## Follow Me

## Luke 5:27-32

Last week we looked at the calling of Peter, James, and John. This morning I want us to consider yet another of the men that Jesus chose to use in a great way. In our text he is called Levi, but we know him better as Matthew, the author of the first book in our New Testaments. When I joined the US Navy they shaved my head, issued me a completely new wardrobe, and stamped out a set of dog tags that identified me with name and service number as a member of the US Navy. When I accepted Christ as my Savior the changes were all within! I didn't receive any outward identifiable marks that would prove to others that I was a Christian. But the inward change would bring about some outward change in my behavior and attitude. As we look at the life of Matthew we see the changes that took place in his life when Christ came into his life. He illustrates for us the evidence of salvation in an individual's life.

I. There is knowledge of right and wrong.

A. Levi's livelihood: tax collector.

1. His was a hated profession by the Jews.

2. Roman law allowed him to keep all tax that he collected above the amount established by the government.

3. Through dishonesty, tax collectors were very wealthy men.

B. "He left all, rose up, and followed Him"

1. The indication of the Scripture is that he got up from the collection table and left the old ways and the dishonest money.

2. This is similar to Peter, James, and John who left behind their fishing business to follow Christ.

3. But this also means that he left behind everything that had identified him as Levi the tax collector!

4. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." cf 2Co. 5:17

II. There is a hunger for the presence of God.

A. Levi "rose up and followed Him".

1. He couldn't follow Him and stay at the tax collectors table.

2. To follow the Lord will require of us to change the direction our lives are going!

3. I was going full speed ahead on the road to hell when I met Jesus!

4. I could not continue living in the same way and follow Jesus Christ!

B. Levi "made Him a great feast".

1. He wanted Christ in his home!

2. There is true evidence of salvation.

3. Many want to come to church on Sunday and sing praises to the Lord, but refuse to allow the Lord to come into their homes (their daily lives).

4. Levi hungered to spend more time with the Lord.

III. There is a desire to witness.

A. He invited many of his old friends and associates to the feast.

1. He wanted them to meet Christ as well.

2. Ps 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;"

3. When we get saved, we want others to know about what happened!

4. This evidence isn't generated from without, but it comes from within!

5. Act 4:20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

B. Levi used his own home as tool to reach others with the gospel.

C. What do you have that you could use to reach others?

IV. There is a desire to exalt the Savior.

A. This was the beginning of his relationship with Christ.

1. He had made Him a great feast.

2. Christ was the honored guest!

3. He gave Christ an honored place in his life.

B. Later, when Matthew wrote his gospel account of the life of Christ.

1. He presents Jesus as the King of Kings.

2. Each of the gospels represent a different aspect of the Savior.

3. Luke emphasizes the man, Mark emphasizes the servant, John emphasizes the divinity, but Matthew shows us the King!

C. Do we exalt Christ? God does!

1. Phil 2:9, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"

2. Rev 5:12, "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

3. True evidence of salvation is putting Christ in His proper place in our lives as the exalted Lord and Savior.

Are saved? Have you been born again? If not, would you allow us to introduce you to the Lord Jesus Christ today? Come this morning and we will meet you with an open Bible and show you the One who loves you and wants to save you today!

Christian, does your life give evidence of your salvation? Is there a knowledge of right and wrong and a desire to make things right? Is there a hunger for the presence of God in every aspect of your life? Is there a desire to witness to others about the saving grace of God? Is there a desire to exalt the Savior?

Whatever your need this morning, why not come today and meet God at this old-fashioned altar.