Sermon Tone Analysis
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I like to preach in series.
I feel like we can stay on a particular topic for several weeks.
Last week we just finished a series on Prayer.
Next week we will begin a series on Following Jesus.
But, I also like to have a single sermon placed in amongst series so that I can give you a lesson that is not on one particular subject.
It may be something that God is dealing with me on or it could be something that I believe will benefit your life during a particular season that we may all be going through.
So, today, we are not in a series nor are we beginning a new series, but I want to bring a message to you that I believe will benefit you in your personal walk.
Today we are going to look at the life of a man that prepared the way for Jesus to come and minister on this earth.
That man’s name is John the Baptist.
I want to give you 7 quick lessons that we can learn from John the Baptist’s life.
If you have your Bibles go with me to the book of Matthew.
I want to read from chapter 3 beginning at verse 1.
This is my main text but there are other passages that we will look at.
From this passage of scripture, we learn many things about John the Baptist.
We could say that he is a very unusual man for that time.
Some people may have even thought he was a bit strange.
We know that he wore camels hair on his back with a leather belt around his waist.
He ate wild honey and locusts.
Does anyone here want to go on the John the Baptist diet?
The honey no so bad but I don’t want to be eating any locusts any time soon.
We know that he wasn’t afraid of mixing words with the religious elite and he was the one that Jesus chose to baptize Him.
But I believe that you and I can learn many things from the life of John the Baptist.
This morning I’m going to give you 7 lessons that we can learn from the life of John the Baptist.
1. God Always has a Plan
I don’t know what some of you may be going through right now.
Maybe you are struggling thinking that God isn’t listening to you when you pray or you are hurting from family issues or maybe you are struggling financially.
Let me reassure you that God always has a plan.
Never once has he ever failed you.
He has a plan.
There was a prophesy that was foretold of John the Baptist over 600 years before he was born.
In fulfilling this prophecy God did the impossible.
Go with me to Luke chapter 1.
Zechariah and Elizabeth thought they couldn’t have children.
But God had a plan.
God’s plan was to use them to fulfill a prophecy that was spoken during the time of Isaiah.
God always has a plan.
No matter what you are filling right now.
No matter what you are going through.
Even though you may not understand it.
I want you to know that God has a plan and He always has a plan.
Don’t give up.
Don’t lose heart.
Just trust in God.
2. To Repent
The basic meaning of repentance is “to turn around” or to make a complete change.
It is turning away from evil and turning toward God through faith in Christ.
When you truly repent of your sins that repentance leads you to spiritual salvation and a personal relationship with God.
You no longer make decisions on your own but you choose to follow the plan that God has laid out for you.
Repentance is an opportunity for all sinners to make the choice to turn from sin and turn to God.
This is made possible by the grace of God.
Something that none of us deserve.
John told us to repent.
Today I am telling you that if you have not confessed your sins to Jesus, then do so today.
Repent of your sins and turn from your old way of doing things and start a new life in Christ today.
3. Be Willing to Preach the Word.
John was not afraid to preach the gospel.
He preached God’s Word to anyone that would listen and he even called out the religious elites and let them know that they weren’t exempt from sin either.
He let them know that they had to repent.
As you grow in your faith you need to be prepared to preach the word.
I don’t mean to stand behind a pulpit and preach but you need to know scripture so that when someone comes to you with questions you can lead them to the answers.
Don’t be shy when it comes to the Gospel message.
4. Always Give Christ First Place
There was a time in John’s ministry that some of John’s disciples started following Jesus instead.
They were going to his teaching.
Jesus was baptizing right along with John.
Some of John’s followers came to him and said...
This was a time that John could have become jealous and told the people to stop going to Jesus.
You guys are my disciples.
I’m the one teaching you, but John didn’t say that because he knew that Jesus much greater and it was Jesus’ time to be honored.
Look at what John said in John 3:29-30
John knew what was important.
He knew that Jesus must be exalted.
John knew that he wasn’t worthy to even hold the sandals of Jesus.
He said, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
That means for you and me that everything we do is about Jesus.
It doesn’t matter what our opinion is.
It doesn’t matter what our favorite song is or our favorite verse.
It doesn’t matter what color we think the carpet should be.
All that matters is that I decrease and Jesus increase.
I must become less and He must be greater.
Everything that we do should point people to Jesus.
You and I don’t get our way.
We only get God’s way.
This is one of the most important lessons that John’s life taught us.
You and I must decrease and Jesus must increase.
If you get nothing else that I teach you today, get that.
I must decrease and Jesus must increase.
Can we say that together?
I MUST DECREASE AND JESUS MUST INCREASE.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Stand for What is Right
When you read about the end of John’s life you find out that he was beheaded for his testimony.
He became the first martyr for the Gospel’s sake.
He sealed his testimony with his blood.
During his time King Herod was the ruler.
King Herod decided that he wanted his brother’s wife for himself.
It was John that called him out on this.
John rebuked the king and told him that it was not lawful for him to live in adultery.
John was not ashamed to deliver God’s message just as it had been given to him.
He stood his ground and told the people the truth that they didn’t always want to hear.
Look at verse 7 of our text.
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