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ANDREW
(Study on the Twelve Apostles)
(MBC - Wednesday PM, July 26, 2023
The lesson about Andrew is the second lesson, if we are going to base our study according to the order of the twelve disciple of Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:2-4. Matthew 10:2-4 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” We need to Learn lessons from these twelve Apostles because it provided us valuable lessons of those followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we studying their lives, it is our desire to find out how these twelve apostles are like us in many ways and how we are like these disciples of Jesus Christ. We are interested to know and imitate good qualities (virtues) of the twelve Apostles, at the same time we need to know and avoid any destructive sins in the lives of these men as well. Go back to Matthew 10:2 if Peter is listed first, which is listed second in the list of the Apostles? (Matthew 10:2) ______
Matthew 10:2 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”
Who was the brother of Andrew? (Matthew 10:2) ________________
What is the occupation of these two brothers Peter and Andrews? (Matthew 4:18) ________________________
Matthew 4:18 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.”
If these two brothers were fisherman by occupation what are the words suited to describe these two brothers?
These two brothers have their partners in the fishing work, identify their partners by putting their names in the blank of the verse? (Luke 5:10)
Luke 5:10 “And so was also ________, and __________, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
Obviously as expected these four men fished together for all of them works as fishermen. I – SEEKING TO FIND MORE IMPORTANT IN LIFE Andrew realized that life in not just being busy in his fishing occupation and making money for his living and go with the daily routinary flow of life. Andrew understands there was much more important things than his daily routine in life and Andrew is seeking to discover that something that is fulfilling. By some means Andrew learned of a man sent from God, who was the name of that great prophet a messenger from God? (John 1:6) ____________
John 1:6 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
This man was the forerunner of Jesus Christ who called him the greatest of the prophets, he was John the Baptist. Andrew decided to make big decision to leave his fishing job, his way of making money for his daily living temporarily and became a follower or disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew was one of the two disciples standing with John the Baptist that was mentioned in John 1:35.
John 1:35 “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;”
Although we do not find the name of Andrew as one of the two disciples mentioned in John 1:35, but as we continue reading John 1 and come to verse 40.
John 1:40 “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.”
We learned that Andrew was one of the two disciples of John the Baptist mentioned.
Why Andrew leaves his fishing occupation at that time and decided to become follower of the great prophet and preacher John the Baptist? It reveals that Andrews was a seeker. Andrew is seeking something that was much important than his way of daily life of making money, he wants to find that life that is more valuable.
II = STARTING TO BE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST John the Baptist one day was with his two disciples who the one was named Andrew and the other one whose name was not mentioned and Jesus was with them (John 1:35-37) John 1:35-37“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.” In Matthew 11:11, Jesus said that John the Baptist not only His messenger that would prepare His way as the coming Messiah but also according to Jesus, John the Baptist is the great prophets and there is no other prophet risen greater than John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:10-11 “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
In spite of the statement of Jesus that John the Baptist is a great prophet and there is no prophet greater than John the Baptist, however we see in John 1:36 that John the Baptist was pointing to another Person who according to him that One is much greater than himself. To know who is that person that John the Baptist referring for please read John 1:36 put the missing words.
John 1:36 “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the __________ of ___________!.”
What is the reason why John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God? (John 1:29)
John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
When the two disciples of John the Baptist, Andrew and the other one whose name was not mentioned heard the preaching of John the Baptist, what is their reaction or decision? When these disciples heard the words of John the Baptist who saw Jesus coming says that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, what is their decision? Did they want to remain to be follower of John the Baptist or did they want to leave John the Baptist and begin to be follower of Jesus, who according to John the Baptist the Savior, who takes way the sin of the world? (John 1:37) ________
John 1:37 “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”
We learned that Andrew was a seeker. As Andrew searching for something much more important that his routinary fishing life, Andrew made a very sensitive decision to leave his fishing nets and boat used for making money for a time just to seek and become follower of John the Baptist who was a great prophet and preacher. However, John the Baptist pointed Andrew to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. When there is someone seeking the right way of salvation, to where, to what and to whom would you point them? They need to be pointed in the right direction, to Someone who can save them, not to church ordinances, not to church membership, not to water baptism, not to 10 commandments, not to doing good works, not to any saints, not even to yourself, but to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, none other than the Only Savior the Jesus Christ. We need to do what John the Baptist did, he point his disciples including Andrew to someone who is much greater than you are. We need to point anyone who is seeking for something or for someone who can satisfy and fulfill their emptiness to the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Only Savior. And when seekers discovered Jesus who can satisfy their souls, their search will be over, for they found all what they need. John the Baptist points Andrew to Jesus, would you point someone to Jesus? III – SEEKING GOD DILIGENTLY SHALL FIND GOD Whosoever diligently seeks to know the truth and know who is the One and Only True God will surely find what that person is looking for and will never be disappointed. True seeker truly found the Lord. Andrew found Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, the Savior who takes away the sins of the world and became follower of Jesus. Read Jeremiah 29:13 and you will know the promise of God to those seekers of the truth and True God. Complete the verse by putting the missing words.
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall _________ me, and _______ me, when ye shall _________ for me with ______ your heart.”
Always remember there is no one who truly seek God who will be disappointed. Read Hebrews 11:6 and find out who will be rewarded by God, by completing the verse.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a ___________ of them that diligently __________ him.”
It does mean that anyone who seek God diligently (with all their heart) will be rewarded. In other words, anyone who seek God will find the true God. Andrew was a seeker and Andrew find God. Since Andrew is seeker read John 1:41 if he is also a finder? _________
John 1:41 “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
When Andrew found the Messiah Jesus Christ, did Andrew find someone? Who did Andrew find? (John 1:41) ________
Did you already find Christ as your personal Savior? If you already found the Savior, would you point someone to Christ?
IV – SHARING TO OTHERS WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND
Read John 1:41 and know if Andrew share with others or keep to himself what he discovered? _________________
John 1:41 “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
Andrew finds someone to whom he shared his discovery, who was that first person? ________________ We say and learn a lot of things about Simon Peter in our previous study of the Apostles, however the Bible says little about Andrew who was Peter’s brother, but we must never forget that if Andrew did not share to Peter about the Messiah, Christ the Savior whom he discovered, Peter did not get saved. Andrew brought his brother Peter to the Lord Jesus Christ. The lesson we learned here is that we need to help others to find what we have found. Share it to others. What would a doctor or scientist supposed to do if he discovered a medicine cure for pandemic that would help billions of people defeat the fatal disease, would the doctor keep it a secret to himself, or should he tell others about his discovery? Should the doctor make that medicine known or should the doctor tell no one about his discovered cure? Andrew after he discovered the Messiah, he did not keep it to himself, but made that discovery to known and he did not keep it a big secret. What an unselfish attitude, a loving and caring attitude, possibly he says to his brother Peter that he found Christ the Messiah and he want Peter to find Christ as well. Have you personally discovered the Savior Jesus Christ like Andrew? Lot of people who are church attendees and Sunday school students who are in the church assembly weekly and are familiar with many Bible passages, Bible characters and parables, Bible doctrines and yet have never discovered Jesus Christ and do not know the Lord as their personal Savior. But before you can help other people to discover and find Jesus, you must find Jesus first. Knowing Jesus by having more knowledge about Him is much different in Knowing Jesus by depending, trusting, relying completely on His redemptive work for your soul’s eternal salvation. Everyone knows about Jesus since their childhood days, they know about what Jesus has done at the cross, they watch on TV the death, burial and resurrection of Christ but they indeed do not understand why Jesus died for their sin, they do not truly repent from their sins and sincerely believed Jesus Christ as Savior, that is why they do not have the power of the Holy Spirit and no evidence of changed of life. If you truly and personal found Christ as your Savior and you found in Him joy, peace, contentment of knowing Christ personally, are you willing to share the Christ you have found, the Joy, peace and contentment with others? Do you want your brother and sister or parents and even your friends have joy, peace and contentment in their heart and mind? Why not share to them the One you found? Not only there is joy of angels in heaven for one soul getting saved (Luke 15:10), not only there was a reward of crown of rejoicing will be given to those who won soul to Christ (I Thessalonians 2:19), but there was also a joy in the heart of someone who share the salvation of Jesus Christ to other people (Psalm 126:5-6). Oh what a joyful moment if we introduce others to Jesus Christ, the only One True Living Savior. We learn in this lesson that whenever someone found and know Jesus as Savior, he must then find someone to find what he found. Read John 1:42 and learn that Andrew was a man who brought others to ______________
John 1:42 “And he brought him to Jesus.”
V – SHIFTING FROM FISHER OF FISH TO FISHER OF MEN Later, Andrew goes back to his occupation as a fisherman. Jesus met Andrew and his fellow fishermen one day at the sea of Galilee. Read Matthew 4:18 know that when Jesus walked by, what Peter and Andrew were busy doing? ________________
Matthew 4:18 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.”
Read Matthew 4:19 then fill up the missing words to complete the verse.
Matthew 4:19 “And he saith unto them, ____________ me, and I will make you _____________ of men.”
The point that Jesus wants them to get is that, from this time forth, they will no longer be fishermen but fisher of men because according to Luke 5:10 they would catch __________.
Luke 5:10 “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
Know in Matthew 4:19-20, did they obeyed as Jesus called them to be fishers of men?
Matthew 4:19-20 “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
Notice, their occupation shifted from catchers of fish to catchers of men. Their occupation changed from fishermen to fisher of men. Look at around you, everywhere in the world there are lot of men like fish swimming in the ocean of end time. Read Galatians 3:22 and complete the verse according to the conclusion of the Scripture that we may be aware that people are like fish and are all swimming in the waters of death and destruction.
Galatians 3:22a "But the scripture hath concluded _______ under _______,”
The Scripture concluded how the promise of salvation will be given? __________ (Galatians 3:22b)
Galatians 3:22b “that the promise by ___________ of ____________ "
The Scripture concluded that the promise of salvation will be given to whom? (Galatians 3:22c)
Galatians 3:22c “might be given to them that ____________.”
God’s grace appeared to all men (Titus 2:11), that sinners will be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:5,9)
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
Ephesians 2:5.8 “5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
God is so gracious that the Savior Jesus Christ came into this world to save all men (Luke 19:10)
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
God is so gracious that the purpose of God sending Jesus Christ the Savior to all men that God is able to draw people into His wonderful net and catch fish of people for His kingdom (John 6:44; John 12:32).
John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:”
John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
How about you? Have you been caught and captured by the Savior? No one is seeking after God (Romans 3:10-12), it is the Lord seeking people to be saved (Luke 19:10).
Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The world system that you were swimming is evil, did God saved you from this evil world? ___________ (Galatians 1:4; I John 5:19)
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
I John 5:19 “the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
Have you been caught by the net of the Grace of God as you are swimming in the water of evil world system? _________ In spite that God is the great Fisherman, for He is the great catcher of men’s souls. However, God uses men to catch other men. God uses fisher of men to catch men. God used Andrew the former fishermen by occupation who are now called fisher of men, so Andrew catches his brother Peter. It is God’s desire that every men that He already captured as a fish of Saul must have a part in the great work of fishing for men, catching and saving souls, which God Himself is primarily and purposely doing. Read Proverbs 11:30 and put the missing words to know God’s description of those who catches fish of souls.
Proverbs 11:30 “he that _____________ souls is ____________.”
Andrews was wise for he was concerned for other lost souls and go soulwinning.
Are you winning soul for Christ? When did the last time you catch a soul? Are you wise?
VI – SIZING UP SITUATION THEN SUGGESTS PRACTICAL SOLUTION Andrew was a practical in bringing solution after sizing up situation. Andrew was a man with a practical mentality. Andrew was not a man walking while his head in the clouds avoiding what is happening and accomplishing nothing. Andrew knew how to look and accept what is really happening, then he is sizing up the situation then suggests practical solution. Andrew was a practical minded man. Jesus went over into the sea of Galilee; the great multitude followed Him because they saw the miracles Jesus performing to those people who were sick. And when Jesus and the disciples went up into a mountain and sat, the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near there come unto Him a large crowd made up of thousands of hungry people. Jesus first asked Philip what should be done, and Philip replied about the insufficiency of food. (John 6:5-7).
John 6:5-7 “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”
Now, here is Andrew with his practical mentality, looked around and sized up the situation and told Jesus exactly how much food might be available from the boy He saw which have five barley loaves and two small fishes. (John 6:8-9)
John 6:8-9 “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? “
Take a look again verse 9, Did Andrew think that the food available from the lad would be sufficient for such large multitude of people? (John 6:9) ___________
John 6:9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? “
This passage gives us the story of an amazing miracle performed by Jesus when He instructed men of about five thousand to sit down in grasses place. Jesus took the loaves and the fishes and He had given thanks, Jesus distributed to His disciples and His disciples distributed to the big crowd. After the multitudes were filled, Jesus told the disciples to gather up the leftover, so the disciples gather up and filled up twelve baskets with fragments from five barley loaves left over that nothing may be lost. Jesus is teaching a very valuable lesson here that Andrew needed to learn that “little is much if God is in it.” Jesus is teaching us here that we need to give God the little that we have, even if we think that it does not seem like very much as we expect. We need to trust the hands of the Lord because God can do amazing things out of it. God can bless, multiply and works wonderfully with the small things that you think. Let God controls it and do not rely on your own power. Possibly, you do not have a talents, skill, or knowledge and abilities, but if you take that little that you have and give that small thing to the powerful hand of God, you will be surprised how God will use you profitably and bless your life as a channel of blessings for others. Let God control it, trust God He can use that small thing amazing way that no one can ever do. Read John 12:20-22 and learn more about Andrew the practical minded man. There were certain Greeks who came up to worship at the feast and talk to Philip that they wanted to see Jesus and conduct some interview with the Lord. Philip can not decide straightly so he came and told Andrew that there were Greeks people who were much interested to see Jesus and have important things to say with Jesus. What Andrew did? Andrew first sized up the situation and then after weighing the situation, he decided to bring the request of certain Greeks to Jesus in order to know what will be the Lord’s decision or would want to say about the situation.
John 12:20-22 “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again, Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.”
The decision of Andrew is a good practical move we need to follow. Andrew’s decision is a practical advice for us all that when there are moments in our lives that we are not sure of what to do about something that was happening, we need to learn to always take it to the Lord and let God handle the event. God can work on it according to His perfect ways and perfect will. Listen to the song “What a Friends we have in Jesus.” I - What a friend we have in Jesus, II - Have we trials and temptations? III - Are we weak and heavy-laden, VII – SCANNING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE The Lord Jesus was asked privately by the three disciples including Andrew who were concerned regarding what would happen in the future. As Jesus foretold about the destruction of the temple, and talks about the signs of the end of the age, so the disciples want to know the sign when all the things they are discussing are about to accomplished. Thus, Andrew was a man who was concern about the future. Mark 13:3-4 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” Many people all over the world are much interested to know concerning future things and what is going to happen in the world to come. Are you? How would we know what would happen in the future according to what the Bible says? What we need to learn must be right concerning the future events not based on falsely deceitful human views. Do you trust on someone who claim can read what the crystal ball signifies? Is it right to read some books authored by men and women who claim they are today’s modern prophet or prophetess? Do you agree and trust astrologist who proclaim that they can predict the future through the stars that would give them signs and message about the future? Notice, Andrew and the other three disciples Peter, James and John went to and asked the right Person who could gave them the right, complete and exact needed answer to what was going to happen in the future. Read Mark 13:5-31 and find out if Jesus give His disciples accurate, correct and biblical information about the future event? It is only the Word of God that can give us accurate, precise, and truth about will happen in the world to come.
Mark 13:35- 37 “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Jesus said, “I say unto you I say unto all” The Lord wants us to know about the future, the Bible is the Word of God, and it was His written Word that was given to us to know everything about the future, in order for us to prepare for His imminent return and live steadfastly, soberly and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Live expectantly as Jesus is coming any moment. Andrew is a man concern about the future. VIII – SCOURGED AND CRUCIFIED THEN DIED ON THE CROSS Let us talk about the ending life of Andrew. We do not know about Andrew’s death for the Bible does not tell us. We must get some information based from historical records that have handed down to us to help us know about the death of the Apostles of Christ including Andrew. We may use that historical records although some of these records may not be very accurate, but let us try to carefully consider some of it. We get information based in one account that Andrew was preaching in the place which known today as Greece. We are told that Andrew still seeking others that he may share to them how he discovered the Messiah the Savior Jesus Christ. Andrew faithfully bringing others to Jesus, even until the time of his death. Andrew was faithful unto death. The tradition told us that Andrew continues to preach and refused to stop in spite that one of the governmental leaders or the proconsul was angry on preacher preaching the gospel of Christ. Again, Andrew strongly refused in spite that government officials in authority commanded Andrew to join in sacrificial offering to the false gods of the heathen people. Thus, the proconsul must be severely scourged and crucified because of Andrew faithfulness to the Only Faithful One who is the living and True God whom He serves According to the historical tradition, Andrew is said to have been crucified at the city of Patras (Patræ) in Achaea, in AD 60. Early texts, such as the Acts of Andrew known to Gregory of Tours (6th century), describe Andrew as bound or was fastened to the cross with cords, not nailed, to a Latin cross of the kind on which Jesus is said to have been crucified in order to make Andrew’s death more lingering; yet a tradition developed that Andrew had been crucified on a cross of the form called crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "saltire"), supposedly at his own request, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus had been. Imagine while Andrew hung on the cross that was in the shape of an X for two days, Andrew was still praising God and telling others to come and believe Jesus as their Savior before he finally gave up his breadth and died. According to that historical tradition, since the time of the death of Andrew, since that time this form or shaped X type of the cross has been commonly known and called Saint Andrew’s cross. Are you willing to live for Christ and died for Christ?
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Philippians 1:20-21 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
IX – SIMILITUDE OF YOU AND ANDREW There was a sameness of you in Andrew and Andrew in you.
There are not many records on the New Testament about this man Andrew.
We have focused our study and learned about Andrew, he was a seeker of something much important that his occupation of living, who become fisher of man from being fishermen, who was a practical man sizing up the situation then offer practical solution, he was concerned of what will happen in the future, he was faithful preaching the Gospel of Christ to others as he was hung at the cross for two days even until his death. Is there a resemblance of you like of Andrew? How you become like Andrew? How Andrew become like you? We hope we have learned a lot of things from the life of Andrew. What have you learned a lesson from Andrew’s life? In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul famously told the Corinthian church to, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Paul isa saying “Follow me as I follow Christ.” It is the same as saying “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” ESV; “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” NASB; “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” NKJV.
When you think about it — that’s quite a thing to say. Paul’s making both a command and a claim: A command for the Corinthian church to follow (or imitate) him and a claim that he’s following Christ in a way that’s worth imitating.
Let us imitate Andrew as Andrew follow or imitate Christ. |