Category: Bible Studies

John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Phillip picked up and went with Jesus. Didn’t ask any questions, just believed. He then immediately went to get Nathanael. When Nathanael saw Jesus, he knew Him immediately as well. This speaks directly to two demonstrations of faith.

Faith does not always look the same in every person. It manifests itself in different ways to the eye of your fellow man. It may being singing, it may be serving, it may be simply arms raised high, it could be down on your knees in prayer, it could be hugging, it could be in so many ways that we must be careful not to judge.

We are humans, and by this we are sinful I’m nature. It is through these verses that we see that faith can manifext itself and become visible I’m different ways. It isn’t our job to qualify any man, that has already been done. It is our job to witness, testify, and support our fellow man in their walk with Christ. It is also imperative that we continue to learn ad we grow in Him.

Ad we grow, we will see Him in every aspect of our lives. The the free will and freedom to choose comes into play. Tough choices are placed before us so that we can grow and begin know ourselves the way that Phillip and Nathanael were doing. The key is, that you follow Him. This happens spiritually first, then the physical will follow. That is faith. Faith that repentance and change will occur in Him. In Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 1:35-42
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 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[g]).

Those that knew John the Baptist knew that he was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Without hesitation,  his followers left him to follow Jesus. There was no remorse or jealousy in this, as they knew that Jesus was the Messiah. How? John had done his job. They had been prepared by the one that they had followed. John the Baptist had done his job well.

What is our purpose? What is your calling? Andrew knew his. The first thing that he did was go and get his brother and tell him the news of who had arrived. Andrew did not hesitate to spread the news. That is our job as well. As believers we are to spread the good news that Jesus is coming. Like Andrew, we are to prepare the way for Jesus to come into the lives of as many as we can. How?

The liberation will no be televised. We must speak it to all we know and don’t know. Our parents, our spouses, our siblings, our family, our friends, our colleagues, a our bosses, yes and complete strangers must be told by word of mouth about Jesus. All must be told by you. You cannot assume that they know what Jesus did for us, for you, for them. You must speak it to them with the power and authority given to you in the Holy Spirit.

John knew his purpose. Andrew knew his purpose. We all have a purpose. As a believer it is time to spread the word that Jesus came to save us, suffered for us, lived a sinless and blameless life for us, and carried our sins away when He died for us. You are qualified. You are empowered. You are righteous. Now, go and speak the news today. Start small. Do not ever despise small beginnings. God is with us. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John the Baptist recognizes his time. Purpose and action through understanding and faith…

John 1:28-34
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

I was in Moi’s Bridge, Kenya when I was baptized by the Holy Spirit. I can recall every detail of the church and the concrete floor where I stood that day. I was praying and praising the work of God in that land ,and I felt this presence in me. It sparked me to realize that there was a question being asked tobthe congregation. The question was, “Who will lead these young children to Jesus?” I looked up and saw about 30 or so elementary age children looking around for someone to step up. It felt like an eternity as no one responded to lead them. Then suddenlu, like someone was physically pushing me towards them, I moved.

I began to walk towards the podium and stage and I was scared what was to come. After all, I had never led any one, much less a child, to God. As I moved toward them, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit telling me to not be afraid. The closer I got, the more I realized that he was with me. I was saturated in the presence of God. A microphone was handed to me and I began to speak. The prayer for these kids was not mine. It was the Holy Spirit speaking through me. I felt like a pipe, and out of this pipe came His words. His blessings were filling me and overflowing to the children. That day, they received God.

From that day to now, the Holy Spirit has been a constant communicator with me. All through my medical situations, all through my pain, He was with me . I consult with Him often, and He leads me.

John knew this. Only one can baptize with the power of the ahoy Spirit, and on the day He was crucified, we were all washed clean and made new. On this day however, He had arrived. God was on earth for us.

So much has happened since that beautiful day. My life is blessed with purpose and direction. I am now on a path that brings me closer and closer to him each and every day. All you need do is ask and be ready to act when He calls. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John the Baptist had purpose. He was driven by that God given purpose…

John 1:19-28
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Each of us is given a purpose by God, the day we are made in your mother’s womb. God has a specific purpose for each of us. He knows exactly what we will do every single day of our lives with that purpose. Some will walk the Earth never asking for that God given purpose to revealed. Some will think they lnow, having never asked the Father what their purpose is, and get it wrong. They will press too much of themselves into their avtion, never having pressed into God, and not find truth.

John knew his purpose. There was doubt, no wavering, no second guessing, there was only purpose. A purpose revealed to him because he asked for that revelation from God. He asked what his purpose is. Through this, John found out who he was by how he acted. It is God’s wish and hope for us that we find out who we are, because just like John was preparing the way for Jesus’ teturn, that is our purpose as well.

We cannot compare ourselves to Jesus. We all fall short of that perfect example. But the beauty of it is, is that we don’t have to because He already did. He lived the blameless life for us so we would love and live. What a gift. What a beautiful gift. How should we respond to that gift?

It’s time to get down on your knees and not ask the Father for what you want, but ask the Father, ask God what He wants from you today. Ask Him to reveal the reason, the purpose, for your life. Then go and prepare the way, the way that John the Baptist did. Openly, lovinglu, and Always On Call. There are so many that need you to share Jesus with them. It’s never too late. God is good all the time… #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

He walked among us. He gave us the way, the truth, and the life…

John 1:6-18
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Grace. This one word sums up so much of what He did for us. There is such power in grace. It is the all-encompassing idea that regardless of what I have done, God has and will always love me and forgive me. My Heavenly Father loves me.

Jesus came to Earth, and through His blood we have become Sons of God. It was through no earthly manner or human decision that I was made His son. It was grace that came to get me, to save me, to redeem me.

He brought with Him the truth of all things, seen and not seen. He came to lift the weight from our shoulders and replace it with the outpouring of love. His mercy took my burden and carried it away forever. Grace and truth came to us and freed us. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we are free and saved. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Today I begin reading and studying the final Gospel of Jesus Christ written by John. I have been waiting patiently for this book for some time. If these words do not stir your soul, then perhaps your heart is no longer beating. In the Bible, you will see the living word…

John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The words are so full of life. They encapsulate all of what Jesus came to earth to show us. He is telling us that He has always been with us, and that He will never leave us. That He is in all of us

To have the God of all, love us the way that He does, blows my mind. I have done nothing to deserve it. Nothing to earn it. As a matter of fact, I step on His love for me every day. Yet, His love never fails and it never gives up on me. So I run to Him. I run to Him in my happiness. I run to Him in my sorrow. I run to Him always and in every instance.

He watches me fall. He picks me up and brushes off the dirt from my hands and knees, tells me He loves me, and sends me out again. He is my Heavenly Father, my Savior, my most loyal and loving Friend, my Creator, my Shepard, and He has me always in His hands.

The last line of the verse 5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The beauty in this line is that darkness never will never overcome light. Ever. The light of God is in us all, and shines brighter than the sun. Today, walk in His light and in His authority. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK