What Seek Ye?

What Seek Ye?

Text: John 1:35–42 (KJV 1900)

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

I. Why are you here this morning? What are you seeking? (Verse 38)

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?

* I would like to pose the same question to you folks this morning. Why are you here?

* The average person is not spiritually aware this morning so they have no desire to be here. They are at home enjoying the flesh, sleeping in, using this Sunday to satisfy their own desires.

Romans 3:10–18 (KJV 1900)

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

* If you are here seeking God this morning, it is because God has awakened you spiritually by the work of the Holy Spirit.

John 6:44 (KJV 1900)

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

* In our text this morning we see two men called out by the Sprit of God to follow Jesus.

* Like two disciples of John in our text this morning, you have been chosen, or “called” by God to fellowship with the Savior.

* All mankind this morning is spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1–5 (KJV 1900)

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 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: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

* To be “called” by God, is to be separated by God out of the world filled with those who are “born the children of Satan,” and “follow the desires of the flesh and the mind.”

Romans 1:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

*In Romans 8 we read of those who God has called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28–32 (KJV 1900)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

* Jesus noticed these two men following Him and perceived that God had called them by His Spirit to fellowship with Him.

II. Jesus invites us into fellowship with Him. (Verse 39)

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

* When Jesus perceived that these men had been called by God to follow Him, He immediately invited them to fellowship with Him.

* Jesus came for the very purpose to restore fellowship between man and His Creator.

Genesis 3:8–10 (KJV 1900)

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

* This same invitation the Scriptures extend to you this morning. Listen to the words of Psalms 34:

Psalm 34:3–11 (KJV 1900)

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

John 4:13–15 (KJV 1900)

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Revelation 21:6 (KJV 1900)

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:17 (KJV 1900)

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

* Many people in our church have been awakened by the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

* They have been called out to by God. They have responded to this calling by going to church, but they have never accepted the Savior’s call to fellowship with Him.

* God does not want you follow along like these to disciples of John the Baptist, but God desires for you to live in fellowship with Him.

* We have plenty of folks willing to do their “spiritual duty” and show up for church on Sunday morning, but God desires for you to fellowship with Him.

* We have in the church folks like Martha the sister of Lazarus, who ran around doing all kinds of good service for Jesus and the disciples, but what God really wants form you is to fellowship with Him.

Luke 10:38–42 (KJV 1900)

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

* The Lord wants to experience Him, not just follow Him around in name only.

* When I pray for my children I always pray that God will reveal Himself to them just like He has revealed Himself to me. And I pray that they might life in fellowship with God.

* If they only taste the goodness of living in fellowship with God, I can be assured that they are going to be ok.

* I pray this same prayer for each of you every time I pray for you.

III. When we fellowship with the Savior, we are compelled to bring others to fellowship with Him too. (Verses 42 and 43)

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

* We see here in our text, that after spending time in fellowship with Jesus, Andrew had to run out and find his brother Peter and bring him to fellowship with the Savior too.

* It’s only natural that when we fall in love with the Savior that we must run out and bring our loved ones to the Savior that they might fellowship with Him too.

* Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Why you thought everyone should see how wonderful that person is! If they would get to know this person, they would love them too!

* It’s not hard to bring others to the Savior if you have been living in fellowship with Him. When we fall in love with the Savior- When we have learned to live in continual fellowship with the Lord, then bringing people to the lord will be an automatic response to enjoying the Savior’s fellowship.

Conclusion:

* So what do we learn from our text this morning?

* We are here because God had called us out of the world to restore the fellowship that God had with Adam and Eve in the Garden.

* Have you been drawn to God by His Spirit to follow Jesus, but have never yet experienced being totally sold out to God?

* Jesus told the woman at the well:

John 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

* If you have been just coming to church on Sunday morning, following Jesus, I urge you to take the next step and desire to fellowship with God through the reading of His world and seeking his face in prayer.

* Everything you need this morning can be found in fellowship with the Savior. There peace and great joy to those who live in fellowship with the Lord.

* If you have realized for the first time that you are spiritually dead and you sense the Holy Spirit of God drawing you to the Savior this morning, don’t delay, come to the Savior forgiveness of sin and receive eternal life this morning!

* God has separated you out from those who follow the God of this world, Satan, and serve sin to give you in invitation to be saved, please don’t turn the savior away!