Sir, We Would See Jesus

Temple Baptist Church - 12-6-2023

John 12:15-26

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we saw the final “straw” that turned the Nation of Israel to reject Christ.

 

1.  They hated Him for who He said that He was: the great I AMTHAT I AM.

 

2.  They  hated Him for what He did:  miracle after miracle that showed that He came from God.  Nicodemus – chapter 3

 

3.  They hated Him for what He said: Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God gave the Jews the verbal Word of God.  He spoke gracious but authoritative words.

 

4.  They hated Him because of what He did not do: they wanted Him to overthrow the Roman rule and set up His earthly kingdom.  Instead, He came as a Lamb for sacrifice, not as a King that was sovereign.

 

B.  I find verses 19-21 interesting in light of Israel’s impending national rejection of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, withing a few days.

 

1.  Paul stated that the Gospel was to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

2.  The Nation of Israel rejected the Messiah on the week of Passover, one of the three feasts that all males were required to attend.  Thus, there were not only Jews in Jerusalem, but there were also “Greeks” or Gentiles from all over the world: Jewish Proselytes: Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. 

 

3.  As the Jewish Nation rejects their Messiah, in verses 19-21, we find two things.

 

a)  The statement of the Pharisees in verse 19, the Pharisees said, “The world is gone after Him.”  “The World” covers both Jew and Gentile.  They acknowledged the obvious conversion of both Jews and Gentiles through their acceptance of Christ Jesus.

 

John 12:19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

 

“All their wise schemes and crafty councils signified nothing; the commands they enjoined the people not to follow him, or to apprehend him, or to show them where he was, were disregarded; their threatenings to put out of the synagogue such as should confess him, were taken no notice of; their promises of reward were slighted; their examples were not followed; and all their artifice and cunning, backed with power and authority, did not succeed.” ~ Nonnus – A 5^th Century Greek Poet.

 

b)  In verse 20, we find the mention of “certain Greeks”.  Many of the converted Gentiles followed the leading of Israel’s spiritual leadership, especially the Pharisees, but there were some Gentiles that were believers. 

 

John 12:20  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

 

c)  In verse 21, we find these “certain Greeks” seeking Jesus, their Messiah.  Their statement of Phillip says it all, “Sir, we would see Jesus!”  They were here in obedience to the command of the Law but, by coming to the feast, they found their “Passover”, Christ Jesus.

 

d)  They evidently heard the commotion and conversations caused by the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem.

 

C.  These Greeks found Phillip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”  The Jewish nation along with most of the religious hierarchy had rejected Him (John 1:11), but the Gentiles now sought and found Him.  We find this referenced in Romans, chapter 11.

 

Romans 11:22-25  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  (24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  (25)  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

D.  Phillip found Andrew and told him.  Then Phillip and Andrew went and told Christ.  By the request of the Greeks, I would imagine that they either followed or were led by these two men to Christ.

 

E.  Now, we find the discourse generated by Christ concerning Greeks also seeking Him.  Jesus now identifies:

 

1.  Verse 23.  The Period of Salvation.  “The hour is come”

 

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

2.  Verse 23.  The Person of Salvation”  “that the Son of Man should be glorified”  Jesus.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

3.  Verse 24.  The Purchase of Salvation.  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone:”

 

4.  Verse 24.  The Product of Salvation.  “but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

 

John 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

5.  Verse 25.    The Prerogative of Salvation.  “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

 

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

6.  Verse 26.   The Path of Salvation.  “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be:”

 

7.  Verse 26.  The Prize of Salvation.  “if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

The Importance Of Soul Winning In The Local Church

Temple Baptist Church - 3-15-2020

Proverbs 11:30

Introduction: 

Daniel 12:1-3  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  (2)  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  (3)  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

A.  The Laodicean Church has lost a very important aspect of its reason for existence.  Propagation of the Gospel!  Soul winning characterized the early church and Jerusalem knew who the Christians were!  In Apostolic days, the local church had a zeal for souls!

B.  I have lived in the Bible Belt for almost 37 years now and can only remember 2-3 instances where someone approached me with either a tract or a verbal witness and tried to win me to Christ.  None within the past 30 years!  As a matter of fact, no one ever invites me to their church and, yet, almost everyone in our county is affiliated with a church of one variety or another.

C.  That makes salvation possibly the “BEST KEPT SECRET” in the Bible Belt!  Why?

1.  Because of a LACK OF SALVATION – The woman at the well said come see a man; the Ethiopian Eunuch went away rejoicing; the lame man leaped for joy; the blind man said I was blind but now I see; yet people in our day claim to be saved with no outward expression or confession.

2.  Because of a LACK OF CONCERN – People are too busy with their own affairs

3.  Because of a LACK OF REALIZATION – Hell is real, still hot, and sinners do go there for all eternity!

4.  Because of a LACK OF PRIORITY – Church priority now is numbers, not souls!  Many churches have a “statistics board” visible in the front of the auditorium displaying attendance and offerings but do not have a visitation program.

5.  Because of a LACK OF WISDOM – The Lord that “adds to the church” through the salvation of the lost!

D.  The early church and soul-winning: every day, publicly and privately, they told people about Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.  (Amid fearful circumstances [they were threatened with stoning], they ceased not to preach Christ!)

E.  I am not against inviting people to church.  I am not against membership campaigns that churches may carry out.  These things are necessary tools in reaching people by getting them under the sound of preaching.

1 Corinthians 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

F.  This may offend some, but church growth should not be the primary goal.  We should be winning souls no matter how many people we have in our churches.

G.  There are several misconceptions concerning soul winning that I want to look at this morning that will give each of us help in this area.

1.  SOUL-WINNING IS A COMMAND, NOT A SPIRITUAL GIFT - Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

a. We should carry out the command.

1)  It is not a suggestion to consider; it's a command!

2)  You don't need to pray about whether you should do it. You just DO it!

b. We should teach our converts - Matthew 28:20   Teaching THEM to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded YOU!

2.  SOUL-WINNING IS CHIEF, NOT SECONDARY - 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

a. It was the motivation of Christ.

1) He came into this world to save sinners.

2) He lived without sin so He could die as a sacrifice for sinners.

3) He died on the cross for sinners.

4) He rose again for sinners.

b. It is the mission of the church.

1) Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

2) 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

3.  SOUL-WINNING IS CHARITY, NOT SOLICITATION - Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (To solicit means asking or pleading for, especially in reference to receiving payment or money.)

a. Soul winning is the offer of a FANTASTIC gift – “eternal life”

b Soul winning is the offer of a FREE gift – “gift of God”  (Free but not cheap!  It is free, but it's not cheap!  It was paid for by the most precious substance in the universe -- the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can't buy it. You can't earn it. You can't work in order to get it.  You can only get it by receiving it as a free gift from God by faith in Christ Jesus.)

4.  SOUL-WINNING IS COOPERATION, NOT SINGLE EFFORT - 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (It is everybody’s job, either by visitation, giving out tracts, confrontational witnessing, and missions.)

a. We cooperate with our Savior - 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

b. We cooperate with other soul-winners - 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

5.  SOUL-WINNING IS CONTINUOUS, NOT SPORADIC - Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

a. It should be daily - Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  (I believe in organized visitation but we are to be soul winners everywhere and every day.)

b. It should be deliberate - Mark 1:17  And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.  (When I go fishing, it is planned!  I do not accidentally end up in a boat on a lake.  Fishing is a deliberate act.  Fishers do not catch fish by accident!)

           

Conclusion:  Years ago, Dr. Jack Hyles, years ago, wrote the following little poem:

INCOMPLETE

Like a fire with no glow,

Like a winter with no snow,

Like a river with no flow,

Like a conviction without a "NO,"

Like an oar without a row,

Like a wind without a blow,

Like a pitcher without a throw,

Like a harvest without a sow,

Like a trip without a go,

Like a kneader without dough,

Like a Santa without a Ho,

Like excess without overflow,

Like a foot without a toe,

Like a gardener without a hoe,

Like a cock without a crow,

Like a con without a pro,

Like a high without a low,

Like a truth without a know,

Like a fast without a slow,

Like a buck without a doe,

Like an actor without a show,

Like above without below,

Like a to without a fro,

Like violins without a bow,

IS A CHRISTIAN WHO WILL NOT GO.

Romans 10:13-15  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  (May God bless OUR beautiful feet.  The beautiful feet of the winner of souls!)

The Local Church and Teaching

Temple Baptist Church - 3-8-2020

Matthew 28:18-20

Introduction:

A.  Homecoming Month.  What a special time for God’s people here at Temple.  We have something very special here.  God has blessed this church over the past 33 years.

B.  This month, I am looking at the purpose of the local church lest we lose sight of what we are here for.  Last Sunday, we saw the first purpose is Exaltation or Worship.  This morning, I want to look at Education or Teaching.

C.  The local church is a called-out assembly of saints. 

1.  The local church is a place of God’s Desire.  Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (The local church is important to God!)

2.  The local church is a place of God’s Design. 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (Order is important to God.) 

3.  The local church is a place of God’s Doctrine.  Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (Sound doctrine is important to God.)

D.  I want to look at the aspect of teaching and preaching this morning.  There is a difference between teaching and preaching.

1.  Teaching involves information or fact to inform the intellect. 

2.  Preaching demands a response or decision.

E.   In the Great Commission or Commandment, our Lord Jesus said, “ (1) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (2)  Teaching them to (3) observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

1.  The Obligation of Missions.  “teach all nations, baptizing them”  Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

a.  Home Missions.  Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (For every creature to receive the gospel, it requires every child of God to carry the message.)

b.  Foreign Missions.  Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (For the entire world to hear, there must be those who go.)

2.  The Obligation of the Pastor.  “teaching them to”

a.  The Man of The Word.  Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

1 Timothy 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

b.  The Ministry of The Word.  The Acts 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  Doctrinal teaching is of the utmost importance in these days of doctrinal ignorance!

Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  (Sound-uncorrupt, whole, true, healthy, uncompromised)

c.  The Method of The Word.  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3.  The Obligation of the Saint.  “observe all things”  There is a difference between Observation and Observe.

Observation - the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.

Observe - to conform one's action or practice to (something, such as a law, rite, or condition): to comply with.

a.  The Responsibility of the Saint to Hear The Word – Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (You cannot hear or learn if you are not faithful to attend.)

b.  The Obligation of the Saint to Heed The Word.  Hebrews 5:11-12  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Conclusion:  Colossians 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: