Ep 380 | The Call of Matthew - Lynwood Smith

You being here this evening myself.

This is a fine crowd this evening and it certainly

measures up to my expectation. And I'm glad to see everybody.

I'm glad to have this opportunity to be here and hold

a meeting in this church. I've heard about this church for

many years and you've waited until I'm well, and I did with

old age, but at least I'm here to hold a meeting, and I'm going

to do the best I can in my Advanced age, I might say, glad

to see all those who are preachers, brother, beanie and

brother, Michael. And of course, there are others

perhaps that I'm not recognizing at the moment, but we're just

glad you're all here. See people here from several

different places and that's thrilling.

And, of course we'll expect that and hope for it throughout the

oncoming Services. Want to read a passage from the

Night chapter of the Book of Matthew and verse 9.

The record says, and Jesus passed forth from thence.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named

Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom and he saith unto him,

follow me. And he arose and followed him

that'll be enough of our reading at this time.

And at this time of wish to go to our Heavenly Father in the

word of prayer, let us pray. 34 Jesus, in the city of Capernaum,

he taught the multitudes and healed the sick, and he also was

seeking A group of men to be his Apostles.

So at this time, we find Jesus engaged in the father's will in

the city of Capernaum. We have no record where he had

ever met Matthew or whether Matthew had ever been introduced

to him or not. But we, of course, believe that

Matthew must have known something objects.

This Christ, you don't hear many sermons about Matthew, but I

found this to be a very interesting little summary of

this man's life. So I'd like to talk for a little

while about it this evening, you know, Capernaum was an important

city in the life of Jesus. Many people don't seem to be

aware of the fact that for 18 months during the Great Galilean

Ministry. Jesus.

Resided in the city of Capernaum, it should be laid

down beside Bethlehem and beside of Nazareth because it does play

a great part in his life. So then we feel that Matthew

certainly must have heard of Jesus Christ, there are many

things that took place in the city of Matt, in city of

Capernaum that he could not have been ignorant.

All, no man could have lived in this town, all these days.

Without hearing of the mighty Works done in and around it.

As the Bible says, Heaven had been opened right above

Capernaum, in view of all, in the Angels had absolutely been

thronging down upon the Son of God, lepers were cleansed and

the demonics de possessed. Blind Men, receive their sight.

Paul stood me in the use of their limbs.

One woman was cured of a chronic malady and another daughter of a

disc. Distinguished Citizen Jairus.

Ruler of. The synagogue was brought back

to life from the dead. These things were done publicly

and made a great noise and were much remarked on the Evangelist

relate. How the people were all amazed

insomuch that they question among themselves saying.

What thing is this? What new doctrine is this for

what Authority commandeth? He even the unclean spirits and

they obey him. So Jesus, of course, was a

well-known figure in the D of Capernaum, I think.

But down here, close to the seaside set this man named

Matthew at the receipt of custom and he was taking taxes from the

people. Now, the call came as Jesus

passed by the record says, many of his sermons were preached in

his miracles, wrought lessons were taught as he passed by.

I like that wording very much and each occasion brought forth

the knee. Needed word are Act One misses

much in life, who fails to grasp the situations that appear as he

passes by from time to time. We sing a song Sometimes it

states. This very fact mr.

Marvin P. Dalton said there's a story of

long ago me and roamed in darkness.

Nowhere to go one day. The scene changed, they cease to

cry. There was a reason Jesus passed

by Jesus. Never missed an opportunity when

he was passing by it. Might be a Lily that he saw you

under that. He made a sermon out of it.

Might be a sparrow. He might talk.

That he talked about many things.

The song says men, found, compassion, hungry, were fed.

Some saw their loved ones brought from the dead.

They found great comfort came from on high.

There was a reason Jesus passed by, I know, one thing, Matthew

was everlastingly grateful for the fact that Jesus passed by

one day and as he passed by, he saw every opportunity and he

grasp every opportunity. Even as we Should do the Apostle

Paul enjoins upon us. That very responsibility in

Galatians 6 and 10. When he said, as we have

therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men especially to

them who are of the household of faith in this sermon.

We are interested in the man whom Jesus saw by the writer

tells us, he saw a man To him me and were the biggest objects in

the world. That's what he came down here to

this world. Far was to save men.

Jesus did not see a tax gatherer necessarily but he saw a man and

he was interested in him. We wonder why Jesus chose

Matthew. We wonder why he passed up all

the other people. We wonder why he might not have

selected. Some other tax gatherer who

doubt. This might have been there, but

he chose Matthew, he could have chosen the priest but he didn't.

He could have chosen many people but he didn't.

He chose Matthew John 2 and 25 says but Jesus did not commit

himself unto them because he knew all men and needed.

Not that any should testify of man, because he knew what was in

man. Now think that's the reason he

chose Matthew and I think he had a special reason for choosing

Matthew. You know, I noticed also that

the record says that Matthew was a busy, man.

I want to mention here, the fact though that this man, Matthew

doubt, this wasn't a dislike man in the community, because of the

fact that he was a Publican and plied that trade, we read about

another band who was a Publican and he certainly was disliked.

I don't know if this man was as an honest man, I don't know what

this man was a scrupulous man or what, but I do know one thing

Jesus saw the importance of selecting him and he saw what

was in him and he chose him. Now going to notice some reasons

why that Jesus doubtless chose Matthew.

I think it shows him first because he was a busy man.

He was busy with material things.

He was accomplished in the work that he was assigned to do.

He was a man trusted, by the Roman government to do his work.

He handled money and he was responsible in that I in that

particular project, he was a man of Affairs, was some business

ability and Jesus, of course, probably chose him because he

was such a competent man in his work, knowing Thing that he

would probably be competent in other works of life.

He was sticking to his task to, he was not lazy.

Nor was the idol. Jesus always called busy men.

If you'll remember he called, no other.

Kind. Somebody said one time that God

always calls busy men. Idle men don't have time.

And that's usually the way it goes in life.

So Jesus called a busy fisherman.

The busy tax collector and other busy men to learn to do the big

things in the Kingdom. Jesus likes people who will be

busy, you know, Jesus doesn't like idleness.

And that's one thing that ought to concern people to many

parents raise their children. To be idle.

They raise their children to sit around in the house until they

graduate from high school while they have servants employed

about the house. Doing other things, they're

doing their children of this. Service when they do that very

thing. But another reason why that

Matthew doubtless was chosen, was because Jesus saw in him a

certain modesty, he was a modest man.

Matthew was the writer of this Tony.

He's the writer of this gospel and he refers to himself in the

third person. I think that's noteworthy as

Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man called Matthew.

Now that's the way. Matthew Chronicles.

The story, And refers to himself in that fashion.

He does not say, he saw me and called me and I Rose and

followed him and made a big been good at him at my house.

No. Many a fella in telling of this

big day, in his life would have written several chapters about

it, and placed himself upon a pedestal and would have done a

lot of horn blowing and focusing attention, upon himself, but not

so with her, So with our modest man Matthew, he tells his story

in a simple statement couched in 32 words modesty is a beautiful

garment to wear. It is always becoming the world,

never hugs to its bosom. The braggadocio, the noisy, the

loudmouth proclaimer of his own virtues in the gallery of the

world's great and Noble. You find the faces of men who

were quiet but powerful who who preferred to walk the lonely

path. And ignore the popular ways

because they were on their way to do service.

Didn't we read somewhere in the scriptures?

Where the record says, let another man's mouth.

Praise thee and not die. Nomen.

A stranger and not thine own lips.

That's what the record says. Matthew was such a man, is that

Jesus appreciates people like that?

There are men who know their own strength but they talked a

little about it and you love Like that you appreciate them.

You like to be in the presence of people like that, they know

their powers but seldom discussed them, they simply use

them. Matthew was such a man, Matthew

saw, and are rather Matthew. So, and humble, man.

Matthew was a humble man. And after years, when Matthew

wrote, on this wonderful day in his life, he calls himself the

Publican, even Hira speaks of himself in That reproachful way

all the other Apostles failed to mention that they ignore the

fact and they skip over the fact that he was a Publican but not

Matthew. He comes right out and tells you

just what he was. I think he wanted the world to

know just how powerful the saving love of Jesus is and that

Jesus had wrought just such an act in his own life and the

Jesus wasn't able to do that in anybody's life in Matthew.

Jesus saw a man Man, who was better than his surroundings

would indicate? We cannot always judge a man by

the company. He keeps not to the task to

which he applies his hand, though.

Usually, that is the case. But many are creatures of

circumstances. Matthew was one of the black

sheep of his flock. He was a Jew and reared in the

synagogue, but he had accepted a position, which ostracized him

from Jewish circles. When a man took the job of being

a Publican, especially when you were a Jew, you were absolutely

ostracized. We know that to be the case with

the man, the other Publican whom Jesus, went to see one day and

spent the day with you see the land was being ruled by the

Roman government and Rome had levied a tax upon the people.

And the Jews were forced to pay this tax.

They had never been in bondage to anybody.

They said they were looking to their father, Abraham.

Rome demanded this, but they didn't believe in paying taxes

course, wrong didn't mind whether they believed in her to

not as long as they paid the taxes, you know, that was the

thing. So, if they want to just sit off

and not believe it, that's okay with Rome.

But when they take a position, that causes them to extract

money from their own people, now, this was just too much,

that's the reason why this other man was so despised and so hated

that we read about before and I don't know, this may have been

the case with this man here, but I do think that he was raised to

worship God. Being a Jew, they talk to their

children. So, we find that he was a

Publican and a sinner and, you know, that in that day, a

Publican was looked upon with such disrespect tell.

They said it all on one breath when they said public.

And they just said, Sinner publicans and sinners they

grouped them together. Now that's how low they

considered them when the exercised a function, that would

demand them to pay taxes to a heathen.

Tear any and sit there themselves and take the money.

I would just too much, so Matthew was one of these but I

still believe that the they're still ringing in his ears.

The echo of the synagogue service.

What you get hurt as a youth long ago?

He probably had never lost the hope of Israel, buried

somewhere, deep down in his heart.

I think that was still there lying dormant, maybe it's hard

to overcome the teachings of you, and that's the reason why

that parents should teach their children.

We opposed a system called Sunday school.

And we oppose it because we say, we believe in, teaching the

children at home, I wonder how many parents do.

That's the reason why we have so many children today.

Who don't know anything about the Bible?

They don't go to Sunday school to be taught, which, of course,

we don't believe in but they live in a home where it's never

talked to what they get. It's just the crumbs that fall

from the table. Now they do get some instruction

at the church and now and then there might be some passing

fleeting story that they may pick up and of course, many of

them, remain faithful, some don't.

But those who do, they never forget it, they might wander far

away, but somewhere deep down in their hearts, that story Still

Remains and I think that was the case with Matthew, I just have

to believe that it was, you can't get over the teaching of

your youth. Few years ago, I read a story

about a man who climbed through the window at 2:00 in the

morning, went up the dimly-lighted stairs and walk

through the hallway and looked upon the sleeping form of an

agent, man. He was been on burglarizing the

house, but on the wall, he saw this motto in all thy ways

acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.

It was as if the voice of his dead mother.

Speaking from her grave, I want a little fellow playing around

the dooryard of his home. His mother had taught him those

words, and with our voice ringing in his ears, he could

not steal he. Hastily retraced, his steps went

to a hotel and wrote a note to The Keeper of the home, in which

you saw the motto told his story and made the vow that he never

again, would attempt to Rob any man.

Surrounded by the custom-house loafers with a lucrative salary,

enjoying the material, things of Life.

Matthew could not forget the past, I don't think and when the

Son of God gave evidence of his divinity and demonstrated his

sonship along, with all the things that he had seen with his

eye. As he stood out on the outer

edge of the circle and looked on over other people's shoulders.

Perhaps too ashamed to come up closer.

I think all of this old-time religious Zeal of the son of

Israel came back over his soul like a flood and he gladly gave

up all and followed him. After he no doubt had heard

Jesus preach and when Jesus said, follow me a flood of God,

the memories. No doubt came flooding back to

Matthews mind. So the Bible simply says that he

just plain. Followed him got up from there

that day and followed that man. I think that's a beautiful and

wonderful commentary upon the life of this man.

Next In Matthew, Jesus saw a man who needed encouragement.

Most men needed. The hundreds who pass by that

custom house each day and saw the tax gatherer sitting at the

seat of custom. Never thought to speak a word to

him, and encouraging word. And that's the way we are too

much. We see people, we don't talk to

them about Jesus. We don't talk to them about the

Bible. We don't talk to him about the

church. I wish shamed.

Are we afraid? Are we afraid that if we're not

with that we won't be macho and up.

If we do that, is this something for the ladies?

And for the weaklings to do, do the ladies do this.

When you're talking about all the other things of life, No one

cared about Jesus about Matthew. It seemed they just let him sit

there. How many Jews do you think

passed there? It's a sad song that a man sings

Who says no man cared for my soul me and have to be asked to

obey the gospel. Not very many are knocking at

the church doors for admission, not many invite the preacher to

their homes, to talk over the question of the Christian

religion. Men must be approached and led

to conversion by presenting to them the facts and claims of the

Gospel. Jesus approached Matthew

positively, Jesus knew all men. Jesus knew this, man.

Jesus knew this man had been hearing him preach.

And he knew there was possibility in that, man.

He had a mission when he stopped that.

When did that day? He singled out his man and went

after him. That must have been something in

the tone of his voice and the positive manner that gave me

encouragement to the earning of a Lonely Heart and led him to

deny himself, and get up, leave his money.

And follow the man of Galilee. Many, a man needs just a word of

encouragement to enable him to step over the line and publicly

declare himself to Jesus Christ. How many people have you ever

seen obey the gospel outside the church assembly having times?

Have you ever baptized anybody outside the church assembly?

That's a pretty good commentary on how much we do toward trying

to bring people to Christ. There are few times in my life,

when I've just been a little bit overcome with Zeal enough to

just go and approach people, sometimes you have to screw up

your courage just a little bit and sometimes you got to be

prepared for a very, very Point, blink refusal.

That's okay, just say, okay, that's all right and then be

friends right on. Never forget one if you'll allow

me one personal experience. This will appeal to a couple in

the house tonight because they probably know I know they know

the man I'm talking about. I've been called a healed and to

preach a funeral and it would be on Sunday afternoon.

I believe it was. I missed the last Sunday of our

meeting at New Salem. Something I seldom ever do, but

I was called there to preach his funeral.

I had promised and I did, I didn't know that.

There was one man in the audience who had never been

baptized. I knew his aged mother, I'd

prayed for her in my prayers, wherever I was throughout the

nation. Was every time that little old

soul shook. My hand, she says, brother, Lin,

would pray for me when you pray, so it was sort of a Sentimental

service set night at Hilton. But before going to church,

somebody had mentioned to me that that this man had never

obeyed. The gospel.

I said, do you need to tell me that that man is not a member of

the church. All the years that I've seen

him, they said that's right. That night after I got to

preaching and the invitation song died out on the air with

some responses, but not from him.

I saw him sitting in back with his grandson in his arms.

When you said, amen, I just ran down to the wall.

I'll to him and I says Sherman. I'm glad to see you.

He said, well and what I'm going to see you not knowing what I

was going to do. And I said, oh, you know,

Sherman, I didn't know till this morning if you aren't a member

of the church. Well he drops a little bit

stunned by that. You know, when I said, do you

know that your old mother who was one of the best friends I

ever had? Asked me time and time again to

pray for her and her children. She's long since passed on.

I said tonight, Sherman. I want to know what your reason

for not being a member of the church in obeying the gospel.

I said that little grandson right there in your arms.

Needs Grandpa to be a Christian. Grandpa, I said, Bob what about

it tonight? He said Well, okay.

I said, come back, then, everybody got up that baptistry,

just like that suppose, I hadn't done that that night, he may

have never obeyed the gospel. Now, I don't mean to point

myself out as being a great personal worker.

He will. We think you kind, it's just one

of those times that I happened to do that.

Jesus, did that when he saw Matthew.

He said, follow me. And that man was so stirred in

his heart, could somebody would take an interest in me?

Somebody would love me enough to call me from my life of sin and

my life of rejection of God. And I'm thrilled about that he

got up from there and followed him.

Luke 19:10 says for the, son of man is come to seek and to save

Luke 19:10

that which is lost. Have you ever decided upon

someone, whom you felt to be a subject of Salvation and spoke

to them about it? Why not?

Are you bashful if you knew that he had some very very bad

disease and you know of a positive remedy, would you

approach them and recommend it? I believe you would.

Well, salvation is the greatest gift that you can give to any

person and some people will have an eternity and glory to thank

you for having done that one time.

Matthew also was a man who let his light shine.

Now, after you obeyed the gospel, after he started

following Jesus, rather he let his light shine after he had

made his change. That night, Matthew lighted, up

his home, and gave a banquet in honor of his new friend.

I think that's noteworthy. To that been good.

He invited not only Jesus, but the disciples and his old

friends of the custom house. This he did that.

He might introduce the old custom house group to Jesus with

the thought that he might win, some of them too.

He was sold on his new master, he loved his new master and he

wanted to point him out to the people.

You've heard me, tell it. years ago on the Mississippi River,

there were two boats passing One going one, way, one, going.

Another, an old black man was on one boat.

And when he passed, he saw the captain.

Handsomely dressed on the other. When he said, there goes the

captain and everybody said, well what's so great about that.

He said, well, I'll tell you about it years ago.

We said, when I was passing like this, I stumbled and fell

overboard, and the captain jumped in and pulled me out and

ever. Since that day, I just lost a

coin him out. Well that's the way it was with

Matthew. This man had done something for

him that nobody else had done in all the world and Matthew just

wanted to point him out to the old custom house, Bunch that he

used to run around with a long time ago, he was letting his

light shine, he was running up his flag for his new master and

he wanted everybody to know. Now this is the man I love.

This is a man, I serve one time. I'm an accepted Jesus Christ.

Then went to the Evangelist and said, I'm a traveling man.

And I travel all over Ohio and the cities that I visit.

I have friends on whom, I called, and with whom I have

participated in pleasures and which are Christians are not

participate. I must return to those friends.

Now, how would I fortify myself against their criticism?

And to region when they learned that I walk no more the old pass

with them? The preacher said declare

yourself, declare yourself. Write your friends.

The letter held them of your stand.

He wrote the letter and as he went from town to town, his

associates came to him. And shook, took him by the hand,

congratulated him and thanked him for his owner and his

courage. It's always thus declared

yourself if you want to resist temptation, let the world know

where you stand and you got the right away, you always will

have. I heard of an old man, one time

who lived in a village. An eccentric old man who drove

into the village each evening for his mail, in the long Years

Gone by, he drove a white horse. And tied beneath his wagon, a

lantern which through its light not far enough ahead to Aid him

in much in the driving. When questioned as to why the

light was under the wagon, he remarked it doesn't give much

life, but swinging there, it shows them that I'm coming and

other vehicles, clear the road and give me the right away.

And you let your light shine. And when you let your light

shine, people are going to give you the right away.

You can be assured of that. Matthew began to light up his

house. Begin to let his light shine on

the very day. He accepted the call from Jesus,

that was no waiting for tomorrow with him.

That was no need to. He didn't say well now, think

about it. Master you come back by the

week. Let me study this thing over.

When people do that, they're not very serious.

When people do that, they need some deep teaching this man.

When he heard it, remember all those Miracles, he had seen

remembered that wonderful teaching.

He'd heard remembered that Master.

And he was ready. He just needed somebody to give

him the urge he left it walked off and I don't reap where he

ever went back to it again. That was no waiting for tomorrow

with him. He also accepted the first

invitation he heard, just like those people did on the day of

Pentecost. Just immediately arose, the

Bible said and followed him. There was no delay

procrastination has slain, its thousands.

That moment when Jesus invited the public in to follow him was

a thrilling moment and Matthew capitalized, that Big Moment by

acting at once. That was the case.

The feast was also, as we have already indicated and acted

homage to Jesus. He made his Splendid feast, in

honor of his new master, as Mary did when she came to Jesus with

an alabaster box and broke her box and anointed Jesus with her

guilt. She wanted to put into something

tangible her love for Jesus. Matthew wanted to do something.

For Jesus. He wanted the world to know that

I not only feel this way, but I want everybody else to know that

I feel that way. He's so unlike Joseph of

Arimathea who was a secret disciple of Jesus, we've got too

many secret Disciples of far as they're, manifesting their care

for his concern, for the manifesting, their Zeal are

their love. For him, is concerned Mary, when

she came in there, she did something, the rest didn't do.

She took the high price perfume that she kept in her home which

you could have sold for a great price and gratified, the whims

of of a woman with it, but she brought that and broke her

Alabaster Box and poured it on Jesus and declared opened into

that room full of men. This is my Lord and I love you.

And I'm doing the best I can. You know, it took a lot for a

woman to do that in that day, women were modest in that day

that you walk around looking like me.

And in that day, ready, set up like men and argue with men and

bought me and they were quite retiring in that day and it took

some real courage for a lady to walk in a room where a meat for

room full of men, but she did that and of course the critic

was there and the person Judas Iscariot All of this could have

been sold for great price and given to the pool work.

I'm like Judas, I rather, I'm like Jesus.

I've heard the poor used for everything, you can think of, I

think. If you want to get a racket

going, you just get out and tell the folks.

You want to collect this up for the poor.

Jesus said the poor you always with you but me you have not

always Matthew wanted to put his love and his feelings for Jesus

into something tangible and something that people could see.

Why is that man doing this? There's a reason why he's doing

that, he's letting folks know what he thinks and how he feels.

What have you done. What have you?

Absolutely if the master of the put you on the scales tonight in

way you for eternity? What would be your record as

What you have really done for Christ in your life?

Oh, I don't mean coming Church picking from you.

Never Sunday. Of course you do that.

We've all been taught that we've got to do that and most people

do that but that's not all there is to it.

You're doing that for yourself. Mostly, what are you doing for

others? Was this x public in seems also

to have also, the character of a farewell party to beginning to

character of a farewell party to his old friends too.

And I think this is noteworthy and this is World a lot of

disciples. Fall and fail.

After tonight, they would go their separate ways.

And they would never be United again. unless they chose to

change, he wouldn't that's noteworthy.

When he made the change, he made the change.

You know sometimes it takes some real effort to do that.

Peter said, sometimes Peter said, sometimes they worried and

they think it strange that you run do more with them to the

same excessive right speaking evil of you.

Sometimes that's the case with people.

I don't know if it were the case with Matthew that night are not.

I really don't in Matthew. Jesus saw a man who was willing

to pay the price I think this is, I know this is is an

essential, it's something that is a must Leave all and follow

me was the order. That is the price that disciple

pays, he left the custom house with each renumeration.

To follow one who said the foxes have holes and fowls of the air

have nests, but the son of man, hath, not where to lay his head.

Now, do you believe he was truly converted or not?

He left that lucrative job that he had and walked off falling.

A man who said I don't even have a home, take you too.

He must have heard a lot of things.

He must have known quite a bit about this man and must have

learned something about the religion.

He was entering upon a life not of luxury, but one of service he

would be misunderstood and like the master.

He followed rejected of men, but he had a vision in his eye was

upon the goal and he followed it, no one can accept the call

to discipleship, who is unwilling to pay the price.

We've Got to be willing to pay the price.

Some things must be given up. But everything given up is the

excess baggage. Anyway, I baptized people,

sadly, I must report. They didn't give it all up.

They tried to drag a lot of things along with them.

And wanted to argue with you that it was all right, they

never did them out too much and people like that will never

amount to much one must throw overboard.

Everything that would hinder his progress.

Jesus said, he that does not take his cross and follow me is

not worthy of me, once attitude and denying himself is the test

of his discipleship. I remember when a rich young

ruler came to Jesus, Anonymous young, man.

He felt at Jesus feet. He had a lot going for him.

He was rich. He was young, he was a ruler and

he was a good Bali. Jesus.

The Bible says, Jesus looked on him and loved him.

And that means that he was virtuous.

He was outstanding. He was upright.

He kept all the Commandments. He said, Master, what?

Good things can I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus said, keep the Commandments, and he said, which

and the Mastery, enumerated the Commandments of Moses loud.

He said, these are my kept from my youth up.

What lack I yet. That's the attitude.

People must have, what lack I yet?

Jesus said that you would be perfect sell that thou Hast and

give to the poor and come follow me.

Some say he was being interviewed for a disciple.

He failed it. The Bible said he went away

sorrowful for, he had great riches.

You know, most breach stop right there.

Many times. I stopped right there and I

don't finish the story. Go sell that thou Hast and give

to the poor and come follow me. That's not all of it.

It says and thou shalt have Treasures in Heaven.

One thing you can always be assured of.

Jesus has never asked you to give up one thing.

What? He'll give you 10 fold lower in

return. Matthew had realized that

Matthew was like that young man, he realized there's a lot in the

future for me, follow me were simple but pregnant words of

Jesus. The men of today comes to men of

today, comes the same invitation, we're not asked to

follow a system a Creed, but a person following him determines

our destiny in Falling. That person.

Would you what that person says? And we do what that person.

Commands Matthew became a disciple and an apostle, and a

biographer, and it is today, an heir of God and is today, a

narrative God in a joint Heir with Jesus.

Christ it paid Matthew to follow Jesus then.

And so, regardless of the cost and the septon aisle one must

make it pays to follow Jesus. Today, Jesus said, come, you

blessed of my father, inherit the Kingdom, prepared for you

from The foundation of the world.

I love the old song. It says Jesus.

I'm, I crossed him. Take them all to leave.

And follow thee naked, poor despised, forsaken.

Thou from hence, my all shall be Parish ever found ambition.

All out of salt are hope to know yet.

How rich is my condition? God and Heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me.

They've left my savior to human hearts and looks deceive me.

Thou art not Thou Art not like them untrue and while thou shall

smile upon me, god of wisdom, love in might pose May hate and

friendships shun me show thy face in all his life.

Me and my trouble and distress me, but will drive me to thy

breast life with trials, hard may press me heaven will bring

me sweeter, rest? Alt is not in grief to harm me

while thy love is Left To Me, Holt were not enjoy to charm.

Me were that Joy unmixed with thee, the call of Matthew, not a

deep sermon, but if something is very beautiful and something

that's very thought-provoking and something that we All must

tell, if we plan to go to am, I speaking someone tonight is not

a disciple of the Lord. You never did.

Follow Jesus. You haven't followed Jesus.

Well, you must follow him. Matthew was one of those

fellows. Whom Jesus accepted as an

apostle. And Jesus used him after his

death upon the cross to tell people what to do and to tell

people about the savior, he and the others told people what to

do and you've been told through them, what to do, believe on

Jesus Christ, for the remission of Jesus, believe on Jesus

Christ, repent of your sins confess, your faith to him and

be baptized tonight for the remission of your sins.

He wants been a member of the church for something is called

you Away and you've been walking in Forbidden paths Through The

Years, other things have Charmed you and led you from the master

side. Time is growing late and it's

time that you begin to look up and realize how far you traveled

and hurry home before it's too late.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

would like any additional information or you would like to

receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.

Please email us at info at True Church of Christ

Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays

at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our

honored guest.