Sunday 12th January 2025
Good morning, everyone. It's great to see you all here. This morning, going to be looking at that package from The Gospel reading from, Luke chapter 3, how much do you know about John the Baptist? What do you think the most important thing is that we learned from John, the Baptist that you can type in your life and you're helping you to live for Jesus more and see if we can find out this morning just pray and ask God to help us understand his word. Do you have any father? We praise you and thank you for your love for us and your son, the Lord Jesus for all that. He's done for us that we might know. You know, you with your heavenly father, have a relationship with you and your son, the Lord Jesus and forgiveness for our sins and Pace with you and your strength. In all the all the troubles that we had been out if we lost each other, as we look at your word this morning, we try your spirit may be working in their hearts and minds and I've been there, I've been asked so that we can receive what you have for us from your word and then go, I put it into practice in their lives, that we did HD more to your glory, to bring fries too, and I'm in everything we do each other up, Ryan. Jesus name.
Well, how many people who have heard of John, the Baptist think of him as a warm-up act for the ministry of Jesus, just the warm-up act like, I think he pays the plays second fiddle, 77, why is Ministry must be very important compared to Jesus ministry. Well, of course, Jesus ministry is the most important Ministry. Jesus lived, a perfect life of love, and obedience to God. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins once forever, and Jesus rise again, to give us eternal life and Rule as the king of kings and Lord of lords. But still still John, the Baptist played a vital Irreplaceable role in God's Plan of Salvation.
Jesus himself said in Luke chapter 7, John the Baptist was the crisis of the Old Testament prophets.
But that was what, John was a prophet in the line of succession. Of the Old Testament prophets. That is why it says in this too. If you have a look at the word of God, came to John's son of Zechariah in the wilderness. This is the phrase, the word of God came to is the most frequent way that the ministry of the Old Testament. Prophets was commenced such as that of Jeremiah and I desire, you can look in those light, it chapter 1 of the Jeremiah and Isaiah it says, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah
John the Baptist ministry represented the Revival of Prophecy in Israel, after assault of, about 400 years in which God said Nothing To His People, Israel, at all. John the Baptist had the privilege and responsibility of preparing the way to God, to come to his people Israel with salvation. All the gospel is quite Isaiah. 40:3 a voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for him.
Describing John the Baptist ministry. They quoted to declare that in the coming of John, the Baptist this Prophecy from Hazard was fulfilled and that God is about to come to his people Israel. To the set, the gospels, the gospel accounts of Jesus Christ. Begin with the ministry of John, the Baptist Japan away for God's appearance. God's coming to his people. And then what do we find? We find that Jesus appease Jesus, God incarnate coming to his people. God comes in the person of Jesus Christ to bring Salvation. Never coming of John. The Baptist was not some insignificant event important, I need to the people of Israel, the rod of Luke's gospel and his his appearance appearance of John, the Baptist in real world history in. This is why don't we by mentioning guys in power. So is ruling in the Roman world and the palace do it at that time. It mentions that Tiberius was Caesar all the Roman Empire. That the appointed Ryman, prefecto governor of Judea was Pontius Pilate. You mentioned the names of the three kings of the three sections of the north of Palestine. Most importantly Herod Antipas, king of Galloway. The one who in who's under whose authority was in his area? Jesus lived most of his life and perform most of his ministry and he mentions that the high price of 30 and Israel at that time was shared but an end and cautious.
Palestine is historical figures. Luke was sang this ministry of John, the Baptist was real and significant for all the world but why is it significant to the whole world?
Unlock the gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. John quite this is four and five of us 40. In addition to this three, Let me read those verses. He says a voice of one calling in the wilderness. Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths with him. Every Valley, shall be filled in every mountain and Hill made low. The Crooked Road. Shelby, come straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation. But fighting is versus Luke declared that John the Baptist prepare the way for God to bring Salvation for all the people of the world. To the Gentiles, the nun Jews Jewish people as well as those in Israel.
But what was the character of the ministry? That John the Baptist time to perform in the message, you came to the climb. Well, he kind of prepared. The hearts and minds of the people of Israel. By proclaiming the good news that God was soon. If hearing to save these people and the way to be ready for God's appearing, was to turn away from sin and Disobedience of God's word in Repentance. the kind with the, with the song of baptism, so people could show that shines hearts and Minds John the Baptist time to give the people of Israel, a new beginning with God. An opportunity to turn away from their own laws of rejection and rebellion of God and prepare themselves to receive the Salvation God has for them through Jesus. The goal of John, the Baptist ministry was that the people might change their attitude to God. And that Heidi is that flight out of their Rebellion against God, he wanted them to repent. To do a U-turn and move towards god with faith and humble of avoidance of God, instead of moving away, from God, while they would. But this regarding God and the way you sit out for them to leave, Is that baptism, was a visual sign of a change in their hearts and Minds towards. God was a visible tangible expression that I ever turn to God, through repentance and 5.
I meant. Why did the people of Israel out need to repent?
Well, go just coming with salvation that in that included, judgment on everyone. Who refused to accept the way God said out for them to leave. Without judgment on all the evil in the world, there would be no salvation for anyone.
God needs to deal with evil in the world including the evil in the heights of old people. Especially those who continue to reject God.
The way to escape that judgment is to turn away from the evil in their hearts and behavior. In Repentance and turn the god in Fife. John the Baptist knew all the people needed repentance to prepare for the coming of God. The seven John says, to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him. You brood of vipers, we warned you to flee from the coming Wrath.
You kind of on the people that God's Roth? Is controlled settled hostility against all. Evil was coming in judgment before he reveals is salvation through Jesus.
Interesting, Lee, the baptism of repentance John often. The people of Israel was the top of baptism that gentle or none Jewish. People went through to become a god, fear or a non-jewish worshipper of God. By using this app to some, John was assigned to the people of Israel. That would that genuine repentance. The people of Israel weren't even included in God's people. They were as far away from God and they presents type without repentance as non-jewish. People the ones that I despise
And it was too tall for them to climb. They are the descendants of Abraham cuz that would not enabled him to escape the coming judgment. Tell me about decision for the site produce fruit in, keeping with repentance and do not begin to say, to yourselves, we have Ibraham is Our Father for. I tell you that any of these Stones, God can raise up children for Abraham.
It was science them. That just because I would a sentence of I dream. It doesn't mean that God is going to be easy on them and allow them to escape the Judgment. We come before God as individuals. And national identity makes no difference at all. The John, the Baptist preached a message of repentance. John the Baptist message is just as relevant today. To everyone, including those who have decided to follow Jesus for the dynamite, a faithful God salvation is to continually change, our hearts and turn to God and away from the evil in their hearts. The loss of a follower of Jesus is a lot of repentance or continuous deciding to choose God's way. Instead of their I might Is not a negative morbid loss of continue continually thinking about way, we need to change our lives.
But just a, just a wholehearted attitude and willingness to turn away from the thoughts and behaviors that. We are clearly aware of that are not pleasing to God.
We don't have to spend all their time examining our hearts Racine, but God will show us his Holy Spirit. What we need to change. If we are opening I think we all know. What we need to do. We need to change in our lives.
Luke's gospel is the only one which gives examples of what John the Baptist means by repentance. And there's like John the Baptist said to the crowd that I should produce fruit in keeping with repentance. In other words they should be concrete. The height is that demonstrate that we are seeking to lead God's why? Directly to say to the people ask him. What they should do. How should we repent? To all the crowded in this. I, he said that I should turn away from greed and selfishness and demonstrate that they love their neighbor by sharing. What I have with those who are in genuine, need those who has to share with us. You have not. This is consistent with Jesus Second. Great, commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself and his Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them, do unto you.
In the crowd gathered to hear. John the Baptist beside the Jordan River. They were Jewish tax collectors and soldiers to People who use their position and power to oppress and exploit the People by illegitimately and falsely, taking the people's money and goods. I asked John the Baptist have I should pretend. You told them to be honest, and content with what they legitimately own would that real pie and not steal from the people.
In all of our lives, there are individual ways. Did you get the table? But we do in a professional what a life is like in which we can justify God's. Why, and where we, where we can turn in Repentance to live. The way God has set out for us to leave.
At the time of John, the Baptist, the waiting for the coming of God to bring Salvation. Did I, we know Jesus has come the first time to make reconciliation with God possible through his sacrifice to his death on the cross. But we wait for Jesus to come back to complete that salvation and judge all the evil in the world. Dumb ways to die. We need to practice repentance in preparation for the coming of Jesus in power and Glory.
I need to practice repentance and as we do, so bring glory to God it in a Lex alternative way of saying I am not doing that. I'm not thinking that. Why you changing the attitude? I'm doing this. I'm trying to get to this, cuz this brings glory to God. This price is gone.
John the Baptist head. I issued impact on the people of Israel. Andre are invited the whole society to some degree for God or Gods coming in Jesus.
Many of the people wondered if John was expected Messiah, who would bring Salvation himself, but John Hambly pointed away from himself to Jesus. You said Jesus the one to come the Messiah would come with much more powerful than himself. Can you tell me the baptism of the holy spirit that would change people from the inside and it would come with fire or judgment on the evil in the world on the evil, in their hearts.
And that despitefully prepared for the coming of God in Jesus.
Jesus baptism. If he identified Jesus as the Messiah, God's promise, saving King. so, this morning, We can be encouraged from the ministry of John. The Baptist that God's Plan of Salvation for his creation is being progressively. The field step-by-step and John took his his step and in God's plan, it's moving forward gospel and it hasn't come to a standstill. It's moving forward. We should we should know that it's moving forward. We need to repent if we stand still and think nothing is changing, then we will be caught out.
We could be reminded that we all need to endlessly prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Through ongoing and humble repentance everyday. And we can be pointed a guy into Jesus and salvation the King of Kings and the Lord of lords, the savior of the world is coming to restore all things and take us to be with him forever. I'm in the restaurant. Heavenly Father. We be surprised you for your servant your Faithful Servants to John the Baptist you came and did what you told him to do it proclaimed. The coming of the Lord Jesus of the of the time that you were coming and and you kind in the in the person of the Lord Jesus you could climb that the Y to get ready to Jesus. Is to turn away from the evil in their hearts. Sit in their hearts, in Repentance. All the way down a lot, that would repentance. It seems very hard and just not very nice to us. I just pray that your spirit my working out Hearts. How about this do they wear or what is n? A w. It's not pleasing to you that we might earn from that. Glorify your name as we do. So if I prepare ourselves for when Jesus comes back to bring them to complete their salvation, Tempe company comes back and glory and power to judge the evil that remains in this world that you would work in our hearts and Minds. We pray in Jesus name.
