MATTHEW 3 // THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE

We talked about King Herod and his reaction to the news of the First Advent

We challenged our core

I want us to think about the bad decisions that we’ve made

Yes, there were consequences

Yes, there was pain

Yes, there was regret

But, my question to you is, WAS THEIR CHANGE?

Matthew 3 NKJV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

PRAY THAT REPENTANCE WOULD BE A SWEET WORD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WE WOULD WELCOME CONVICTION. THAT WE, WOULD PRESS INTO THE FACT THAT THEIR IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS.

Matthew 3:1–5 NKJV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

There hasn't been much activity in the spiritual realm since Jesus’ Birth

IN FACT

Throughout all the Gospels, there is only one event recorded in the Gospel of Luke that touches on the childhood of Jesus

• During this time, only one event was recorded in the Gospel of Luke concerning Jesus

Jesus at 12 years old, was accidentally left behind by his parents

- Jesus at 12 years old, was accidentally left behind by his parents

And when they came to find him

- And when they came to find him

He was in the Temple speaking to doctors and asking them questions.

• He was in the Temple speaking to doctors and asking them questions.

Of which people were astonished and perplexed by the wisdom that was found in Jesus

- Of which people were astonished and perplexed by the wisdom that was found in Jesus

Fast Forward A Bit

-So now we fast forward a little • Jesus has grown up and is now in his late 20’s • During these times, one of Jesus’ relatives, was called by God to do something

Jesus is now grown up and in his late 20’s early 30’s

It was at this point in History that one of Jesus’ relatives, was called by God to do something that no one was doing

- Something very unorthodox • John the Baptist, Jesus cousin, came preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Something that no one had done in hundreds of years

Something completely out of the norm

His name was John the Baptist,

And God had called him to preach in the wilderness of Judea

Why a Wilderness? Why at this time? Why the Message of Repentance?

- Why a Wilderness? • This was also done to fulfill everything that was said about Jesus

This was also done to fulfill everything that was said about Jesus

A place normally seen as a place of testing, trial, and sojourning

- In a place of testing, trial, and sojourning • John the Baptist began his preaching ministry

John the Baptist began his preaching ministry

- He wasn't preaching a hopeful message - He wasn't preaching an uplifting message

He wasn’t trying to build a crowd

He wasn’t trying to create Critical Mass

He wasn’t fundraising for his next non profit venture

He was preaching a message centered around The Kingdom but that was activated by Humility

He wasn't preaching a hopeful message - He wasn't preaching an uplifting message

A Message that

2

He was preaching a message centered around The Kingdom but that was activated by Humility

3

He was the voice of one crying in the Wilderness

- He was preaching a message of Necessity

The one preaching in a way that prepared and ushered in the coming Messiah

- He was the voice of one crying in the Wilderness • The one preaching in a way that prepared and ushered in the coming Messiah • The one who was rolling out the red carpet for Jesus to put in work. • The one making the path straight for Jesus to come through

The one making the path straight for Jesus to come through

- He was the voice of one crying in the Wilderness • The one preaching in a way that prepared and ushered in the coming Messiah • The one who was rolling out the red carpet for Jesus to put in work. • The one making the path straight for Jesus to come through

The one who was rolling out the red carpet for Jesus to put in work.

Church, John the Baptist not only fulfilled prophecy, but he did something that no one else was willing to do in his time.

John was willing to wrap his entire identity around preparing the world for the coming of Jesus

- John was willing to wrap his entire identity around preparing the world for the coming of Jesus

John relegated himself to living in the wilderness eating locusts and honey and wearing camel’s hair in order to be fully immersed in his identity

He knew the distractions needed to be minimal

He knew the distractions needed to be minimal - As he preached his message

As he preached his message

Many from Judea came out to him to be baptized at the Jordan as they confessed their sins

One thing that isn't noted here is who the crowd actually was

Where they church people?

- Where they church people?

Where they in church leadership?

- Where they in church leadership?

Where they bible college students?

- Where they bible college students?

What was the physical makeup of the crowd?

- What was the physical makeup of the crowd?

It was the Gentile Community who wanted to convert to Judaism that came out to hear his message and respond.

It was those that were far from God who were responding to the message of Repentance.

It was those in need of a Forgiving Entity that responded to the glorious message of the Kingdom

Saturday, May 13, 2017

See at this point, everyone was jaded about the coming Kingdom and its Messiah

Saturday, May 13, 2017

- See at this point, everyone was jaded about the coming Kingdom and its Messiah

Church was whatever, they participated, but weren't really growing in the Lord

They weren’t really going in

They weren’t going hard

They were attending, but there was no real sense of mission

- Church was whatever, they participated, but weren't really growing in the Lord

There was a missing entity to the Process of Spiritual Growth for Church 1.0.

• There was a missing entity to the Process of Spiritual Growth for Church 1.0.

John knew what was missing

• John knew what was missing

When God called Him to do it

• So he continued to preach Check out what happened!

He knew he had to be focused

He knew he had to relegate himself

He knew that in order to live up to the potential of the Prophetic utterance of Isaiah

He had to allow God’s Will to be centralized at his core

For Him, it meant a Distractionless Lifestyle centered around the coming Kingdom

For Him, it meant not worrying about what He was going to wear or eat

He had One Outfit

One Belt

A Strict Diet

He was the Ultimate Minimalist before Minimalism was a thing

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

Matthew 3:7–12 NKJV

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

LETS SET THE SCENE

John is preaching a very different message

A message encouraging change because change is coming

- A message encouraging change because change is coming

A message encouraging people to repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand

- A message encouraging people to repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand

IT WAS NEAR

• It is near • It is fast approaching • It has come to be joined together with its people

IT WAS FAST APPROACHING

ON ONE SIDE OF THE JORDAN

• Gentiles are coming out by the droves in response to this message - Those who were far from God are being drawn by the Lord

Gentiles are coming out by the droves to hear this message

The Message that

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Those who were far from God are going to have an opportunity to draw near

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN

- Those who knew not the Lord,

Those who were not His People

- Those who were not His People

Are responding to this message

You have JadedChurch.COM

• Are responding to this message

The Leadership of Church 1.0

Its a glorious scene of repentance

• Its a glorious scene of repentance

They come on the scene and John notices that they are not stoked on what is going on

- But the Church 1.0 Leadership is not happy and John knows it. - John tells them

SO JOHN, BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, CALLS THEM OUT

“You Brood of Vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come”

Or “Why are you even here, nobody has ever asked you to repent of anything, because according to you, there is no need for repentance”

BUT SINCE YOU ARE HERE:

However, since you are here

Bear fruits worthy of repentance

- Bear fruits worthy of repentance

Or as the NLT puts it

- Or as the NLT puts it

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

• “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

Or “Show me the fruit of your repentance. Prove to us here, the fruit and value of repentance.”

- Or “Show me the fruit of your repentance. Prove to us here, the fruit and value of repentance.”

“Oh and by the way, don't even think about bringing up your ancestry”

Oh and by the way, don't even think about bringing up your ancestry

Im talking about you

- Im talking about you

Im talking about your walk with God

- Im talking about your walk with God

Im talking about your spiritual growth

- Im talking about your spiritual growth

Im not asking about Abraham’s Tree

- Im not asking about Abraham’s Tree • Im talking about your tree

Im talking about your tree

Because here is the deal

- Because here is the deal • God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these very stones

God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these very stones

- Which sidetone, would have been amazing for Abraham to hear, since he was struggling with infertility.

Which sidetone, would have been amazing for Abraham to hear, since he was struggling with infertility.

• Even now the Ax is being laid to the root

Even now the Ax is being laid to the root

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Or, your whole argument of Ancestral Salvation is about to be tore down

Saturday, May 13, 2017

And you will have to respond to a greater event than that by which your whole spiritual journey hinges on.

Saturday, May 13, 2017 - Or, your whole argument of Ancestral Salvation is about to be tore down

- And you will have to respond to a greater event than that by which your whole spiritual journey hinges on.

The truth was that God’s people were supposed to be a fruitful people

• The truth was that God’s people were supposed to be a fruitful people

However, the more and more they allowed sin to make itself at home

- However, the more and more they allowed sin to make itself at home

The less and less fruitful they became

- The less and less fruitful they became

John could have been nice about it

• John could have been nice about it - But he needs to be very stern with these cats - He says

But he needs to be very stern with these cats

He says

• Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. - So the question is “What is good fruit?:” - Lets go back to what he said in verse 8

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.

So the question is “What is good fruit?:

Lets go back to what he said in verse 8

• The fruit that John is referring to is the fruit of Repentance.

The fruit that John is referring to is the fruit of Repentance.

- So if you study the bible contextually and you let scripture interpret scripture

So if you study the bible contextually and you let scripture interpret scripture

- If we are not producing fruit through repentance, we will be thrown in the fire

If we are not producing fruit through repentance, we will be thrown in the fire

- Like any good preacher, John the Baptist balances the Bad News with the Good News

Like any good preacher, John the Baptist balances the Bad News with the Good News

• He says

He says

I am here to baptize you with water unto repentance

- I am here to baptize you with water unto repentance

But, this is all in preparation

- But, this is all in preparation

Because the one that comes after me,

- Because the one that comes after me,

Who, by the way, has sandals that I am not even worthy to tie

• Who, by the way, has sandals that I am not even worthy to tie

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

- He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

In this passage Fire can be seen in 3 different ways

• In this passage Fire can be seen in 3 different ways - If you are a believer, Fire can be a good thing

If you are a believer, Fire can be a good thing

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A Refining thing

• A Refining thing

If you don't believe in Jesus

- If you don't believe in Jesus

Fire can be a bad thing, an element of judgement

• Fire can be a bad thing, an element of judgement

If you want more of Jesus and are tired of settling for just enough to go to Heaven

- If you want more of Jesus and are tired of settling for just enough to go to Heaven

Fire can be a great thing

For in the baptism of the Holy Spirit we recognize the greatest characteristic Fire can ever have

Which is a burning passion for more of Jesus in our lives.

- Which is a burning passion for more of Jesus in our lives.

Church, we have the ability to do so much in the name of Jesus

- Church, we have the ability to do so much in the name of Jesus • But sometimes, it is other things that take priority

But sometimes, it is other things that take priority

- This isn't something new

This isn't something new

- It was happening even during the times of jesus • John wasn't cool with it, and neither was Jesus

It was happening even during the times of jesus

John wasn't cool with it, and neither was Jesus

But the Pharisees were in the business of creating an external spiritual facade at the expense of the internal beauty brought forth by repentance

- But the Pharisees were all about the business of spiritual things at the expense of repentance.

John goes on to explain what Jesus would do

- John goes on to explain what Jesus would do

He says

• He says

His Winnowing Fan is in his hand

- His Winnowing Fan is in his hand

As He would pitch it into the wheat and toss it in the air

- As He would pitch it into the wheat and toss it in the air

The Chaff would fall off, while the Wheat fell to the ground

• The Chaff would fall off, while the Wheat fell to the ground

As he would clean the threshing floor

- As he would clean the threshing floor

He would gather all the wheat into the barn

• He would gather all the wheat into the barn

But the chaff

- But the chaff

The stuff that didn't matter

• The stuff that didn't matter • The tree that doesn't bear good fruit • The works that don't point to a repentant heart

The tree that doesn't bear good fruit

The works that don't point to a repentant heart

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These are the chaff that will burn with unquenchable fire

Saturday, May 13, 2017

What John the Baptist was doing was preparing the world to encounter Jesus

Saturday, May 13, 2017 - These are the chaff that will burn with unquenchable fire

What John the Baptist was doing was preparing the world to encounter Jesus

He wanted them to realize that no one is far enough from God that God cant reach them.

He wanted them to know that Jews and Gentiles needed Jesus equally

When Church Leadership thought that Judgement would only come to its enemies

They were thoroughly wrong

Their perception of the Messiah was so skewed that they forgot that they too were in need of a Savior.

- They were thoroughly wrong

SO WHERE WAS JESUS

Matthew 3:

Matthew 3:13–17 NKJV

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

- Their perception of the Messiah was so skewed that they forgot that they too were in need of a Savior.

During this time Jesus came to John to be baptized by Him

During this time Jesus came to John to be baptized by Him • For Jesus to do this, was not only humbling for John

For Jesus to do this, was not only humbling for John

It would be a very confusing for him

- It would be a very confusing for him

If you were there among the crowd, you too would be perplexed

- If you were there among the crowd, you too would be perplexed

If you were a Jew, you were wondering why the so-called Messiah was numbered amongst the gentiles

- If you were a Jew, you were wondering why the so-called Messiah was numbered amongst the gentiles

If you were a Gentile, you were wondering why the so-called Messiah was standing in line with you

- If you were a Gentile, you were wondering why the so-called Messiah was standing in line with you

For he had nothing to repent of

•For he had nothing to repent of

What do you do with a Holy Savior, standing in line to be baptized among Unholy People

- What do you do with a Holy Savior, standing in line to be baptized among Unholy People?

Jesus, in his first ever ministry appearance

• Jesus, in his first ever ministry appearance 8

Acquaints himself with fallen humanity

- Acquaints himself with fallen humanity

Identifies himself with those who are far from God

- Identifies himself with those who are far from God

Proclaims to the world that that he has come to relate to everyone both far and near God.

- Proclaims to the world that that he has come to relate to everyone both far and near God.

As Jesus was baptized, something happened

- As Jesus was baptized, something happened

Something that muted the skeptic

Something that calmed the anxious

Something that eased the fearful

As he came up out of the water

- As he came up out of the water • The skies opened up • A dove descended upon Jesus • A voice came from Heaven saying

The skies opened up

A dove descended upon Jesus

A voice came from Heaven saying

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”

If there was any doubt among the people regarding who Jesus was

This for sure would have cleared the air

• This for sure would have cleared the air about who Jesus was

MAYBE TODAY WE FIND OURSELVES IN ONE OF TWO CAMPS

The problem that we are facing is the lack of response to the evidence we have

If this really happened, no one really has an excuse to not go to Heaven

In line with all the Gentiles

• Where our walk with Jesus begins is here on earth • So what does that look like?

Or amongst a bunch of Self Righteous People

WHILE YOU WAIT IN LINE

Think about this:

Have you prepared your heart to receive all that God has for you?

Has your posture changed through out tonights message?

If you were asked “Bear fruit worthy of repentance”, would your crop be barren?

CHURCH, HOW IS THE WORLD GOING TO REPENT, IF THE CHURCH ISN’T PRACTICING REPENTANCE?

Here

We must kill the stigma that repentance is only for the unbeliever

We must champion Repentance as a Church

Repentance must be a sweet word among us

Why, because it ushers in the attributes of the Kingdom

You want to be Jesus People

You want to be Kingdom People

Well those people are a Forgiven People

They are a loved people

How they experience this forgiveness and this love is through Repentance

Church 2.0 Started with this reality

Peter said

Acts 3:19 NKJV

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

MATTHEW 3 // THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE

LAST WEEK

THIS WEEK

TURN TO

CONCLUSION

MATTHEW 3 // THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE

LAST WEEK

THIS WEEK

TURN TO

CONCLUSION

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