Turning Our Talk To Jesus

Turning Our Talk to Jesus

John 1:19-34

Sermon by Rick Crandall

McClendon Baptist Church - Feb. 15, 2009

*Do you have a testimony?

1 John 5:9-12 says:

9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

11. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

*When you believe God’s testimony about His Son Jesus Christ, He gives you a testimony! And He wants you to share it. How can we do that? How can we turn our talk to Jesus? John the Baptist shows us to keep answering 4 questions.

1. The first question for you to answer is this: Who are you?

*Vs. 19 says, This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?’’

*In vs. 20-23, John answered honestly and humbly. He spoke in a way that gave glory to God. And he told them about his God-given responsibility to speak out about the coming Messiah. John found a way to turn the conversation to Jesus.

*But what a great question we see in both vs. 19&22: “Who are you?” There are many ways you could answer that question: I am a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, brother, friend. I am a student, retiree, doctor, policeman, nurse, teacher, stay-at-home mom, lawyer, truck-driver, mill-worker, salesman.

*Who are you? That question goes to a whole new dimension when you put your trust in Jesus Christ.

*Who am I? In Christ I am:

-Justified (Rom 5:1)

-A child of God (Rom 8:16)

-Forgiven (Col 1:13, 14)

-Sanctified (1 Cor 6:17)

-A New Creation (2 Cor 5:17)

-More than a conqueror (Rom 8:37)

-Saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8)

-A laborer together with God (1 Cor 3:9)

-An inheritor of eternal life (1 John 5:11-12)

-Getting all my needs met by Jesus (Phil 4:19)

-Being transformed by the renewing of my mind (Rom 12:1-2)

-Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 1:18-19)

-And much, much more!

*Who are you? Lula Day’s Mother was Mrs. Jo Bayles. She passed away in 1986. Mrs. Bayles’ health had been going down a long time. And though she had been a devoted Christian for many years, she was somewhat afraid to die. But a few days before she died, Mrs. Bayles had a dream. She was part of a great multitude in Heaven before the judgment seat of God. Jesus was on the throne.

*As she stood in the crowd, Mrs. Bayles trembled, wondering what would happen. -- Then Jesus pointed His finger at her, and said, “You are mine.” After that dream, she was never again afraid to die. What a relief! What a joy to hear Jesus say: “You are mine.”

*Mark Hall of Casting Crowns expressed this great truth in one of the best Christian songs of the last 10 years:

Who am I?

That the Lord of all the earth,

Would care to know my name,

Would care to feel my hurt.

Who am I?

That the bright and morning star,

Would choose to light the way,

For my ever wandering heart.

Who am I?

That the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again.

Who am I?

That the voice that calmed the sea,

Would call out through the rain,

And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,

But because of what you’ve done.

Not because of what I’ve done,

But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow,

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I’m calling,

Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,

And you’ve told me who I am.

I am yours. -- I am yours. (1)

*Christian, God wants you to keep answering this question: Who are you? Tell them who you are.

2. The 2nd testimony question for you to answer is: Why do you do the things you do?

*John the Baptist answered this question in vs. 24-27:

24. Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

25. And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’’