14 June 2015
I. Introduction
-- turn in
Bibles to Luke 3:1-18
Luke 3:1-18 (NIV)
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,
his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of
Abilene--
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word
of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the
prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill
made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him,
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin
to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out
of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree
that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the
fire."
10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share
with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized.
"Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
13 "Don't collect any more than you are required
to," he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we
do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people
falsely--be content with your pay."
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all
wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water.
But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not
worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing
floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire."
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and
preached the good news to them.
-- I read
one time about this church who needed a preacher -- and you need to know this
is a very difficult task -- people want a perfect preacher who will please
everyone in the church, and this person just does not exist -- and a lot of
good ministers get passed by or let go early in their ministry simply because
the church is looking for someone who cannot be found
-- knowing
this, one of the elders in the church decided to make a point to the rest of
the committee -- he drafted up a letter as though it had been received from a
preacher interested in the job and read it out in church one Sunday to see what
everyone would think of this candidate -- the letter went like this:
--
"Gentlemen, understanding that you need a preacher, I would like to apply
for the position -- I have many qualifications that I think you would
appreciate -- I have been blessed to preach with power and have some success as
a writer -- Some say that I am a good organizer -- I have been a leader in most
places I have gone.
-- "Some
folks, however, have some things against me -- I am over fifty years of age --
I have never preached in one place for more than three years at a time -- In
some places I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances -- I
have to admit that I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of
any wrongdoing -- My health is not too good, though I still get a good deal done
-- most of the churches I have served couldn't pay my full salary, so I've had
to work outside the church to help pay my way
-- "The
churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large
cities -- I have not gotten along too well with the religious leaders in
different towns where I have preached, and I am sure that they will not
recommend me -- In fact, some of them have threatened me, taken me to court, and
even attacked me physically -- I am not too good at keeping records -- I have
been known even to forget whom I have baptized -- However, if you can use me, I
shall do my best for you, even if I have to work to help with my support."
-- After the
elder read this letter, he asked the church if they would be interested in this
applicant -- the response was unanimous -- no, they didn't want this guy to be
their preacher -- they were not interested in an older, unhealthy,
trouble-making, contentious, ex-jailbird; and were insulted that his application
had ever been presented! -- one of them asked, "What was the name of this
guy, anyway?" -- the elder replied, "The Apostle Paul."2
-- this
illustration demonstrates just how often we get people wrong -- even though we
are Christians, we still tend to look at life and to look at people through the
filter of the world's lens -- we still tend to judge people based on what the
world says is important rather than what the Bible says is important
-- it's
amazing to think a church would reject the Apostle Paul as their pastor, but
you see how it could happen -- it's the same way the nation of Israel ended up
with Saul as their first king instead of God's choice -- Saul fit the bill --
tall, good-looking, strong -- he was everything the world said a king should
be, but he turned out to be a disaster for the nation
-- this
morning I want us to take a few moments to look at the characteristics of
Jesus' favorite preacher -- now while the Bible has many examples of both Godly
men and women who were called to preach and proclaim God's word to the people,
only one person was singled out by Jesus as the best -- in Matthew 11:11, Jesus
said of John the Baptist, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women
there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
-- so what
made John the Baptist Jesus' favorite preacher? -- what qualities and
characteristics did he possess that made Jesus single him out in this way? --
and how can we use his example to grow ourselves into the men and women God has
called us to be?
II. Scripture Lesson -- Luke 3:1-18
-- let's
find out -- look back with me now at Luke Chapter 3 and let's look at the
spiritual qualities of John the Baptist
-- verse 1
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,
his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of
Abilene--
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word
of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the
prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill
made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"
-- the
first spiritual quality of John the Baptist was that he knew his calling and he
pursued it
-- now
don't just gloss over what I just said -- we live in a world today that has
lost its way -- and I don't mean just spiritually -- all around us, people are
looking for meaning and purpose in their lives -- they're looking for their
calling -- for what they should be doing -- for something they can be
passionate about
-- and the
book shelves and the internet are literally busting out the seams right now
with books and podcasts and websites about finding your calling -- about
finding your passion -- about finding the direction you should go in your life
-- John the
Baptist didn't have to listen to a podcast to figure out what he was passionate
about -- he didn't have to grab the latest bestseller at the Christian
bookstore to "find himself" -- no, he knew his calling -- he knew his
purpose -- he knew that God had called him to be the forerunner of the Messiah
-- to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God so that the nation would be ready
to listen to Jesus when He came -- to call the people to repentance so their
hearts would be ready to receive Jesus when He came
-- and,
maybe more important than just knowing his calling, John the Baptist pursued it
-- too many of us procrastinate our calling -- we put off our purpose to
another day when God is calling us to go forward now, at this moment, and
minister in His name -- John the Baptist recognized his calling and pursued it
with passion and direction
-- how do
you know your calling? -- first, you seek the Lord -- you go to the One who has
called you and ask Him what His will is for your vocation -- second, you
examine your gifts -- you look at the gifts and talents and skills God has
given you -- what you are good at is usually an indication of where God wants
you to work -- third, identify your passion -- what excites you spiritually? --
what situation or group of people move your heart? -- is it feeding the
homeless -- ministering to the elderly -- reaching out to care for the sick? --
and, finally, you know your calling when others affirm it in your life -- when
the church recognizes your gifts and your passion and affirms this is a true
call from God
-- so the
first spiritual quality of John the Baptist was that he knew his calling and
pursued it
-- the
second spiritual quality of John the Baptist was that he was clear and focused
in his message -- look back at verse 3
3 He went into all
the country around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
-- John
didn't spend his time speaking to the social injustice that came with being a
Jew in first-century Roman-occupied Palestine -- he didn't preach on that
week's hot topic in the news -- he didn't have sermons with ten steps to a
better marriage -- he didn't craft his messages in order to tickle the ears of
his listeners and grow his congregation
-- no, his
message was clear, focused and direct -- his message was simply to repent for
the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand -- every message -- every sermon -- was the
same -- John called people to turn away from their sins and to turn towards God
and begin living a life of righteousness -- he knew that a relationship with
God begins with repentance, and that those who don't repent will be cast into hell
-- there is
a place for discipleship, where we call people to grow deeper in their
relationships with God and each other -- where we lead people to become better
fathers and mothers -- better friends -- better Christians -- but John's
message was to a world that had fallen away -- and he knew what they needed to
hear, whether they wanted to hear it or not -- and he never wavered from that
message, but spoke it out directly each time he had the opportunity
-- verse 7
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him,
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin
to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out
of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree
that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the
fire."
-- John's
third spiritual quality was he loved people enough to tell them the truth -- he
never sugar-coated it -- he never gave out cheap grace -- he would never assure
an unrepentant, unholy person that he was on the way to heaven simply because
he prayed the "Sinner's Prayer" one time at the altar -- John worried
that many people were just going along with the crowd and their hearts and
spirits weren't really following
-- look at
verse 7 -- when crowds of people came out to be baptized by him, John didn't
just welcome them into the water -- he called them "broods of vipers"
-- hardly seeker-sensitive language -- he didn't want anyone to think that just
the act of baptism saved them or just a profession of repentance would keep
them from hell
-- he
wanted them to know that salvation came solely through the repentance of the
heart -- and not just the act of baptism or repeating a prayer after an altar
call
-- he also
spoke out against the Jews that came to listen -- the Pharisees and Sadducees
-- he warned them that they weren't saved just because they were descended from
Abraham -- they weren't saved because their family helped build the church --
they weren't saved just because they came to church -- it's not about what you
do, John said, it's about a change in your heart -- in what and Who you believe
in and put your faith and trust in -- that's where true repentance starts --
that's the gate to salvation
-- verse 10
10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share
with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized.
"Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
13 "Don't collect any more than you are required
to," he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we
do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people
falsely--be content with your pay."
-- John's
fourth spiritual quality was that he focused on internal holiness above
external spirituality
-- after
convincing the crowd that just getting baptized and saying a few words of confession
and repentance wouldn't save, the people cried out, "Then what do we
do?" -- and John responds by telling them to produce fruit in keeping with
repentance
-- in other
words look for the change -- when you are saved -- when you put your faith and
trust in Jesus -- there should be a clear change in your life -- there should
be a difference between who you were and who you now are
-- and by
living into the change -- by moving in the Spirit and following the greatest
commandments -- to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and
strength and to love your neighbor as yourself -- you will see your life change
-- you will see holiness begin to take root in your soul -- and your whole
being will be transformed into a new creation
-- John gives
specific examples here of how your faith is to be lived out -- he tells them to
share what they have with others -- to not cheat others financially -- to be
just and fair in your dealings with others -- to not accuse people falsely --
and to be content with what God has given you -- to not murmur or complain or
grumble -- but to be joyous and gracious in all things
-- notice
John's focus was on the character of a person, not on their outward appearance
-- he didn't worry himself about dress codes or the externalities of religion
-- he focused on their heart and their soul and told them to be holy as God is
holy
-- verse 15
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all
wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water.
But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not
worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing
floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire."
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and
preached the good news to them.
-- and,
finally, John's last spiritual characteristic that made him Jesus' favorite
preacher -- he always exalted the Lord
-- when you
look at a lot of the preaching and ministry going on in the world today --
especially the preaching you see on the TV -- there's a lot of
self-aggrandizement -- a lot of preachers and people speaking out and doing
things simply so they can be heard and seen by others -- simply so they receive
the praise for how good they are and for the good they are doing
-- Raymon
has talked about the Thanksgiving ministers at the soup kitchen in Homerville
-- how on Thanksgiving, they are flooded with people wanting to help give out
food -- to be seen -- to want to feel good about what they are doing -- seeking
praise from others for their "selfless" actions -- but after the
holiday is over, they disappear and it's the unseen and unsung regular
volunteers who continue to reach out and feed the poor and the homeless in
their community
-- John the
Baptist was always careful about giving the glory where the glory was due --
about deflecting the praise to the One who was truly praise-worthy -- in John
3:30 when John's disciples complained that Jesus was drawing more people than
John the Baptist, John's response was clear -- "He must increase, but I
must decrease"
-- it's not
about us -- it's always about Him -- and hear we see John telling the crowds to
stop making a big deal about him -- he says, "I'm nothing -- I baptize
with water -- but One is coming after me who is greater than I -- He will
baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit -- He is the Messiah -- and it is to Him
I am pointing"
-- John
always exalted the Lord and never sought fame or glory for himself
III. Closing
-- so to
sum this up, the spiritual qualities that made John the Baptist Jesus' favorite
preacher are the same spiritual qualities we need to strive to develop in our
own lives:
-- first,
we need to know our calling and pursue it
-- second,
we need to be clear and focused in our message -- we need to know what we
believe and always be ready to tell others of our faith and our experience with
God when the opportunity arrives
-- third,
we need to love people enough to tell them the truth -- this isn't
"judging" as the world calls it -- this isn't condemnation -- when
you care enough about someone else to point out to them a problem in their
spiritual lives and then help them do something about it, this is true love
-- fourth,
we need to strive for holiness -- we need to stop thinking of holiness as an
outward expression of who we are but an inward change in our lives -- and we
need to stop worrying so much about what we wear or where we go and start
worrying more about our motives and our intentions and our love to God and to
others
-- and,
finally, we need to always seek to exalt the Lord above all else -- it's not
about us -- it's about Him -- and we need to remember that there is a God and
we are not Him -- we need to point others to Him and use our actions and our
gifts and our talents for the sole purpose of exalting the Lord in our lives
and in this world
-- so as we
close now in prayer, let's ask God to change us -- to mold us -- to make us His
people -- to transform us from the inside out so we might bring glory to His
name the same way John the Baptist did in his day
-- let us
pray
-------------------------
1 Sermon developed from thoughts in Chapter 9 of "The
Disciple-Making Minister" by David Servant.
2. Modified from
illustration by David Parks, Waterford Church of Christ,
http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-david-parks-humor-churchgeneral-26010.asp
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