Preparing The Way Series

and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again.

. . . Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has

nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know that they need any forgiveness.

It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and

that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power - it is after all this,

and not a moment sooner, that Christinaity begins to talk. When you are sick, you will listen

to the doctor.” -C.S. Lewis

The deepest freedom lies in forgiveness from God… but such release requires recognition.

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> You have to do this because one is coming … and what they offer is even greater… but if you

don’t do this… you won’t be ready for that.

In the forefront of John’s call for repentance was his knowledge of the coming of the only One

Who can and will forgive anyone who truly repents of their sins....

FIRST QUESTION: WILL WE RECKON WITH THE REALITY OF SIN…

OF BEING SINNERS?

“And this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose

sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”

John’s entire message was about pointing beyond himself to Jesus Christ the Messiah!

2. Reckoning with our ROLE

Every word and action of John the Baptist pointed toward Jesus Christ.

This is where John found his greatest significance.

When John saw Jesus coming toward him he said: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the

sin of the

world!”

“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

All true greatness consists of pointing to Someone beyond ourselves.

And that Someone is God.

> Do our lives have a Godward reference?

…or are we self-enclosed and self-absorbed?

Are we pointing beyond ourselves?

Do you remember the old Johnny Carson show? Johnny Carson had a side-kick who opened each

show with a phrase that never varies. Ed McMahon bursts forth the introduction, "Here’s

Johnny!!" Then the talk man comes forth from the wings to entertain his audience and TV

viewers. As the herald of the show, Ed McMahon plays an important role in getting the show

off the ground with gusto.

God wants you in the story more than you can even imagine… but in His story… the part of

the lead character has already been cast. So before we can breakthrough into the life and story

that He has… we have to reckon with our role.

SECOND QUESTION: WILL WE TAKE OUR ROLE AS SERVANTS TO

ONE WHO IS TRULY WORTHY AND GREATER THAN ALL?

3. Reckoning with our true IDENTITY

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Here we see the very launch of Christ’s ministry come with his being baptized by this

prophet like figure.

‘If Jesus is indeed the Son of God, why did he get baptized?

Even John the Baptist struggled with that question. When Jesus first requested baptism, John

refused and correctly stated that he needed to be baptized by Jesus. John was a sinner while Jesus

was not. What was Jesus doing getting baptized?

Think back to the time when you first slept in a tent. Did you do that all by yourself? No. I’m sure