Jesus is Drawing You
Key Passage: John 12:32
Date: April 20, 2019
John chapter number 12 in God’s word is here. And while you’re turning, I read a little story for you.
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed Will Alex standing in the lobby of the church, and he was staring up a large plaque. It was covered with names with small American flags mounted on it inside.
The seven-year-old boy had been staring up the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy and said, “What are you looking at now?”
Finally, the little voice said, “Pastor, what is this?”
The pastor said, “Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and young women who died in the service.”
So, they just stood there together, staring up at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex, voice barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, “Which service? 9:45 or 2:45?”
Hopefully we hold you that long this morning. John chapter number 12. We’re going to start reading verse number 32, John 12, and verse number 32 of God’s word. Would you please stand if you’re able to? And if you’re able to, John chapter number 12, verse number 32 of God’s word. John 12, verse 32. Looks like you’re there. You’re there? Amen. Good. Good deal. Let’s start reading. Jesus speaking here, he says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” This, he said, signifying what death he should die.
He’s talking about when he’s lifted up from the earth. He’s talking about what kind of death? He was talking about being nailed to the cross. He would be lifted up from the earth. He knew he was going to die on the cross. Now, today’s the day we celebrate his resurrection, but you cannot have a resurrection unless you have a death.
And the Bible here is speaking of Jesus’ death, and Jesus made this promise. He said, if I’m lifted up from the earth, if I go to this cross, he said, “I will draw all men unto me.” I may the Lord, we can pray all the way and out to Louis and Prime, just be honest with it, I probably would have to go a different way. But I just felt like the word came to go back to this verse.
And so for a little while, we’re going to focus on this truth here, verse number 32. Would you do this morning, please? Would you read it out loud with me? Let’s read this thing together. Here we go, verse 32. Here we go. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” We’ll focus on that truth for a little bit this morning. Would you pray and ask God to speak to your heart? I will preach your truth for a while, and I’ll ask you.
Let’s pray together, will you please? Father, thank you so much for your word. Lord, it’s such an important Sunday. People are here. Lord, I wouldn’t know what the world is like. I have to thank you for you. Father, I have to rightly divide. I can preach it like you meant for me to preach. And then, Lord, I do ask if you would apply the truth to every single person.
Father Lord, the young folk, would you speak to them? The single folk, the older folk, the little ones. Lord, would you speak to them? Give us what we need from your word today. And, Father, Lord, would you draw all of your people? Well, thank you, Lord, for what you do. So I believe in that.
We’re going to look really at three words from verse number 32. Just three words. And you say, does that mean you say the three words we’re going to bow and age and pray? Believe? No, it’ll take a little while longer than three words to talk about three words. The first word, if you look back at verse number 32, I want you to say, let’s read that verse again. Back to verse number 32. He says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will…” What’s the next word right there? Draw. The first word we want to focus on this morning in God’s word is this word, draw.
Now, I want you to imagine, if you will, Christ being on the cross. He was laid there. The third day, he rose again. He’s not there anymore. I want you to imagine. He said, “Look, if I’m lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.” I want you to imagine right now, Christ. These young men on the front row, Brother Warren, you’re in this section. You’re considered young men. Amen. That’s a good thing back there. These young men, God’s drawing. God’s pulling. God’s tugging. It’s a wonderful draw, by the way. It’s a draw of love first here this morning. He’s pulling, he’s drawing you. The only way he’s in Lowry Street, he’s got so many names: Lowry, 4170, Broad, Murphy, Brown—I mean, you name it. It’s got all the names. Talking with that, we’re not going to heaven…
It says, “Neither is your salvation [earned].” I went to finding out. I heard about the man that went there, and they were standing in front of Peter. And Peter said, “Why should I let you in?” And the first of them, he said, “Well, my mother-in-law was going to lose her house.” He said, “Wow, that’s pretty good.” “How long ago was that?” “About 10 years ago.” And the next friend, you know, he said, “Why is that you hear me?” He said, “Well, there was somebody walking across the street, a little child, and a big old semi was coming down, and they were going to hit him. So I jumped out, pushed him to safety, that ran over my ankle. I walked with a limp the rest of my life.” He said, “How long ago was that?” “15 seconds ago.”
These giant scales up there, you know, like the justice system, you know, and over here is going to be all your good works, every good thing. You actually brushed your teeth when your mom and dad told you to brush your teeth. It says this in James 2, in verse number 10: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” The Bible says nobody was ever good enough, and could not do enough good works to get into heaven. Of course, Raymond, I had a lot of good works. I still have. And the Bible says the wages of sin—that’s just one sin—the wages of sin, not sins, the wages of sin is death. That death is eternal death. You see, the old wage…
There’s another reason I think of why? Why does everybody have this pull? You see, he’s the one that formed you. Several places in the Bible, John 1, and one of them. Several places in the Bible says, hey, anything that was made, he’s the one who made it. He designed you to do something, to work for him. He has a plan and purpose. He uses you to help people and love people, to make this world a better place. And he draws—that is to say, he still continues to draw you to him. And the closer you live in him, the more you see his plan, his purpose in your life. You see, a lot of people, they live for reasons and different points.
Some, and it’s a sad thing, it’s not their fault, but maybe they’ve got a major wound in their life from the past. I think about someone very dear to the people, but they grew up very poor, many times not having enough food to eat, but it’s the dominating thing in their life. They have to have three or four refrigerators in their house. This is temporal. This is 70, 80, 100 years at the best. You know what? At the end of the day, it’s raw, and I get close to Jesus, and Jesus says, “Man, there’s something so much more.” You understand? Someone said, “Only one is done.” I was a teenager, maybe 50 years old, that would go. And I’m just, see, I’m 35 now, right? It’s been over 30 years ago, and it was on a cassette tape. The other day, the preacher prayed this before he even began preaching, and 30 years later, it still impacts my life. He was an old preacher, and he was praying, and he was praying. He said, “That’s what all there is. My life knows that he used to work in different places, but not…” He knows that the days that I went to work and I felt like God used me to help somebody—those are the days I come back, that was a good day. Was I made some extra money? Oh, because God uses you to help somebody, your friend. It adds so much more. And that’s why he uses every person. He’s pulling with you. Because, first of all, for salvation. He said, “Preacher, I’ve been saved.” But beyond that, he has a plan or purpose in your life. And the closer you get to him, the more he begins to live through you, and his meaning in life has become real.
Let me say something else about this draw. Our first word is draw. We’re almost done. We’re about to get to the second word, okay? So now we’ve got two more words to come. But this draw, he’ll only draw if the man wants to. You see, once someone has died, the decisions are made. They’re saying, “I wrote it just so.” That’s what it simply means that another happened again. Because we’ll never have that draw. You see, he’ll draw… Can I say this? Even once someone has been saved, someone is a born-again Christian, they’ve received the gift of God, nothing can change after they are a born-again Christian; they’re all the way to heaven. But can I say this? A backsliding Christian—a backsliding Christian can reject that call alone about the Spirit of Christ. It’s okay.
You remember the children of Israel? God led them out of Egypt, and then across the Red Sea. And across the wilderness, and they were about to enter into Canaan land through Kadesh Barnea. And what happened? That generation died in the wilderness.
The Bible speaks of in 1 John chapter number 5. The Bible speaks of a sin unto death. I read it for you. “There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he shall pray for it.” The lost person is talking to saved people. First John is all about saved people in the family of God. And a saved person can say, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no.” And God Almighty says, “All right, they’re not going to listen to you.”
My son was a little boy, and he would not listen. Hey, some of you’ve been around our church for a while, you remember those days, and you know John just wouldn’t listen. And fine, mere calm, he would say, “Hey boy, you come over here and sit down.” We can’t twist his ear. Preachers can’t twist our ear because everybody sees out and pinch him in the leg, you know, but we say, “Hey, you come here.” That can sin, sin, sin. Now, this is the Spirit of God. And God says, “All right, it’s going to bring up and sit down.”
I was at the last funeral home in Spring Hill, Tennessee, a couple weeks ago, some of the relatives of the people here in our church, and I was surprised at the preacher. I was pretty proud of it; he’s bold. And he said, “I’ll be honest with you, I think this man was saved. In fact, I think that preacher had led him to the Lord.” He said, he told me, I believe he said… I said, “All right, I’m taking over.”
The Spirit of God says, “The one girl… this draw from Jesus Christ, call when it comes, is a one.” If right now, that’s a wonderful thing. That’s because he loves you. That’s because he wants you to spend eternity with him in heaven forever and ever. That’s because he has plans for your life. He wants you to get saved and believe in church. That brings so much to me. Help me out. Our first word was draw.
You got to step with that southern action. Draw, okay? Here’s them. Let’s try it. Number one, the first word is… There you go. There you go. Good idea. Let’s get the second word, all right? Somebody’s got some ham or somewhere. And this Easter you have ham. You know, anybody have a hammer of it? Good, we’re going to these two houses right here. We need to get their address. I know the level there. Let’s get the second word. Let’s get the second word as you would. First word was draw. Let’s go back over there. John 12. Look at verse number 32. John 12:32. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw.”
This is drawing in the field. The transformation mankind needs is not found in education. They should not… It’s not true about to graduate at college. But from you could just educate and educated. Christ is the one.
The draw doesn’t point to religion. Five religions mentioned five times in the Bible, five times in the world. Only one of those times is mentioned possibly. False religion will send more people to hell than anything in the world. Being a Baptist or Church of Christ or a Catholic or whatever. And didn’t say a draw to the preacher; preachers are sinners, too. You see, when you get to Jesus… Remember that first of them, Matthew? A little bit. He said, “Hey, and I will give…” Somebody thinks that’s got to work their way to heaven. If you’ve got to work your way to heaven, my next question is, how good do you have to be? Sometimes us Christians are so busy doing everything else in the world, sometimes good things, but we don’t have time to get to Jesus. We’re like Martha in the New Testament. We’re just concerned about so busy, and we’re not a help to anybody. We don’t have peace in our heart. We can blame everyone. We blame everybody for the rest. Our second word is… Let’s get our third word. We’re going to leave the hand.
John 12, verse number 32, look back to there. John 12:32. He says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Jesus is drawing you to him, and it’s Jesus that’s doing it.
Now listen to me. We don’t have much time. I won’t have time to cover very good, but listen very closely. I want you to think about these words: If someone is not close to Jesus, listen, it is Jesus that they are resisting. We won’t complain to Jesus. Jesus is wrong, and Jesus has never made one mistake. They can’t blame. “Well, preacher, this happened, and they made me murder.” But, friend, it is sin that’s keeping them. My son is the one. Jesus’ eyes and the eyes of I ever sit in one time, and you resisted my word. Resistify. Manipulate. But, friend, if they’re not in Jesus, we want to know all we came to help with—the honest truth is, the bottom line is they are resisting.
Did you notice what he said? He said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw.” I could take you down through the avenue of people that have seen such horrible things, and God doesn’t want this sin, curse, sin messed up with wicked, sinful men. In the midst of all that tragedy of their life, they heard that voice and they accepted it. If somebody’s not living close to Jesus, they can blame everybody in the world, but the honest truth is, they are resisting.
The greatest days of my life, and the days that I felt the pull so strong—days I remember, days that stick out in my mind, the most precious days of my life—have been the days that I felt the pull so strong. Unfortunately, there’s been days I don’t feel the pull. More often than not, it’s because I got so wrapped up in my world down here I haven’t paid attention to teaching. Friend, the best thing you can do is when you feel that pull, you receive it. I need that. You get close to him, you get real close. And here’s the wonderful thing: the more I respond to that drawing, and the more I respond, it bothers me when I don’t feel the drawing. It scares me. In those days, I have to go to the Lord, “Lord, I’m not listening to you.” His mercy endures forever. Would you bow?
You know, there’s a goal. You said, “Preacher, I feel that pull even now this morning. I’m going to get closer. I want to respond.” I said, “Lord, I’m going to get closer.”
I feel that draw at my heart, my life this morning, my heart. I feel that pull. If that’s you, lift your head up. I feel that pull. I feel that pull. Many, many hands. Many, many hands. I feel that pull. Many, many hands. I feel that pull. God bless you. Thank you. Thank you so much. What a wonderful thing. God’s call. Thank you so much. My advice will be: respond. Thank you, Lord. I need that. I hope that I like that. Now I’m going to get closer to you, if I have to make a change or whatever. I just want to get closer to you.
But you tell him that this morning. I had you by the eyes and closed. You said, “Preach your honest truth, as I don’t feel that pull. I know what you’re talking about. I felt it before; I don’t feel it anymore.” I don’t feel it cold hard, and I hate to admit it. That’s not… All of us get there from time to time. “Preacher, I just don’t feel that pull right now.” That draw, I would flip my heart and just feel it off. I don’t feel it right now. If that’s you, would you just lift your hand? “Preacher, that’s me.” Just lift it up. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. I’m there. We’re all the lack of admitting it. That’s a good thing. You’re just honest about it. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Amen. I’m a preacher right now. I don’t feel that pull. I don’t feel that pull in my end. Let’s flip it up. God bless you. Several, many, many hands just want to thank him for putting it out. Could I give you just a touch of advice? Go to him, say, “Lord, I don’t feel the pull right now, but I’m going to hang around now. Not going to run away from you. And I’m asking, would you bring the pull that you in control of me? I need that.” Would you just open your heart? “Sitting back on fire. I would feel that pull.” He’ll do it. He’ll do it. He’s compassion. He’s mercy. He doesn’t forsake us if you stay away.
Two more questions before we’re done. You said, “Preacher, there was a time in my life when I accepted the pull of salvation, and I felt the pull. I knew I needed Jesus. He’s the only way to heaven, and I accepted Jesus as my only way.” Preacher, I haven’t been saved. I know that I’ve settled there. I felt the pull, and there was a time and a moment when I said, “Yes, Jesus, you’re my only way.” Would you say to the preacher, “I didn’t say before”? If that’s you this morning, you said, “That’s me,” just lift it up. Many, many hands. Many, many hands. Many, many hands. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. God bless you. God bless you. Put your head down. God bless you. Thank you for being honest about it. Some did not raise your hands, and I appreciate you being honest about it. God loves you. And right now, you’re feeling that pull, that draw from Jesus. It’s a draw of love. He wants you to be with him in heaven forever and ever.
Right there, you say, “I feel that pull, that draw, but I’ve never accepted salvation through Jesus. Now, I don’t know that I’m saved.” Right there, you say, “I admit it, I’m a sinner, and I understand there’s a penalty. I understand there’s a penalty for sin.” Right there, if you want to say yes to Jesus, to that drawing, that pulling right now, would you whisper a prayer in your heart? Where you said that, would you whisper a prayer to him: “Jesus, thank you. I realize you’re the only way to heaven. And right now, I say yes to your pull. I come to you, Jesus, would you save me? Please give me a whole way to heaven.” And raise your head. My head is still bowed, and I should worship. I never have, but I just accepted that pull. I just asked Jesus to save me. Never had before. I’ve just come to Jesus and asked you to save me. If that’s you, with your head bowed, I suppose, “Preacher, I just accepted that pull, that’s all, and asked Jesus to save me.” If that’s you, you took your head there, just lift it up right there. God bless you. God bless you. God… Anybody else, preacher, just prayed that the minute in the heart? Never had it. Just prayed that. Get that in my heart.
In just a moment, we’re going to stand. All of us will stand. I’m going to have a word of prayer whilst we stand. As soon as I say amen in that prayer, we’ll sing the invitation. It’s hymn number 293, “It Is Jesus.” As soon as I say amen, the instruments will play, and we’ll start to sing. At that moment, as soon as I say amen, if you say, “I didn’t feel that pull, I didn’t get close to Jesus,” would you come to an old-fashioned altar? Can you say, “I raised my hand, I felt that pull, but I’d like to feel it again”? Would you come to an old-fashioned altar, let him know that you want to feel it again? If you prayed and asked Jesus to be your Savior, would you come to that moment, old soul? There’ll be some men standing in front of the auditorium in front of each aisle. Would you come to shake their hand? Now, let’s explain a bit more about that gift you received from Jesus—heaven. Now we understand it’s the lady to get a lady. Would you come?
Let’s all stand and be with me. Let’s all stand. And that word of prayer, please. Would you say amen? Would you come and get forth to Jesus? Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. You drew us. Through your resurrection, you draw all men. Thank you for that, Lord. Father, help those that are saved and drew you for salvation to the distance, then come get close. Those that are just a little weary, draw them out of you. Those that don’t feel the pull, come draw them out of you. Those that could not raise their head, don’t forget that one day they will come to give some information, some help in that. Father, well, thank you. Rejoice in what you do. Your invitation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Would you come with the gospel to God? What you pray? That’s right. Don’t wait for everybody else. What you’re going to do. Our piano, would you come? Great times to draw by it in the invitation. You know, that’s all what you come and go by again. Baptism is the time to come. We’re baptized that summer coming. There’ll be steps. Salvation is the first step. Baptism is a step. Getting into church is a step. Reading your Bible is a step. Prayer. And he’ll lead you down the path closer, closer. Get him into bitterness. He’s so wise in his leading. You’re sitting down a verse. Salvation. And she wants to grow in the Lord. She probably won’t believe it back. A wonderful thing, and praise the Lord for it. So I’m going to ask her just one question when she gets in the water, if she just supposes it’s freezing, all right? She wants to do it, praise the Lord for it. I apologize. You wish… I just asked if she knows for sure she’s saved. She said yes. She knows of specific times she did. And so in obedience to the command of our Lord and Master, and upon your public profession of faith in him, I baptize you, my sister, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Burying in the likeness of his death. Rising in the likeness of God. I was extra proud of her for getting back. So let’s stand if you would please. Don’t forget the egg hunt outskirts here: newborns to three-year-olds in the back behind my office in the field over to the left, and the younger ones, second grade, down over on the right part of this. Great. Thank you for being here on Easter Sunday. Let’s just worship our risen Savior. Amen.
Original File: Jesus is Drawing You - Pastor Paul Chisgar