Let us turn to God's Word, directing
you this morning to the words that we read earlier in John
chapter 1. The Gospel according to John
chapter 1 and verses 40 through to 42. John chapter 1 verses
40 to 42. One of the two which heard John, that is John
the Baptist, speak and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's
brother. He first findeth his own brother
Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which
is being interpreted the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus,
and when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son
of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas which is by interpretation
a stone. And in particular I want to center
your attention on the words of verse 42 where we have what we
might say is the first part of the call of Peter. It is his brother Andrew who
brings him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he
said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah. Thou shalt be called
Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone, or as the Martians said,
Peter. And now once as we consider this
call of Peter to observe some four aspects with regards to
the call. Firstly, there is expectation. Then there is preparation. Thirdly, we see something of
a confrontation. And finally, there is transformation,
to follow then that fourfold division as we center our attention
upon the words that we have in this particular verse. First
of all, surely with these men, there was that spirit of expectation. They were men who were looking
for the coming of Messiah. We know that it was in the fullness
of the time that God sent forth His Son made of a woman and made
under the law. It was that time that God had
ordained from before the foundation of the world As with all who
are born into this world, there is a time to be born, so it must
have been for the Lord Jesus, that time that God himself had
appointed. But there was something unique
about that birth. It was like no other human birth
that has ever taken place, because he was born of a virgin. He was
conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary. And God was working at that time
amongst the remnant in Israel. There were those in Israel who
had been stirred up by the Spirit of God and so with some there
was certainly a spirit of expectation. And remember how Luke in his
gospel speaks of such characters as Simeon and Anna there in Luke
chapter 2 at verse 25 we're told behold there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout
waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost was
upon him And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that
he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And as I said, not only Simeon,
but also here in Luke 2 we read of Anna, in verse 36, there was
one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asa,
She was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven
years from her virginity, and she was a widow of about fourscore
and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served
God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she, coming
in at that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake
of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. This woman, Anna, she speaks
to all of those who are looking, waiting, anticipating, expecting
the appearance of the Messiah. And we see the same spirit of
expectation in these men. Andrew, we're told in verse 41, first findeth his own brother
Simon and saith unto him we have found the Messiah which is being
interpreted the Christ." Well obviously the question of
the coming Messiah was that which was so much on the minds of all
these men, they were fishermen they were men from Galilee in
the in the north we gather that from what follows because we're
told in verse 44 of Philip of Bethsaida which was the city
of Andrew and Peter that city of Bethsaida is found on the
shores of the sea of Galilee that's where these men were from
and they were friends of James and of John as we see in Matthew
chapter 4 verse 8 following and all of them together were fishermen. Now it seems here that John,
the author, the human author of this gospel, John at this
time was certainly with Andrew. We read of these two disciples
in verse 35 John stood, and two of his disciples,
and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold, the
Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him
speak, were told, and they followed Jesus. Verse 41, of the two which
heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's
brother. The other was John. these men,
and they were obviously friends together, they were engaged as
fishermen, it seems to be in the same business. And then we're
told, as we saw when I read through to our text earlier, Andrew goes
to find his brother Peter. There at verse 41, he first finds
his own brother Simon and Seth, unto him we have found the Messiah
which is being interpreted the Christ and he brought him to
Jesus he brings him to Jesus all of them it appears from what
we read in this record were those who were disciples of John the
Baptist and they come all the way from Galilee to be followers
of him who was the harbinger of the Messiah, the forerunner
of the Lord Jesus. They'd come all the way from
the northern area there on the Sea of Galilee. We're told how
these things were done in Bethabara. beyond Jordan, where John was
baptizing, and it's reckoned that that was very much to the
south of the Sea of Galilee, where John was exercising his
ministry and baptizing. And this man John, as I've said,
he was the person who was really raised up to be the forerunner
of Christ. We read of that ministry that
he exercised when the Jews come and enquire who is this man who
is exercising this remarkable ministry and people are gathering
to him. He says in verse 23, I am the
voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the
Lord as said the prophet. Verse 15, John bear witness of
him and cried saying This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh
after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. Oh, his ministry is to bear testimony
to the Son of God manifest in the flesh. As we see here at
verse 34, John declares, I saw and bear record that this is
the Son of God. And so these men, all of them
followers of the Baptist, are hearing this message. There's
that spirit of expectation that is abroad in that area at the
time. It's only a remnant, it's only
a few, but are now looking and watching and waiting for the
appearing of the Christ. Now, it's after these events,
it's a little later, that we have that distinct call that
the Lord Jesus does give to these men to be followers of him. And
we have that record in the Synoptic Gospels. For example, Matthew
records it there in Matthew chapter 4. At verse 18, following Jesus,
we're told, 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. And he said unto them, Follow
me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway
left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence,
he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John
his brother, in a ship, with Zebedee their father, mending
their nets. And he called them, and they
immediately left the ship and their father and followed him.
Obviously, they had previously, as we see in John 1 being the
disciples of the Baptist, did they go back to their nets for
a while, having heard of the Lord Jesus from the Baptists.
And then it's at that later period that they're actually caught
and they become followers of the Lord Jesus. They leave their
profession as fishermen. They are followers now of Him
who is the Christ. But there is, as I said, that
spirit of expectation abroad. But as they are disciples of
the Baptist, we see in this their preparation. their preparation
to become true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. John is that
one spoken of, prophesied in the Old Testament Scripture. He acknowledges that himself
here at verse 23. I am the voice of one crying
in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the
Lord as said the prophet Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah. There is
clearly there a reference to those words that we find in Isaiah
chapter 14, that portion that I'm sure we're well familiar
with. That lovely passage, comfort
ye, comfort ye my people, sayeth your God, speak ye comfortably
to Jerusalem, cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins, and then the voice of him
that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
All that comfort, those consolations that will come with the ministry
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that great salvation that Christ is
going to accomplish in that fullness of the time. but here is John's
ministry and now John himself is acknowledging that fact but
what a ministry John's was and we see it there in that portion
in Isaiah verse 6 the voice said cry and he said what shall I
cry all flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as
the flower of the field the grass withereth The flower fadeth,
because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. Surely the people
is grass. The grass withereth, the flower
fadeth, but the Word of our God shall stand forever. Here is a message then. The preaching
of the Baptist and how it is a message that is very humbling
to the flesh. All flesh is as grass. Now this
message will put man in the very dust of the earth. That man must
learn that he is nothing at all. Or what was John's ministry? We know that his great call was
that call to repentance. And again we have the record
quite detailed in the Synoptic Gospels. There in Matthew chapter
3 we read much of John and his ministry. In those days came
John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying,
Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Again we have that reference
to Isaiah 40, the fulfillment of that prophetic word in John's
ministry. But he calls sinners to repentance
and those who come to him must bring forth fruit, meat for repentance. how he rebukes the pharisees
how his ministry is so discriminating how he cuts them to the very
quick with those sharp words as he rebukes them he sees through
the sham of their religion it's not that it is really of God
it is simply that that has been wrought of themselves, self-made
religionists, and not those who have known anything of the true
work of God in their souls. And when he speaks of Christ's
ministry, he speaks of how the Lord's ministry is going to be
even more sifting and searching than his own. He says to those
Pharisees and Sadducees, Bring forth therefore fruits of meat
for repentance. Think not to say within yourselves, We have
Abraham to our father. For I say unto you that God is
able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And
now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees. Therefore
every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down
and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water
unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than
I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you
with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, whose fan is in his hand. And he will throughly purge his
floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn
up the chaff with unquenchable fire, all his fire is in his
hands Messiah is about to be revealed and what a ministry
that will be how there will be a division amongst the people
because of him and because of the things that he is saying
and it was that ministry of John the Baptist that these men Andrew
and Peter amongst them were constantly hearing his faithful ministry
and yet a ministry that pales into insignificance beside the
ministry of the Lord Jesus. So John be the greatest of all
the Old Testament prophets. What is John's ministry in comparison
with that of the Lord Jesus Christ? So here we see then there is
preparation. And what is the preparation?
Well, there must be that knowledge of seeing. Oh, there must be
that conviction of sin before ever anyone is ready for the
Saviour, ready for that that comes with the appearance of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at what John says in verse
29. John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world. And then again, at verse 36,
looking upon Jesus as He walked, He said, Behold the Lamb of God. It's interesting that the first
time He speaks of the Lamb of God, He speaks so specifically
there at verse 29 of Him coming to take away sin. And that must
have the priority, you see. If we would really understand
the significance of the coming of the Lamb of God, We must understand
why. It is that he appears as one
who is a lamb. Oh, he comes in fulfillment of
all those Old Testament prophecy, he comes in fulfillment of all
that Levitical law, all that blood that was shed in the temple
for the remission of sins. It all has its fulfillment in
the Lord Jesus Christ. how important it is that we understand
the distinction. We sang it just now in that remarkable
hymn of Joseph Hart. And how striking are those words
that we have there in the third verse, to understand these things
are right, to understand what things are right. Well, the significance
of Him who is the Savior. the last Adam who comes to restore sinners all those
that God had given to him those who had fallen in the first Adam
to understand these things are right this grand distinction
should be known though all are sinners in God's sight there
are but few so in their own to such as these our Lord was sent
they're only sinners who repent and then he speaks you see later
in the hymn sinners are high in his esteem
and sinners highly value him oh the Lord himself makes it
so clear as he begins his ministry as he preaches he declares they
that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are
sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance It
must begin there, that realization, that sense of what we are as
sinners before God. We know that sin is that that
is of the creature. God is not the author of sin.
But all that sense of sin, it comes from God. It's the ministry
of God. It's the work of the Holy Spirit.
When He has come, says Christ, He will reprove the world of
sin and of righteousness and of judgment. That work of conviction. That is the preparation and we
see it here as these men are disciples, followers of the Baptist,
hearing his ministry, hearkening to that call of the great necessity
of repentance. There is preparation there. As we come to consider something
of the Lord's dealings, in particular with this man, called Simon. Now Andrew findeth his own brother
Simon and saith unto him we have found the Messiah which is being
interpreted to Christ and he brought him to Jesus. Now when he comes to Jesus what
do we see? We see in the third place here
that there is a certain confrontation. First of all observe with whom
Peter must be confronted. He must meet with the Lord Jesus
Christ. Andrew, it says, brought him
to Jesus. Oh friends, is not this the all-important
meeting that each and every one of us must know something of?
And what a meeting is this. Are we those this morning who
can say in all truth we have known what it is to encounter
the Lord Jesus Christ? We've not only attended services
and heard sermons and heard the preacher speak of Him, but we
know what it is for the Lord Himself to come and to encounter
us. We've heard more than the voices
of men. We're those who have heard the
voice of the Son of God. and we've lived. That is the
all-important encounter. Has it been, really been my experience? Has it been your experience?
You see, we have to examine ourselves, we have to prove ourselves, we
have to know ourselves, how the Jesus Christ is in us, except
we be reprobate. This meeting, this encounter,
What a man was Andrew, or what a brother he was to Simon, that
he should do this thing for him. He findeth his own brother, Simon,
and he brought him to Jesus. Or do we seek to bring others
to the Lord Jesus Christ? Is that our concern? to tell
others of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I know we're not to go around
as those who would be button-holding people and forcing our religion
upon people, but we are to be ready. All Peter himself is the
one who says it. We're to be ready to give an
answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is
within us and we're to do it with meekness and fear. We ought
to be ready and how often the last one has to confess that
opportunities arise and and they pass and we fail we don't do
as dear Andrew did we don't seek always to find that opportunity
to bring the sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ to tell them of
him who is the only friend of sinners but look at the encounter
that Simon now has with the Lord Jesus here we see how there is
that searching look of the Lord Jesus he brought him to Jesus and when
Jesus beheld him it says Jesus beheld him now it's interesting
here because the word that we have the word beheld and we've
remarked in times past on the significance of that word it's
a strong word it's used many times in scripture behold or
lo it has that idea of an intense look a careful consideration
for looking into a subject and it's the same word that is used
by Luke there in Luke chapter 22 when Simon Peter had denied
the Lord and remember what we are told there verse 61 the Lord
turned and looked upon Peter the same word the Lord turned
and beheld Peter And Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, how he had said unto him before the cock crowed,
Thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. Oh, what a look was this! It
was such a searching look, it must have been. When did the
Lord first beheld Simon? How he looked, what are those
eyes? Why his eyes were told were as flames of fire. when
John sees the glorified Christ eyes as flames of fire and what
was the what was the consequence there in John's experience when
I saw him I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon
me and said fear not I am the first and the last I am he that
liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore and have
the keys of hell and of death. All that look of the Lord Jesus
and it was not only the experience of John we see it also, do we
not, in the experience of Daniel there in that 10th chapter he
sees exactly the same Saviour as John beheld on the Isle of
Patmos John tells us his eyes were as a flame of fire And Daniel
says something very similar. His eyes were as lamps of fire,
he says. And then what was Daniel's experience? All his comeliness, he says.
He's left alone, all his comeliness is turned in him into corruption
and he has no strength. Oh, it is such a searching look,
such a humbling look. When we're first brought to any
knowledge of the Lord Jesus, that must be the experience.
If we are really those who have known what it is to be encountered
by the Lord Jesus, we will know something of that humbling. We
will know that all flesh is as grass, and all the flower of
the grass. It's just nothing. It's blown
away. It's gone. We are nothing but
weakness. Oh, what are we of ourselves
with those who in our very natures are dead in trespasses and in
sins? This is the one then that looks
upon Simon Peter. He looks into the very heart
of men, you see. Oh, we're told, are we not, towards the end of that second
chapter Verse 24, concerning Jesus, He
knew all men, it says. Jesus did not commit Himself
unto them because He knew all men, and He did not that any
should testify of man, for He knew what was in the hearts of
men. His eyes, you see, are so burning
there, so searching. They penetrate into the depths
of the soul. He sees us all together as we
are. He knows everything about us. Our down, sitting, our uprising,
even our thoughts. He knows our thoughts. The far
off again. What do we read later? Here in
chapter 4 concerning that woman at the well, that Samaritan woman.
how the Lord knows everything. And she says to her fellow citizens,
come see a man that told me all things that ever I did. Is not
this the Christ, she says? Here is the mark of him who is
the Savior. Oh, she recognized it, though
she was a despised Samaritan. She knew that this one was the
promised Messiah because he knew everything about it why this
one is none other of course than the son of God as John says John
bear record that this is the son of God we can hide nothing
from him he sees us all together as we are all his eyes you see,
so searching his ministry so sifting, so separating But then
also, it would be wrong simply to dwell on that aspect of the
look of the Lord Jesus, because His look is not a severe look,
though it be a searching look. Ultimately, it is a saving look. And that's what we see here in
the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as we are first introduced
to it. at the end of this opening chapter
of John's Gospel. The Lord beheld him, he said. When Jesus beheld him, he said,
Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas,
which is by interpretation, a stone. Now we finished our reading,
our public reading at that verse. Of course the chapter continues
with a few more verses where we read then of Philip and Nathanael
how striking are the words that we have concerning the Lord's
dealings with Nathanael verse 48 Nathanael says unto the Lord
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 Oh you see Philip had gone to
Nathanael and said come or rather he says we have found
him of whom Moses and the Lord and the prophets did write Jesus
of Nazareth the son of Joseph and then Philip says unto him
come and say and then Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and says
behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guide And it's said
that we have Nathanael putting this question to the Lord, whence
knowest thou me? And the Lord says before Philip
called them, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw them. He
saw him as it were afar off. He saw him of course from all
eternity. Or the foundation of God standeth
sure, the Lord knoweth. them that are His. Whence knowest
thou me? was the question of Nathanael. Or the Lord had ever known him
from before the foundation of the world, whom he did foreknow. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called. Oh, it's that effectual call.
It's that efficacious grace of God in the Gospel. The Lord knows
them that are His. I am the Good Shepherd, He says.
I know my sheep. He knows those for whom He has
come. That great work of redemption
that He is going to accomplish waits for as many as His Father
had given unto Him in the Eternal Covenant. And so when the Lord
looks, when the Lord beholds these men, it is in order to
their salvation. Or that the Lord might be pleased
to behold us in such a fashion as that. Remember how the Psalmist
cries out, there be many who say you will show us any good.
Lord, lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us. All to know
that saving look, that gracious turning of the Lord. We often
use that erotic benediction at the end of the service, the Lord
bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make His face to shine upon
thee and be gracious unto thee, the Lord lift up His countenance
upon thee and give thee peace. That's what we need, is it not?
that saving look and that was Peter's experience yes the Lord
sees him and searches him but the Lord also saves him and so
finally this morning to say something with regards to the transformation
for there is a transformation and we see it in the very words
that the Lord speaks to this man thou art Simon the son of
Jonah Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a
stone, or as the margin says, by interpretation, Peter. Now look at what is said here.
Christ says, Thou art, but then He says, Thou shalt be. He speaks
of what He is by nature, but He also speaks of what He shall
be by the grace of God." Oh, these are the shalls and the
wills of that great covenant of grace. What do we read at
the end of Ezekiel 16? I will establish my covenant
with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. That's the language of God in
the covenant. I will and thou shalt. It's that almighty voice, that
all-powerful voice of the Lord Jesus. It's that effectual call
of God. It's that irresistible grace
of God in the Gospel. Where the word of a king is,
there is power. Oh, this is the covenant, you
see, that God establishes with His people. I will establish my covenant,
he says, and they shall know that I am the Lord. And so we have it here. He says,
Thou art. And what is it? Thou art Simon,
the son of Jonah. In Matthew 16, where Peter makes
that wonderful confession of his faith. Now what the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, what does the Lord say there? He refers
to him as Simon Bar-Jonah. Flesh and blood hath not revealed
it unto thee, Simon Bar-Jonah, Simon, son of Jonah. But my Father
which is in heaven, it's all grace, it's all the sovereignty
of the grace of God. When the Lord speaks to him as
the son of Jonah, or Bar Jonah, which is the same thing really.
He's reminding him of his base origin. So what is he by nature? He's a sinner. Like David says
in Psalm 51, Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my
mother conceive me. Isn't that true of each and all
of us? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not
one. It's an impossibility. We are
those who are by nature dead in trespasses and in sins. But here is the grace of God.
He is the Son of Jonah. But, Christ says, thou shalt
be called Cephas. Always going to receive a new
name. Cephas, which is by interpretation
the stone, is going to be in Christ. Oh, he's in Christ in
the eternal covenant, but now he's going to be in Christ in
his very soul's experience. And if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. All things are passed away, behold,
all things are become new. To be in Christ. Paul says, "...of
Him, i.e., in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that as it is
written, He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord." For to
be in Christ is to have all that fullness of salvation, to be
delivered from all that we are as sinners, to know that grace
of God. And how is it evident Why it's
evident, of course, in regeneration. That's how it begins. The experience
begins there. The sinner born again. We read it here in verse 13 of
this chapter, which we're born not of blood, nor of the will
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The great truth of regeneration,
the new birth and necessity of it. the words that the Lord speaks
here subsequently in chapter 3 when he addresses himself to
Nicodemus. Verse 3, Jesus answered and said
unto him, Verily, verily, do we need to mark that double verily? I say unto thee, except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verse 6 he says, that which is
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee,
ye must be born again. Oh, it's not any transformation
of the flesh. The flesh is the flesh. The sinner
must receive a new nature. He must become a partaker of
the divine nature, just as Peter says in his epistle. He must
be born again, born from above, born by the Spirit of God. It's
a spiritual birth. And that's what's being indicated
in the language of the Lord. Thou art Simon Peter, thou shalt
be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. It's
that new name. As the Lord says Himself there,
In the revelation I will give him a white stone and in the
stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that
receiveth it. Or do we know that new name?
I will write upon him, he says, my new name. Now the Lord's people
are marked by him. And this is Peter's experience.
The new name indicates a new man. Lord, this is that man of
grace. Never the same man again after
this confrontation with the Lord Jesus
Christ. The person can never be the same
after they've met the Lord Jesus. Think of Peter's confession and
what the Lord says there in Matthew 16. I know we're familiar with the
passage but what a passage it is when Simon Peter answers and
says thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God and Jesus
answered and said unto him blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jonah for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which
is in heaven and I say unto thee thou art Peter or thou art Cephas
thou art the stone And upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter is
not the rock. The rock is that confession.
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Of the foundation
can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ
the Lord. Ah, but Peter is a living stone. He is one who is built upon that
rock. And remember how he speaks of
those living stones, those lively stones, when he writes in his
epistle, his first epistle, verse 4 he says, to whom coming as
unto a living stone, this is the Lord Jesus he's speaking
of, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men,
but chosen of God and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are
built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also
it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief
cornerstone elect precious, and he that believeth on him shall
not be confounded. All friends, are we those who
are believing? He that believeth on him shall
not be confounded. Ought to be those who are truly
the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This is what
we see Peter becoming. It's the beginning of his call,
as it were. I want us to go on, the Lord
willing, tonight to consider that second part of his call.
When he is called away with his fellow disciples pulled away
from their nets to be those who are continual followers of the
Lord Jesus. But all the Lord bless to us
the words that we have here in the text this morning. The gracious ways of Andrew,
the good ways of Andrew with his brother. He first findeth
his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah,
which is being interpreted the Christ. And he brought him to
Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he
said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah. Thou shalt be called
Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone, Peter. Oh, the Lord
bless his word. Amen. We sing hymn number 76 and the
tune is Saxby 409. There is a period known to God
when all his sheep, redeemed by blood, shall leave the hateful
ways of sin, turn to the fold, and enter in. Number 76. Thank
you. There is a period known to God
When all his sheep, redeemed by blood, Shall leave the hateful
way of sin turn to the fold and enter