Power Point - October 26, 2005

October 26, 2005

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Then immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little father from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

--Mark 1:15-20

We’re living in a qualification conscious society. You have to qualify for admission into college. You have to qualify to get a credit card. You must qualify to get a mortgage on your home. You must qualify for a job. So, I’m wondering…what qualifies one to become a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ?

The good news is that God chooses unqualified people to follow Him. He moves into those individuals lives and transforms them by His saving grace and power. He then forms and fashions them into useful instruments in His hands. God uses ordinary people.

Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John, four ordinary fishermen, were the first to drop everything and follow Christ. We often think of them as “Super Saints,” when in fact they began in modest and humble circumstances. They were plain ordinary guys ingrained with the same struggles and strengths that you and I face today.

Simon Peter was emotional, swaying here and there, but Jesus saw in him the stability of faith; Andrew was humble, quiet, and totally different from his bodacious brother (Simon Peter), but Jesus saw a man that could touch and transform the lives of others; both James and John were violent and even insolent in their attitudes, but they were changed by Christ and gave their lives as sacrifices unto Him.

If you make yourself completely available to Jesus Christ as these fishermen did, then you will certainly be used by Him. Abandon all else to follow Christ today. It is simple faith and obedience to God that will unlock your potential for Him to use. Pray that He would see the possibilities in you and use you to the fullest.

IT’S NOT WHO YOU ARE THAT COUNTS; IT’S WHO YOU ARE WILLING TO BECOME FOR CHRIST JESUS THAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE HIS SERVANT.