A Heart Yearning for the Messiah

Praise God hallelujah John chapter 1 verse 47 and 48 praise the Lord go we see five disciples that are being separated by Jesus in the first chapter of John and then there’s Andrew Phillip and Nathaniel And there’s one disciple uh who is not named but so Jesus gives a special importance that he doesn’t give to any other disper to Nathaniel and there is a section just separated put aside to talk about Nathaniel and Jesus does that because Nathaniel has this specific [Music] characteristic so when you read it in 47 it says Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him now Jesus is not simply seeing as he is approaching he’s evaluating him as he’s coming and the one who has eyes of fire is looking and seeing him when we come into this building Jesus is seeing us wherever we started from where wherever we are coming from he is seeing that Nathaniel had this ability this gaze to to hold the Gaze of the one who knows everything at him in John chapter 1 it’s six times it’s mentioned about seeing one is Jesus saw Nathaniel [Music] coming and second part Jesus saw Nathaniel sitting under the fig tree and John the Baptist seeing Jesus come and it said in two verses about [Music] that and here John in chapter 1 verse4 said and we beheld his glory in verse 18 it says no one has seen God at any time and so different words are used but the meaning is all the same he is the god that sees but and God’s desire is just like that we are also looking at [Music] him and looking and seeing has a great relationship and meaning not simply looking it’s a look of experience experiencing the look and Jesus is talking about that look stayed with [Music] him and we see a Nathaniel standing there firmly when he’s uh taking the Gaze of Jesus and we see Jesus saying as Nathaniel is coming toward him surely here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit [Music] many times we try to self justify our behaviors and our actions that is our nature but when someone is coming Jesus is talking highly of them but he is not just accepting that so when someone talks well about us don’t we suddenly get happy and we think oh no one else understood but he understood it and we’re happy about it but Nathaniel just simply doesn’t accept [Music] it and so Nathaniel asked back to Jesus how do you know [Music] me and so Nathaniel has this other characteristic when Philip come introduces him to Jesus Nathaniel is one that looks carefully and uh he has paid attention to Nazareth Nathaniel had his opinion in his heart that the crowd in Nazareth were not enough and so we know that’s true of that character in Nazareth because after one message of Jesus they look to kill Jesus and we see Nathaniel and Jesus that are looking at each other and in in agreement with each other so this morning let us be people that look and understand at God in one gaze there’s a lot of meaning there is a gaze that Jesus looks at us outpouring of mercy and Grace and so let us look at that with Holiness and submission and so you know John and Andrew came to Jesus based on the words of John the Baptist and because of Andrew is why Peter came to Jesus and because of that also Phillip had also heard about Jesus and so when Jesus is saying something he quickly tells Philip you come with me and so in verse 45 Philip is saying we have found him and here we see in all these situations they’re quickly accepting Jesus [Music] but Nathaniel is someone who looks and and sees before he accepts he does not follow someone blindly Jesus saw Nathaniel and saw that he was a true Israelite and saw that he had no deceit and Jesus understood that he was called and saw him under the tree and he gave him a great promise we this is a very familiar passage to us but I want to share what the Holy Spirit has given to me there’s a Nathaniel sitting under the Fig [Music] Tree and the Jewish people they would sit under the fig tree to study and learn and meditate on the law but here when Jesus is talking to him he brings up three things and he calls him first a true Israelite and second he says there’s no deceit in him and the third thing he says verse 51 I say to you Hereafter you shall see Heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man God is looking deeply and understanding him and he also gives a reference to God there and it’s talking about his great grandfather Jacob from the past he calls him an Israelite and truly there was no Israel at that time and so when Israel was scattered it became more [Music] Samaria so instead of calling him an Israelite should have called him Jewish because so he called him an Israelite calling him from the name of his great forefather Jacob says he has no deceit what is deceit so when we go fishing we put the bait that fish like on the hook and so when people come with a bad intention we give them words that they like to hear that is what is called deceit Psalms 32 [Music] and so the one who is deceived is one who comes to the presence of God with a complete open heart and is in prayer and Jesus had said the heart is deceitful above all things this is the heart of every man but when you open your heart and are Washed by the blood of Jesus is where there is no deceit what is he doing under the tree of this Victory he was praying under that tree praise the Lord and there this thought of this wrestling is is what Jesus brings up how did Jacob become Israel it was not just one fine day Jesus giving him a new name and he was wrestling one night and crying unto the Lord for one night and in that morning is when Jes God changed his name when he asked him he said what is your name and he said it is Jacob I am a cheater and the one that grabs the heel all this time I’ve been cheating but now you’re telling me to go to bethl I who am I that you should call me but now I have decided to go to bethl but my brother is coming to kill me but I will not let go of you till you bless me and the Jacob who wants the presence of God is saying I will not leave you till you bless [Music] me my behavior will change once you once you bless me I will become a new [Music] person and so he wrestled with God and became Israel and so he’s look Jesus looking at Nathaniel and saying truly this is an Israelite praise the Lord hallelujah and he says a specific line that’s says upon the son of man you will see angels of God ascending and descending from [Music] heaven and so the Jesus that is uh pleased in him is giving him another bless [Music] blessing and in Zachariah and Micah and in the Kings we’re not going to read the verses we see this uh this situation of a man who sitting under a fig tree Hu [Music] and so in Zechariah is talking about the branch which is the rule of the Messiah will be under that fig and olive tree and he says he will gather them and they will sit under the Fig and the Olive Tree and so in the Kings we read because of the time of Peace during the time of Solomon every Israel every Israelite will sit under the Fig in their Olive Tree and so sitting under the Fi Tree or the olive trees talking about a a a situation of prosperity and [Music] peace that was a time where everyone was waiting for the Messiah and Nathaniel was waiting also like this and so we see Nathaniel here whose heart is so clean and you see this eagerness that he wants to see who this Messiah is and I say this because Jesus never speaks simply he is the god that discerns the hearts when he speaks and during the time when I came to the faith the preachers at that time they are not highly educated people and so but when we go to their meetings and they’re speaking they are saying things that things that we thought in our heart and things thoughts that we had in our head many times we would sit and when prophets come and say please God don’t reveal what’s actually in my [Music] head and these prophets would come at that time and said did you not they’d point the finger and say did you not think like this or act like this if those things were in America what would this situation be praise the Lord hallelujah he is the god that discerns hearts he is the god that sees us walk into the building he sees us even before we come to the church we are sitting in the home and he is standing for before God with great eagerness and we see that part that Jesus tells him I saw you sitting under the Fig Tree I was experiencing you and he says it in a way of closer experience saying I was sitting there with you under the Fig [Music] Tree and there’s a a sharpness to Nathaniel’s prayer this this man who’s sitting and praying under the Fig Tree it is a pray prayer that God cannot simply be put to the side God is being drawn it is a prayer that brings down God to his side and this type of praying this man Nathaniel is coming and coming toward Jesus so when Jesus says that positive comment Nathaniel’s first question is why are you giving me this he says how do you know me if you are saying this about me that means we are connected or we have met at some point where did you know me and Jesus said I saw you under the Fig Tree I know you under the Fig Tree I saw your heart and I heard your cry and when it is the god that hears us when we’re praying and crying in his presence Proverbs [Music] 27 and so as silver and and gold is refined a man is valued by what others say of him and so when God gives him that praise he said from where do you know me and so when he realized God’s response he said he realized that the Messiah had seen all his prayers he received that healing and that cleansing the Messiah knew and so Nathaniel now has a response he said Rabbi you are the Son of God you are the king of Israel [Music] what a revelation he says in response you are the Son of God and the king of Israel and see in verse 43 we we see where Philip is introducing him to Jesus chapter 1 verse 43 the following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee and he found philli and said to himf follow me uh and we see how philli introduces Jesus to Nathaniel we have found whom Moses is in the law and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph now can we compare that to the Revelation by Nathaniel how much greater Revelation does Nathaniel have but the Revelation to Philip is only limited and so then we ask is this the philli that God has called called and so we read in that verse that he was Desiring to go to Galilee and he wanted to go into the deep into the lands of Galilee because you know why because there was someone there praying under the Fig Tree he didn’t tell Philip go call Nathaniel and God Jesus knows when he goes that way that’s what Philip is going to do and only Philip can do that Hallelujah he is a God that blesses us by knowing us he knows us and he calls us and we know that this Philip based on history this Philip and this Nathaniel each were crucified and another historian says that Nathaniel was killed by being skinned [Music] alive and so history also says that Philip was crucified upside down and and even crucified he was continuing to preach and Jesus knows that the the person that you are today is not who you will be [Music] tomorrow today’s revelation is not tomorrow’s Revelation one who is praying under the Fig Tree God finds him out and seeks him out and Jesus has done this several times and we know the story of when he went to Jericho and it says recorded only one time he went to Jericho [Music] and so as he was approaching Jericho one man cried out son of David have mercy on [Music] me and we know the story of zakus who came down from the tree and invited Jesus to his house to be saved and these are not quick snap decisions but they’ve been people that have been waiting for the arrival of Jesus and so one time Jesus was going to Zoar and sedon why did he go there because someone is crying there there’s a canite woman who’s crying there and that’s ex he went to that City just to see her to strengthen her and and and get her confident in her faith he went there and so he goes there and sees her and realizes she’s a unbelieving woman and she’s crying out son of David have mercy on me he is the god that knows the mind and comes down to meet people [Music] and we know from Luke the story of how Jesus raised the son of the Widow at nine and so we read there the specific is he urgently went to n Jesus was ministering separately but urgently he went out of there why did he go so urgently and so in the seeing him go urgently his disciples also followed and so seeing the disciples go urgently a crowd also followed and there’s no other record of n Jesus going there before that or after and it doesn’t even say that Jesus entered the city of n why did he go so urgently because there is a procession going to to bury this young man so he went so urgently to stop that procession because Jesus saw the tears of this [Music] mother so we see a prayer that they all Shake Jesus with their prayer they’re praying a prayer that shakes their heart and so the words of comfort is all here but those words of comfort are not enough they need words of comfort from Jesus so for those who pray like that Jesus comes down and the god that we call on this morning is that type of God don’t be comforted by others Comfort words don’t be strengthened by how other people strengthen you I’m not telling you to rebuke it or throw it away those are all good things and you should hear it but don’t be satisfied with it you have to receive from God and so God is signing to everything that is said and say today I will not receive comfort and so the prayer that shakes the heart of God God need to be com coming from us and so when you do like this you’ll receive the Revelation from the Lord in every house at that time they all had a fig and so even in our houses we have fig trees and we read nowhere else in the Bible anyone going under the Fig Tree other than Nathaniel to meditate on study and pray it doesn’t mean that of them have done it but it was not worth bringing up if they had done it but there was one man sitting under the Fig Tree and Jesus saw that we all pray we have morning and night and family prayer we have so many prayers and they become routine and tradition and so in in our house it’s my mom and and sister that call us for family prayer and so after some time there was a time that I didn’t hear any call and it was 7 o’clock and I didn’t get any indication for family prayer and so in my head I’m thinking oh thank God maybe they forgot today and no by 7:30 my sister came and they will all call and we’ll sit down for family prayer and sometimes we don’t we don’t slack off we all pray but there you need to have a prayer that shakes God that changes your name he is sitting under the Fig Tree and praying where is my Messiah and know I heard many years ago that wise men had come to the court of Herod saying that there is a [Music] messiah and so how many times I’ve been sitting that you’re going to come today or come tomorrow but today you have to bless me like you blessed my forefather you need to bless me let us all stand this morning hallelujah praise the Lord hallelujah hallelujah hallelu let us digest what we have heard this morning in the presence of the Lord hallelujah is the person that moves in the Holy Spirit a person who is living in the Holy Spirit God is the one leading him even though he walks through the valley of Tears the valley of Becca he makes it a [Music] fountain it is a time everyone’s going through trouble and so we know that you know Nathaniel is a farmer and going fishing and so we see when Peter at the end after Jesus had died went fishing we see Nathaniel go with him and all this suffering that Peter and the other disciples are going through Nathaniel is also going through but there’s a prayer specific to Nathaniel that no one else has he separated time to sit under the Fig Tree there’s a happiness and satisfaction in his [Music] heart but he has a yearning for the [Music] Messiah let there be a heart that calls out for God in our in our midst I don’t need anything in this world but your presence I need your presence dear children I’ve learned this in my life oh [Music] Hallelujah and when my when my son died I took that child and and made this bargain with the Lord I need your presence now from now on every step that I take you need to walk with me this morning whatever situation we have you need to walk with me may you come down may you be revealed may your power come down on [Music] me and then Jesus is replying and saying you will see Angels ascending and descending on the son of [Music] man Gates of and so the place where Jacob had the pillow as a stone he it became the Gates of Heaven and this is the opening to Heaven this is a Holy Ground And so what no Revelation given to any was was given to Nathaniel not Jerusalem is not the holy city and the M son of man is the holy place and the son of man is the entry to heaven heaven is coming down onto the son of man it is the Revelation not to anyone else it was a revelation not to anyone else where many people are going through other issues they are seeking God but there’s a Nathaniel who puts everything else to the side and is seeking the lordu let us submit ourselves what a revelation not to anyone else you know where God Did It Jesus did his first miracle in Cana you know why he did that because that’s where Nathaniel lived that’s where that man praying under the Fick tree came from and in that place where you prayed God did the first miracle the family that had shame became honored and he gave them the best wine and so his disciples believed in him do you know when the core disciples believed Jesus when they saw the water turned to Wine they [Music] believed and is and Nathaniel is telling Jesus you are the king of Israel and truly the Son of God you are my my Rabbi Hallelujah and he is the god that comes down and does miracles for you and me today let us worship him this morning hallu bless us this morning oh Lord hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah [Music] [Music] we want to see your deliverance we want to see your magnificence in this church in this congregation in my Lord hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah he is the god that doesn’t reject your prayer and he comes to you and he’s going to come and answer your prayer this morning do not fall on good words accept it after evaluation and then pray and if you pray to the Messiah the lamb he will open the gates of heaven where the angels are constantly coming and going Lord may God bless you with these words