Where is your brother?
Matthew 9:37, John 1:40-41
To each of you that are saved here today, you are here today because God has called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. You are here because God has reached way down and picked you up. God reached beyond your dirty deeds. God reached beyond your habits, hurts, hang ups and heartaches. You are here because one day you cried out to God and God heard and answered your cry.
So you have come into this house to offer Him just a little thanks, just a little praise for all that He has done, all He is doing and for all that He will do. However, I have a question, have you ever asked yourself why did God chose to save you? I mean out of all the people in this world some better looking then you, some with more faith then you and some in better shape then you. Yet out of all the people you know, God in His grace has called you into His kingdom. Did you ever ask yourself why me Lord?
God answers that age-old question in His word. God says I saved us not just for us, but so that you may be a witness, a living testimony, a holy epistle read of all men. God said I saved you that you might be a city sat on a hill. I saved you that you might be the salt of the earth, the light of the world. He saved you and you and you because there is a serious need for laborers in the vineyard of the world. Jesus said as much in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest is truly plenteous, but the laborers are few.”
God said I have placed my light down on the inside of each of you not to hide it, but to hold it up high so that all men may see it and desire to come to Me. God said I saved you that you might lift up the name of Jesus. God said have you not read John 12:32, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto to.” I will draw the drunk, the drug addict, the prostitute.
I will draw that one you live with, the one you sleep with, the one you work with even the one you can’t stand. God said are you letting your light shine are you lifting up the name of Jesus, are you salty enough where your family, friends and foes want to come and taste of my goodness? God said if you can say yes then I have a question for you, where is your brother?
I hear some of you saying, “I don’t have a brother so this word is not for me.” I’m an only child or all I have are sisters. Maybe you are thinking like the lawyer in Luke 10, this lawyer asked Jesus what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him “You must love the Lord with all your soul, and all your strength, and with all your mind, then love your neighbor as yourself.” Well, being a lawyer he looked for a loophole or a way out in that statement, so he said to Jesus who’s my neighbor. Jesus went on to tell him the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Now God didn’t give me a parable about who our brother is, but just in case you are looking for a loophole, a way out, God did give me a definition. Brother, (ad-el-fos) in the Greek means brother born of the same two parents of the same mother or father whether you grew up in the same house or not. That didn’t fit you hu? Brother (Ad-el-fos) in the Greek means having the same ancestors, belonging to the same race whether you are short or tall, big or small, you are still brothers. Not you hu? Brother (ad-el-fos) in the Greek means a fellow countryman which includes your co-worker, the mail man, the cashier at the grocery store, the man that works on your car, the one that does your sew in regardless of race, color, sex or creed.
So again the Lord says if you have been born again, if you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, then where is your brother? You see when you are excited about who God is, what God does and what God can do you ought to want to share it with somebody you come in contact with especially with those you love. In our text today we find a young man by the name of Andrew doing just that. The text says the next day.
You see John had already declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God the day before when he baptized Him. So the next day after John declared the same to be true. He pointed out Jesus to his disciples. After Andrew spent some time with Jesus, the first person he went and found was his brother. John said “Behold the Lamb of God.”
Since the fall of man humanity had been waiting for the Lamb of God. Waiting and wondering, “How long O’ Lord.” Yea way back in Genesis, Isaac even wanted to know where is the lamb. Genesis 22:7, Isaac said to his father Abraham, I see the fire and the wood but where is the lamb. Abraham a man of faith responded, “God will provide.” Is there anybody here that knows God will provide? The same God that woke you this morning will provide for you throughout the day. The same God that breath the breath of life into you will provide all that you need to live Holy and to live right.
Down through the centuries mankind has been asking this same question, where is the lamb. At God’s appointed time, just as Abraham said, God did provide. The bible says in Gal.4:4, “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His only begotten Son.” John here now declares “behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” I don’t know about you but I’m so glad that God sent His only Begotten Son to be the lamb that takes away my sins and your sins. I am so glad today that John declared His presence.
John was not speaking to the wind for the bible says that two of his disciples heard him. You do know that faith cometh by hearing don’t you. You do know that the bible says in Romans 10, “How can they believe on Him in whom they have not heard. Because of John testimony and the disciple’s faith, two of John’s disciples left following him and started following Jesus one of them being Andrew.
Now you might say that John should have been upset that his disciples would leave following him to follow another. But I think not, for John knew that he was only to be the one crying in the wilderness, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” John was so focused on his job of making straight the way of the Lord until he didn’t have time to begrudge his disciples, as a matter of fact John said in 3:30, “He (Jesus) must increase but I must decrease, ” because He that comes from above is above all.
As these two disciple followed Jesus, Jesus turned and asked them, “what do you want, why are you following me?” Wow! Is this Jesus talking like this? This is not a harsh rebuke, but a gentle prod. Jesus wanted them to be specific about their purpose for following him and He is asking you the same question today, why are you following me? What is your purpose for coming to church Sunday after Sunday? Anybody here!!!!!! What is your purpose for attending bible study and Sunday school? Why are you here? Andrew and the unnamed disciple asked Jesus where are you staying? Now Jesus could have said right then, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nest, but the son of man has no place to lay his head.” But instead He simply said, “Come and see.”
If you really want to know the Lord, He says to you today “come and see.” Come and see if I can’t heal your broken heart. Come and see if I can’t dry your weeping eyes. Come and see if I can’t save you from your sins. I could stand here all night and declare like John, “behold the lamb of God,” but until you take the step of faith you will never experience the power of God for your self. Come and spend time at the master’s feet like Mary. If you come to Jesus today, right now you don’t have to worry about Him turning you away. I got bible on that, John 6:37, “He who comes to me I will not cast out.” Is there anybody here today that wants to come and see Jesus for yourself?
I hear the Lord saying to about five of you, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man open I will come in and sup with him.” So Jesus said to them, “Come and see.” I can see them sitting around all night listening to Jesus as He revealed the truth of the gospel to them about His purpose for coming. I can hear Him telling them, “I came to seek and to save the lost.” I can hear Jesus tell them that I came to do my Father’s will. I’m sure that as they listen, they were not concerned about how cold it was, or if it’s going to rain for they had found the rose of Sharon, the bright and morning star, they had found the Messiah, the anointed of God.
So I ask you today, have you spent time with the Lord? Do you believe Him to be the Son of God? Do you believe He was crucified, died and was buried then rose again on the third day? Do you believe God can save any one from anything at anytime? Then where is your brother?
After hearing and receiving the word of God from the expressed image of God, somebody got happy namely Andrew. You know how it is when you have found what you have searched for your whole life; you just have to go tell somebody. If I was talking to Jeremiah he would say, “It’s like fire shut up in my bones,” and if I don’t tell it, I will burn up with the passion of God.
So Andrew ran to find his brother first. Now Andrew may or may not have known where to find his brother, but never the less he didn’t stop until he found him. When he found him, he didn’t engage in small talk, he didn’t ask how momma was doing, but with child like joy and conviction, he said we have found the messiah, the anointed of God.
Now Andrew may have had to go miles to find his brother, but thanks be to God, modern technology has made our brothers just a phone call away, just an e-mail away, just a fax will do.
Young people you spend so much time on the phone talking and texting about this, that and the other, but how many times have you told that person on the other end, that you have found the Messiah?
All you face bookers instead of posting selfies, or the latest road trip you took when was the last time you posted that you have found the messiah, the anointed of God? We don’t have to look very far to find our brother, sometimes we only have to look right next to us in the bed, or the passenger seat of the car, we only have to look to the one that is ringing up our groceries, or putting the weave in your beautiful hair.
When we look around the church today at the empty pews the evident is clear, that we have not been about our Father’s business. But we say we love the Lord, so where is your brother? Have you been too busy to tell somebody the good news, or are you not sure yourself?
You see it shows how much you really love a person when you want to introduce them to someone that is bigger than all of their problems, all of their pressures and all of their pain. It speaks of your confidence in God and what you know He can and will do. If you were sick and you knew a doctor that could help and heal wouldn’t you want to introduce your brother to him? I know a doctor that has never lost a patient. I know a lawyer that has never lost a case. I know a friend that will never leave you nor forsake you and His name is Jesus. Have you tried my Jesus? Is there anybody here that wants to get to know Him??
We go around here claiming that Jesus can do everything but fail. We sing He healed my body and told me to run on, yet we know people, who are lost, confused, depressed, stressed out, burned out and ready to get out, but some of you will not take the time to introduce them to the one that is able. You do know that God is able right? Then where is your brother?
Now John only declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God, for John had only baptized Jesus he had not spent quality time with the Lord. John knew Jesus as the Lamb of God and that was all he could tell anybody. He knew Jesus was somebody but he was not sure if he was the Messiah or not. We got proof on that, Luke 7:19 “John called two of his disciples to himself and sent them to Jesus with this question, “Art thou He that should come, or should we look for another?”
But Andrew had spent personal time in the presence of the Lord, so Andrew says with out a doubt we have found the Messiah. Is your brother not here because you have not spent time in God’s presence in order to know that you know that you know He is the Son of God?
Something else interesting about Andrew’s testimony, notice he says we, Andrew was not one to take the credit for anything, he says we have found that that pearl of great price, we have found the one that Isaiah prophesied about. You see the best teacher can only tell you so much, but there will come a time when you will have to come to see Jesus for yourself. This is what Andrew did and as he meditated on what Jesus had said, as he meditated Jesus’ word became the living word and it became his testimony.
Notice he did not try to instruct Peter himself in the gospel but he brought him to Jesus and simply introduced him. I can see Andrew with tears of joy in his eyes saying, “Peter this is Jesus, Jesus this is Peter,” then leaving them to get acquainted.
That my brothers and sisters is all God is asking each of you to do, just introduce folk to Jesus. The best way for you to introduce Jesus to anybody is not by what you say, but by what you do. It’s not by what you say when you are in the church that draws people to Christ, but it’s by what you do when you are away from the church. It’s saddens me to report that some of you only have a relationship with the Lord on Sunday morning and some of you don’t have a relationship with Him at all. Let’s look at the evidence shall we, you walk in God’s house saying anything doing anything, wearing anything and giving anything. .
You bless God on Sunday morning and curse out folks Sunday evening. The way we as Christians display Jesus will determine how the world views Jesus. I believe it was St. Frances of Assi that said, “Preach Jesus where ever you go and if you have to, use words.” What are you saying preacher? I would rather see a Christian than hear one that’s what I’m saying.
It is not your job to make them believe in Jesus, nor is it your job to judge them. We are only to introduce them to the Lord. Don’t worry about the details let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and the pruning away of things that are a hindrance.
Andrew found his brother first and told him we have found the messiah. Don’t miss this. In order to find something you have to first be looking for it. I need to let you know that if you are looking for Jesus with your whole heart you will find Him. Anybody came here today looking for Jesus? Andrew bringing Peter to Jesus was the end result of his personal relationship with Jesus.
It was the product of him spending time with the Lord. If you are here today saved by grace, if you have spent time with the master, if you know Jesus to be more than the Lamb of God, where is your brother? If you have tasted of the Goodness of God, where is your brother? This text screams out to Christians everywhere go find your brother, you are here, but where is your brother?
I just want to know, is your brother somewhere dying from the bottle because he does not know that there is a better way? You know there is but are you willing to share that knowledge. The bible says my people parish for a lack of knowledge. We are all God’s people. So where is your brother?
Where is your brother? Have you killed his spirit; the way Cain killed his brother Able?
Cain was so busy looking at what his brother offered to God that he missed out on his blessing. You shouldn’t worry about how your friend will act in church or if his behavior will be acceptable to God. You ought to be more concerned with your conduct away from church. All we are to do is introduce our brothers to the savior. Contrary to popular belief, we are our brother’s keeper.
So where is your brother? Is he some place drowning in hopelessness, from some hurt, hang-up or habit because he does not know that Jesus is the hope of the world? Have you played the supplanter, (one who holds by the heel, a deceiver) like Jacob; Jacob had a twin brother named Esau that was born first, but Jacob being the supplanter that he was reached up and grabbed his brother by the ankle to pull him back down.
Is your brother not here because every time he desires to come you press him down; is your brother not here because every time he attempts to rise above his situation, you pull him back down? Some of our brothers are not saved because some of us are not truly saved. If I can’t see it for me, I sure can’t see it for you. (That will hit you on the way home). Tell your neighbor you talk a good game.
Instead of witnessing for Christ some of you would rather dog out the pastor, put down your church and your church family right in front of those that need Christ. At the same time they are listening and watching you. So they say to themselves if that is what being saved is all about you keep it.
Your children are watching and listening to what you say and do. As they grow up, they too will do the same thing because they think it’s normal. You may not know the impact your words can have on a soul that is trying to find his way to God. The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Are you killing your brother or are you trying to help him find salvation?
The bible says Jacob stole Esau’s blessing by pretending to be him, and when Esau came to his father, he had already given his blessing away. Esau said, ‘father don’t you have a blessing reserved for me?’ You may think that by introducing your brother to Jesus he might take your position in the church, on the deacon board, in the choir, in the pulpit, Satan uses our false pride to keep us from witnessing to a dying world.
The good news is we don’t have to keep pressing our brothers down thinking that they will steal our blessing, because unlike Isaac, God has a blessing with your name on it and if you can believe it, you can receive it. Matter of fact God has so many blessing until we don’t have room enough to receive them. So the question of the day is where is your brother?
Have you locked him in a cell of solitude like Joseph? You say you don’t have any friends to share the gospel with, well according to the word of God in order to have friends you must first show yourself friendly, and when you do, you will find a friend that will stick closer than a brother.
So where is your brother, are you keeping Jesus all to yourself? Where is your brother? Have you let him be thrown in the furnace of frustration like Shadrach, Meshack and Abendgo? Have you left him to the lions of life like Daniel? If the truth be told here today, the only time some of the people you know hear you mention God is when you are cursing or when they sneeze, even when they sneeze you leave God out and just say bless you.
Oh if we would only get about our father’s business, for the harvest is truly ripe but the labors are few. God is calling each of us to get up out of the pew, and go out into the highways and byways. You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit, you don’t have to be a Sunday school teacher, but if you can make up in your mind and believe in your heart, “A charge to keep I have and a God to glorify, every dying soul to save and fit it for the sky.”
Andrew didn’t leave a sermon on record, Andrew never wrote a book in the bible, but every time Andrew is mentioned in scripture he is about bring somebody to Jesus. When Jesus wanted to know where to get food for the five thousand, John 6:8-9, “One of the disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother said unto him, there is a lad here which hath five barley loaves and two fish.” Where is your brother?
When the Greeks came to worship at the feast, the bible says in John 12 they also wanted to see Jesus. Well they went and told Phillip who was Andrew’s home boy, then Phillip told Andrew, John 12:22, says “Together, Phillip and Andrew went and told Jesus.” All we have to do is introduce that sinner man, woman, boy or girl to Jesus.
If you believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, where is your brother? If you believe He was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate was dead and buried, then where is your brother? If you believe he rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God, I want to know, where is your brother? If you believe that He is coming back again to judge the living and the dead, somebody tell me where is your brother?
Young people instead of using the phone to talk about this, that and the other, use it to tell somebody you have found the Messiah. You see you are the only hands, feet, and mouth that the Lord has here.
But in order to be used by God, you got to be bold in your testimony, faithful in your studies, and prayerful at all times. You got to be willing to tell a dying world, “I was sinking never to rise again far from the distance shore, but one day I heard a preacher say, behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
I didn’t come by to bother nobody, I was sent here today to remind you, that Jesus is alive, and you ought to tell somebody. What should I tell them preacher? Tell them that Jesus came down through forty-two generations, and got off in a little town call Bethlehem. Tell them that He lived amongst mankind for 33 years. Tell them that late one Thursday evening in a garden called Gethsemane as he prayed. He was betrayed into the hands of evil men.
Tell them they led him from judgment hall to judgment hall. Tell them they whipped him all night long. Don’t forget to tell them that one Friday they took him to Calvary; there they nailed His hand and His feet. Don’t forget to tell them they pierced Him in his side.
Tell them He died; I said He died and they laid Him in borrowed tomb. Don’t forget to tell them. That’s not how the story ends. Tell them he laid in the grave all night Friday night, all day Saturday and all night Saturday night. But early Sunday morning, he got up with all power in heaven in earth. Tell them I came to Jesus just as I was, weary, wounded and sad, I found in him a resting place and now my soul is glad.” ………………………He’s sweet I know.
