"Are You The One?

“Are You the One?”

John 1:29-34 & Matthew 11:2-11a

JN 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

MT 11:2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: " `I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist

INTRODUCTION

• John was able to make an incredible testimony of the things He had seen, heard and experienced with Jesus Christ. {John 1:29-34}

• Then…he found himself saying, “Are you the One..?” {Matthew 11:2,3}

• What in the world happened? How does this happen to us?

 We proclaim that Jesus is the healer & the test results come back

 We tell people that “Jesus saves” & our family member still doesn’t know God

 We can think back to when He has provided for other people & we find no money in the check book for us

 We tell friends that God answers prayer & the delay in your answer is more than you feel you can take

 You serve Him with all of your might & find yourself in a very difficult circumstance

Times like these cause us to say, “Jesus are you the…”

HEALER?”

PROVIDER?”

SAVIOR?”

MIRACLE WORKER?”

Etc.

• Tonight, let’s look at the life of a man who, at the time, was closer to Jesus than probably anyone else in the world.

• Let’s look at the doubts of John the Baptist and see what truths we can find:

I. REVEALING {John 1:29-34}

• John’s past experience was still “legit.” It did not lose it’s significance whatsoever

Touched/Strengthened by the Holy Spirit

Answered Prayers

Great altar time in a service

A unique experience from God

• Don’t dismiss yesterday’s experiences because things are tough today!

II. RESISTANCE {Matthew 11:2}

• John was in prison

• Sometimes we find ourselves in personal prisons and the times for us to doubt the Lord tend to emerge

Bills are late

You get sick

You’re discouraged

Things don’t work out well for you

Your relationships fall apart

Your discourage in your ministry

• Be spiritually alert when you find yourself in your prison times!

III. REMINDING {Matthew 11:4,5}

• Jesus’ response was to remind John of the great works He is doing and has done

• When you find yourself doubting God, YOU MUST hearken back to the great things He has accomplished in your past!

IV. REMAINING {Matthew 11:6}

• For some reason, it was imperative to Jesus to warn John not to fall away.

Winston Churchill’s Funeral

Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church, and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of Taps, the universal signal that says the day is over. But then came the most dramatic turn: As Churchill instructed, as soon as Taps was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of Reveille - It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up in the morning. That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be Taps, it will be Reveille.