John's Prophetic Authentic Ministry
Notes
Transcript
I. The Prophecy of John’s Ministry vs 1-6
I. The Prophecy of John’s Ministry vs 1-6
A. Luke gives great detail so people know exactly when this happened. There is no question of accuracy or if it actually occured.
B. John had been in the deserts until God called him to fulfill his ministry.
And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
C. John fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy found in 40:3-5.
A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
“Let every valley be lifted up,
And every mountain and hill be made low;
And let the rough ground become a plain,
And the rugged terrain a broad valley;
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
And all flesh will see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
II. John’s Prophetic Preaching vs. 7-14
II. John’s Prophetic Preaching vs. 7-14
A. To be baptized in those days were done one of two ways. In the Jewish engagement ceremony you were baptized (they would call it a ceremonial washing) with your fiance to show the washing off of your old life. Or if someone was converting to Judaism. Being baptized for repentance of sin was a new concept, especially the religious Jews.
B. John tells them their heritage won’t matter if they are trusting their “fathers” to save them.
C. Judgment is coming for those brood of vipers for trusting in their own goodness and heritage to save them as well as leading others astray, and hurting those who were seeking God.
D. The tax collectors repent, and are told to not cheat anybody anymore.
E. Roman soldiers repent and are told to not steal from others, nor throw their weight around, but rather be content with what they’ve got.
III. John’s Prophetic Answer vs. 15-17
III. John’s Prophetic Answer vs. 15-17
A. The religious people were not coming because they were unrepentant.
B. All the outcast have been asking John what to do. But look who’s missing? The religious people! As John the Baptist calls them, brood of vipers. Because they attack and hurt, they do not help and heal. Jesus doesn’t want religious people, He wants real people. Let’s call the sinners to repentance and let the religious keep to themselves while we minister to those who are hurting from the vipers.
C. Jesus comes to light a Holy Spirit fire in us, not to make us religious, the religious will burn in hell.