Andrew

The next in a series of messages looking at the original 12 disciples of Jesus under the general heading of – “How God uses the average to achieve the amazing”.

John 1:40-42 (NIV)

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Andrew had been a disciple of John, and even though we are not told for how long he had been, it is clear that he was seeking God. Many people seek God for years without meeting Jesus. It is the meeting with Jesus that makes the difference.

Challenge: Is it Jesus we are walking with?

John 6:8–9 (NIV)

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

God has high expectations of us, he calls us to live holy, set apart lives, to be an example to those around us by the way in which we behave, but he also tells us to have high expectations of Him and what He is capable of in our lives.

Challenge: Are we walking in faith?

John 12:20-22 (NIV)

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

When people come to see us, either singly or as church, we have a choice. We can get them involved in our lives, or our life together as church. Or we can be like Andrew, and introduce them to Jesus.

Challenge: Is the focus of all we do, to introduce people to Jesus?

Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV-WS)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

We must not expect people to immediately understand who Jesus is, even when we tell them plainly. We should pray that The Holy Spirit gives them revelation of who Jesus is.

Challange: Are we praying for those we want to introduce to Jesus?