John 1:48 “Nathanael said to Jesus, How do you You know me? (How do You know these things about me?) Jesus answered him, Before Phillip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you.”
I have been reading John 1 for the past week, missing for many years, the treasures that lie within, due to the need to speed read, as though quantity is more valuable than quality. One of the gifts the kingdom has given me is the ability to mine the word of God for treasures that are missed. The price of revelation knowledge is time, it takes time to listen, time to learn, time to hear what the Lord is saying, not what theology has said. While mining John 1, I met Nathanael, one of the disciples of Jesus and what I have found is speaking not only to me, but I believe to many in the remnant, who have found the kingdom.
Nathanael was an authentic Israelite, he was learned in the Law and the Prophets, he was possibly Scribe or Pharisee material. But Nathanael was overlooked, passed by, not seen by the system. As I was studying this, I realized yet again, how the system does not see people, it does not value authenticity, and it does not want to be exposed. The system’s main objectives are to control, to be followed without asking questions, to use people for the system’s purpose. So, with a possible call to ministry on his life, but a system that could not see him, for whatever reason, Nathanael, never stopped studying, never stopped being authentic, but was also never seen. How do I come to believe this, because of what he said, when Jesus encountered him. “Nathanael answered, Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.” (John 1:49) Jesus told Nathanael, I see you and Nathanael said, you must be God.
I have met many people, that the system does not see, but God sees them. They may not know they are seen, as they sit under their fig tree and spend time in the Word and prayer, in worship and loving others, but God sees them. I believe there are many reading this that have felt like they are not seen. They have a message in their belly, they have a call on their life, they have a passion in their soul, but they have not been seen by the system. I am here to say, this is a blessing. If the system sees you, it will use you to keep the system going, but if God sees you…! When you realize God sees you, you will know it, for you like Nathanael will declare, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!
Immediately after Jesus saw Nathanael and Nathanael saw Jesus as God, Jesus said to Nathanael, “Because I said to you, I saw you beneath the fig tree, do you believe in and rely on and trust in Me? You shall see greater things that this. I assure you most solemnly I tell you all, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man! When Jesus sees us, we see Him and then we get to see greater things. Powerful!
Jesus wants you to know…I See You!
Mouthpiece Ministries 
Precious Word!
Thank you Joan.
Lisa
Great and powerful revelations, grace to you dear.
Thank you sir for your kind and generous words.
Lisa
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been through this for the last 4 years; so much so that everytime I go to worship at a fellowship, the Lord allows me to visit but does not direct me to formally join through membership. In fact I, sadly, see a lot of sleeping churches. I have even cried before the Lord because I desire fellowship with kindred belief and passion. He has heard me and, consequently, gave me Psalm 119 this past year. It states that He, Himself, teaches us/me. I have heard the call to “sell all that you have and come follow me” and know that He is waiting on me; I am a single woman. I have not been shown where I am headed but neither was Abraham 🙂 Please keep me in your prayers and thanks again for the encouragement. IN HIM, Lisa
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for sharing your heart with me. There is only one head over the church and that is Christ Himself, so you are on the right track following Him. The remnant will find each other, so as you pursue the kingdom of God, you will find others who have a similar passion and longing like you do. Be blessed as you travel along with the Lord.
Lisa
Lisa – the articles “I See” and “The Barren Are About To Give Birth” have been two of the most encouraging clips I have read in a very long time….they go together so well. I tried to find your e-mail contact and could not….So I was wondering if you could help me with something (and this is a sincere question). Do you have any historical/other biblical resources that would underscore what you shared about Nathaneal? That is my question…and will look forward to your answer. If possible please reply to me privately to my gmail contact. Thanks and blessings!
Peter, to keep our conversation confidential per your request, can you email me at mouthpieceministries@gmail.com as I did not see your email. Thanks sir, looking forward to responding to you.
Lisa
I just read this on the Charisma Magazine site and I can’t begin to tell you enough how much this means to my heart – not only in timing as I have been struggling terribly with this exact issue of being invisible in my church – but more importantly that God chose your words to lay His hand on that hurt in my heart and tell me that He sees it and it’s going to be alright. Thank you Lisa, I’m bawling and snuffling as I type but I am happy to cry for my Lord. God bless you!
Michelle,
Thank you for being vulnerable in your response to me, I am honored to hear your heart. Many have been wounded by the system and one of the hardest things to do is separate people from the system, but pain has a way of making us lovers. I can’t explain it, I don’t like it, I hurt with you because of it, but one thing I have learned is that our God is faithful and He sees us. I am honored to know you and be on the road to healing with you. We will be made whole my friend. For He is God! Bless you.
Lisa
sermon: I see you ~ its funny cuz my son years ago brought me home one of his crafty displays he made in school. He wasn’t confident in any of his creations . But one in particular was a 3×5 piece of wood that he glued piece of construction paper on it. Then he put a little wire loop at top for hanging on the wall. What he put on it was interesting, he glued on one of those little crafty shakeable eyes and he wrote on : I SEE YOU (with that eye glued on). I chuckled and he’s 33 yrs old now. I kept it in a box all these years but I think I will get it out and hang that prophetic little picture he made on my wall for the first time. WOW I LOVE IT! Thanks for this word for I have always been invisible but have had great intimacy with my Lord. He has told me many things about myself (even given me a few knick names), about the church, and has much to say about the false shephards/pastors/leaders in his word. I have been severely rejected by my family, the church, social circles, and even the homeless. All my life I have been beaten and despised beyond words, especially during my acts of kindness. It’s been a hard life but I can honestly say now that I wouldn’t trade any of it for the knowledge and wisdom I have from the Lord ! And the intimacy with the Lord is incredible!!! Now I see how awesome is our GOD . All those times I ran to him and cried and cried on his lap then he would comfort me with his word. What I didn’t realize is I was getting to know HIM and grow up in him. I had no one else to run to but him. What a HUGE BLESSING that is to me NOW for I can honestly say that I KNOW HIM 🙂 and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world!!!
Dear Kim,
I am asking a lot of questions right now, and have been actually for years, because I see what you see, I hear what you hear and I have experienced what you have experienced and I know Him too. I am grateful for the hard times and I have had the system reject me too, but the LORD. What else is there to say, but God. He is a good good Father and one day, we will reign with Him on earth and in heaven. Thanks for never giving up on Jesus, even when others gave up on you.
Love you and your vulnerability is refreshing.
Lisa