From Baptism to Battle

Introduction: Anybody have a hard time being positive?

Family: Fitting in all the holiday parties and plans and traditions

Friends: Too many friends, too little friends

Politics: I don’t like anything that person says no matter what…

Weather: Too hot, too cold

Team: They don’t perform well enough

Job:

Leadership: I wish they would do it differently, then you get new leadership and you aren’t happy with them either

Spouse: She can’t cook, he can’t clean, he needs to take care of his teeth.

Kids: They don’t show respect, they don’t do their homework, they aren’t growing up fast enough.

Self: You don’t look the way you want, you haven’t accomplished all you have wanted.

the Church: the music, the pastor, the programming, I didn’t get what I wanted…

I’ve got news for you church family… “you don’t ways get what you want”…I was in the woods the other day…wanting a big 10pt buck to come out but it wasn’t there…it didn’t come…

In all of these areas negativity is rooting in one of the greatest sins most of us struggle with and it is found in these words of Jesus…

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Sometimes it takes a change of perspective or a change of focus in order to see the good in the world around us. Or to see the good in the things we are going through…that brings us to the next passage in Mark that we will be reading from together this morning…

Read Scripture:

Mark 1:9–15 ESV

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

1. Affirmation in Baptism

Mark 1:9–11 ESV

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

We learn at least two things from this baptism:

John getting to baptize Jesus affirmed the validity of John the Baptists ministry and message. Otherwise, JTB could have gone down in history as just another crazy prophet from the sticks.

Jesus came from a remote village of no reputation in Galilee. “Nothing good can come from Nazareth” Don’t forget that this was a remote place in the Judean wilderness. So in a remote place, remote man, insignificant village an event has cosmic significance where God speaks to His Son.

Don’t believe the lie that you aren’t good enough for God to use you! It is just not true. If God wants to, He will!

Jesus being baptized signifies the beginning of his ministry by walking the path that all men get to walk. Baptism. Modeling for us what it looks like to be baptized and begin a new walk. This moment in time marked the innauguration of Jesus ministry. All of Jesus ministry was for people, and that started at the very beginning.

Emphasize the voice of God affirming Jesus' identity, providing security in His mission.

This divine affirmation provides a foundation for facing trials, reinforcing that our identity in Christ brings assurance amidst life's uncertainties.

Baptism affirrms this…His identity and Our identity.

Jesus was beloved by God.

Not because he was from a small no name town. He was beloved because God says so. And Jesus was about to enter into a period of trials. Which means for Him and us that even though we are God’s children, we will not be sheltered from the trials that come our way….

When you accept the Lord, you have the right to become the children of God.

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Not because of who his mom and dad were. Not because you did all the right things. Earning recognition from friends, co-workers, and our community does help us with self-esteem. But there is something FAR more better and significant when God says, You are my BELOVED SON or DAUGHTER!

GOSPEL: Accept (Receive)-Believe (Jesus)-Confess (Share and Live) Do you want that today?

Those of you who accept, believe, confess and live according to Jesus. You are a CHILD of GOD!

Knowing who you are is important!

Loved by God before, during, and after we face trials. Understanding our identity will help you when the trials come. Knowing our identity Jesus prepares us for life's challenges by providing assurance of God's presence amidst struggles.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Application:

Jesus faced trials. You are going to face trials.

Examples:

When your job is hard and uncomfortable, when this season of parenting is hard, when you get terrible news from the doctor, when this year of waiting, when a business deal falls through…take heart and remember why God has you here and that HE has overcome the world.

2. Trials are going to come.

Mark 1:12–13 ESV

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Trials are no evidence of being without God, since trials come from God!

Charles Spurgeon

There are some who would say that trials ONLY come when you are away from God. But that just isn’t so. Jesus faced trials. Paul faced trials. Apostles faced trials. I have faced trials. In fact, the biblical record often shows trials as coming from God or allowed from God to help make us better, stronger, more resilient.

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Don’t get it twisted…Trials are NOT temptations. God does not TEMPT US! Trials are meant to strengthen us. Temptations are meant to harm us and cause us to fail.

Being led into trial signifies an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Application:

One of the things we have to have changed in our minds is the idea that our lives will be PERFECT when following Jesus. God is a good God who loves us and wants us to grow, mature, and be more and more like Him! He knows that trials and difficulties are some of the best teachers. If we were to prevent us from experiencing any difficulty what kind of God would he be!

3. Trials don’t have to break you, they can make you.

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

After the trials, Jesus began his ministry. One of the for sure things we can clean from this is that we need recognize that trials prepare us for what is ahead. Trials refine us.

Fiery trials make golden Christians.

William Dyer

Application:

That means when the season of life you are in is rushed, busy, filled and things are out of control…what is God saying to you in the midst of this overwhelming moment. Maybe the lesson you need to learn is to depend on him when everything is out of control. How do you need to LISTEN and SEE God?

When you are disappointed because you don’t have what you wanted, you are in a season of abundance, when you are in a season of lack…what might God be wanting you to learn.

RESPONSE: Conclusion:

Nobody chases after trials. But now that we know it is going to happen. And that they are opportunities for growth. What if we viewed every trial we find ourselves in from this biblical, eternal perspective. This trial is not meant to break you, it is meant to make you.

Instead of running and hiding, what if faced the trial head on and learned from it.

What if instead of griping and complaining, we asked ourselves the question, what might God be wanting me to change about my life.

What if instead of being negative, we remembered that as CHILDREN of God, God is for us. Our identity as a follower of Jesus empowers us to face life’s temptations with resilience.

Negativity. (Cloudy Days)

Avoidance. (Hermit)

Outlook. (See the sun piercing through the break in the clouds.)