A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
MATT. 3:1-3
1. THE TEXT. THIS TEXT OPENS WITH THE PERSON OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS.
a) WHILE ALL OF US ARE NOT CALLED TO PREACH, WE ARE ALL CALLED TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
b) JOHN’S MESSAGE WAS TWOFOLD. ONE, HE WAS ILLUMINATING THE MINDS OF HIS HEARERS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE.
c) REPENTANCE IS MORE THAN JUST FEELING SORRY ABOUT SINS WE COMMIT, IT’S ABOUT CHANGING OUR SINFUL BEHAVIORS.
d) TO REPENT MEANS TO TURN AND GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.THEREFORE, THERE MUST BE A TRANSFORMATION AND REFORMATION IN OUR MINDS, THAT IMPACTS OUR HEARTS, WHICH MANIFEST ITSELF ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE.
e) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE NEEDS TO BE REPENTANCE IN EVERY FABRIC OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE CHURCH.
f) SECOND, HIS MESSAGE WAS ABOUT THE COMING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WHICH IMPLIES THE RULER SHIP OF OUR CHRIST.
g) THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS COME IN THE PERSON OF JESUS, AND IT WILL COME AGAIN WHEN HE RETURNS.
2. THE VOICE. JOHN WAS PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS. THE WILDERNESS WAS A BARREN DESERT. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE ARE THOSE LIVING IN THE WILDERNESS OF THIS WORLD THAT NEED TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS.
a) EVERY BORN AGAIN BELIEVER HAS THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY OF CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.
b) THERE IS SOME JOHN THE BAPTIST IN ALL OF US.
c) JOHN WAS ABOUT EVANGELIZING THE LOST. IN PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST.
d) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE MUST BE ABOUT EVANGELIZING THE LOST.
e) SO MANY TIMES WE TALK ABOUT JESUS TO PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND THAT’S NOT EVANGELIZING.
f) AS WE OBSERVE THE HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS OF THIS CHAOTIC WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE LOST.
g) EVANGELISM MUST BE GIVEN ITS’ PROPER PLACE.
h) NOTHING IN THE CHURCH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVANGELISM.
i) NO ANNUAL DAY, INCLUDING THE PASTORS’ ANNIVERSARY HAS PRIORITY OVER EVANGELISM.
j) WITH REPENTANCE OF OUR SINS COMES THE CONFESSION OF OUR SINS.
k) AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, REPENTANCE IS MORE THAN FEELING SORRY FOR OUR SINS, WE MUST CONFESS THEM AND BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM THEM.
l) AS I PREPARED THIS MESSAGE I WAS CHALLENGED TO EXAMINE MY OWN LIFE.
3. PREPARE THE WAY. PREPARING THE WAY REFERS TO ONE WHO BUILDS ROADS AND MAKES THE PATH CLEAR FOR TRAVELERS TO PASS THROUGH.
a) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THERE ARE MANY TRAVELING ON A CLUTTERED ROAD, AND WE NEED TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE JESUS!
b) ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, JESUS IS COMING BACK.
c) HIS RETURN IS EMINENT. MANY, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE CHURCH, ARE LIVING AS IF CHRIST WILL NOT COME BACK. BUT I HASTEN TO TELL US TODAY THAT MANY WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN HE COMES.
d) WE NEED TO TELL PROSTITUTES THAT HE’S COMING BACK
e) WE NEED TO TELL DRUG DEALERS AND ABUSERS, THAT HE’S COMING BACK.
f) WE MUST TELL THE THIEF, THE WHORE MONGER THAT HE’S COMING BACK.
g) WE MUST TELL THE SAINT AND THE SINNER THAT HE’S COMING BACK.
h) EVERY LAST ONE OF US MUST STAND BEFORE THE LORD TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HOW WE PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST.
i) SO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE MUST GET BUSY ABOUT THE FATHERS BUSINESS; AND HIS BUSINESS IS ABOUT HIS SON.
4. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, WITHOUT REPENTANCE THERE WILL BE NO PARDON FROM SIN. IF A PERSON DIES WITHOUT CHRIST, THEY WILL SPEND ALL ETERNITY IN HELL.
b) TWO, SINNERS WHO DO NOT REPENT WILL NOT EXPERIENCE THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD IN THE SAME MANNER THAT BELIEVERS DO. THEY MIGHT HAVE THE APPEARANCE, BUT IT’S JUST A SHOW.
c) THREE, CHRISTIANS WHO FAIL TO REPENT WILL EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THEIR BLESSINGS AND A BARRIER TO HAVING THEIR PRAYERS ANSWERED FAVORABLY BY GOD.
d) SO MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, WE MUST GET BUSY TELLING EVERYBODY THAT JESUS AND ONLY JESUS CAN…
• SATISFY THE HUNGRY SOUL
• CURE ANY SIN
• SAVE ANY SOUL THAT WANTS TO BE SAVED
• TURN LIVES AROUND
• HEAL BROKEN HEARTS AND BROKEN HOMES
• GIVE YOU A NEW BEGINNING
• REPLACE HATE WITH LOVE
• WEAKNESS WITH STRENGTH
• OPEN DOORS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT
• REMOVE OUR HEAVY BURDENS
• PROVIDE STRENGTH TO CARRY THE BURDENS THAT HE DOESN’T REMOVE
• WE MUST LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT HE IS…
• OUR SINGING IN SORROW
• HOPE FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
• THE CENTER OF OUR JOY
• THE PRINCE OF OUR PEACE
• THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION
• THE WAY WHEN THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY
• THE COMFORT FOR OUR CALAMITIES
• THE GIVER OF OUR GRACE
• THE HOPE FOR OUR HOPELESSNESS
• THE REST FOR OUR RESTLESSNESS
• OUR LIGHT IN DARKNESS
• TELL THEM THAT HE DIED BUT HE ROSE AGAIN!
• YOU BETTER GET READY BECAUSE HE IS COMING BACK!
