WEBVTT

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 I would like you to turn in your Bibles this morning

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 to John chapter 1, and you follow as I read a portion of the passage that we're going to study together.

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 John chapter 1, picking up in verse 19.

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 And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,

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 Who are you? He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ.

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 And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? He said, I'm not. Are you the prophet? And he answered,

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 No. And Seth said to him, Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us.

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 What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.

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 Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.

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 Holy Father, we are humbled to stop and consider that we, mere created beings,

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 have been given the blessing and the joy of knowing you as our God and our Savior,

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 of having communion with you through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And that you and your loving kindness have revealed yourself to us through your word.

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 And it is your express intention this morning that we who are your children would be blessed

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 by your word, by the enabling of the Spirit of God.

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 And Father, it is our prayer that this morning your word would have free course.

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 There are some of us here this morning that are snared deeply by sin

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 and desperately need the work of the Spirit to relieve.

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 Some caught in bitterness.

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 Some in unforgiveness.

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 Some in secret sins that only you know about, Lord,

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 but those who are your children

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 have not received the blessing of salvation to be in bondage ever again.

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 There are some here that desperately need to know Christ as their Savior.

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 And so, as the word is taught,

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 we who are your children will labor in prayer

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 that your word would produce fruit first in our own lives

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 and in the lives of others that you care about so deeply.

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 And it is our desire that the Lord Jesus Christ would be honored

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 this morning here

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 among us

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 as He is in heaven.

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 We ask this in your precious name. Amen.

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 Well, we are finished with the prologue.

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 Prologue means kind of the introduction.

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 And the characteristic of John,

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 it's a little different from some of the other books

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 that you will find in the Scriptures,

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 in that John's prologue does something that's atypical.

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 It lays out for us in the first 18 verses

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 everything that you're going to find

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 in the remainder of the book of John.

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 It gives us, in just little snippets,

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 all the pieces that later on are going to be expanded

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 and fleshed out so you can understand them more completely.

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 I think many of you can remember

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 when you were in either in high school or whatever,

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 in college,

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 and in the first day or two of your class,

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 the professor or the teacher would come in

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 and in broad terms kind of tell you,

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 well, here's what I'm going to teach you

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 and also talk about,

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 and here's what I expect from you.

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 And good students generally pay quite a bit of attention

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 at the very beginning

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 because it fleshes out.

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 You know up front what's coming.

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 John has finished his introduction.

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 And actually, as we look at this passage,

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 we are going to take verse 19 through 28 this morning

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 and look at this little statement about John the Baptist,

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 and we understand that really what we're looking at

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 in one sense is an expansion

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 of what we found over in verse 7.

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 Take a minute.

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 Put your finger on verse 7.

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 It says, speaking about John the Baptist,

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 he came as a witness to bear witness about the light

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 that all might believe through him.

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 And again, in verse 15, it says,

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 John bore witness about him and cried out,

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 this was he of whom I said,

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 he who comes after me ranks before me

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 because he was before me.

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 And so we know, as I pointed out earlier,

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 that John's introduction kind of gives us all the details,

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 and then we're going to expand them.

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 We're going to see them in greater depth

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 in the weeks and months to come.

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 And so as we look at this first part,

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 we're going to find in the verses that we look at today,

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 John the Apostle is going to explain

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 John the Baptist, the witness.

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 And as we get started on this,

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 one of the things that I want you to know

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 from the very, very beginning

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 is what the application is.

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 Now let me explain what application is.

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 Obvious, I would think.

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 But there are two different parts to a sermon in some ways.

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 There's the exposition,

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 that means explaining what the text has to say.

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 And then there is the application.

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 If you were following or reading one of the Puritans,

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 you would probably notice that in Puritan preaching,

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 and I'm not a Puritan, I'm far removed from that

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 in terms of age, et cetera,

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 but in Puritan preaching,

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 there was probably about one-third

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 that had to do with the exposition of the text.

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 Here's what God says.

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 And then there's probably two-thirds of it

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 that had to do with use.

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 That's the way they referred to it.

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 So how do we use this?

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 What is its application in our lives?

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 And so I'm going to tell you up front

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 what the application is.

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 This morning, as we study the passage of Scripture,

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 what I want to have happen in your life

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 is not just understand the historical details

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 of John the Baptist as the witness.

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 I want you to be sitting there thinking to yourself,

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 so how does this fit me?

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 What should I do if I am going to be faithful

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 to the calling and appointment that I have received,

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 very similar to John the Baptist's?

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 And so as we think about this,

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 let me begin by making this point

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 and having it stick in your mind.

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 We are all witnesses.

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 Get that clear.

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 We are all witnesses.

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 Now, some of you are sitting out there

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 thinking to yourself,

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 well, that's not my nature or my temperament.

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 I'm one of those kind of reserved, cautious persons

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 who really, if you drop me in the middle

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 of a large room filled with people,

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 I would be the person who would naturally gravitate

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 towards the very distant wall

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 and pin myself up against there

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 and just try being quiet.

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 Now, there are others who, guess what?

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 You put them on the wall

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 and guess what they naturally do?

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 They move towards the center

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 and they end up,

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 they know all different kinds of details

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 about who and what and how and when and where.

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 The fact of the matter is

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 is that we are all witnesses.

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 And as we read what we are going to look at

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 here in John chapter one,

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 I think it's very, very important

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 that we don't get caught up in the historicity

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 or the historical details of what John did

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 and miss the fact that

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 what we are going to discover here

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 has application in our own lives.

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 I want you to understand this

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 and make it clear in your own heart.

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 Every genuine believer is a witness.

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 Every genuine believer is a witness.

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 And I could probably get off

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 on a little side tangent here

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 and remind myself of the parable.

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 Remember, Jesus told the parable

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 about the talents.

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 One man received five.

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 One man received three.

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 One man received one.

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 And the one who received one,

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 what did he do?

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 He just kind of hit it in the ground.

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 He didn't do anything with it.

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 I don't want to go off on a sidebar there,

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 but I do want to encourage you to recognize

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 all of us have received all that we need

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 to be effective in the appointment

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 that God has given to us.

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 And so keep it in your mind,

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 every believer,

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 I,

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 you,

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 we are all witnesses

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 if we are a genuine believer.

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 In relationship to that,

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 it follows,

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 and it's intelligent,

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 that you should be sitting out there

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 saying,

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 oh yeah,

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 well can you prove that?

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 Well,

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 have just a second

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 and let's take a look

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 at a couple different passages

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 in relationship to that.

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 You're in John,

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 and so we're going to play forward

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 a little bit,

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 but turn in your Bible

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 to John chapter 15,

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 verse 16.

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 Jesus is speaking,

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 and he makes this statement.

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 He says,

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 you did not choose me,

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 but I chose you

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 and appointed you

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 that you should go

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 and bear fruit

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 and that your fruit

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 should abide.

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 He says,

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 I chose you.

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 I called you.

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 I put my hand on you.

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 The reason that I am

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 a believer

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 and that you are a believer

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 is not because we kind of

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 in the midst of a moment

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 of intellectual apprehension

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 to,

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 Jesus is a good idea,

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 I'll give it a shot.

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 No.

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 He and his grace called us,

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 and we,

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 by his grace,

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 came to know

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Let me have you look

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 at another passage

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 that I think is just

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 an absolute,

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 very, very pointed statement

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 in relationship to this.

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 Turn your Bible

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 to John 17,

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 verse 18.

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 John 17,

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 verse 18.

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 It says this,

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 as you,

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 remember we're dealing

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 with the question,

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 every genuine believer

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 is a witness.

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 It's not my personality.

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 Stop.

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 Every genuine believer

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 is a witness.

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 As you have sent me

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 into the world,

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 so I have sent them

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 into the world.

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 In my Bible,

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 I put a little note

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 for myself

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 to remind me

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 of the significance

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 of this verse,

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 and that little word,

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 as.

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 You don't need to know

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 all the Greek on it,

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 but here's what it is saying.

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 That word, as,

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 is making this statement

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 in the same manner

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 that God the Father

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 sent Jesus into the world,

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 I have been sent

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 to do the same thing

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 and to accomplish

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 the same purpose.

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 I am sent

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 like Jesus was sent.

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 And so I want you

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 to keep that in mind

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 as you think about that

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 this morning,

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 and we come to grips

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 with the fact

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 that as we look

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 at John the Baptist,

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 it says there

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 in John chapter 1,

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 verse 19,

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 and this is the testimony

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 of John

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 when the Jews

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 sent priests

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 and Levites

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 from Jerusalem

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 to ask him,

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 who are you?

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 It is evident

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 that what he had been doing

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 is witnessing.

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 I want you to recognize

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 I had an interesting

00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.060
 conversation not too long ago

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 with an individual

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 who was,

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 we were discussing

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 the matter of

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 the evangelical church today

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 being involved

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 in witnessing.

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 And as a broad term,

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.060
 we'd have to say

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 that there are

00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:53.379
 far more people

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 that profess

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 to be evangelical,

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 to be orthodox

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 in their thinking,

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 to care a lot

00:12:58.579 --> 00:12:59.199
 about Jesus,

00:12:59.339 --> 00:12:59.819
 but the truth

00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:00.159
 of the matter

00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.239
 is that it has been

00:13:02.239 --> 00:13:03.479
 weeks,

00:13:03.859 --> 00:13:05.019
 it's been months,

00:13:05.339 --> 00:13:06.579
 it's been years

00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:07.879
 since they really

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.500
 have shared their faith

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.979
 about the Lord Jesus Christ

00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:11.539
 with anybody.

00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:13.939
 And we were having

00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:14.659
 a conversation

00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:16.319
 and the issue came up,

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.219
 why is it that

00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:18.779
 more people don't share

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.799
 about Jesus?

00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:20.539
 Do you know what

00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.379
 one of the natural

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.699
 and normal answers is?

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.500
 Is they lack information.

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.539
 Did you hear that?

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.899
 And one of the things

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.919
 that goes along with that

00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.620
 is so that many,

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.279
 many churches

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.639
 are involved

00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.799
 in regular instruction

00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.879
 in how to share

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:37.059
 the gospel.

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.719
 And that's important.

00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:41.079
 But are you tracking me?

00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:46.079
 I don't think the problem

00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.720
 is the lack of information.

00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.379
 And the reason

00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:51.620
 I would say that

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.740
 is let me give you

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.340
 a couple examples of it.

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.340
 Remember the woman

00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:55.840
 at the well?

00:13:56.520 --> 00:13:56.960
 Remember that?

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.300
 John chapter 4,

00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:00.660
 there's the Samaritan woman

00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:01.560
 and she's at the well

00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:03.160
 and Jesus comes to her

00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:04.240
 and he says,

00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.139
 give me a drink of water

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.560
 and she says,

00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.240
 blah, blah, blah, blah,

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.480
 you know,

00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:07.940
 and all that ends up,

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.139
 she is convicted

00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.840
 of her sin

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.259
 and once she's convicted

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.879
 of her sin,

00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:13.019
 she then takes

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.060
 a basic course in EE

00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.360
 before she goes into town.

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.280
 Is that what happened?

00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.100
 She scampers into town

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.480
 and she says,

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:22.840
 come meet the man.

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.220
 And everybody shows up

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:25.500
 to hear,

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.899
 what is this?

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.620
 Let me give you another one.

00:14:28.660 --> 00:14:29.620
 I like this one too.

00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:30.879
 You remember the man

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.860
 who was born blind?

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.220
 You remember that story?

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:38.000
 And there is the Sanhedrin,

00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:38.940
 all the Jews are kind of,

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.660
 tell us about this man

00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:43.080
 and he cuts down to the chase.

00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:43.380
 He says,

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.040
 you know,

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.720
 who he is,

00:14:44.780 --> 00:14:45.260
 I don't know

00:14:45.260 --> 00:14:46.260
 but I will tell you what,

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.380
 I was blind

00:14:47.380 --> 00:14:48.660
 and now I see.

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.460
 You got that?

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.660
 The best one.

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.120
 A low,

00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.520
 trained,

00:14:57.280 --> 00:14:58.260
 evangelistic,

00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:00.160
 impact person.

00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:01.980
 And I think you ought

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:02.480
 to look at it

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.300
 because it's a good one.

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.820
 Luke chapter 8,

00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:05.500
 verse 39.

00:15:06.900 --> 00:15:07.760
 Luke chapter 8.

00:15:08.140 --> 00:15:08.900
 Here's my argument.

00:15:09.780 --> 00:15:11.360
 You don't need more information.

00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.640
 You need something

00:15:14.640 --> 00:15:15.420
 to happen to your heart.

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.300
 Luke chapter 7

00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:21.620
 is all about the demoniac.

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.640
 Do you follow that?

00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.880
 The demoniac

00:15:25.880 --> 00:15:27.760
 is the one

00:15:27.760 --> 00:15:28.860
 who Jesus delivered

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:30.080
 from all those demons

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.320
 and after,

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.300
 I love it,

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.660
 when the townspeople

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.080
 come out

00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:35.640
 to find out

00:15:35.640 --> 00:15:36.160
 what had happened

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.919
 to their pigs

00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.100
 and they found

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:38.899
 the demoniac

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.740
 sitting clothed

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.639
 and in his right mind.

00:15:40.719 --> 00:15:41.459
 It's one of my favorite

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.559
 little lines in the Bible.

00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:44.219
 Clothed and in your right mind.

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:44.459
 You know,

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:44.819
 it's like,

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.199
 ah,

00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.719
 this guy had been

00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:48.439
 radically transformed

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:50.840
 by the power of Christ.

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.940
 And there he is

00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:53.300
 sitting,

00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.140
 clothed and in his right mind

00:15:55.140 --> 00:15:56.300
 and the neighbors

00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:57.100
 all show up

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.440
 and say,

00:15:57.540 --> 00:15:57.800
 Jesus,

00:15:57.920 --> 00:15:59.120
 would you please leave?

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.640
 I mean,

00:16:00.780 --> 00:16:02.400
 they were scared to death

00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.720
 at the power

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.800
 of Christ

00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.380
 to transform lives.

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:06.600
 They said,

00:16:06.640 --> 00:16:07.700
 would you leave,

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.160
 please?

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.080
 And Jesus does.

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.880
 But then the man says,

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.060
 hey,

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.339
 can I come with you?

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.979
 Can I come with you?

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:15.939
 Does anybody remember

00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.979
 what Jesus said to him?

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.739
 Verse 39,

00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:19.379
 no,

00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:19.539
 no,

00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:19.719
 no.

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.299
 Why don't you go into town

00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:22.679
 and tell him

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.259
 what great things

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.939
 I've done for you?

00:16:26.099 --> 00:16:26.939
 How many weeks

00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:28.039
 of evangelistic training

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:28.779
 do you think he had

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.599
 before he scampered

00:16:29.599 --> 00:16:30.439
 on back to town

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.479
 where he had been

00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.179
 an absolute,

00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.419
 disgusting,

00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:35.719
 revolting individual

00:16:35.719 --> 00:16:37.059
 and he begins

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:37.959
 talking about

00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:38.579
 Jesus

00:16:38.579 --> 00:16:39.659
 who could change life?

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.559
 Everybody smile at me.

00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.319
 so you know

00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:43.179
 I'm talking to you.

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:43.859
 Everybody look.

00:16:48.859 --> 00:16:50.500
 The thing that brings

00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.239
 deficiency

00:16:51.239 --> 00:16:52.699
 to witnessing

00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:55.979
 is not a lack

00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.739
 of information.

00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.359
 It is a lack

00:17:00.359 --> 00:17:02.179
 of confidence

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:04.460
 in the transforming

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.859
 power of Christ

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.299
 that can take us

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.259
 from being

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.259
 the miserable,

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.200
 unhappy,

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.200
 unforgiving,

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.819
 just miserable people

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.980
 and we can turn

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.319
 our lives inside out

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:16.900
 and we can say

00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.480
 to other people,

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:19.000
 come see the man

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.059
 who did this to me.

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:23.140
 Do you follow that?

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.539
 Hey,

00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.880
 you're not going to witness

00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.759
 when you're all

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.759
 scuzzed up about

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.500
 who you are

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:30.140
 or who other people are,

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.500
 you know,

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.480
 but when you get

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.940
 locked up on who Jesus is,

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.680
 guess what happens?

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.700
 naturally.

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.660
 You don't need

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.580
 more education.

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.960
 You need to have

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.680
 a fresh touch

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.660
 of who Jesus is.

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:41.880
 Amen?

00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.060
 Amen.

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:47.240
 Most of our failures

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.680
 to witness

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.360
 for Christ

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:52.340
 can really be

00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:52.940
 tracked back

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.080
 to where our hearts are.

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.320
 You know what?

00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:00.319
 people

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.679
 always

00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:02.619
 witness.

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.439
 The sad thing is

00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:07.819
 a lot of their witnesses

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.779
 are about

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.299
 themselves,

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.319
 their own

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.939
 interests,

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.559
 their own

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.399
 affections,

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.799
 their own

00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.799
 petty issues,

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.379
 and not about

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:19.740
 Jesus.

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:22.599
 And as we study

00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.559
 the scriptures

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.740
 this morning,

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.480
 what my

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.019
 prayer has been

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.240
 is that we

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.500
 who know Christ

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.720
 would get rid

00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.420
 of some of this

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.579
 stupidity

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.480
 about ourselves

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.799
 and we would be

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.819
 locked in

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.980
 to the glory

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.180
 and the supremacy

00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:39.900
 of Christ

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.819
 and he

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.200
 would dominate,

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.380
 dominate

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:47.880
 our affections

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:49.660
 because when

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.580
 he dominates

00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.480
 our affections,

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.260
 he will

00:18:52.260 --> 00:18:53.060
 control

00:18:53.060 --> 00:18:53.600
 our

00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.840
 conversations.

00:18:58.540 --> 00:18:59.120
 Well,

00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.740
 let's learn

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.580
 about John.

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.380
 And as we

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:05.260
 learn about John,

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:05.820
 let's learn

00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:06.520
 about witnessing.

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.300
 In principle,

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:09.940
 what we're going

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.440
 to find

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:10.980
 in verses

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.920
 19

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.980
 on down

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.500
 through

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.100
 to verse

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.120
 24

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.479
 is that

00:19:18.479 --> 00:19:19.199
 a witness

00:19:19.199 --> 00:19:19.859
 is not

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.739
 self-focused.

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.139
 A witness

00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.579
 is not

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.319
 self-focused.

00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.019
 We find

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.419
 there in

00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:27.739
 John

00:19:27.739 --> 00:19:28.899
 1.19

00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.299
 that

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.759
 after John

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.339
 began his

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.500
 public ministry,

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.599
 he really

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.179
 did rattle

00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:34.679
 the cages

00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.339
 in Jerusalem

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.239
 and the

00:19:36.239 --> 00:19:36.839
 Sanhedrin.

00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:37.019
 Now,

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.659
 the Sanhedrin

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.379
 were the

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.699
 70 men

00:19:39.699 --> 00:19:40.119
 that were

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.459
 kind of

00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:40.919
 responsible

00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.459
 for the

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:42.219
 leadership

00:19:42.219 --> 00:19:42.599
 and the

00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:43.259
 decision-making

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.559
 in the

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.000
 nation of

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.279
 Israel

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.179
 and when

00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:45.699
 they heard

00:19:45.699 --> 00:19:46.159
 that John

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:46.619
 the Baptist

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.339
 was preaching,

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.539
 after a period

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:48.899
 of time,

00:19:48.959 --> 00:19:49.299
 he really

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:49.699
 began to

00:19:49.699 --> 00:19:49.979
 have an

00:19:49.979 --> 00:19:50.379
 impact

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.019
 and so

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.579
 they sent

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.179
 a delegation

00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:53.379
 down to

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:53.659
 kind of

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.039
 do a little

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.279
 bit of

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.619
 study.

00:19:54.739 --> 00:19:55.259
 Who are

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.519
 you?

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.679
 That was

00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:57.000
 their first

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.419
 question.

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.019
 Who are

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.219
 you?

00:19:59.239 --> 00:19:59.639
 It's

00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.339
 implied

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.579
 that they

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:01.979
 thought he

00:20:01.979 --> 00:20:02.299
 might be

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.719
 the Christ,

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.079
 but there

00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.419
 in verse

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:03.879
 19,

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:04.619
 and this

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:04.899
 is a

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.259
 testimony

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.779
 of John

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.119
 when the

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.639
 Jews sent

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.000
 priests

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.579
 and Levites

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:07.779
 from

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.219
 Jerusalem

00:20:08.219 --> 00:20:09.019
 to ask

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:09.179
 him,

00:20:09.239 --> 00:20:09.679
 who are

00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.000
 you?

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.719
 This is

00:20:11.719 --> 00:20:12.279
 a formal

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.919
 delegation,

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:13.299
 do you

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.799
 follow that?

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.019
 on a

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.599
 fact-finding

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.039
 mission.

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.539
 Here's

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.879
 John the

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.159
 Baptist

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.700
 preaching

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.339
 without

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:20.940
 official

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.720
 recognition,

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.700
 and so

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.259
 they send

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.759
 an official

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.399
 delegation

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:25.839
 and they

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.019
 say,

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.379
 hey,

00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.460
 who are

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.680
 you?

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.619
 Now let me

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:28.859
 have you

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.359
 think with

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:29.779
 me just a

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.099
 little bit

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.799
 about the

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.259
 significance

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.740
 of John

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.200
 the Baptist

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.680
 and his

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.119
 ministry.

00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.119
 Understand

00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.399
 that for

00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:37.980
 400 years,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.920
 the nation

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.319
 of Israel

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.779
 had heard

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.299
 no preaching

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:42.720
 prophet.

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:44.539
 That's

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:44.720
 pretty

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.259
 significant.

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.200
 When

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.799
 Malachi

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.920
 finished

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:51.079
 his

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.640
 revelation,

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.660
 the nation

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.180
 of Israel

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.860
 did not

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.480
 enjoy

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.120
 another

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.640
 preaching

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.140
 prophet

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:58.740
 for 400

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.259
 years.

00:20:59.400 --> 00:20:59.960
 That is

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.620
 very

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.279
 significant

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.839
 to a

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.200
 people

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.920
 who had

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.660
 one after

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.059
 another

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.160
 received

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.039
 a prophet

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.420
 who would

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.660
 come.

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.200
 Now by

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.440
 the way,

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.700
 I want

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:07.880
 you to

00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.240
 understand

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.640
 that every

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.019
 time a

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.259
 prophet

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.759
 showed up,

00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.120
 the people

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.360
 weren't

00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:10.600
 going,

00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.259
 woohoo,

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.100
 we need

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.039
 this message.

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.740
 That's not

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.080
 the way it

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.660
 usually went,

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.580
 but they

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.420
 still respected

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.080
 the fact God

00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:17.799
 was communicating

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.440
 to them.

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.559
 400 years

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.580
 of silence.

00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.539
 And then

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.960
 out of the

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.259
 wilderness

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:25.920
 comes this

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.340
 guy,

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.559
 not endorsed

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.120
 by the priests

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.740
 in Jerusalem.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.240
 He didn't

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.680
 have any

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.480
 neatly printed

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.080
 brochures

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.640
 that explained

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.120
 how wonderful

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.640
 his ministry

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.120
 was.

00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.680
 He didn't

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.319
 even dress

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.799
 sharply.

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.059
 Do you

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.399
 understand

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.740
 that?

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.399
 He came

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:39.740
 out in

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.700
 camel's hair.

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.159
 Now that

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.439
 was the

00:21:43.439 --> 00:21:44.079
 blue jeans

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.480
 of the

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:44.720
 day.

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.000
 Do you

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.539
 follow that?

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.019
 I'm not

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.460
 doing blue

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.939
 jeans this

00:21:48.939 --> 00:21:49.179
 morning,

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.559
 but do

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:49.939
 understand

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.259
 this.

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:50.500
 I mean,

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.399
 the thing I

00:21:51.399 --> 00:21:51.819
 want you to

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.399
 remember about

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:52.819
 a man who

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.399
 stands behind

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:53.819
 the pulpit

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.419
 is not what

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.139
 tie he wears,

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:55.799
 but whether

00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.220
 or not he

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.679
 speaks with

00:21:56.679 --> 00:21:57.179
 the authority

00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:57.480
 of the

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.799
 word of

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.439
 God and

00:21:58.439 --> 00:21:58.839
 the power

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.099
 of the

00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.419
 spirit.

00:21:59.420 --> 00:21:59.600
 spirit.

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.220
 And here

00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.000
 was John

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.700
 the Baptist

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.500
 who walked

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.220
 out, and

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.160
 what were the

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.840
 scribes and

00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.480
 Pharisees all

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:06.700
 about?

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:06.900
 Do you

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.259
 remember how

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.759
 they dressed?

00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:09.519
 Oh, they

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.140
 were, I

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.660
 mean, hey, you

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.259
 could see a

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.680
 scribe and

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.220
 Pharisee and

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.640
 kind of know

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.060
 about their

00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.820
 holiness by the

00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:15.120
 way they

00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:15.580
 dressed.

00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.620
 You know,

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.279
 they were

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.420
 really, they

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.860
 were into

00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.820
 style, and

00:22:20.820 --> 00:22:22.000
 you know, oh,

00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.740
 you've got the

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.759
 big robe, and

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.340
 you've got the

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.960
 blue, and

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.600
 you've got the

00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.320
 bells, and you

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.419
 are really

00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.179
 hot, you

00:22:28.179 --> 00:22:28.879
 know, and

00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.659
 here is John

00:22:29.659 --> 00:22:30.179
 the Baptist

00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:30.939
 kind of strides

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:32.460
 out there, blue

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.279
 jeans and

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.139
 dungarees, and

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.099
 he's saying, hey,

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.319
 you guys need to

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.139
 buck up because

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:38.419
 Jesus is coming.

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.319
 Well, I want

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.879
 you to understand

00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.319
 something.

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.059
 When this

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.919
 spirit-enabled

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.919
 preacher, John

00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.399
 the Baptist,

00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:49.119
 strode in

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:49.659
 down to the

00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.819
 wilderness, he

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.700
 blew the doors

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.779
 off the shallow

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:55.700
 religion of the

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.019
 day.

00:22:56.919 --> 00:22:57.559
 Turn back, if

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.019
 you will, just

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.720
 for a moment to

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.579
 Luke chapter, well,

00:22:59.639 --> 00:22:59.939
 you've got to

00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.619
 turn back, that's

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.359
 right, go back.

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.899
 Luke chapter 1,

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.679
 verse 15 through

00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:04.159
 17.

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:08.059
 Do not miss

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:10.099
 the fact that

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.559
 John the Baptist's

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.960
 ministry was one

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.740
 that was

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:15.539
 characterized by

00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.939
 the work of the

00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:18.480
 spirit of God.

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.919
 Luke chapter 1,

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.619
 verse 15 through

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.079
 17.

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:28.259
 Here is the

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.759
 Holy Spirit

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.659
 speaking to

00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.539
 Zechariah

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.179
 regarding his

00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:31.399
 son.

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.779
 He says,

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.779
 for he will be

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.539
 great before the

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.019
 Lord, and he

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.679
 must not drink

00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:35.500
 wine or strong

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.679
 drink, and he

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.819
 will be filled

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.619
 with the Holy

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.819
 Spirit even from

00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.539
 his mother's

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.519
 womb, and he

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.480
 will turn many of

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.480
 the children of

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.139
 Israel to the

00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:44.899
 Lord their God.

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.639
 And he will go

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.480
 before him in the

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.879
 spirit and the

00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.639
 power of Elijah.

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.279
 And so what you

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.399
 understand is that

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.840
 here is someone

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:55.480
 who came onto

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.060
 the scene in

00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:58.400
 Jerusalem and in

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.560
 the nation of

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.000
 Israel.

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:00.920
 And by the way,

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.540
 listen to me

00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:01.920
 carefully.

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.420
 John the Baptist

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.860
 never did a

00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:06.120
 single miracle.

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.259
 Israel.

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.659
 Hmm?

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:10.099
 And yet, he

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:12.179
 turned the nation

00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:13.239
 upside down.

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.739
 Do you know how he

00:24:13.739 --> 00:24:14.139
 did that?

00:24:15.219 --> 00:24:16.699
 By preaching in the

00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.699
 power of the Spirit

00:24:17.699 --> 00:24:18.599
 of God that brought

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.779
 conviction to the

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.399
 hearts of broken-hearted,

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.719
 miserable sinners.

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:22.920
 sinners.

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.380
 I want you to

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.140
 understand something

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:31.819
 about John.

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.360
 He was not caught

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.079
 up in self.

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:41.079
 Verse 19, who are

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:41.279
 you?

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:45.220
 The fact that they

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.200
 had to ask him

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.539
 sequential questions

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.360
 indicates that he

00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.400
 didn't launch into,

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.180
 well, let me give you

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.620
 my business card, and

00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.500
 here are all the

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.639
 details about who I

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.459
 am and how important

00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:55.799
 I am.

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.399
 Do you follow that?

00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.779
 They had to keep on

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.459
 prodding, who are

00:24:59.459 --> 00:24:59.799
 you?

00:25:03.479 --> 00:25:04.079
 Look at the

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.500
 questions.

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.279
 Verse 20, he

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.079
 confessed and did

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.779
 not deny, but

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.559
 confessed, I'm not

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.099
 the Christ.

00:25:12.219 --> 00:25:13.039
 I mean, that was a

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.399
 logical question that

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.139
 they were asking.

00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.539
 Here, after having

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.179
 had all this insipid,

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.000
 worthless preaching

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.439
 that was

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.759
 characterized, or

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.940
 characterized the

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.519
 preaching of the

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:23.980
 scribes and

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.599
 Pharisees.

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.019
 If you ever want to

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.400
 have a little

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.359
 interesting discussion

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.279
 on what

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.319
 Pharisaical preaching

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.579
 was like, just read

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.700
 Alfred Edersheim,

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.460
 Life and Times of

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.220
 Jesus Messiah.

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.400
 I mean, hey,

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.819
 trying to think, who

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.460
 was the crystal

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:39.920
 cathedral?

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.879
 I mean, not who

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.900
 was, who preached in

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.920
 the crystal, let's

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.460
 try this.

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.299
 If you want to know

00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.079
 what the ancient

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.039
 Pharisees preached

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.359
 like, you can try

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.619
 Joel Osteen.

00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:51.460
 Okay?

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.639
 I mean, it was all

00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:54.920
 about feeling good

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.920
 about yourself and

00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.899
 all about, you know,

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.659
 well, you've got to

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.519
 do the right kind of

00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.379
 things, and you've

00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.259
 got to be, but you

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.680
 know what?

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.899
 God's all for you.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.579
 And here is John

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.339
 the Baptist came

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.240
 thundering out,

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.220
 clothed in blue

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.299
 jeans, and he says,

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.720
 hey, you guys are in

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.180
 trouble.

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.299
 Paul.

00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:16.080
 And John was

00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.980
 asked, are you the

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.360
 Christ?

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.799
 No?

00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:18.820
 No?

00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:22.000
 Well, okay, are you

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.420
 Elijah?

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.220
 And the reason they

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.320
 were asking him that

00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:26.140
 is because if you

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.640
 return your Bible, you

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.460
 don't need to this

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.400
 morning, but in

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.460
 Malachi chapter 4,

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:32.680
 verse 7, the last

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.740
 thing that Malachi had

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.920
 to say is that before

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:36.180
 the great and terrible

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.160
 day of the Lord,

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.960
 Elijah's going to

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.660
 come, and what he's

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.640
 going to do is his

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.480
 preaching is going to

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.640
 turn the hearts of

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.559
 fathers back towards

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.700
 their children and the

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.680
 hearts of children back

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.660
 towards their fathers.

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.640
 Stop.

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.400
 Do you know what

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:49.840
 that's saying?

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.720
 Everybody smile.

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.059
 It's saying that

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:57.120
 genuine conviction

00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:00.160
 touches on the

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.299
 closest relationships

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:04.039
 we have.

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.660
 Huh?

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.420
 Everybody said,

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:07.059
 yeah, that's right.

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:10.079
 If God is really at

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.159
 work in your heart,

00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.220
 those who are

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:15.960
 closest know.

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.440
 You can be really

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.519
 sweet in the lobby,

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:25.519
 but your kids know if

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.279
 you're a skunk at

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:26.500
 home.

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.679
 And here is what

00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:30.679
 Malachi said.

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:32.539
 He said,

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.160
 when revival

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.200
 comes under the

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.039
 ministry of the

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.080
 prophet Elijah,

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.900
 it's going to get

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.640
 a hold of those

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:42.740
 close relationships.

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.680
 A revival that does

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.840
 not reconcile

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:55.500
 the closest of

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.440
 relationships really

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.500
 has no spiritual

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:57.960
 zing.

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.600
 People that are

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:03.200
 persistently

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.960
 bristly,

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:06.400
 that are upset

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.160
 with one another

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:08.120
 spiritually,

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.420
 are really not in

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.059
 tune at all.

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.640
 I want you to turn

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.580
 just for a moment.

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.180
 Let's kind of go on

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:17.500
 a sidebar here for a

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.660
 second.

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.860
 Just go over to

00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.980
 James chapter 3,

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.580
 verse 14 through 18.

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.340
 Here's what I want

00:28:22.340 --> 00:28:22.580
 you to do.

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.180
 Everybody look at me,

00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.400
 brother.

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:25.060
 Underline this and

00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:25.820
 show it to your

00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:26.300
 wife.

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.080
 Do you follow that?

00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:31.259
 Now, what does that

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.880
 really mean?

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.000
 It means take it

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.500
 personally, don't apply

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.320
 it to somebody else.

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.340
 Let me read it to

00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:38.560
 you.

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.660
 But if you have

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.600
 bitter jealousy and

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.620
 selfish ambition in

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.600
 your hearts, do not

00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:44.580
 boast and be false

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.300
 about the truth.

00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:47.440
 I'm not there, is

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.440
 what this is saying.

00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:51.800
 This is not the

00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:52.800
 wisdom that comes

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.500
 from above, but is

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.779
 earthly, unspiritual.

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.240
 Now, nail the next

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.460
 one.

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.240
 Demoniacal.

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:04.599
 Well, I'm having a

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.059
 little bit of an

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.899
 attitude, but you

00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.259
 know what?

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.039
 It's well-deserved

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.919
 because the people I

00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.659
 deal with are just

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.379
 absolutely fruit

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.680
 cakes.

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.539
 No.

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.980
 This is a problem

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.599
 you have.

00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:17.399
 Well, let's keep

00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:17.659
 going.

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.240
 For where jealousy

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.399
 and selfish ambition

00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:22.240
 exist, there will be

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.859
 disorder and every

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.019
 evil practice.

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.380
 For the wisdom

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.599
 from above is

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.799
 first pure, then

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.140
 peaceable, gentle,

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.759
 open to reason, full

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.579
 of mercy and good

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.620
 fruits, impartial and

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.059
 sincere.

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.640
 And the harvest of

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.900
 righteousness is

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:39.299
 sown in peace by

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.259
 those who make

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.940
 peace.

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:53.759
 people came to

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.440
 John and said, Who

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:54.840
 are you?

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.600
 I'm not the

00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.000
 Christ.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.259
 I'm not Elijah.

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.840
 Well, are you the

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.220
 prophet?

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:09.200
 Incidentally, and because of time, we're not going to get there,

00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:13.539
 but that question, the prophet, is really a reference to Christ.

00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:18.799
 In Deuteronomy chapter 18, verse 15 through 18,

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.779
 there Moses speaks of the fact that the day would come

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:25.299
 when there would be the prophet who would arrive.

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.720
 You're listening to him.

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:29.579
 What it's saying is that God would send his son

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:33.339
 who would be the complete and full revelation of the truth.

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:39.159
 They didn't connect the messianic role and office of Christ into that,

00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:42.960
 but they said, are you the prophet?

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.039
 No, I'm not.

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:49.119
 I love what John has to say about himself, though.

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:56.740
 Look, if you would, there at John chapter 1, verse 22.

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:59.819
 So they said to him, who are you?

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:03.220
 We do need to give an answer.

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:08.559
 I mean, you know, we were sent as a delegation,

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:11.559
 and we've got to give some kind of answer to people

00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:13.940
 when we show back up in the office.

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.519
 Who are you?

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.019
 I'm nobody.

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:27.700
 I'm just the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:30.839
 make straight the way of the Lord.

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.379
 So let me ask you a question.

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:44.180
 How faithful are you at being the witness

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:46.160
 you've been divinely appointed to be?

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.040
 Hmm?

00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.880
 How faithful are you?

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.840
 Well, let's come to a second characteristic

00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:56.480
 and try to wrap this up.

00:31:57.940 --> 00:32:00.580
 First is a faithful witness is not self-focused.

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.700
 All about Jesus.

00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:06.180
 Second, a faithful witness really is convicting.

00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:08.279
 Convicting.

00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:13.779
 And we understand that because immediately after him saying,

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:15.259
 well, I'm nobody special,

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:19.379
 then what we find there in verse 25,

00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:21.539
 they say, well, then why are you baptizing?

00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:24.839
 Well, what are you doing baptizing people

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:26.879
 if you're not anybody special?

00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:33.240
 At the heart of the question that was being asked to John

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:36.720
 was, okay, if you're not special,

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:40.480
 why are you calling people to repentance

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:45.540
 and working as you are to indict people of sin?

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:49.460
 I want you to understand here,

00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:54.200
 if you have friends that are into sprinkling

00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:56.559
 or whatever else as a mode of baptism,

00:32:56.680 --> 00:33:00.180
 I do want you to understand that underlying this question

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.980
 that was being asked in John

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:04.879
 is a very clear indication that baptism

00:33:04.879 --> 00:33:09.180
 in the Jewish culture in which John stepped

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.659
 was one of immersion.

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:13.139
 The word baptism, actually baptizo,

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:15.140
 in the Greek means to immerse.

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.880
 How many of you know

00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:22.100
 that the Jews baptize all the time?

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:25.400
 Raise your hands if you know that the Jews,

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:28.700
 Joe Holloway, we have one who knows

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:30.840
 that Jews baptize all the time.

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:33.640
 And I went online Friday

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:36.800
 and I checked out where I could have

00:33:36.800 --> 00:33:38.720
 a Jewish baptism here in town.

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.280
 It's called a mikvah.

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:41.279


00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:46.440
 And mikvahs are, in fact, you can,

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:48.639
 go ahead, you can Google it when you get home.

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.460
 Jewish baptism.

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:54.079
 Where can I be baptized here in town?

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.240
 And there's a website.

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:59.079
 There's an email address.

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:01.519
 And there's a scheduling system

00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:04.180
 where I can schedule to have a mikvah.

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.299
 That, and the word,

00:34:05.379 --> 00:34:07.279
 it's talking about entire immersion.

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.619
 Immersion.

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.960
 Do you know what immersion means?

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.679
 All wet.

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:11.860
 100%.

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:14.340
 In fact, as a pastor,

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.599
 you know, when I'm involved in baptism,

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:17.019
 I want to be sure that they're down.

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:19.920
 Okay.

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.079
 All wet.

00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:27.940
 It was a regular part of ancient Judaism.

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.019
 baptism.

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:30.500
 And it was part of,

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:35.220
 A, any Gentile who wanted to become

00:34:35.220 --> 00:34:38.980
 a Jewish convert had to be,

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:42.220
 one, if he was male, circumcised.

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:45.619
 Two, baptized.

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:49.039
 Three, sacrifice.

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:49.579
 Okay.

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:53.179
 And so baptism was just woven in

00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:55.860
 to part of becoming a believer,

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.539
 a Jewish convert.

00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:00.900
 But there were other kinds of baptisms

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.679
 that took place

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.980
 that had to do in particular

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:06.319
 with a desire of purifying your heart

00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:08.579
 from just all the nasty scuzzies

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:10.400
 of the sinfulness of life.

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:11.179
 Do you follow that?

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.419
 And so periodically,

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.440
 you know,

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:13.899
 good,

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.699
 sincere Jews

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:17.779
 would go get mikvahed.

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:21.440
 And here was John the Baptist.

00:35:22.879 --> 00:35:25.399
 He had no endorsement.

00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:27.319
 Well, right,

00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:28.619
 do you have to baptize people?

00:35:28.779 --> 00:35:29.159
 Were you,

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:31.259
 were you a graduate of,

00:35:31.299 --> 00:35:31.719
 you know,

00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:32.699
 Jerusalem Academy

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:34.019
 and baptismal skills?

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:34.480
 No.

00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:36.899
 I never took any of those classes.

00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:39.279
 Have you been endorsed by the Senate?

00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:39.659
 No.

00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:40.920
 I haven't had that either.

00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:42.480
 Why are you baptizing?

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.879
 On top of that,

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:47.799
 if there was anybody in Israel

00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:49.159
 that should have been involved

00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:51.420
 in convicting people of sin,

00:35:51.879 --> 00:35:52.980
 it should have been the,

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.480
 guess what?

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:57.739
 The professional religious people, right?

00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:59.539
 Scribes, Pharisees,

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.480
 the Levites,

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.159
 the priests,

00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:04.119
 you guys are having a problem with sin.

00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:05.460
 It's time to take care of it.

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:07.299
 And nobody was doing that in Israel.

00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:09.460
 And along comes John the Baptist

00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.980
 and he rings the bell

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.260
 and he says,

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.920
 you guys are just a pack of sinners

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:14.559
 and the king is coming

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:16.059
 and when he shows up,

00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:17.659
 you guys are in a heap of trouble.

00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.199
 And actually,

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.940
 there were people

00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:21.260
 that believed his preaching.

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.679
 You got that?

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:25.400
 They started flocking

00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:27.500
 to where they could be baptized

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:29.000
 for repentance.

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:34.840
 Over Mark chapter 1 verse 4,

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.039
 we see this reference

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:37.760
 to the fact that baptism

00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:39.119
 had to do with repentance.

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:44.500
 And so here come these people

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:46.900
 from Jerusalem,

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:48.179
 from the Sanhedrin saying,

00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:48.900
 all right,

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.500
 you need to understand this.

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:52.340
 So you're not the Messiah.

00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.079
 No, no, no.

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.400
 You're not.

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:55.000
 And you're not Elijah.

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.740
 And you're not the prophet.

00:36:57.059 --> 00:37:00.240
 Well, why are you convicted?

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.519
 I mean,

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.559
 what right do you have

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.200
 to convict people

00:37:02.200 --> 00:37:02.820
 of being sinners?

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.260
 And by the way,

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.740
 do you know what sin kind of was

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:08.800
 in the Jewish culture of the day?

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.619
 It was dragging a chair

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.180
 on the Sabbath.

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:11.960
 Those really important things, right?

00:37:12.680 --> 00:37:14.200
 Remember what Jesus said?

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.579
 You guys tithe on the mint

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.220
 and the anise

00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:19.519
 and you have completely collected

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.519
 the more weighty matters

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.179
 of the law.

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:24.500
 And so they come stomping out

00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.300
 to John the Baptist

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:25.579
 and say,

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.440
 well, what are you doing?

00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:30.000
 Well, quite evidently,

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.719
 what was at work

00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:31.699
 is as John the Baptist

00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:32.360
 was preaching,

00:37:33.139 --> 00:37:34.659
 the Spirit was at work

00:37:34.659 --> 00:37:35.840
 convicting many

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:37.619
 of their sinful hearts

00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:39.820
 and the judgment

00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.559
 that they had

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:42.820
 to face under God.

00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:46.800
 The fact that people

00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:48.079
 came to be baptized

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:52.199
 indicates that John's preaching

00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:53.659
 identified sin

00:37:53.659 --> 00:37:55.039
 and called people

00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:56.039
 to repent of it.

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.480
 If you have any question

00:37:59.480 --> 00:37:59.900
 about that,

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:01.460
 you can turn in your Bible

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.360
 for your own study

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:02.960
 and Liberty,

00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:04.920
 go to Luke chapter 3

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.440
 and remember

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.759
 when John the Baptist

00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.340
 is preaching

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:09.679
 and he doesn't say,

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:10.480
 well, I am so glad

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.559
 all of you showed up here today

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.579
 to listen to my little talk

00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.360
 about how you ought

00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.259
 to feel better for yourself.

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.019
 Remember what he says?

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:17.119
 How many remember that?

00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:20.480
 He just blasted them.

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:20.759
 He says,

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:20.980
 you know,

00:38:21.059 --> 00:38:22.579
 the axe is laid

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.519
 to the root of the tree.

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:23.779
 You know,

00:38:23.819 --> 00:38:24.380
 what are you doing,

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.360
 you snakes in the grass

00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:25.880
 kind of thing?

00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:26.539
 He says,

00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:28.840
 bring forth fruit

00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:30.159
 worthy of repentance.

00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:32.920
 And then the soldiers said,

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.799
 well, what should we do?

00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.639
 And the others said,

00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:35.480
 well, what should we do?

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.400
 And he laid out

00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.380
 what genuine repentance

00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:38.259
 looked like.

00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.159
 I do want you to understand

00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:40.980
 that not everybody

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:42.259
 who heard John preach

00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:43.559
 believed John

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:44.880
 or was baptized.

00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:46.099
 How do I know that?

00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:47.680
 Track with me.

00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:48.280
 This is important.

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.960
 Matthew chapter 21,

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:50.800
 verse 25.

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:51.220
 Jesus,

00:38:51.640 --> 00:38:52.420
 he has now finished

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.220
 cleaning the temple.

00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:54.340
 Remember cleaning the temple?

00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:55.980
 One man

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:58.480
 walking in,

00:38:58.700 --> 00:38:59.860
 just kind of imagine this,

00:39:00.160 --> 00:39:01.579
 walking into the White House

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:03.660
 and turning it upside down.

00:39:05.660 --> 00:39:08.539
 That takes some kind of power.

00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:11.980
 And all they could do

00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.619
 is come up to him.

00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:12.840
 Well,

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:15.679
 what right do you have

00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:16.259
 to do this?

00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:17.380
 I mean,

00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:18.320
 that's what they were asking him.

00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:19.119
 He says,

00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:19.599
 well, hey,

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:21.420
 I got a question for you.

00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:23.119
 What is it?

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.480
 Well,

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:28.079
 hmm,

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.079
 yeah,

00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:29.619
 here it is,

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:29.940
 here it is.

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:32.539
 It was John the Baptist

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:35.039
 baptism from man

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:36.719
 or from heaven?

00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.900
 And they're sitting there

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.019
 thinking,

00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:40.199
 well,

00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:40.980
 if we say it was from man,

00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:41.739
 we're going to get stoned

00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:43.259
 because a lot of the people

00:39:43.259 --> 00:39:44.099
 around us think that

00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:44.960
 John really was

00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:46.779
 a messenger from God,

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:47.739
 so we don't want to see that.

00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:50.900
 Well,

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.679
 but if we say

00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:52.420
 it was from heaven,

00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.599
 then Jesus is going to say,

00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.480
 and then why weren't you

00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:55.639
 repentant and baptized?

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.739
 Do you follow that?

00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:58.119
 Had him on the hook.

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:01.079
 It's quite evident

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:02.099
 that the Pharisees,

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.880
 the scribes,

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.880
 the Levites,

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.460
 the priests,

00:40:04.619 --> 00:40:06.219
 these guys didn't buy in at all

00:40:06.219 --> 00:40:08.340
 to what John was selling.

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:13.119
 You see,

00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:13.940
 in their idea,

00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.019
 their religion

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.900
 really consisted

00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.860
 of superficial things,

00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:18.480
 of showing up

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.039
 and doing up

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.739
 and whatever else,

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.159
 but it really didn't have to do

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:22.099
 with anything but the heart.

00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:25.659
 John the Baptist

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:26.440
 came along and said,

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:26.900
 hey, listen,

00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:28.460
 the King of Kings is coming,

00:40:29.239 --> 00:40:30.239
 and it's time

00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:31.019
 for you to repent.

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.440
 Now,

00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:33.320
 I want to explain

00:40:33.320 --> 00:40:34.179
 something about

00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:35.559
 John the Baptist's

00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:35.920
 baptism,

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.659
 just for a moment.

00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:40.000
 John the Baptist's

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.340
 baptism

00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:41.920
 was not a baptism

00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:43.579
 to salvation.

00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:46.119
 It was a baptism

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:46.699
 that was,

00:40:46.900 --> 00:40:47.679
 in some sense,

00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:49.019
 a public recognition

00:40:49.019 --> 00:40:51.880
 of the lostness

00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:52.940
 of their condition

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:54.599
 and their desperate

00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:55.599
 recognition

00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:57.099
 of their state.

00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:58.980
 Broad terms.

00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:02.139
 John the Baptist,

00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:03.099
 when he was explaining

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.639
 this matter,

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:03.980
 he says,

00:41:04.039 --> 00:41:04.380
 hey, listen,

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:05.699
 I baptize you

00:41:05.699 --> 00:41:06.400
 with water,

00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:09.460
 but there is one

00:41:09.460 --> 00:41:12.039
 coming after me

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:14.139
 that will baptize you

00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:15.639
 with the Spirit.

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:17.619
 Oh,

00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:18.380
 I like that.

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.039
 Do you know why?

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.000
 Because,

00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.539
 not by might,

00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.599
 nor by spirit,

00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:24.039
 nor by power,

00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:25.619
 but by my spirit,

00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.380
 saith the Lord.

00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:27.480
 One of the things

00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.920
 that Scripture makes clear

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:30.900
 is that there's nothing

00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:32.000
 I can do

00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:33.559
 to the outside of me

00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.279
 or even to,

00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:35.179
 well,

00:41:35.259 --> 00:41:36.900
 let's think five positive

00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:37.900
 thoughts in a row,

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:39.599
 and maybe I'll be spiritual.

00:41:39.840 --> 00:41:39.980
 You know,

00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:41.239
 it doesn't work.

00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:43.139
 It has to be the Spirit

00:41:43.139 --> 00:41:44.099
 of God that transforms

00:41:44.099 --> 00:41:45.619
 our life through the power

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.159
 of the cross.

00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:46.739
 Isn't that right?

00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:50.459
 And here is John saying,

00:41:50.759 --> 00:41:51.099
 there's someone

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:52.059
 coming after me

00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:53.139
 that is going to make

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.759
 all the difference

00:41:53.759 --> 00:41:54.199
 in the world.

00:41:54.299 --> 00:41:55.119
 He is the only one

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:55.979
 who can save you

00:41:55.979 --> 00:41:57.419
 from the desperation

00:41:57.419 --> 00:41:58.959
 of your sin.

00:42:01.759 --> 00:42:02.859
 Let me come back.

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:06.879
 As John came out

00:42:06.879 --> 00:42:07.439
 of the wilderness,

00:42:08.799 --> 00:42:10.219
 his message was not

00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:11.059
 about himself.

00:42:12.259 --> 00:42:14.019
 His message was convicting.

00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:16.539
 And he summarized it

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.440
 by saying this

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.239
 as we find there

00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:19.239
 in verse 23,

00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:20.599
 make straight

00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:21.739
 the way

00:42:21.739 --> 00:42:22.880
 of the Lord.

00:42:27.279 --> 00:42:28.800
 Being a faithful witness,

00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:30.179
 I don't want you

00:42:30.179 --> 00:42:30.880
 to miss this.

00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:33.239
 Being a faithful witness

00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:34.739
 takes living the truth

00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:37.320
 and then saying the truth.

00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:37.900
 I want you to write

00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.639
 that down somewhere.

00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:41.059
 Because you know what?

00:42:41.259 --> 00:42:42.279
 My prayer this last

00:42:42.279 --> 00:42:42.860
 couple weeks

00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:43.480
 has been this.

00:42:43.619 --> 00:42:45.079
 I have had the privilege

00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:45.759
 of being away

00:42:45.759 --> 00:42:46.420
 for vacation

00:42:46.420 --> 00:42:47.799
 and I got to tell you,

00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:48.400
 I come back

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.480
 and I look on your faces

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.299
 and you are people

00:42:50.299 --> 00:42:51.039
 that I love,

00:42:51.079 --> 00:42:51.739
 I care about.

00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:55.559
 And I want you

00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:56.460
 to know the fullness

00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.519
 of joy that comes

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.079
 with being

00:42:58.079 --> 00:42:59.380
 all that God

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.500
 has called you to be.

00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:01.559
 Do you understand that?

00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:05.759
 And you can't be that

00:43:05.759 --> 00:43:06.519
 when you're consumed

00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:07.179
 with yourself.

00:43:09.239 --> 00:43:10.119
 You can't be.

00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:13.900
 To be in a spitting match

00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:14.480
 with God

00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:15.980
 is just profoundly stupid,

00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:16.339
 right?

00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:19.319
 And He is bent

00:43:19.319 --> 00:43:20.440
 on helping you

00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:21.980
 grow to be faithful

00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:22.920
 as a witness

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.920
 to His glory.

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:28.639
 It takes living the truth

00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:31.739
 and then saying the truth.

00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:34.259
 So let me put this together

00:43:34.259 --> 00:43:35.119
 in closing.

00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:37.940
 There are some of you

00:43:37.940 --> 00:43:38.359
 here today

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.500
 that do not know Christ.

00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:44.900
 And John the Baptist's message

00:43:44.900 --> 00:43:47.300
 from 2,000 years ago

00:43:47.300 --> 00:43:47.920
 is applicable.

00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:49.380
 Make straight

00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:50.680
 the way of the Lord.

00:43:50.940 --> 00:43:51.960
 The day is coming

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:54.019
 when the Lord Jesus Christ

00:43:54.019 --> 00:43:54.820
 who is the Savior

00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:55.480
 of the world

00:43:55.480 --> 00:43:56.260
 will also be

00:43:56.260 --> 00:43:57.340
 the judge of the world

00:43:57.340 --> 00:43:58.559
 and He is going

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:59.340
 to call you

00:43:59.340 --> 00:44:00.200
 to a task

00:44:00.200 --> 00:44:01.280
 and to accounting

00:44:01.280 --> 00:44:02.920
 and if you are standing

00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:04.000
 there before Him

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:05.579
 and you are not clothed

00:44:05.579 --> 00:44:06.559
 in His righteousness

00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:08.079
 and you are not clothed

00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:08.980
 in His finished work

00:44:08.980 --> 00:44:09.599
 on the cross

00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:10.559
 and you hope

00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:11.739
 to lift up to Him

00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:13.659
 the miserable pittance

00:44:13.659 --> 00:44:14.820
 that your life is,

00:44:15.059 --> 00:44:17.039
 you will not endure.

00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:21.079
 And one of the purposes

00:44:21.079 --> 00:44:21.799
 of preaching

00:44:21.799 --> 00:44:22.840
 is to bring you

00:44:22.840 --> 00:44:24.039
 who are here today

00:44:24.039 --> 00:44:25.559
 that desperately need

00:44:25.559 --> 00:44:26.739
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:44:26.739 --> 00:44:27.320
 to the point

00:44:27.320 --> 00:44:28.380
 of confessing,

00:44:28.539 --> 00:44:29.299
 I am a sinner

00:44:29.299 --> 00:44:31.400
 who stands justly condemned

00:44:31.400 --> 00:44:32.619
 before a holy God

00:44:32.619 --> 00:44:34.119
 and I need His help.

00:44:40.599 --> 00:44:41.639
 And there's some of you

00:44:41.639 --> 00:44:42.099
 here today

00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:43.000
 that know Christ.

00:44:46.839 --> 00:44:47.639
 And truthfully,

00:44:47.719 --> 00:44:48.699
 you're a heartbeat away

00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:51.559
 from being in His presence.

00:44:52.179 --> 00:44:52.839
 Do you understand that?

00:44:52.880 --> 00:44:53.659
 We're all a heartbeat away.

00:44:56.259 --> 00:44:57.739
 But you are living a life

00:44:57.739 --> 00:44:58.759
 that is distant

00:44:58.760 --> 00:45:01.060
 to that divine

00:45:01.060 --> 00:45:02.100
 and holy purpose

00:45:02.100 --> 00:45:03.560
 for which He redeemed you.

00:45:04.720 --> 00:45:05.780
 How do I know that?

00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.760
 I've been there.

00:45:13.080 --> 00:45:14.080
 I don't want to ever

00:45:14.080 --> 00:45:14.740
 be there again.

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.160
 I've called you,

00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:23.320
 He says,

00:45:23.380 --> 00:45:24.200
 to be my witness.

00:45:24.199 --> 00:45:28.079
 You cannot be bent

00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:29.159
 on yourself

00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:32.639
 and bent on Jesus too.

00:45:34.839 --> 00:45:36.980
 And if you are going to

00:45:36.980 --> 00:45:40.519
 see His glory

00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:42.279
 in your life,

00:45:42.839 --> 00:45:44.599
 it will take

00:45:44.599 --> 00:45:46.259
 humility

00:45:46.259 --> 00:45:48.519
 and repentance

00:45:48.519 --> 00:45:51.319
 and a pleading with Him

00:45:51.320 --> 00:45:53.880
 to change the way

00:45:53.880 --> 00:45:54.400
 you think.

00:45:57.140 --> 00:45:58.200
 Let's close in prayer.

00:46:03.500 --> 00:46:04.200
 Father God,

00:46:04.260 --> 00:46:04.720
 this morning,

00:46:05.360 --> 00:46:07.380
 I am mindful

00:46:07.380 --> 00:46:08.120
 that the purpose

00:46:08.120 --> 00:46:08.660
 of preaching

00:46:08.660 --> 00:46:09.380
 is to bring

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:11.100
 Your glorious people

00:46:11.100 --> 00:46:12.059
 to the place

00:46:12.059 --> 00:46:13.660
 of saying yes or no

00:46:13.660 --> 00:46:16.440
 to the Holy Spirit.

00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:19.019
 You've called us

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:19.660
 to be witnesses.

00:46:21.320 --> 00:46:22.380
 We do not want

00:46:22.380 --> 00:46:22.980
 to play

00:46:22.980 --> 00:46:26.440
 with so awesome,

00:46:27.460 --> 00:46:28.760
 so majestic

00:46:28.760 --> 00:46:30.120
 an appointment.

00:46:31.640 --> 00:46:32.880
 We're frail,

00:46:34.220 --> 00:46:35.700
 easily distracted,

00:46:37.400 --> 00:46:38.900
 often discouraged.

00:46:40.780 --> 00:46:41.680
 And yet,

00:46:41.780 --> 00:46:42.500
 we have been given

00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:43.340
 the gift

00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:45.080
 of salvation

00:46:45.080 --> 00:46:46.400
 and the enabling

00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:47.840
 of the Spirit of God.

00:46:49.080 --> 00:46:50.320
 So help us

00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:52.740
 in our divine call.

00:46:53.860 --> 00:46:54.700
 We ask this

00:46:54.700 --> 00:46:55.720
 in Jesus' name.

00:46:56.160 --> 00:46:56.440
 Amen.