SECRETS OF DISCIPLES (PART 5)
JOHN CHAPTER 1
40. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
42. And he brought him to Jesus. Now, when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
43. The following day, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote —Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”
46. And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48. Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
LESSONS:
● The verse 40, 41 mentioned one of the 2 disciples that Jesus first called. The bible mentioned Andrew’s name because of the task he took upon himself to bring his brother to Jesus. Today, there are arguments about who the second disciple was. True service to God brings us into the limelight.
● In verse 42, Jesus called Peter’s name and even mentioned whom his father was. Jesus knows how to reveal Himself to people we bring to Him. When last did you bring anyone to Jesus.
● Verse 43 revealed how Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and in the process, He found Philip. If we would all be mindful of the fact that God’s work can be done even in our busy schedule, trying to accomplish other tasks.
● Verse 44 reveals a kind of behavioral pattern commonly found in a region or city. Andrew brought someone to Jesus, and Philip also did the same, and both happened to be from the same town. Have you ever heard from elders say words like, “Those who marry from so and so places always find good wife or husband.” Behavior can spread through lineage and dominate entire city. The people in this city always gather people; they don’t scatter people. There are people wherever they get to, if the place was peaceful before, they leave the place scattered. Blessed are the peace makers.
● If you read the prophecy concerning Judah, no wonder Jesus came from that lineage.
Genesis 49: 10-12
“And unto him shall the gathering of the people be”
If you are a leader and you have one or two of such around you, God is with you, and you are favored.
● When Philip found Nathanael, he didn’t believe Philip because many have come in the name of Christ and were false. He had the right to say that.
● Philip further convinced him to come and see.
You don’t blame sinners and bloggers who criticized what they see some churches displayed. Even though most are not believers in Christ, they are talking from their experiences.
When Jesus finally found Nathanael, He commended him, saying, ” A Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit.”
Jesus helped restore the trust Nathanael had lost because of those who had misrepresented God.
Jesus called his name.
Nathanael was shocked. He asked Jesus: “How do you know me?”
Jesus is going to rescue His sheep 🐑 from false teacher and prophets.
● Jesus told him how He saw him under the fig tree 🌳 ever before Philip called him. May you bring to Christ someone God’s desire is focused on to save.
Philip went where the eye of God had gone. When last did you win a soul? When last did you do evangelism? When last did you at least send a devotion to someone who is a sinner?
No relationship can continue if only one of the parties is the one doing the supply.
You ask everything from God, but you bring none to him. For some, it is even worse. They discourage those who are already saved. They even minus themselves.
When you read this scripture, you will find the reason why many prayers are unanswered:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last— and so that whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you.”
Stay lifted
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