Participants: Scott Moore
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000766
|
01:00 The title of our message is "Have you found the Messiah?"
01:06 "Have you found the Messiah?" 01:08 Debbie Williams and five of her partners 01:10 jumped from an airplane at over 20,000 feet. 01:16 They were going to form a mid-air formation. 01:20 Debbie was the last to jump out of the plane, 01:22 and as she was maneuvering herself 01:25 in order to reach her other friends, 01:27 she miscalculated the distance and slammed into one of them, 01:31 knocking herself unconscious. 01:34 Debbie began to spiral into tumble through the air, 01:37 and Gregory, the dive master 01:40 noticed that something was not right. 01:44 He began to chase after Debbie, 01:46 he, he's estimated that as he was chasing her, 01:49 he was going at approximately a 180 miles-an-hour, 01:53 with his head tucked his chest, toes pointed, 01:56 maneuvering his shoulders ever-so-slightly. 02:00 So that he could reach Debbie, 02:01 before she reached the ground. 02:07 Twelve seconds before impact, 02:11 2,000 feet above the earth. 02:17 Gregory was able to pull Debbie's reserve cord. 02:24 As soon as he pulled her's, he pulled his. 02:28 Both of them are alive today to tell the story. 02:32 Debbie's life was heading headlong 02:34 for the horizon of this earth and her death. 02:39 But because one man cared enough 02:41 to reach out and to grab her, to pull that reserve cord, 02:46 she's alive today. 02:47 And this earth is heading toward an impact 02:50 with the end of time. 02:54 We're speeding toward a collision 02:56 with the final events of this earth's history. 02:59 And we have to pull the reserve cord 03:01 on as many people as we possibly can. 03:07 Let's pray right before we open the word of God. 03:12 Gracious Father, we thank you again 03:13 for this opportunity to study your word. 03:18 Lord, we ask that as we read from your word 03:21 that your spirit will help us to rightly understand it. 03:27 We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. 03:32 Okay, my friends. Those of you at home, 03:34 let's go out and go ahead and take out our Bibles. 03:36 We're gonna turn to the Old Testament Book of Psalms. 03:40 We're going to the 18th Psalm. 03:43 So let's find Psalm here in the Old Testament. 03:46 We're going to Psalm 18. 03:50 Psalm 18 and verse 44. 03:55 The Bible says here in Psalm 18:44, 03:58 "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me, 04:03 the strangers shall submit themselves unto me." 04:08 Now the Psalmist is writing here, 04:09 and he's the king of course, and the king says 04:13 "As soon as people here of me, they will obey me." 04:19 As soon as they hear of me, 04:21 they will submit themselves to me. 04:24 David knew that as soon as people heard his name, 04:29 as soon as people heard him say something 04:31 that they would do it because he was the king. 04:34 David was not ignorant of the fact 04:36 that most of the professed submission to him 04:39 was false and feigned. 04:43 The only reason people gave their allegiance to David 04:45 was because he was the king. 04:49 David knew this, he was not ignorant to that fact. 04:53 In a much more accurate manner in a much higher sense, 05:00 God is aware that many of those 05:05 that profess submission to him 05:10 are telling a lie. 05:14 If they could do it with safety, 05:15 they would through off the very appearance of loyalty 05:19 and carry out in reality what truly exists in their hearts. 05:28 It must have been sad for David to reflect 05:30 how great the number of his professed followers 05:33 would have been diminished 05:35 if they had just thrown off that professed loyalty. 05:43 "It is sad to reflect how greatly 05:45 the number of professed friends of God 05:49 would be diminished, if all those should withdraw 05:53 who have yielded only reigned obedience to him. 05:57 Yet the Church would be the better 06:02 and stronger for it." 06:06 Friends, are you a follower of Jesus Christ 06:08 only because you have to be? 06:13 Do you go to church, because if you don't 06:16 somebody will call you and say where were you. 06:20 Is your profession to Jesus Christ false 06:23 and feigned or is it true? God knows, 06:29 we're not fooling God on this. 06:34 God knows that. 06:37 Yet, David said here the stranger will submit to him. 06:41 But the stranger will only submit to him 06:44 as soon as they hear him. 06:49 Turn with me to the New Testament. 06:51 Someone must take this message to them. 06:55 Turn with me to the New Testament Book of Romans. 07:00 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Chapter 10. 07:06 Romans Chapter 10, and we will begin reading in verse 13. 07:13 Romans the 10th Chapter and verse 13. 07:15 The word of God reads like this. 07:16 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, 07:20 shall be saved." Verse 14 07:23 "How then shall they call on Him 07:26 in whom they have not believed? 07:28 And how shall they believe in Him 07:29 of whom they have not heard? 07:32 And how shall they hear without a preacher?" 07:37 "And how shall they preach," verse 15, 07:39 "Except they be sent? As it is written, 07:41 how beautiful are the feet of them 07:43 that preach the gospel of peace, 07:46 and bring glad tidings of good things!" 07:51 The Bible says here that all those that 07:52 call on the name of the Lord will be saved. 07:56 But before they can call in the name of the Lord, 07:58 they have to hear about Him. 08:00 They have to believe in Him. 08:05 Someone must take this message to other people. 08:11 Verse, verse 15 said, "How shall they preach, 08:13 except they be sent?" 08:15 So what as people that have been sent by God, 08:19 they will be doing the what? The preaching. 08:23 The people that are sent by God 08:24 will be doing the preaching, 08:26 so the question that we have to ask ourselves now is, 08:30 has God sent anyone? Let's look at this. 08:34 You want to keep your place there in Romans 08:36 'cause we're gonna keep coming back to it. 08:37 Let's go to Matthew, but yeah, Matthew Chapter 28. 08:42 Matthew is the very first book, 08:43 it's in left from where we are, 08:45 first book in the New Testament. 08:46 We're going to Matthew 28 and verse 18. 08:51 The Bible says here in Matthew 28 and verse 18. 08:53 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying?" 08:56 Now, friends, let me ask you a question. 08:58 Did Matthew write this book, 09:00 so that his momma could have something to remember him by? 09:03 Absolutely not. Matthew wrote, 09:06 did he just write this book for the disciples 09:08 so that they could remember what happened 09:09 when Jesus was here on the earth? No. 09:13 Matthew wrote this book 09:14 and these words are recorded for you. 09:19 So God right now was not just speaking to the disciples 09:23 Jesus isn't just speaking to the disciples 09:25 before he ascends to heaven here. 09:27 Jesus is speaking to you. 09:32 And this is what, Jesus says to you. Listen, 09:37 "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." 09:44 "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. 09:47 Go ye therefore," because all power is given to Me, 09:51 go do this. "Go ye therefore 09:54 and teach all nations, 09:57 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 10:00 and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 10:03 Teaching them to observe all things 10:05 whatsoever I have commanded you and, 10:08 lo, I am with you all way, 10:09 even unto the end of the world. Amen." 10:13 Now, friends, because we recognize that 10:15 this was written for us. We can truly say, 10:20 when we read Romans Chapter 10 and verse 15. 10:24 That we are the ones that have been sent. 10:30 We are the ones that are to share 10:32 the gospel message with the world. 10:35 God is depending upon you to take His message, 10:39 to the world. God is depending upon you 10:42 to take His message, His gospel, 10:44 His good news to find people 10:47 who are looking for the Messiah. 10:50 You have been sent, but wait a minute, preacher. 10:55 You're up here preacher and that's all well and good, 10:57 but the Bible says here that the preachers 10:59 are gonna be sent, and I am no preacher. 11:03 Hold on a minute. Hold on a minute. 11:08 Jesus, we've recognized in Matthew Chapter 28, 11:11 did that book was written for us and Jesus says to go, 11:15 and if Jesus is sending us, 11:16 is Jesus going to enable us to tell others about Him. 11:21 Absolutely, all of God's biddings are God's enablings. 11:26 When God asks you to do something God doesn't say, 11:29 do it and do it on your own. 11:31 God says, "I want you to do this and by the way, 11:33 all power is given unto me that I'm gonna share 11:37 that with you for the purpose of teaching all nations, 11:40 all things that I have commanded you, 11:43 and I will be with you always." 11:46 "You will not be alone," Jesus says. 11:51 To the disciples here, 11:53 God gives the commission and to us also. 11:56 We're bidden to go forth as Christ's messengers, 11:59 to teach, to instruct, and to persuade men and women, 12:03 to urge upon their attention the word of life. 12:07 The commission is given to us. 12:10 Whatever the difficulties with which we may have to contend, 12:13 whatever the trials we may have to endure, 12:18 the gracious promise is always ours, 12:20 "Lo, I'm with you always, 12:22 even to the end of the world, amen." 12:28 Have we been sent the answer is obvious? Yes. 12:33 Now this is, this is what Jesus says 12:35 at the end of His ministry. 12:36 But what does Jesus say at the beginning of His ministry? 12:39 Let's stay in the Book of Matthew, 12:41 and let's look, I think we already 12:43 turned from the Book of Matthew. 12:44 But we're gonna go back there, we turn from there. 12:46 We're gonna go back to Matthew, 12:48 the 4th Chapter, Matthew Chapter 4 verse 19. 12:54 Matthew Chapter 4 verse 19. 12:57 Now listen to what Jesus says? 12:59 Friend, prepare yourself for the word of God 13:02 to bring conviction to you right now. 13:05 Matthew Chapter 4 verse 19. 13:08 The word of God reads like this, 13:09 "And he saith unto them." 13:11 Now my Bible has red words following that little phrase, 13:14 that means Jesus is going to be talking. 13:16 And Jesus says, "Follow Me, 13:19 and I will make you fishers of men." 13:26 Simple. Jesus said, "you follow Me, 13:30 and I will make you a fisher of men." 13:35 We now have our litmus test. 13:39 We have our plumb line by which we can tell 13:42 whether or not we are following Jesus. 13:48 Jesus says, "you follow Me," 13:50 the natural end result as soon as you follow Me 13:55 will be that you are a fisher of men. 14:02 How about it, friend? Have you been fishing, lately? 14:09 Did you get any nibbles? 14:12 Did you try to set the hook too early? 14:14 Did you wait to set the hook too late? 14:17 Have you been fishing for men? Jesus says, 14:20 this is the way, we can know, 14:22 whether we are following Him or not. 14:25 By whether or not we are fishing for men. 14:27 Jesus says, I will make you this. 14:30 You remember the story of the Demoniac, 14:33 the Demoniac meets Jesus and we don't know 14:35 what the time frame is there, maybe five, 14:37 ten minutes later, he's clothed in his right mind 14:39 and then he goes back into a town 14:41 and he tells the entire town about Jesus. 14:47 My friends, "Have you found the Messiah?" 14:52 Do you recognize that you are the one that is sent? 14:59 Let's go back to this, this preacher thing. 15:02 Romans Chapter 10. 15:03 Romans Chapter 10 and verse 15. 15:07 That's to the right. 15:08 Romans Chapter 10 and verse 15. 15:12 Let's pick it up at the end of 14 15:14 and in the beginning of 15. 15:17 "And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15:20 And how shall they preach except they be sent?" 15:25 We've concluded today that all of us have been sent. 15:28 Now the question we have to answer for is? 15:30 Is who's the preacher? Can't be me? 15:33 I'm not educated. Can't be me? 15:36 That's what I pay the pastor for. 15:38 It can't be me. Now I'm gonna trap you. 15:43 Everybody at home, everybody here, 15:45 I want you to understand that I am going to trap you. 15:48 You will not be deceived. 15:50 We're gonna let your own words and your own answers 15:53 show that you are the preacher. 15:56 Are you ready? All right, here we go. 16:00 Have you ever told somebody 16:03 something good that happened to you? 16:06 All right, I see a head nodding. 16:09 Have you ever told somebody, maybe, 16:14 maybe when you were younger 16:15 you got a Christmas present or something. 16:17 And you just couldn't wait to tell all the guys 16:19 or the girls about it. 16:21 And you told them that good news. 16:24 Maybe you sent an email 16:26 and actually typed up the email and pushed send. 16:29 Maybe you wrote out the snail-mail way, 16:33 and you put a stamp on it. 16:34 You put it in an envelop and you mailed it. 16:36 Somebody on the other end opened it up and read it. 16:40 The word here for preacher and preach. 16:43 For preacher, the preacher that must be sent is Kerusso. 16:48 It means to herald especially divine truth, 16:53 to preach, to proclaim, and to publish. 16:57 Those of you that had something good happened to you 16:59 and you proclaimed it to somebody else, 17:01 you're the preacher. 17:03 Those of you that filled out that snail-mail letter 17:06 and put it in the mail box, 17:07 and you sent it off and somebody read it, 17:08 you are the publisher, it's you, 17:10 you're the one Jesus is talking about. 17:13 Those of you that pushed the send on the email, 17:16 those of you that do the text messaging 17:18 you are God's preacher. 17:22 The responsibility God gives to us. 17:28 The Bible says, how shall they preach 17:30 except they be sent, 17:31 how shall they hear without a preacher. 17:33 The preacher must have a message. 17:38 The preacher must have a message. 17:42 What is the message? That the preacher must have, 17:45 what is the message the people need to hear? 17:47 Let's turn to the left in our Bibles 17:49 to the New Testament Book of Luke. 17:51 Matthew, Mark, Luke, the third of the gospels. 17:54 Luke Chapter 2, we'll begin reading in verse 10. 17:57 The Bible says in Luke Chapter 2 verse 10, 18:00 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, 18:02 for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 18:05 which shall be to some people." 18:09 No, that's not what the Bible says. 18:11 It says, this, this good tidings of great joy 18:15 shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day, 18:20 we're in verse 11, "In the city of David, 18:22 a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." 18:27 That's the good news. 18:29 That's the message. A Savior is come. 18:38 This is what people need to hear 18:40 but not only the message that He came, 18:44 but the message that He hung on a cross and died for them, 18:47 and rose again to give us everlasting life. 18:50 Life to which there is no end. 18:57 Turn with me to Romans Chapter 1 and verse 16, 19:00 we're in Luke turn several books to the right. 19:03 Romans Chapter 1 and verse 16. 19:07 Oh! This is getting exciting now. 19:09 Romans Chapter 1 verse 16. 19:10 The Bible says here. Paul is writing and he says, 19:13 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 19:17 for it is the power of God unto salvation 19:22 to every one that believeth," 19:25 how are they gonna hear? 19:27 How are they gonna believe if they don't hear? 19:29 How are they gonna hear without a preacher? 19:33 Paul says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 19:36 for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one 19:40 that believeth to the Jew first, 19:41 and to the Greek." 19:44 Friends, have you ever been ashamed of the gospel? 19:49 Have you ever sat down in a restaurant to eat, 19:53 and decided to pray with your eyes open, 19:55 starring at nothing, hoping that the Lord 19:58 would forgive you for not closing them? 20:02 Have you ever been in the check out counter 20:04 or the check out line at the grocery store, 20:07 and the lady on the other side 20:08 the one that's bagging your grocery 20:10 has a sad look on his or her face? 20:16 And you know, you should say something 20:18 but you just don't take the opportunity. 20:24 There's a young lady by the name of Natalie. 20:27 They come up to me and she said, you know, Scotty, 20:30 I was getting gas at the gas station, 20:36 and I went inside to pay for the gas because you told us 20:40 that paying at the pump was a tool of the devil. 20:43 Now you understand paying at the pump's a tool 20:44 of the devil because you don't have to talk to anybody 20:48 when you pay at the pump. 20:49 You can hide behind the pump 20:51 and you don't have to talk to anyone, 20:52 so that's why it's a tool of the devil. 20:55 She said, so I went inside to pay for my gas 20:59 and there was a man in there that says, 21:01 it was Sunday morning, 21:02 there was a man in there that says, 21:04 what are you all dressed up for? 21:07 She said, well, I'm going to work. 21:10 He says, well, I thought you're all dressed up 21:12 because you were going to church. 21:14 And she said, "I just wanted to invite him 21:17 to church so bad, but the word just couldn't come out 21:20 because I was afraid he would say no." 21:26 Maybe you've experienced some of the same things. 21:34 Paul said, "He's not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 21:37 for this reason, 'it is the power of God unto salvation." 21:43 Turn with me to the left to John Chapter 12. 21:46 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 21:47 just past Acts as you turn into the left. 21:50 John Chapter 12 and verse 32. John Chapter 12 and verse 32. 21:58 This is the promise of Jesus Christ Himself. 22:00 Jesus promises you, dear friend, and I. 22:03 If I be lifted up from the earth, 22:05 will draw all men unto me." 22:08 Listen, I believe it was John Quincy Adams that said, 22:12 "Duty is ours but the results belong to God." 22:20 It's our duty, friend. 22:21 We're the preacher, we're the ones 22:23 that had been sent to spread the gospel message 22:25 that we should not be ashamed of because 22:28 it is the power of the God unto salvation 22:30 to all that believe. 22:31 We should not be ashamed of Jesus hanging on the cross, 22:34 and dying for our sins. 22:39 Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel, 22:42 my friends, now we have our message, 22:46 "Behold the Lamb of God, 22:48 which takes away the sins of the world," 22:49 is what John said as he was there 22:51 on the banks of the Jordan and he saw Jesus. 22:56 Will not our people keep their eyes 22:58 fixed on a crucified and risen Savior, 23:02 in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? 23:06 This is our message, this is our argument, 23:11 this is our doctrine, 23:13 this is our warning to the impenitent, 23:17 this is our encouragement for the sorrowing, 23:20 this is our hope for every believer. 23:27 If we can awaken an interest in men's minds 23:29 that will cause them to fix their eyes upon Christ, 23:33 we may step aside. 23:36 And ask them only to continue to fix their eyes 23:38 on the Lamb of God that takes away sins of the world. 23:45 Thus they receive their lesson. 23:47 Whosoever will come after Me, 23:48 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 23:52 He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. 23:56 He will die to selfishness. 23:59 He will believe in all of the Word of God, 24:02 which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ. 24:08 As the sinner sees Jesus as He is, 24:10 He, an all compassionate Savior, 24:12 hope and assurance take possession of His soul. 24:16 The helpless soul is cast 24:17 without any reservation upon Jesus. 24:19 None can bear away from the vision of Christ Jesus 24:22 crucified a lingering doubt. 24:24 Unbelief is gone, lift up Jesus, dear friend, 24:30 and He will draw all men to Him. 24:34 Let's go back to Romans Chapter 10 now. 24:36 Romans Chapter 10 verses 13 and 14. 24:39 That's to the right. 24:43 Romans Chapter 10 verse 13 and 14. 24:46 The word of God says in Romans Chapter 10 verse 13 24:48 "For whosoever shall call upon 24:49 the name of the Lord shall be saved. 24:54 How then shall they call In Him 24:55 in whom they have not believed? 24:56 And how shall they believe in Him 24:57 of whom they have not heard? 24:59 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 25:02 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" 25:04 We've been sent. We've concluded today 25:06 that we are the preacher. 25:10 We are the ones that will cause 25:14 people to hear the gospel of salvation. 25:21 God is depending upon you. 25:27 God is depending upon you. 25:31 And my friend, God is depending upon you 25:36 to take His gospel to everyone. 25:46 The Bible says that when they believe on Him, 25:49 they will call on the name of the Lord, 25:51 and they will be saved. 25:56 Turn with me to Acts Chapter 4 and verse 12. 26:00 Turn to the left, Acts Chapter 4. 26:05 Acts Chapter 4 verse 12 says, 26:07 "Neither is there salvation in any other, 26:10 for there is none other name under heaven given among men, 26:14 whereby we must be saved." 26:15 If you back up that name is given in verse 10. 26:18 That's the name of Jesus Christ. 26:21 Those that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 26:24 Acts Chapter 22 verse 16 says, "And now why tarriest thou? 26:28 Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, 26:31 calling on the name of the Lord." 26:36 Friends, God has sent us to bare this gospel message. 26:40 This message that is full of power 26:45 to a dying world. 26:48 God needs people to share His message. 26:53 The Bible gives us account after account 26:56 after account of men who met Jesus 26:58 and immediately they became fishers of men. 27:04 Dear friends, there is lots of different ways to fish. 27:06 My eldest boy, his name is Danny. 27:08 Danny loves to fish. 27:10 Danny can tell you what color lure to use 27:13 and what color of water, 27:14 what type of line you want to use with what type of fish? 27:17 How to fish in a pond, how to fish in a river, 27:19 how to fish in the ocean? 27:21 He can tell you anything you want to know about fishing 27:25 and he catches lots of fish. 27:29 But it's only because he goes fishing. 27:34 If he didn't go fishing, he wouldn't catch a thing. 27:41 The Bible, we're gonna look at three different individuals 27:44 right now, that the Bible describes 27:48 and when these men met Jesus, when these people met Jesus 27:52 immediately they became a soul winner 27:54 from the very core of their body. 27:56 It didn't take them an education, 27:58 it didn't take them weeks at a training course. 28:02 They just went and did it. 28:06 We're gonna look at one that reaches to his family. 28:10 We're gonna look at one that reaches to his friends. 28:14 We're gonna look at a third that reaches to her enemies. 28:21 So let's turn in our Bibles now to John. John Chapter 1. 28:27 The New Testament Book of John, Chapter 1. 28:31 Let me get there right there with you. 28:33 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Chapter 1. 28:40 We will begin reading in verse 35. 28:44 John Chapter 1 and verse 35. 28:46 The word of God says this, 28:47 "Again the next day after John stood, 28:50 and two of his disciples. 28:53 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, 28:55 he saith, Behold the Lamb of God." 29:02 Now here's John. 29:04 John standing there with some of his disciples. 29:07 John gives a testimony about a man named Jesus, 29:14 and John says to all of those that around him, 29:17 he says, "Behold the Lamb of God." 29:21 Now that arrested the attention 29:23 of some of John's disciples. 29:26 Let's continue reading here, in verse 37. 29:31 "And the two disciples heard him speak, 29:34 and they followed Jesus." 29:38 So John has two disciples, 29:40 John has two disciples that are following John. 29:44 John says, "Behold the Lamb of God" 29:48 and these two disciples that were followers of John, 29:50 began to follow the Lamb of God. 29:55 Now you remember what Jesus said 29:57 in Matthew Chapter 4 verse 19. 30:00 That if you follow me, 30:01 He will make you to be a fisher of men, that's right. 30:05 So immediately these two disciples, 30:08 if they are truly following Jesus, 30:11 they will be what? Fishers of men. 30:15 Doth did this happen? Verse 38, 30:21 "Jesus turned, and saw them following, 30:23 and saith unto them, What seek ye?" 30:27 Now understand friends. 30:30 They have just been told by their first Rabbi, 30:32 John, that this is the Lamb of God. 30:38 Now to their mind that was very, very significant 30:41 because it was the lamb that was the sacrificial animal. 30:45 And so they're thinking, this is the Messiah, 30:49 the man that is going to take away the sins of the world. 30:52 That's what John said previous to this in John Chapter 1. 30:56 And so these two disciples of John 30:58 began to follow a new Rabbi, Jesus. 31:00 Jesus turns around, evidently they were following so close. 31:03 He turns around and He says to them, hey, guys, 31:06 what are you looking for? 31:09 Now this is the Lamb of God 31:10 that's speaking to these disciples, 31:12 and the Lamb of God says, what are you looking for? 31:15 And they say, where do you live? 31:20 Where does the Lamb of God live? 31:25 Verse 38, "They said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, 31:29 being interpreted, Master, where dwellest thou?" 31:32 "Where do you live?" 31:35 "He saith unto him, listen to the words of Jesus. 31:37 It's a very simple invitation. 31:40 Jesus says to those disciples, "Come and see, come and see" 31:47 Jesus gives them the invitation. 31:54 Verse 39 continuing on 31:55 "They came and saw where he dwelt, 31:58 and abode with him that day, 32:00 for it was about the tenth hour." 32:03 So these two disciples of John the Baptist 32:05 began to follow Jesus, they want to know where Jesus, 32:08 the Lamb of God, lives and the Lamb of God 32:10 takes them to where He lives and I don't know 32:12 what He shows them because the Bible says 32:14 in Matthew Chapter 8 that "The foxes have holes, 32:17 and the birds of the air have nests, 32:18 but the Son of man hash not where to lay His head." 32:20 But the fact is that they spent time with Jesus, 32:24 and because they began to follow Jesus, 32:27 they became, became what do you think? 32:29 Fishers of men. Continuing on, verse 40, 32:35 "One of the two which heard John speak, 32:38 and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother." 32:44 Now some of you are the oldest children in your family, 32:47 some of you are the youngest child in your family 32:49 and you're probably known if you were the youngest child, 32:51 you were probably known as so and so's sister, 32:55 or so and so's brother. 32:58 Here the Bible says that, that Andrew was one of those 33:01 that first began to follow Jesus. 33:04 You know, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 33:07 You know him, and you know 33:09 Simon Peter's brother, that Andrew. 33:14 One of the two which heard John speak and followed him 33:15 was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 33:19 Now Jesus said, follow me now 33:20 I will make you fishers of men. 33:24 Andrew Just found the Messiah. 33:27 So Andrew, who not only found the Messiah 33:30 but started following him, 33:32 has to take the message somewhere. 33:38 So he goes to his brother, not just any old brother, 33:40 we're talking about Peter. 33:42 We're talking about impetuous, loud, boisterous, 33:46 just speak of the top of his head, Peter. 33:47 That's what we are talking about. 33:50 And here's, you know, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 33:52 He is going to he goes to Andrew to Peter. 33:54 Andrew goes to Peter, and this is what he says. 33:58 No doubt in his mind. 34:00 He says, we have found the Messiah 34:05 which is being interpreted the Christ. 34:10 Andrew doesn't even hesitate, he goes to Peter and he says, 34:12 Peter, we found the Messiah, we found him. 34:20 And I don't know what Peter said. 34:22 I don't know, but look at 34:25 what happens in verse 42, 34:31 "And he brought him to Jesus. He brought him to Jesus. 34:40 And when Jesus beheld him, he said, 34:42 Thou art Simon the son of Jonah, 34:45 thou shalt be called Cephas, 34:47 which is by interpretation, a stone." 34:51 Andrew didn't just say, hey, hey, Peter, 34:54 we found the Messiah. 34:55 No, no, no, he says, hey, Peter, 34:57 you know, what we found the Messiah, 34:59 come on let's go see Him. He brought him to Jesus. 35:04 Now many times we are very hesitant to share Jesus 35:07 and the truths that we learn from His word 35:10 with our family members, but not Andrew, 35:12 he knew he had the truth when he found Jesus. 35:18 And immediately Andrew becomes a soul winner. 35:23 He becomes a fisher of men. 35:28 My friend, as soon as he found the Messiah, 35:31 he became a fisher of men. 35:34 How about you? 35:39 Have you been fishing lately? 35:43 Continuing on here, verse 43, 35:49 "The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, 35:53 and findeth Philip, and saith unto him Follow Me." 35:58 Now friend, what's going to happen to Philip 36:01 when he follows Jesus. 36:04 He's going to become a fisher of men. 36:06 Because that's what Jesus said in God's word 36:08 contains the power to do what he says it will do. 36:13 And Jesus, Jesus says here to Philip follow me. 36:15 Now Philip decides to follow Jesus, 36:17 Philip is gonna have to be a soul winner, 36:20 a fisher of men. 36:22 Does that happen? Verse 44, 36:25 "Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter." 36:30 "Philip finds Nathanael, and says unto him, 36:34 we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, 36:37 and the prophets did write, 36:40 Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 36:47 Now friend, I want you to see right here 36:49 that Philip was not as convinced as Andrew. 36:56 Andrew goes to Simon Peter and says, 36:58 we found the Messiah. 37:02 Philip goes to Nathanael his friend, 37:05 and we're gonna discover in a minute that Nathaniel 37:08 had the same prejudice that Philip had. 37:12 And Philip finds Nathanael and he says to him 37:14 we found Him of whom Moses in the law 37:15 and the prophets did write, Jesus. 37:19 He could have left it there but no, 37:20 he says Jesus of Nazareth, 37:22 he could have even left it there but no, 37:23 he goes on, he says the son of Joseph. 37:28 There was a little doubt in Philip's mind, 37:30 yet because Philip followed Jesus 37:33 he still was compelled from inside 37:38 to share -- share the truth about Jesus with someone else 37:42 or to at least share what he had learned 37:44 of Jesus with someone else. 37:46 Verse 46, Nathanael, says unto Philip here, 37:49 Nathanael says, "Can there any good thing 37:52 come out of Nazareth?" 37:53 They both have the same prejudice. 37:55 Can anything good come out of Nazareth? 37:59 Philip gives him a simple invitation. 38:06 Philip says three words, "come and see" "come and see." 38:14 The very three words that Jesus said 38:18 back over in verse 39, "come and see." 38:24 Remember friends, duty is ours but the results are God's. 38:29 You give the invitation and then you let people come, 38:36 you lift up Jesus and you watch as people 38:39 will give their hearts and their lives to Jesus. 38:42 Remember, Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel 38:45 for it is the power of God unto salvation. 38:48 It is God's power when we share the gospel 38:51 with other people. 38:55 Here we've seen so far this man named Andrew, 38:58 he goes home to his family and he says, 39:01 look I found the Messiah, 39:05 I found the one who is going to take away 39:09 the sin of the world. 39:12 Come on, Peter, come with me, let's follow this Jesus. 39:21 I remember before I was converted every time 39:24 I would call home before I recognize and accepted Jesus 39:29 as my personal Savior I would call and talk to my momma. 39:33 And every time my momma would get on a phone with me 39:36 she'd say, boy, because that's what they call you 39:38 when you're from Alabama, she said boy, 39:42 did you get you life right yet? 39:46 No momma, I didn't get my life right yet. 39:51 She said, boy, I raised you better than that, 39:56 you know the difference between what is right 39:58 and what is wrong, get it right. 40:02 I'd get so mad at my mom for telling me 40:05 what I knew to be the absolute truth. 40:08 I wouldn't call her for at least a month and a half, 40:10 then I begin to miss momma, you know how that is. 40:14 So I had call her up again, 40:15 hey son, how are you doing? Well. 40:16 How you doing mom? You know, we chit chat 40:20 and I'm praying, Lord, 40:22 don't let her ask me the question? 40:24 But she'd ask it every time. 40:28 Often I hear parents and family members say, 40:31 if I tell the truth, if I keep telling my son or daughter 40:36 that they need to be back in the Church 40:37 that they're gonna run. 40:38 Friends, if you, if you don't tell them 40:40 you're not gonna be there. 40:45 Because it will prove that we're not fishers of men. 40:47 That we're not truly following Jesus. 40:51 Hard message to hear but true. 40:52 We've seen also the story of a young man named Philip 40:56 that goes to his friend Nathanael, 40:59 both of them have the same prejudice, 41:03 but they go to Jesus anyway, 41:05 look what happens here in verse 47. 41:08 Nathanael responds to Philip's invitation to come 41:10 and see verse 47, "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, 41:14 and saith of him, Behold an Israelite 41:16 indeed in whom is no guile!" Friends, Jesus knew Peter, 41:22 when Peter came with Andrew and Jesus knew Nathanael, 41:26 when Nathanael came with Philip 41:28 and Jesus knows your friends, your family, 41:30 your loved ones that haven't come to Him yet. 41:35 He knows them, He's just waiting for you 41:38 to give them the invitation, 41:40 don't hesitate, Jesus is coming soon. 41:46 Verse 48 "Nathanael saith to him, 41:48 Whence knowest thou me?" 41:50 How do you know me Jesus of Nazareth? 41:55 "Jesus answered and said to him, 41:57 Before that Philip called thee, 41:58 when you were under the fig-tree, I saw you." 42:03 My friends, Jesus sees your friends 42:06 and your family members. 42:09 He knows where they are, 42:12 He knows their names 42:17 and He's still willing to accept them. 42:23 Nathanael answered verse 49, and said unto him 42:26 "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, 42:28 You are the King of Israel!" 42:32 "Jesus answered and said to him, 42:33 because I said unto thee, 42:36 I saw you under the fig-tree, you believe? 42:40 You will see greater things than these." 42:45 My friends, what Jesus says 42:46 next is very significant to me. 42:50 Why else would Jesus say what he is going to say, 42:53 if Nathanael had not been recalling in his own memory 42:57 Genesis what we know to be Chapter 28. 43:02 Because this is what Jesus says to him in verse 51, 43:04 "Jesus sayeth unto him, verily, verily, 43:06 I say unto you, hereafter you will see heaven open, 43:09 and the angels of God ascending 43:11 and descending upon the Son of man." 43:12 Why would Jesus have said that to Nathanael 43:15 if Jesus did not know the thoughts 43:17 that Nathanael was thinking? 43:22 And my friends, Jesus knows the thoughts, 43:26 the place and the name of your friends 43:30 and your family members. He knows them, 43:34 He's just waiting for you to give them that invitation 43:37 to come and see, come and see. 43:49 A man that reaches his family member 43:51 not just any family member, you know, it's Simon Peter. 43:55 A friend that reaches out to his friend Nathanael, 43:57 both doubters to begin with, 44:02 yet both now followers of Jesus Christ. 44:08 Jesus was at a, at a particular well one day, 44:13 there was a lady that came to this well. 44:14 Let's look at this in John the 4th Chapter. 44:19 John Chapter 4, John Chapter 4, 44:23 "Jesus is at this well here and He is" -- verse 7, 44:28 let's look at verse 7. 44:29 "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water 44:32 and Jesus saith to her, Give me to drink." 44:35 For His disciples have gone away to buy meat in the city" 44:37 verse 9 "Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, 44:40 How is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh of me, 44:44 which am a woman of Samaria, a drink? 44:47 For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." 44:50 "Jesus answered and said unto her, 44:52 If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you 44:56 Give me to drink, you would have asked of him, 44:59 and he would have given you living water." 45:03 "The woman saith unto him," verse 11, 45:04 "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, 45:08 and the well is deep from whence 45:10 then hast thou that living water." 45:13 "Are you greater than our father Jacob," 45:15 verse 12, "which gave us the well, 45:17 and drank thereof himself, 45:18 and his children, and his cattle?" 45:21 "Jesus answered, and said to her, 45:22 Whosoever drinketh of this water, 45:24 shall thirst again" verse 14, 45:25 "but Whosoever drinketh of the water 45:27 that I shall give him shall never thirst." 45:29 Jesus begins to interact with this lady. 45:32 Jesus begins to carry on a simple conversation 45:35 at the local watering place. 45:38 Today, you could probably say that 45:40 Jesus was sitting on a park bench 45:43 and actually talk to somebody that was sitting beside Him. 45:46 Jesus was at the bus stop, Jesus was on the subway, 45:49 Jesus was doing something that you and I do everyday, 45:54 and He began a conversation with this lady. 45:57 This lady that comes to the well in the middle of the day. 46:02 Now, friends, I want you to understand 46:04 something about this lady, 46:06 in this culture this lady goes on to 46:09 -- Jesus asked this lady, he says, 46:11 you know, where's your husband? 46:12 And she says, I don't have a husband 46:14 and He says that's right 46:15 and He goes on to describe this lady's life of hurt. 46:20 Because the lady, you remember 46:21 the lady in this culture couldn't leave the man, 46:25 it was the man that put away the lady. 46:28 And so Jesus sees into the heart of this woman, 46:31 a woman that is hurting, a woman that needs a Savior, 46:34 a woman that needs the gospel, the good news, 46:39 and Jesus introduces Himself as the Messiah. 46:43 Look at verse 25, "The woman saith unto him, 46:45 I know that Messiah coming, which is called the Christ, 46:49 which is called Christ, 46:50 when he is come He will tell us all things." 46:54 "Jesus saith to her," 46:56 very plainly Jesus speaks right now, 46:59 this is no parable, this is no allegory, 47:02 Jesus is speaking plainly to the heart of this lady 47:05 just as He is speaking to you. 47:08 Jesus says to her, 47:12 "I that speak unto thee am he." 47:17 I that speak unto thee am the Messiah. 47:29 Verse 28, "The woman then left her water pot, 47:32 and went away into the city, and saith to the men." 47:34 "Come, see a man, which told me all things 47:36 whatsoever I did is not this the Christ?" 47:38 This lady is convinced that this man by this well 47:43 is the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one. 47:47 She is so convinced that she just throws 47:49 culture to the wind and she goes running into town 47:53 and she says I have found the Christ, 47:55 I found a man that told me everything I've ever did, 47:57 I never even met this man before 47:59 and this is what he did for me. 48:02 And the Bible goes on to say in verse 39, 48:08 "And many of the Samaritans of that city 48:09 believed on him on Jesus for the saying of the woman, 48:14 which testified, He told me all that ever I did." 48:16 This lady gives her own personal testimony 48:19 and people believe in Jesus, 48:21 just like Jesus promised you follow Me. 48:23 You believe in Me, you become a Christian 48:25 and I will make you a fisher of men, 48:27 this lady did the same thing, 48:29 just like Philip and just like Andrew. 48:33 Friend, have you found the Messiah? 48:40 There's one definite way to find out, 48:44 are you a fisher of men? Are you a fisher of men? 48:51 Verse 40 of John Chapter 4, 48:54 "So when the Samaritans were coming to him, 48:55 they sought him that he would tarry with them, 48:58 and he abode there two days." 49:00 "And many more believed because of his own word." 49:02 Remember friends, it is our duty 49:04 to bring people to Jesus and when they hear Jesus 49:08 they will believe for themselves 49:09 because of the truth contained in His word. 49:15 Friend, have you found the Messiah? 49:21 Have you found the Messiah? Verse 42, 49:26 "And said unto the woman, now we believe, 49:28 not because of thy saying for we have heard him ourselves, 49:32 and know that this is indeed the Christ, 49:34 the Savior of the world." 49:37 Friends, this lady who had been kicked out of society, 49:41 this lady that had absolutely no friends that we know of, 49:44 this lady that had been hurt by so many different men 49:48 comes to the well at a time of a day 49:49 when nobody should be there and there is Jesus, 49:53 He knew she was coming, He knew it. 49:57 He knew her life and He knows yours. 50:01 He knows the hurts of your family members, 50:04 your friends and your enemies 50:05 and Jesus wants to share His life with them. 50:09 But He needs you to tell Him, 50:11 He needs you to be the preacher 50:13 that He had sent you to be. 50:14 So, that people can call upon the name of the Lord 50:17 and be saved. What would keep you, 50:20 my friend, from being the preacher 50:23 that God has called you to be? 50:27 Oh, it's well and good to have a Bible study in your home 50:30 but what about that person you meet 50:32 when you don't pay at the pump. 50:36 It's well and good to go to Church 50:38 and visit with all your friends 50:39 but what about those friends of yours 50:40 that don't come to Church? 50:46 Jesus has called you to be a fisher of men 50:48 and if we're not fishing for men, 50:50 we're not following Jesus. 50:53 What would keep you, my friend, 50:56 from becoming the mouth piece 50:58 that God is asking you to be, it is so easy. 51:05 It's just a simple testimony 51:08 of what Jesus has done for you. 51:18 The Bible tells us in Proverbs Chapter 11 and verse 25, 51:22 "He that watereth shall be watered also himself." 51:27 God could have reached his object in saving sinners 51:31 without your aid. 51:34 God can do it without you, but my friends, 51:37 there is always a person reaching a person 51:40 in the Bible, always. 51:45 You're saying to yourself wait a minute, wait a minute, 51:46 what about Saul that became Paul. 51:48 Come on, who did Jesus say, hey look, Annias, 51:51 you need to go over there, you need to talk to this man. 51:56 What about Cornelius? 51:57 That an angel comes and speaks to, 51:59 and then Peter that the Holy Spirit comes to speaks to 52:01 why couldn't the angel and the Holy Spirit 52:03 just talk to Cornelius and convert him? 52:05 Because God uses you, that's why. 52:11 Philip is meeting this man, this Ethiopian in a chariot 52:18 and this man doesn't understand so God uses Philip 52:20 to have him understand and he's baptized. 52:26 My friends, what would keep you 52:29 from sharing Jesus with people you meet? 52:33 Just this past summer my wife and I were over in Germany, 52:37 we were getting on the subway, friends, 52:39 that was the first time, you know, 52:40 I don't get to travel too much that was the first time 52:43 I'd been on the subway. 52:44 My wife, that was the first time 52:45 she had been on the big subway. 52:47 And, you know, there's that gap in between the place 52:50 where you're standing and then you got to get on 52:52 the train without falling through, you know, 52:54 we weren't used to that. 52:56 By the end of the ten days that we were there, 52:57 we were pretty used to it. 52:59 So we got down into the subway one night 53:01 and there was a young man that had the guitar 53:03 wrapped up in a blanket. 53:06 Now, this is Germany, we're in Berlin, 53:08 one of the most secular societies in the world. 53:13 And I said to this young man, 53:15 I said, my friend, do you play the guitar? 53:17 Now, that's a pretty silly question, 53:18 when somebody's carrying around a guitar 53:19 but you got to start a conversation somehow. 53:22 My friend, do you play the guitar. 53:23 He said I just started taking lessons. 53:24 I said, do you like to play? He said I love to play this. 53:26 Can I play it, never met this man before. 53:29 He said sure, pulls out this beautiful guitar, 53:32 it's a classical guitar has those nylon strings on it 53:35 and then my wife and I, we love to sing together 53:37 and we started singing, "Do you know my Jesus" 53:41 right in the middle of the subway, 53:43 people came out from around the corner, 53:45 the people on the far end of the subway 53:48 were coming back down so that they could hear. 53:50 The people on the other side of the track of the subway, 53:53 because you know one goes this way one goes that way, 53:54 there's two tracks, the people on the other side 53:56 of the track came to the edge and were listening, 53:59 "Do you know my Jesus, I want to go to heaven." 54:05 It is easy to live the gospel, my friends. 54:09 Sometimes you'll have to practice hard 54:12 to get over the hesitancy to do it but it's easy. 54:20 This world is headed toward a collision 54:22 with the end of time and if we don't pull the reserve code 54:26 on the ones that we know, who will do it? 54:32 There's a man named Mr. Williams. 54:35 Mr. Williams was checked into the hospital, 54:39 he had a slight heart attack that day. 54:44 Mr. Williams asked a nurse Kidd, 54:45 if nurse Kidd would call his daughter, 54:50 he said nurse I haven't spoken to my daughter 54:52 in over two years, can you please call her, 54:55 I don't even know her number. 54:57 This is her last name. 55:00 Well, by miracle of God the nurse 55:01 was able to get this young lady's number, 55:03 her name was Jamie. 55:06 And this nurse called Jamie and she said, Jamie, 55:09 your father was admitted to the hospital today. 55:12 No, no, is my daddy alright? Yes, he's alright for now, 55:17 Jamie. Is he going to die? 55:18 We're doing the best we can, Jamie. 55:20 He's down here in room 712 at this particular hospital 55:24 and Jamie says, look, 55:25 I'm coming down there right now, 55:27 don't let my daddy die. 55:33 The phone line went dead. 55:37 Nurse Kidd tries to straighten up everything on the table, 55:40 they're at the nurse's station she's, she's beside herself, 55:43 the lump in her own throat is growing. 55:45 Two years you haven't talked to your dad 55:47 in two years, what's going on? 55:50 And then in the back of her mind 55:51 she keeps hearing this 712, 712, 712 55:54 and she finds herself in a run to room 712, 55:57 she walks into the room, 55:59 Mr. Williams doesn't sit up like he did before. 56:01 She goes over she feels for a pulse, 56:03 she listens and feels for breathing, there's none. 56:06 Code 99, stat code 99, stat room 712, 56:09 so eventually doctors, nurses begin pouring into this room 56:14 but they can't bring him back. 56:19 The nurses and doctors leave the room, 56:21 the last one to leave is nurse Kidd 56:23 and she's sees the crumpled form of a little girl 56:25 against the water fountain. 56:28 This little girl looks at nurse Kidd 56:29 and it's almost as if they know who each other are. 56:31 And she says, I want to see my daddy? 56:34 Please God, not this. 56:36 I want to see my daddy, 56:37 she leads the little girl into her daddy, 56:38 she watches as he, 56:40 she cries on her dad's body on those sheets, 56:43 crumbling them in their hands. 56:45 And then nurse Kidd leans on the desk beside the, 56:50 beside the bed and she hears the crumble 56:51 of a piece of paper. 56:52 The note, Mr. Williams asked for a pen and a note. 56:55 She picks it up and she reads it, 56:56 Jamie, you've got to read this. 56:57 Jamie, you've got to read this. 56:59 And the note says, "my dearest Jamie, 57:03 you know that I love you, I've always loved you. 57:07 I forgive you. Love, daddy." 57:10 Friends, there are people that need to hear 57:13 their Father's word, won't you give it to them? |
Revised 2014-12-17