John Chapter 1:39-43

You may think well I just don't know enough to know what I'm encouraged by the guy they set him on in the Gospel of John were there asking all these questions because you know what I don't know anything except I know that I was blind and now I see see when you begin to think well I got a week to get to a certain level knowledge to be sure about faith you fall into a trap. At one point when you have Genesis to Revelation. Below or maybe you're thinking well I gotta get all this straightened out this that the other and then when I get that straightened out that all structure hello.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina were glad to have one of these associate pastors around here with us is continues through the book of John Bob. Sometimes we think that we tell others about Jesus, we have to speak perfect not make any mistakes know everything about the Bible.

That's not true. God is wanting us to just simply tell people about him and he will empower them. We've all messed up while none of us have been perfect. Jesus is perfect for all that sounds encouraging all excited to hear what David McGee has to say as he continues teaching through John chapter 1 we are in the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 30. Remember we are in the midst of Jesus calling some of the disciples last week we talked about what you see can certainly let's also question verse 38 for us what we looking for, what are we seeking, convicting? Really when you begin to answer it because a lot of times we are not seeking first the kingdom of God is were told to do. The Lord tells us in his word, seeking first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you that we read that a lot of times we think, well, that's a oversimplification that's God's work any means what he says that if you will seek him first the Lord. It's amazing will order every step in your life. Verse 39 he said to them, Jesus did come and see places where you stand where you live, you send them come and see. They came and saw where he was standing remained with them that day. Now was about the 10th hour.

Another interesting thing. Remember John is writing to both the Jewish audience and the Gentile audience and so what you do see some things, like John using Roman time instead of like the watches which were common to the Jewish keeping of the time and you also see him explain some of the Jewish term so it's interesting here again, he says Jesus is coming. See when something to tell somebody in regards to the Lord. Amen. Come and see. Come check it out, get a fresh start coming receive the forgiveness of your sins, and be led to the still waters. Come get your soul restore and you realize that moment he speaking to disciples but you realize Jesus is saying that there come and see. Come and see. Some people say that Christianity is an exclusive religion is so bogus. Exclusive, meaning that people are excluded its inclusive meaning. Everybody is invited whosoever will praise God that you got your whosoever you are right you have the whosoever raised you have your whosoever everybody in here to whosoever so whenever you read the Scripture says whosoever she called my name.

One of the two who heard John verse 40 speaking following him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. We see several ways how people are drawn to Jesus here when they heard John the Baptist speak they were drawn to Jesus in verse 41 he first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, we have found the Messiah, which is translated, the Christ Messiah is the Hebrew word Michiana is given Hebrew anointed one. Another way to say Messiah is the anointed one, not a anointed one, but the anointed Christos is the Greek word for anointed.

That's where we get Christ are Christos so his name is Joshua Christos.

Yes you will again be in the Hebrew word, also the same as Joshua first found his brother good to go to family and tell about Jesus a man it's hard because so often they are so familiar with our shortcomings and mother sends that we think well I can't tell them think they know all the mistakes I've made but you understand, just gives you a platform to share the gospel and don't ever Kaskaskia don't ever sit and argue whether you're a sinner or not. Family don't do that because I know that you can use that to share the gossiping safe yet. You know, here I am not perfect God is still at work in me. Praise God he's at work in me, and I recognize from our own sinfulness that I need a Savior. I need a Messiah that's interesting that when we look at the life of Jesus when we don't ever see him going more than about 70 miles from there it to Israel you it's remarkable how small the country. It really gone anywhere and everywhere. But he stayed in a tight little circle to maximize his ministry. I have found it intriguing very interesting others when discussing branch Christianity swelling cult that says Jesus came to America, but we don't have any scriptural proof.

We don't have any archaeological proof don't have any historical proof that the dentistry see that challenges our notion of ministry. Sometimes we think the more spread out.

It is the better it is not necessarily. Sometimes it's the more focused. It is the more effective it is. Matthew 418 says and Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Let me give you a Bible study to whenever you're introduced into a character in the Bible.

Pay close attention to what they're doing because it is of special significance for any details and Meritor just got filler material thrown in to look we have these two guys, Peter Simon Andrews and what are they doing casting a net into the sea.

How appropriate. How appropriate. What happens Andrew Stella and Peter about the Messiah.

We found the tell people it's interesting that it's not recorded that Andrew was told to go tell people, but he did times when Jesus does miracles in the Gospels. He does something that to be honest. Still to this day quite understand I can't do but I don't do something really somebody from the dead, the daughter and many would say don't tell anybody that must've been difficult and we read that oftentimes they that was too difficult. But even though Jesus said don't tell anybody. They went and they told people that strikes me as ironic. No, as he told him not to tell me told. He tells us to tell them we don't want to encourage and something were supposed to tell people about Jesus. But the thing that you have to understand is why are we supposed to tell people about Jesus. This is a trap that so many people have fallen into vascular question this morning. It doubtless countless replies would be. We tell people about Jesus to see them get saved.

That sounds good and it sounds noble but understand that's wrong scripturally explain. If your motivation is to see somebody get saved.

That's why you share the plan of salvation. What happens when they don't get saved you remove the motivation is matter-of-fact. So many believers start out far and then there's Sharon to see people get saved in the first time that I get saved in the second time that I could save the third timely to get saved and they go you know, and I can't do this I must not be called to the question because they think through a lot of the enemy that there be an unsuccessful gas. Jesus told us to go until someone asked a question at what point are we successful in the eyes of Jesus. The moment we open our mouth. The moment we open our mouth. Jesus is my boy, girl surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, cheering us on. The moment you open your mouth. You are successful, you are being obedient to what Jesus told you to do the moment you don't open your mouth. You are being disobedient to what Jesus told us to do that sometimes, and understand God's God's given me a boldness and share my faith and I'm glad he has, but understand were all supposed to be bold and a lot of times people say well I just I don't know enough yet to share my faith. If you were here last week you got enough go share you guys every week you're getting filled up you better go pour it out or you will begin to get stagnant stacked upon. That's a pretty picture smells really nice that Jesus told us to be fishers of men. He never said beekeepers of the aquarium were supposed to be sharing our faith and again you may think well I just don't know what you know what I'm encouraged by the God we base him on the gospel of John were there asking all these questions because you know what I don't have anything except I know that I was blind and now I see that seat when you begin to think well I got wait to get to a certain level of knowledge to be sharing my faith.

You've fallen into a trap. At one point when you have Genesis to Revelation, probably allowing or maybe you think of when I got to get all this straightened out this that the other and then when I get that straightened out. Then I'll start to share my faith hello before you get perfect enough to share your faith.

See, these are pitfalls that we fall into. I'm afraid that I might say something wrong.

Well let me liberate you all that you will say so. I promise you'll say the wrong thing at the wrong time you want. That's part of the experience of learning.

I said the wrong thing at the wrong time. Many times that's what I'm dependent upon the Holy Spirit. But you know what, saying the wrong thing still being obedient to the Lord and maybe messed up maybe you said the wrong thing.

But you know what, and this is life lesson number one we only failed, entailing when we fail to tell.

We only failed in telling when we fail to lonely people that never make mistakes.

People never do anything different. So yes, you make some mistakes you make some timing mistakes you, you make some mistakes where you get distracted from the main issue with you know because the enemy gets into the conversation. Understand that you know you start to share about the cross about Jesus and they want to talk about everything but that. What about Israel. I got on or you know that with some common ones from the Bible contradicts itself. That's real, just damn about fishermen or the pygmies in Africa.

That's it. Have you ever heard that you sharing Jesus what my replies usually will ask you to St. Vincent you got a burden for me to go there minister, but the real question is, what he can do with Jesus. What you're talking to him right then about the cross of Christ, what the with that will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want to take a minute to pray for listeners in the cities in California have Joshua tree Lake Isabella Lakehead Las Cruces Laurel Lompoc in the San Jose area God, we thank you for the cities.

We pray for the leaders in the cities that you will give them wisdom and discernment. We pray that people would be following you, with all their heart all their soul and all the strength may be sharing with others to hope they found in you.

We pray that many would accept that offer of hope and eternal salvation, and that they would get plugged in Bible teaching churches. They will begin to grow in their relationship with you and be a blessing to other people. In Jesus name, amen. Hey man, thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse I love verse 14 it says and he brought him to Jesus.

They brought Simon the Jesus we don't follow.

A lot of what Andrew does after the Gospels, but boy you sure have run when he brought Peter to Jesus to see. You never know you never know who you're witnessing to, you might be witnessing to the next Billy Graham. The next Greg Laurie, the next Luis Palau the next fill in the blank you don't give you the words the Lord will give you gifts to share with people's. A lot of times we think spiritual gifts are for show for show. 11. Donald G said he said the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit is like the steam in a train somebody as we watch a steam engine go blindly see the steam coming up out of the whistle. You can mistakenly think all the steams for the whistle steams up for the whistle steam is to drive the train see the Holy Spirit is to give you power to be a witness.

Sometimes we think it's the pluralist that's just me go simply as with me for a moment if you will trust God share the story before but this is this is the discount of a classic and show that the Lord will have you share what he wants you to share. We're in a military town we went. We set a flatbed out in the parking lot where music and stuff and and it started raining all all the years of his stuff away.

Laura called from off to the son she said David can you come over here for a minute and you acknowledged your way and it dates raining. Did I say that it's raining on the gear. My wife is going I'm busy doing the work of God and that when I looked over and saw the look on her face and fell subsequent also walked up and she was talking to a guy that had been standing. This was gonna diminish that I don't go to hell this how to be pretty straightforward conversation to the issue is we don't have to as well is still a good selection Jesus.Jesus died to forgive you every sense.

You don't understand what you're right I probably don't understand.

We know what Jesus Christ is understand his so this went back and forth for a minute or two and then the Lord impressed upon me sure about Paul. Did you know ever heard of politics again seeking Paul's crispness of what he reported severe two thirds of New Testament said you think Paul's crispness is sick. Paul was doing before he got say Caesar around persecuting Christians, we believe, for no other reason than them being Christian and a set of God can change the life of Paul and forgive him whatever you've done working forgive you.

Well, a light went on acid you believe that he suggests McCaffrey with UNIX again. So we prayed letting them the sinners prayer that he asked for the forgiveness of the central Jesus Christ based upon his death upon the cross and man know sometimes people get quietly saved, you know there's there's no tears there still saved but sometimes they get like saved to the phone. You know, I mean you can look after while he just got say incidentally if you ever pray with somebody for them to receive the Lord after you say amen not look at them again how you feel because they may not feel different. We don't walk according to feelings we walk according to faith, but this got me you know his his face was lit up and we started with the equipment again. Manny was like I feel and I looked over there and he was pouring the beer out that he had in his pocket citing you got quit drinking now he just took it on Loading Was look over again.

He's got cigarettes out until quit smoking. They were going to go out to eat if you want your witnesses to church so you an update was ornamental like a sitdown restaurant and in my bro that gentleman over there. Feels good. Apparently I really got ready to leave us and I cannot give you a ride back somewhere and he gives no actually have a driver that will have to do is communicate with got this electronic device and he pulled back his jacket and he had just had only been know what all it did this electronic device on it said on their Lieut. Cmdr. Navy SEALs. I had no idea this guy made a living not only killing people.

But teaching other people how to kill people.

I had no idea what he was struggling had no idea what his burden was with the Lord. The Lord spoke to my heart about what to share and you know what, that's not just me. The Lord wants to use you in that way he wants to speak to your heart about what to share with people and it can be just as exciting and just as much an adventure. If you're open and if you open your mouth. Let me assure you, God will fill your mouth appraisal verse 42 necessity brought in Jesus. Now Jesus looked at him. He said you are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas, which is translated a stone is a Little Rock, but he was going to be a big rock in here again we see in the original text we see John translating for the Gentile who did speak Hebrew or Aramaic because you don't miss. This is an extremely encouraging verse when you stop to think about because when Andrew brought Peter Jesus did McCammon go slick with that cat drug in he didn't say no.

Spent a lot of time on the nightly insane event any block because Jesus.Mrs. Jesus saw the end result of Simon would end up to be. He saw the end result of Simon would end up to be not the denier how he knew that not somebody that would stick his foot in his mouth, often needed that to myself, Peter saw strongman in the Lord, he saw a man that had denied him a few days before Britain stood on the steps of the temple and lit 3000 people to the Lord and then turned to the spiritual leaders of Israel when they said you got quit talking.

He said you know what I'm going to bake God and not man. He saw Saul and Peter guess what he sees that you cc were you getting PCs where you're going to be praise God because the end result was Jesus turned them in. This man into a D understands the same power God that wants to change us got it changed while his apostolic power of God, get me's power. God got the same seat and lifeless number two God accepts us the way we are and loves this too much to leave us that way.

God not only desires to change us, gives us the power to change God can changes say that God can changes save God can change some of your service to get God can change as some of you still going the fifth to get God can change. You must make a little more personal God can change me.

God can change me you believe they can do it you're looking at a Gentile heathen doll that God got a hold of. I wasn't born a pastor. The guy got me verse 43 the following day Jesus will go to Galilee and he found Philip and said the follow me, follow me big dissertation eschatology, just the two words follow me needed. We get so distracted so easily, spiritually, we get our eyes off of Jesus. We get our eyes on other things we get our other people in Jesus context over over follow me, pick up your cross daily and follow me is how Jesus repeats himself a lot different. You know Paul didn't really repeat himself very often, he would follow this little logic and also teacher but Jesus repeated himself locks and I was confused about that one up when I was a younger Christian. But then I had children and you know if I myself don't repeating myself, don't do that. Don't do that.

Don't do that. Just follow me, follow me, because he understands that we are so easily distracted and we need to follow some only decision that you have to make is who are you going to follow friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes during a cane for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous to congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life will DA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. David McGee, that sounds good pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church.

The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continued teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John