Value One

Who's Your One? • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Welcome to Week 4, the last sermon of our Series “Who’s Your One?”

And Who’s Your One is the main question we’ll contemplate, work through, talk about, and discover the answer for throughout this series……

So…. Who’s you One? Have you identified your “One”

- Who did God place in your heart

- Who are you praying for

- Who are you going to love on

- share life with

- be there for

- warn about what is to come

- help snatch from the fire

- help recognize the need to know Jesus before it's too late

- Who is it that God wants you to make a disciple for Him….

- Have you prayed? Who did God lay on your heart? Have you discovered Who Your One is?

3 weeks ago we laid the basis for the question and I showed you how Jesus made his One’s with 2 sets of brothers (Peter and Andrew, James and John)

- …..and we learned the first Christians called themselves “disciples”

- And we learned disciples live for Jesus, live for others, they love our Savior …. they love others… they ARE focused on God… they ARE centered on Him and serving Him and those He loves

- Disciples seek God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven….

- We learned if we are truly guided by love…..we seek to do God’s will

- Remember … we have a debt / debtor relationship to love God and love others ….. we love God by doing what He commands ….. we love others by sharing the life and love of our Savior…. making disciples and baptizing them so that they too will love God and obey His commands ….. all to the glory of our Savior

During Week 2 we talked about “One Encounter”

- One encounter is one discussion….one occurrence…..one interaction …… one moment that can change the direction of someone’s life …… one decision that could change someone’s eternal destination ……. one moment of love that changes everything……

- We went through Luke chapter 5 verses 17-26 where some men overcame obstacles to get a paralytic man in front of Jesus by cutting a hole in the roof …. That one encounter that changed everything for the paralytic, for those men, for the crowd that was there, and for us here today……

And we asked the question: What stops you from encountering people and sharing your faith?”

- And I gave you a list of 10 reasons or things that might be hindering you.

The 3rd reason on that list was a DISBELIEF IN HELL or a Downplaying of Hell’s reality.

- And I mentioned this undermines the urgency of placing one’s faith in Christ alone.

- It undermines the need to warn our One that they must escape the wrath of God, and Jesus is their only refuge. This downplaying or disbelief prevents Christians from sharing truth and the reality of an unbelievers situation and eternal destination.

And that is what we talked about last week …… we talked about the reality and truth concerning hell – which is the default destination of everyone born on this planet

- Hell is what we all truly deserve because of our sin problem - until each one decides to say yes to Jesus and decides to follow Him

- everyone needs to be warned – our “one’s” need to be warned…..

here are some things we learn about hell as we went through Luke 16:19-31….. a parable Jesus told about a rich man that went to hell and a poor man that went to heaven

we learned HELL IS ETERNAL…… its an ever lasting place of utter darkness, of unending punishment, a never ending fire…

HELL IS A PLACE OF PAIN, and FEAR, and SADNESS …. It’s never ending torment, a place of great pain…. suffering that does not stop…… constant hurting, anguish …. Unending fear…. fiery furnace where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth…. A place where everyone is tormented day and night forever and ever.

HELL IS A PLACE OF ISOLATION and SEPARATION. Everyone is isolated and separated from others, from friends, from family and everything else…..there’s no hanging out and partying with your friends as some think….. more importantly - people are separated and isolated from God……forever with no hope…. Never to be with God…ever……

We also learned…according to the world’s definition of good……

GOOD PEOPLE, Good vision, good prayers, good memory, good theology, good priorities, good intentions ARE IN HELL.

Hell was made for the devil, demons, fallen angels, the antichrist, false prophets, and those that have rejected Jesus.

- everyone needs to be warned…… please know you’ve been warned … you are now left without excuse……

Hell was not made for those in Christ Jesus

That place is Heaven

Heaven is where God is, where the His angels reside…

It’s a place made for those that have confessed with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart in His resurrection……

This week we’ll talk about the Value of One.

Let’s open our bibles to the Gospel of John chapter 1 verses 29 through 51.

While you find those verses, do you remember week 1 of this series when we talked about Jesus calling Peter and Andrew, John and James to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men?

What we are about to read is what happened first…where the seeds were sown…..

(John the Baptist)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Let look at some basics from these verses and give some historical background…………

The 1st thing we see in verses 29-30 is John the Baptist pointing people to the ultimate “One” …… Jesus

And we also see in verse 34 that Jesus is God……

John the Baptist tells everyone that God Himself has come in the flesh to be the sacrifice to free everyone from the penalty for their sins…..

Jesus died so we don’t have to…..

John the Baptist planted the seeds…..

And now here’s the tie in from the verses we read in week 1 of this series……

Next we see in verse 35 and 36 that Andrew, Peters brother, and John, James’ brother, were John the Baptist disciples before they went with Jesus

And they heard the Baptist say “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

In verse 37 we see Andrew and John follow Jesus…they literally left the Baptist and went to walk with Jesus

In verse 39 Jesus invited them to Come and See what He was doing and where He was staying

Andrew and John were the 1st two to follow Jesus

In verses 40 to 42 we see that Andrew went and found his brother Simon Peter and pointed his brother to Jesus

This is where Peter meets Jesus…. Andrew pointed his “One” to Jesus

In verses 43 to 51 we see another example of Jesus identifying a “one” and that “one” pointing their “one” to Jesus

The example is Philip meeting Jesus,

- answering Jesus’s call to follow Him,

- and Philip pointing Nathanael to Jesus…. and Nathanael follows Jesus

Just from these verses we see:

- John the Baptist pointing everyone to Jesus

- The Baptist points Andrew and John to Jesus

- Andrew points Peter to Jesus

- Philip points Nathanael to Jesus

The disciples find their “One” and points their “One” to Jesus

At this point let’s go back to Peter’s brother, Andrew

Andrew is the least known of the first 4 disciples.

Andrew is left very much in the background. Though we’ll learn he was used by our Lord to reach “one” who reached thousands.

Homer Lindsey, a former Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Florida, referred to Andrew as the inviter.

But we also see him as the bringer or introducer. He invited people to come and see Jesus….he brought them to Jesus…introduced Jesus to his “one”

Tradition has it that Andrew took the gospel north into Russia, and possibly even to what is now Scotland.

He was ultimately crucified near Athens in southern Greece.

One historical account says the Andrew led the wife of a Roman governor to Christ.

The governor had demanded that his wife recant her devotion to Jesus Christ, and she refused.

So the governor had Andrew crucified.

Andrew was tied to the cross in order to prolong his suffering.

Tradition says it was an X-shaped cross.

And most accounts say he hung on the cross for two days, telling those that walked by to say Yes to Jesus and be saved…...

Even to death Andrew pointed people to Jesus…..

Here are some things to think about had Andrew never been born:

- Peter may have never been saved.

- Which means someone other than Peter would have preached the famous Pentecost sermon.

- The Bible would be different….. 1st and 2nd Peter would not be in the New Testament

- Only heaven knows what else would have been left out of the Bible and church history had Andrew not been born.

- But rest assured God’s perfect Will still would have been done though someone else…and I do not say this to diminish Andrew in anyway

Andrew was the first of all the disciples to be called – we see that in John 1:35-40.

His eagerness to follow Christ, combined with his zeal for introducing others to Christ, typifies Andrew’s character – his love for others and his love of our Lord.

Think: Peter, James, John and Andrew were the 1st 4 of Jesus’ “one’s”.

And Andrew was the least among them - though he was the 1st among them.

Jesus had Peter, John and James with Him on the mountain…they saw Jesus transformed and audibly heard the Father’s voice….. Andrew was not there and did not hear

Scripture doesn’t tell us a lot about Andrew.

He appears in the New Testament only nine times and most references simply mention him in passing.

Andrew lived his life in the shadows of his better-known brother, Peter.

He is even mentioned in the text as Simon Peter’s brother.

However, lest we forget, Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus.

Andrew shows that he had the right heart for effective ministry in the background.

Andrew’s name means “manly.” And he was a strong fisherman.

His life proved him to be bold, decisive and deliberate.

He was driven by a hearty passion for the truth, and he was willing to subject himself to the most extreme kinds of hardship.

Andrew’s personal encounter with Jesus took place a few months after Jesus’ baptism which we read in John 1:29-34.

Andrew and John were standing next to John the Baptist when Jesus walked by, and John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

Andrew and John became Jesus’ first disciples.

The news Andrew heard was too good to keep to himself, so he went and found the “one” person in the world he most loved, whom he most wanted to know Jesus, and led him to Christ…. his brother Peter….

There are 3 things we can learn from Andrew

First: He saw the Value of Individual People

Andrew appreciated the value of a single soul. He was known for bringing individuals, not crowds, to Jesus.

Almost every time we see him in the gospel accounts, he is bringing someone to Jesus.

He brought Peter to Jesus: Just one

He brought the boy with his lunch to Jesus: Just one

Andrew has been referred to as the first home missionary because of the Jewish people he brought to Jesus.

Andrew has also been referred to as the first foreign missionary because of the Greeks he brought to Jesus in John 12:20-22.

Most people do not come to Christ as an immediate response to a sermon they hear in a crowded setting.

They come to Christ because of the influence of an individual.

Andrew brought one—Peter. Peter then brought thousands. All the fruit of Peter’s ministry is ultimately also the fruit of Andrew’s faithful individual witness.

Second: HE SAW THE VALUE OF INSIGNIFICANT GIFTS.

Some people see the big picture more clearly just because they appreciate the value of small things.

In the feeding of the 5,000 story, Philip’s vision was overwhelmed by the size of the need.

In John’s Gospel chapter 6 verses 8 and 9, we read ….

“8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

But no gift is insignificant in the hands of Jesus.

Just read Luke’s Gospel chapter 21 verses 1 to 4……

“1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

God’s ability to use a gift is in no way hindered or enhanced by the size of that gift.

It is the sacrificial faithfulness of the giver, not the size of the gift, that is the true measure of the gift’s significance.

It’s not the greatness of the gift that counts, but rather the greatness of the God to whom it is given.

The miracle of feeding the 5,000 illustrates the way God works.

He takes the sacrificial and often seemingly insignificant gifts of people who give faithfully, and He multiplies them to accomplish monumental things…..

- All according to His will and for His glory….

And Third: He Saw the Value of Quiet Service

Andrew worked behind the scenes….an example to all those who labor quietly in humble places

We learn from Ephesians 6:6 that while we obey Jesus, we are to work or do things:

“6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,”

Andrew did not mind being hidden as long as the work was being done.

He was a leader with a servant’s heart.

And Andrew never preached to multitudes or founded any churches.

He simply pointed individuals ….. pointed his “One” to Jesus…..

Andrew saw the Value of Individual People

Andrew SAW THE VALUE OF INSIGNIFICANT GIFTS

Andrew Saw the Value of Quiet Service

There are no insignificant people

There are no insignificant gifts given by God through His people…all are for the benefit of others

No service done for others is insignificant

No one is nothing….. you are loved by God…He died for you

And what you do for others is not nothing….its something

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verses 27 to 29

“27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

Andrew saw the value of “one”

Someone saw the value of you and shared Jesus with you…..

Jesus values you ….. He died for you

Do you see the value of “one”?

While the worship team comes back up on stage……

I am going to ask you one last question…..

Who’s your One?

You are encouraged to:

- Find One

- Pray for One

- Encounter One….share Jesus with them

- Warn your One about hell and teach them about the things to come

- Love, Value, and Serve your One

- Teach your One the Bible and to obey all Jesus commanded

Who’s Your One? is not a church program to get involved with……

It’s a way of life…..

Participate in Jesus’ mission and remember…..

Jesus is with you always, until the end of the age…… Amen!

A reminder….we passed out Book Marks to help you – if you don’t have your book mark, they are located on the table in the back of the room