Mark 1:14-20, After John
was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and
saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent,
and believe in the good news.”
This passage of scripture is so relatable to what is happening
today. Let me recap the times in which
we live in. Since November 2019 we have
had Covid 19, 97 million have been infected, 2 million deaths.
In the US 25 million, 405,000,Canada
750K, 20K. 280 Trillion dollars, Canada
1.2 trillion. We have had 5 months of lockdown, erosion of personal liberties
and freedoms. Churches cannot meet in
most countries, states and provinces.
There has been a rise of evil in social, cultural and economic realm and
a loss of freedom of speech, political correctness and immoral behavior by all
aspects of society. That which is wrong
has become right and that which is right has become wrong. In the church we see apathy, procrastination,
lethargy and apostasy. Young people are
leaving the churches in droves. Pastors
and churches are embracing lifestyle choices that the bible clearly states is
wrong by the thousands. Now this message
is not commentary of social change it is about how we need the message that
Jesus brought in His day and how it is so important for today.
1. Mark tells us that after John
was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee.
Galilee was His main based of operations. He did travel three times to Jerusalem for
the Passover. That is how we know Jesus
had a three year ministry. Yet he spent
the majority of His time in Galilee.
Jesus proclaimed the good news of God.
There are four things in the first moments of this message that we will
look at today that is the core of Jesus message and why it is God news.
a. The time is fulfilled. The
Messiah had now appeared. He was
standing and working in their midst.
They now had a full picture of who God is and what He is really
like. Jesus said, if you see the Father
you see me and if you see me you see the Father.” Everything Jesus, taught and lived was who
God was. There was no more waiting for
the Messiah. Jesus would fulfill all of
the 300 promises of the Old Testament. In
the same way the time of the second coming is upon us. Most if not all of the signs given in Matt
24, and other scriptures are being fulfilled right now. Never in my decades of life and serving the
Lord do, I feel say an urgency to tell
others about Christ as I do now. One
phrase that dominates my prayer life is this, “We are out of time.” Is your oil lamp full, have you trimmed your
oil lamp wick?” The Bridegroom is on the
way. This time period is about to
close. Our world is being and has been
prepared for the coming of the antichrist.
We have tracing apps, GPS technology, new reality slogans, world reset
slogans, one world government education.
In Canada we are basically a cashless society 95% of Canadians use debit
cards. There is chip technology. People are now spying and reporting their
neighbors. Traditional policing has
changed. The Bible taught us this and
now we are there. Hold on church the
time is fulfilled. Any moment Jesus can
come back and most are not ready.
b. The Kingdom of heaven has come near.
We know the Kingdom of God has been fulfilled because we have in our
hearts the righteousness, peace and joy it brings. The Kingdom of heaven is the fulfillment of
God’s realm on earth is near. We are
moments away from the tribulation and after that, 7 years away from the 1000
year reign of Christ on the earth. It is
near church. Jesus was proclaiming it
then and this message has a relevance for us now. Right now the Holy Spirit is moving people to
pray, to preach and the live holy lives.
Listen to this 70% of all new believers in Iran are under 30, in Asia
alone 50,000 people are coming to Christ every day. In China there are 260 million
Christians. It is growing by about 30K a
day. I know that God is right now
getting ready to bring a revival to Canada and many will miss it because we are
not ready. Get ready, think, talk and
live ready. I will say it again, there
is no more time. The Spirit and the
bride says, come just like they did in Revelation 22.
c. Jesus then said repent. The
clergy, church leaders and church need to repent. The disenfranchised, back slider and the
lost. 2 Chron 7:14, is so applicable
right now. Repentance means to feel or
express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin. To change your mind. Do a 180.
John told the people to live in such a way that people will know you are
righteous. Godly sorrow is being truly
sorry for what you did. Worldly sorrow
is being sorry that you got caught and many in the church are expressing this
more than godly sorrow. Jesus was not
just saying this He was and is expecting it.
The day of two face Christianity is over. Be a Christian or stop pretending. Jesus is looking for a church without spot or
wrinkle. Brides wear white not off white
or shades of grey. James says show your
faith by what you do. Walk the walk.
d. Jesus said, believe the good news.
Trust the Lord, walk in faith, be an overcomer, victor and conqueror,
live an eternal and abundant life.
Receive and live in all the benefits of heaven. Live in health and prosperity even as your
soul prospers. You have armor, weapons
and power over the enemy. Our enemy has
been defeated. You have prayer, the word
and the Holy Spirit. You have victory in
the blood the word and the name of Jesus.
All the benefits and help from heaven is yours just ask. This is good news. You are going to heaven, death, hell and the
grave have been defeated. This is
fantastic, wonderful, tremendous, awesome good news.
As
Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew
casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them,
“Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left
their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of
Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.
Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with
the hired men, and followed him.
2. So Jesus is passing along the Sea of Galilee which is really just a
lake but he saw Simon and Andrew his brother.
They were casting their nets into the sea. They were fishermen. Not the top profession but men who were
special because they followed him as soon as he gave the invitation. Jesus used a familiar phrase for them. I will make you fish for people. Their job was to catch the people. It is God’s job to clean and prepare them. We tell others. God will do the rest. Our part is to go and love. His part will make them whole and
complete. If you are mechanic, Jesus
says you bring the car and I will fix them.
As a plumber you bring the pipes and I will put it together. The Lord takes our skills and uses us. There are three parts to you testimony. Tell what you were like before you got saved,
how you got saved and what the Lord is doing for you now. Simple, succinct and precise. Peter would say later, “Silver and gold have
I none but such as I have give I thee, rise up and walk in Jesus name.”
3. He did the same with James and John when they were mending their
nets. Immediately he called them and
they left their father Zebedee in the boats with the hired men and followed
Him. In both cases both sets of brother
left immediately. No hesitation, just
go. Jesus said we have to be willing to
leave family, houses and land for Him.
4. There are the characteristics of a disciple
a. DISCIPLES UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.
b. DISCIPLES KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.
c. DISCIPLES RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE.
d. DISCIPLES SERVE OUT OF LOVE.
e. DISCIPLES SHARE THEIR FAITH STORY.
We are call to go and love.
f. DISCIPLES WORSHIP REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
g. DISCIPLES DEFEND THEIR FAITH.
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