THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES
John 1:29-45
INTRODUCTION TO JESUS
V:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
A. It is good to know Jesus
1. It is better to know His mission
2. He came to die for our sins
3. John gives us the way He died
Isaiah 53:7-8
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
Exodus 29:38-39
This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a
year old.
4. Jesus is our sacrificial lamb.
a. Let me suggest that the age of the lamb represents the one true
and living God.
b. The meat of a one-year-old lamb is tender.
c. Jesus is our tender loving lamb.
B. Jesus surpassed John because He was before John
1. John was born of a woman.
2. Jesus is eternal and took on human flesh in a woman
3. Jesus is God, John was a servant of God
4. John was given the mission, of proclaiming the coming of God.
5. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us with the mission of redeeming man
C. There is a difference between revelation and enlightenment.
1. Information about God that had not been known before
is a revelation.
2. Enlightenment is the understanding of the revelation of
God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. John got a revelation of Jesus through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
4. You and I get enlightened by the revelation of God.
5. The revelation of God is the entire Bible.
YOUR TESTIMONY AFFECTS OTHERS
V:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
A. John was given the revelation of the presence of Jesus through
Power of the Holy.
1. John was given the revelation that He would know Jesus by
the Spirit that rested upon Him.
a. No one has ever seen the Holy Spirit, but God made it known
to John in His appearance as a dove.
b. This not strange, since angels which are spirit beings have
appeared as men in the Old and New Testaments,
2. John's baptism was one of water for repentance of sin
3. Jesus baptism is by the Holy Spirit for the redemption of Sin
B. John was inspired to testify who was the Son of God.
1. Each time we study the Word of God we are enlightened
to understand the revelation.
2. Having been enlightened by the Word, we are inspired to
testify to the goodness of Jesus
C. Because of his obedience, John was given the first sight of
the Redeemer ready to fulfill all prophecies,
1. Our obedience puts us in a position to understand the entire
revelations of Jesus.
2, John's baptism didn't save anyone.
a. John's baptism enlightened men to the penalty of their sins.
b. John's baptism inspired men to repent which set them up
for the future salvation of Jesus.
c. Prior to the advent of Jesus, faith in the Word of God which
is Jesus, saved,
d. Abraham believed and therefore was declared righteous.
e. Isaac and Jacob never saw Jesus but believed the Word
which was handed down to them by Abraham and
confirmed by the angels of God and therefore were saved.
TO KNOW JESUS, SPEND TIME WITH HIM
V:35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see."
A. Watch this, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
1. Andrew and the other disciple heard the Word, witness the Word and
followed the Word.
2. They believed the WORD was Jesus, their long-awaited Messiah.
3. They went with Jesus to dwell with Him and learn of Him.
B. Prophets before did the planting, John did the watering, and Jesus
caused the growth in Andrew and the other disciple.
1. Andrew and Peter believed the Word, repented of their sins under
John and was set to be disciples of Jesus.
2. You and I are no different.
a. We heard the Word from mom or dad or someone inspired
us to become disciples of Jesus.
b. We have not seen Jesus, but we believe the Word which is
Jesus and He live in our hearts.
3. We, like Andrew we need to ask ourselves, what do we
want from Jesus?
a. I want to dwell with him, know more about Him, and see
His work in my life.
INFLUENCE OTHERS TO FOLLOW JESUS
Verse 39b. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
A. To know Jesus you have to spend some time with Him.
1. Andrew and the other disciple, to come under the influence
of Him.
2. Under the influence of Jesus we are convicted in our hearts that He is
who He says He is. I AM WHO I AM.
3. The first job of a disciple of Jesus is to find somebody and tell them
About their Messiah,
4. Look at the instructions God gives, start at home with those close
to you.
a. Andrew went first to tell Peter His brother.
b. Andrews testimony was so convincing, that Peter went to
meet Jesus,
c. You never know who you are influencing when you proclaim
Jesus.
d. Andrew never wrote a book, but He started the writing in
Peter.
e. Andrew never preached a sermon, but he started the preaching
in Peter.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE BY JESUS
V:42b. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will
be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
A. Pay attention to this:
You don't always have to be in the foreground to influence the life
Of someone, God uses to do great things.
1. You don't hear of any great works of Andrew, but he was there with
Peter, encouraging and supporting him.
2. I will never forget this.
a. When I came to Greater Macedonia Baptist Church the first
Sunday Morning, It was Deaconess Emma Morning who
waited in her car till I and my wife got out of our car.
b. She greeted us outside the church, escorted us into the church
and introduced us to the church body.
c. To this day, I am encouraged by Deaconess Morning every time
I see and talk to her.
d. It was her warm welcome that made me feel at home.
B. Peter became the rock that Jesus built His Church.
1. God used Andrew to bring Peter into His inter circle
2. If you never get any recognition for your service, remember
this, that God is using you to bring others to Christ.
THANK GOD FOR YOUR CALLING
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
No comments:
Post a Comment