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Bringing others to Jesus… (4 things)
We tell people about Jesus – because He is the answer everyone needs to hear!
1st – Leading others to Jesus… vs. 35-39
The next day – John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples… vs. 35-36
The one was John the disciple of Jesus – the other was Andrew the brother of Peter…
These are men we know go on to become disciples of Jesus – part of the 12…
But here we are given insight in how they came to follow Jesus…
John taught them – so when they heard him say – ‘Behold the Lamb of God’…
They immediately left John and began to follow Jesus!
John the Baptist understood that he was not the one these men needed to follow…
His only purpose was to prepare them to follow Jesus…
We are not the answer people need in life – the ones people should look to…
God give us family / friendships – so that we could take them to Jesus…
We teach them about Jesus – tell them about the Good News…
So that one-day they will see Jesus – and choose to follow Him!
Even if it is not in words – we show them through our actions…
I was on a missions trip to Kazakhstan – I had a muslim roommate…
His 1st words to me were – ‘I don’t want to hear about your God’ – wasted trip…
God told me to let him see Jesus in me – be his Bible – II Corinthians 3:3
4 weeks later he opened the conversation – accepted Jesus as his savior!
Many people will not take the time to read their Bible – but they do read you…
You life / your example – has the power to lead them to Jesus!
Jesus turned and asked Andrew and John – ‘what do you seek’… vs. 37-38
The first words recorded by Jesus in the Book of John…
A very pointed question – Jesus wanted to know why they were following Him…
Still a valid question for many today – why do we seek Jesus…
There are many who are looking for what they can get from Jesus…
They think if they attend church – God will give them riches / blessing…
But Jesus did not come to give us a better life here on earth…
In fact following Jesus means you will likely face more challenges in life…
John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation…”
Because God knows it is in the trials of life that we cry out to Jesus!
God is far more concerned about our eternity – than the 70+ years we have here…
Following Jesus is about receiving a far greater reward – eternal life!
Andrew and John answered – ‘where are you staying’…
Apparently the two disciples wanted to have a ‘quiet chat’ with Jesus…
They were curious – they wanted to know more about the ‘Lamb of God’…
Jesus heartily invited them to follow – and they spent the whole day with Him…
Because God always has time for those who are truly seeking to know Him…
People often feel like God is not there – God is not listening to them…
But the reason is often because they are not seeking God with all their heart…
They will shoot up a prayer when there is a problem in life…
For the most part Jesus is just something you do for an hour on Sundays…
But we find God when we seek and search for Him with all our heart!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 – “You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
2nd – Reaching out to just one … vs. 40-42
First thing in the next morning – Andrew went to find his brother Peter…
You do not read much about Andrew in the Bible – not much is said about him…
But the one thing we do know is he brought Peter to Jesus!
This is the Apostle Peter – whom God would use to on Pentecost to start the church…
Arguably one of the most powerful and influential and men in history!
You never know how God might use those you reach…
Edward Norris Kirk felt a tug on his heart to share Jesus with a shoe salesman…
His name – Dwight L. Moody – one of the greatest evangelists in history…
Mordecai Ham preached the Gospel to a tough crowd – very few received Jesus…
But one of them was Billy Graham – preached to 215 million in 185 countries…
Too often we think what can God do with me – how can God use me…
But if we are willing to share Jesus with just one person – millions can be touched!
We have found the Messiah / Christ…
Andrew did not try and convince Peter – he just told him the Good News…
Our job is not to convince people they need Jesus – that is the work of the Spirit…
Our opportunity / responsibility is to simple tell them about the Gospel…
You might be pleasantly surprised how many people would accept Jesus…
All that is needed is for someone to tell them about His Love!
3rd – Sharing Jesus with skeptics… vs. 43-49
The next day Jesus was in the Galilee and said to Philip – ‘follow me’… vs. 43-44
There was no doubt many people Jesus passed as He walked around the Galilee…
Perhaps He called out to some of the others to come and follow Him…
But Philip not only heard the call of Jesus – he immediately followed!
When God calls – are we are too busy to answer – caught up in the cares of this world…
Or when the Lord calls are we ready to follow Jesus – immediately…
We never hear the names of those who did not follow – only those who did!
Philip went and found Nathanael… vs. 45-46
We have found the one the Law and Prophets wrote about – Jesus of Nazareth…
Philip knew his Bible – he knew the verses that taught about the Messiah!
If we are unsure ourselves about the Word of God – who Jesus is…
We are not going to be very effective in sharing that hope with others…
But as we grow in our faith – are strengthened by reading the Word of God…
We will have the answer when others question – and we can tell them about Jesus!
I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about your Christian hope… be ready to explain it.”
Nathanael asked – ‘can anything good come from Nazareth’…
Peter had not taken any convincing – just hearing from his brother was enough…
But Nathaniel was a skeptic – he was not easily convinced Jesus was the Christ…
Nathaniel was from Cana – a town very close to the city of Nazareth…
It is possible there was a rivalry between these two towns – a prejudice…
Not everyone we share Jesus with immediately receive Him as their savior…
Many people have bias or prejudices in life that keep them from believing…
When we tell them about Jesus – they assume we are talking about religion…
Or when we talk about the Bible – they assume they already know the truth…
Philip answered – ‘come and see’…
Philip did not argue with Nathaniel – he just asked him to come and see for himself…
He knew that once Nathaniel met Jesus – all his doubts would gone…
If you know someone who is skeptical about Jesus…
Every time you bring up the Bible – they think you are talking about religion…
You do not have to argue or debate with them – the solution is easy…
Just ask them to come to Bible study / come to church – and see for themselves…
Sitting under a tree… vs. 47-50
Jesus saw Nathaniel coming – ‘here comes a true son of Israel – an honest man’…
Apparently Nathaniel was a very devout man – he truly desired to live for God…
Jesus knew exactly who he was – and what was in his heart…
When a skeptic is willing to come and listen to God’s Word – God will answer…
The Bible study seems like it is just for them – as if the pastor ‘knew’…
Nathaniel wanted to know – ‘How do you know me?’
Jesus – ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip found you’…
Even before Philip went to talk to Nathaniel – God was watching him!
God knows the trials in our life – He knows the questions in our heart…
We might think God does not see – but nothing is hidden from the Lord…
We have a fight with our wife in the morning – and the pastor teaches on marriage…
We are wondering if we will be able to pay our bills – pastor teaches on finances!
It is not the pastor – but the Lord speaking through His Word – reaching out!
Truly you are the Son of God – the King of Israel…
Nathaniel was VERY impressed that Jesus knew he was sitting under a tree…
Jesus made light of it – ‘you believe just because I saw you under a tree?’
We think it is impressive when God does a work in our lives…
When God heals a cold or a headache / when He provides for a financial need…
We are left speechless – amazed that God knew and provided!
Jesus told him – ‘you will see greater things than this’…
When God says he will do greater things – He goes above and beyond!
God does not just want to bless us – He wants to blow us away with His goodness!
God wants to take us with Him to heaven – spend eternity with us!
I Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Heaven is not the most amazing place we can imagine – beyond our imagination!
It will take ages – literally 1000s of years – in heaven for God to reveal it all to us!
Ephesians 2:7 -“In the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
4th – The greater things… vs. 51
You will see heaven opened…
The greatest need for all men is to be saved from their sins…
All of us have fallen short of God’s standard of perfection – heaven was shut to us…
So Jesus came down to open up heaven – build a bridge between God and us…
Why is it so important for us to point others to Jesus – be the Bible for them to read…
Why should we step out in faith to share the simple Gospel…
Why should we know our Bible – have an answer for the hope within us…
Patiently work with skeptics – encourage them to come and hear from Jesus…
Jacob’s Ladder – in Genesis 28 – Jacob had a dream…
Jacob was running for his life – Esau his brother wanted to kill him…
He came to Bethel – a very rocky and barren area – a dessert place…
In the midst of great hardships and difficulty – God met with Jacob…
While Jacob slept he had a dream – a ladder reaching up to Heaven…
Genesis 28:12 – “[Jacob] dreamed… a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”
Jacob’s ladder is Jesus! He is the bridge between heaven and earth!
Like Jacob people are running for their lives – sin is after them to kill them!
But in Jesus – God opened up the door to heaven – gave us a ‘ladder’ – a way out…
Jesus is the ONLY way to get to heaven – the only way to have eternal life…
I Timothy 1:25 – “There is only one God and one mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.”
We tell people about Jesus – because He is the answer everyone needs to hear!
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