Bring Others to Jesus
(Andrew and Phillip, and Phillip)

There are many ways for Christians to evangelize the unsaved. Christian preachers, teachers, and singers appeal to Millions via the radio, television, and the internet. Thousands crowd into stadiums to hear famous evangelist. Christian Publications and bibles are widely distributed in print and digitally. These are effective methods of evangelism, but this lesson calls attention to the importance of personal evangelism; that is, witnessing for Christ to family and friends as did Andrew and Phillip (the apostles), and witnessing to one man as did Phillip (the Deacon-evangelist). For bringing people to Jesus Christ, nothing can take the place of person-to-person witnessing.

How do you prepare to bring others to Jesus? 
We prepare to bring family, friends, and others to Jesus by reading and studying the Bible, engaging in daily prayer, living a Christ-like life in fellowship with Christ, and by being filled with the Holy Spirit. By these, we are prepared, informed, and guided by Jesus our lord.

I. ANDREW​ BRINGS HIS BROTHER
A. Follow Jesus

John 1:
35  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
 36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
 37  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
……. John’s love and testimony of Christ was so powerful that as soon as Jesus stepped on the scene there was no question as to when or how, they simply followed. 
Andrew and Phillip didn’t waste time questioning or Wondering what they would be leaving behind, or where they would be in the next year’s. They had complete confidence in the man they had heard that would come and save from sins. 
        This is a testament of John’s faith and purity of ministry. His sermon’s held more weight than any others in history. 
*Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

B. Learn of Jesus

 38  Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 
 39  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
…….This was not an answer due to any interest of his house, they simply wanted to leave everything and dwell with him. They were making sure that Jesus was willing to let them live with him. 
       What a thought that the Savior of the world desires us to dwell with him, not only external but more importantly internal.

C. Bring Your Family to Jesus

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.
…….Andrew was so overwhelmed of the presence of Christ that he could not contain himself. He immediately contended with his brother to come and experience the feeling of being in his presence.
        When Jesus speaks to Peter for the first time he profecies to him, a prophecy that would stand true to this day as being the Rock of the church.
        ?Question?…..Do you still hang on to the promises that Christ made at the moment of salvation? And, how many have been fulfilled since your walk with him?

II. PHILLIP BRINGS A FRIEND
A. Chosen By Jesus

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.
…….The very first step in salvation is to be chosen by Christ.
*John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: 
       Many people neglect to understand the importance of being chosen by Christ. If we are saved in the first place, we should know that we have been chosen. With this knowing comes a compelling to tell others about him. Our character​ should always be the testimony of our daily walk with him.

B. Bring a Friend to Jesus

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.
…….Just like Philip, we should be excited in Convincing people to come to Christ. Just like our sanctuaries today, Jesus was the reformed Church of his day. When we invite others to church, we are inviting them to come and meet this Jesus that dwells here! 
        “Are you saved enough,” (pun intended) for others to desire what you have, or to at least be Convincing to others of what has changed your life? Or, are you the hypocrite that puts on the front for people at church but lives a completely different lifestyle outside of church?!
       Don’t be an abuser of the typical grace phrases such as: 
I know I’m not perfect. 
There’s still allot about me he’s got to fix. 
If you think I’m bad now then you should see what I used to be.
       These excuses were never intended to give you a free pass to continue in imperfection.
(Let’s have an attitude check when we know we are coming to church, this is the Lord’s house)
       Nathaniel​ had enough confidence in Philip, that even though Jesus’ home town was exempt of religion and morals he was still convinced. 

C. Jesus is Convincing

47  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
…….Notice that he used Nathaniel’s statement to Philip about Christ, and turned it around on him. What a sense of humor.
 48  Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
 49  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
…….Jesus used a moment of his prayer life under a fig tree to let him know he is listening. Even though the sinner may never tell you, they have wondering and questions that can only be answered by being in his presence.
 50  Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
 51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
…….Just as Philip, our character should be persuasive enough to draw people in. If you can get them in the doors, the Spirit will do the work. 

III. PHILIP  WITNESSES  TO  A STRANGER
A. Let the Lord Lead
Now in Acts 8: (this is after the death, burial and Resurrection; and the Apostles are operating under the power of the Holy Spirit)
26  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
 27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
 28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
 29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
……. An openness to God and his guidance will allow him to direct us to be in those places where we will encounter others who need to hear the gospel. (I call it, Devine appointments) 
       The Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to travel to a solitary desert place. There, Philip found an official of the Ethiopian government, a devout Gentile, riding in a chariot and reading Isaiah the prophet.
When God directs us to those who need to hear the gospel, we can know he will prepare them to receive the Gospel.

B. Seize the Opportunity

30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
 31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
 32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
 33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
 34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
……. The Ethiopian reading Isaiah chapter 53 was extremely interested and was convinced that there was truth, but needed an explanation more deeper to the scriptures. That’s where Philip, knowing the word, stepped in on the scene and ministered used the word itself.
       Philip’s actions could only stem from a prayer life and communication in the Spirit.
       Excellent opportunities to testify for Christ sometimes get away from us because we fail to recognize them, and fail to to seize the opportunity. A prayerful life, alertness to the Holy Spirit, and genuine interest in people will help us to recognize and use opportunities to tell the unsaved about Christ, especially when they want to be told about him.

C. Make Jesus Known

 35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
 36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
 37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
 38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
 39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
 40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.