Outer Banks Community Church

Text: John 1:35-42 (NKJV)

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).”

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

Intro: The Meaning of Discipleship.

For the last couple of weeks I have been talking about discipleship, receiving and acting on the call to follow Christ, to be a fisher of men. This is the first message for the revival were having here and before the week is finished there will be three other men, men of Ocean View Baptist Church that will also present a message and a challenge for all of us to be disciples and teach others how also to become a follower, and to act as if it has already happened!

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? The word "disciple" is defined as one who receives instruction - a learner. One who follows the teachings, examples, and precepts of another. John 8:31 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” Jesus made "love one for another" a mark of discipleship... The scriptures also reminds us: “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The disciples were called Christians because they were: Inspired by a Personal Experience with God, they possessed a strong religious conviction and behaved with Christ like Manners. Illustration: Quit It!

Sam Jones was a popular evangelist in the South years ago. During the course of a revival meeting, he would designate a “Quitter’s Night.” Persons were asked to bring symbols, or pictures, of their sins: cards, dice, whiskey bottles, pictures of other men’s wives, and so forth. As the fiery evangelist exhorted the brethren to come forward and leave evidence of their sins, one of the saints of the church responded. The preacher was surprised and asked, “Aunt Sarah, what are you repenting of?” She replied, “I ain’t done nothing, and I’m gonna quit it!”

Application: Quit doing nothing! And act as if it has already happened.

There are five steps to discipleship.

1. RECOGNITION OF CHRIST: vs. 36 “And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

These early disciples recognized the Lamb of God which “taketh” away the sin of the world. Do you realize what He takes away? And quit it if you don’t realize!

Have you and are you recognizing who Jesus Christ is? He is able to save any and everyone who is willing to receive by faith and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If not it is time! These men forsook all, gave it all up to follow and trust this sacrificial Lamb who loves us!

John recognized Him and bore testimony that He was the Son of God. He is God... If He is God to you what are you doing and are you baring witness to this? It’s time we act as if it is already happening (He is the Lamb of God!) Quit it! Quit avoiding this Lamb.

2. AN ACT OF FAITH: vs. 37 “The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”

Throughout the Book of John the premise for this book is belief. By faith we must believe in Christ to have our sins forgiven and eternal life. The early disciples they heard and they believed. To believe is one thing - to follow is another. It takes action, action is the evidence of faith. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NKJV)

"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".

Quit it! Quit living without faith. Act as if God has given you eternal life, for you see He has given you life: “that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish!”

3. A HEART-SEARCHING QUESTION: vs. 38 “Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"

"WHAT SEEK YE?" Jesus will test the motives of those who call upon Him. What is your motive? What seek ye? What do you expect out of following Jesus?

Is it worldly honor and favorite?
Is it material gifts?
Is it Influence for self-exaltation?

Or, do you seek Christ as Savior and guide? Our Lord makes it very simple with two words: “I am” "I am the way" - The way to God and righteous living. "I am the truth" - The truth of sin, righteousness, judgment.

This question will search our hearts - "What seek ye?” Are we more anxious to be honored by Christ than to honor Him? If any man follow me, let him deny himself. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)

Quit it, quit running from God and run to Him and act as if it has already happened. Seek Him while there is day light!

4. A GRACIOUS INVITATION: vs. 38-39 “Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).”

A gracious invitation has been given, an invitation that was first given thousands of years ago. They said to Him, "where are You staying?" He said unto them, come and see. They accepted His invitation and "came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him".

His invitation says: Come, Receive and Follow.

Quit it! Quit finding excuse’s not to come, receive Him NOW! Follow the Lamb of God who takes away your sins and frees you from eternal separation.

5. A WILLING SERVICE: vs. 40-42 “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).”

Here is the part of the service where most of you in this room today don’t really want to hear what I am going to say next: “Are You Willing?” and can you act as if it has already happened. Andrew findeth his own brother, Simon, and he brought him to Jesus. Look what Andrew did and who he brought to Jesus. Andrew brought a Peter to Christ, this Peter (Cephas) is translated stone. Very little is said about Andrew; however because of Andrew's willingness to serve he brought a man to God who would be instrumental in laying the foundation of the church. We need some more men and women today that can continue to lay down the foundation to building a church @ 902 S. Virginia Dare Trail, in KDH and act as if it has already happened. True disciples of Christ will be fruit-bearing witnesses. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:8 (NKJV)

Quit it! Quit convincing yourself and others that we don’t have the money, time or resources to build a church.

Conclusion: ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST - A TRUE DISCIPLE?? Act as if it has already happened. Christ has called every born-again Christian to be His follower. Have you answered this call? When God called Isaiah, he said, "Here am I, send me." He made no excuses and asked no questions. He was willing to follow.

God will give the increase when we give ourselves to the task. God will give the increase when we surrender ourselves to Him, ready and willing to be used. We must plant the seed, water, and cultivate. But Salvation is of the Lord.

The Secret of Revival Then Is: Giving ourselves to service, Bringing people to Christ and the services, and God will give the increase... THE FIRST STEP- GIVE YOURSELF.

Quit doing nothing and start doing something! And act as if it has already happened.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”