Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• The events in the Middle East may disturbed you
• There is also good news that we don't here
  • The Church is growing fastest in Iran - over 1 million
  • The Brazilian church growing from <1% to >20% (25 million)
  • In Communist China - over 100 million
  • God's Church is growing
• What causes people to turn to Jesus Christ?
  • Is it merely disillusionment with their own ideology or country?
  • Why would they embrace the Bible and become followers of Jesus
• It is a movement of God
  • A might awakening of God
• John the Baptist was just one man
  • A great awakening occurred through him
  • Many went out to hear him and many were baptised, confessing their sins
• Overview:
  • The Movement of God
  • The Man of God
  • The Message of God

The Movement of God

• Mark 1:5, Matt 3:5 - people went out to hear one man, drawn to his unequivocal message
  • The work was so great the religious leaders went to listen to him
  • This can only be explained as a might movement of God
• Why did he baptise?
  • Evidently God had called him to this
    • An outward act of inward repentance
  • During the inter-testimental period Jews had started baptising Gentile
    • Not only to be circumcised (as commanded by Scripture)
    • But a symbolic washing - bathing Gentiles in water: a baptism
  • Therefore it was a huge thing to baptise the Jews
    • Example of Muslims
    • He used "much water" / The Ethiopian eunuch went down into the water
• How do you explain this - it is a movement of God
• What about John?
  • How did he dress - he wore rough camel skin
  • What was his diet - he ate locusts and wild honey
  • He had no way to advertise his message, there was no social media, no celebrity endorsement (the religious leaders certainly did not endorse him), he was the son of a Levite but had no study or name for himself
• How do you explain it?
  • v6 - a man sent from God
    • God would make sure that people listened to Him
  • He was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (an unusual childhood)
    • He was empowered by God
• Not perfect
  • Matt 11:10-13
    • John the Baptist is like an Elijah
  • Matt 3:14
    • He acknowledged he was a sinner
• We need God to move in great power today
  • We need God to raise up individuals - examples
  • Example of Brazil
  • A movement of God - stirring up His people
• We need a great move of God today and His power

The Man of God

• He wasn't without blemish
  • He had doubts - wondering if Jesus truly was the Messiah when imprisoned - Matt 11:3
  • An ordinary man
    • Even like Elijah - an ordinary man who got very depressed
  • This should give us encouragement
• He was humble
  • He was not interested in name or reputation - v19-23
  • Self-effacing
    • He knew he was nothing without the grace of God
  • Not worthy
    • Even to take off Jesus' sandals - v27
    • Example of Alun Johnson
    • This is the sort of person God uses - a humble person
  • People sort to provoke John - Jesus was baptising and people were coming to Him!
    • John 3:26-28,30
      • 'Jesus must increase, I must decrease'
    • Do we want to be noticed and concerned about our reputation?
    • Are we concerned about ourselves or Jesus' name?
    • May we have a spirit like John the Baptist
• A happy man
  • John 3:29
    • He is a friend of the bridegroom
    • He was happy to sit at Jesus' feet and hear the voice of Jesus
  • Example of Mary
    • Are we sitting at the feet of Jesus?
    • Are we happy to hear His word?
• A holy man
  • Set apart by God
  • Not a man pleaser
    • Example of politician
      • It is important to do what is true and right
      • There cannot be unity in untruth
    • Example of John's true message
      • Bear fruits of repentance
  • A life separated to Christ - few possessions
  • We are not to copy John the Baptist's ascetic but we can learn from him
    • He was not taken up with the things of the world
    • We are not to be covetous and building up treasures in the world
    • Maybe we need a simpler life
    • We are to go after Christ and not things
  • A challenge to you and me

The Message of God

• Matthew, Mark and Luke emphasise the message of repentance
• John's gospel - the main message is pointing to Jesus Christ
  • The message of the Church - repent (examples) and trust/have faith in Jesus Christ
  • We are put right with God through Jesus Christ
    • Not about what we do for God - but what He has done for us
    • We do not hold onto our sin but have faith in the cross of Christ
  • Have you believed in Jesus?
    • Unbelief condems
    • Belief saves for all eternity
• John the Baptist pointed to the Lamb of God
  • He bore witness to the Light of the Gospel
  • He was the witness that prepared people for the coming Messiah
• Has God been doing a work in your life?
  • Ask Jesus to forgive you
  • Trust your life to Him
  • Become a witness - like John the Baptist