BE LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST

      Our scripture we will look at today is where John is described as the one to prepare the way of the Lord.  Listen to what Jesus says about John the Baptist.  In Matt 11:9-10, “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:” ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.

 

John was an amazing man he was definitely a unique man.  He was very much like Elijah.  He wore camel skin clothing and ate wild locust and honey, a very unusual diet.  John was also a man who had a special call of God.  Over the next Three Sundays we are going to examine nine characteristics that made John who he was.  Today we will look at three characteristics that John displayed and a great list that we can emulate, copy and exhibit. 

 

1.      Self denial:  The definition of this term is the denial of one's own interests and needs; self-sacrifice, or an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires.  In the Christian sense Self-denial is saying “no, to ungodliness and worldly passions and living our lives within the righteous framework God has established.  Self-denial requires that our desire to obey God overrule our destructive desires to find satisfaction outside of what God has for us.  In Matt 3:4, John knew that the only way to serve God is make sure that the world did not influence him but that he influenced the world.  Jesus said that if you are not willing to deny ourselves and follow him that we are not worthy of him.  Matt 16:24 – Then Jesus said unto his disciples “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  This is done by submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil and he will flee from you.  Denial of yourself, leads to purity, power and perspective.  Jesus said that friendship with the world is being an enemy of God.  I am advocating is a lifestyle where your first priority is God, His will, desire and goals.

 

2.       Courage.  Matt 3:7, 14:4, John demonstrated courage.  A definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens oneself.  A second thought is strength in the face of pain or grief.  He spoke fearlessly to the religious leaders, the Romans, the common people and the King who was Herod.  This courage would eventually lead to his death.  Courage is being willing to do something no one else wants to do.  It is being able to overcome your natural fear and do what needs to be done.  Courage in the things of God is realizing you are doing God’s work, in God’s way, in God’s will, in His power, and wisdom.  Being courageous is not being afraid.  It is overcoming your fear and being willing to do what is right, truthful, honest and fair.  It means confronting evil when no one else wants to.  It means being God’s person who stands in the gap.  Wikipedia says courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty.  We have all four of these things working in 2020.  These need to be courageously confronted.  People need the church to be the church.  It will take courage to confront the darkness and evil of this world.  Love does not allow selfishness, greed, and foolishness to prevail.  James puts it this way.  If you rescue someone from a path of self -destruction you are saving them from a multitude of sins they will inflict on themselves and others.   “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”  Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Be brave to stand for what you believe in even if you stand alone.” 

 

Obedience:  Matt 3:15, John did what he was asked to do.  In the Bible it means to "to hear," "to listen and then do.  Obedience is the supreme test of faith in God and reverence for Him.  He learned the truth of 1 Sam 15:22, that obedience is better than sacrifice.  Andrew Murray states in his book in the School of Obedience that God is looking for someone to simply obey.  God is looking for a willing vessel.  When you obey God the supernatural happens.  The Bible says that Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered.  God is not looking for a debate on his will what he looking for is someone who will say, “Yes Lord us me.”  You said, Yes, to God and no to you.  There will be many times you will not understand, or even like what God wants but if you do it you will prosper.  You need to be faithful where you are because in obedience we learn patience, trust and endurance.  John did and Jesus called him the greatest of all.  I thought this was an interesting point to close on.  John called himself the least and Jesus called him the greatest. A great lesson for us to learn here is that if you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.  If you want be first choose to be last