Finding the God Who Found You - Part B

I believe the following Christ for my perspective is like the ultimate adventure is the ultimate the other ups and downs or trials of potholes in the road there occurs I did not anticipate what scenery there is to critically Skip weekend division a few years ago there was a very popular song called I found Jesus song that made a friend of mine rather irritated would say that doesn't even make any sense. I found Jesus. Jesus was missing or hide, if anything, Jesus found me. I was the one who was lost.

That pretty much sums up one of the more interesting conundrums of the Bible is God find us, for we find God Skip Heitzig will try and resolve that puzzle today here in critically Skip weekend edition but first let's see what's going on with the connect was Skip resource Center this jewelry in the midst approach is a hallmark of the Christian life. But is it possible to use linear heights. Sometimes what a happy turns into dieting bro and we have to figure out how to navigate.

A lot of times God's purpose in allowing trials is to get the opportunity to grow to the point where we genuinely experience joy in the midst of trial.

Learn how to face trials with courage, wisdom, and yes joy with lenders booklet happy trials and when you give $20 or more today to help keep this Bible teaching ministry on the will send you a special bundle of three booklets by Linda happy trials don't tempt me and speak no evil into tapping the keys to unlock the thought circumstances and fears that can cause you to give into temptation and speak no evil. I encourage you to avoid setting fires with your word and instead use them to bring showers of blessing get your bundle of three booklets when you get $20 or more by: 800-922-1880. Get online secure connectwithskip.com/off more. John chapter 1 to find that spot in your Bible will join Skip Heitzig as he continues with this that got picked let that sink your god's tenure on the winning team. I just don't know about this whole destination election get over it and enjoy it. He picked me out. Cool is that you're on the winning team.

Let's split shift gears. Let's look at it from a second perspective the divine perspective it's time to human perspective, how people choose God. That's also in the story is prominent in the story Philip, first of all, seems to have obeyed immediately. Jesus said, follow me. Not only is he willing to do that.

He wants to tell Nate about it. Nathaniel perhaps his brother are good friend. The second man needs to meet this guy. He's got to hear this stuff so from a human perspective, there's a few elements number one there is investigation. Philip comes to Nathaniel. Look at verse 45 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph and Nathaniel said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth statement is that the question is that I'll tell you what it is. The question of the skeptic. It's the statement of somebody who isn't quite sure that what he is hearing.

He believes yet.

Can anything good come out of Nazareth for Philip faith was pretty easy.

Much easier than Nathaniel and there's some people like Philip Burgess ready to believe they have no barriers. They have no roadblocks that just are ready to be plucked there. Other people like Nathaniel that are more resistant. Take some investigation they need room they need space they have to work through some issues if you know a Nathaniel or if you are raising a Nathaniel in your home. Can I just suggest that perhaps you back off a little bit and give that one space and grace to wrestle through the issues and the questions. In fact help them do that.

The come out in much stronger. You never want to force somebody to say with their mouth. What they don't believe in their heart.

Jesus showed enormous grace here.

Now the question is pretty funny.

Can anything good come out of Nazareth. I just wanted tell you what that's all about the people down in Judeo Jerusalem look down their noses at all the people in Galilee. In general, Galilean's were Hicks unsophisticated mostly illiterate, not knocking to say what that's like I'm knocking to name a city or state.

You all have in your mind someplace he lie, but I won't name any place I've tried that and done that and then work out very well. I want to offend anybody but did you day and saw the Galileans all of them as unsophisticated back words Hicks but those in Galilee, even had a place in Galilee that was worse than every other place the armpit of Galway. I was Nazareth. Can anything good come out of Nazareth. Something else that will help you in the story Nathaniel the guy asking the question is from Cana in Galilee.

We will discover later Cana of Galilee is 45 miles away from natural if you come visit with us also to drive right through it from Nazareth on the way to the sea of Galilee. You blink you miss it so because Nazareth and Cana were so close to each other. There was a rivalry going on. I'm sure that the high schools battled each other in a lot of games so you can just hear Nathaniel Nazareth. I played them back high school.

Can anything good come out of Nazareth. Yes, Moses did write about Nazareth, the prophets, since anything about Nazareth, the Talmud in the Mishnah said nothing about Nazareth. That's investigation at stage I or stage to its its belief.

When you come to faith. Verse 47. Here's the meeting Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said, behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit, word and deed is a lay pharaohs means. In truth, or your genuine you're the real deal. What you see is what you get you where your heart on your sleeve menu you say honest things. You're a true blue Jew and Israelite indeed I know all about you. Then Jesus shocks Nathaniel said how do you how do you know me… Jesus answered before Philip called you for that whole conversation when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

Nathaniel answered and said to him I you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel. That was the moment he believed that was the moment he believe that's the moment that divine election and human decision transacted right here just that/no we don't know what the fig tree thing was all about.

Most people think it was a place that nobody knew about thought a private place where he meditated and maybe was asking God questions in dealing with issues was private get a private experience under something tree with God that no one knew about until Jesus that I was I was privy to that. I know all about that fig tree thing and that's why going as a son of God you the king of Israel. I watch people who are like Nathaniel resistant at first they got issues they got questions, they struggle but I've also watch them in a split second just some light goes on in their heart.

They just suddenly get it and they turn to Christ. That's belief is the third stage Revelation, you investigate, you come to faith and then you grow a little bit and I just want you to see how this is hinted at verse 45.

When Philip finds Nathaniel in the notice what he says we found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph Philip is camped at this point he's amped and how the Scripture predicted the Messiah and he sees it all. He grew up Jewish. It's like I get I see how the whole Bible fits together and there comes a point in every believer's life when they fall in love with that they fall in love with the Bible.

They can't get enough of it because they see how it all fits together and how it speaks so clearly about the issues of life and their entering into that. Not just faith, but Revelation are growing in the word I've coded often with Charles Spurgeon used to say set a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to somebody who's not. It's well-worn.

It's been read. It's been used. It's been applied spin outline and underlined. That's a good phase. I hope you never get out of that phase.

I hope you never saw yours through the Bible a lot. I was in the phase. I gotta tell you, I've been doing this for a number of years reading and studying and exegete eating and teaching and I'm still right in the middle of that phase Bible is most exciting thing Martin Luther uses say the Bible. The Bible has hands. It grabs hold of me and as feed it runs after me is the third or fourth phase, I should say will close here adventure from a human perspective. When you come into that relationship with Christ. You are entering into something that you have never dreamed about. It will end in heaven eventually.

But until then you are in for the adventure of your life. Look at verse 50 Jesus answered and said to him, Nathaniel, because I said to you I saw you under the fig tree.

Do you believe you will see greater things than these, you think that fig tree thing was cool. Stick around.

You haven't seen anything yet. What is he mean will in chapter 2 Nathaniel and the other disciples will be with Jesus when he performs his first miracle in Nathaniel's hometown of Cana turning water into wine, blow him away. It'll blow him away the letter and a whole new realm of faith Hill witness 36 other miracles that are recorded in the New Testament.

Nathaniel will watch blind eyes able to see again deaf ears able to hear again. Did people get up and live again.

That's what Jesus meant and he said greater things we see what is that last verse me what is that all about.

When the Lord says most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man is what I think Jesus is doing. I think Jesus is reaching back 2000 years in history to Genesis 28 to a story.

Nathaniel was familiar with as a Jewish young man.

In fact, could it be that under the fig tree he had been meditating on Genesis 28 could be Genesis 28 is a story about a young man named Jacob who stole the birthright from his brother, Esau, and he was found out and so he ran away from home his sled in the middle of the desert and he was so tired he was so unprepared for the journey. He felt so abandoned by God and man says he fell asleep on a rock. He put his head on a rock. You gotta be really, really tired to fall asleep with her head on a rock. We fell asleep and at night he had this vision and it was a vision of angels coming down out of heaven to the earth and going up that ladder that he saw back up to heaven so sees all of this traffic from earth to heaven in heaven to earth on a ladder. He wakes up the next day. Anyway, well, God is in this place and I knew it not a new name the place Bethel the house of God.

But notice the Jesus says you will see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man, that is Jesus himself. What is he saying simply this.

Nathaniel, I'm the link on the latter.

I'm the only mediator between God and man, and you're going to see that in the days ahead to see that there's only one way to make contact with God.

There is only one way for a human to make contact with God and that is through Jesus Christ. And when a person comes to him there in for an adventure. I was in the Spokane some time ago and I was boarding a plane at the airport and I saw a banner on the wall, grab my attention said buckle up urine for an adventure was a Southwest Airlines add advertising flights from Spokane to Reno buckle after going on an adventure. I don't think going to Reno.

I've nothing against it is like the adventure of a lifetime, but I do think that that fits right here in essence what Jesus is saying to Nathaniel is buckle up buddy, you're going to have the adventure of your life. You see such things and it's as if all of heaven will be opened. I believe the following Christ. From my perspective, is like the ultimate adventure is the ultimate adventure. Yet there are ups and downs. There's trials, there's potholes in the road there are curves I did not anticipate but what scenery there is give you challenge for the new year.

If you're a Christian today you arty know what the ultimate destination. As you know where the flight is going to end up that's in a be where you end up eventually in heaven. He said that with a little bit of my life I have in heaven heaven.

That's the destination that's the that's the ultimate landing spot. Can I just suggest that you enjoy the ride until you get there. Just learn to not live this way, head down, hands clutched white knuckle loses alert just okay.

The worst thing that will ever happen to you is you can die and go to heaven.

So enjoy the scenery a little bit more head up, look around what I expected. What's going in the next with the Lord going to do an adventure. I know I'm speaking to a few Nathaniel's this morning Jesus knows you. He knows all about your questions and he knows your thirst to find him. It could be that you've come and you just sent something different here. I'm around people who really believe and feel that Jesus is alive. He's among us but you still got those issues, you still got the struggle and I've heard about this stuff. What happens if my wife told me to come but my mom to hit it. Here's what I suggest. I love the answer. Philip gave Nathaniel just come see come and say, come check this out.

We just just come and see you when I met with just common look and see. I love that response. If you do, and see if you do respond to him to discover a couple things number one urine for like the ultimate adventure, but you can also discover that he's been waiting for you there all along all along. He's been there is made a choice before you got there. Some of you maybe are struggling saying all along you talk about the whole election. Thanks, maybe you didn't choose me, I'm not one of the chosen ones.

I can prove to you that you are you, receive Christ as your Savior and Lord, and you will discover that he has chosen you from the foundation of your discover maybe I'm not ready to do the maybe your nachos. That's not fair. What if I will grade one is you, should only nominal will the maybe your nachos but you discover that if you come to him. He will in no wise cast you out. He said, is a beautiful story about a huge rocket was cut out of the quarries in Carrara, Italy and sent to Florence Italy for the one of the masters to take it as a project and make a sculpture out of it and it was brought to Florence problem as it had a crack running through the Fisher and imperfection and I want sculptor look at it.

Donatello, the great master and said that it's flawed.

I can't work with and one after another just rejected until it finally sat for a long time in an empty yard a lot vacant lot one day, another artist came along, looked it over, saw the crack running through it and said it's perfect is what he said there's an angel trapped inside of it and I must let it go free, so that young artist Michelangelo worked for two years on that piece of stone on January 25 1504, he unveiled his masterpiece, known as David, that wonderful statute you seen at least in picture you can see still today in Florence Italy.

Know what I think if you just let God get a hold of your life.

What he can do with you no matter what flaws that we all have we come to him with just just let him shape and mold and what you in the ultimate adventure well if you like to experience that ultimate adventure in your picture with the first step is we can help you with give us a call once you 1-800-922-1880 will explain exactly what it means to live your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Now let's check in with Skip and Linda Enos get a lot of times I feel that we are sinners and because we are sinners. There's this God. It's like I don't know the 10 Commandments and he has a robe and lightning bolts and you know he's out to get us and wow God hates sin.

He loves sinners so much that he sent his son and so sometimes we get stuck with Tina. Just seeing God and that judge mental role and not looking at the great love of God in mercy and exactly in the compassion that he has for us share a thought or two on how we should respond to that revelation of God's great love couple of great versus a come to my mind is when Jesus said the Son of Man has come to seek and to save those who are lost. The other one is where John declares that God didn't send his son to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved without Christ, there is condemnation. The Bible says God is angry with sinners every day.

So the world already stands in the state of being condemned and were born in sin were born in that state. But God sent Jesus to avert condemnation to to change judgment into redemption and when a person realizes that it is like a veil is lifted and I've seen that in the simple proclamations at Billy Graham Crusades were held over and over again.

Say God loves you. God loves you, he'll say that a lot in his messages historically and people are surprised and I think that the reaction we should have to that is first of all to acknowledge that and receive Christ if God loves us through the person of Christ been receive Christ as many as received him, to them he gave the power authority right to become children of God, and then second of all, when you realize that and if you go through your day and I hope that even this is a reminder to listeners of the driving or listening in the hospital or at home is to thank God, to stop and say thank you that you love me so much, and some hundred 16 Davis is, what shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits all take the cup of salvation and thank the Lord blessed the Lord thinking for his benefits. You're so good to me Lord and I know that parents love to hear their children's thank use our heavenly father does to cats beautiful kind of reminds me of your testimony in the sense that the anger of God is answered are sloshed in the atonement of Christ and as you heard the gospel shared, you know, you knew that you are a sinner, but as you listen to it. I think he said something like lot larger.

Getting a bad deal.

Your offering me your love and I've been such that you know create pattern on one foraging.

Without such a human.

And so it's beautiful that time.

It's the love of God and that compels us and draws us closer to him, in spite of what we've done it, we've seen that have a we all in the human level. When you take somebody who's not secure. As a person and you reach out to that person you show love to them and how they respond. Sort of like sunshine get into a flour water to a parched plan they just come alive in in God's creation comes truly alive when they realize, and appropriate. His love. Well that's important for all of us to remember. So thanks a lot guys for sharing – and to wrap things up today if you'd like a copy of today's teaching it's available on CD for just four dollars plus shipping. When you contact us at 1-800-922-1888 or when you visit connectwithskip.com sure to come back and join us again next time. As we continue with our series through the book of John: believe 87) connect weekend edition presentation connection