The Spirit & Power of Elijah (Lk. 1:17)

Introduction

· Last week we concluded a study on the prophet Elijah from 1&2 Kings. There are still a couple passages however that I want to bring your attention. This week, we will study briefly how John the Baptist continues the ministry of Elijah, and then next time, we will look at a special moment in the life of Jesus when he reveals himself in glory with Moses standing on one side, and Elijah stands on the other side. That is what is called the Transfiguration. I want to look at these passages while Elijah is still fresh in our minds, and now that he has become quite endeared to us.

· We’ll begin today by opening to the last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi. Malachi was the last of the OT prophets. He ministered around 400 BC, and then God went silent. There was no new revelation for 400 years.

· Back in the early days of television, a TV station would conclude their programming late in the evening and then sign off for the night. The national anthem might be played, or they might show a preview of the next day’s programming. Then you would see that test pattern of colored bars upon the screen with a long beep, followed by static. Malachi is like the station signing off. God has said that he is going to say, and now, no new revelation will be given for 400 years. But before he signs off, he tells what signs will accompany the rise of the Morning Star.

· Malachi 3:1“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

· Malachi 4:5–6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

· From that day forward, the Jews began to wait expectantly for the return of the prophet Elijah. Even today, at Passover, they have a special cup for him and reserve a special seat at the table. And they have a chair for him during brit milah, the circumcision ceremony. They think of Elijah as sometimes coming to help in times of deep distress. For example, when Jesus hung on the cross, he quoted from Ps 22 “Eli, Eli” and some people mistakenly thought he was crying out to Elijah for help.

John the Baptist

· When we come over to the NT, the very first event where God breaks the silence, is when an angel of the Lord meets the priest Zecharias in the temple. Luke 1:13–17 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. … 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.”

· What does this mean, “the spirit and power of Elijah”? Well, last week, we saw Elisha ask Elijah for a “double portion of his spirit.” I think it was a way of describing the kind of faith Elijah had, his boldness, and his authority before Israel and even before kings. The same power that characterized Elijah, and Elisha after him, would now rest upon a new prophet, a man named John. His attitude, his authority, and even his clothing of camel hair and a leather belt. We might say that John was Elijah “in spirit” (WP). It was like Elijah was walking the earth again and had picked up his prophetic ministry right where he left off.

· John the Baptist is a man of huge importance. His miraculous birth. His peculiar lifestyle. His message of repentance. His activity of baptizing. I am surprised there are not more sermons preached on him, and books written on him. As one scholar wrote, “Apart from Jesus, John is probably the most theologically significant figure in the gospels.”

· In Luke 7, Jesus talks about the ministry of John. Luke 7:24–28 …“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ [a quote from Malachi 3] 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

· Much that John can teach us. But let me make two challenges to you this morning.

Examine the Evidence for Christianity.

· Jesus makes some very bold claims. He says that he is the embodiment of truth, and that apart from him, no one can go to heaven. He says he created all of the universe. He claims to have the power to forgive. He says he is the unique Son of God, making him equal with God. John 1:29–30 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ John 5:31–36 Jesus says, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. [this is just a fundamental fact. It is by the mouth of two or three witnesses that every fact must be confirmed] 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

· Story of Josh McDowell. McDowell was a typical college student. He loved to party, and thought of himself as a pretty intelligent thinker. One thing was for sure. He knew Christianity was not true. But some Christian students on campus challenged him to actually examine the claims of Christ for himself. He accepted the challenge and, after much research, admitted that he could not refute the evidence for Christianity, including the many fulfilled prophecies, and especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He eventually wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict. (Morgan, Evidence and Truth)

Prepare for the Coming King.

· Last summer, our family had an opportunity to tour the White House with some dear friends. What an amazing experience! As we were exiting the front lawn, secret service closed the gate and said we would have to wait a few minutes because a foreign dignitary was about to arrive. It was the Emir of Qatar. His full formal title is "His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar." Soon we heard sirens and watched a long entourage of motorcycles and black SUVs in front of us. I posted a photo last night on Facebook. We got to see the arrival of a king.

· John was like a royal herald, who in the spirit and power of Elijah, called out to the people to "Make way for the king"!

· Matthew 3:1f In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, for he who is coming after me is mightier than I…He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

· How do you prepare for a king? You clear the path. You get your house in order. You do everything possible to give a reception worthy of royalty. But do you realize Jesus is the ultimate King who will come to earth? Jesus came right on schedule, and soon, he will come again -- this time in full glory. Live your life in such a way that you are ready for him to return at any moment. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

· Perhaps someone here is not ready for his return. Would you like to make yourself ready today? Listen to the message of John. Repent and believe in the gospel. Turn from your sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away your sin by dying in your place. Set your eyes upon him. Through his death cross and resurrection, you can be saved and forgiven. Only then will you be prepared at the arrival of the king.