Called to Carry the Truth
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Verse ???
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Textual Main Idea - John’s purpose in writing is to bear witness to the truth.
John is Uniquely Used by Jesus (vs. 20-23)
John Truthfully Testified for Jesus (vs. 24)
John Realistically Revealed Jesus (vs. 25)
Introduction
Greet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)
Attention (Why should they listen to you?)
What is the Hearer’s problem? We do not witness like we should
What is the Biblical Solution? Learn from John
What do the hearers need to know? Following Jesus means we will be a witness for Jesus.
Textual Main Idea - John’s purpose in writing is to bear witness to the truth.
John is Uniquely Used by Jesus (vs. 20-23)
John Truthfully Testified for Jesus (vs. 24)
John Realistically Revealed Jesus (vs. 25)
Main Idea: God Chose You to Help Others Believe in Jesus
Interrogative: You are fearfully and wonderfully made to share the love of Christ with those in your circle of influence.
Transition: There are three things we can learn from these last verses in the Gospel of John that show us that God wired to witness for Christ in our own special way...
Body (Satisfaction)
1. You Are Unique to Jesus (vs. 20-23)
Lead in…Jesus has just gone through the process of restoring Peter to his position as apostle. Now Peter turns his attentions to another apostle that is near and dear to Jesus’ heart. Take a look at the text with me...
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
Text -
Explanation -
Verse 20 - Peter looked to John
Verse 21 - Peter said to Jesus, “Lord what about this man?” - “So, you just told me that I would be crucified for you one day. My life would be sacrificed because I am a restored follower of Christ.” “What about this guy, John?” “What will come of him?”
It is like Peter is saying, “I’m slotted to die for you in the future, surely he is as well, right Lord?”
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John Exegesis and Exposition
In a personal lesson on discipleship, Jesus tells Peter to be content with his own calling and to leave that of others to him. This, in turn, becomes a general lesson relevant also for the readers of the Gospel.
Verse 22 - Jesus responds to Peter by giving him a rather abrupt response. “What is that to you?”
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
There is no belittling of either disciple. Peter received His destiny from the Lord, that He would, at some point in the future, be crucified for his faith. This would bring great glory to God and help to further His kingdom.
John on the other hand would remain in this life for a good long time and function as His witness.
In either case, it was what the Lord willed for each of them...
The function of the entire chapter is “to confirm the Beloved Disciple as author of the body of the document and to substantiate the credibility of his eyewitness authority for its content” (Jackson 1999: 9).
The bottom line, Peter? “You follow me”!
Andreas J. Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 603.
The bottom line, Peter? “You follow me”!
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John Exegesis and Exposition
What applies to both disciples is the call to follow Jesus, each with his own destiny.” For Peter, Christlikeness is found in martyrdom (cf. 21:19 with 12:33); for the beloved disciple, Christlikeness manifests itself in witness grounded in unparalleled intimacy with Jesus
Verse 23 - Well, John throws in a reminder that the the Disciples Got it wrong again! They miss heard Jesus and they ran with a strange assumption. John was not guaranteed to live until Jesus returned. However, in their defense they didn’t realize the Lord would be gone for as long as He has been...
But John clarifies so his readers understand that Jesus wasn’t granting him immortality in this life, rather “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?”
“What is that to you?” Peter! Don’t worry about my plans for John, you focus on my plans for you. And my plan for you for the immediate future is to simply follow me.
I think it is important that we all come to terms with this idea this morning. We are, if we are in Christ, called to follow Jesus within His unique plan for each of us. We are to reach people for Jesus in the way he has gifted and wired us!
Illustration - Contagious Christian?
A true heart of compassion will let those on the way to destruction know they can escape, but the only escape is through Jesus Christ. We need to tell people they're in trouble with God and that God alone has provided a way to escape. But How? Do we all have to share the same way? No, the unbelieving world is made up of a variety of people: young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, urban, rural, with different race, personalities, values, politics, and religious backgrounds. It's going to take more than one style of evangelism to reach such a diverse population!
So what is your style?
Confrontational? () Repent and be baptized, save yourselves from this corrupt generation.
Intellectual? () Paul debated with the philosophers on Mars Hill to convince them.
Testimonial? () One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!
Relational? () Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.
Invitational? () The Samaritan woman at the well begged the people of the city to come and hear Jesus for themselves.
Serving? () Dorcas impacted her city by doing deeds of kindness.
Source Unknown.
Don't ever think you're a second class Christian because you don't proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the Glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!! - Source Unknown.
Argumentation - John was unique to Jesus and would serve God’s unique purposes. He took the time and wrote a version of the life of Christ that would fill in the gaps of the other gospels. By the way, isn’t interesting to note that John was not martyred for His faith in Christ. In fact, he was the only one out of the twelve to not be martyred. God kept him around long enough to not only write his important gospel that taught us so much more about Jesus, but he also was able to write 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and the all important apocalyptic book, Revelation. God used the unique abilities of John to write a powerful witness regarding Jesus.
Application - What do you suppose God wants to do with you? You are Unique to God as well! He has had crafted you to be used by Him for his good purposes. And while there are many things that we will do for Christ over the course of our Christian lives, there are two specific things that every unique believer must engage in.
We must not overly concern ourselves with how others serve Jesus How the Lord uses other believers
We must FOLLOW JESUS - What are incorporating in your life to help you follow Jesus?
We must not overly concern ourselves with how others serve Jesus How the Lord uses other believers
To follow Christ means the Christ becomes everything to us - Everyone follows something in this life and you can only follow one thing at a time. What or who are you following right now?
To follow Christ means that you rely on His Spirit -
To follow Christ mean that you strive to be like Him -
Jesus always strove to be like the Father.
Following Jesus means striving to be like Him. He always obeyed His Father, so that's what we strive to do (; ). To truly follow Christ means to make Him the Boss. That's what it means to make Jesus Lord of our lives (; ; ). Every decision and dream is filtered through His Word with the goal of glorifying Him in everything (). We are not saved by the things we do for Christ () but by what He has done for us. Because of His grace, we want to please Him in everything. All this is accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of every area of our lives (). He explains the Scriptures (), empowers us with spiritual gifts (), comforts us (), and guides us (). To follow Christ means we apply the truths we learn from His Word and live as if Jesus walked beside us in person. (GQ)
You must regularly ingest God’s Holy Word. It is your gasoline for your engine. It is the food for your soul. It is the source of of your spiritual power.
You must commune with God through His Spirit...
You must love others as much as you love yourself
You must sacrifice youe s
Review - God Chose You to Help Others Believe in Jesus
1. You Are Unique to Jesus
2. You Are a Witness for Jesus (vs. 24)
2. You Are a Witness for Jesus (vs. 24)
Lead in…And speaking of how God uniquely used John, look at the next verse...
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
Text -
Explanation -
Verse 24 - This disciple is John the Apostle. And he views his primary role, especially with the writing of this Gospel to be one who bears witness.
“bear witness” - to communicate what one has seen with his or her own eyes - John was qualified for such a task and that is what he did in his gospel!
“about these things” - What things? Well, what do you think Jesus did in order to prove He was who He said He was?
The seven Signs in John
Water into Wine (Chapter 2)
Healing the Sick Boy (Chapter 4)
Healing a Paralyzed Man (Chapter 5)
Feeding the 5,000 (Chapter 6)
Healing a Blind Man (Chapter 9)
Raising Lazarus (Chapter 11)
Jesus Rising from the Dead (Chapter 20) - This “Vindicates Jesus Claim to be the Son of God whose Love conquered death!”
“and we know his testimony is true.” - How do we know?
The Seven “I Am” Statements
The Bread of Life (6:35)
The Light of the World (8:12)
The Gate for the Sheep (10:7)
The Good Shepherd (10:11)
The Resurrection (11:25)
The Way, Truth and Life (14:6)
The True Vine (15:1)
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John Exegesis and Exposition
The function of the entire chapter is “to confirm the Beloved Disciple as author of the body of the document and to substantiate the credibility of his eyewitness authority for its content” (Jackson 1999: 9).
The point is this. Jesus proved his word that He was our hope for restoration with God by His self-sacrifice on the cross.
John’s responsibility was to give witness to this reality. One of the most powerful ways he accomplished this was through this gospel letter.
There are many ways that we too can witness about our Jesus...
Illustration - (Rewrite) When he was the pastor of the Methodist church in Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately, the man was a little bit off in his thinking and usually did the wrong thing. While working as a barber the man lathered up a customer for a shave, came at him with the poised razor, and asked, "Are you prepared to meet your God?" The frightened man fled with the lather on his face! - W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 215.
Washington -- Graffiti from the 1800s discovered by workers renovating the Washington Monument has quite a different tone from that usually found today on the sides of buildings and subway cars.
"Whoever is the human instrument under God in the conversion of one soul, erects a monument to his own memory more lofty and enduing (sic) than this," reads the inscription which can now be viewed by visitors to the monument.
It is signed BFB. No one knows who that is, or who left the small drawings and 19th century dates on other walls.
The markings in the lobby of the monument were covered over when it was decorated at the turn of the century. They were found when workers removed marble wainscoting as part of a year-long $500,000 renovation which was just completed.
Spokesman-Review, June, 1994.
George Sweeting, in his book The No-Guilt Guide for Witnessing, tells of a man by the name of John Currier who in 1949 was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Later he was transferred and paroled to work on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1968, Currier's sentence was terminated, and a letter bearing the good news was sent to him. But John never saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it. Life on that farm was hard and without promise for the future. Yet John kept doing what he was told even after the farmer for whom he worked had died.
Ten years went by. Then a state parole officer learned about Currier's plight, found him, and told him that his sentence had been terminated. He was a free man.
Sweeting concluded that story by asking, "Would it matter to you if someone sent you an important message -- the most important in your life -- and year after year the urgent message was never delivered?"
We who have heard the good news and experienced freedom through Christ are responsible to proclaim it to others still enslaved by sin. Are we doing all we can to make sure that people get the message?
Our Daily Bread, November 6, 1994.
The phone rang and I greeted a young pastor friend from Arlington, Virginia.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Studying," I replied. "Nothing special."
"Are you sitting down?"
"Yes, why?"
"Your father just trusted Christ this evening."
"He what? You've got to be kidding!" I blurted out.
Such an inappropriate response grew out of long detours in our father-son journey. Ever since I received Christ as a boy my concern has been for the salvation of my family and loved ones. On repeated occasions I had broached the subject of the gospel with dad, but his response was less than excited.
My father has always been a very important person to me. Not that I approved of everything he said or did or that I imitated him consciously in any way. We weren't really close friends, either. But he was important in my life because of the indirect impact he made upon me.
Dad was a military man. He had seen action around the world. During the periods when he was embroiled in battle, I would become very sensitive to his spiritual need. I and my family prayed for him, but at times I'm afraid my faith sputtered. His response was always the same: Son, don't worry about me. I'll work it out with God (as if God could be manipulated like a Pentagon official).
God brought a man into my life, a man with a passion for men. His name was Butch Hardman. One day before we knew each other Butch was boarding a plane in Detroit when a friend handed him a cassette tape.
"Ever hear Hendricks? Here's a tape you should listen to." On that tape I related my father's spiritual need.
Butch listened and something about the anecdote reminded him of his own father with whom he had shared Christ shortly before he died. He began to pray for this unknown man, George Hendricks. Some months later Butch attended a pastors' conference in Philadelphia where I was the speaker. He shook my hand afterward. That was the only time our paths crossed before a remarkable incident in Arlington.
Butch was driving the church bus down the street, having discharged all his passengers. He saw a man standing on the corner who reminded him uncannily of Howard Hendricks. Could it possibly be...? He backed up the bus, stopped, got off, and went over to the man.
"Are you by any chance Howard Hendricks' father?"
It is easy to imagine the startled response. "Er-ah (I can envision my father's critical once-over with his steely blue eyes) yeah -- you a student of my son?"
"No, I'm not, but he sure has helped me. Got time for a cup of coffee?"
That encounter began a friendship, skillfully engineered by the Spirit of God. Butch undoubtedly sensed dad's hesitancy when he discovered he had met a preacher. For a long time Butch did not invite him to attend his church. He simply suggested that dad drop by the office for coffee. Patiently he endured dad's cigars and his endless repertoire of war stories. Before long he also learned that dad had been diagnosed as having a terminal throat cancer.
Months later Butch was at his bedside. "Mr. Hendricks, I'll be leaving shortly for a Holy Land trip. Instead of my listening to you tonight, would you let me tell you a story?"
Butch had earned his hearing and he began simply to relate the interview of Jesus Christ with Nicodemus as recorded by the Apostle John. At the conclusion dad accepted Butch's invitation to receive Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior. Then dad got up out of bed, stood, and saluted with a smile. "No I'm under a new Commander-in-Chief!" That night Butch called Dallas.
The last time I saw dad alive I could not believe he was the same man I had known. His frame was wasted, but his spirit was more virile than I had ever known.
In accordance with dad's specific provision in his will, Butch Hardman conducted the crisp military funeral in Arlington cemetery where the gospel of Jesus Christ was presented to the small group of family and military attendants. As the guns saluted their final farewell, I knew God had vindicated forty-two years of prayer.
Howard and Jeanne Hendricks, Footprints, Multnomah Press, 1981, Page 16-19.
I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him.
Directly in front of him sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to my presentation. When I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, "Would you like to accept Christ? I'll be glad to walk down with you if you want to." The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, "Naw, I think I'll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night."
Billy and I have had several good chuckles over that incident. Unfortunately, it underlines how, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the "Big Guns," not the "little shots."
Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C.Cook Publishing Co., Page 67.
The Thames, flowing through London, was at low tide, causing the freighter to be anchored a distance from shore. The long plank, which led from the ship across the mud flats to the bank, suddenly began to jiggle precariously. The smallish man who was carefully pushing his barrow across the plank from the freighter to the shore lost his balance and found himself tumbling into the muddy waters. A roar of laughter erupted from the dockers and from the tall worker on board ship, who had jiggled the plank. The muddied man's instinctive reaction was anger. The fall was painful; he was dripping wet and knee deep in muck. "This is your opportunity," a voice whispered in his heart.
The victim, unknown to his tormenters, was a clergyman disguised as a docker in hopes of getting to know how the dockers felt, lived and struggled. Perhaps as he gained their confidence and made friends, he could tell them of the love of the Savior, who died to give them new life and hope and joy. George Dempster came up laughing.
A docker made his way to where Dempster had been dislodged, dropped some empty boxes into the slush and jumped down to help him out. "You took that all right," he said as he helped Dempster clamber back to the boxes he had dropped. His accent was not that of a cockney. He was no ordinary docker.
Dempster told the story of this unusual docker in Finding Men for Christ. He recounted the ensuing events:
"Did I? Well, what's the use of being otherwise?" I replied and followed this by a challenge.
"You haven't been at this game long."
"Neither have you," he retorted.
"No! And I shan't be at it much longer if I can help it.
Tell me your yarn, and I'll tell you mine."
I was watching his face as well as I could with my eyes still half full of mud. He was trying to scrape some of the slime from me and meanwhile becoming almost as filthy as I was. We agreed to exchange yarns. I therefore proposed that we should adjourn to a coffee shop nearby and over a warm drink exchange the story of our experiences, and how we came to be "down under" life's circumstances.
Along we journeyed through Wapping High Street, up Nightingale Lane to London Docks and so "To where I dossed (slept). When we reached the Alley and I indicated the door he said, "Do they let beds here?"
"Well," I replied, "I sleep here, come in and see."
"Oh! I've often passed this place but did not know they put men up here."
We entered and I instructed that a cup of coffee and something be brought for my friend, while I disappeared without explaining to anybody exactly how I came to be so inelegantly decorated.
Mud baths had not yet become a prescribed treatment for certain human ailments, but never could such a remedy, however well prepared or appropriately prescribed, prove so effectual as this one. It had been involuntarily taken it is true, but for like results who would not undertake even such drastic treatment daily? "His ways are higher than our ways." His permissions are all for somebody's good, and in this instance the reason for His permission was not long unrevealed. A hurried bath soon put me right. After donning my usual attire, while seeking Divine guidance I hastened to return.
"Here we are, now for our yarns," I began.
He was staring in amazement and was for a few moments lost for reply.
"This is your yarn, is it? What do you do this for?"
The first part of his question needed no reply, but I did not hesitate to answer the second.
"To find you."
He looked perplexed as we sat gazing at each other; then dropping his eyes before my enquiring look, shook his head sadly and rose as if to depart. Restraining him I said cheerily:
"Now, friend, a bargain is a bargain. Thank you for helping me out of the river and thus giving me the privilege of meeting you, but you promised, you know, and I want that story of yours. You can see mine."
He was a tall, well-built man in middle life. There were indications beyond his speech that his years had not been spent in his present conditions and surroundings. His features gave evidence of intellect, and the obvious deterioration was recent. His expression was softening even as we stood facing each other. The previous callous demeanor was giving place to something finer. I pursued the question, feeling certain now that here was the purpose of my adventure.
"Come now, tell me if I can be of help to you."
Very decisively he answered at once, "No, you cannot."
"Why?"
"Because I've gone too far."
As I prayed silently, presently he looked me squarely in the face as if measuring whether he could trust me and confide. No words came, so I continued.
"Does it not appeal to you as a very remarkable thing," I asked, "that we should be sitting here like this if you have really gone too far?"
No answer.
"Was it an accidental thing that I happened to get a job alongside you at that particular wharf this morning? Was it mere chance that those rascals chose me for their rather cruel joke? Is it pure coincidence that of all the crowd you should be the one to fish me out? Or -- did Someone know where to find you and is even now answering someone else's prayer for you?"
From the pocket he drew hastily two photographs. "These are mine," he said, laying them gently upon the table. One was the picture of a fine-looking lady, the other bore the figures of two bonnie young girls of nearly equal age, obviously the daughters of the elder woman. I was looking closely at them when I heard a groan and then a sob as my friend again dropped his head upon his arms.
"Yours! And you here like this? Why?" It was a sad story, but, alas, only too familiar.
Bit by bit I got it from him; although several times with an almost fierce "it's too late," he would have left me. He was a fully qualified medical man with a fine record. He had married into a well-known family where there was no lack of money. Having conducted a splendid practice in the south of England, all went well for him for years. Two girls were born to them, and it was a happy home with a very wide circle of friends.
But as so frequently happens, the allurements proved too strong for the man whose gifts and natural endowments made him a popular and welcome guest wherever he went. He was too busy to continue his regular attendance at church; gradually he ceased altogether and always had plenty of excuses to offer when his wife urged him to accompany her.
The girls were sent away to school where they were educated with a view to following a medical career, but he who should have been their guide and helper failed in his obligations because he had become addicted to drink. At first this fact was hidden, but the habit grew stronger until it mastered him. His practice as well as his home and family were neglected. This naturally led to great unhappiness and depression. In spite of the loving devotion and care of his wife and daughters, he went from bad to worse and finally decided to disappear. So by a number of subterfuges he effectually vanished from the world which knew him and became a wanderer.
After years of wander in America and Canada, he returned to London. He had never been discovered; he had never communicated with his kin. Down, down he went, living the life of a casual hand, sometimes finding a job, sometimes literally begging for food. He slept out at night, often in lodging houses with those with whom he had nothing in common save a degraded and sinful way of life. When he could get drink, he took all he could obtain to drown his sorrows. Once he was lodged in the Tower Bridge Police cells but was discharged and warned. He had simply been found "drunk and incapable," and his identity had not been revealed.
Now this thing had happened, and it could not be explained away by saying it was a coincidence. There was more in it than that. "Someone" had known where to find him. Suppose those three whom he had so shamefully deserted had been all the time praying for his recovery? Recovery that he had so foolishly resisted -- so often longed for -- so often dreamed of. Suppose it were true that God was now "causing all things to work together for good to them" -- those three -- "that love Him"? Suppose that He was at this moment giving him another --possibly a last -- chance to return?
Such, he later admitted, were his thoughts, and he began to pray for himself. He had known in past days the comforts and consolations of worship. Now he began to pray very deeply and truly as he heard from a friend the old, old message. Presently he said calmly, "I see," and kneeling by the table, he and I talked with God.
Never can I forget his prayer. At first the halting, stumbling petition of a brokenhearted repentant sinner who felt acutely two things. First, his base ingratitude to a merciful God Who had not cut him off in the midst of his sins, and then the cruelty of his conduct toward those who loved him on earth. As he confessed his feelings in these ways, he seemed to become capable of clearer utterance.
How long we thus communed I do not know, but we were both much moved as we stood to shake hands. I seemed to feel again his grip on mine as I now record these happenings.
"And you will stand by me?"
"Yes," I answered, "as well as another man can."
"Then I'll prove what Christ can do."
We then fell to considering whether it would be advisable to write at once to his wife and tell her the news.
"No! Not yet. Please God we'll try and improve matters before we do that. I must find out more about the position there first. There are the girls to think about. I must not spoil their careers. About now they must be in the midst of their exams. No! Please wait a while until by God's help I am a little more like a father they need not be ashamed of -- then!"
So we planned. With the aid of a friend who had influence in a certain large, well-known company, he was found a berth in the warehouse, packing drugs and chemicals. In a few weeks, the results were surprising. He was found to be so useful that a better paid job was offered him. Soon it was discovered that he knew a great deal about the contents of the packets he was handling, and when he admitted that the work of a dispenser was not strange to him, he was again promoted.
It was then that he agreed to my suggestions to write to his wife and inform her that he was alive and well. Very carefully I wrote, telling her something of the events above recorded and suggesting that if she would like to see me on the matter I would gladly arrange to meet her.
A letter came back, breathing deep gratitude to God for His wonderful answer to prayer and for His mercy. An expression of appreciation for the human agency He had provided, and an explanation that the two daughters were facing some difficult hospital examinations. It would therefore, she thought, be best to defer any meeting until they were through. But would I please keep her informed of his progress. It was a wonderfully understanding and gracious letter considering all the circumstances.
I showed him the letter. He was deeply moved as he carefully and eagerly read it, then returning it to me he said quietly, "I must ask you to honor her wishes. Painful as delay is to me, I must submit. I deserve it and much more. Will you now pray with me that I may prove worthy of her confidence and their love?" Six months passed, each day bringing continuous evidence of the "new birth" and of his loyalty to Christ. There was no wavering or falling back. Whatever struggles he had with the enemy, no one saw the least evidence of any weakness. In every way he was proving that he was "a new creature," that "old thingshad passed away."
Two brief notes had come from the wife asking more details than my letters conveyed. I gladly told her all she desired to learn. Then one day there came a letter asking me to arrange a time for her to visit me. This was soon done, and without telling either of them what I had planned, I made my own arrangements. He was not informed of the impending visit but patiently awaited developments.
In due time the day arrived, and the wife kept her appointment. I instantly recognized the lady of the photograph, and to my intense delight she had brought her elder daughter with her. Both were much affected as I told them as much as I deemed needful of the facts. I felt it would be wise to leave the husband to give his own version of affairs.
Then, at a suitable moment, I said, "Would you like to see him at once?" I had not revealed to them that I had him in an adjoining room. But when the wife and daughter said eagerly together "Yes, please," I opened the door and led them in to him. The lady had approached her husband with a smile of welcome and had kissed him; the daughter had put her arms about her father's neck, and I heard just two words, "Dad, darling." It was no place for an outsider, so I made for my study and there lay the whole case again before the Father, asking that His will should be done. He heard and answered.
For an hour I left them alone. Then he came to fetch me. His eyes were very red, and I thought he walked with a new and firmer step. No word was said, but he looked his deep gratitude as he beckoned me to return with him. As I entered the room, the wife approached me with an eager look which spoke eloquently of the tense feelings she had. When, after a few moments, she found voice, it was to tell me that it had been arranged to await the second daughter's examinations, which were just pending. This girl did not yet know the purport of her mother's visit to London that day with the sister, who now told me on top of her own success in the exams, she was overjoyed at finding her father.
"Do dare not tell Margery yet. She is rather highly strung, and as Dad says, it might interfere with her progress. But won't she be just delighted. You know she has never ceased praying for this." So spoke the daughter, still holding her father's hand, as if unwilling to part again. It was a most affecting scene, and one felt that there was Another present, rejoicing with us. "If all goes well we shall, please God, make home again when Margery is through, and oh what a day that will be."
The mother was now feeling the stress of it all and needed rest and refreshment. A happy little meal was prepared, and thanks were given to Him Who had thus brought His promises to fulfillment. But the best was yet to be. A happy home was restored.
In a certain south coast town, a place famous for its exhilarating air and for many of its citizens who have made history, there is held every Sunday afternoon a Bible class for young men. Sixty or more of the finest young fellows in that district meet week by week. It has been the birthplace of many splendid young Christians. Some of them have entered the Civil Service and today hold important positions at Whitehall, where I have had the joy of meeting them.
Coming one day along one of the corridors in the colonial office, I met a friend who said, "I'm very glad to see you today, because I promised that the next time you came this way I would ask you to come along with me and meet a man who wants to see you. He has another friend in the home office who also wants to meet you. Have you the time to do so?"
I assented and was led to the room indicated. Here was a man holding a responsible position who, upon being introduced, said, "I'm glad to meet you, sir, because I have an idea that you must be the gentleman of whom a very dear friend of mine often spoke. May I ask if you were acquainted with Dr. ______?"
"Yes indeed, I know him very well."
"Then I guess you are the one of whom he spoke. I owe everything in life after my own parents to Dr. ______. He was a wonderful factor in the shaping of my career and that of many others. How did you come to know him, sir, if I may so question? And do you know his gifted family?"
Of course I could not tell him under what circumstances I had first met the doctor, the beloved physician who had sat in the leader's chair of that Bible class Sunday by Sunday teaching youths the Way of Life, nor that it was he who had helped me out of the river that day when I had my involuntary mud bath.
George Dempster, Finding Men for Christ ,London: Hodder & Stroughton, 1935, quoted by Ruth Bell Graham, Prodigals and Those Who Love Them, 1991, Focus on the Family Publishing, Page 85-94.
In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.
Howard Hendricks.
T.H. Huxley, a well-known agnostic, was with a group of men at a weekend house party. On Sunday morning, while most of them were preparing to go to church, he approached a man known for his Christian character and said, "Suppose you stay at home and tell my why you are a Christian." The man, knowing he couldn't match wits with Huxley, hesitated. But the agnostic said gently, "I don't want to argue with you. I just want you to tell me simply what this Christ means to you." The man did, and when he finished, there were tears in Huxley's eyes as he said, "I would give my right hand if only I could believe that!"
Our Daily Bread, January 24, 1993.
I stood on a grassy sward, and at my feet a precipice broke sheer down into infinite space. I looked, but saw no bottom; only cloud shapes, black and furiously coiled, and great shadow-shrouded hollows, and unfathomable depths. Back I drew, dizzy at the depth.
Then I saw forms of people moving single file along the grass. They were making for the edge. There was a woman with a baby in her arms and another little child holding on to her dress. She was on the very verge. Then I saw that she was blind. She lifted her foot for the next step and it trod air. She was over, and the children over with her. Oh, the cry that I heard. Then I saw more streams of people flowing from all quarters. All were blind, stone blind; all made straight for the precipice edge. There were shrieks as they suddenly knew themselves falling, and a tossing up of helpless arms, catching, clutching at empty air. But some went over quietly, and fell without a sound.
Then I wondered, with a wonder that was simple agony, why no one stopped them at the edge. I could not. I was glued to the ground, and I could not call; though I strained and tried, only a whisper would come. Then I saw that along the edge there were sentries set at intervals. But the intervals were far too great; there were wide, unguarded gaps between. And over these gaps the people fell in their blindness, quite unwarned; and the green grass seemed blood-red to me, and the gulf yawned like the mouth of hell.
Then I saw, like a little picture of peace, a group of people under some trees, with their backs turned towards the gulf. They were making daisy chains. Sometimes when a piercing shriek cut the quiet air and reached them it disturbed them and they thought it a rather vulgar noise. And if one of their number started up and wanted to go and do something to help, then all the others would pull that one down. "Why should you get so excited about it? You must wait for a definite call to go! You haven't finished your daisy chains yet. It would be really selfish," they said, "to leave us to finish the work alone."
There was another group. It was made up of people whose great desire was to get more sentries out; but they found that very few wanted to go and sometimes there were no sentries set for miles and miles of the edge.
Once a girl stood alone in her place, waving the people back; buther mother and other relations called, and reminded her that her furlough was due; she must not break the rules. And being tired and needing a change, she had to go and rest for awhile, but no one was sent to guard her gap and over and over the people fell, like a waterfall of souls.
Once a child caught at a tuft of grass that grew at the very brink of the gulf; it clung convulsively, and it called -- but nobody seemed to hear. Then the roots of the grass gave way and with a cry, the child went over, its two little hands still holding tight to the torn-off bunch of grass. And the girl who longed to be back in her gap thought she heard the little one cry, and she sprang up and wanted to go; at which they reproved her, reminding her that no one is necessary anywhere; the gap would be well taken care of, they knew. And then they sang a hymn. Then through the hymn came another sound like the pain of a million broken hearts wrung out in one full drop, one sob. And a horror of great darkness was upon me, for I knew what it was --the Cry of the Blood.
Then thundered a Voice, the Voice of the Lord. "And He said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brothers' blood crieth unto Me from the ground."
The tom-toms still beat heavily, the darkness still shuddered and shivered about me; I heard the yells of the devil-dancers and the weird wild shriek of the devil-possessed just outside the gate. What does it matter, after all? It has gone on for years; it will go on for years. Why make such a fuss about it?
God forgive us! God arouse us! Shame us out of our callousness! Shame us out of our sin!
Source Unknown.
A young man enlisted, and was sent to his regiment. The first night he was in the barracks with about fifteen other young men, who passed the time playing cards and gambling. Before retiring, he fell on his knees and prayed, and they began to curse him and jeer at him and throw boots at him. So it went on the next night and the next, and finally the young man went and told the chaplain what had taken place, and asked what he should do.
"Well," said the chaplain, "you are not at home now, and the other men have just as much right to the barracks as you have. It makes them mad to hear you pray, and the Lord will hear you just as well if you say your prayers in bed and don't provoke them."
For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young man again, but one day he met him, and asked -- "By the way, did you take my advice?"
"I did, for two or three nights."
"How did it work?"
"Well," said the young man, "I felt like a whipped hound and the third night I got out of bed, knelt down and prayed."
"Well," asked the chaplain, "How did that work?"
The young soldier answered: "We have a prayer meeting there now every night, and three have been converted, and we are praying for the rest."
Oh, friends, I am so tired of weak Christianity. Let us be out and out for Christ; let us give no uncertain sound. If the world wants to call us fools, let them to it. It is only a little while; the crowning day is coming. Thank God for the privilege we have of confessing Christ.
Moody's Anecdotes, Page 73-74.
I remember hearing of a man at sea who was very sea-sick. If there is a time when a man feels that he cannot do any work for the Lord it is then -- in my opinion. While this man was sick he heard that a man had fallen overboard. He was wondering if he could do anything to help to save him. He laid hold of a light, and held it up on the port-hole.
The drowning man was saved. When this man got over his attack of sickness he was up on deck one day, and was talking to the man who was rescued. The saved man gave this testimony. He said he had gone down the second time, and was just going down again for the last time, when he put out his hand. Just then, he said, some one held a light at the port-hole, and the light fell on his hand. A man caught him by the hand and pulled him into the lifeboat.
It seemed a small thing to do to hold up the light; yet it saved the man's life. If you cannot do some great thing you can hold the light for some poor, perishing drunkard, who may be won to Christ and delivered from destruction. Let us take the torch of salvation and go into these dark homes, and hold up Christ to the people as the Savior of the world.
Moody's Anecdotes, Page 44.
A model from the world of real estate becomes instructive at this point. A firm in Salem, Oregon, assigns 500 families to each agent. Agents are expected to contact each assigned family once per month for a year. The contact may be personal, a telephone call, or a letter. Research indicates that it takes at least six contacts for people to remember who the agent is and the firm represented. During this time of "building relationships," agents are encouraged not to go in the house (good psychology, everyone else ins trying to get their foot in the door). Furthermore, they are encouraged not to ask for a listing during this "get acquainted" time. Obviously, there would be exceptions to these restrictions, but they do illustrate an understanding of what it takes to create a favorable climate for selling real estate. After the initial year of regular contacts, the agent continues to communicate with the assigned families on a scheduled, systematic basis. Research reveals that if this pattern is followed consistently for one-year-and-a-half, the agent will secure 80% of the listings.
What does the real estate firm know that we either do not know or overlook? First, people do not like to be confronted by strangers seeking entrance into their homes. In fact, in many communities this is socially unacceptable. The sales person or any other unknown professional who arrives at the door is automatically confronted with a high sales resistance. If the door is opened, it is done with a determination not to be "taken in" by sales talk. The salesperson professionally represents the product, and consequently the sales pitch is discounted at least 50 percent. However, if a friend comes over and shares a glowing personal testimony concerning the value of the agent's product, the reaction is apt to be markedly different. A satisfied customer makes the most effective salesperson. Second, people are more inclined to do business with acquaintances than strangers. Third, it takes time and effort to build a healthy decision-making climate. Fourth, there is no substitute for time. Often it is necessary to "make haste slowly."
Joe Aldrich, Friendship Evangelism, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
A true heart of compassion will let those on the way to destruction know they can escape, but the only escape is through Jesus Christ. We need to tell people they're in trouble with God and that God alone has provided a way to escape. But How? Do we all have to share the same way? No, the unbelieving world is made up of a variety of people: young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, urban, rural, with different race, personalities, values, politics, and religious backgrounds. It's going to take more than one style of evangelism to reach such a diverse population!
So what is your style?
Confrontational? () Repent and be baptized, save yourselves from this corrupt generation.
Intellectual? () Paul debated with the philosophers on Mars Hill to convince them.
Testimonial? () One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!
Relational? () Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.
Invitational? () The Samaritan woman at the well begged the people of the city to come and hear Jesus for themselves.
Serving? () Dorcas impacted her city by doing deeds of kindness. Don't ever think you're a second class Christian because you don't proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the Glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!!
Source Unknown.
If to be a Christian is worthwhile, then the most ordinary interest in those with whom we come in contact would prompt us to speak to them of Christ.
If the New Testament be true--and we know that it is--who has given us the right to place the responsibility for soul-winning on other shoulders than our own?
If they who reject Christ are in danger, is it not strange that we, who are so sympathetic when the difficulties are physical or temporal, should apparently be so devoid of interest as to allow our friends and neighbors and kindred to come into our lives and pass out again without a word of invitation to accept Christ, to say nothing of sounding a note of warning because of their peril?
If today is the day of salvation, if tomorrow may never come and if life is equally uncertain, how can we eat, drink and be merry when those who live with us, work with us, walk with us and love us are unprepared for eternity because they are unprepared for time?
If Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men, who gave us the right to be satisfied with making fishing tackle or pointing the way to the fishing banks instead of going ourselves to cast out the net until it be filled?
If Jesus himself went seeking the lost, if Paul the Apostle was in agony because his kinsmen, according to the flesh, knew not Christ, why should we not consider it worthwhile to go out after the lost until they are found?
If I am to stand at the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for the deeds done in the Body, what shall I say to him if my children are missing, if my friends are not saved or if my employer or employee should miss the way because I have been faithless?
If I wish to be approved at the last, then let me remember that no intellectual superiority, no eloquence in preaching, no absorption in business, no shrinking temperament or no spirit of timidity can take the place of or be an excuse for my not making an honest, sincere, prayerful effort to win others to Christ.
J. Wilbur Chapman, If.
When he was the pastor of the Methodist church in Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately, the man was mentally deficient and usually did the wrong thing. While working as a barber the man lathered up a customer for a shave, came at him with the poised razor, and asked, "Are you prepared to meet your God?" The frightened man fled with the lather on his face!
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 215.
I don’t recommend that way!
D.L. Moody and once spoke with a woman who didn't like his method of evangelism. "I don't really like mine all that much either. What's yours?" She replied that she didn't have one. Moody said, "Then I like mine better than yours." - Timothy K. Jones.
Timothy K. Jones.
And this is the point, many people, most Christian people do not share their faith.
In 1993, 89% of Christians who had shared their faith agreed this is a responsibility of every Christian. Today, just 64% say so—a 25-point drop. - Barna
Argumentation - I think for John it was a great privilege to pen the gospel as well as his other writings that ended up as Holy Scripture. I wonder what has happened to so many Christians that have lost their fervor and passion to share God’s glorious good news?
Do they no longer believe in the reality of an eternal hell?
Do they secretly think that God is going to relent in the end and just let everyone into Heaven? “Hey, that whole Hell thing that I talked about so much in the bible? Yeah, I was just trying to scare you into believing in me.” Really?!?
Or has apathy gripped their heart? The simply do no care about the impending doom and judgment that awaits every person who rejects the gospel! Allow me to quote C.S. Spurgeon on this matter...
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” - Spurgeon
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”
“I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for.” - Spurgeon
“God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell!”- Spurgeon
I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for.
“We must school and train ourselves to deal personally with the unconverted. We must not excuse ourselves, but force ourselves to the irksome task until it becomes easy.” - Spurgeon
“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” - Spurgeon
Application - Are you faithful in Sharing God’s profound love that is expressed in the gospel? When is the last time you shared the gospel with someone? When is the last time you led someone to a saving knowledge of our Savior? - “You are either a missionary or an imposter!”
This is why we are here! We are to reach people for Christ, witness about Jesus and pray them into the kingdom.
Start a list of people you will pray for who need Jesus. Start with 3. Pray for them daily. Make opportunities to share the precious gospel with them.
We simply cannot become a country club for the saints! We must be a hospital for those diagnosed with a sin sick soul!
Review - God Chose You to Help Others Believe in Jesus
1. You Are Unique to Jesus
2. You Are a Witness for Jesus
3. You Have Enough Jesus to Lead Someone to Jesus (vs. 25)
3. You Have Enough Jesus to Lead Someone to Jesus (vs. 25)
Lead in…John closes this beautiful Gospel out with a profound saying that should give each of us a great deal of confidence as we purpose to help other to believe in Jesus.
Text -
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Explanation -
Verse 25 - Jesus was a worker. He came “doing” things, acts of God to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was, in fact, the long awaited Messiah. That He was the suffering servant, that He was God very God. That He was all three of these rolled into one person. The person, Jesus Christ.
Remember, Jesus = God Saves
Christ = King!
Jesus is the God/King who saves those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Him. And John was a witness to the whole thing!
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John Exegesis and Exposition
The function of the entire chapter is “to confirm the Beloved Disciple as author of the body of the document and to substantiate the credibility of his eyewitness authority for its content”
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John Exegesis and Exposition
John’s hyperbole, however, extols neither the books people write nor the wisdom people acquire, but rather the deeds Jesus performed. Taken together with the prologue’s stress on Jesus’ person, the epilogue’s reference to his works renders John’s christological portrait not exhaustively comprehensive but sufficiently complete.
What John has recorded regarding Jesus was “not exhaustively comprehensive but sufficiently complete.”
In other words, you have enough information on Jesus in order to lead someone to Jesus. To share the story of Jesus - you have Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! We have spent two years becoming acquainted with the Jesus John portrays. This is my 92 sermon on the Gospel of John. This was not a mere academic exercise. Going though this book, analyzing it, understanding it, growing in it is the best way to inspire us to follow it! To follow Him! I did this so that we would be more thoroughly equipped and confident to share its truth with those who are not yet believers.
Our Jesus, our God is (quite frankly) beyond what we can understand...
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
But He has revealed to us what we can know about Him in His word. And we believers must give our lives to the pursuit of learning God for the purpose of reaching and teaching others.
One more Spurgeon quote!
Illustration - “We must school and train ourselves to deal personally with the unconverted. We must not excuse ourselves, but force ourselves to the irksome task until it becomes easy.” - Spurgeon
Argumentation - You have so much information regarding God at your disposal there is no excuse that we can come up with to keep us from learning and sharing Christ. Not to mention how He has personally transformed your life.
Application - What are you doing to grow in your understand of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?
make a daily habit of reading the Scriptures.
make a daily habit of reading a systematic theology.
make a daily habit of sharing one truth that you learned about with someone.
Review - God Chose You to Help Others Believe in Jesus
1. You Are Unique to Jesus
2. You Are a Witness for Jesus
3. You Have Enough Jesus to Lead Someone to Jesus
Conclusion (Visualization)
Conclusion (Visualization)
Reiteration
Action - Ive given you some ideas on how to get started leading people to a saving knowledge of Christ.
List them out
Pray for them
Initiate spiritual conversation with them
Here is one last, fairly easy way
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
What do my hearers NEED to know?
What is NICE for them to know?
Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)?
Keep it at 45min which is 3000 words (Murder the Darlings)
What is the “Elevator Speech”?
Make sure you have a compelling hook!
Why should they listen to you?
Invitation
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
What stands out to you from this Scripture?
John was unique to Jesus. What implications does that thought have on us today?
Why was it good to hear Jesus’ rebuke to Peter regarding John? What did you learn?
What do you have to fear when it comes to your witness for Christ?
What positive changes would take place in the church if we all took witnessing for Christ more seriously?
Who will you invite to church for the “Lovin’ Our Neighbor” service?
In what ways is it encouraging to know that you have enough Jesus to lead someone to Jesus?