Reflecting God - Get The Ladder! from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, United States for Sunday, 25 October 2015 - Embrace Holy Living - Scripture: John 1:43-51

Reflecting God - Get The Ladder! from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, United States for Sunday, 25 October 2015 - Embrace Holy Living - Scripture: John 1:43-51RG AUDIO 102515

John 1:43 The next day, having decided to leave for the Galil, Yeshua found Philip and said, “Follow me!” 44 Philip was from Beit-Tzaidah, the town where Andrew and Kefa lived. 45 Philip found Natan’el and told him, “We’ve found the one that Moshe wrote about in the Torah, also the Prophets — it’s Yeshua Ben-Yosef from Natzeret!” 46 Natan’el answered him, “Natzeret? Can anything good come from there?” “Come and see,” Philip said to him. 47 Yeshua saw Natan’el coming toward him and remarked about him, “Here’s a true son of Isra’el — nothing false in him!” 48 Natan’el said to him, “How do you know me?” Yeshua answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Natan’el said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Isra’el!” 50 Yeshua answered him, “you believe all this just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that!” 51 Then he said to him, “Yes indeed! I tell you that you will see heaven opened and the angels of God going up and coming down[John 1:51 Genesis 28:12] on the Son of Man!”

"Get The Ladder!" by Author: Evie Diaz

Bravely a child climbs a tree. Suddenly, high up, fear takes over. The child won’t move and refuses to come down. At first, those on the ground encourage the child with their words: “It’s safe to come down. We will catch you.” Yet no amount of coaxing will make the child come down. Finally, someone puts a ladder up to the tree, climbs up, and brings the child down. All is well!
God uses the picture of going up and down to describe His relationship with us. In Genesis 28, Jacob dreams of a ladder between heaven and earth. The angels go up and down. God’s purpose was to assure Jacob that He would be with him and watch over him. In John 1, Jesus, the Son of God, meets Nathanael. Nathanael expressed faith because of Jesus’ supernatural ability. “Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that’” (v. 50). In the days to come, as a disciple, Nathaniel would see and understand much more.
God comes down to us through His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the Way, our Ladder from earth to heaven.
Hymn for Today: "God Leads Us Along" by G. A. Young

1. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,

God leads His dear children along;

Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

2. Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,

God leads His dear children along;

Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

3. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,

God leads His dear children along;

Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

4. Away from the mire, and away from the clay,

God leads His dear children along;

Away up in glory, eternity’s day,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

Thought for Today:

"Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true." Hebrews 4:14.

Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Saints Kitts and Nevis.
____________________________