Wings of Faith

Prepare a New Way

John the Baptist----the fore runner of the Christ

Repent---for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

1. prophetic message

His ministry broke the 400 year silence since Malachi in 5th century BC

People wanted to hear form God---werent choosy as to who

  1. messianic message
  2. people were waiting for the literal kingdom and ruler

    saw John as the deliverer of such---looking for a king like David-----what they got was far different

  3. preparatory message:
  4. Johns ministry told by Gabriel to Zacharias before Johns birth

    John stressed he was not the messiah pointed the way

    Prophets in OT designated the kings

    Considered last of OT prophets

  5. negative message
  6. far cry from what we hear today---nothing on positive thinking

    one of warning---Day of the Lord –time of rejoicing and of vengence when God would separate the True believers from the rest

  7. partial message
  8. got saved in "slow motion" in those days

    share gospel today---get saved right away--------back then they had to wait for Jesus to accomplish His death and resurrection

    those saved in Acts were God fearers already—knew God would provide a solution to their sins

    good news of the gospel begins with the bad news of mans sin and Gods anger because of it

  9. call to repentance
  • metanaeo----change of mind, behavior and remorse a change in our actions

    spiritual cleansing to enter the kingdom---not so much who is your father but in whom do you trust?

    Do you trust him to guide you in all? Have to know who your daddy is before you can have faith? Knowing who your daddy is not enough!

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    John the Man

    1. credentials
    2. compliment by Jesus---Mat 11-11 I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

      Extent---all of Judea came, confessed sins and were baptized

      His converts became Jesus disciples, one decreased so the other could increase----do churches do that today? I think not

    3. clothing
    4. camel hair garment leather belt-----what about preachers today---big cars etc etc

      locust and wild honey

      purpose to identify him with Elijah---Zacharias was told he would go forth in spirit and power of Elijah---thats what Elijah looked like

      it showed seperation-----not the man on the street----he came not to fix the mess but to create something new

      showed application—he preached true repentance would be compassion for the needs of others, no cadillacs or air conditioning here—be what you preach

    5. character------he was a man whose religion had him
  • strong convictions---was true salt, added to the wounds of sin caused people to repent----today we hardly call sin—sin---we function more like mud, soothing, like sand, add weight to the boat, don’t rock the boat

    his was about evangelism---fire and brimstone—not like today---not much urgency in conversion---similar to buying tires or washers or tv’s

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    must preach sin (salt?) and judgement as well as the good news---a way out of it in Jesus---not to be swayed by present day morality and politically correctness

    Importance of Jesus’ baptism, temptation and manifestation

    1. Baptism
    2. Was sinless, unable to sin, needed to identify with custom and sin nature of those he was to redeem

      Fulfullied all rightousness---divine from heaven, holy spirit given and testimony of the Father-this is my son in whom I am well pleased

      As well as Ish 53-11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.

      As revelation to John that Jesus was the Messiah----after that time John proclaimed Jesus as Messiah

    3. tempatation
  • to identify with the weakness of His people

    3 temptations were in reverse to Gods order—

    satan tempted

  • 1. Hunger—turn rock to bread God would provide in his own time, we are not to put God to the test and act outside His will
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    • was Gods will for Jesus to hunger we are too, in spiritual things

  • to do without cant be the will of God----do we serve just for personal pleasure? Spiritual is over the physical needs

    submission to His will cant be tested in abundence!

    Deut 8 2-3

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      1. Trust to care for him, throw yourself down, the angles
      2. Deals with faith—cant demand God to act—shall not tempt God

        Testing is not trusting God

      3. Worship him, Satan would give him all things
      4.
  • God offered an inheiratence, Satan offered a broken kingdom

    Nations in an uproar, not listening to God or obeying Him

    Satan—all these I give if you worship me, God seek me first, then all these will be added to you

    Gods order 1. Worship Him

    1. Trust and faith in Him
      1. He will provide our needs

        Today we have it backwards---worship involves submission

        Temptations are not sin but tests of our submission

        We try to enlist God in our service—is reversed

      2. manifestation---
  • to disciples----they came from John the Baptist— they asked where he was staying, he said come and see (follow me) Andrew, told Simon—Jesus changed his name to Peter, the rock, he was no rock but became one thru grace of God----------to people who just wanted to be with Him not necessarily get something from Him

    Nathaniel—Jesus said He saw him under the fig tree. Nathaniel bowed to him declared He as Son of God

    The wedding—water to wine—for benefit of disciples and those serving

    Those getting the wine just sat and waited—like today

    The new wine in new skins, the water vessels and served last, was not the custom then

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