We do want to welcome each one along to our annual school prize giving. We welcome each one in the Savior's worthy and precious name. And we look to the Lord tonight to be amongst us and to bless us as we gather and rejoice before him. We're going to commence with hymn number 307. I know not why God's wondrous grace to me has been made known, or why unworthy as I am. he claimed me for his own. But I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day." It's number 307. It's page 300 in the hymnal. We're standing to sing as we worship. the years may run. To thee, God, which I who live, vote to live against the dead. I know thou art insane. ♪ The healing whisper of peace within my heart ♪ ♪ Mother of God, I now believe it ♪ ♪ That I'm persuaded that He is able ♪ ♪ To heal the wretch I've afflicted ♪ The love of our Lord has never been greater, from Him sin cannot escape. We believe in Jesus, the Lord, creating, living, being. I am persuaded that he is able to keep up which I committed, but to him I give something. ♪ I know the way, my Lord, may come. I know the light, my Lord, may come. ♪ Or meet Him in the air ♪ ♪ For I know, Lord, that I will hear Him ♪ ♪ And I'm persuaded that He is able ♪ ♪ To give the life which I am willing ♪ Amen. You may be seated. We're going to bow together in prayer, seek the Lord for His presence and blessing tonight. Our eternal God and our gracious Heavenly Father, we draw near into Thy holy presence this evening, in and through the merit of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are conscious that we come before one who is infinitely holy. And Lord, we have no righteousness of our own. We are born in sin and shapened in iniquity. Our righteousness is ours as filthy rags in thy sight. But we thank thee tonight for the righteousness of another, for imputed righteousness, the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. But he has provided a righteousness for poor sinners. A righteousness that He did not need for Himself, for He was without sin, the spotless, sinless Lamb of God. But we thank the Lord that by His obedience, He has provided a righteousness for us. And by His death, He has made atonement for sin. And we thank Thee tonight, O Lord, for the person and for the work of Jesus Christ. We rejoice that through Him we can draw nigh unto Thee and enter into Thy courts. And we rejoice in our Savior this evening. We can take these words of Scripture that we have been singing and say that we are persuaded that Thou art able to keep that which we have committed unto Thee against that day. O Lord, Thou art the one who saves and keeps. And we rejoice tonight in that. the light of that day that is coming when we will stand before Thee. And O Lord, we need on the wedding garment, we need clothed in the righteousness of Christ, that garment of salvation, that robe of righteousness. And Lord, we pray that that indeed would be so with each one of us, certainly our pupils in school, Lord. It is our earnest prayer that they would come to know Thee, whom to know is life eternal, and that they would have that righteousness imputed to them. They would be those who are Thine, that Thou would count them in among Thy jewels. When Thou dost come and gather Thine own, O Lord, we pray that we might be found counted in, numbered among Thy redeemed. We're thankful for all Thy mercies that Thou hast bestowed upon us as we mark another year in school and as prizes are given out this evening. Lord, we do acknowledge Thy mercies to each and every one that are connected with our school. Lord, pupils and teachers alike and parents and supporters and friends, we're thankful, O Lord, for all those who play a part in this work. And Lord, we give Thee thanks this evening. Our chief praise is to Thee. We thank Thee for sustaining the work all these years. Lord, year after year, Thou has provided our need and touched hearts to support this work, and we're thankful for that, Lord. We stand amazed at times, in the manner in which Thou dost provide for us, in hearts that are touched. And Lord, we come tonight to render praise to Thee. It is an opportunity, O Lord, to return and give Thee thanks. We think of those in Scripture who were healed by the Savior and only one of them returned. And the Savior asked that question, where are the other nine? Lord, Thou would have us to render thanks to Thee, to give Thee praise. And tonight, we certainly desire to do that. To that end, bless the pupils as they take part in this service, as they will sing Thy praises. We pray that Thou will help them and bless them. Speak to them, O Lord. We pray that we all might hear Thy speaking voice this night. Remember Thy servant particularly who has come to bring the Word of God tonight. We pray that Thou will help him, Lord, enable him this night. May he know the help of God, make it easy to preach. May he preach with that unction, that power from God, the power of the Holy Spirit come down upon us. O Lord, we pray for that unction of which Thy Word speaks of. That Thou tonight will come down and use Thy Word in all of our hearts and lives, speak to those out of Christ, Speak to those, O Lord, who know Thee. Lead us on with Thyself. And we pray that there might be that pressing on the upward way. In an evil day, Lord, we ask Thee to come amongst us. Bless the work of Christian education. We pray, Lord, that Thou will extend it and expand it, that Thou will give people a concern about the well-being of their own children. And we pray, Lord, that they would desire to protect them. O Lord, we pray that our school would be a place of protection, a little oasis amidst a wilderness, a desert, a waist-howling wilderness, Lord, of this world, and all the wickedness and the ungodliness that is promoted and encouraged. We pray, Lord, that we would stand apart. Lord, we desire to be a separated people unto Thee. And we pray that that would bless our school even to that end. So look upon us this evening. Remember us, Lord, as we gather. We offer our prayers in Jesus' name tonight. Amen. Amen. The school pupils are going to take part now in the service. We do appreciate all the effort that has been put in on their part in practicing and preparing, and teachers as well. playing an important part in that as well. So they're going to come now and to participate in the meeting. Thank you. ♪ Jesus and our shepherd hear this ♪ Bless our little love tonight ♪ Peace in the morning light ♪ ♪ Oh, let skyline and grass cleft me ♪ ♪ And my friend before thy care ♪ ♪ I am to thee warmed and fled me ♪ ♪ Listen to my evening prayer ♪ ♪ Let my sins be all forgiven ♪ ♪ Let the friends I love so well ♪ ♪ Take me when I die to heaven ♪ ♪ And be there with me to dwell ♪ you ♪ He chose for mine a wonderful exchange, Loved in my sin, Christ's offer made portrayed, Franklin, with righteousness I'm justified, in Christ I live. ♪ For in my place he died ♪ I cling to Christ, I marvel at the cost ♪ Jesus forsaken, God estranged from love ♪ But Christ is gone, my life is not my own ♪ My praise, my all, shall be for Christ alone These rooms for wine, lofty halls that whine for dread, courts dumped in loathe, hearts frustered in my stare. God bless our son, with righteous words upon, stand by my Lord, who's big, curious, and polite. ♪ And marvel at the cost ♪ ♪ Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God ♪ ♪ What price or toll, my life is not my own ♪ ♪ What praise, my all, shall be for Christ alone ♪ Music Music Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God, but by such love. ♪ My life is not my own ♪ ♪ Why praise my all shall be for Christ alone ♪ His roots are mine, such anguish none can know. Christ loves me, Lord, condemned as to His own. He is alive, a person left alone. I ask only in praise and welcome joy. I cling to Christ. Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God But by such love my life is not my own My praise, my all, shall be for Christ alone My life is not my own. My praise, my all shall be for Christ alone. My praise, my all shall be for Christ alone. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪ you. ♪ The voice of Jesus crying ♪ ♪ Who will go onward today? ♪ ♪ Fields are white and harvest waiting ♪ ♪ Who will bear the sheaves away? ♪ ♪ Pile and log the mustard pollen ♪ ♪ Which the Lord He offers me ♪ ♪ Who will answer my plea saying ♪ ♪ Here am I, send me, send me ♪ across the ocean and the heathen lands explore. You can find the heathen nearer. You can help them at your door. If you can, I'll give you voices. You can give the leader's mind. And the least you do for Jesus will be precious in his sight. If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus. With your virtue, with your righteous, you can give what God demands. You can be what faithful are in, holding up the prophet's hands. But hear me rightly say There is nothing I can do While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you Take the touch he gives you gladly Let his wonder, pleasure be Answer quickly when he's calling Hear of my standing, standing ♪ Ž Ž Ž A word of thanks to you all and all who have played a part in that. May the Lord be pleased to bless those things to us tonight. So to pupils for participating, for teachers and all the preparation that goes in, a word of thanks to each one. We're going to turn to our school hymn. It's going to be our offering hymn, 306. It's just the one before we started there with. So it's the same page, page 300, but this is our school hymn, I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord. And we are going to lift our offering. We usually put a target, about 3,000 pounds, on this offering at school prize giving and seek to get as close to that as it is possible. We're thankful for all who do support the work financially and prayerfully. And just let me register our thanks on behalf of the school committee and all who are involved in the school to all who support the work. I know our accounts are a little bit behind. That's just the way they are by the time we adopt them as a committee and then they get published. But the most recent set of accounts for the school year ending there in August, we have gone through the £100,000 barrier. both for income and expenditure. That's the first time ever we have gone through that. It was around £102,000 and there's just a few hundred pound more came in than was expended. So we're very thankful for that. When you think that our school fees raise about £60,000 of that, so there's £40,000 extra that has to be raised. to close out our account in the positive each year. And we're thankful for those who contribute in various ways. There's some who give in gifts quite often on the Lord's Day. I'm acknowledging those that have come in in our own congregation and offerings. People put in envelopes and put them into the offering. Other times, other gifts have come in. We appreciate it very much. There's those who participate in the monthly support project and contribute that, set up a standing order or direct debit, and support the school that way. And if you are interested in that, come and speak to some of us. We'll certainly help and give you details about that. But there's various ways that that $40,000 has to be raised and is raised. I would just say a little reminder to parents in that regard. There's a lot of people who contribute to educating of your children in school. Fees play a part, but as you can see, there's a considerable gap to make up from what comes in through fees to what actually is expended. So we're thankful for various ways. various individuals. It's amazing sometimes how gifts come in, both for our own school and just for the work of Christian education generally. I got an email this morning, actually, from a man in England. He's originally from Northern Ireland, but he's a teacher actually over in England. Maybe he sees the worst of education where he is, but he sent me an email. He has done this a number of times before, but he sent me an email this morning to say, I've just lodged £3,000 gift dated into the Education Board account. So we are very thankful for individuals like that. Our Education Board of Presbytery has been engaged now for a number of years in running deputations, going around our churches, seeking to raise finance. And we had a meeting there on Monday night and I brought home a cheque for £4,000 for our school out of that fund. So we're thankful for many ways and the many individuals who do contribute to this work. And we ultimately want to thank the Lord as part of prize-giving. It's not only to honor the pupils and acknowledge what they have done and give out prizes and cups and shields and so on, but primarily, we want to honor the Lord and give the Lord thanks. And say, hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and he has met our need. It is a work of faith. of that, there is no doubt. We live by faith. We look to the Lord to provide our needs, and the Lord has done that these more than 40 years. And some of the brethren here in our congregation go back. Those 40, all of those 40-odd years, and some maybe grandparents as well here in school are very close to it. So we can testify over many years that the Lord indeed has answered prayer and has provided. There is some work that has been done on mobiles. You probably see that if you're in the car park around the left-hand side. They've been set up. They've been painted. And there's more work to be done. We want to thank those who have helped with that, various individuals who have helped in ways of getting those in place, painting them, putting in some of the doors. We have been gifted doors. There's two sets of PVC doors that were given to the school for free of charge. When the individual heard what they were being used for, he wouldn't take any money for them. So again, we're thankful for that. And it's really to free up that bottom classroom. If you know the school building, the classroom down the stairs, it has been a technology room, woodwork, metalwork. So we've taken the woodwork tables and metalwork tables out of that and seeking to turn that into a more of a normal classroom, make more use out of it. And The woodwork tables are out into one of the mobiles. We don't use them all that much. And when we do, well, the plan is to use them in the springtime when the weather is warmer. So we don't have to heat the mobiles to a great degree either if it's the summer term. So that work is ongoing, there's still plenty to do. The second mobile has got quite a considerable bit of work to do inside to it, but there's those who have helped and who have offered to continue to help in that matter. So a word of thanks again to all who are helping in that particular matter. There's many individuals and too many to name because I certainly would end up overlooking someone, but there's many individuals who play a part in the work of our school. So to each one, you know what you do and the part that you play, a word of thanks to each one and to our parents and to our teachers particularly. I think we pay tribute to you and the support of the school and those who are involved in it, the staff. We appreciate your labours very much indeed. And I trust the Lord will encourage you and bless you as you labor for Him. I think that's everything I want to say by way of announcements. Okay, we're going to come to this hymn and keep our seats for the opening verses. 306 it is, I'm not ashamed to own my Lord or to defend His cause, maintain the honor of His Word, the glory of His cross. This was chosen right back at the beginning of our school as a school hymn. And we're going to sing that now, keeping our seats for the opening verses. His laws. Lifting the altar of His Word, the glory of His laws. And the cross and cross when I first saw one, and the hurry of my heart away. Let's stand for verses three and four. What I believe in, to this end, will earn his sight. I've heard a song, and I've been learning on my own. Oh, yeah. When was there a time? We're coming to the preaching of the Word of God now. We're very glad to have as our guest preacher this evening, Reverend Craig Dennison. He's these days more known to be Trinitarian Bible Society Deputation Secretary, but he's got an interest in Christian education. His children go to Portadowne School. He travels a lot of the UK, certainly the northern parts of it, and knows something of the views and feelings among many believers and even the interest in places in Christian education. And that's encouraging to hear. I don't know whether you're aware of it, but that Christian Concern organization in England have won the right to appeal the decision on charging VAT on fees. They were initially forbidden. to take that forward. But since those changes have come in at the beginning of the school year, and the impact that it has made on individuals, and even on some schools closing, they went back to appeal that decision that forbid them to go ahead with it. And they won their appeal on all eight grounds. So they are pressing ahead with a judicial review. And if you look that organization up, you'll find details on their website, and there's a little video as well. of them outside the court. I don't exactly know when that was, but there's information there if you're interested in following that up. And may it be successful. I don't know the time frame for that to be heard. We were initially asked to be involved in that, but then none of our schools here in Northern Ireland were taken into the category of having to charge VAT, because you have to have 90,000 pounds of fees. And as I mentioned, we have 60,000, so we don't anywhere near reach the threshold for VAT. Portadowne get a little bit closer to that, but they're still under it as well. So the Christian concern body said well we can't really go ahead with this if you're not impacted by it that's going to be the first hurdle you're going to fall at. None of the schools here so we would have been part of that judicial review. Our schools had decided that we would go ahead and join with them but there's still schools in the mainland who have become part of that. So you can certainly pray that that would be successful. Not that it's going to impact us in the short term, but certainly maybe Portadown School, they're holding back. Maybe if you're a parent, you'd be glad of that for their holding back on fee raises because they don't want to get to that 90,000. In fact, if you believe you're going to go over it, you have to register to pay that even before you get over the threshold. But certainly pray that that would be successful. So we're very glad that the Reverend Dennison is with us. We're going to ask him to come and bring the Word of God, now the Lord has laid on his heart. " You're very welcome. Our Scripture reading is from John chapter 1. Can I thank the Reverend McClung for the invitation and the words of welcome. It's a joy to be with you and to be a part of your prize-giving service. As the Rev. McClung has indicated, I travel quite a bit throughout the UK and even further afield as well. And whenever people inquire, as they do, in genuine curiosity about my family, I would say, my children go to a Christian school. And quite often, the response is, what a blessing you have, what a privilege you have, that there's a Christian school for your children to go to. And many would say, we wish that we had a Christian school in our town, in our area, for our children to go to. So, boys and girls, there's many families in the world would love the privilege that you have of being able to attend a Christian school and be taught with a Christian ethos around the Word of God. So, don't despise this wonderful privilege that you have, but rather rejoice and give thanks to God for it. Well, we're going to read from God's Word. John chapter 1, we'll read from verse 43 to the end of the chapter. The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Nathanael saith unto him, 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. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou, thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Amen. May the Lord put his blessing on the reading of his own holy word. Well, a number of months ago, I was asked to speak at a meeting for young people at a church here in Northern Ireland. And I was asked to bring a quiz to the young people as well. So I gave them the quiz of naming the 12 disciples that the Lord Jesus Christ called to follow Him. Now, there was one team. They did very well. They got eight of the 12 disciples. There was another team that did even better. they got 15 of the 12 disciples, which was very impressive, I'm sure you'll agree. They had listed in that names of 15, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Now, you'll be aware, I'm sure, that Mark and Luke were not part of the 12 disciples. They may have been part of the larger group of 20, but they weren't part of the 12. But that only adds up to 14. So what other names did they have? Well, there were two names that they had on that list. One of them was Nathaniel, and one of them was Bartholomew. Now, most commentators, not all of them, because there's always one or two people like to be awkward and difficult, but most commentators agree that Nathaniel and Bartholomew were the same person. In fact, Bartholomew would indicate that it is his surname. That name Bar indicates son of. You'll remember whenever the Lord Jesus Christ referred to Peter, he called him Simon Bar-Jonah, Simon son of Jonah. or Jonas. So, it seems that Bartholomew was his surname, and Nathaniel was his Christian name. Now, we don't read an awful lot about this disciple. He wasn't as outspoken as Peter, and he wasn't as present as John in many of the intimate occasions. In fact, we've read most of what we know about him from the Bible. The only other mention of him is at the end of John's Gospel in John chapter 21, and all we're told about him there is that Nathanael came from Cana in Galilee. So, apart from the times when he's listed with the other 12 and the mention that he came from Cana in Galilee, this portion in John chapter 1 is all that we really have about this man called Nathanael. But even though He only has a little mention in Scripture, there's an awful lot you and I can learn from Him, especially how we can live as a faithful disciple and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, just like Nathaniel. So, I want to take as the title of my message here tonight, Living Like Nathaniel. And every time you hear that name, Nathaniel, I hope you remember the instruction of the Bible, that we are to live as a faithful disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, just like Nathaniel. So, what can we learn from him? There's four things I want to leave with you about Nathaniel. Number one, His love of the Word of God. Nathanael was a man who loved the Bible. He loved God's Word. We read earlier of Philip. Whenever Philip is called by the Lord Jesus Christ to be a disciple, Philip comes and believes in Christ. He's convinced that Jesus is the Savior. He's the Messiah. And once he comes to believe in Jesus himself, what's the first thing that Philip does? He wants to go and tell somebody else, and he wants to go and tell somebody else that he has found Jesus, he has found the Savior and Messiah. This news is burning within him. He's full of excitement. Who can I tell? Who will want to know that I have found the Messiah that God has promised? And then his mind turns to his friend Nathaniel. Now, why would he want to tell Nathaniel? Well, Philip would want to tell Nathanael, because Philip knows that just like him, Nathanael is a student of the Bible. He is one who has read God's Word. He studied God's Word. He is one who is waiting for the coming Savior and Messiah. How do we know this? Well, whenever Philip comes to Nathanael, what does he say to him? He says, we have found him of whom Moses and the prophets did write. Now, what does he mean Moses? Well, he's talking about the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Those are the books that God inspired Moses to write, and the prophets God inspired them to write, too. So, Philip says, Nathanael, we have found the one that Moses and the prophets, the whole of the Old Testament, is talking or teaching us about. Now, why does Philip tell Nathanael that? Because he knows Nathanael's read those books. He knows that Nathanael has studied those books. He knows that Nathanael has believed those books. He knows that Nathanael is waiting for the Savior of those books to come. But notice, whenever Philip comes to Nathanael, Nathaniel doesn't say, hold on a minute, Philip, slow down. Can you give me a bit of a refresher course? I can't really remember what Moses said. I can't remember what the prophet said. Can you give me a quick catch-up? I've forgotten my Sunday school lessons. I forgot what I was taught in Bible class. Tell me what Moses and the prophet said. There's none of that. Nathanael knows what Philip is speaking about, because Nathanael is a student of the Bible. He is one who reads his Bible, he studies his Bible, and he believes his Bible. And you know, boys and girls, you live in a very privileged country. Not only that you have a Christian school to come to, not only that you have a church to come to, but you have a Bible. to hold in your hands a Bible that you can read any time of the day without fear of persecution. If we go back in time 500 years to the time when William Tyndale lived, he had to flee this country because men were seeking to persecute him simply for translating the Bible. If the authorities found a Bible in your home, They would take your mother and father out and perhaps even burn them to death simply for having the Bible. We've never lived in a better age. We have the Bible, and we're allowed to read it. But it's not a good thing. If our Bible sits on our bookshelf, gathering dust, God didn't give you this book to be an ornament. He gave you this book to read. And that's what God wants you to do with the Bible. He wants you to read it, He wants you to study it, and He wants you to believe it. But I want to go a little bit further tonight about Nathanael and his love for the Bible. Now, the Bible commentator John Gill, he makes this interesting suggestion as to what Nathanael was doing. Because the Lord Jesus Christ came to Nath... Or when Nathanael came to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior said, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast sat under the fig tree, I saw thee. And Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree. What was he doing there? Well, during the heat, or during, in Israel, during the middle of the day, it would be the hottest part. It would be very warm. Men would normally work early in the morning. They would rest in the afternoon. So quite often, men would take shade under a tree. They didn't have air conditioning and electric fans like we had today. If they got hot, they had to cool down another way. So they would sit in shade. So it's quite possible that Nathaniel was sitting under the tree. But what was he doing there? Well, the Lord says, I saw thee sitting under that fig tree. Now, the Lord, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ knows all things, but he saw Nathanael sat under the fig tree. And the Bible commentator John Gill suggests that Nathanael was sat under the fig tree reading his Bible. Now, you're maybe saying, well, how do you know that? Because it doesn't say that there. Well, let me elaborate. Mr. Gill also suggests that we can know the very passage that Nathanael was reading. Mr. Gill suggests that Nathanael was reading Genesis chapter 28. And that's the story. Whenever Jacob had to flee from his brother Esau, who was threatening to kill him, and Jacob fled, and he had to lay his head down on a stone for a pillow. And whenever he went to sleep, he had that great dream, that great vision of a ladder ascending from earth all the way up to heaven, and angels going up and down upon that ladder. So, Mr. Gill suggests that Nathanael was sat under his fig tree, he was reading his Bible, and he was reading Genesis 28 of Jacob going up and down the ladder. But we can go further here tonight and suggest even more. We can suggest what Nathanael was even thinking. I put it to you that Nathaniel was thinking, what a great experience Jacob had. What an experience. He got to see heaven. He got to see the messengers of God going up and down, doing the business of God. He got to see spiritual blessings happen on this earth. And Nathanael was probably thinking, I wish that I was so close to God and so intimate with God that I would see spiritual events like that. Well, you're maybe thinking, how do you know that Nathanael was sat under his fig tree, reading his Bible, reading Genesis 28, and thinking those things? Well, look at what the Lord Jesus Christ said to Nathanael in verse 51, when he said to Nathanael, verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Now, why would the Lord Jesus Christ have said that to Nathanael? It's somewhat out of context. Of course, the Lord is free to say anything, but I believe this is in relation to what the Lord is saying to Nathanael. I saw thee under the fig tree. I saw thee under the fig tree, and I didn't just see you sitting under the fig tree. Nathanael, I know what you were doing. Because remember, boys and girls, the Lord knows always what we're doing. He knows every deed that we do, every word that we say, every thought that we think. I saw thee under the fig tree. You were sitting, reading your Bible, and you were having these thoughts. Wouldn't it be great if I could experience what Jacob experienced? And the Lord promised him that he would, for look at the end of verse 50. For the Lord said to him, Believe us, thou shalt see greater things than these. And Nathanael did see greater things than angels doing the business of God. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ feed the 5,000. He saw the blind receive their sight. He saw the lame walk. He saw Jairus' daughter raised to life. He saw Lazarus come out of the tomb. He saw the Savior Himself resurrected and ascend up into heaven. Did Nathaniel not have closer encounters, perhaps, than even Jacob himself did? You see, boys and girls, Nathaniel taking his rest during the day, he wasn't being idle with his time. He wasn't sitting scrolling endlessly through Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. He wasn't watching all the latest movies on YouTube and catching up on all the latest goings-on. He wasn't engaging in gossip or talking about the politics of the day. Nathaniel was using his time wisely. He was getting alone with God, and he was reading his Bible. Because whenever you open this book, God speaks to you. This book, dear friends, is God's breath. All Scripture is breathed out from the mouth of God. So, this is no ordinary book. This is God's book. And this is a book that God has given to you and to me, so you and I can know Him, so we can know more of Him, so we can experience His teaching and His wisdom. Nathanael, he studied the Word of God, and as a result, his soul was blessed. And the Bible teaches us to love God's Word. David says in Psalm 119, And then David says this, David doesn't just say, well, I read a little bit in the morning and I give myself a pat on the back that I've read my Bible. No, he says, I meditate upon it. I think upon it. How can I live God's Word? How can I apply God's Word? How can I serve God by practicing His Word in my life? But you know, the greatest thing that Nathanael did with the Bible, he saw Jesus Christ in this book. You know, there were many in Israel in those days who read the Bible, who studied the Bible, who could quote the Bible, who were doctors on the Bible. But whenever the Lord Jesus Christ came and preached and taught, they rejected Him. They failed to see that He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact, they cried out for Him to be crucified. So there were many who had studied the Bible, but they didn't see Christ in the Bible. Nathaniel read the Old Testament, and he saw that all of it points to Jesus. Because we can look at Genesis, we can see Noah, and we can see the ark, and we can see that ark as being a picture of Christ. Those who were in the ark were saved from the wrath and the judgment of God. And so those who are in Christ are saved from the wrath and judgment of God. We can look at Moses. And we can see Him leading the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. And we can see Christ leading His people out of the bondage of sin to freedom through His death and through His resurrection. We can see David being crowned King, and we see past David, and we see a greater King. We see the Lord Jesus Christ as King. And we could go on. The whole history of the Old Testament points us to His coming. Every prophet points to Him. Every psalm sings of Him. The whole of the Old Testament guides us to Jesus. So, boys and girls, the best thing about this Bible is it shows you Jesus Christ. And that's what you should look for when you come to the Bible. The German reformer, Martin Luther, he said that he looked for Jesus in every word of the Bible. That was how determined he was to see Jesus Christ in this book. He looked for Him in every word. It's my Savior in that word. That's what we should do, too. So, Nathaniel, he had a love for Scripture. He looked for Christ in this precious book. The second thing, as we learn from Nathanael, is that he overcame his prejudice. He overcame his bigotry. Now, whenever Philip comes to Nathanael and says, we have found him, of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Now, we need a little background context here, okay? In the land of Judah, they looked down. They shouldn't, but they looked down upon Galilee. And they thought that Galilee was a terrible place. They thought Galilee was the lowest of all the places in the land of Judah. But the Galileans, they didn't think they were the lowest. They looked down upon some other people. They looked down upon Nazareth. And they thought that Nazareth was an awful place. Contemptible, wicked, evil people lived in Nazareth. They thought that no good thing could come from Nazareth. Now, they weren't taught this from the Bible. This was something that they had been raised with. In fact, Nathaniel had been raised with these prejudiced views, with these bigoted views. Look down upon those people of Nazareth. They're awful people. And perhaps that is something he'd picked up in his home. Maybe that's something he'd picked up at school. Maybe that's something he'd picked up with his friends, that Nazareth is an awful place. So whenever Philip comes to Nathaniel and says, we have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write, I can imagine Nathaniel jumping to his feet. I can imagine his heart is beating with excitement. We have found Him. You've found Him. Who is it? And Philip says, it's Jesus of Nazareth. And immediately upon hearing that word, Nazareth, Nathaniel's heart sinks. Nazareth, that awful place. No way my Savior could come from that terrible town of Nazareth. Do you know? Nathanael hadn't been taught this from the Bible. This was something he'd come to believe from the world around him. The world had shaped his thinking and his mind. And do you know what happened, boys and girls? Nathanael nearly allowed his prejudice, his bigoted views, to stop him from coming to believe in Jesus Christ. Imagine Nathanael turned around to Philip and said, I'm not coming to meet that man of Nazareth. I'm not coming to meet him. I have no interest in meeting anybody from Nazareth, and especially one you say is my Savior. I'll not come to Jesus because I hold this opinion about Nazareth. And sadly, boys and girls, there's many people in the world today, and they hold the same type of opinions, the same types of bigoted and prejudicial and biased thoughts. They're maybe raised in a system like the Roman Catholic Church, where they say, well, we don't need the Jesus as he's taught to us in the Bible. We don't need his teaching of being born again. We have the church. We have our system and our practices. We'll follow that. There's those in Islam, and they say, well, we don't need the Bible. We don't need what the Bible teaches about Jesus, because we have the Quran, and we have our own ways. But even within so-called Protestantism, there are those, and they say, well, I don't really need to read the Bible, and I don't really need to believe the Bible. As long as I'm a good person, as long as I try my best, as long as my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds, as long as I'm better than some of those really evil people in the world, God will accept me. Well, that is something that people have invented for themselves. It's not something that's taught in the Bible. The Bible says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The Bible says, there's none righteous. All we like sheep have gone astray. Dear friends, if we could get into heaven by being good, then why did Jesus Christ come? He came to die on the cross for sinners. Paul says, He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. So, we need to put down our excuses, our thoughts and ideas, our opinions that we have been shaped and fashioned by, and we need to simply believe the Bible. You know, Nathanael nearly allowed this to stop him coming to Christ. But what did Philip say? Philip said unto him in verse 46 the very simple word, That's the word that Philip used for Nathanael. He said, Nathanael, I hear what you're saying. You have your excuse, but come. Come and meet Jesus Christ. Come and hear His teaching. Come and listen to what He has to say, and then let your opinion be formed. Come and study His teaching. Come and evaluate all that He has to communicate, and then make your decision. He tells him to come. And you know, boys and girls, that's a great word. That's my favorite word in the Bible. In fact, the gospel could be summed up in that word, come, because that's the word that Jesus Christ gives to sinners. Come unto me, and I will give you rest. He that cometh to me, Jesus says, I will in no wise cast out. And that's what the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to do. He calls us to come to him. to believe upon Him, to repent of our sin, and take Him as our Savior and Lord. Well, you know what happened. Nathanael did come to Christ. He came and he met him. He listened to what he had to say, and he was firmly persuaded that Jesus is the Christ and is the Messiah. He put down his silly excuse about Nazareth. He forgot all about it, and he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. So whatever, if there's something that's keeping you back from Christ, Put it down. Listen to his teaching in the Bible. Study his Word. Open the Bible. Empty your mind of every thought that the world has influenced upon you, and simply listen to the Word of God. We need to move on quickly here. So, we thought of Nathaniel, his love of the Scripture. We thought of how he overcame his prejudice, his bigotry. Thirdly, notice his commendation from Christ. He was commended by the Savior. In verse 47, this is what the Lord says of Nathanael, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. An Israelite indeed. Well, what is the Lord saying here? That word Israelite can be understood in two ways. First of all, the term Israelite can apply to those who are the physical descendants of Abraham, those who have the DNA of Abraham. But it also refers to those who are spiritual children of Abraham, those who believe in the promised Savior, those who believe the Word of God, those who believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and Messiah. So, I believe, Whenever the Lord referred to Nathanael as an Israelite, He's not referring to him merely as a physical child of Abraham, one who shared his DNA, but He's referring to him as a spiritual child, one who believes the promises of the Old Testament in the same way that Abraham did, one who looked for the coming of the Messiah. But He also says, an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. Now, that word, guile, means there's no deceit, no doubleness of heart. What is the Lord saying about Nathanael? He's saying, Nathanael, you're not like some of these other religious Jews who say they believe the Bible, who say they are waiting for the Savior and Messiah, but who ultimately will reject Me. You're not like them because those people are saying one thing but doing another. Nathanael, you're true. You're genuine in heart. You are, you are. earnestly and honestly waiting for the Savior, and you'll believe upon me now that you have met me. " So, the Lord acknowledges that Nathanael is sincere and genuine. Because you know, boys and girls, it's very easy to say that we're Christians, very easy to tell other people that we're Christians, to fool our mummies and daddies, to fool our minister and people in church. but behind closed doors, or whenever we get out with our friends, to be different, and not behave and live like a Christian. The Lord knows our hearts, and the Lord says to us very simply, give me thy heart. That's what the Lord desires. He doesn't want you just to say you're a Christian. He wants you to genuinely be a Christian. That's what he said of Nathanael, a true Israelite, a true man of faith who practices what he says. That's what the Lord wants us to do, to truly believe and be true, genuine Christians. Fourthly and finally, notice about Nathanael, his steadfast faith. His steadfast faith. In verse 49, Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. So, Nathanael had come to meet Jesus Christ. He was a little dubious, a little doubtful that this man of Nazareth could really be the Savior. But Nathanael is now completely convinced. He declares his faith before Christ and before all others. And notice the two things he declares. First of all, he declares that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now, that's a huge thing for a Jew, especially in that time period, to declare. You'll remember, that's what they had Christ crucified for. He made himself to be the Son of God. But Nathanael, he grasps it instantly. The man stood before him. It's not just any man. This is God in the flesh. This is God incarnate. This is God who has come to be my Savior and my Messiah. The second thing he declares, is that Jesus Christ is the King of Israel. Now, many Jews had been waiting for a king to come, but some of them were thinking of a king coming to set up a kingdom like David or Solomon. But Nathanael realizes that Christ is the king of a different kingdom. He is the king of a spiritual kingdom. And he is, boys and girls, in Christ's kingdom, There are boys and girls and grown-ups from every nation, every language, or at least there will be by the time the Lord comes, and there will be people from every nationality, every language group, every tribal group. We're told that they'll all be gathered before the throne of Christ on that great day. So, His kingdom will know no end. There will be so many people in it, we're told, we'll not be able to number them. But this is what Nathanael says. He acknowledges that Christ is the King, but he goes, and I believe he goes further. He's saying that Christ is his King. He is, or Christ is the King that Nathanael wants to serve, that Nathanael wants to follow. Nathanael wants to live under his authority. Nathanael is willing to be his subject and his servant if Christ will be his King. And you know, boys and girls, whenever we come to ask the Lord for forgiveness and the Lord to save us, We are taking Christ to be our King. We are saying, I want to live in His kingdom, I want to live as a citizen of His kingdom, and I want Jesus Christ to be my King, and I will do whatever He tells me, and I will go wherever He wants me to go. That's what Nathaniel was saying. But there's something very interesting about Christ's kingdom. It's like no other kingdom in the world. We live in the UK. We have a King. Many people will fight for King and for country. But Christ's kingdom is different, because our King died to bring us into His kingdom. Our King shed His blood to redeem us and to bring us and make us citizens of His kingdom. No other king would do that for us. King Charles wouldn't die so we could be his citizens. But Jesus died so we could be in His kingdom. Without that, there would be no kingdom for us. There'd be no heaven. we would be lost. Well, as we come to a close here tonight, we've been thinking of Nathanael's encounter with the Savior. And we took as our title, Living Like Nathanael. And there's something very instructive of what the Lord Jesus Christ said when He called many of His disciples. He didn't give them a big essay. He didn't give them a big long sermon like you're getting here tonight. He gave them some very simple instructions. In fact, quite often, it was just two words. He said to Matthew, he said to Philip, these two words, follow me. That's all the Lord asked them to do, follow me. And you know, boys and girls, that's what the Lord Jesus Christ wants us to do. He wants us to follow Him. Now, you can maybe think, oh, 10, 20 years from now, don't worry about that. Don't worry about tomorrow. But today, the Lord Jesus says, follow me. Every day you wake up, the two words that the Lord has for you are, follow me. That's what Nathanael did. The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to Nathanael, where the Lord led him. But the church history books tell us that Nathanael took the gospel, first of all, to India, and then to Armenia. And when he was in Armenia, we are told that he preached the gospel, and the king of Armenia was converted. And the king's brother was so angry that he had Nathanael fled alive. and then crucified, put to death. By the 4th century, Armenia declares itself a Christian nation. Ethiopia also declared itself a Christian nation in the 4th century. The two argue as to who was officially the first Christian nation. Silly argument, really, but it doesn't matter. But by the 4th century, Armenia is a Christian nation. And perhaps, It was in no small part due to the Lord raising up a man named Nathanael. The name Nathanael means gift from God. The Lord raised up Nathanael. He saved him by his grace. He called him to be a disciple, and he sent him to follow him. Now, those were difficult days. There wasn't a lot of money. There was a lot of persecution. And perhaps some weaker men might have been tempted to say, well, I'll go back and sit under my fig tree, and I'll have a very quiet life reading my Bible. But Nathanael didn't. The Lord called him to serve Him. And every day, Nathanael served his king. Until that day, the Lord called him home. So, boys and girls, every day, You live for Your King, and You live as a happy citizen in His kingdom. Amen. Let's bow together in prayer. Our Father, we thank Thee for Thy Word. We pray that we would be Nathanael's. We would be those who follow the Savior and who serve Him. Write Thy Word upon our hearts this night, we pray. Lord, bring us to that knowledge that Nathanael was brought to when he came to know the Savior, recognize Him, testify of Him. And we pray that in each one of our lives, pupils in school and each adult here tonight, that Thou indeed would work that same realization in all of our hearts and lives. And we pray that then He would be our King. So grant Thy blessing to us. We thank Thee for Thy Word. Tarry with us, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. We're going to sing a few verses of 416 in closing, and then the prize-giving is going to take place. The school principal is going to come and bring a short report, and then prizes will be distributed. Mr. Dennison will go down, and he will hand those out as well. So we're going to sing a few verses of this hymn, 416. Oh, for a closer walk with God, a calm and heavenly frame, a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb. Where is the blessedness I knew? when first I saw the Lord, where is the soul refreshing view of Jesus and His word." 416. We're going to sing the first two verses and then the last two verses of this hymn. Standing as we do, so 416. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O Jesus, I am pleased to meet you, O Jesus, I am glad to meet you. ♪ So shall my love be lost when fall ♪ ♪ And answer me my prayer ♪ ♪ And leads me to the light of day ♪