The Upward Call
Gtcotr/ss111906
Key Scriptures: Philippians 3 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Christianity is a journey that begins when we say yes to Jesus.
Many people love Jesus but feel that their past somehow excludes them from being used in His service.
We will be going to the book of Luke in a moment, Chapter 5.
In 63BC, a Roman military commander and political leader named Pompey, allied with Gaius Julius Caesar, laid siege to the
It became the practice of
One of the most important and powerful positions in the land was that of a tax collector. At certain established sites of commerce and trade, customs receipt houses were set up and operated by Jews who were often unscrupulous in their practice of assessing taxes.
The common Jew held great contempt for the tax gatherers and viewed them as traitors to both their country and their God. The King James New Testament term, Publican, refers to the person who ‘farmed’ the taxes from the Jews and then paid the Roman government a certain percentage of what was collected. These Publicans hired tax collectors from the local population so as to not be tricked or deceived by the local inhabitants.
These often corrupt tax gatherers were the most hated of all. They were considered to be sinners of the worst sort.
It was about the year 26AD or thereabouts, when Jesus began His public ministry. In Luke 4 we see Jesus preaching in His home church in
Continuing in Luke 5 Jesus is teaching in a filled house in
Luke 5: 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!" (NKJV)
They were shocked alright, but not as shocked as they were about to be. Look at what Jesus does next!
Luke 5 KKJV
27 ¶ After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me."
28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
31 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32 "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
This Levi is none other than Matthew, Apostle of the Lamb, and writer of the first book of the New Testament.
What must it have felt like for Jesus to walk by and, knowing who and what Matthew was, to nonetheless look beyond his sinful past and offer him a God-filled future.
Jesus called Matthew to become a disciple.
Jesus is calling some of you today.
What can you expect if you answer the call?
What happens after you say yes to Jesus?
It may not mean a job change as it did in Matthew’s life, but it will certainly mean a life change.
Here is what you can expect if you want to be a follower of Christ.
1. A Calling
* Called to follow
Matthew 16:24 ¶ Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
2. An Equipping
* Equipped to lead – it’s basic discipleship
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (NIV)
3. A Sending
* Sent to serve
Matthew 20:26 … but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
Matthew 25 NKJV
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. …
Christians are simply:
Called to follow
Equipped to lead
Sent to serve
Without regard to our past, Jesus wants to use each one of us.
He has a special place just for you. His plan includes you.
Won’t you answer the upward call. Say yes to Christianity. Jesus is calling. Let Him know you will follow Him today.
