Each One Reach One
JOHN 1:35-46
INTRO: This records the calling of the disciples of Jesus Christ. There is a sequence here that we can follow:
Jesus called John and John followed the Lord (35-42)
John reached Andrew and Andrew followed the Lord
Andrew reached Peter and Peter followed the Lord
Jesus called Phillip and Phillip followed the Lord (43-46)
Phillip reached Nathanael and Nathanael followed the Lord
Each of the disciples were reached one by one!! And from this noble band of men, the word of God was preached throughout the land and the Gospel message went around the world. Each one of them continued to reach one.
· “If I don’t reach one, can I ever expect anyone else to?” (It’s a rare privilege to be part of a church reaching many souls…but don’t ride the coattails…have YOU reached one?)
BUT IT STARTED WITH ONE REACHING ONE!!
Throughout the history of Christianity, we see a profound effect that one person can have upon another:
Jethro (father in law) over Moses
Jonathan over David
Elijah over Elisha
Daniel over King Darius of Persia
Jesus over Samaritan woman (whole village revival)
Disciples over N.T. Christians (breaking bread from house to house)
Delilah over Samson (Satan believes in each one, reach one, too!)
CHRISTIAN APPLICATION: Each of us are absolutely vital to God’s program and to the ministry of the local church!!
We are His hands, His feet…He chooses to work thru us, He left us here for a reason!
I. EACH OF US HAVE A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:
John 4, Jesus said, I must go through Samaria
Paul said, 1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
To Remember…
A. THE WORTH OF THE SOUL
Jas 5:20
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
B. THE WEALTH OF THE SAINT
All that God has done for us....He wants to do for others!!…and he will do it through us if we will but let Him!!
Personal responsibility to live our lives so that others will see Christ living in us and through us!!
· If there is little resemblance to Christ: there is little chance of reaching them
II. WE HAVE A PRESSING RESPONSIBILITY:
A. THE TIME IS SHORT
NO greater time to commit yourself than now!!
If it is ever to get done, you’ll have to do it now!!
B. THE TRUMPET IS CERTAIN
We are one trumpet blast away from eternity!
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
But God has left you here for a reason!
People are not reached in masses like perhaps they once were. Most are reached just like the disciples....one person sharing his/her faith with another. and then that one sharing their faith with another...
APPLICATION to the LOST:
Realize 10 things:
1. You are lost
Romans 3
3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. You are longing
Ps 84:2 -
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Ps 107:9 -
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
3. You need not labor
Titus 3
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us
Ephesians 2
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 2
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
4. You belong to Lucifer
John 8
8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
· 3 X’s Jesus called him:
The prince of this world
John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11
II Tim. 2:26 …that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Ephesians 2
2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2 Corinthians 4
4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Colossians 1
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
5. You are loved
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared…
Jn. 3:16
6. You can be liberated
Lu 4:18 -
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel …he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
2Co 3:17 -
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Ga 5:1 -
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…
7. You can receive life
Joh 10:10 -
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 14:6 -
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 10:28 -
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
8. You will never lack
Ps 37:25 -
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
9. You won’t be left
I Thess. 4…but the lost will be left behind!
10. You will be lifted
Even in this life:
Ps 40:2 -
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock.
