WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:03.200 Great song service, really a great song service. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:08.800 If you would turn to uh John chapter 1, I'll simply title this uh message uh Come and See. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:10.320 Come and see. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:14.960 Uh we're gonna see this a few times today as we look at this in these verses. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:18.160 Uh John chapter 1, we'll begin reading verse 35. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:29.359 And it says, uh after the baptism of Christ, and again the next day, uh after John stood and two of his disciples looking looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold, the Lamb of God. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:32.479 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:36.320 Then Jesus turned and saw them following and said unto them, What seek ye? 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:41.119 They said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, being interpreted, Master, well dwell where dwellest thou? 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.200 And look like Jesus says in verse 39. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:45.359 And he says unto them, Come and see. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.119 They came and saw where ye dwelt and above that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.479 Let's go, Lord, in word of prayer. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:52.560 Heavenly Father, we just hump your Bible for you. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:56.560 Again, Lord, thank you for the opportunity to freely come this morning to worship you in spirit and truth. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:13.680 And I just pray, Lord, that all our hearts and our minds are just fixed upon your will for us, that we would truly uh come to see uh you, Lord, in faith, and through your word and through your Holy Spirit, that we uh truly have a relationship with you and uh just want to live a life to please you and to glorify you. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:27.680 I ask you this morning, Lord, for your preaching grace, that you just please have me behind the cross and I remain there, and as we all hear your word and read your word, and uh know that you're speaking to uh each and every one of us uh individually and collectively as a church, uh, to for your will to be done. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:40.400 And uh, Lord, we just pray for the lost one among us today that doesn't know Christ, their Savior, and have a relationship with you, that today would be the day that they would that they would yield to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and repent of their sins and call upon you and be saved. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:44.719 Or any other decision that needs to be made, uh Lord, we pray it be made today, all in accordance to your will. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:46.480 And again, we just thank you so much for your word. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:47.760 We thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:49.519 I pray, Father, we're more yielding to Him. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.799 And again, we just love and we praise you, and we ask all these things in Jesus' name. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:53.680 Amen. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:02:10.400 So as you uh think about the disciples, you know, each and every disciple uh of Jesus had to make a decision to come and see him and hear him and see him for themselves and that he is and make a decision that he is the Son of God and to place their faith in him. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.159 Uh, you and I had to do the same thing. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:14.800 Had to come and see, you know, how do you come and see Christ? 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:15.680 Well, you hear the word. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.680 And John tells us that the word became flesh. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.680 So Jesus is the word and the word is Christ. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:27.280 And so that's the understanding, believing that, believing that God's word is Christ and Christ is the word, and having faith in the word. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:36.319 That is what is so lacking, not just in our nation, but in our entire world, is a belief in the word of God. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:45.120 And I don't just mean lip service, that you believe it in the way that you live your life, that it is Lord of your life, that it rules your life. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.639 You do what the Bible tells you to do as followers of Christ. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:50.000 And that's what we're going to look at. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.439 He says, come and see. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:03:07.599 Because to have that, ever have that salvation experience, you have to realize in your heart that God's word is true, and it says we're a sinner, and we repent of our sins, and we realize the message of the cross, that God so loved us that he gave his son and he died on a cross, shed his blood so that would cover our sin. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:10.240 We call upon him to be saved, have that salvation. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:11.919 You think about the apostle Paul. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:17.520 You know, he thought he had seen God by learning the word and trying to keep the law and taking part in all the ceremonies. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:19.680 The Hebrew of the Hebrews and all those things. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:20.560 But what saved him? 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:25.680 Well, he had a face-to-face meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:29.280 We don't have that today because we have the completed Word of God, but he did. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:37.039 He saw Christ and He placed his faith in him, and he wrote two-thirds in the New Testament through the inspiration, of course, of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:41.680 So we see what it does, that uh we have to have a meeting with Christ. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:44.400 We have to come and see for ourselves. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:52.159 Uh people all over the world will believe in God or a God, but they don't believe in Jesus and they're lost and going to hell. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:55.759 And just like the devil, the devil and his demons believe. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.759 They believe in a God, in the God, but they have rejected him. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.039 Pride has filled the heart of the devil, and he wanted to try to usurp God. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:05.759 But he, the Bible says they believe, but what? 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:06.960 They tremble. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.000 Believing in God will not save you. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.400 You have to understand that you're lost and you need a relationship with God. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:16.639 You need to come and see for yourself. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.879 Come and see God's word for yourself. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.839 And then what you do is you look in God's word in sincerity and truth, you see yourself. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.120 It's like a mirror. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:26.079 It reflects what? 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:28.480 Our wickedness and our sin, but we see the love of God in it. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:29.680 And there's a way. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.439 There's a way out of this sin-cursed world. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:32.240 His name is Jesus. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.199 He said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:36.000 He is the only way. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:38.959 He says, No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:40.480 That's what Jesus is telling him. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.319 And it's so very true today, regardless of what the world wants to say. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:45.839 There's only one way to be saved. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:46.800 There's only one way to heaven. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.839 That's through the blood of Christ. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.959 But remember what Thomas said after Christ was crucified and resurrected, met the disciples. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:55.759 You know, Christ was on this earth for 40 days before he sent to the Father. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:58.160 And one time he met with the disciples and Thomas wasn't there. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.920 And they said, You weren't going to believe it. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.040 Jesus just showed up. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:06.240 And he said, I won't believe that unless I put my hands, my finger in his handprints and in his scarred side. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.360 He said, I won't believe it. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:11.199 Well, Jesus shows up a few days later and he says, Thomas, and he calls him out. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.519 And Thomas does touch his hands and touch his side. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.319 So what was wrong with Thomas saying that I won't believe unless I can touch him? 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.680 He didn't have faith. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.839 He didn't have the faith to believe. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.600 Jesus tells him plainly, he says, Thomas, you believe because you've seen. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:26.319 He said, Much more blessed those that believe and have not seen. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:27.040 And that's us today. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.120 And you say, Well, Brother Ronnie, why'd you say come and see? 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.600 Well, because that's what the Bible tells us in these stories we're going to look at. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:32.639 They said, Come and see. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:36.720 They could actually come at this time and they could see Christ physically. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:44.079 Ask yourself this: Are we more blessed today or are we or would we be more blessed than Jesus today when he was on this earth? 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:54.399 I used to think for a long time, man, the disciples had such an amazing blessing over us, an advantage over us, that they could see Christ physically. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:55.759 But guess what? 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:57.519 They didn't have the completed word. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:05.120 Today we are so much more advantageous or above them as far as understanding, because we have the completed word. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.480 Because what did the rich man say about to Abraham? 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:13.120 He said, Well, if you'll send somebody back, you'll send Lazarus back, he said, they'll believe. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.639 And Abraham said, No, he won't believe. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.800 He said, they won't believe even if one comes back from the dead. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:19.920 He said, if you have Moses in the law, he's saying that you have the word of God. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:23.279 And if you don't believe the word of God, there's no way to be saved. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:29.040 So we see Christ, we see Christ today through the Word, placing our faith in the Word. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.040 It's so important we understand that. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:39.680 You truly see the Word, and the Holy Spirit convicts us to the need of a Savior because we're all sinners, then we have to decide. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.680 I'm going to ask God to forgive me, then I'm going to ask Jesus to save me. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.720 It's a decision. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:50.879 It's a gift, it's a free gift given to all people, but so many people reject it because they won't swallow their pride and don't think they need it. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:53.120 But we're going to look at three coming sees today. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.680 Three coming sees today in the book of John. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:59.519 And I pray all here will see Jesus for themselves and be saved if you're not. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.240 And if you already are, I pray you'll follow him even closer. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:09.040 To really think about seeing the Bible today for us in the come and see, to really think about, uh, I'm going to show you how old I am. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.000 I used to listen to St. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:10.639 Louis Cardinals. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.720 I wrote, wrote, I worked the rotate and shift. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.560 Well, we had back then was radios. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.680 Way before cell phone. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:16.480 Y'all believe that? 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:17.920 Like, man, that's that guy is old. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.120 I mean, way before cell phones. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:19.920 We had a radio. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.000 And so I worked even in shift Cardinals play. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.519 I'd find a station, I listen to Cardinals. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.240 And old Jack Buck, man, he was the greatest, in my opinion. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.800 Play-by-play guy, when you listen to the Cardinals. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.160 I mean, he'd be describing, he'd be describing the guy on deck. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:37.600 And he'd say, hey, over there, he got his weight on his bat, he's swinging his bat over his head, or he's doing over a stretching. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:38.639 You could just what? 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:43.519 You could just see the game through the radio. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.480 I mean, he was so good at explaining it. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:47.199 And you see the things. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.279 Think about Paul Ells, the old Razorback announcer for years, and he was so awesome at it. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:56.560 You could you hear him on the radio and you're like, you could just see these guys, Matt Jones, all of them got scoring touchdowns, doing all these things. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.160 And we're praying for something like that this year. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.360 That the Razorbacks actually, you know, score a few touchdowns this year, maybe win a few games. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.920 I know I'm getting way off topic, but really see anything. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:05.600 To see the truth. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.720 And I pray today that you'll see the, you'll see Christ. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.279 When you read God's word, you'll see him in this. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.439 When he says, because they say, come and see. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:15.120 Well, look in verse 35. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.160 The first point is Jesus says, Jesus says, Come and see. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:18.959 Verse 35. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:22.480 So again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples, I went, John the Baptist. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.319 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God. 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.199 And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.120 They were following John the Baptist, and then what did they do? 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.720 They started following Jesus. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.679 And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.080 And they made a first great decision. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.519 What was their first great decision? 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:42.399 Following Jesus. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.600 They followed Jesus, but it's about to get real serious. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:46.960 It's about to get real serious. 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:48.559 And that's what it is with Christ. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:53.200 Christ doesn't let you follow him too long before he turns around and it gets real serious. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.559 It's like today. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:02.879 I mean, if somebody, say you're shopping on Main Street, or you're on the landing up at Branson, you're walking along, and all of a sudden you look back, and somebody's following you. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.320 And you notice they're, you know, they're following you as you're going here and there. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:07.120 What's going to happen? 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.240 It gets real serious real quick. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.159 Okay, what are you doing? 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.080 You're going to turn and ask them. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:16.559 And you think about uh some strangers following you, turn around, what would you do? 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.159 Most people we'd run. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:19.679 Okay, okay, I don't know this person. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:20.159 I'm out of here. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.519 I'm going dart into the store. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.559 But look what Jesus does. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:24.559 In verse 38, what's he say? 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.360 And Jesus turned and saw them following and said unto him, What seek ye? 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:34.240 And they said to him, Rabbi, which is to say, being interpreted, Master, where dwellest thou? 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.320 They ask him a common question. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:37.360 You ever following him? 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.679 Jesus turned and said, Okay, why are you following me? 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:41.039 What are you looking for? 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.879 Such a great question today. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.039 What are you looking for in your life? 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.279 As you follow Christ, what are you looking for in your life? 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.559 They ask a common question, Jesus, where do you live? 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:54.320 Great question. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:55.840 Great question. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.240 Think about that. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:02.720 Someone's following you and they ask you, and you turn around and say, okay, man, why are you following me? 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:04.960 They say, Well, I'm just curious where you live. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:06.799 What would you say? 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.840 Say you're in Branson and that happens. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.200 Where do you live? 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:15.679 You might say, Well, I live in a little small town in Arkansas. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.320 That might be all the details you'd give. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:22.879 Especially today, everybody's so wigged out about, or so is in a fearful society about every little thing. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.679 You might say, Well, I live in a little small town called Pleasant Plains. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:28.159 Then you might say, Well, I live in a small town called Pleasant Plain. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.320 I actually live on 109 Robertson Drive. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.759 Total stranger your address? 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.919 Think about that today. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:43.279 What did Jesus do? 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.399 What did Jesus do? 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.600 Look at verse 39. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.279 When he said, Where do you dwell? 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.799 Look at verse 39. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.000 And he saith unto them, Come and see. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:54.159 Come and see. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:59.440 That's what Jesus does very quickly when he says, Come and see for yourself. 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:03.840 Come and see me where I'm at for yourself. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.519 Well, most people have done when they said, Well, read the rest of the verse. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.240 It says, Come and see. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:13.200 They came and saw where he dwelt and abode with him that day for was about the tenth hour, it's like four o'clock in the afternoon. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:23.679 And uh and they said, I believe most people would say, Well, we're just curious about where you lived. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.799 And he says, Come and see. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.720 And they're like, nah, maybe it's too far. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:31.120 Or no, it's uh, I don't really have time to go see where you want, where you live. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:35.120 I just I just kind of wanted to see you if you tell me where you did live, where you were you abode. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.399 Or they might say, Well, I have other plans, I was just curious. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:41.039 Or you might say, I don't want to burden or put you out. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.919 Because I've been guilty of that. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.279 People invite you different things. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.480 Well, I got different plans, I got different things going on, I can't do it. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.320 Uh you think about today, it's been interesting. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:50.879 We have this. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.840 We have on fifth Sunday, we have a fellowship meal today. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:54.960 And guess what? 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.039 All of you are invited today. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:00.320 All of you invited today to stay for a fellowship meal. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.240 You might say, Well, I didn't bring any food. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:03.120 Guess what? 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.639 There's tons and tons and tons of food back there. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.120 So that's excuse number one, you're not gonna get away with. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.799 But I totally understand. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.159 I do, and it's not a guilt trip to have everybody stay for the fellowship. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.480 But it is, there's there's plenty of food. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.159 Don't use that excuse, but I understand you got family and this, all that going on. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:25.200 But you are invited to stay and have a time of fellowship here in just a little bit. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:34.000 But I really want you to think about as you follow Christ, the excuses that you make, that we all make, for not following him as we should. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.240 And to be a true follower of Christ, we have to be like these disciples. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.679 What they do? 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.120 They stay, they abode with him that day. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.440 Stay with him for several hours. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:13:00.320 And it's understanding that as we grow, and realize that the verse tells us in John that we love him because he first loved us, it's understanding that relationship that you want to grow in your relationship and become a true disciple. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.039 Uh it takes spending time. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:10.480 It takes spending time in God's Word, and it takes to come to a church and to be comfortable in a church, guess what? 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.440 It takes time. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:19.120 It takes time to fellowship, it takes time to be led by the Holy Spirit and want to be a part where God, want to be where God wants you to be. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:24.240 And I tell people all the time that come and they come for a few services and they say, Well, I'm praying about where God leads me. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.759 I said, That's the greatest thing you can do. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.759 I say, Yes, we'd love to have you here. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.320 If this is where God wants you to be. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:34.240 But if this is not where God wants you to be, I want you to keep searching where God wants you to be. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:38.480 Because that's where that's where you will be blessed, and that's where you will be a blessing. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:44.240 But to really think about what God wants us to do, these disciples said that they dwelt, they tell us they dwelt with him. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.200 They bowled with him that day. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:54.240 And it's like uh, it doesn't say they went to Jesus' house and stayed five minutes, but they stayed the day with him. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:56.159 That's what a true follower of Christ does. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.120 They want to be with him. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:01.120 And like a church member, a church member that only wants to come to church on a Sunday morning. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.240 I've never understood that. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:08.080 I told you on Wednesday night, not too long ago, when Miss Cristina first got, I was first saved, we started, I made a decision in my life. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.240 God was convicting me to be faithful. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.720 Because I was saved for five years. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.679 But I did not know the first thing about God's word. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:19.919 But he put a man in my life and began to teach me the mouth, teach me the word and understand God's word. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:22.960 And every time I'd go to open the word, it was about being baptized. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.559 That was the next step, that's the very first step in obedience after salvation. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.639 And I realized that and I said, you know what? 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.720 I do need to be baptized. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.279 So God led us to Mount Calvary. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.679 And I was baptized. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.960 And we went that morning. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.559 Brother Philip said, Yeah, let's get baptized. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.679 We'll baptize you on that morning. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.159 I'm like, okay. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.519 He said, be more people, be a greater witness. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:45.519 I said, okay, whatever you want me to do. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:49.840 And then we went next Sunday, and then the next Sunday night, and I was just shocked. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.720 Here I am, a new believer. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.720 New believer. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.960 I was just shocked. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.679 You know, we have the right hand of Christian fellowship. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.279 The church was lots of people there. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.399 I was celebrating baptism and membership and all that, and everybody's all excited. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.000 I'm like, man, great. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.919 Come Sunday night. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.320 About half the people ain't there. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.559 I was just really surprised. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.480 I mean, I was just really surprised. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.200 And then we go Wednesday. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.120 When the church meets. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.399 Wednesday. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.720 There's only just a handful of people. 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.759 I'm like, where's everybody at? 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.759 Here I am, a babe. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.320 A babe in Christ. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:38.080 Needing support, needing encouragement, needing some people to teach, to be praying. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.799 You're like, where is everybody? 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.799 It really makes you think about what are we doing? 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:49.919 Are we real? 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.720 Are we sincere? 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.399 Are we truly following Christ? 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.120 Because we really want to see Christ. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.960 We really want to see him and lead others to him. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.080 Because it's amazing what's recorded for us here. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:07.759 That we see these men that were followers of Christ. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:14.639 I'll just put down curious followers of Christ because they want to see who he was, who is truly the disciple, truly the Messiah, to become him one day. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:23.039 And when you understand, you read God's word and you understand it that God has taught you, and you look at their lives, and you see what about these men that began to follow Christ? 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.840 That they eventually gave their life. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.000 They died for the gospel message. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:37.039 They died so that people like me and you could be here today and have the truth in a world that's so upside down. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.440 They were true disciples of Christ. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:44.720 And that's what this message is for us to come and see who Christ is and that you would become that. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.759 That you would grow and lead others to say, hey, come and see. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.840 Come and see who I found. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.919 So let's look in verse 40. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:57.759 And one of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.080 So they give us some details about who these men are. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:05.680 One was Andrew, one was Peter's brother, was John was one, and uh Andrew was Simon Peter's brother. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.200 He first found his own brother Simon. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:11.759 He went and found Peter and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted, the Christ. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.599 Can you imagine how excited they were? 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:18.480 We have found the Christ that the Bible's been talking about for centuries. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.839 We found him. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.880 And he besought and he brought him to Jesus. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.720 And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:31.920 Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is Peter, which by interpretation a stone. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.920 This is such a great story. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.799 Just a little, small little story right here, four or five verses. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:40.240 Such a great story of others that have found Christ, telling whom? 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.720 Their closest family and friends that they found him. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.759 And they want because they want them to find him. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.359 So are we doing that? 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.279 Are we telling others? 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:53.440 Are we telling others, hey, why don't you tell, I'm gonna tell you about a man I found. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:57.039 But really and truly, when we realize when we grow, we look at what he found us. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.079 Jesus is always looking for us. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.480 But then we're gonna see Philip. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.000 Philip says, Come and see. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:06.160 Look in verse 44 or 43. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.880 The following day, Jesus would go forth in Galilee and find a Philip and say unto him, Follow me. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:20.880 Now Philip was of Bethiah, Bethesda, the city of Andrew and Peter, and Philip findeth Nathaniel and said unto him, We have found him, of whom the Moses and the law and the prophets did right, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:27.279 And then verse 46, it says, And Nathaniel said unto him, can there any good thing come of Nazareth? 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.799 Philip said unto him, What? 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.839 Come and see. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:35.440 He's like, he's come from Nazareth, and Nazareth had a kind of, I guess, a bad reputation for them in the region of Galilee. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:39.119 And he said, I, you know, can any good thing come out of Nazareth? 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.920 And he says, Well, what's he basically saying? 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.680 Come and see for yourself. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.240 Come and see for yourself. 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.519 Everyone has to make that decision. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:56.000 You know, even when you're just out inviting people to church, you can say, man, we got a beautiful church building, we got beautiful people in our church. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:59.039 Come and, but why would we say, come and see for yourself? 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.960 That's the only way that makes a difference. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.839 That's the only way they'll ever really know what kind of church family we have. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:06.640 They'll come and see for themselves. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.240 And just like I've heard so many people say, they won't seen the ark over there in uh Kentucky. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.279 Several people went. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.880 I think, man, everybody talks about it. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.559 Man, that sounds amazing. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.839 Well, what I need to do, I need to go and see it for myself. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.240 So see how incredible it is. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.359 You really get an appreciation for it, to see it for myself. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.559 And that's the same thing with Jesus and the church. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:35.279 We understand, we find him, and we we go where God would have us to go and be a part of that church. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:38.000 But I love what Jesus says in Nathaniel, verse 47. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:43.759 Jesus said to Nathaniel, coming to him and said, Behold, an Israelite indeed, who in whom is no guile. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.319 Nathaniel said to him, When'st thou knowest me? 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:51.039 And Jesus answered and said, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:55.119 And it just, that little little statement right there, Nathaniel says, How do you know me? 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:59.119 He says, Well, before Philip came and seen you, you were taken to rest under a shade tree under fig tree. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.759 And it just blew Nathanael's mind. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:05.839 He's like, Wow! You know me? 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:11.279 Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.599 Thou art the King of Israel. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.119 Just that one little statement. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.319 Look what Jesus says. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:21.839 Jesus answered unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.319 Thou shalt see greater things than these. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:30.400 And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:36.640 He said, Yeah, you believe me because I said that, but you're going to see such greater things than what just happened to you. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:39.279 And that's what really the life of a disciple is. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.799 It really is. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:44.480 You'll see things and be a part of things you had never dreamed you'd be a part of. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.119 It's a blessed, it's the greatest life. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:53.039 It's the greatest life a person can live. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:21:01.519 Being a true, believing, following, sacrificing disciple of Jesus Christ. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.240 It's not all about what the world can give you. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.799 It's like the Sunday school lesson Matt brought the point out. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.400 It's what we can give. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.160 What can we give Christ? 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.599 What can we give to Him because He has given us so much? 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.160 Living with that attitude. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.440 It really is. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:21.200 You have that kind of attitude, God will bless you. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.960 God will bless you. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.039 We're going to get to the third. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.920 Come and see. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.759 Turn to chapter four, if you would. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.920 It's the woman at the well. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:37.839 I'm not going to do this story anywhere near the justice it deserves because we don't have the time. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:43.920 We're going to point out a few things in this in this uh conversation that Jesus has with this woman at the well. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:56.480 Because it's an amazing, it's an amazing conversation about how Christ died for all people, really, all around the world. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.680