“No, or Yes–Which?”,
Matthew 4:18-20
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
I. Jesus Went Fishing!
A. He Caught 4
B. With Him, they’d catch others
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” -Acts 4:18-20
They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. -Acts 5:40-42
But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. -Jeremiah 20:9
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! -1 Cor 9:16
II. Jesus is STILL Fishing!
A. “Together we’re going to go and do something great!”
Christ has no hands but our hands, To do His work each day;
He has no feet but our feet, To lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues, To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help, To bring them to His side. -Annie Johnson Flint
B. How could you say “no” to that?
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. -John 12:32
I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling, "Take thy cross and follow, follow Me."
Where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow, I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.
Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling, "Come, follow Me!"
And we see where Thy footprints falling, lead us to Thee.
Footprints of Jesus that make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus where’er they go.
Thorns on His head, spear in His side
Still it was a heartache that made Him cry
He gave His life so you would understand
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
If Christ Himself were standing here
Face full of glory and eyes full of tears
And He held out His arms and His nail-printed hands
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
How could you look in His tear-stained eyes
Knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready
To give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?
Jesus is here with His arms open wide
You can see with your heart
If you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, He's done all He can
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?