Are You the One?

Advent

Isaiah 35:1–10 NASB95

The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus It will blossom profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, The majesty of our God. Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes. A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Introduction:

Back in 2008, a movie came out that I really wanted to see. It was called “Wisegal” and it was based on true events. The movie was about a young woman who found herself widowed early with two children. Finances were difficult and she fell on really hard times. In the course of this, she met a man whose family was in the mob. I do not believe she knew he was mob in the beginning. However, he offered her financial security. He gave her funds to start her own business and in time, the mob wanted her to do them some favors. She was determined to stay legal in all she did. In time, things backfired and she ended up in protective custody. In time, she was found and kidnapped. At the very end, she was killed by her husband to save face with the mob.

I was so distraught. I had expected the feds to find her and that she would give testimony. The bad guys would all go to jail and she and her kids would live happily-ever-after. The end of the movie was so far from what I expected or hoped, that I tossed and turned with nightmares all night long.

Lets face it! There are just times in our lives that things transpire differently than we ever expected. It can be very unsettling. Today our story is just such a time for a man we look at as a hero of the faith. Look with me at .

Matthew 11:2–11 NASB95

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Pray

We all experience times of...

I. Doubt

The dictionary gives the following definition of doubt...

The noun form of doubt is...a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

The verb form…fear, be afraid

We have all been there from time-to-time.

Take a test and feel confident, but as you wait for your score you begin to doubt you did as well as you thought

You talk yourself up real good in a job interview, but as you wait to see if you are hired you begin to think you oversold your abilities

You have an argument with a loved one and as you wait to hear from them, you begin to doubt their love.

Thomas doubted Jesus was really alive and was labeled “doubting Thomas” and now anytime someone has doubts we call them a “doubting Thomas.”

The truth is...

A. Waiting and difficulties manifest doubts ()

This is normal and even the best of people have experienced this. Look at John the Baptist, the bold proclaimer of the Messiah.

Matthew 11:2–3 NASB95

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”

1. John had been in prison for some 12-18 months at this point.

Now it is easy to stay focused and bold when you are at work fulfilling a calling. Doing what you were created to do and being good at it. However, when you are not allowed to do what you want to do…When you cannot do anything but sit around, your mind begins to drift. You begin to feel depressed and start questioning your existence. That is exactly what happened to John. Not only that, but...

2. John had certain expectations.

John may have been a special prophet of God, but John was still just a man. He had a strong message, “Repent! Turn from sin!” He was expecting the same thing the other Jews were expecting from a Messiah. Victory! John may or may not have been expecting Jesus to overthrow Rome. What he did expect was judgment of sinners.

He probably also expected that as a prophet of God, he would have a long life and ministry. He may have felt bold confidence when he was first imprisoned that the Messiah would charge in and free him. Now it is 12-18 months later. His ministry had practically just begun and now he is sitting, unable to do the job he felt called to do.

Not only is Jesus not rescuing him, but word has gotten back to John that Jesus is eating with sinners. This is just as disconcerting to him as it was to the Pharisees. Hadn’t his job been to preach against sinners and sin? Why would the Messiah then take up with them?

3. John is assailed by depression and uncertainty.

When things did not happen as John expected, he began to question the way he had spent is life and depression set in. Was all he had done been a waste? Was there a possibility he would die without having made a difference in the world?

Life application:

Ever felt like that? Ever questioned the things you have believed and lived by? Sure you have! That feeling is often what brings us to the Lord to begin with. However, it creeps up again when the difficulties of life settle in. When we first receive Jesus as our Savior, we are so excited! We feel different! We know that something has taken place and we see a difference in our life. Then something tough comes along. We begin to think, “Isn’t God suppose to protect me from this? Why is He allowing this to happen?” It may be the experience of a miscarriage…the loss of a job…the death of a spouse…foreclosure on a home…the loss of a limb that prevents us from living life in the way we expected. Whatever the case, our minds begin to review our life and rethink it.

However, do not despair and feel you have failed God. God knows we are human and there are certain ways our minds work. Not only that, but Satan also knows and He uses those difficulties to create doubts.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

God often uses those moments to shift our expectations to God’s true purpose. We often get ahead of God and put our own expectations on Him. However reminds us that...

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

John’s expectations had gotten the better of him causing him to be depressed and uncertain, however

B. Jesus gave no condemnation for the doubt ()

Matthew 11:4–6 NASB95

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Jesus does not blame or rebuke John. Jesus does not get defensive and try to justify Himself. Instead, Jesus says,

1. Go and report to John what you hear and see

The blind see

The lame walk

Lepers are clean

The deaf hear

The dead are given life

And the good news is preached to the poor

This may seem odd, but one of the Jewish methods of teaching is called the Remez method. They would give subtle hints and lead their student on a journey for them to experience what we would call an “Aha!” moment. This is the way I like to teach. I lead with questions, and sometimes those questions are very difficult. The intent is to engage the mind of the student. Instead of telling them the answer, you lead them to discover the answer for themselves. I especially enjoy doing this with preteens. Preteens are just getting to the place where they are thinking more abstractly. They get frustrated when you answer a question with a question, but then they suddenly figure it out for themselves and their whole face lights up. Which is where we get the expression, “a light bulb turns on.”

Jesus is saying, “John, think about it a minute! Are not all these happening fulfillment of scripture? Does that not answer your question?

Here are some of the scriptures John would have been taught about the Messiah.

Isaiah 35:5–6 NASB95

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.

Isaiah 61:1 NASB95

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

There were four miracles that were considered Messianic miracles. In other words, only the Messiah when he came would be able to do these things. They are...

healing a leper (; Luke 17:12-14)

casting out a mute demon (Matthew 12:22-23)

healing a person born blind (John 9:1-7)

raising the dead after four days (John 11:1-44)

Why do you think the Pharisees were always around when Jesus preformed a miracle? Because certain miracles were expected of the Messiah. There had always been healings, but certain ones would only be able to be done by the Messiah.

Jesus is essentially saying to John. See, I am fulfilling the prophesies of the Messiah. I am the Messiah! You only doubt because your expectations have you looking for the wrong things! Allow me to show you the right expectations, the right things to look for.

Then Jesus says,

Matthew 11:6 NASB95

“And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

He is not condemning John, but encouraging him. Allow me to paraphrase...

You may have expected me to be different, but you are still blessed if you can accept Me as I truly Am.

Life Application:

Just as we see how Jesus did not condemn John for his doubts, we can be assured that he does the same for us. The world who does not know God likes to perpetrate a vision of God as a mean task master who is ready to slap us down the moment we show any weakness or failure. But that is not the God of the Bible. He loves His children. He knows are strengths and our weaknesses! He created us and yes, we are less than what He had planned since sin was allowed to invade us. However, sin does not have the last word unless we refuse God. God is at work to overcome the sin in our life and restore what He created. He sees in us the finished product. That is what His eye is focused on. We just need to trust in that love He has for us.

Now, as John’s disciples are departing...

As John’s disciples are departing...

C. Jesus affirms John and his ministry ()

Matthew 11:7–11 NASB95

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:7–10 NASB95

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

People have a tendency to build their spiritual leaders into giants and when they seem to fail, no matter how slightly, people begin to look down on them. It is possible that the people around Jesus were thinking or mumbling disapproval of John’s “lack of faith” if you will. Or perhaps Jesus just wanted the disciples of John to hear Him as they were leaving so they could encourage John. To let him know that God was proud of what he had accomplished. It may not have filled John’s expectations, but it had filled God’s.

People have a tendency to build their spiritual leaders into giants and when they seem to fail, no matter how slightly, people begin to look down on them. It is possible that the people around Jesus were thinking or mumbling disapproval of John’s “lack of faith” if you will. Or perhaps Jesus just wanted the disciples of John to hear Him as they were leaving so they could encourage John.

John was not to be judged for one weak moment. He was not a failure.

John was one who stood firm (v. 7)

Acknowledged the Spirit of Jesus even from the womb

Declared Jesus the Messiah before everyone at the Baptism and witnessed the actions of the Trinity there

John had lived humbly in his fame, not in grandeur like a king (v. 8)

Despite popularity, John stayed focus on what he was about out in the desert.

John was foretold about and sent by God (vv. 9-10)

Life Application:

As we look at John in this moment of weakness and hear Jesus affirmation of him and his ministry. We can feel encouraged that He does the same for us. One of my favorite Bible verses has always been .

.

Psalm 37:5–6 NRSV

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Psalm 37:5 NASB95

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

When we are serving God, we do not have to defend ourselves to others. Even in our human moments when we are less than perfect. God knows our heart. He judges us based on that and He vindicates us. We need to not look at others and worry about what they think of us, but instead keep our focus on God and what He is telling us. That is all that truly matters, because we never get mislead by God.

And finally,

D. God doesn’t play favorites ()

Matthew 11:11 NASB95

“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

As awesome as John the Baptist was…As awesome as his ministry was…he is no more important than any of God’s other children.

Life application:

Some people grow up to be Billy Graham’s with lots of fame leading lots of people to Christ. Your role may be to love your children and lead them to Christ. It may be they are the only ones you directly lead to the Lord, but that does not make you any less important or precious in God’s eyes. He is not focused on whether you have a big role or smaller role, only that you do the role you are given to the best of your ability.

Conclusion:

When I was young, I thought God had called me to be a pastor’s wife. When I graduated, I eagerly and with great faith, charged forth to NNC. I decided to major in accounting because I had taken a bookkeeping course as an elective in high school and found I had an aptitude for it. I really enjoyed it. However, I had no interest in being anything other than a housewife. I wanted to make my kids the clothes they would wear. I wanted to can vegetables and put up preserves. I wanted to clean house and on the side I would be involved in children’s and women’s ministries. I had it all planned out. I wasn’t worried about the school debt as I really anticipated I would meet my husband pretty quickly. After all, I was not dorm material. I preferred a home.

A year later I found myself back at home with my parents and a $4,000 school debt, a church that did not seem to want me, and family all caught up in new things they had become involved in during my absence. I found myself questioning everything I had ever believed. Unfortunately, instead of “standing firm” and waiting/seeking God, I wallowed in self-pity and made some poor choices which lead to my being an unwed mother.

I later realized, it is not wrong to have doubts. That is normal. What is right or wrong is how we deal with it. Instead of pouting, becoming bitter, or taking matters into our own hands, we need to get out the Bible and read. We need to pray. We need to seek and allow God to turn our expectations into His expectations.

Another awesome truth I learned is it is never too late to do so. When I found out I was pregnant, I felt I had ruined God’s will for my life. But there is no way we can ruin God’s will. God knows us. He is prepared for what we will do. When we turn our eyes on Him and wait, He will teach us. Our expectations will come in line with His and we will get our confidence back again. And when we do so, our “Joy” will return also.

Joy is another of our advent themes. Hope, Faith, Joy. Look with me again at our ending verse from last week as it expresses so well the themes of advent.

Romans 15:13 NASB95

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NASB95

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray and dismiss