June 25, 2000, SM: We would see Jesus

June 25th, 2000, Sunday Morning

"Sir, we would see Jesus"
(Special Guest Speaker: Brother Hugh Taylor)
What it means to want to see Jesus

OPENING: John 12:20-21, KJV

John 12:20-21: In this passage of scripture, we see there is a certain group of people (Greeks) speaking to a certain person (Philip) seeking a certain person (Jesus). Let's examine this in more depth of what it means to want to see Jesus.
#1 OF 3: WHO THEY SPOKE TO
- These Greeks spoke to Philip--a disciple who later became one of Jesus' 12 apostles.
- John 1:43-46: Jesus told Philip to follow him. Philip wasn't a doctor, prince, or ambassador. He was just an ordinary guy. And Philip went to Nathanael who was also seeking the man whom Moses had written about and Nathanael followed, as well.
  - 1 Corinthians 1:26: It isn't that not any are worthy to serve. It's that not many are chosen to serve.
  - Some believe that missionaries are super-spiritual people who are above members of the church. To the contrary, they are really just ordinary people like you and I. They just believe they have a special calling that takes them to foreign lands to preach the same Word you get in church.
- Besides being ordinary, Philip was obedient.
  - He followed God and brought others with him (i.e., Nathanael).
  - Three years later, Philip became the "point-man" and representative of God. He left his home in Bethsaida to go take the Word of God to the Gentiles.
  - 2 Corinthians 4:1-2: Philip commended himself to every man's conscience about the truth--the Word of God.
  - For being God's personal representative and taking the Word to others who had it not, be became "obvious."
    - To be "obvious" is to be up-front about being a Bible-believing Christian. It should be your first, lasting impression. Being obvious to people is a two-edged sword.
      - 1. You tell people where you're from and this tends to prevent others from bringing their foulness to your presence.
      - 2. You're expected to live up to those standards; in public or alone.
    - Being a Christian means no fussin' and no cussin'
    - You discredit your church, the pastor, your family, your name, and the Lord if you're not being and acting obvious.
    - However, some can't be as obvious because of their locale. If you're a missionary to closed areas such as communist China or at work, "on the clock," you must at times refrain from being open and wait until the appropriate time. Be obvious--but don't over-exert.
#2 OF 3: SEE WHO THEY WERE
- These Gentiles (the Greeks) were going against the world's ambitions. This makes them a distinct minority of the human race.
- The number of lost souls in this world way outnumbers those saved.
- The crowd stays home on Sunday, but you come to church. They're all missing the blessing from hearing the Word of God. They all will suffer for it. So is it possible for the whole crowd to be wrong? YES.
- But can you be saved and still be in the wrong crowd? YES.
- 2 Corinthians 4:3: Most of this world is spiritually blind.
- But these select few Gentiles wanted to see ("we would see Jesus"). They just didn't know exactly what they were looking for.
- The lost and blind of this world trust either the system or themselves. But there are those lost who are squinting to look for something different--a hope. And what they are looking for and don't know it is Jesus Christ.
- We can't see (at the supermarket checkout, for example) whether people are saved or not. So we must be in an obvious position for those lost to see us.
  - EXAMPLE: In a homework assignment by Brother Taylor daughter, she found New Mexico has 365 Baptist churches; Alabama has 3600 Baptist churches. One of the cities of China, Chung-Do, has ZERO Baptist churches.
  - But what about the other 1.2 billion in China's population? There is hope for them because of missionaries. At this moment, there are people out there who are spiritually blind and don't know Jesus Christ and they "want to see," and we have the missing Savior they need.
#3 OF 3: WHO THEY SOUGHT?
- Hebrews 2:9: Jesus was made to taste a little death of every man on earth. It was a cruel, harsh death.
- Buying a gift for someone doesn't mean anything if it's kept in the closet and never presented to that person. We have the perfect give to those who are lost and spiritually dead--a "birth"day gift as in allowing them to be "born again;" So what's in a name? In this case, everything.
- Acts 4:12: By Jesus Christ and ONLY by Him and no other can we be saved. Therefore, there is no Allah or any other God that can save you.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5: The matter of missions and ministry and churches is not centered around any man. Church is not about the pastor trying his hardest to get you into heaven. It's about Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8: Witnessing is not an easy job. No one ever said Christian service is an easy/painless job. However, we are given solutions to these newfound problems we didn't have before. The summation of this verse is that no matter how we are treated, even to death, our work is not in vain.
- Romans 8:18: Yet, no matter how bad things get for you, they cannot be balanced against what awaits the saved in heaven.
- Right now, of the 6 billion people on earth, a majority are blind and cannot enter heaven.
- John 12:25: We don't know the outcome of those who will see God and follow his Word other than knowing we will have life eternal. God doesn't see fit for us to know right now.
- This treasure, the Word of God, must be received as well as given. Would you take this earthly treasure in your vessel (meaning yourself--your body) and carry it to the lost?
CLOSER
Romans 10:12-14: There are about 81 questions (sentences ending with a question mark) in the book of Romans. God uses these to stir your mind. Unto God, there is no difference between an American and a Chinese or any other race. So the answer to all questions in this passage of scripture is: "they want." Aren't you glad a pastor came your way?