Bro. Doug's Revival Fire Teaching

EDUCATION - THE LORD'S CONCERN

"Reaching Family And Friends"

John 1:

March

2000

John the Baptist’s ministry is a beautiful illustration of our duty in relation to Jesus.  John 1:6-8 states that John’s God-given assignment was to direct people to Jesus. 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Later, when people came to John the Baptist and told him that everyone was going to Jesus to be baptized, John was not jealous, as some may have expected.  Like the friend of the bridegroom whose job was to get everything ready for the wedding, John’s job was to prepare the way for Jesus.  As the friend rejoices when the bridegroom comes, so John rejoiced that Jesus had arrived.

We need to ask the Holy Ghost to prepare our family and friends for an encounter with God.  Then we must look for opportunities to tell them about Jesus and how He can for­give them of their sins.  

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

As parents, we want to give our children the very best we can.  We want them to grow up to be adults who contribute to the world in which they live.  We work hard and make countless sacrifices for them.

But how many times is the most important inheritance overlooked?  We sacrifice the important… church attendance, family devotions, Bible reading, prayer, and witnessing… for the unimportant-working second jobs to provide luxuries for the family.  The very thing our families need… a relationship with Jesus… is push down to second place.  

Just as we should show Christ to our family, we should also introduce our friends to Him as well.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Allow this week’s study to challenge you to witness to your family and friends.  Let Him show you ways you can approach them concerning their need to accept Christ as Savior.  When they have seen what God has done in you, they may also see their need for Jesus.