CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?

1. "Phillip found Nathanael and said to him, "we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
2. And Nathanael said to him, "CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" Phillip said to him, "Come and see."
   John 1:45,46 (NKJV)

• Nazareth did not possess a good reputation, as reflected in the question of Nathanael.

• One Bible Dictionary says: "Such lack of respect was likely due to an unpolished dialect, a lack of culture, and quite possibly a measure of irreligion and moral laxity."

• In the same way, people may have given up on you, thinking that nothing good can come out of your life—probably because of your past.

• Nazareth may have not had a good reputation in the past, but God did allow His Son, the Messiah, to have His childhood/youthfulness there—and was identified with the place.
• Jesus was stamped as a Nazarene and it was foretold by the prophets (Matthew 2:23).

• There is a purpose for your life

• You may have lived a wayward and dirty life in the past, your image and reputation may have been marred; albeit, Jesus is waiting for you to allow Him to come in to your life (Revelation 3:20).
• He wants you to take your lead from Him—though you have been at the driver's seat of your life all the while, but He wants that to change (John 15:5,5).

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God."
2 Corinthians 3:5 (NKJV)

• Jesus will give you a new beginning and a hope for your Life—if you allowed Him to help you.

• The people of Israel could not have believed that the Messiah foretold by Moses and the prophets would come from Nazareth—but it happened because God ordained it.

• Whatever God has planned or purposed to do in your life would surely come to pass, regardless of people's opinions.
• God told Jeremiah that He ordained him a prophet to the nations ever before he was formed in the womb (Isaiah 49:1,5).
• In a similar way, God ordained you for something before you were formed in your mother's womb—you were not created to roam about in life.
• There is a plan that God wants you to fulfil, you need to discover it (Jeremiah 1:4,5).

1. "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
2. "BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB I KNEW YOU; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ORDAINED [appointed] YOU A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS."
   Jeremiah 1:4,5 (NKJV)

• Discovery of God's plans and purposes start with being born again—accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

• After you have taken the step of salvation, God wants you to walk in the light of His Word, that is, He wants you to live your life according to His Word—you live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15).
• And, as you walk with Him, He will begin to stir your heart, lead you, and direct you as per what He wants you to be and what He wants you to do.

1. "But as it is written:
   "Eye has not seen, nor hear heard, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED for THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
2. BUT GOD HAS REVEALED THEM TO US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
   1 Corinthians 2:9,10 (NKJV)

• If you are not submissive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit who came to dwell in you, when you accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you may not be able to Know what God has in plan for you (John 14:26;16:13).

• Therefore, there is a need to walk in the strong communion with the Holy Spirit.

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FREELY GIVEN TO US BY GOD."
1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV)

"FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD."
Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

• Note: After you have taken the step of salvation, then you need to pray that you might receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-46; 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14:18).

"If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM."
Luke 11:13 (NKJV)

• Ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can receive it now if you have not, even as you read this piece. Pray and open your mouth, you shall be filled.
• Fellowship with God by praying in the language of the Spirit; as you do that, your understanding will be open—you will be more sensitive, and be able to discern whatever God is saying to you (Jude 20).

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries."
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV)

• As I have said earlier, cultivate the habit of reading and pondering on the Word, and walk in the light of the Word of God that you know, fellowship with the Holy Spirit who resides on the inside of you by conversing with Him; as you do these, you begin to have the pictures of what God wants you to be and to do in your heart (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25).

• And as you take a step, begin to work on the pictures painted in your heart, the plans of God for your life would begin to unfold one after the other.
• Those who have given up on you, who derided you, looked down on you, would come back to celebrate you; when they see what God has started to do in your life.
• Those who have thought nothing good could come out of your life would now see the goodness of God in your life.

• Your life would not be a waste in Jesus' name.
Peace!