248: Matthew Blewett - Exhortation: Are We Accepting God's Call?

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1. 0:13

   Welcome to good for selfie and talks. I’m Levi and I’m Chris and I’m Brian, thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one taco week to help us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post a new episode of the start of each week with a short intro before. Hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to listen to and now let’s talk more about this week’s talk.

2. 0:50

   Welcome to the good Chris set up in talks podcast. This is brother Brian. This week’s talk is an excitation by brother, Matthew, blew it. That was given way back in 2001 at the Idlewild Bible camp and the title of the excitation is are we accepting God’s call? The premise is that as you try to call someone with something urgent, the phone rings and rings and goes to voicemail.

3. 1:20

   But you had no desire to leave a message and then wait for them to get around to calling you back. You were calling was something incredibly important and you needed a response, not an answering machine. Because you might not call again.

4. 1:39

   Brother, Matthew uses this analogy to consider how God looks for us to be eager to receive his message and to act on it in our lives and not to find better things to do first before we get around to answering the call. That’s been set before us. There are a number of great scriptural, metaphors, that he dies in such as the tale of the two who wish to follow Jesus. But then give excuses for why they couldn’t follow immediately.

5. 2:10

   And on the whole in our generation of instant messaging in all forms, I still found it to be a punch in the gut relating, how easy it is. Sometimes when you see a call come through on your phone to just brush it off because you’re not in the mood, or maybe at least you’re not in the mood, for that person who is calling and whatever they might want.

6. 2:38

   So it was a very humbling reminder. For us to consider how available or not, we make ourselves for the things of the truth. I found it to be a very memorable and impactful message. So as always, we hope this strengthens your faith and brightens your day brother, Matthew blew it, are you answering God’s call my dear brothers and sisters? I’d like to take this opportunity first up to express. My thanks for the privilege that my wife and our family of head of sharing this wonderful week of fellowship. With all of you, it’s been an incredible time for us to enjoy Fellowship so far from home.

7. 3:23

   And indeed we have been impressed by the friendships that we have gained and the wonderful studies around your the word and it has been a wonderful privilege for us and we’ll take home. Very happy memories. we really believe that you have a very special family over here, and it gives us much encouragement as we return to Africa, Hello.

8. 3:47

   This is Matthew speaking. I’m sorry, I’m not available right now but if you leave a message, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. I wonder how many of you get these kind of messages and with the introduction of cell phones, more and more people, having cell phones. We tend to get messages more and more I don’t know if you’re the same as me but often it’s quite frustrating to get a message especially if you need to talk to someone urgently and you need to get some information across to them.

9. 4:16

   I’m not available right now. We’re often not available for others. More importantly, brother and sisters were often not available for God, as he makes his core to us. How many times does he here? I’m sorry, but I’m not available right now. God requires you see our availability, both for him. And for our neighbors, all of the time being available as one of the cornerstones of Christian discipleship.

10. 4:47

    And as we have been encouraged during this week, And as we have been filled up spiritually, and for most of us, we leave this place enthusiastic and passionate about the word of God as we enter the mundane routine of life. Will we make ourselves available for God? And for our fellow disciples? Will we use the encouragement and the refreshing that we have received during this week?

11. 5:14

    To serve the Brotherhood and the community at large. You see Jesus requires our availability just as he required the availability of his disciples. We read this in Mark chapter 3 and verse 13. And Jesus went up into a mountain and called unto him whom he would, and they came unto him and he ordained twelve, that they should be with them that he might send them forth to preach and it sounds so easy. As we read those words and they came unto Him. What does that mean?

12. 5:45

    It means that meant that when Jesus called them they were available, there were no excuses. There was no hesitation on their part. They made themselves available. It was an unconditional availability and that’s used gospel tells us that there’s availability came at a cost and we know this Jesus said to them follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men and they straightway left their Nets and followed him.

13. 6:11

    And going on from thence. He saw two other Brethren James Zebedee and John his brother and a ship was already, their father mending, the Nets, and he called them. And immediately, they left the ship and their father and they followed him and the message of the example. The 12 is clear. Here are men that were prepared to give up many things that they had plans for you.

14. 6:30

    Can imagine Peter and Andrew had a great business going, it would seem they have the own boat. They had the prospects maybe of getting another boat and and maybe a good fishing season was coming and they discuss what they would do and the next vacation. Ocean that they were playing but all of this had to be put aside when the pork came from Jesus and they made themselves available and for James and John it went even further because the record said and they lift their father, you can imagine the excuses, we could have put together their the father was becoming old.

15. 7:04

    He needed his sons to help them in the business. And yet, even in this situation they made themselves available. They came unto him, a simple little phrase with so much power behind it. But not all of the disciples that Jesus called were available. And we can learn from those who were available and from those who were unavailable come with me to Luke chapter 9 and we learn about two disciples who were unavailable for the Lord, Jesus Christ. You see?

16. 7:37

    God is not interested in getting our message box. He has no time for our message box. As soon as possible is not good enough for God, it’s about now, it’s about being available right now. At verse 59, Jesus said unto another follow me, but he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury.

17. 7:55

    My father, Jesus said unto him, let the dead bury their dead, but go there and preach the kingdom of God. And when we read those words, they seem harsh at first reading, Here was a man who wanted to bury his father. It doesn’t seem like an an unreasonable request to delay discipleship. And, and Jesus uses two examples, your and both examples, he gives probably the best excuses. We could think of for why we should not be available and he discounts them both and I think, although we can explain away what was being mean to you?

18. 8:28

    I think that’s the power of the message that there is nothing in this world that should make us unavailable for his core. We ever, we may be in our lives. If we understand that call, we should be making ourselves available for it. Jesus was warning here, I believe of an attitude, rather than the exact example that was being given, but an attitude that sought for reasons, for why a man would not be willing to follow Jesus and this man and Luke chapter 9, and verse 59, I call him the procrastinator and we can see it as he answers Jesus. And said, Jesus said to him, follow me. And he said, Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father, and that’s the key word that looks bringing to our attention. The word first, just, Jesus had said to them in Matthew 6, those words we know, so well, but seek, ye first, the kingdom of heaven and his righteous of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Jesus said, if you want to be pleasing to God in all that you do, make sure that he’s first in your life. Make sure that the kingdom and the girls concerning the kingdom butter most in your life.

19. 9:38

    This is the calling of the Gospel, the calling to place God first, and this man was not going to be available because he would always be finding something else to do first and we fall into their trap. Don’t we always finding something else to do first before we will give God our most availability perhaps we want to get married first.

20. 9:58

    Perhaps we would have children first perhaps we want to finish college first, perhaps, we want to make sure we’re established in our career first. Perhaps it is until we get retired and we have more time and then we will be available. Here was a man who had other things to do first and when all things are considered, when it’s God, coming out a list of things that are important to us. How does he fear against our work? Our family, holidays and entertainment, our TV, our cars a houses and when it comes second to anyone of this list of things, we become unavailable for him. That’s the message of the first disciple, the procrastinator, the man, who wanted more time.

21. 10:42

    And then the next one straight off to words in Luke chapter 9, we read this. And another also said unto the Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go but then farewell with your at home at my house and Jesus said unto him. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. Here’s another man, very interesting, a man who wanted to be available Said, Lord.

22. 11:09

    Let me, let me join you. Let me make myself available and Jesus saw in this man, a different type of problem for this man, says, let me first go and say goodbye to them. We were at home and it seemed to me that he had a whole bunch of friendship, still remaining at home that were important to him.

23. 11:28

    And the difficulty that I believe this man was facing was breaking away from his old way of life. And it seems to me that he was suggesting to Jesus. Can you see this that? Jesus should give him permission to do this very same thing. That Elijah had given me Lusha permission to do you remember when he larger cord, Elijah?

24. 11:46

    And Elisha said, well, I just need to go and say goodbye to my family. It’s recorded in First Kings, 19. And when we go back to First Kings, 19, we noticed something. Interesting, verse 19, our first Kings chapter 19, Let me read in verse 19. So Elijah departed from there and he found Elisha the son of shaphat who was playing with 12 yoke of oxen before him.

25. 12:10

    And he with the 12 and he, with the 12th and Elijah passed by him and crossed his mental upon it. And Elisha Let The Oxen and ran after it. Arjun said, let me, I pray because my father and my mother and then I will follow thee. And he said unto them, go back again, for what have I done to you?

26. 12:27

    And he returned back from Elijah and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and boiled their flesh, with the instruments of The Oxen and gave unto the people and they did eat. Then he arose and went after you larger and ministered unto him. So perhaps this disciple and speaking to Jesus said Elijah was able to go and say goodbye to his family and that’s what I want to do. But notice the words of Jesus, no, man having put his hand to the plow and turning back is fit for the kingdom of God. What do you think he was saying?

27. 12:58

    Well I guess there’s two understandings of that one. Is that once you’re plowing, you can only look forward, you can’t look back. Otherwise, you won’t do a good job. Maybe he was saying something else in allusion to the illustration of Elijah, although Elijah returned to say goodbye to his family, his intent, his attitude was clear, why he put his And to the plan, he destroyed the instruments. It was all the way of life.

28. 13:21

    We read it. There we read that, he slew The Oxen, and he boiled their fish, with the instruments of The Oxen. The old way of life, for Elijah the farmer, it was burnt, it was gone like the Nets. They were given away. It was no way that Elisha could return and this is the message. I believe.

29. 13:37

    Jesus was leaving for the sick and disciple. If you want to follow me, you’ve got to put your hand to your old way of life. You’ve got to destroy it, you’ve got to leave it behind. You can’t bring. NG it with you. I call this man the fence sitter. And he leaves a message for many of us in this room. Both baptized and unbaptized who hear the message the call of the Gospel of Jesus saying, are you available and perhaps, our problem is we can’t leave behind the old way of life. You see, Jesus himself, rather poor said thou, therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man.

30. 14:19

    That Wars entangles himself with the Affairs of this life that he may, please him, who has chosen him to be a soldier. You can’t serve Jesus and still be entangled with the Affairs of this life. You have to break loose from it. That’s the only way you can, make sure your shirt yourself available. How many of us find ourselves unavailable for God? Because we’re trying to hold on to our old way of laugh. We’re trying to play the two masters game and it’s a fruitless guy because both Masters need a exclusive attention.

31. 14:52

    And Jesus said you cannot serve God and riches. You cannot do it. You cannot play the two masters game. If we’re looking back and pining after our old way of life, we will not be available when the master course. In that day, he would shall be upon the Housetop and his stuff in the house.

32. 15:13

    Let him not come down to take it away and he that is in the field that I’m likewise not return back. Remember? Lot’s wife. A perfect example of a fence sitter. Someone who wanted to be available for God. Wanted to leave the city of Sodom yet did not want to leave the old way of life behind, remember, that’s why.

33. 15:39

    So how available are we have available? Have we been how many of us have been available to support our Sunday? Witness efforts over the past few weeks, how many of us have been available to write the chords for the sick? And those in isolation over this past week how many of us were available to seek out the many with Low Spirits said, this Bible can during this week, how many of us were available for the many duties required during the announcements during this week?

34. 16:09

    How many of us were available for those who called out for help during this week? And so, the list can go on of the reasons for why are we should be available or were we leaving messages? You see? The call is not for someone else, it’s for you, and when you hear the court, it’s no good. Saying when someone else will do it, someone else is better qualified.

35. 16:32

    Someone else can do it this time because are normally always do it. He’s asking that you be available Available. Do you remember the message he gave to Peter when Peter said, what of this disciple? Jesus says, don’t be concerned of him. Follow thou me. The call is for you now is the time don’t procrastinate, don’t sit on the fence.

36. 16:55

    Now is the time for any words that need to be said to encourage your brother, or your sister now is the time to put your hand to preaching work. If the call is for you now now is the time for Action. Always remember this piece of prose that I heard a few years back that speaks of the importance of grabbing the opportunity of the present.

37. 17:16

    It’s a letter that was written from a lady to her husband, who had been at War. Do you remember the time? I stood a scream, all over your new jacket? I thought you would shout at me and be angry but you never did. And at the time, I told you that the dress was casual and everyone else came dressed and colorant are, I thought you would stop talking to me, but you never did.

38. 17:40

    And when I left my best dress at home, and we had to drive back three hours, I thought you would lecture me, but you never did. And when I was jealous of you for no, real reason and stayed away, I thought you would leave me, but you never did now, so many things that I thought you would do, but you never did, but you loved me and cared for For me and always made me feel special and so there are so many things I wanted to tell you.

39. 18:07

    I’ve how much I loved you when you got back but you never did. So the message is clear, the time for opportunity for all of us is when we receive the core and when we have that energy, that energy that we spoke of yesterday, when Solomon said, remember your creator in the days of your youth.

40. 18:28

    When the evil days come, not that time when we have the ability to serve God, but God never leaves messages. He’s always ready for a connection. 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. He’s never out of range. His service is always. Available and his rights of freedom in a way you are. And he expects us to be equally available for his service, whether that be worshiping and remembering him praying to him, reading his word preaching his message, whether it be serving those around him.

41. 18:59

    But there’s a little twist to this tale that we would like to end with. This morning, there will come a time where every one of us in this room when God will no longer be available and he will leave a message for those who are unavailable for him in Matthew 25, we read this.

42. 19:18

    Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. They that were foolish. Took their lamps and took no. Not well with them, but the wise, took oil in their vessels, with their lamps, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept and at midnight, there was a cry, made behold the bridegroom is coming, go ye out to meet him and all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

43. 19:44

    And the foolish said to the wise, give us a, give us your oil for our lamps are going out. The wise answered saying not. So lest there be not enough for us and for you, but rather go and sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy the bridegroom came and they, that we’re ready, went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut.

44. 20:06

    You see the five foolish virgins were not available when the master can they were unavailable for they had not made themselves ready. And so it was that the door was shut and when they returned 70, the God and Father, who had always been available for, them is unavailable and they leave a message, Lord, Lord open unto us.

45. 20:31

    And they receive the message. I know you not. What an awful message to receive from the master. But what if we are about? What if when he returns, we have prepared ourselves. We have made sure that we were available for his worship and for his service, then we will receive no message, but rather an eternal connection with god.

46. 20:59

    Well, Dan you good? And faithful servant enter into the joy of your lord, the blessing of sharing with Paul and Timothy with Jesus and his disciples with David. And the faithful that wonderful Kingdom that vision of hope that Tom of reunions, when families and friends will be reunited when tears shall be, what completely away the moment, when all things will come into one and God will be all in all.

47. 21:26

    And such as the hope that we leave with this morning as we leave, this place believing that we will be available when the Lord and Savior returns to take the kingdom to himself. So finally, now we come to remember our Lord Jesus Christ. And we are brought again to the foot of the cross.

48. 21:47

    Jesus, the man who was always available the man, who said I’ve come to do your Will O God, a body you have prepared for me. and so, as we partake of the bread and the wine this morning, I have no doubt in my mind of his presence with us. I have no doubt that where two or three are gathered.

49. 22:11

    He is there in the midst of them, he is available and he will try to make a connection with each and every person in this room. Would he get a response? Would he get a message? Thank you for listening to the good christadelphians talks podcast. We hope this talk helped you in your walk.

50. 22:44

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51. 23:00

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52. 23:23

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