Called To More

Transcript

Rob McFarlane: 0:58

Today we're looking at how Jesus has called us to more. He wants us to go higher and further in our pursuit of Him. Let's read Mark chapter 3, verse 13 to 15 from the English Standard Version of the Bible. And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, so they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach, and have authority to cast out demons. We see three things in these verses. To help us follow along, they'll all start with the letter C, and they are progressive. Called, communion, and commissioned. So number one, called. So we've seen there's the call to salvation, but there's also a call for us to go higher, to grow in our faith. He's calling us to spiritual growth and maturity. Listen to Philippians chapter 3, verse 14, where Paul says, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In Philippians chapter 3, he lists all his accomplishments, which were quite impressive. And then he says, I count these all as dung, as rubbish in comparison to knowing Jesus. And I want to go up higher. I want to pursue my relationship with him. I want to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus hasn't just called us to salvation, but he's also called us to spiritual maturity. And we should pursue our relationship with him. We should grow in our relationship with him. So the first of the three C's is call. We've been called to Jesus. The second C is communion. We are invited into communion with Jesus Christ. Now this word communion means fellowship or relationship. Listen to Mark chapter three and verse 14. It says, and he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, so they might be with him. God wants us to grow in our relationship with him, and this word communion means relationship or fellowship, and he wants us to be with him. More important than what we do for Jesus is who we are in our relationship with him. Effective ministry flows from our relationship with Jesus. I've heard it said that our ministry is simply an overflow of our relationship with God. True effectiveness in our mission is rooted in an intimate communion or relationship with Him. Let me share two verses with you. The first is Acts chapter 4 and verse 13. It says of Peter and John, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished and they recognized they had been with Jesus. When we spend time with Jesus, people will see a difference in our ministry and in our approach. Jesus will rub off on us, and the result will be boldness and courage and clarity. The second verse we see is John chapter 5 and verse 15, and this verse reminds us that fruitfulness is the direct result of abiding in Christ. John chapter 15, verse 5, Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. So we've seen so far that Jesus has called us to himself, and he wants to spend time with us. He wants us to be with him, he wants us to grow in our relationship with him. But there's more. We see the third C is the word commission. We have been commissioned by Jesus to represent Him and to go and minister to others. Let's look at Mark chapter 3, verse 14 and 15. It says, so that they might be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. Jesus commissioned his disciples to act on his behalf, empowered with his authority. He said, Go and preach with authority to cast out demons, to set people free. And in the same way, Jesus has sent us or commissioned us to act on his behalf. We have been empowered with his authority to go and make disciples of the nations. Listen to Matthew 28, verse 19 and 20. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. Another verse which is so encouraging and so powerful is Luke chapter 10, verse 19. Jesus said, Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. The enemy has power, power to deceive, power to lie, power to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus said he had come to destroy the work of the enemy, and here he says that he's given us authority over all the power of the enemy. Authority always beats power. Authority is a powerful, powerful force, particularly when we recognize it's backed up by Jesus, who said he would never leave us or forsake us, and he will be with us to the very end of the age. It's interesting that verse, Luke chapter 10, verse 19, has the Greek triple negative. In other words, it's saying, nothing, no not anything, ever will hurt you. We have a wonderful Savior, and He has commissioned us to go. Let's summarize, but before we do that, let's read the main text again. Mark chapter 3, verse 13 to 15. And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him, and he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, so they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons. Today we've seen we've been called to him and to a higher purpose. Secondly, we've seen communion with Jesus is part of his invitation, and this communion is wonderful, and it is what empowers our ministry. And finally, we see Jesus has commissioned us. Let's pray. And let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what He wants us to do as a result of what we've heard in today's sermon. Let's pray. Father God, thank you that you have invited us to come to you. You've called us to come up to spend time with you. And we know that involves salvation. We know that involves growing spiritually, but it's also a call into communion or relationship. That you want us to be with you and you want to be with us. Help us to take advantage of the times that we have to spend time with you. Walking and talking with you, sitting quietly, reading your word, praying and listening, or times of worship. And thank you that you would be with us. You promised you would be with us to the very end of the age. And thank you that you have sent us out, you've commissioned us with authority to proclaim the good news, to pray for the sick, and to see people set free. Holy Spirit, we ask that you use each of us to fulfill your purpose and plan, that we would be fruitful in our relationship with you and our ministry for you. We ask these things in Jesus' precious name. Speak to us now, Holy Spirit, and show us what you want us to do as a result of what we've heard in today's sermon. We ask this now in Jesus' name. Amen.