LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ANDREW

INTRODUCTION
Many people have differing opinions on who their favorite disciples are.
Some identify with Peter, some the beloved apostle John, none that I have
met say Judas Iscariot (with good reason I might add) but my personal
favorite is Andrew. There are some lessons we can learn from his life.

FOLLOWING CLOSE AFTER JESUS

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?
They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,)
where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and
saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth
hour. (John 1:36-39)

What seek ye? - This was not asked to obtain “information.” It was not a
harsh reproof, forbidding them to follow him. It was a kind inquiry
respecting their desires; an invitation to lay open their minds, to state their
wishes, and to express all their feelings respecting the Messiah and their
own salvation. We may learn:

1. That Jesus regards the first inclinations of the soul to follow him. He
“turned” toward these disciples, and he will incline his ear to all who begin
to approach him for salvation.
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2. Jesus is ready to hear their requests and to answer them.

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3. Ministers of the gospel, and all other Christians, should be accessible,

kind, and tender toward all who are inquiring the way to life. In conformity
with our Master, we should be willing to aid all those who look to them for
guidance and help in the great work of their salvation.

Rabbi - This was a Jewish title conferred somewhat as literary degrees now
are, and meaning literally “a great one,” and was applied to a teacher or
master in the Jewish schools.
 Where dwellest thou? - This question they probably asked him in order
to signify their wish to be with him and to be instructed by him. They
desired more fully to listen to him than they could now by the wayside.
They were unwilling to interrupt him in his traveling. Religion teaches
people true politeness, or a disposition to consult the convenience of others,
and not improperly to molest them, or to break in upon them when
engaged. It also teaches us to “desire to be with Christ;” to seek every
opportunity of communion with him, and chiefly to desire “to be with him
where he is” when we leave this world. And His response is an invitation to
be with Him.

BEING OBEDIENT TO JESUS

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. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of
men. (Mat 4:18-19)

Fishers of men - Ministers or preachers of the gospel, whose business it

shall be to win souls to Christ. They were already following Christ now
come the call to a further ministry, instead of being diligent in their
business as the four were (Peter and Andrew were casting their nets, being
about their business, James and John were being good stewards mending
their nets rather than buying new ones. Being obedient stewards means
both doing the work and caring for the tools of the job. We need to be
totally involved and committed to that which God has called us.

DOING THE WORK OF JESUS

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And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease. 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; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas,
and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus,
whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot,
 who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the
Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give. (Mat 10:1-8)

Freely ye have received, freely give - That is, they were not to sell their
favors of healing, preaching, etc. They were not to make a money-making
business of it, to bargain specifically to heal for so much, and to cast out
devils for so much. This, however, neither then nor afterward precluded
them from receiving a competent support. See Luk_10:7 (a laborer is
worthy of his hire, etc. and 1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not
muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his
reward. This uses a lesser example to show a greater truth. If we are not to
muzzle the ox as it eats the corn it grinds, how much more should those be
compensated who preach and teach the word. None of this “we’ll keep him
poor, you keep him humble stuff) I know some carry this to extremes like
not selling trinkets donated much like churches who will not allow
missionaries to sell their tapes and books because Jesus condemned the
people who were robbing the people in the temple (charging exorbitant
exchange rates for temple money, priest saying all sacrificial animals were
not acceptable unless they paid the bloated pricing for those who sold
animals at the temple. This is what God condemns not selling a toaster
oven donated to the Salvation Army or a musician selling a CD for $10 or
$15 dollars.
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So the Lord Jesus empowered them to go out to Israel and preach, heal,
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deliver them from bondage of sin and demonic forces, and to do this freely,
without charge, accepting whatever the people gave them (

BRINGING PEOPLE TO JESUS

We see the general thought found in the book of Acts: But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Act 1:8)
 • He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have
found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John
1:41) First the family, our ultimate in our Jerusalem.
• He first findeth - He found him and “told him about Jesus” before
he brought him to Jesus.
• We have found the Messias - They had learned from the
testimony of John, and now had been more fully convinced from
conversation with Jesus, that he was the Messiah. The word
“Messiah,” or “Messias,” is Hebrew, and means the same as the Greek
word “Christ,” “anointed.” From the conduct of Andrew we may learn
that it is the nature of religion to desire that others may possess it. It
does not lead us to monopolize it or to hide it under a bushel, but it
seeks that others also may be brought to the Saviour. It does not
“wait” for them to come, but it goes “for” them; it seeks them out, and
tells them that a Saviour is found. Young converts should “seek” their
friends and neighbors, and tell them of a Saviour; and not only their
relatives, but all others as far as possible, that all may come to Jesus
and be saved.

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?
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip
answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for
them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five
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barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
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(John 6:5-9)

• Jesus asks Philip: how will we buy bread? But Andrew finds a child
and brings him to Jesus and in faith, I believe, asks him how can a
child’s lunch feed so many? And in response to Andrew’s question we
see one of the miracles of the Bible. I hesitate to say great miracle, for
what miracle is not great that meets a need and especially a need of so
many (scholars estimate that 5000 men plus women and children
 could have been as many as 25000 souls there) and all were satisfied
and they took up 12 baskets of fragments, much more than they
started with. Indulge the story.
• So we go from Jerusalem to Judea.

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the
feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee,
and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth
Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. (Joh 12:20-22)

• Now we are going beyond just the Jews but are speaking of the
Greeks, the gentiles if you would. One goes to Philip but he goes to
Andrew and they go to Jesus. We need to be the intercessors for
others to Jesus, praying for them, speaking to them, encouraging
them to come to Jesus before it is too late.
• To turn a phrase from Pastor, we need to be guard rails not stumbling
blocks. (Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge
this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in
his brother's way. (Rom 14:13) people should not be tripping over us
falling into Hell but should have to fight their way past us as we cry,
weep, warn, sound the trumpet of warning to them about the Hell to
be shunned, the Heaven to be gained, and the life of victory Jesus
promised. To do anything less should put us to shame.

WRAP UP
We need to endeavor to be like Andrew as He followed Jesus:

1. Follow close after Jesus, not seeing how far away we can live and still
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be safe.
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2. Be obedient to Jesus, showing our love towards Him who died for us
in the way He wishes us to: keeping His commandments (John 14:15)
3. Doing the work of Jesus, showing the love of Jesus towards others by
meeting their needs without greed of money or earthly rewards.
4. Bring people to Jesus: with compassion, love, fire and determination
knowing the awful results if we fail Him in telling them, not only their
condemnation, but their blood on our hands. (cf. Ezekiel 33:6)
 So my dear friends if you are not saved tonight, why not? I would love to
introduce you to my Jesus.

Are we being diligent in following Christ? If not, why not? The cause is
great, the laborers are few and the time is now.
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