Good morning. Last week we
started the first in our series about John the Baptist. He was called the Baptist because two
reasons. First, the form he used to show
people had truly repented of their sins was water baptism. Then like today it has two particular
significances. This was an outward sign
of an inward act. Baptism in the Jordan
showed that you had a true change of heart.
Next, it was a public declaration of faith. You were telling the world that you were now
a follower of God. You were leaving the
old life of sin, sorrow and regret and choosing to live in faith, truth,
victory and abundant life. John was
actually not doing something new. This
was a common practice of Jewish life.
Secondly, he would have the privilege to baptize Jesus. John’s baptism was significant because it was
Jesus’ coming out party and the revelation of the God head. You have the voice of the Father who says
this is my beloved son and Jesus in the water and the Holy Spirit coming down
in the form of a dove landing on Jesus.
John was witness to this. Talk
about the boy who said John preached in the Baptist church.
1. Today we are going to look at three more characteristics of John the
Baptist that we would and should want to emulate and exhibit in our lives. The first one is John was a powerful
preacher. It shows in Mark 1:5, that he
had a powerful impact on Jewish society.
It says that when he started preaching people came from all over Israel
to hear him. So what makes a
powerful preacher?
a. Veracity -. Christian
preaching must first of all be true–true to the text, true to the whole counsel
of God, true in whatever else you say or cite.
Whatever is said, what is true and biblical, God can use that preaching. John was true to his called and God had laid
on his heart
b. Clarity - Truth is first, but if you say what is true but don’t say
it so people can understand you, it isn’t worth much. It must be clear, precise and concise. John had a simple message. He was called to call people to repent and he
prepared the way for the Kingdom of God.
Paul said that he preached and preached crucified.
c. Authority –When Jesus’ taught it was that he spoke with authority
(Matt. 7:28-29). Good preaching sounds forth with certainty, not because the
preacher is infallible, but because God speaks through him, making claims on
people’s lives, declaring the truth with boldness, taking courageous stands
where others cower in fear. John did and
under the anointing of the Lord and was changing society.
d. Authenticity – Does your
unique personality come through in preaching? Does your preaching sound like someone
talking about the gospel or calling people to believe the gospel? Are you an advocate for Christ or a witness to
Christ? Is there, to use John Murray’s phrase, personal, passionate, pleading
in your preaching? This is what I mean by authenticity. John was literally pleading with the people
to repent because Jesus’ ministry was just around the corner. Church we need this type of preaching and
living today. Remember Jesus’ coming is
almost upon us. We do not have
time. The last few months taught us that
how fragile things are.
2. Humility. Mark 1:7, John
1:19-23, John makes a powerful statement about his role. He was asked are you the Messiah. He stated he was a voice of one crying in the
wilderness. When asked about how Jesus
was becoming more famous than him. His
response was, “I must decrease and He must increase.” Humility is the opposite of pride. A great definition is a modest or low view of
one's own importance. This is a great
one, freedom from pride or arrogance.
You know what your role and why.
Remember if you want to great in God’s kingdom learn to be the servant
of all. To be first you have to be
last. Jesus used the parable of the
banquet as an example.
a. I wish to share two scriptures that put it beautifully. “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a
grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which
binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14”
b. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but
each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one
another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
John did this and we should as well.
3. Burning Zeal. John 5:35. John was zealous for God. He wanted people to repent. He knew that only repentance can keep them
from judgment, sin and eternal damnation.
Zeal means great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an
objective. In John’s case it was for
righteousness, truth, his mission and for the preparation of the Kingdom of
God. He was called to prepare the way
for Jesus. He knew his role,
responsibility, objective, goal and mission.
Lots of people demonstrate zeal.
For the child of God we have two objectives. We are to love and tell others about
Jesus. It is not rocket science. Our zeal comes directly from the time we
spend in prayer, the word, going to his house and telling others I can tell a
person’s level of commitment and zeal by these four markers. These are measurements of zeal and
commitment. Any of these out of balance
and you are in trouble. Here is
something you may not want to hear but it is so true. If you don’t pray, read the Bible, go to
church or share your faith you are already backsliding. This is not easy to say but it is time for an
intervention. Time to tell the truth. The time of mixed messages, comfortable
sermons and easy outs is over. The
church is in trouble in the west. We
have lost so much ground. We have become
irrelevant. We are ignored, mocked,
scorned and blamed. We did this to
ourselves. The worst part is that we are
losing our kids, young people, young adults and young families. It is time for honest preachers. Time for zealous truth. I am going to say this. The Bible does not need to be rewritten but
re-read. Another truth, it does not
matter what your opinion is if the Bible says it, you either believe or you
don’t. I will not back down, back out,
back up, back off or backslide. Our
prayer should be Lord, “I am available
anytime, anywhere and anyway.” You know
why Billy Graham was so successful because he kept it simple. Let’s do KISS. Keep it simple saint.
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