Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Notes

Report from music event last night

VBI starts this week.

Ordination for Chestley Howell on Thursday night

Next Sunday night we will observe the Lord’s Supper together

Luke 7:18–35 (KJV 1900)

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come?

or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come?

or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?

A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see?

A man clothed in soft raiment?

Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see?

A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation?

and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Introduction

The week before Easter we looked at the life of a man named John the Baptist.

We looked at his bold witness and considered what he might preach the week before Easter.

This week we see what he has been up to since we last heard from him.

/ If you were paying attention when we read you will know he got “locked up”

Who has doubts?

Israel had long waited for the Messiah to come.

And we wouldn't be surprised to have somebody in Israel ask the question, but we are a little surprised that it comes from the mouth of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist was from a great family

He was born to Zacharias and Elizabeth who were related to Mary, so he was sort of in the same family as Jesus.

[Ever have the family member who doesn’t seem to be paying attention.]

John would have heard the story of his leaping for joy in the womb.

He would know of Jesus’ virgin birth.

John’s dad preached one of the greatest messages about Jesus of all history.

Luke 1:67–79 (KJV 1900)

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; For he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, Which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, And from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life.

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord To prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Zacharias had faced his doubts and after a long season of being silent and overcoming his doubts.

Look at the effect this type of preaching had upon young John the Baptist

Luke 1:80 (KJV 1900)

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

John would have known the old testament prophecies about Jesus

John would have first been introduced to this “one who would come” when he read “Let us make man in our image.”

He would learn of the purpose of the “expected one” as he read about the fall of man.

He would have learned of him in the sacrifice made for the sins of Adam and Eve

He would have learned about Him in the picture of the ram offered instead of Isaac.

The Old Testament was filled with stories of the coming one and John knew it unmistakably Jesus.

John had boldly declared Jesus was the Messiah

Luke 3:16 (KJV 1900)

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John 1:36 (KJV 1900)

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

This man with an incredible upbringing, clear calling in life, and who once boldly declared Jesus was the Messiah; doubted.

John was not the first of last person to be here.

When discussing doubts and unbeliefs Bible students will often think about the story from Mark.

Jesus confronts a father whose son is demon possessed.

The boy was mute, had seizures, and foamed at the mouth.

Been this was since childhood, leading us to believe he was a teenager.

Jesus tells the man.

Mark 9:23

Mark 9:23 (KJV 1900)

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

The father responds with this famous, words that even thought they come from his heart and mouth they might as well be our words.

Mark 9:24 (KJV 1900)

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

It is reality but it is not an acceptable reality and it needs to be addressed.

Moses doubted God.

Gideon doubted God.

Elijah doubted God.

Jeremiah even expressed doubt.

The apostles doubt and here John the Baptist doubts.

The pivot from strong, life altering belief in the promises of God to doubt can be clearly seen with Peter.

Matthew 14:28–31 (KJV 1900)

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come.

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

We all know of doubting Thomas but what about Doubting Everyone Else

Thomas doubted and said he needed proof.

John 20:25 (KJV 1900)

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.

But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Doubt is simply a struggle to believe.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV 1900)

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

All temptation is rooted in doubt.

Yielding to temptation is letting doubt guide our decisions and not faith.

Look at John’s two options

You are the Messiah and I can stop looking and trust that my current conditions are part of your plan.