WHEN GOD DOES A WORK
- Matthew 3:1-12
In these verses, we find John the Baptist preaching and baptizing out near the Jordan River. He is announcing the arrival of the Kingdom of God. He tells people that things are changing. God is about to do something new.
Did you notice? The Bible tells us that people from the whole region were flocking to hear him. Why? because God was at work.
My friends, when God does a work there are many indicators you can look for. This morning I would like to share with you only two. First, when God is at work, I want you to know that He has a plan.
I. HE HAS A _PLAN_ - v3
Verse 3 says that John the Baptist was fulfilling something Isaiah had foretold more than 700 years before. More than 700 years before JTB came on the scene, God spoke through Isaiah saying this was going to happen. He even said the guy was going to be preaching in the wilderness. God knew the details.
My friend, when God is at work, nothing surprises Him. He’s had it worked out for a long time. He knows who’s going to be faithful and who isn’t. He knows the supplies that are needed. He knows the difficulties involved.
100 years before He sent the flood, God told Noah to build a boat. More than 500 years before the Israelites went into the promised land, God told Abraham it would be their’s one day.
My friend if you are involved where God is working, don’t sweat it. He knows what’s going on.
Second, when God does a work, He calls a man; He calls a woman, to be involved.
II. HE CALLS A MAN / HE CALLS A WOMAN
> John 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
THE MAN/WOMAN GOD USES
1. Joins God in His work –
> John 1:23 I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.
Did you notice that? John wasn’t trying to come up with a plan. He wasn’t trying to devise a ministry. John realized he was getting involved where God was already at work. It wasn’t his ministry. It wasn’t his work. He knew he was just doing what God had already planned.
2. Seeks glory for God, not Himself
- Matthew 3:11 John saw himself as being unworthy to even undo Jesus’ sandals. There are far too many in the ministry, far too many people today supposedly serving God, who act as though God is supposed to be serving them, and when God does work, they want to claim the glory and recognition for what God has done.
In Matthew 5 Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Who’s supposed to get the glory? God is!
In John 3:30, some of John’s disciples came and complained to John that some of the people who used to follow him had left and were now following Jesus. John answered, He must increase, but I must decrease.
You remember when Paul wrote the church in Corinth? The people were divided. Some said, “I follow this preacher”, others said, “I follow such and such.” Paul responded in
>1 Corinthians 3:6-7, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
My friend let me ask you something. Who do you want to receive the praise for what you do? Are you serving, are you working so people will think what a good person you are, or are you seeking glory for God?
When God does a work, He calls a man/woman to join Him in HIS work. When God does a work uses a person who seeks glory for God. When God does a work, He uses a person who stands for truth.
3. Stands for Truth –
- Matthew 3:7-8
When John was preaching in the wilderness, he began to get quite a following. People began to flock from everywhere to hear him. So some of the back-slidden, glory-seeking, religious leaders decided they wanted to get in on it. They decided they wanted to be baptized also. John saw them coming and he laughed in their faces. He said, “If you want to be baptized, then let me see some fruit in your lives. Let me see a change.”
Now, you need to realize. These folks were leaders in the denomination. They expected John to be honored by the fact that they showed up. They expected him to be awed by the fact that they were allowing him to baptize them. John said, “I don’t care who you are. You’re sinners just like the rest of them. There needs to be a change in your lives if I’m going to have anything to do with you.”
John didn’t care about what posting they could arrange for him. He didn’t care who they were nor what influence they might have. He said, “This is the truth, this is the Word of God.”
My friend, God uses people who stand for the truth regardless of what’s popular or politically acceptable at the time. He uses people who will call sin, sin, and make no bones about it. He uses people who recognize that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that there is no other way to God but through Him instead of hemming, hawing, and apologizing for the truth.
There are far too many people worried today that they might offend someone, or hurt their feelings. When Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery, He protected her, but then He told her to go and sin no more.
Let me ask you, what are you standing for today? Are you silent when people say things you know are wrong because of what they might say about you?
My friend, Jesus says, ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The man, the woman God uses, stands for truth.
4. Faces Opposition – Matthew 14:3-4
Herod took his brother’s wife and married her. John the Baptist said, “it’s not right for you to have your brother’s wife,” so Herod had him put in jail.
Some people have the mistaken idea that when you’re serving God, that everything is going to be hunky-dorey. Everyone’s going to love you.
My friend, the person God uses speaks the truth, and when you speak the truth there is going to be opposition. There are going to be people who get upset with you.
When you go along with the world and what the world says is OK, the Devil won’t mess with you much cause He doesn’t mess with his own. But, when you take a stand for God, when you take a stand for truth, he will loose the hounds of hell and have as many of his children give you grief as possible.
The Bible says we are in a battle. We are in a war. When you join the Lord in His work, there will be opposition.
5. Is Sometimes Discouraged –
- Matthew 11:1-3
John has now been arrested and imprisoned by Herod. By this time, John has been in prison for a while. Things haven’t worked out quite like he expected, so He sent to Jesus to find out if things were still OK. He wanted to know where God was in all of this.
Don’t let anyone fool you, even those who faithfully serve God and are used greatly by Him are sometimes discouraged. The prophets of old often asked God why He wasn’t working the way they thought He should. …
III. CONCLUSION
My friends, before Jesus left He gave us all an assignment. He told us to go into all the world and make disciples. He has called you to be godly parents. He has called you to be His ambassadors.
