Matthew 4: 19 Commentary

SOME THOUGHTS ON FOLLOWING OUR SAVIOR JESUS
Source of quotes: http://thegracetabernacle.org/quotes/Self-Denial.htm

Just as the sinner’s despair of any hope from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer’s growth in grace.
A.W. Pink

Growth in grace is growth downward. It is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves. It is a deepening realization of our nothingness. It is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.
A.W. Pink

I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.
C.H. Spurgeon

Can you serve your boss and others at work, helping them to succeed and be happy, even when they are promoted and you are overlooked? Can you work to make others look good without envy filling your heart? Can you minister to the needs of those whom God exalts and men honor when you yourself are neglected? Can you pray for the ministry of others to prosper when it would cast yours in the shadows?
Donald Whitney

There is a great difference between realizing, “On that Cross He was crucified for me,” and “On that Cross I am crucified with Him.” The one aspect brings us deliverance from sin’s condemnation, the other from sin’s power.
John Gregory Mantle

When the will of God crosses the will of man, somebody has to die.

Addison Leitch

By TIUCHE (wrote 3265 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/4/2012 12:03 pm

1. Jesus QUALIFIES the CALLED
a. And that can NOT be stated
b. EMPHATICALLY enough
2. If Jesus ONLY called the qualified
a. NONE of us would make the grade
3. And if He DID call the qualified
a. Certainly He would call
b. Only the best and the brightest
4. And God DOES call very bright
a. Erudite and articulate people
b. From time to time
5. But He often calls those of LOW ESTATE
a. So that EVERYONE KNOWS
b. That this is a God-thing
6. The religious leaders acknowledged this very thing
a. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13)
7. Paul wrote the same thing to the Corinthians
a. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:26-29 ESV)
8. Also note that Jesus does NOT invite them
a. To “join Him on a journey”
9. Could you just hear Jesus talking with them:
a. “Hey guys, I’m the Messiah of Israel
b. And wanted to know if you would like
c. To join Me in spreading the Good News
d. About Me to Israel and beyond -
e. No pressure here, in fact, take a few days
f. To think about it and then get back to me
g. If and when you think you would like to do so”
10. No - Jesus is NOT asking them
a. If they would LIKE
b. To follow Him
11. He is COMMANDING them
a. To follow Him NOW
b. (Imperative Mood)
12. And when Jesus DOES call you
a. Be prepared that your entire life may change
13. What you once did in your secular career
a. May NOT be what Jesus has for you now

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/1/2012 20:10 pm

FOLLOW JESUS TO YOUR SPIRITUAL HOME

Here is a song which I heard when I was young and which really inspired me in my faith in Jesus. I just heard this song over the radio; and if I remembered it right-i heard it like from” CPO 220 CPO 220 CPO 220 ATHENS GREECE” and rumors had it that it came from the Children of God Group which was notorious for being a sex cult. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_International

Here is the lyric of the song I think composed by Jeremiah Russel:

Oh are you still walking without a home
I have no place to go to
I have no spiritual home

Then one day I came to Jesus
And He showed me in
He told the reason why He died to purge my sin
And I said Oh Lord I did not know
But I love you forth Lord so where you be I will go
And He said Son please come my way
Then you shall enter the Kingdom in about a day
And I was so glad that I followed jesus my friend
And that is why the places I been will know Him

Oh are you still walking without a home
When you see jesus
Don’t hesitate
Just follow Him home
Follow Him home
Follow Jesus to your spiritual home

By TIUCHE (wrote 3265 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 12/21/2011 15:28 pm