1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,600 Well please open your Bible again at john and chapter 1. Our series is called meet Jesus and 2 00:00:05,600 –> 00:00:12,240 we’re going to see today how that happened for the very first disciples. How did the first disciples 3 00:00:12,240 –> 00:00:18,240 meet Jesus and what can we learn from the way in which they met Jesus about how people will 4 00:00:18,240 –> 00:00:26,639 meet Jesus today and come to follow him? Now I want you to notice that John chapter one records 5 00:00:26,639 –> 00:00:33,119 a remarkable week in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you look back to where we were 6 00:00:33,119 –> 00:00:39,520 a couple of weeks ago in verse 19 to 28 we have the story there of how the delegation from the 7 00:00:39,520 –> 00:00:44,480 pharisees came to John the Baptist, asked him about what he was doing and John confessed 8 00:00:44,480 –> 00:00:49,439 that he was not the Christ he’s the voice crying in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord. 9 00:00:50,220 –> 00:00:53,119 Then if you look at verse 29 it says 10 00:00:53,119 –> 00:00:57,740 the next day John saw Jesus coming towards him. 11 00:00:58,020 –> 00:01:00,820 and said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 12 00:01:01,540 –> 00:01:07,099 If you look down to verse 35 it then says the next day, so now we’re on day three 13 00:01:07,739 –> 00:01:13,779 the disciples of John became uh disciples of Jesus and we’re going to look at that section today. 14 00:01:13,980 –> 00:01:18,699 If you look down to verse 43 it says the next day so that would be 15 00:01:18,699 –> 00:01:24,199 day four, Jesus decided to go to Galilee so if day one was a Monday, 16 00:01:24,199 –> 00:01:28,160 we don’t know that, but let’s just say if day one was a Monday, 17 00:01:28,160 –> 00:01:33,040 day four would of course be a Thursday which would mean day five of Friday. 18 00:01:33,040 –> 00:01:37,919 Day six would be the Sabbath and if you look at John chapter 2 and verse 1 19 00:01:38,099 –> 00:01:43,440 It says on the third day, in other words, three days from day four, 20 00:01:43,440 –> 00:01:48,360 so what you have here basically is a week in the ministry of Jesus 21 00:01:48,360 –> 00:01:51,580 and not only a week in the ministry of Jesus, 22 00:01:52,419 –> 00:01:59,180 but think about this the first week in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. 23 00:01:59,180 –> 00:02:03,239 So if I was to give a title for this chapter it would be 24 00:02:03,559 –> 00:02:06,940 how to launch a ministry in seven days 25 00:02:06,940 –> 00:02:08,800 because that’s exactly what we have here, 26 00:02:08,800 –> 00:02:11,660 we have the launch of the ministry of Jesus in seven days. 27 00:02:11,660 –> 00:02:14,199 In fact, and I’ve not done the detail on this, 28 00:02:14,199 –> 00:02:15,960 someone might like to follow it through, 29 00:02:15,960 –> 00:02:18,720 but I believe it to be the case that John’s Gospel 30 00:02:18,720 –> 00:02:22,179 only records 20 days in the life of Jesus. 31 00:02:22,179 –> 00:02:27,059 Of course, from chapter 13 right to the end is three days or four days 32 00:02:27,059 –> 00:02:31,020 including the night before he was crucified up to the resurrection 33 00:02:31,039 –> 00:02:33,360 and then the appearances beyond. 34 00:02:33,360 –> 00:02:37,860 You have five days here in chapter 1 that are specified 35 00:02:37,860 –> 00:02:42,860 and the stories in between covering a limited number of remarkable days 36 00:02:42,860 –> 00:02:46,619 in which the glory of Jesus Christ was revealed. 37 00:02:46,619 –> 00:02:48,460 Now, when you keep getting this chronology, 38 00:02:48,460 –> 00:02:53,960 there’s something that is significant that is being communicated to us here. 39 00:02:53,960 –> 00:02:57,660 So it is very natural for us to ask the question, 40 00:02:57,660 –> 00:03:03,860 what then can we learn from the launch of the ministry of Jesus? 41 00:03:03,860 –> 00:03:07,179 There are surely things that we are able to derive 42 00:03:07,179 –> 00:03:10,139 with regards to the launching of ministry 43 00:03:10,139 –> 00:03:14,339 from the record of the very first week of the ministry of Jesus. 44 00:03:14,339 –> 00:03:16,059 And I do want us to pick this up 45 00:03:16,059 –> 00:03:20,380 so that we don’t miss something important in the Scriptures here. 46 00:03:20,380 –> 00:03:22,199 So think about what we’ve learned already. 47 00:03:22,199 –> 00:03:25,100 Day one, what was that about? 48 00:03:25,720 –> 00:03:26,600 Let me put it this way. 49 00:03:26,600 –> 00:03:30,619 Day one, establish your identity. 50 00:03:30,619 –> 00:03:33,899 Know who you are and who you are not. 51 00:03:33,899 –> 00:03:36,179 What’s the very first thing with which we started 52 00:03:36,179 –> 00:03:37,380 after the prologue? 53 00:03:37,380 –> 00:03:43,380 John says, I am not the Christ, I cannot fix myself, 54 00:03:43,380 –> 00:03:46,279 let alone try and fix other people. 55 00:03:46,279 –> 00:03:49,600 That is not why I am here. 56 00:03:49,600 –> 00:03:52,940 Now friend, Christians need to be honest. 57 00:03:52,940 –> 00:03:55,419 And this is very important in these days 58 00:03:55,419 –> 00:03:57,940 with regards to our ministry. 59 00:03:57,940 –> 00:04:00,559 Our message to the community can never 60 00:04:00,559 –> 00:04:06,080 be, we are here to show you how to live. 61 00:04:06,080 –> 00:04:09,600 We are not here to say, look at us 62 00:04:09,600 –> 00:04:12,979 as if we thought that we had model lives, model homes, 63 00:04:12,979 –> 00:04:15,199 model children, or all the rest of it. 64 00:04:15,199 –> 00:04:17,959 We are not the Christ. 65 00:04:17,959 –> 00:04:20,859 We struggle with our own sins. 66 00:04:20,859 –> 00:04:24,019 We have tensions in our own homes. 67 00:04:24,019 –> 00:04:27,720 We have disagreements in our own churches. 68 00:04:27,720 –> 00:04:29,660 If the whole world was Christian, 69 00:04:29,660 –> 00:04:31,940 it would be a lot better than it is today. 70 00:04:31,940 –> 00:04:35,040 But guess what, it would still be full of problems. 71 00:04:35,040 –> 00:04:36,279 That’s the truth. 72 00:04:36,279 –> 00:04:39,540 That is why Paul says, we do not proclaim 73 00:04:39,540 –> 00:04:42,940 ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord 74 00:04:42,940 –> 00:04:46,500 and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 75 00:04:46,500 –> 00:04:49,260 Sinners who know that they are wholly 76 00:04:49,299 –> 00:04:52,260 dependent upon the grace and mercy of God 77 00:04:52,260 –> 00:04:57,059 in Jesus Christ can never be people who trumpet ourselves. 78 00:04:57,059 –> 00:05:00,679 There is a humility that characterizes 79 00:05:00,679 –> 00:05:04,260 all genuine gospel ministry and we see it 80 00:05:04,260 –> 00:05:09,260 on day one in the launch of the ministry of Jesus. 81 00:05:09,700 –> 00:05:13,119 I am not the Christ, says John the Baptist. 82 00:05:13,119 –> 00:05:15,739 In fact, I’m not even worthy to untie 83 00:05:15,739 –> 00:05:18,519 the sandals that are on his feet. 84 00:05:18,559 –> 00:05:21,399 It’s not about me, it’s not about us. 85 00:05:21,399 –> 00:05:23,600 It’s all about him. 86 00:05:23,600 –> 00:05:27,540 Getting that absolutely clear is foundational 87 00:05:27,540 –> 00:05:30,940 to the beginning of any ministry. 88 00:05:32,160 –> 00:05:34,380 Now day two, we looked at that last week. 89 00:05:34,380 –> 00:05:37,100 What was day two all about? 90 00:05:37,100 –> 00:05:38,779 Let me put it this way. 91 00:05:38,779 –> 00:05:41,760 It is about clarifying what your ministry actually is, 92 00:05:41,760 –> 00:05:44,980 knowing what it isn’t, then knowing what it is. 93 00:05:44,980 –> 00:05:47,339 And it is to proclaim who Jesus is 94 00:05:47,339 –> 00:05:49,339 and all that Jesus does. 95 00:05:49,339 –> 00:05:51,339 What was there last week, we saw it, didn’t we? 96 00:05:51,339 –> 00:05:55,859 Verse 29, behold the Lamb of God 97 00:05:55,859 –> 00:05:58,880 who takes away the sin of the world. 98 00:05:58,880 –> 00:06:03,880 This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 99 00:06:05,579 –> 00:06:08,459 So you see how clear this is. 100 00:06:08,459 –> 00:06:11,959 As far as these disciples are concerned, 101 00:06:11,959 –> 00:06:15,519 we know that we are not the answer. 102 00:06:15,519 –> 00:06:20,279 But we are deeply convinced that Jesus Christ is. 103 00:06:20,279 –> 00:06:23,040 Therefore, the ministry that has been given to us, 104 00:06:23,040 –> 00:06:25,739 like John the Baptist, is that we should draw attention 105 00:06:25,739 –> 00:06:28,899 in every way that we possibly can to this Jesus, 106 00:06:28,899 –> 00:06:31,119 who he is, what he has done, 107 00:06:31,119 –> 00:06:34,220 and what he is able to do for all who will believe in him. 108 00:06:34,220 –> 00:06:36,040 What does he do, he takes away sin. 109 00:06:36,040 –> 00:06:39,200 He can do that for any person who will come to him 110 00:06:39,200 –> 00:06:41,339 and believe in him today. 111 00:06:41,440 –> 00:06:43,459 He baptizes with the Holy Spirit, 112 00:06:43,459 –> 00:06:46,140 that is he drenches, fills, your life 113 00:06:46,140 –> 00:06:49,100 with the very life of God giving you a new affections, 114 00:06:49,100 –> 00:06:52,140 new power, the ability to move in a direction. 115 00:06:52,140 –> 00:06:55,299 This is who he is, this is why there is hope in Jesus. 116 00:06:55,299 –> 00:06:57,820 We are not the hope of the world. 117 00:06:57,820 –> 00:07:00,339 But Jesus Christ is the hope of the world 118 00:07:00,339 –> 00:07:05,339 and that’s why our ministry is always to point to him. 119 00:07:05,459 –> 00:07:07,059 Now, today we come to day three 120 00:07:07,059 –> 00:07:08,899 and what is happening in day three 121 00:07:08,899 –> 00:07:12,079 of the first week of the ministry of Jesus. 122 00:07:12,079 –> 00:07:14,160 Well, it is the gathering of the community. 123 00:07:14,160 –> 00:07:16,019 There’s been a clear establishing 124 00:07:16,019 –> 00:07:18,980 of what the ministry is not and what it is. 125 00:07:18,980 –> 00:07:21,959 And now there is the gathering of the core group, 126 00:07:21,959 –> 00:07:25,260 if you like, of committed disciples. 127 00:07:25,260 –> 00:07:26,899 And we’ll pick up in these next weeks 128 00:07:26,899 –> 00:07:29,760 what happens in the days that follow. 129 00:07:29,760 –> 00:07:32,579 But I want us to focus in on what we learned 130 00:07:32,579 –> 00:07:36,459 from this third part of the launch of the ministry of Jesus 131 00:07:37,299 –> 00:07:42,119 which involves the gathering of these first disciples. 132 00:07:42,119 –> 00:07:46,480 I have four observations from these verses today. 133 00:07:46,480 –> 00:07:50,279 The first is the variety of means 134 00:07:50,279 –> 00:07:53,679 by which people come to follow Jesus. 135 00:07:53,679 –> 00:07:57,320 The second is the progressive steps 136 00:07:57,320 –> 00:08:01,359 by which people find a place in ministry. 137 00:08:01,359 –> 00:08:04,459 The third will be the main desire 138 00:08:04,459 –> 00:08:07,260 by which people continue in discipleship. 139 00:08:07,260 –> 00:08:09,059 A lot of people start and don’t continue. 140 00:08:09,059 –> 00:08:13,100 What makes the difference with those who do stay at it? 141 00:08:13,100 –> 00:08:14,279 And the last, very briefly, 142 00:08:14,279 –> 00:08:18,859 will be the divine power by which people are able to change. 143 00:08:18,859 –> 00:08:21,940 So these four things from the third day 144 00:08:21,940 –> 00:08:26,859 in this launch week of the Ministry of Jesus. 145 00:08:26,859 –> 00:08:29,799 First, then, the variety of means 146 00:08:29,820 –> 00:08:34,820 by which people come to follow Jesus. 147 00:08:34,960 –> 00:08:37,479 And I want you to notice from these verses 148 00:08:37,479 –> 00:08:42,479 that the first disciples did not come to Jesus 149 00:08:42,479 –> 00:08:45,400 all in the same way. 150 00:08:45,400 –> 00:08:48,020 They had different stories 151 00:08:48,020 –> 00:08:53,020 and they found their way to Jesus by different means. 152 00:08:53,140 –> 00:08:55,159 And identifying the means, 153 00:08:55,159 –> 00:08:56,799 this is where we’re going with this, 154 00:08:56,799 –> 00:08:58,840 by all means we want to win some. 155 00:08:58,859 –> 00:09:02,419 We want people to come by every possible route 156 00:09:02,419 –> 00:09:04,679 to become followers of Jesus 157 00:09:04,679 –> 00:09:08,000 and there is a remarkable variety of ways 158 00:09:08,000 –> 00:09:10,719 in which people come to Jesus. 159 00:09:10,719 –> 00:09:15,000 Notice first that some come by gospel proclamation. 160 00:09:15,000 –> 00:09:18,200 You have that in verse 37 and verse 40. 161 00:09:18,200 –> 00:09:22,679 Two of the disciples of John followed Jesus. 162 00:09:22,679 –> 00:09:23,880 And why did they do that? 163 00:09:23,880 –> 00:09:26,679 They did it as a result of John the Baptist preaching. 164 00:09:26,679 –> 00:09:29,520 He said, behold the lamb of God. 165 00:09:29,520 –> 00:09:33,900 And as he made this declaration these disciples of John 166 00:09:33,900 –> 00:09:36,099 moved away from him and that was the means 167 00:09:36,099 –> 00:09:39,260 by which they became followers of Jesus. 168 00:09:39,260 –> 00:09:40,640 And if you look at verse 40, 169 00:09:40,640 –> 00:09:43,460 you’ll see that one of these was Andrew. 170 00:09:43,460 –> 00:09:45,739 The other one is not named. 171 00:09:45,739 –> 00:09:49,299 And many believe that the other disciple 172 00:09:49,299 –> 00:09:51,599 who came at this way in this time 173 00:09:51,599 –> 00:09:53,919 was in fact John himself, who wrote the gospel. 174 00:09:53,919 –> 00:09:56,700 He never identifies himself by name, 175 00:09:56,700 –> 00:10:00,520 but he does describe himself as the disciple 176 00:10:00,520 –> 00:10:03,659 who Jesus loved. 177 00:10:03,659 –> 00:10:06,820 So here are disciples who come to Jesus 178 00:10:06,820 –> 00:10:10,219 and begin following through gospel proclamation, 179 00:10:10,219 –> 00:10:12,479 through a preaching ministry. 180 00:10:13,559 –> 00:10:15,900 Second, there are those who come 181 00:10:15,900 –> 00:10:17,840 through personal invitation. 182 00:10:17,840 –> 00:10:22,039 Verse 41, Simon Peter became a follower of Jesus 183 00:10:22,179 –> 00:10:26,820 through the personal invitation of his brother, Andrew. 184 00:10:26,820 –> 00:10:29,460 One of the two, verse 40, who heard John speak 185 00:10:29,460 –> 00:10:32,960 and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 186 00:10:32,960 –> 00:10:35,599 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, 187 00:10:35,599 –> 00:10:39,739 “‘We have found the Messiah, which means the Christ.’” 188 00:10:39,739 –> 00:10:42,179 And then these beautiful words in verse 42. 189 00:10:42,179 –> 00:10:43,599 I just love this. 190 00:10:44,440 –> 00:10:47,080 He brought him to Jesus. 191 00:10:48,080 –> 00:10:52,919 Andrew, he brought his brother to Jesus. 192 00:10:56,059 –> 00:10:58,039 Now, how did he do that? 193 00:10:58,039 –> 00:10:59,840 He brought his brother to Jesus 194 00:10:59,840 –> 00:11:02,580 essentially by sharing his own testimony. 195 00:11:02,580 –> 00:11:03,400 And what was his testimony? 196 00:11:03,400 –> 00:11:04,820 We’ve found the Messiah. 197 00:11:06,280 –> 00:11:11,159 Simon, here’s what I’ve discovered in Jesus, 198 00:11:11,159 –> 00:11:13,559 and every Christian can do this, 199 00:11:13,559 –> 00:11:15,520 to share a personal testimony, 200 00:11:15,520 –> 00:11:17,539 to invite a friend. 201 00:11:17,539 –> 00:11:20,780 And you see the same pattern in verse 45, 202 00:11:20,780 –> 00:11:23,840 where this man Philip finds Nathaniel 203 00:11:23,840 –> 00:11:25,719 and says to him, again very similar, 204 00:11:25,719 –> 00:11:27,299 -“We have found him 205 00:11:27,299 –> 00:11:29,960 of whom Moses and the prophets wrote.” 206 00:11:31,080 –> 00:11:33,159 So now think about your own family circle. 207 00:11:33,159 –> 00:11:35,039 Think about your neighbors, your friends. 208 00:11:35,039 –> 00:11:37,679 Think about colleagues in the workplace. 209 00:11:39,119 –> 00:11:41,099 Who is there that needs to meet Jesus? 210 00:11:42,719 –> 00:11:44,099 And perhaps you’re thinking right now 211 00:11:44,099 –> 00:11:45,599 of someone who’s not normally in the church 212 00:11:45,599 –> 00:11:48,659 and not hearing the proclamation of the gospel, 213 00:11:48,659 –> 00:11:51,419 but they would listen to your personal testimony, 214 00:11:51,419 –> 00:11:54,539 what you have found in Jesus Christ. 215 00:11:54,539 –> 00:11:59,539 And it might be a means by which they are brought to Jesus. 216 00:12:01,119 –> 00:12:03,219 Some come through the preaching of the gospel. 217 00:12:03,219 –> 00:12:06,419 Some come through personal testimony, 218 00:12:06,419 –> 00:12:07,739 witness from a friend. 219 00:12:07,739 –> 00:12:10,520 Some come, thirdly, through a direct intervention. 220 00:12:10,520 –> 00:12:12,820 Look at verse 43. 221 00:12:12,820 –> 00:12:17,219 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee 222 00:12:18,219 –> 00:12:20,780 and he found Philip. 223 00:12:20,780 –> 00:12:24,479 And he said to him, follow me. 224 00:12:24,479 –> 00:12:25,599 Now as far as we can tell, 225 00:12:25,599 –> 00:12:29,580 there was no other human agency involved at all. 226 00:12:29,580 –> 00:12:32,020 Philip did not become a disciple 227 00:12:32,020 –> 00:12:34,340 because he heard someone preach. 228 00:12:34,340 –> 00:12:35,859 He did not become a disciple 229 00:12:35,859 –> 00:12:38,859 because he was brought to Jesus by a friend. 230 00:12:38,859 –> 00:12:40,099 From what we are told here, 231 00:12:40,140 –> 00:12:41,960 Jesus Christ simply stepped 232 00:12:41,960 –> 00:12:44,799 into the life of this person directly 233 00:12:44,799 –> 00:12:48,320 and without any other agency being involved. 234 00:12:49,179 –> 00:12:50,539 And this is a very wonderful thing. 235 00:12:50,539 –> 00:12:52,940 Jesus Christ does this. 236 00:12:52,940 –> 00:12:54,340 We should be thankful for this 237 00:12:54,340 –> 00:12:56,760 and we should pray that he will. 238 00:12:56,760 –> 00:13:01,099 We should pray that when we give personal invitation, 239 00:13:01,099 –> 00:13:03,979 people will discern in our invitation 240 00:13:03,979 –> 00:13:06,900 that Jesus Christ is saying to them, follow me. 241 00:13:07,599 –> 00:13:09,960 We should pray for the preaching of the gospel, 242 00:13:09,960 –> 00:13:12,559 that when people hear the preaching of the gospel, 243 00:13:12,559 –> 00:13:17,559 they will discern in that Jesus Christ saying, follow me. 244 00:13:18,840 –> 00:13:21,320 But what about the people who are not interested 245 00:13:21,320 –> 00:13:23,679 in listening to your personal testimony 246 00:13:23,679 –> 00:13:25,159 and they are not at all interested 247 00:13:25,159 –> 00:13:27,179 in hearing the preaching of the gospel? 248 00:13:28,500 –> 00:13:32,099 You can pray that Jesus Christ 249 00:13:32,099 –> 00:13:36,419 would make a direct intervention in that person’s life 250 00:13:36,840 –> 00:13:39,200 changing their heart, laying hold of them, 251 00:13:39,200 –> 00:13:42,039 intercepting their life like he did with Philip 252 00:13:42,039 –> 00:13:44,460 or like he did with a person as antagonistic 253 00:13:44,460 –> 00:13:48,179 as Saul of Tarsus and Jesus Christ just laid hold of it. 254 00:13:49,340 –> 00:13:52,520 And it may be actually that this is your story 255 00:13:52,520 –> 00:13:54,799 and in a very simple way, if you say, 256 00:13:54,799 –> 00:13:57,500 now how did I come to be a follower of Jesus? 257 00:13:57,500 –> 00:14:00,919 You don’t point to any particular preacher 258 00:14:00,919 –> 00:14:02,400 or preaching that you heard 259 00:14:02,400 –> 00:14:04,539 or person who particularly brought you, 260 00:14:04,539 –> 00:14:07,320 but your story is simply that over time, 261 00:14:07,320 –> 00:14:09,320 there was a growing hunger, 262 00:14:09,320 –> 00:14:11,260 a dissatisfaction in your own heart. 263 00:14:11,260 –> 00:14:14,440 You began to pray, you began to read the Bible 264 00:14:14,440 –> 00:14:17,099 and somehow in God’s kindness, 265 00:14:17,099 –> 00:14:21,219 you became aware that Jesus Christ was laying hold of you 266 00:14:21,219 –> 00:14:25,559 and you became his follower, you became his disciple. 267 00:14:27,000 –> 00:14:31,320 Now, I’m just trying to point out the variety of means 268 00:14:31,320 –> 00:14:34,059 by which people come to Jesus. 269 00:14:34,200 –> 00:14:36,260 How it begins. 270 00:14:36,260 –> 00:14:39,840 It would be a good thing this week in the life groups 271 00:14:39,840 –> 00:14:41,640 to talk about our different stories 272 00:14:41,640 –> 00:14:45,219 of how we became followers of Jesus Christ, 273 00:14:46,280 –> 00:14:47,320 but remember this, 274 00:14:47,320 –> 00:14:49,340 you do not have to have a great 275 00:14:49,340 –> 00:14:51,760 or dramatic conversion story. 276 00:14:53,039 –> 00:14:57,039 What happens is not how you got there. 277 00:14:57,039 –> 00:14:59,659 What matters is that you know Jesus, 278 00:14:59,659 –> 00:15:03,979 that you believe in him and that you’re following him. 279 00:15:04,119 –> 00:15:06,919 People become followers of Jesus 280 00:15:06,919 –> 00:15:09,359 in a broad variety of ways, 281 00:15:09,359 –> 00:15:11,640 three of them are illustrated for us 282 00:15:11,640 –> 00:15:13,679 in these few verses. 283 00:15:13,679 –> 00:15:15,419 What should our approach be then 284 00:15:15,419 –> 00:15:18,380 in seeking to gather disciples of Jesus together 285 00:15:18,380 –> 00:15:19,880 and to make disciples? 286 00:15:19,880 –> 00:15:22,299 We must by all means win some, 287 00:15:24,159 –> 00:15:26,039 that is, we must give ourselves 288 00:15:26,039 –> 00:15:29,460 to the clearest possible gospel proclamation, 289 00:15:29,460 –> 00:15:31,880 we must be mobilized as a congregation 290 00:15:31,960 –> 00:15:34,880 with regards to personal invitation, 291 00:15:34,880 –> 00:15:38,099 and we must be people who are on our knees before God, 292 00:15:38,099 –> 00:15:41,599 asking God to intercept the lives of those 293 00:15:41,599 –> 00:15:45,419 who at the moment have no eyes to see his glory, 294 00:15:45,419 –> 00:15:49,719 no heart to go after worshiping him or obeying him, 295 00:15:49,719 –> 00:15:52,619 and that he will kindly and gently, 296 00:15:52,619 –> 00:15:55,380 by his grace, turn hearts around. 297 00:15:56,700 –> 00:15:58,619 By all means, win some. 298 00:16:01,880 –> 00:16:03,219 Now, that’s the first observation. 299 00:16:03,219 –> 00:16:05,359 Here’s the second. 300 00:16:05,359 –> 00:16:07,119 The progressive steps 301 00:16:08,419 –> 00:16:12,179 by which people find their place in ministry. 302 00:16:14,539 –> 00:16:17,799 Now, what we learn here in John’s gospel 303 00:16:19,780 –> 00:16:23,200 about how these disciples first met Jesus 304 00:16:25,039 –> 00:16:28,539 actually helps us very much to understand 305 00:16:29,419 –> 00:16:33,580 perhaps, the better known story from the earlier gospels 306 00:16:34,679 –> 00:16:37,260 about what happened later 307 00:16:37,260 –> 00:16:41,440 when Jesus called these same disciples into ministry. 308 00:16:42,619 –> 00:16:45,539 Do you remember that in Mark’s gospel, 309 00:16:45,539 –> 00:16:48,320 Mark tells us that Jesus was passing 310 00:16:48,320 –> 00:16:51,219 along the Sea of Galilee. 311 00:16:51,219 –> 00:16:53,719 And when he came to Galilee, who did he see? 312 00:16:53,719 –> 00:16:56,440 He saw Simon and Andrew, 313 00:16:56,440 –> 00:16:58,599 two who were mentioned here in John 1. 314 00:16:59,580 –> 00:17:01,780 And they were not out in the desert at that time, 315 00:17:01,780 –> 00:17:02,900 they were by Galilee, 316 00:17:02,900 –> 00:17:05,739 and they were casting their nets into the sea 317 00:17:05,739 –> 00:17:07,400 because they were fisherman. 318 00:17:07,400 –> 00:17:09,219 And you remember Jesus said to them, 319 00:17:09,219 –> 00:17:11,199 the two of them together at that time, 320 00:17:11,199 –> 00:17:15,300 “‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” 321 00:17:15,300 –> 00:17:18,020 And immediately Mark says they left their nets 322 00:17:18,020 –> 00:17:19,819 and they went and they followed him. 323 00:17:19,839 –> 00:17:21,660 Why? 324 00:17:21,660 –> 00:17:25,079 Now, when you put these two stories together, 325 00:17:26,000 –> 00:17:28,719 it is very clear that Simon and Andrew 326 00:17:28,719 –> 00:17:31,640 already knew Jesus from this meeting 327 00:17:31,640 –> 00:17:34,280 in John 1 328 00:17:34,280 –> 00:17:37,119 And that they had therefore spent considerable time 329 00:17:37,119 –> 00:17:41,160 with Jesus before he called them to leave their nets 330 00:17:41,160 –> 00:17:43,319 and to follow him. 331 00:17:43,319 –> 00:17:46,099 And indeed it was sometime after that, 332 00:17:46,099 –> 00:17:48,520 sometime after they’re leaving their nets, 333 00:17:48,520 –> 00:17:51,400 that they were actually appointed to the position 334 00:17:51,400 –> 00:17:53,800 in ministry that Christ had for them 335 00:17:53,800 –> 00:17:57,880 and they were designated as apostles. 336 00:17:57,880 –> 00:18:00,180 So you put these three scriptures together 337 00:18:00,180 –> 00:18:01,640 and what I’m suggesting to you 338 00:18:01,640 –> 00:18:05,079 is that there is a progressive path, 339 00:18:05,079 –> 00:18:07,359 progressive steps by which people 340 00:18:07,359 –> 00:18:10,880 find their way into ministry. 341 00:18:10,880 –> 00:18:12,640 Again, this is very practical. 342 00:18:12,640 –> 00:18:15,660 I wanna serve the Lord, how can I serve the Lord? 343 00:18:16,660 –> 00:18:19,719 There are particular steps 344 00:18:19,719 –> 00:18:23,000 and to understand them will be helpful to us all. 345 00:18:23,000 –> 00:18:23,839 What are they? 346 00:18:23,839 –> 00:18:26,640 Number one, relationship established 347 00:18:26,640 –> 00:18:28,579 and that’s what we have here in John 1. 348 00:18:29,780 –> 00:18:32,619 If you want to serve Christ, 349 00:18:32,619 –> 00:18:35,079 the first thing is to get to know him 350 00:18:35,079 –> 00:18:36,920 and to walk with him. 351 00:18:36,920 –> 00:18:39,400 That’s what’s happening in John 1. 352 00:18:39,400 –> 00:18:40,859 They spent time with him. 353 00:18:42,079 –> 00:18:44,520 You walk with him in the word and in prayer, 354 00:18:44,520 –> 00:18:46,439 you follow him in faith 355 00:18:46,439 –> 00:18:49,339 and in your own joyful obedience. 356 00:18:50,199 –> 00:18:53,119 That’s what the first disciples did 357 00:18:53,119 –> 00:18:55,160 and as they did it, over time, 358 00:18:55,160 –> 00:18:59,000 they grew in their commitment to Jesus 359 00:18:59,000 –> 00:19:02,479 and they grew in their affection for Jesus 360 00:19:03,420 –> 00:19:05,920 to such a point that when on that day, 361 00:19:05,920 –> 00:19:08,000 Jesus came along to Lake Galilee and said, 362 00:19:08,000 –> 00:19:10,199 right, now’s the time, you follow me 363 00:19:10,199 –> 00:19:12,040 and I’m gonna make you fishers of men, 364 00:19:12,040 –> 00:19:15,040 they immediately left their nets and followed him. 365 00:19:15,920 –> 00:19:17,880 If you thought they’d never met Jesus before, 366 00:19:17,880 –> 00:19:20,160 you’d be scratching your head and saying, really? 367 00:19:20,160 –> 00:19:21,880 Well, you’ve got to put John 1 together 368 00:19:21,880 –> 00:19:23,239 with Mark and chapter 1. 369 00:19:23,239 –> 00:19:25,439 They had been walking with Jesus. 370 00:19:25,439 –> 00:19:28,119 Have you been walking with Jesus 371 00:19:28,119 –> 00:19:30,800 to such a point that you have come to the place 372 00:19:30,800 –> 00:19:33,680 of having a depth of commitment to him 373 00:19:33,680 –> 00:19:36,920 and a depth of affection for him 374 00:19:36,920 –> 00:19:39,599 such that if he were to come to you right now 375 00:19:39,599 –> 00:19:41,479 and to call you to go anyplace, 376 00:19:41,479 –> 00:19:43,699 anytime, do anything, you would be ready 377 00:19:43,699 –> 00:19:45,280 if you knew that it was really him 378 00:19:45,280 –> 00:19:48,800 that was calling you to say yes and immediately to do it. 379 00:19:50,119 –> 00:19:51,160 That’s what had happened. 380 00:19:51,160 –> 00:19:53,880 There had been a walk with Christ 381 00:19:53,880 –> 00:19:57,160 that had brought them to a place of availability 382 00:19:57,160 –> 00:19:59,119 for the service of God. 383 00:20:00,020 –> 00:20:01,119 That’s the first step. 384 00:20:02,119 –> 00:20:07,119 Second, it’s all about the cultivation of gifts 385 00:20:07,239 –> 00:20:09,199 and that’s what we have in Mark chapter 1. 386 00:20:09,199 –> 00:20:13,959 Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 387 00:20:13,959 –> 00:20:16,040 You’re going to become something 388 00:20:16,040 –> 00:20:18,760 in this further act of following 389 00:20:18,760 –> 00:20:21,459 to which I am calling you right now, 390 00:20:22,479 –> 00:20:25,079 and for these disciples particularly, 391 00:20:25,079 –> 00:20:27,000 I will make you fishers of men. 392 00:20:28,040 –> 00:20:32,260 In other words, there was a sphere of service 393 00:20:32,260 –> 00:20:34,300 to which Christ was calling them. 394 00:20:34,300 –> 00:20:37,000 They’d walked with him but now Christ is unveiling, 395 00:20:37,020 –> 00:20:40,180 there’s a sphere of service that I have for you 396 00:20:40,180 –> 00:20:43,099 and now is the time when you must be equipped 397 00:20:43,099 –> 00:20:45,660 and ready to serve in this sphere. 398 00:20:46,579 –> 00:20:48,260 So this is a good question to ask. 399 00:20:48,260 –> 00:20:50,640 Now what would that sphere be for you? 400 00:20:52,140 –> 00:20:54,400 Where do your gifts lie? 401 00:20:55,459 –> 00:20:58,319 As you are following the Lord Jesus Christ, 402 00:20:58,319 –> 00:21:01,199 what has he made you good at? 403 00:21:01,199 –> 00:21:03,680 What is it that you do that he blesses 404 00:21:03,680 –> 00:21:06,319 and that other people are particularly thankful 405 00:21:06,400 –> 00:21:07,660 that you are doing it 406 00:21:07,660 –> 00:21:09,839 because the blessing of God is upon it. 407 00:21:09,839 –> 00:21:12,619 How are you using these gifts now? 408 00:21:13,880 –> 00:21:16,800 The discernment of the sphere 409 00:21:16,800 –> 00:21:20,920 in which he particularly has fruitful work for you to do. 410 00:21:20,920 –> 00:21:23,959 It arises out of your growing relationship with him 411 00:21:23,959 –> 00:21:27,560 but it’s really important as a progressive step 412 00:21:27,560 –> 00:21:29,560 to finding your place in ministry. 413 00:21:31,000 –> 00:21:34,800 Number three, ministry assigned. 414 00:21:34,839 –> 00:21:36,060 And again, if you think about it, 415 00:21:36,060 –> 00:21:38,540 this is actually quite a long way down the line. 416 00:21:39,640 –> 00:21:42,000 It’s not that the first disciples show up and say, 417 00:21:42,000 –> 00:21:44,760 oh Jesus, great, well we’re ready to follow you, 418 00:21:44,760 –> 00:21:46,199 what have you got for us to do? 419 00:21:46,199 –> 00:21:47,839 What about us being apostles? 420 00:21:47,839 –> 00:21:50,459 No, no, that comes quite a bit down the line. 421 00:21:50,459 –> 00:21:54,359 A lot of following, leaving nets. 422 00:21:55,780 –> 00:21:58,000 And if you look at Luke chapter six it says, 423 00:21:58,000 –> 00:22:00,339 in these days, verse 12 of Luke six, 424 00:22:00,339 –> 00:22:04,660 Jesus went out into the mountain 425 00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:07,520 to pray, this is Luke six. 426 00:22:08,500 –> 00:22:11,780 And all night he continued in prayer to God. 427 00:22:13,260 –> 00:22:17,979 And when day came, he called his disciples 428 00:22:17,979 –> 00:22:22,979 and chose from them 12, whom he named apostles. 429 00:22:24,380 –> 00:22:26,219 In other words, there were many more 430 00:22:26,219 –> 00:22:28,300 than 12 disciples at that point. 431 00:22:29,680 –> 00:22:32,800 And Christ went up to pray who should be given 432 00:22:32,839 –> 00:22:36,400 the particular assignments of these responsibilities. 433 00:22:36,400 –> 00:22:38,079 In other words, there was a process 434 00:22:38,079 –> 00:22:41,359 of discernment and evaluation that was going up there 435 00:22:41,359 –> 00:22:45,160 in the mind and heart of Christ 436 00:22:45,160 –> 00:22:50,160 in the presence of the Father in the ministry of prayer. 437 00:22:50,400 –> 00:22:53,040 And he calls the whole group and he chooses from among them, 438 00:22:53,040 –> 00:22:56,319 now there is this particular work for you to do 439 00:22:56,319 –> 00:22:58,819 and there is other work for you to do. 440 00:22:59,939 –> 00:23:00,920 Very striking. 441 00:23:01,839 –> 00:23:04,000 Now, here’s the principle 442 00:23:04,000 –> 00:23:06,479 that we really need to take home from this. 443 00:23:08,339 –> 00:23:13,339 Intimacy with Christ comes before activity for Christ. 444 00:23:18,040 –> 00:23:19,920 And in an activist culture, 445 00:23:19,920 –> 00:23:22,800 most of us or many of us are activists by nature. 446 00:23:23,680 –> 00:23:25,920 The easiest thing in the world is to say, 447 00:23:25,920 –> 00:23:26,880 now I wanna know what I’m gonna do 448 00:23:26,880 –> 00:23:29,319 and I wanna know what position I’m gonna have. 449 00:23:31,119 –> 00:23:33,959 And what happens is if activity for Christ 450 00:23:33,959 –> 00:23:36,599 precedes intimacy with Christ 451 00:23:36,599 –> 00:23:39,239 or outruns intimacy with Christ 452 00:23:40,479 –> 00:23:43,239 you end up with people in ministry that crash and burn. 453 00:23:44,560 –> 00:23:45,680 And we’ve all seen it happen. 454 00:23:45,680 –> 00:23:47,699 Some of us experienced it happen. 455 00:23:48,660 –> 00:23:52,420 And so this pattern is really important 456 00:23:52,420 –> 00:23:56,060 that we’re seeing right here in the gospels. 457 00:23:56,060 –> 00:23:57,640 You want to serve Jesus. 458 00:23:57,640 –> 00:23:58,880 Okay, here’s the first question. 459 00:23:58,880 –> 00:24:01,920 How has your walk been with him this week? 460 00:24:03,339 –> 00:24:05,640 And make a commitment today 461 00:24:05,640 –> 00:24:09,579 that you really are going to walk with Jesus Christ 462 00:24:09,579 –> 00:24:10,640 in this coming week. 463 00:24:10,640 –> 00:24:13,260 Because you want to be useful to him 464 00:24:13,260 –> 00:24:14,400 and you’ve really embraced 465 00:24:14,400 –> 00:24:19,400 that intimacy with Christ comes before activity for Christ. 466 00:24:20,599 –> 00:24:21,439 The first thing is 467 00:24:21,439 –> 00:24:23,660 that you really are being a disciple yourself 468 00:24:23,660 –> 00:24:27,300 and following hard after him in every sphere of your life. 469 00:24:27,300 –> 00:24:30,239 The second thing is to clarify 470 00:24:30,239 –> 00:24:33,280 over where your gifting lies 471 00:24:33,280 –> 00:24:35,900 and to come to some discernment with regards to that 472 00:24:35,900 –> 00:24:37,439 and to be using these gifts 473 00:24:37,439 –> 00:24:39,699 as you continue to follow the Lord Jesus. 474 00:24:39,699 –> 00:24:42,920 The third thing is that you can trust Christ then 475 00:24:43,880 –> 00:24:47,260 with regards to the particular ministry assignments 476 00:24:47,260 –> 00:24:48,699 that he may have for you now 477 00:24:48,699 –> 00:24:51,359 and at any other future stage of your life. 478 00:24:51,359 –> 00:24:55,219 Don’t get hung up on having a position in ministry. 479 00:24:55,219 –> 00:24:57,319 That’s not the place to start. 480 00:24:58,900 –> 00:25:02,880 You follow Christ and He will make it clear 481 00:25:03,880 –> 00:25:08,880 what He wants you to do at each stage of your life. 482 00:25:09,479 –> 00:25:10,319 That’s the second thing. 483 00:25:10,319 –> 00:25:11,199 Here’s the third. 484 00:25:12,479 –> 00:25:17,479 The main desire by which people continue in discipleship. 485 00:25:22,280 –> 00:25:24,560 And I’m looking here particularly at verse 38, 486 00:25:24,900 –> 00:25:27,180 where Jesus turned and saw them following 487 00:25:27,180 –> 00:25:32,160 and He said to them, what are you seeking? 488 00:25:34,079 –> 00:25:36,599 My friends, there’s something really important here. 489 00:25:37,619 –> 00:25:39,380 The gospels make it very clear, 490 00:25:39,380 –> 00:25:42,280 something that anyone who knows church life well 491 00:25:42,280 –> 00:25:44,319 will have observed many, many times. 492 00:25:45,959 –> 00:25:49,040 That many people follow Jesus for a time. 493 00:25:49,040 –> 00:25:51,339 They come in, they attach themself 494 00:25:51,339 –> 00:25:54,439 to the body of disciples but they do not continue. 495 00:25:55,439 –> 00:26:00,439 They drift into the community of believers 496 00:26:01,479 –> 00:26:04,319 and then after a time they drift away. 497 00:26:05,859 –> 00:26:09,859 People follow Jesus for many, many different reasons. 498 00:26:11,060 –> 00:26:12,719 Well see, God willing, in a few weeks time 499 00:26:12,719 –> 00:26:15,900 in John in chapter two that there were many people 500 00:26:15,900 –> 00:26:17,739 who, when they saw the miracles, 501 00:26:17,739 –> 00:26:20,979 were moved to follow Jesus 502 00:26:20,979 –> 00:26:23,939 but Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, why? 503 00:26:23,939 –> 00:26:25,619 Because they were people who came in, 504 00:26:25,619 –> 00:26:27,939 loosely attached themselves to the circle 505 00:26:27,939 –> 00:26:29,180 and then drifted out again. 506 00:26:29,180 –> 00:26:30,380 It happens all the time. 507 00:26:32,219 –> 00:26:34,640 Some folks would just have been swept up with the crowd, 508 00:26:34,640 –> 00:26:36,819 you know my friends are going to see Jesus. 509 00:26:36,819 –> 00:26:40,819 In that crowd of 5,000, how many really were committed 510 00:26:40,819 –> 00:26:42,800 to follow the Lord Jesus, 511 00:26:42,800 –> 00:26:45,380 even though they saw a miracle from his hands? 512 00:26:48,020 –> 00:26:52,280 So this question of Jesus is really important. 513 00:26:53,280 –> 00:26:56,400 What are you seeking? 514 00:26:57,839 –> 00:26:59,760 What are you looking for? 515 00:27:01,359 –> 00:27:03,239 Because there will always be people 516 00:27:03,239 –> 00:27:06,000 who attach themselves to Jesus for a time 517 00:27:06,000 –> 00:27:08,160 because they want to be able to use him 518 00:27:08,160 –> 00:27:09,719 to advance another cause 519 00:27:09,719 –> 00:27:11,839 in which they are particularly interested. 520 00:27:11,839 –> 00:27:12,819 And you know who did that. 521 00:27:12,819 –> 00:27:14,760 That’s what Judas Iscariot did. 522 00:27:16,280 –> 00:27:18,459 Now, how would you answer Jesus’ question? 523 00:27:20,040 –> 00:27:21,079 What are you seeking? 524 00:27:22,599 –> 00:27:23,500 You’re following him. 525 00:27:23,500 –> 00:27:25,339 He looks around and he sees that you’re following him. 526 00:27:25,339 –> 00:27:26,800 He said, what are you seeking? 527 0:27:27,800 –> 00:27:29,520 Why are you following Jesus. 528 00:27:29,520 –> 00:27:30,920 That’s the question here. 529 00:27:30,920 –> 00:27:33,359 And it’s laid out very plainly. 530 00:27:33,359 –> 00:27:35,180 Everybody is seeking something. 531 00:27:35,180 –> 00:27:37,040 What are you seeking? 532 00:27:38,140 –> 00:27:39,560 That’s another good question, by the way, 533 00:27:39,560 –> 00:27:42,319 to talk about in life groups this week. 534 00:27:42,319 –> 00:27:45,180 Why are you following Jesus? 535 00:27:46,680 –> 00:27:50,660 Because many, many people follow only for a time 536 00:27:50,660 –> 00:27:53,199 and then move on 537 00:27:53,199 –> 00:27:57,060 because they didn’t get what they were looking for, 538 00:27:59,079 –> 00:28:01,739 which raises a question not about Jesus in my mind, 539 00:28:01,739 –> 00:28:04,099 but a question about what they were looking for. 540 00:28:04,939 –> 00:28:08,520 What are you seeking? 541 00:28:10,380 –> 00:28:13,020 Now, at first sight, 542 00:28:13,979 –> 00:28:16,979 the answer of the disciples might seem 543 00:28:16,979 –> 00:28:18,760 to be rather pedestrian, 544 00:28:19,719 –> 00:28:21,219 but I want to suggest that 545 00:28:21,219 –> 00:28:23,719 they could not have given a better response. 546 00:28:23,719 –> 00:28:25,439 Look at it in verse 38. 547 00:28:27,260 –> 00:28:29,800 And they said to him, 548 00:28:29,800 –> 00:28:32,439 Rabbi, which means teacher, 549 00:28:33,560 –> 00:28:35,439 where are you staying? 550 00:28:36,599 –> 00:28:39,699 I love that because you know what it’s going. 551 00:28:40,979 –> 00:28:42,520 We want to be with you. 552 00:28:44,239 –> 00:28:46,640 We want to spend time with you. 553 00:28:47,479 –> 00:28:50,239 We don’t want our experience of you 554 00:28:50,239 –> 00:28:54,239 to be a passing thing that happens every now and again 555 00:28:54,239 –> 00:28:57,680 when our paths seem to cross with yours, 556 00:28:57,680 –> 00:28:59,900 we want access to you. 557 00:29:01,180 –> 00:29:05,339 We want more than a weekly conversation with you. 558 00:29:05,339 –> 00:29:07,119 We want fellowship with you. 559 00:29:07,119 –> 00:29:09,479 Now tell us, where are you staying? 560 00:29:09,479 –> 00:29:12,400 Great question, great response. 561 00:29:13,280 –> 00:29:14,540 And Jesus says to them, 562 00:29:14,540 –> 00:29:15,739 come and you will see 563 00:29:15,839 –> 00:29:16,780 come and you will see 564 00:29:16,780 –> 00:29:20,640 and they came and they saw where he was staying 565 00:29:20,640 –> 00:29:22,839 and they stayed with him that day 566 00:29:22,839 –> 00:29:26,000 for it was about the 10th hour 567 00:29:26,000 –> 00:29:28,300 and that led to them staying with him 568 00:29:28,300 –> 00:29:30,140 and following him for these next years 569 00:29:30,140 –> 00:29:31,739 and for the rest of their lives. 570 00:29:33,859 –> 00:29:35,880 What makes the difference between a person 571 00:29:35,880 –> 00:29:38,020 who professes faith for a time 572 00:29:39,119 –> 00:29:42,500 and a person who really sticks with Jesus for a lifetime? 573 00:29:42,979 –> 00:29:46,300 What makes the difference between a person 574 00:29:46,300 –> 00:29:49,339 who attaches themself to the church for a time 575 00:29:49,339 –> 00:29:51,040 and then moves on 576 00:29:51,040 –> 00:29:53,719 and the person who gives him or herself 577 00:29:53,719 –> 00:29:56,839 to ministry over the long haul? 578 00:29:57,900 –> 00:30:01,000 And I’m suggesting this from the Bible to you today 579 00:30:01,900 –> 00:30:04,739 that the main desire 580 00:30:04,739 –> 00:30:08,219 by which people continue in discipleship, 581 00:30:08,219 –> 00:30:10,979 the main desire by which people continue 582 00:30:11,640 –> 00:30:15,459 is a true and deep love 583 00:30:15,459 –> 00:30:17,839 for Jesus Christ Himself. 584 00:30:19,599 –> 00:30:22,079 Why would Peter come back 585 00:30:22,079 –> 00:30:27,079 after all the embarrassment and shame of denying Jesus? 586 00:30:28,239 –> 00:30:30,020 What does he say? 587 00:30:30,020 –> 00:30:34,560 Jesus, you know that I love you. 588 00:30:35,699 –> 00:30:36,640 And you know what? 589 00:30:36,640 –> 00:30:38,939 Whatever sin you may have fallen into, 590 00:30:38,979 –> 00:30:42,060 you will come back to Jesus if you love Him. 591 00:30:42,060 –> 00:30:44,540 If you don’t love Him, you may not. 592 00:30:44,540 –> 00:30:46,900 But if you love Jesus, you’ll come back to Him. 593 00:30:47,959 –> 00:30:50,140 Why would it be that the Apostle Paul 594 00:30:50,140 –> 00:30:54,160 would carry on in service and in ministry 595 00:30:54,160 –> 00:30:56,500 after the catalog of suffering 596 00:30:56,500 –> 00:30:59,119 that he endured year upon year in his life 597 00:30:59,119 –> 00:31:02,099 and still is pressing on for the advance of the gospel? 598 00:31:02,099 –> 00:31:03,219 What’s all that about? 599 00:31:03,219 –> 00:31:04,699 He answers himself, 600 00:31:04,739 –> 00:31:09,359 I want to know Him, whatever it takes 601 00:31:10,359 –> 00:31:14,760 even to the extent of the fellowship of His sufferings. 602 00:31:16,260 –> 00:31:19,560 What it costs me, I can live with 603 00:31:19,560 –> 00:31:23,199 if I am pressing forward in the knowledge of this Christ 604 00:31:23,199 –> 00:31:24,859 because He’s everything to me. 605 00:31:27,260 –> 00:31:30,739 Christian, what will keep you following Jesus Christ 606 00:31:30,739 –> 00:31:34,540 in the hardest darkest time of your life? 607 00:31:34,540 –> 00:31:37,560 Someone’s here today and you say, 608 00:31:37,560 –> 00:31:39,560 pastor, if only you knew what I was going through. 609 00:31:39,560 –> 00:31:42,400 I don’t know what I’m going to do. 610 00:31:42,400 –> 00:31:46,219 What will keep you following Jesus Christ right now? 611 00:31:46,219 –> 00:31:47,239 Here’s what it is. 612 00:31:48,560 –> 00:31:52,760 On Peter 1.8, though you have not seen Him, 613 00:31:52,760 –> 00:31:54,560 you love Him. 614 00:31:56,040 –> 00:31:59,099 You love Him and you know in your heart 615 00:31:59,099 –> 00:32:02,699 that the reason you love Him is that He has first loved you 616 00:32:02,739 –> 00:32:07,119 and He has given His very self to make you His own. 617 00:32:08,619 –> 00:32:11,699 And that’s what makes the difference 618 00:32:11,699 –> 00:32:15,339 between the person who loosely attaches themselves to Jesus 619 00:32:15,339 –> 00:32:17,819 and then moves on when something else 620 00:32:17,819 –> 00:32:19,420 seems to be more attractive, 621 00:32:19,420 –> 00:32:23,020 and a person who really becomes a follower of Jesus 622 00:32:23,020 –> 00:32:26,880 and invest their life as a disciple for Him. 623 00:32:28,199 –> 00:32:30,099 Remember this, friends. 624 00:32:30,119 –> 00:32:32,719 Jesus Christ calls us first, 625 00:32:32,719 –> 00:32:35,459 not for what we can do for Him, 626 00:32:35,459 –> 00:32:39,739 but He calls us first in order that we would be with Him. 627 00:32:39,739 –> 00:32:41,199 It’s always striking to me 628 00:32:41,199 –> 00:32:44,819 that when the job description of the apostles 629 00:32:44,819 –> 00:32:49,420 is laid out by Jesus in Mark chapter three and verse 14. 630 00:32:49,420 –> 00:32:51,060 Job number one, 631 00:32:51,060 –> 00:32:56,060 He called them to be apostles that they may be with Him. 632 00:32:56,160 –> 00:32:57,880 Him, why? 633 00:32:57,880 –> 00:32:59,459 Because intimacy with Christ 634 00:32:59,459 –> 00:33:03,160 always comes before activity for Christ. 635 00:33:05,640 –> 00:33:07,540 Whatever ministry you’re involved in, 636 00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:09,040 here’s the first thing. 637 00:33:10,579 –> 00:33:13,119 This was the great purpose for which Jesus died, 638 00:33:13,119 –> 00:33:15,560 that we should be with him. 639 00:33:15,560 –> 00:33:19,180 Remember, He says in John, chapter 14, 640 00:33:19,180 –> 00:33:22,500 I am going to prepare a place for you. 641 00:33:22,500 –> 00:33:23,859 What’s He referring to there? 642 00:33:23,859 –> 00:33:26,020 He’s referring, of course, to the cross. 643 00:33:26,020 –> 00:33:28,619 That’s how the place is prepared for us. 644 00:33:28,619 –> 00:33:31,280 There’ll be no place in heaven apart from the cross. 645 00:33:31,280 –> 00:33:33,319 He’s speaking about His own suffering 646 00:33:33,319 –> 00:33:34,920 in John chapter 14, 647 00:33:34,920 –> 00:33:37,699 and He says, I am going to go to the cross, 648 00:33:37,699 –> 00:33:40,739 and I’m going to be preparing that place for you. 649 00:33:40,739 –> 00:33:42,560 And then why is He doing this? 650 00:33:42,560 –> 00:33:44,119 Why then is He suffering? 651 00:33:44,119 –> 00:33:45,819 Why is He going through all of this? 652 00:33:45,819 –> 00:33:47,199 Well, He says it, doesn’t He? 653 00:33:47,199 –> 00:33:52,199 That where I am, you may be also. 654 00:33:52,760 –> 00:33:57,219 Would you have the same in John and chapter 17? 655 00:33:57,219 –> 00:33:59,800 In verse 24, Father, I desire that those 656 00:33:59,800 –> 00:34:01,180 who You have given to me 657 00:34:01,180 –> 00:34:05,640 that they will be with me where I am. 658 00:34:05,640 –> 00:34:10,639 Think about this, Jesus wants you to be with Him. 659 00:34:11,080 –> 00:34:13,479 To walk with Him by faith in this life, 660 00:34:13,479 –> 00:34:16,080 and then one day to be with Him indeed 661 00:34:16,080 –> 00:34:19,919 in the place He has indeed prepared. 662 00:34:19,939 –> 00:34:22,919 This Lord Jesus Christ who died to redeem you 663 00:34:22,919 –> 00:34:25,760 and now lives to bring you home, 664 00:34:26,899 –> 00:34:29,639 someone said, now, I find this very beautiful, 665 00:34:29,639 –> 00:34:32,959 that every time a Christian dies, 666 00:34:32,959 –> 00:34:37,439 the prayer of Jesus is answered in regards to that person. 667 00:34:37,439 –> 00:34:38,620 What’s the prayer of Jesus? 668 00:34:38,620 –> 00:34:42,419 I want them to be with me, to be with me. 669 00:34:43,719 –> 00:34:46,580 And people who love Jesus want to be with Him. 670 00:34:46,580 –> 00:34:48,699 That’s the point of the answer of these disciples. 671 00:34:48,719 –> 00:34:50,219 Where are you staying? 672 00:34:51,459 –> 00:34:52,560 I want to be with you. 673 00:34:55,080 –> 00:34:56,659 We don’t know where Jesus was staying. 674 00:34:56,659 –> 00:34:59,419 You remember foxes of holes, birds of the air have nests. 675 00:34:59,419 –> 00:35:01,540 The Son of Man has no place to lay His head. 676 00:35:01,540 –> 00:35:04,139 One commentator I read said, probably in a cave 677 00:35:05,699 –> 00:35:06,860 or perhaps there was someone 678 00:35:06,860 –> 00:35:08,919 who had given Him some hospitality. 679 00:35:10,580 –> 00:35:12,379 But He’s not in a cave now, is He? 680 00:35:14,000 –> 00:35:15,879 He’s at the right hand of the Father. 681 00:35:16,879 –> 00:35:21,800 And think about this, that those who seek fellowship 682 00:35:21,800 –> 00:35:24,780 with Him and want to know where His home is, 683 00:35:24,780 –> 00:35:29,780 to them He, one day will say, come and see. 684 00:35:30,199 –> 00:35:31,840 Come and see. 685 00:35:31,840 –> 00:35:34,699 What a day that’s gonna be for you Christian brother, 686 00:35:34,699 –> 00:35:36,600 Christian sister. 687 00:35:36,600 –> 00:35:38,280 Here’s the very last thing and it’s very brief. 688 00:35:38,280 –> 00:35:43,280 The divine power by which people are able to change. 689 00:35:43,300 –> 00:35:46,760 Here, I just want to point briefly to the special promise 690 00:35:46,760 –> 00:35:50,340 that was given to Simon Peter in verse 42. 691 00:35:50,340 –> 00:35:52,300 That Jesus looked at him and said, 692 00:35:52,300 –> 00:35:56,020 you are Simon the son of John and you shall be called 693 00:35:56,020 –> 00:35:59,139 Cephas, which means Peter. 694 00:35:59,139 –> 00:36:01,479 And if you’ve got eyes good enough to see these tiny 695 00:36:01,479 –> 00:36:03,540 little footnotes in the bible, you may notice 696 00:36:03,540 –> 00:36:06,580 that the footnote says that Cephas or Peter 697 00:36:06,580 –> 00:36:09,899 comes from the word for rock in Aramaic 698 00:36:09,899 –> 00:36:12,239 and in Greek respectively. 699 00:36:12,239 –> 00:36:16,020 Why did Jesus say these words to Peter? 700 00:36:16,020 –> 00:36:19,100 Why did Jesus particularly give this man a promise 701 00:36:19,100 –> 00:36:20,379 about what he would become? 702 00:36:20,379 –> 00:36:22,560 He didn’t say anything like that to Andrew 703 00:36:22,560 –> 00:36:24,560 or to John or to Philip. 704 00:36:25,840 –> 00:36:29,600 E.W. Pink makes this suggestion, and when I read it, 705 00:36:29,600 –> 00:36:32,399 I thought, that’s surely right. 706 00:36:32,399 –> 00:36:36,560 He says, by natural temperament, Simon Peter was fiery, 707 00:36:38,399 –> 00:36:40,820 impetuous, rash and unstable. 708 00:36:43,080 –> 00:36:46,100 What would such a man’s thoughts be 709 00:36:46,100 –> 00:36:49,260 when his brother told him about Jesus? 710 00:36:50,280 –> 00:36:54,459 Surely this, he would say, I would be a stumbling block 711 00:36:56,580 –> 00:37:00,780 to the cause of Christ, my impetuous temper 712 00:37:00,780 –> 00:37:04,959 and my hasty tongue will only hinder and will not help. 713 00:37:06,659 –> 00:37:08,840 I think that’s spot on. 714 00:37:09,699 –> 00:37:11,520 Here’s Quiet Andrew 715 00:37:12,360 –> 00:37:14,219 and he comes to his fiery brother, Peter, 716 00:37:14,219 –> 00:37:15,659 and he says, we’ve found the messiah, 717 00:37:15,659 –> 00:37:18,360 you’ve gotta come, you’ve gotta come, 718 00:37:18,360 –> 00:37:21,179 and Peter says, you better follow him, 719 00:37:21,179 –> 00:37:24,300 for if I follow him I know I’m gonna mess up 720 00:37:24,300 –> 00:37:28,159 and I’d only be a hindrance to his cause. 721 00:37:28,159 –> 00:37:29,919 And I end here today for this reason 722 00:37:29,919 –> 00:37:31,939 because I’m convinced that I may be speaking 723 00:37:31,939 –> 00:37:34,639 to someone, and perhaps many today, 724 00:37:34,639 –> 00:37:37,419 and you are holding back from committing yourself 725 00:37:37,439 –> 00:37:40,919 to Jesus for this reason, you say I know myself, 726 00:37:41,860 –> 00:37:44,760 and if I became a follower of Jesus Christ 727 00:37:44,760 –> 00:37:47,899 I would only let the Lord down. 728 00:37:49,219 –> 00:37:51,179 And if that’s where you are today 729 00:37:51,179 –> 00:37:54,820 I want you to see how Jesus deals with Peter. 730 00:37:54,820 –> 00:37:58,659 He says now Peter, I know all about you. 731 00:37:59,739 –> 00:38:01,300 I know what you are, 732 00:38:02,219 –> 00:38:04,620 and I know what you will be. 733 00:38:05,540 –> 00:38:09,100 Right now you may be indeed an impulsive man, 734 00:38:09,100 –> 00:38:12,340 a sinful man, an unstable man 735 00:38:12,340 –> 00:38:17,340 but I will make you like a rock, Peter, follow me. 736 00:38:20,939 –> 00:38:22,439 Follow Christ. 737 00:38:23,479 –> 00:38:26,899 And though you do not yet know what you will be 738 00:38:28,219 –> 00:38:32,459 he has the power to make you anew. 739 00:38:32,459 –> 00:38:33,459 Let’s pray together. 740 00:38:35,620 –> 00:38:38,919 Father, we want to be true disciples of Christ 741 00:38:41,060 –> 00:38:45,379 who really serve you because we really love you 742 00:38:48,139 –> 00:38:51,100 and to experience in increasing measure 743 00:38:51,100 –> 00:38:52,939 as these first disciples did 744 00:38:54,500 –> 00:38:57,040 Your transforming power to make us anew. 745 00:38:58,840 –> 00:39:01,280 And so we ask it through the name of Your son, 746 00:39:01,280 –> 00:39:02,860 Jesus, our savior and our Lord 747 00:39:02,860 –> 00:39:05,199 and everyone together said, Amen.