John, Part 7
Series: Clear the Way, Part 7
John 1:43-51
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’re here with us; dismiss kids
-- Thank you for hanging in there with me through this introductory chapter
-- Truly, there has been a LOT to discover, and I thank you for your attentiveness
-- Prayerfully, as we dive into the ministry works of Jesus, we’ll be just as eager!
- I never want to assume that we all have the same knowledge about John:
? A young Jewish man; referred to as youngest Apostle (late teens / early 20s)
? John wrote 5 books in NT: 3 epistles, Revelation, and this Gospel (~90 AD)
? John centers on the truth of Christ: He is the Messiah sent from God to save
- Setup: Many immediately denied Jesus because of his origins
? They looked on Him as a fake: comes from “Nazareth”, a rejected people
? However, what we see Jesus do is what He can do for those we tell also
? He changes the heart of those who don’t know (we are the messengers)
- Read John 1:43-51 / Pray
Point 1 – Hearing leads to Conviction
- OBV: Philip was ready when Jesus invited him to follow
-- How do I know? Look how he responded to the invitation – he reacted (v43)
-- But don’t miss the most outstanding thing in this passage right before that
-- Jesus went! He sought Philip out! Note: Galilee was 80 miles from Bethany!
- FACT: There was no sin, obstacle, or distance too great to keep Jesus away
-- Last week: Jesus sees the potential you will have; not just where you are now!
-- BIG: When we think people are not worth sharing Jesus with (re: 80 miles)
- Lesson: Each of us must be willing to have no limits on WHO needs Jesus
-- Too many in this world are considered “unwanted” by the church
-- And in that, we are no different than the Pharisees (who practiced this sinfully)
- Jesus’ purpose was to invite the creation to draw closer to the Creator
-- People who would be faithful to God – who would desire His ways over theirs
-- However, they had to repent of sin; NON-NEGOTIABLE (why they denied)
- REALIZE: Being a “follower” of Jesus means that we do what He did!
-- Our own preferences, desires, feelings, & even our opinions must take backseat
- APPLY: Within each of us a conviction must build from this truth:
? In v1 we saw that the Word always existed (before time began)
? In v14 we saw that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us
? In v34 we heard the last OT prophet declare that He is the Messiah
? And now we see the Word, the Messiah, calling others to follow Him
- GET: I’m tired of this (all) Church flirting with loving the world’s ways
-- Yes, we are followers; Yes, we are worshiping; Yes, we are loving – BUT …
-- There is a burning in my heart to witness even more boldly than before
-- Confess: I have a desire to see people come to Christ! WHY? Because …
-- In the simplest terms: Jesus went to find people … will we do the same?
Point 2 – Conviction must become Action
- FACT: When you read these words and you are not stirred, it should worry you!
-- APP: It should cause us to pause and ask ourselves some questions:
1. Why do I not care for those who need Jesus just like I did?
2. What is keeping me from sharing this invitation with people I know?
3. Why am I not a burdened evangelist, telling this to people I know?
- FREEING: The response & actions of someone else is NOT on you!!
-- The only thing that matters is your response to Jesus: Do YOU know Him?
-- Nathaneal (aka Bartholomew) had an opinion about Nazarenes (v46); until Jesus
-- Why? All Jesus did was tell him that He knew (cared for) him; it changed him
- TRUTH: Once the invitation is made, a response is required by the listener
-- This is the simplicity of the Gospel in action that we must comprehend
-- Once someone is invited, they have to respond: “yes” or “no” (two choices)
- APPLY: This must be the motivator of each of you every day you have breath
-- See Philip’s joy: We have found Him!!! He is here! The One promised to us!
-- When Philip talks about Moses he is referring to the knowledge of The Law
-- RE: The Law pointed them (and us) to see the need for a Savior (because of sin)
-- In Philip’s joy … his life purpose narrowed (v45 - went): “I need to share this!”
- TALK: We have all experienced the testimony of those who live fully for Jesus
-- The testimony of those willing to share, willing to engage, willing to witness
- Sadly, this week, we saw a man killed – martyred – for his witness in life
-- I did not know Charlie Kirk, but I do know the same Jesus that he is with now
-- His crime? He was willing to share the truth of the bible by engaging people
-- BTW: Martyr is a verb and it means (dictionary): “To put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession” Shorter: To be killed for how you live
- Many in this country are shocked because we saw the horror of rejoicing in it
-- Yet, did/do we not see this same level of horror when Jesus was silenced?
-- Consider: Is the response of Nathaneal not just as wicked as a blanket denial?
-- My heart is saddened because we’ve lost another voice in the wilderness
- DEEPER: I’ve been convicted that we should be just as dedicated to TELL
? Like Andrew and Philip: men who knew others who needed this truth
? Consider: I don’t believe any of us can argue that we need a change
? We have each been given many forewarnings to repent; to turn from sin
- We’ve seen in other texts the truth that Jesus will return to take His Church home
-- However, if we are not being obedient … how can we expect to be with Him?
-- Simple truth that God owes us nothing (but wrath for our sin) …
- Believe the “NO’s” will increase, as will persecution, because He has said it will!
-- Yet, if we cannot see that time is short, then church, we are asleep! AND
-- DON’T MISS THIS: If we won’t go, tell, and (if needed) bring people to Jesus, then their blood will be on our hands!
A Call to Action:
- No matter who you are – you need to know Jesus as Lord, first!
-- This is the primary focus of those who encountered Him – simple as A, B, C
- Then, once you know Him, you must respond in the same manner you’ve seen
? No matter what sin someone is struggling with, you must share Jesus
? No matter how much someone has hurt you, you can always share Jesus
? No matter how you feel, it’s time to get over it and lovingly share Jesus
- Have you confessed Him as Lord and does He in fact, have Lordship over you?
-- If yes, then being His witnesses should be evident in everything you do! (TEXT)
- Acts 4:20, “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
- CH: How will you respond to this simple example of faith in action?
- Pray
