A message to live for

John 1:19–23 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Jesus said that no one born from a women’s womb was greater than John, He is a example to be followed, a man who became the message he was called to preach, as a house of prayer that should be our main goal! Become the message Glorious Day, tha He deserves our time and afection, that know Him and His heart is more valuable than things of this world

We are not called only to speak words about Jesus.

We are called to become the message we preach with our own lives.

1. Becoming the Message We Preach (John the Baptist)

A. John was a man who became his message

John 1:6–8 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Luke 1:15–17 ESV

15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

John did not only talk about repentance and preparation. His lifestyle matched his message:

Lived in the wilderness. (Place of prayer, apart from the “religious system”, depending on God’s provision

Simplicity as a lifestile.

Bold words, faithfulness to his message, not seeking popularity.

2. John’s message and lifestyle were the same (faithfulness to one message only)

Matthew 3:1–3 ESV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

One Message, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” that leads to one lifestyle In the wilderness, away from comfort and human praise. And that made him:

A voice, not the center.

A witness, not the light.

Once we understand that, there are some questions that have to be made by ourselves:

A) If my message is “Jesus is worthy,” do my choices show He is more important than money, comfort, or fame?

B) If my message is “Repent and prepare the way,” do I live in humility, holiness, obedience?

And if we embrace the message of the Worth of Jesus and His Second Coming as a House of prayer, we have to understand that God is not only using our mouths; He is working on our hearts, so that we become the message.

3. Perseverance in Hard Times & Knowing Our Identity in God

A. Identity: who we are to God

Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV)

The Father: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Said before miracles and public ministry.

Identity comes before activity.

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…”

Our core identity:

Beloved sons and daughters of God in Christ.

Not first “preacher,” “missionary,” “worship leader.”

B. Perseverance in hard times

James 1:2–4 (ESV)

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Trials → testing of faith → steadfastness → maturity

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Suffering → endurance → character → hope

God uses hard times to:

Strengthen faith.

Form character.

Prove that our hope is real.

When most of us become familiar to the House of Prayer message, we were excited, encouraged, active on prayer sets and meetings, not only to fulfill a calendar but with EXPECTATION in our hearts, waiting for a Spirit breakthrough, but with time we see friends outside buy houses, cars, have stable jobs, meanwhile some of us still raising support, renting a small place. and a questions like “Did I make a mistake? Is this worth it?”, it is normal on human dynamics get discouraged or frustrated some times, but on that very moment we must remember:

My value is not my salary.

My identity is not my job title.

I am a beloved son of God.

God called me to be a messenger.

With this identity, we can continue, even with tears, and God builds in us a strong character. When we feel like that we have to remember that our identity is on Him, and He is using this pressure to form us into His message.”

“I persevere not because life is easy, but because I know who I am to God.”

4. Living for a Message and for One Day (The Second Coming)

A. The message of His coming

Revelation 1:7 (ESV)

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him…”

Titus 2:11–13 (ESV)

“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

Revelation 22:12 (ESV)

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

Knowing that we can assure that Jesus will come again in glory, and every eye will see Him. His coming is our blessed hope, nad more than that He brings reward for faithfulness.

B. Living now in the light of that Day

2 Peter 3:11–12 (ESV)

“What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…”

Because Jesus is coming:

We choose holy and godly lives, our choices show we believe in that Day.

And as a people that is trying to become the message:

We live simple, faithful lives now, because we see future glory.

We obey now, even unseen, because He will see and reward on that Day.

We measure success not by today’s comfort, but by His smile on that Day.

Becoming the message = holy, humble, devoted lifestyle.

Perseverance = remaining steady when it is painful, because of our identity.

Living for one Day = fixing our eyes on Jesus’ return, not on short-term comfort.

God is not calling us only to preach a message; He is calling us to be the message.

In hard times, we remember our identity as beloved sons and daughters; this gives strength to persevere.

We are living for a message – “Jesus is coming” – and for one glorious Day when we will see Him