(John 1:43)
�The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.�
In our text verse today we see something that we might not have noticed before in this first chapter of the Book of John. We see Jesus going out to find someone.
When John the Baptist had preached, the crowds came to hear him. When the religious leaders came to question John, they came to him. When Jesus was on the ascendancy, we saw disciples of John leave from the Baptist to follow Jesus. Even when Andrew became a follower of Jesus, we see that it was Andrew who went to find his brother Simon - to bring him to Jesus.
But, in our verse for today we see Jesus going into Galilee to find Philip. In the actions of Jesus, we must note that Jesus went. �The day following Jesus would go forth unto Galilee��
Remember years ago when churches had testimony services? This was a good idea. It helped to prepare the individual Christian to speak about his Lord. It was a good exercise for us all.
I remember years ago, when I was at the first college I attended out of high school. I played one semester of college basketball. Well, I didn�t play all that much. Mostly I just had a real good seat to watch the real players in action. But, I was the worst free throw shooter on that team. People didn�t really notice this because it was overshadowed by my ineptness as a rebounder and defender - and the aforementioned fact that I mostly just kept the bench from floating away be sitting on it to hold it down - an important job! Still, I was terrible at shooting free throws.
What did I do to try to overcome this lack of skill? Nothing. What I should have done was to practice shooting free throws as much as I could. This is the only way I could have gotten any better. I didn�t. And I didn�t!
Those old fashioned testimony meetings were a real good place for the Christian to practice his skill in relating the story that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity.
I didn�t really notice that there was a real bad piece of theology which ran among nearly all of those long ago testifiers. It seemed that all of them would mention about the time when they found the Lord.
Folks, it ain�t that way. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, �For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.� We don�t find Jesus. We don�t even, really, come to Jesus. He finds us and comes to us with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. To this we respond.
Salvation is all of His effort and none of our effort.
Notice in our text that Jesus actually searched for Philip. Jesus went to Galilee in search of Philip.
I preached at a church one time where I gave an altar call. The pastor of the church jumped up and stopped me. He said, �We�ve left the door unlocked. If Jesus wants to save anyone, He�ll bring them in the door.�
Do I need to mention that this was not a large soul-winning church?
Yes, our salvation is all of Jesus. Our only part in this was to respond to His calling. Yet, once we are called into the fellowship of believers we have an obligation. There is something that we need to do. That is to go out into the world, as the representative of Jesus, and seek the lost.
My first term in the Army, I was drafted. I didn�t have to go looking for the military back in 1968. They came looking for me! The only action required on my part was to step forward at the induction center. They even gave me transportation to that location.
Then, after I was in the Army, I found out that there were a whole lot of things that were asked of me. I learned how to make my bed. I learned what a potato looked like before it came to the plate. I learned that my weapon was a part of my person.
When we come into the Army of the Redeemed, we are given duties that involve spreading the Good News of Jesus into the world. Just by sitting in the church services we will not complete these duties. We need to go out to where those who need the same salvation are located.
We learn of the Lord in our study of His preserved Word. We do this both corporately in the called out fellowship of believers at our local church, and we do this privately as soldiers sent into the field by our Heavenly Commander.
Not only did Jesus actually search, He actively searched.
How many of you know that it can be an entirely different thing to do something, than to do something right.
Again, a sports analogy from my past. When I was much younger, back in the 50�s, I played for two years on a youth baseball team that never lost a game. We were undefeated for two years. I like to think that my batting was part of the reason for this. I carried a perfect batting average for two complete seasons. In baseball parlance, I was 0 for 1955 and 1956. I never got a single hit for two years. Again, my poor fielding tended to obscure the fact. My outfielding skills were such, and my manner of completing them, that I was once told I was the best volleyball player to ever set foot in right field.
You see, I was part of the team. We only had nine kids so I got to play more than the coach would have probably liked; but, I was not a very good player.
How good of a Christian are you? Are you actively engaged in the work to which Jesus has called you? Or, are you simply filling up space standing on the ground out in the right field of true Christian service?
We may stand in awe of the fact that Jesus actually loved us enough to call us to salvation. But, we need to not stand still as we realize that He has called us to be actively engaged in the spreading of the message of that salvation to others.
Jesus authoritatively searched for Philip
When I was stationed in Viet Nam, as part of our military back in �68 - �69, I carried a security clearance. That did not mean that I would have had the authority to just walk in any office and look through their stack of secret documents. The security clearance only gives one the right to view those documents of which he has a need to know.
Simple curiosity does not constitute an authority to view a confidential paper. Only under the proper situation and authority does a security clearance give one the right to find out any of the secrets of our military or government.
People, we have the clearance from the Holy Spirit to spread the secret that sins may be forgiven on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. This is something that everyone needs to know. We have the authority behind us of the God of Creation to tell this story.
No man on this earth has the right to deny us the privilege of relating that story. The telling of the story that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity is our duty to our eternal Lord and Sovereign.
We need to boldly approach the Throne of Grace on behalf of those who need to hear this message. We need to study the document of preserved Scripture so that we will be well equipped to tell this message to those who need to hear this message. We need to be acting in obedience to Jesus so that we will testify of these things to those who need to hear this message.
This is what Jesus did. Jesus witnessed. ��and findeth Philip��
If you have lost your car keys, what do you do? I�m going to guess that you look for them. You search all over for those keys because you have need of them. The key to your front door is probably on the same ring. So, also, may be the key to your Post Office Box. You want those keys. You need those keys. You are not going to rest until you find them!
That�s not really very altruistic. It is not performing any great service for mankind. It is just a matter of doing what you need to do for your own convenience. But, to be out in the field of service to the Lord, finding fellow human beings who are lost in their sins, that is the greatest service that can be rendered. This is true service to both the Lord and to fellow humanity.
Notice that Jesus� search besought a sinner.
That word was �a.� As in �single.�
Many may dream of being the next D. L Moody in service to the Lord. They may see themselves as leading teaming thousands to the salvation that Jesus offers. But, so few are willing to speak to someONE.
In some way that I can not understand Jesus is able to love every single person with a love that is beyond our capacity to envision. He does not call people as groups, or �blocs.� He doesn�t search for a demographic to spread His love and call Himself a people for His Name. He calls individuals with a personalized love for each and every single one who responds to His call.
Jesus does love me. Jesus also loves you. Jesus also loves all, individually and specially, who have called upon His Name in faith believing that He is the Savior.
We may also note that this Philip who Jesus sought became a disciple. Jesus� search brought a follower.
I have a van in my drive. I haven�t driven it for several weeks. I can buy a bus pass for $20.00 and the city bus will take me anywhere in the city I might need to go. This pass will last for a month. Or, I can put $50.00 into my van and then do it again next week. But, I am still paying insurance on my van. If I do drive it, it will be insured in case of an accident. Although the way some people drive in this town, it might not really be called an �accident!�
What is Jesus to you? Is He simply an insurance policy to get into Heaven? Is He a Monopoly card which reads, �Get out of Hell, Free?� Is He just the Savior of your soul? Now, that�s great. But, He desires to be the Lord of your life.
You would probably describe yourself as a follower of Jesus. But, are you a �follower,� or just a �hanger on.� Do you take part in the Concert which Jesus has prepared for the world around you? Or, do you just show up for the show?
You have a need to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus have given you a new life in Him. He has also given you a new purpose in Him. He has also given you a new power in Him. Respond to His love and equipping by spreading the message that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity - and others too may live in eternity as we relate this great news!
Notice what happened in the next few verses. Philip, who probably knew Andrew and Peter since he was from their city, went and found Nathanael.
We could probably make a reference to the need for each Christian to be among other believers, regular in attendance at a local church, before they would attempt to win the lost in the world.
But, for now, look and see that Jesus� search began a chain reaction.
Did you ever watch one of those domino displays where they fall down in patterns? Someone went to a lot of trouble to set up those domino�s in those patterns. Why did they do it? So they could knock them down. They were placed in a special position so that each one could perform a specific task. The real beauty and art lay in the actions of those well placed dominos.
That is what we are. We are well placed dominos. Jesus has loved us, and called us, and saved us so that we can perform the task assigned. The march of Christianity, which is the true march of the God of Eternity in giving forgiveness to humanity, is not primarily spread by great city-wide crusades, or even by great churches except as they are taught to move out, one by one, into the world about them with the message, every single believer bearing that message, that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity.
How many domino�s of humanity are left standing in their sin because you have failed to do your part?
You can�t, really, do anything about what you have, or have not, done in the past. But, you can start this very day to be the vessel which God has called you to be. It is not a hard job. It is simply spreading, and helping others to spread, the simple message that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity.
The real purpose of the churches of Jesus is not to spread pageantry and dogma into the world. The real purpose is to send evangelists, individual Christians, out into the world with the message that Jesus died in time so that others might live in eternity.
In this verse we must see that Jesus won one. ��and saith unto him, Follow me.�
Jesus went to find a fallen one.
Jesus does not ask that people reform their lives. He doesn�t ask that they take on the trappings of true spirituality. He doesn�t ask that anyone work their way into His grace. He comes, sends us in actuality, with the message that men and women are to approach Him as they are. They are to accept the grace with He alone can offer. With this grace, salvation, they will have the opportunity to �sin no more.� (see John 8:11)
We make a spiritual mistake when we attack others for their faults. Rather than attacking, we should offer them an opportunity to accept the faith one delivered.
Mankind is a sinful being. From the Fall he is alienated from God. That is why Jesus freely offers salvation. Jesus wants to give the opportunity to be more than any person has any possibility of being without Him. Jesus wants to free people from their sin so that they can live as they were created to live.
Jesus also saved a single one.
Many will say, �There�s no way I could speak to everyone about Jesus.� No problem. There is one, somewhere, that you can speak to about Jesus. Live the Christian life before all people. Pray for opportunity. God will do the rest.
By the way, part of this Christian life is a searching of the Scriptures. Be often in reading the Scripture. Part of this Christian life is talking with God. Be often in prayer. Part of this Christian life is living before others with the attitude of love which God has shed abroad into our own hearts. Don�t hate and harangue. Don�t lecture. Love and wait upon God for His leading.
Philip became a disciple. Jesus sanctified a follower.
My wife was from a Holiness background. I know that the word �sanctification� can be one of those theological words which causes confusion. In its simplest terms the word means, �One set apart for a specific purpose.�
As Christians we are set apart from the rest of humanity as followers of Christ. We have seen that Jesus said He came into the world to seek the lost. That is also our purpose as Christians. Each of us will have a part to play in this important endeavor.
In I Corinthians 3:8-11 the Apostle Paul makes the analogy of planting and watering crops, and of building a house, to explain the diverse duties of each Christian.
�Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God�s husbandry, ye are God�s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.�
The point is that God has given each Christian some sort of duty in the work of the churches. We are all to find our place and fill that place. When the entire body is engaged in their rightful place of service, the outcome will be the salvation of souls. This is the work of Christ in this day and we, each of us who have been born again by the blood of the Savior, have an important part in that work.
Can anyone who considers their own importance in the work of God not be humbled by the depth of love that He has shown to those that are in Christ Jesus!
If you are not in Jesus, if you�ve never accepted Him as your own Savior, now is the time to do so.
Repent of your sins as your accept the great gift of Salvation which Jesus offers to you!
Do it today!