt, but all that disappeared in an instant.

Yes we have looked at some reasons why the Lord spoke directly to him, that he could talk to the Jews in their language. We could all read into this and see something different between us here today.

Theologians have debated this for years, 2000 in fact and will carry on too.

I’ve looked at a few things myself, but do you think it’s that complicated? Could be Jesus’ plan for our lives if to complex to even start to unravel the mystery in our lives.

Or could it be a bit simpler than that, that when Jesus simply said ‘follow me’ He just wanted what’s best for Matthew, wanted something good to happen. When you became saved you felt good, so good in fact that as Matthew did you wanted to tell others about this good news, this good that had happened in your life, you wanted the best for them, and that’s what Jesus wanted for Matthew. The best for him.

It’s not just the power of Jesus, but the Love of Jesus.

 

There is no substitute for preaching, for sharing the gospel and meeting face to face with people. Talking about God and what he can do in your life and other people’s lives.

We have to be ready, ready to talk, teach and pray constantly.

 

Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17

 

13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

Hymn (Bind us together Lord)

 

The Lords Prayer.

 

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