What Kind of People can God use: Philip and Nathanael | 2023-11-26
Message Recap:
What Kind of People Can God Use: Philip and Nathanael
Matthew 10:1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
What kind of people can God use?
Peter: bold, brash, speak before you think kind of people
James: fiery, in your face people
John: balanced, state it like it is kind of people
Andrew: humble, behind the scenes servant
In spite of our weaknesses, God can use YOU!
Matthew 19 and Luke 22 tell us that these men will someday, sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. They are important men in the End Times and will play a role in the New Heaven and New Earth. We don’t know exactly what that means:
A. Will each of the apostles sit on actual thrones and judge the actual tribes of Israel? B. Is Jesus speaking figuratively of the ‘church’ as a whole and the apostles will sit, not in judgment of sin, as much as ‘Judges’ in the new heaven and earth?
C. Is he just stating that each of the 12 came from a different tribe of Israel?
The bible is very clear on a number of topics. However, not clear on all topics. ‘The Bible tells us everything we NEED TO KNOW, not everything THERE IS TO KNOW.’
Pastor’s personal position is that God has chosen to be very clear on things that we need to know to further His kingdom. The really important things, the things that we really need to know, Jesus is VERY CLEAR on:
1.John 14:6
I am the Way, the Truth and the Light, no one comes to the Father, except through Me.
2.I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Other scriptures not so much:
1. Revelation 8:8-9
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
What does that mean? How is that and when is that going to happen? Our salvation is not dependent on our understanding that.
In Luke Chapter 6, Jesus calls his disciples and chose 12, WHOM HE DESIGNATED APOSTLES. Apostle means ‘sent ones.’ These are the spokesmen for the leader and would take the message Jesus has been preaching for 3 years into the future. The message is the Gospel.
There is a God, he loves you. He loves you so much that he became human, lived a perfect life, then sacrificed that life so that you can have forgiveness of your sins.
Jesus asked us to do this: it?
Matthew 28:19
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Philip
Philip is mentioned in the bible 3 times
outside of the 4 listings. He does not appear to be part of Jesus inner circle as were Peter, Andrew, James and John.
1. Jesus Chose Philip.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The reality is that Jesus needs and wants all of us. We all bring something of value to the ministry of the church.
2. Philip was Searching.
John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
People all around us searching for truth, peace, purpose, and something to believe in. Philip was one of those people and Jesus found him.
3. Philip Brought People to Jesus.
John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
We have a responsibility to bring people to Jesus, everyone is welcome.
The Unchurched Next Door, Dr. Thom Rainer:
• Most people come to church because of a personal invitation.
• “Eighty-two percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited.”
• “Only two percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church. Ninety-eighty percent of church-goers never extend an invitation in a given year.”
• 7 out of 10 unchurched people have never been invited to church in their whole lives.
Outreach Magazine, Jan 2007, Thom Rainer and Sam Rainer:
• “Perhaps one of the most underestimated reasons people return to the church is that someone simply invited them back.”
• Younger adults are even more influenced by the power of the invitation. Approximately 60 percent of those 18–35 would consider returning to church if someone they knew asked them to come back.
LifeWay Research:
• “A study including more than 15,000 adults revealed that about two-thirds are willing to receive information about a local church from a family member and 56 percent from a friend or neighbor. The message is clear that the unchurched are open to conversations about church.” – Philip Nation
• “Four percent of formerly churched adults are actively looking for a church to attend regularly (other than their previous church). Six percent would prefer to resume attending regularly in the same church they had attended. The largest group, 62 percent, is not actively looking but is open to the idea of attending church regularly again.”–Scott McConnell
We have a responsibility to bring people to Jesus, everyone is welcome.
Philip understood this as Andrew did.
4. John 6 shows us Philip’s dominant side.
Philip was a researcher, a studious type, an academic type, probably a natural at math and science and logical. These are necessary and but doesn’t always lead to a striking life of faith.
John 6:1-7
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Festival was near.5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
‘I’ve looked at it. I’ve done the calculations. There’s no way. Can’t be done.’ Pessimistic. Glass half empty. Analyze, reanalyze, analyze one more time.
There’s another trap with this characteristic. Not only is there a pessimism about them, there’s a skeptism as well. Prove it! Show me one more time.
John 14:6-10
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
Philip was an amazing man and the only one of the 12 Jesus sought out. The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus sought anyone else out. He saw miracles, he heard Jesus teaching, and yet…
We have all been there. Perhaps something happened and the last thing you thought of was a divine intervention. You didn’t even consider the fact that Jesus knew exactly what was going on and had a plan. We aren’t at all different. No better, no worse.
4. Stickler for the rules.
‘Can’t do it that way. We don’t do that here. It’s not done like that.’
John 12:20-22
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
It was ok to tell Nathaniel but these are gentiles. There are rules here and this is against the rules.
Rules are good. Rules are important. Rules are necessary. But if all we ever focus on is the rules, then we can miss the big picture.
If all you focus on is the commands, you miss the heart of God. The 10 Commandments were ‘Guidelines from a LOVING FATHER.’ We all have rules that we
carry around and let it get in the way of the important things like these:
• Do you believe in Jesus?
• Have you put your faith and trust in Him?
We have to let go of our personal positions on non-eternal issues, get out of the way and let God work in people’s lives. We have to be Christians, Little Christ’s, representations of Christ. We have to be ‘The Church!’ We have to be a healthy place in order to receive people God brings us.
Bartholomew (or Nathaniel as he is named in John 1)
Outside of the 4 listings, only the book of John mentions him. Apparently a friend of Philip because we are introduced to him immediately after Jesus approaches Philip. Three observations about Bartholomew that we see in John 1.
1. Bartholomew Had a Racial Bias
There was a racist attitude that he had to overcome.
John 1:45-46
45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
This was cultural, and still today in much of the world today. We might hold some cities in higher regard than others.
There is no room in the Kingdom of God for prejudice. Of all the places that EVERYONE should feel welcome, it is right here inside this church, we have a responsibility to ensure that.
James says in 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
Christ died for everyone. His forgiveness is for everyone. It takes all of us to reach this world. Not just different personalities, but ALL TYPES of people of race and color and culture.
Paul writes in Romans 12:18 As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
2. Bartholomew Was Searching
John 1:47-51
47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
This is a reference back to Genesis 28:12. Jacob has fled from home after stealing the blessing from his brother Esau. He is on his way to live with his uncle Laban and has a dream.
Genesis 28:12
‘he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to the heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.’
Remember the Bible tells us everything we need to know, not everything there is to know. Could Nathanael have been reading this text under the fig tree? What if, at that very moment, he was actually reading and meditating on this and asking God, to reveal to him something just as amazing, just as divine as what Jacob witnessed.
And here comes his friend Philip who says
(John 1:45) ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Jesus looks at him and says, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open.
3. Bartholomew Had Simple Faith
John 1: 48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
Nathanael never asks again who Jesus was.
Jesus responds to him in this way: “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” This is not a question, it is a statement. You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree.
Jesus is confirming Nathaniel’s SIMPLE FAITH. This is exactly what He is asking of His People. SIMPLY BELIEVE!’ Don’t worry about having it all figured out. You can’t. And, God doesn’t expect you to. He just expects you to trust Him. ‘I have it all under control.’
And then he goes on to make a promise:
You will see greater things than that.
God is a God of blessing and reward. There are special rewards and blessings for those who have that simple, child like faith. It’s less work to bless those who will just trust Him and take Him at His word. That doesn’t make it easy. Life isn’t easy. But He has promised to be with us throughout.
What is God saying to us today?
One word – FAITH.
How simple is YOUR faith?
• Are you the type that has to have it all figured out?
• Are you missing the big picture because your too focused on the little things that really don’t mean anything?
• Are you willing to just take Jesus at His word?
Message Based Questions:
Question 1:
Let’s begin with some true/false prompts. Give a “thumbs up” if you agree with the statement and “thumbs down” if you disagree. (Feel free to pause and discuss as you go):
Everyone has personal biases.
Personal bias is always wrong.
Most people prefer to be around people who are similar to them.
People tend to believe that people who are similar to them are superior to people who are different from them.
Question 2:
Recognizing that people are different helps us to be sensitive and curious, to learn and grow. But at what point does the “us/them” mentality become sinful? How can we safeguard against favoritism and discrimination? Refer back to James 2:1. What would change in your personal world at home and work, if you demonstrated greater Christlike humility?
Question 3:
Did faith in God and acceptance of the gift of salvation come easy for you or was it a work in progress? Would you say you have a simple faith or a more complex one? Is there a particular area where you have more questions than other areas?
Question 4:
Have you ever invited someone to church? Was it anxiety provoking prior to doing it? What caused you to invite them? What was their response? Why don’t we invite others to church (or if you do, why do you do it?)?