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Invitation to a Skeptic

Invitation to a Skeptic
Words of Faith 9-15-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 1
[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 is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
[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 shall see greater things than that." [51] He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Jesus called a great variety of people to the journey of discipleship.
Andrew and one of the others were actively seeking the Messiah under the teaching of John the Baptizer. Peter was brought by Andrew, probably a bit reluctantly until he met Jesus. Philip was a “quick call” just waiting for the right thing to come along. Jesus was looking for Philip and found him. Just the words “Follow me” brought Philip into the group, but not Nathanael.
Nathanael was a real skeptic! Nathanael was a thinker. “Under the fig tree” described an almost poetic place of contemplation. Philip burst into Nathanael’s place of contemplation to tell him about yet another man who might be the Messiah.
There were lots of claims in those days. This one was from Nazareth no less! Nazareth was such a tiny village that we would have called it a “hick town” at best. Nazareth actually appears on virtually no ancient maps! The phrase “can anything good come out of Nazareth” may have been a popular type of phrase to poke fun at such a tiny place.
But Philip’s response to the skepticism and his invitation was perfect, “Come and see…” Philip knew it was not his job to convince Nathanael or argue with his skepticism. His job was to extend the invitation.
Have you noticed that Jesus has this wonderful way of cutting through our masks and smoke screens? “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false” was the perfect description of Nathanael.
The word “Israelite” means “one who struggles or wrestles with God”. It was the name given to Jacob after wrestling all night with an angel. To be an Israelite is not to know all the answers, it is to keep asking the questions. That was Nathanael.
Nathanael was a true Israelite in whom there was nothing false. We would call Nathanael a “no nonsense guy”. Today, he would be the guy who says, “Alright, let’s cut through the ‘baloney’!” He was not given to delusions or wishful thinking. Again, Jesus had him pegged.
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. How did you peg me so perfectly?
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." I’ve been watching you. Don’t you see? You didn’t choose me, I chose you. You didn’t check me out, I checked you out. You didn’t watch me, I was watching you.
Wow. It is always a stunning revelation that God had His hand upon us long before we even thought of Him. It was enough for Nathanael the skeptic to declare, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
But Jesus wasn’t done with this conversation. You believe because I told you things about yourself that I could “see” from afar. That is a parlor trick compared to what I have in store for you. You haven’t seen anything yet!
When the Lord calls us, He sees our past with all of its befuddlement. He sees our present with all its pretense. Then he calls us to a future that we cannot even begin to contemplate! We cannot fathom the wonders He has in mind to show us!
Where are you today? Are you studying religion like Andrew? Cleaning nets like Simon? Waiting for something to do like Philip? Pondering the universe like Nathanael? The Master is calling. He is inviting you to an adventure! He has had His eye on you for some time. Come and see.

Lord, You are the Son of God, the King of Israel! You knew me before I was born. You know my every flaw yet you have loved me with an everlasting love and called me to Yourself. Where you lead, I will follow. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.