A true seeker of God is a person of character.
• WHO we are on the inside is more important than how we impress others on the outside.
• Character is a CHOICE we make, to do the little things that please God.
• Each time we obey Him we are moulding ourselves into His likeness.
A true seeker of God is a person of compassion.
• This is the criteria the Bible sets, as the mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ. The world will know we are His disciples by our love for people.
• We grow in compassion by doing little acts of kindness and putting ourselves in the shoes of others.
• If we leave fingerprints on everything we touch, we want to leave heart-prints of love and touch lives wherever God puts us in.
• That’s the only way the world can see and experience His love – through you and me.
Finally, a true seeker of God is a person of conviction.
• He or she is determined to follow God’s way and glorify Him; no compromise, no half-hearted devotion.
• For this we want to look at the calling of the first disciples in Mark 1:14-20.
Can you feel the conviction of these men?
• It was a firm response to the call of Jesus, almost too quick to be real for us.
• They did not seem to hesitate. They seemed sure of what they were doing.
• The Holy Spirit enlightened them and they really wanted to follow Jesus. The heard the CRY of Jesus and now the CALL of Jesus.
It could have been different.
• They could have scratched their heads and discussed the pros and cons with each other.
• They could have consulted their families and asked Jesus to wait for their replies.
• “Let us think about it for awhile. Is this the way to go? Are there better options?”
But that wasn’t the case. They heard Jesus’ words and trusted Him, enough to drop everything and follow Him.
• It was a step of faith; it was a step that would change their lives, and in turn the lives of millions after them.
• It will always be a step of faith to respond to God’s Word, because we can only see who and where we ARE, but God sees who we can BECOME and where we can go.
• Jesus saw not just fishermen, but “fishers of men” – people who would eventually transform the world. God sees our potential.
(1) A man of conviction is one who is determined to RESPOND to God’s call.
Jesus expected a response. It was a CALL FOR ACTION.
• When God speaks, He does not speak to simply increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
• If the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, speaks to us today, we are to respond.
• Each time when we are convicted by His Word, God has spoken. Our part is to respond because He is actually asking, “What are you going to do with what I’ve said?”
God wants an ‘action plan’. We are to respond in action.
• James says faith without works is dead. God is asking, “What are you going to do with what you have heard?”
• For the disciples, it would mean dropping their nets, switching career, or leaving their homes.
• For us, it can mean waking up earlier for a quiet time with God, making time to share with a friend, or deciding to join a bible study group.
At the end of the retreat, in our discussion group, we drafted out our personal ‘action plan’ – what do we want to DO with all that we’ve heard over the 3 days.
• Things will only change if there is an action plan - it’s a determination to obey God.
• So we have people who write, “I do not want to waste my time away, read the NT by year end.” “Bring one person to church.” “Share Christ with one person per month.” “Study Psalm 1.”
• And we are going to meet 6 months from now to share about it.
If the Word of God is given not to increase our knowledge but change our lives, then we need to take practical steps to respond to God’s Word.
• I suggest you do the same, draft out an action plan… now that we have heard so much from the Lord over the past few days.
• Without it, those words will just be nice-sounding words, interesting stories, and quotable quotes and over time, nothing really changes; it will have little impact in your life.
True conviction changes you. You need to do something.
• Just like character – you need to build it up. Just like compassion, you need to cultivate it. For conviction to be strong, you need to act upon it.
• You need to “drop the net, leave your boat and follow Christ.”
CONVICTIONS VS OPINIONS
There were a group of people standing outside a very large and elaborate cathedral in Europe and they were admiring the very fine craftsmanship, the detail work, the care and the love that seemed evident in building such a fine place to worship a loving God.
One of the men turned to another in the group and said, “Why can’t we build so today? Why can’t we build with such pride, such craftsmanship today?”
The other man replied, “They had convictions; we have opinions.”
(2) A man of conviction is one who TRUST God’s call.
The disciples were convinced - following Christ is the best thing they could do.
• They did not doubt, they did not question Jesus, they did not discuss it.
• The Holy Spirit enlightened them to the truth of the call.
The Christians in the past have strong convictions. They contend for the truth, they fight for the truth, and they are willing to die for the truth.
• Their deep love for God is often expressed through arts and crafts, through paintings and sculpting on buildings, through music compositions.
• In this post-modern MENTALITY, nothing is absolute. Everything is subjective. People are less concern about convictions; they are caught up by opinions.
“What do you think of this or that? What is your opinion on this? We don’t have to be so serious about it. You believe your stuff and I believe mine.”
• Many believe in God only when it is convenient, or when there is nothing better to do, or when it is socially acceptable.
• They are not serious with God; they are not prepared to serve Him.
• God exists FOR them, not they FOR God. God serves them, not they serving God.
God’s Word is the truth; He does not ask you for opinions. He commands you. No discussion needed.
• So when God speaks, it is always the truth and the best, and we want to respond with faith and obedience.
• We stand by what He says. We contend for the truth. It is the only right way to live.
And we see in this passage a sense of urgency, a sense of immediacy.
• Jesus stepped into their lives. He walked into their territory (by the Sea of Galilee) and interrupted their normal routines; He issued a call, and expected them to respond.
• It was a DECIDE NOW call. Not later, not tomorrow, not next week; it is now.
• When the Lord speaks, we can be assured that He knows our situation and He knows His time. It is always at the right place, at the right time, for the right reason.
• And say the right stuff. Isa 55:10-11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
• When He speaks, it is always spot-on. So we want to heed His call and respond immediately. Say a prayer and seal it.
(3) A man of conviction is FAITHFUL to God’s Call, no matter what.
Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (v.17)
• The Holy Spirit will ensure that God’s work be done. Despite the threats and persecutions, they finished what they were called to do.
• As fishermen, they knew what He was talking about. They would become fishers of men, they would go out and catch others for Jesus.
Jesus calls us to a task that He has already provided resources for.
• “He will make us” fishers of men.
• He did not call us to give what we do not have.
A CALL TO DIE
The story is told of the military legend Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia (336-323) and conqueror of Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia, almost all of the known world.
One day on the warpath, Alexander and small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city and Alexander raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander ordered him to surrender the city and everyone inside.
The king laughed, “Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!”
But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a cliff. The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, his soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths!
After 10 soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to die at the command of this leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
Not physical death (that’s a waste of life) but to die to self.
• We want to be as committed and dedicated as these soldiers.
• Our battle cry is: “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Imagine what the Lord has done to our world through 12 dedicated people.
• He can do the same in our generation, with people of conviction.
• We want to respond to God’s call, we trust what He says and we will be faithful to the end.
