Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• A few principles of John the Baptist's life - rather than details
  • 50 references to John the Baptist
  • Two aspects:
  • The distinctiveness of John the Baptist
  • The completeness of John the Baptist

The distinctiveness of John the Baptist

• He was prophesied in Malachi
• He is like a beam of light that quickly comes and goes
  • He has a distinctive character
• His preperation
  • 30 years in the desert
  • An usual character in his dress
  • Subsisting on locusts and honey
  • Meditating, praying, preparing - we don't know much about this
• His preaching - incisive and powerful
  • Many are coming, to hear him speak and confess their sin and to be baptised in the River Jordan
  • He was fearless in speaking to the pharisees
    • No immediate repercussions
    • Yet he preaches one thing to one man and he ends up in prison
      • Trouble comes when he is specific and particular
• Distinctive, usual, standing out amongst the crowd
  • What about us today?
    • Have we lost our cutting edge?
      • Do we drift into the things of the world?
    • Irish missionaries in the Early 7th century took the gospel to middle Europe
      • The monks would have looked very distinctive - explanation
    • God has in the past used unusual and strange people
      • Example of Rabbi John Duncan
  • Young people of the Church
    • Do they have a clear view of things?
      • Are we too accepting of things?
  • We are radically changed - new creatures in Jesus Christ
    • Is the Church radical and different or are we being assimilated into the culture and ways of the time in which we are living?
    • Are we in danger of losing the savour of salt?
    • James 4:4 - friends of the world are enemies of God
    • 2 Tim 3:12 - all who live "godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution"
      • Those who are being persecuted (in the UK) are those standing up for the truth of Scripture
  • There is a true distinction in John the Baptist - is the Church distinctive in following Jesus Christ?

The completeness of John the Baptist

• A two year ministry - but nonetheless a complete life
  • The right person, at the right time, with the right message
    • God honoured this - he had amazing success
  • He was preparing the ground for the Lord Jesus Christ
  • His ministry ends when the Lamb of God appears
• How do we judge people and their life?
  • James was killed
  • Peter was taken but he miraculously escaped
• Do we judge by human standards?
  • Example of McShane, David Brainer, Eric Lidl
  • We find difficult to understand the ways of God
  • Example of the men/Lion of the Covenant

Two applications:

• Our lives are in God's hands
  • Our birth
  • Our death - comes when our work is complete
• We have work to do (while we are still here)
  • We are all unique and have a purpose
  • God is working in us - examples
  • God is working through us
  • His purposes are being fulfilled in our lives
  • Whatever we do for the sake of the gospel - it will never be in vain
  • There is a unique work for us to do
• May God help us to do and be
  • Do not be like doubting Thomas
  • What about doubting John?
    • He needed reassurance?
      • We often doubt
      • We need to pray for our pastors
    • His disciples needed reassurance?
      • He was asking on their behalf - so they would be certain as to who Jesus was
  • We need to send people to Jesus
    • Are we sending people to Jesus?
    • We need to be like John the Baptist and send people to Jesus

Closing Prayer