January 31, 2011 The First Disciples

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Can you believe that this is the last day of January already? Today the day we pray for our leaders, veterans, current military, police, firefighters, ambulance attendants and drivers, EMT's and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. Please pray for members of the Brost family, Pearl, the mother, is gaining some weight, she is up to 82 pounds, Beverly, who is getting married, needs to sell her home. Pray for Billie Jo who was in a serious traffic accident, pray also for Mike, her friend who was driving. Prayers today also for Marysue Bulcavage whose husband passed away with a massive heart attack on Christmas day. He was only 49. Their daughter also needs prayers as they are still struggling about this.

Today as you pray for veterans, please pray for Stanley who just moved from the Bridges into a Veterans' home in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Also, the message might be late tomorrow, seems that the weather is going bad tonight, and as you know I will be going plowing. I ran that plow 8 different times in January, I love to plow, but a tad of rest between the storms would be nice.

The Big Trip, week 8, day 1: The calling of the first disciples:

Matthew 4:18 - As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. There were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed Him. (NIV)

Here we see Jesus calling the first two of His twelve disciples. I do have a few questions of you this morning... If Jesus walked up to you today and said, lay down what you are doing and follow me, what would you do? If you were single and no job it might be easy to answer, but let's say you have a good job and a family, meaning a wife and children. Folks, I want you to really think about it real hard for indeed Jesus is calling all of us to be disciples. Jesus did not just need a few guys to hang out with, He needed disciples, folks to travel with Him and help with His work, and it is the same today, He still needs disciples, those who will carry out His work. What is that work? Telling the Good News and of course that the end is coming. In other words, the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Same message, folks. Now brothers and sisters, I don't believe at any time Jesus wants you to pack up and leave your family that you are working hard to support, but you can follow Jesus, working for Him and also having your family involved in it. Jesus said we are to take the Good News to all the corners of the world, and we sometimes forget that as we witness there are neighbors, people who live next door or across the street that also need to hear the word of God.

So you are already a disciple for Jesus and you are working hard to get out the Good News, I ask that you go to prayer and pray hard to see if Jesus wants you to work harder and harder for Him, expanding what you are doing. I ask that you pray today for Carry The Light Ministries as we are praying about reaching out to folks in Harrisburg, working through the Harrisburg City Police Department. Folks, we all need to be disciples of Jesus and for Jesus, so today I repeat those words of Jesus, the ones He said to Simon, also known as Peter and his brother Andrew... Brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus, I call on you to "Pick up your nets" and follow Him and He will make you fishers of men (women and children also).

Dear Father in Heaven, as we study about Your calling of Your disciples, we ask that You look us over as we also want to be called according to Your will for us. Heal us of our sins and put us into service for You. I am ready and I am sure there are many on this line that stand ready to pick up their nets. I know there are also many on the line who have picked them up and have not put them down, some for over 50 years, and Lord, some for a lot more than that. I think of Pastor Tony, Lord, and I ask You touch him. He is indeed a pastor's, pastor, and I pray for his healing. Bless Tim as He goes forward in the ministry, and bless Pastor Larry as he and his dear wife work with and for You to grow Glenview Church. Lord, there are many more I could pray for today. For Pastor Phil, and also Dave, Duane and Neil... Lord, men of God who have long ago picked up the nets... Lord bless them. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Now go forth, picking up your nets and sharing your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.