This was adapted from a Maze Jackson Outline...
7 Strange Preachers – 10th February 2008 pm
Matthew 3:1-5
Intro: John the Baptist was a strange preacher!
1. He had a strange message.
2. He had a strange pulpit.
3. He had a strange from of dress.
Let’s notice some other strange preachers in the Bible.
I. Noah’s Dove - Gen. 8:11
The dove brought a message about the faithfulness of God
Though the ark had rested safely, Noah was waiting for the Lord to tell him what to do. He waited forty days and then sent out the raven, and being an unclean carrion-eating bird it felt right at home among the floating carcasses.
Noah waited a week and then sent out a dove, which, being a clean bird, found no place to land, so it returned to the ark. A week later Noah sent the dove out again, and when it returned with a fresh olive leaf, Noah knew that the plants were growing and fresh life had appeared on earth.
After being confined to the ark for over a year, he and his family must have been desperate to get back onto dry land, but they waited for God’s directions. Obedient faith is our response to God’s Word, for Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom 10:17)
God rewarded Noah’s faith, and the faith of his family, by caring for them in the ark for over a year and then preparing the earth for them so that they could leave the ark.
Do you ever question God’s faithfulness? I wonder how many times the family questioned – how they must have felt when the dove came back with that branch – God is faithful…
II. Balaam’s Donkey - Num. 22:28
The donkey brought a message of rebuke.
God was angry at Balaam for defying His will and allowing the love of money to control him. We something use the phrase “dumb animals,” but in this case the animal was smarter than her master and his two servants. She saw the angel of the Lord holding a sword and blocking the way, and by turning aside, she saved Balaam’s life.
Three times she changed directions and three times her master beat her. Balaam was beside himself with anger; and had he been armed, he would have killed his faithful beast. 2 Peter 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Have you ever wondered why Balaam wasn’t shocked when the donkey talked? 2 Peter 2:16 tells us that the donkey spoke with a man’s voice… This was definitely not an everyday occurrence even for a professional soothsayer. Satan spoke through a serpent when he deceived Eve, maybe in the past Satan’s demons had spoken to Balaam through animals???
A person has reached a very low level in life if God has to use a brute beast to communicate His mind..
III. Elijah’s Ravens - 1 Kings 17:6
The ravens brought the message of Romans 8:28.
The Lord had a special hiding place for Elijah by a brook east of the Jordan and He also had some unusual servants prepared to feed him. The Lord usually leads His faithful people a step at a time. God didn’t give Elijah a three-year schedule to follow. Instead, He directed his servant at each critical point in his journey, and Elijah obeyed by faith.
At the brook Cherith Elijah had safety and sustenance. Until it dried up the brook provided water, and each morning and evening the ravens brought him meat. The ravens were considered unclean and detestable on the Mosaic list of forbidden foods, yet God used these birds to sustain the life of his servant.
The Lord provided the food and the ravens provided the transportation. Just as God dropped manna into the camp of Israel during their wilderness journey, so He sent the necessary food to Elijah as he waited for the signal to relocate.
As the drought grew worse, the brook dried up, leaving the prophet without water; but he never made a move until the Word of the Lord came to tell him what to do. It has been said that the will of God will never lead us where the grace of God cannot keep us and care for us, and Elijah knew this from experience, (Is 33:15-16)
IV. The Rich Man’s Dogs - Luke 16:21
The dogs brought a message of compassion.
Lazarus was sick and possibly crippled, because he was “laid” at the rich man’s gate daily. The only attention he got was from the dogs. The rich man could have easily assisted Lazarus, but he ignored him and went on enjoying his riches. Life was comfortable for him.
The rich man obviously had no concept of stewardship, or he would have used part of his wealth to help Lazarus. It’s a mystery why he even allowed the beggar to camp at his front door. Maybe he thought that just providing a place for the man was ministry enough.
Often times God sends the most unlikely of people our way in a time of need -
V. Simon Peter’s Rooster - Luke 22:60-62
The rooster brought a message of repentance.
Verse 56
And immediately while he yet spake, the cock crew (22:60b) At once! While the dreadful words of denial were still ringing in the listeners’ ears, the call of a rooster from some nearby garden was a wake-up call. Peter was suddenly awake to where he was, to what he and said and to whom he had denied. At that very moment – 61-62
So Peter crept away as the morning broke. Perhaps he tried to hide himself down some back alley, perhaps he went back to Gethsemane. No doubt Satan had a field day with Peter over the next three days.
“You’re finished, Peter. That man Jesus, even if He manages to get off, will never speak to you again. Peter the rock, ha! More like Peter the pebble. What were those curse words Peter? Full of burning brimstones no doubt, fine specimens from my own dictionary. Well you might as well keep using them, you’re finished. You may as well end it all…”
Ah, no! Jesus had prayed for him that his faith might not fail. He was probably praying for him at that very moment.
VI. Herod’s Worms - Acts 12:23
The worms brought a message of judgment.
The people of Tyre and Sidon, who depended on the Jews for food according to Ezra 3:7, had in some way displeased King Herod and were in danger of losing this assistance. In true political fashion, they bribed Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bed chamber, he convinced the king to meet the delegation. It was an opportunity for the proud king to display his authority and glory, and for the delegates to please him with their flattery.
The Jewish historian Josephus said that this scene took place during a festival honouring Claudius Caesar, and the king wore a beautiful silver garment in honour of the occasion. We don’t know what Herod said, but we know why he said it – he wanted to impress people, and he did!! They told him he was a god, and he loved it.
Evidently Herod was being watched, as we all are being watched. He could not see the watcher, but this powerful being, sent from heaven to put a check on this man’s presumption and pride, could see him.
He was allowed to place his order with his tailors for that dazzling suit of silver. He was allowed to admire himself in the mirror and to congratulate himself on what a dashing royal figure he cut. He was allowed to parade up and down his bedroom before his valet, calling for an adjustment here, a minor alteration there. He was allowed to wear that robe. He was allowed to sit on his throne in conscious pride. He was allowed to open his mouth and speak and hear the multitude cry, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”
Then the watcher smote. Herod had gone too far. He had exhausted the patience of God. He had crossed the hidden boundary between God’s mercy and His wrath.
But, he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry, Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod that was killed by Peter’s God.
I cannot help but see Herod as an illustration of the future “man of sin” who will one day rule the world and persecute God’s people. This “man of sin” or Antichrist will make himself god and will command the worship of the whole world. But Jesus Christ will return and judge him and those who follow him (Rev 19:11-21)
The world still lives for praise and pleasure. Man has made himself his own god Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. The world still lives on the physical and ignores the spiritual. It lives by force and flattery instead of fait hand truth, and one day it will be judged.
At the beginning of Acts 12, Herod seemed to be in control and the church was losing the battle. But at the end of the chapter, Herod is dead and the church – very much alive – is growing rapidly. The secret? A praying church! Someone once said, “Let’s keep our chins up and our knees down – we’re on the victory side.”
VII. The Angel of No More Time - Rev. 10:5-6
The angel brought a message of extreme urgency.
When He lived on earth, the Lord Jesus said, “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by earth; for it is his footstool” (Matthew 5:34-35) But there is One whose right it is to sit upon that throne and whose right it is to rule the earth. He can swear, and so He does. He takes a solemn vow that things will now be hastened to their full and final end.
The word time is the Greak word chronos, and it means delay. The Lord is saying that there will be delay no longer. The souls under the alter had asked in Rev 6:10-11, “How long?” and the answer is now given; there is to be delay no longer.
Scoffers ask today, “Where is the promise of His coming? Why isn’t God doing something?” The present period of delay is the sinners opportunity for salvation! Christ states that in the days of the seventh trumpet sound, God will finish His program.
