Walking With The Greats - The Life of John The Baptist

This week's service can be watched at
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"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." 1 Corinthians 10:11

Today's Scripture Text: Matthew 3:1-12

What Made John The Baptist Great Was…

1. CALL (Luke 1:15-17)

Before you were formed, God knew you and He has great plans for your life!  There is a call on your life just like the call on John the Baptist's life.

LIFE LESSON #1: God's Got a Great Call... For Us All

2. COMMITMENT

It was not always easy, but John obeyed God.  It wasn't convenient but John obeyed God.

LIFE LESSON #2: The World Measures Greatness By Achievement; God Measures Greatness By Obedience!

When someone has mastered obeying God completely, then they are great in God's eyes.  John did everything God told him to do.  What he wore, what he ate... John understood crucifying the flesh.  He understood that this was about total commitment and not about him.  Sometimes obedience requires inconvenience!  We can't have a half-hearted commitment and expect a whole-hearted blessing!  Commitment is a two-way street!

LIFE LESSON #3: To Fulfill God's Call, We Have To Give Our All!

3. COURAGE

Religious rulers and leaders of the day like Herod, came to hear what he had to say.  But he didn't try to work those relationships for his own benefit.  in fact, John rebuked Herod and told him to repent. Luke 3:19  John wasn't willing to compromise the message or his
lifestyle.

LIFE LESSON #4: We Need to be More Concerned with What God Wants From Us, Than What Men Think

It's more important what God wants than what people want.

4. CLOTHED IN HUMILITY

People were coming by the thousands to hear John.  Some even asked if he was the Messiah.  John's pride could have gotten the best of him.  When God uses you, you can't allow that to make you think more highly of yourself than you ought.  God wants to use you but he doesn't need you.  He can raise up another at any time.

LIFE LESSON #5: Our Humility Should Never Give Way to Popularity - Matthew 3:11

John's humility caused him to realize he was merely a vessel God was working through.  Weneed to put our pride aside.  Pride is the enemy's #1 tactic to get us off track and into sin.  The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in all believers - so there is no room for spiritual pride.  You are not better than another, just because of your assignment.  There will always be one who comes along with a greater assignment than yours.

5. CHRIST-FOCUSED

John's purpose was not to draw people to himself; 'another is coming after me...'; his whole purpose was to announce the coming of Jesus.  John was the launching point of Jesus' ministry.  When Jesus started baptising, John's disciples went to John and complained.  John had to explain to them that this Jesus is the very one he was preaching about that was coming.  Don't miss the point and miss Jesus because of your pride.

LIFE LESSON #6: Our PURPOSE: Is to Point People to Christ

We are never to draw people to ourselves.  Our purpose is always to draw people to Christ.  John said, "I must decrease that he might increase"  This from a man that Jesus called great.

CHALLENGE: We must decrease so that Jesus would increase in and through us.  This way, the world will see a reflection of Christ in us and not be distracted by us.  Christ in you is their hope of glory.  There is a call on our lives that requires commitment and courage.  We must be clothed in humility to decrease and when we are Christ-focused, He will increase.  Make sure that when people look at you, they see Jesus and not you.  Christ is attractive to all who see Him in His true light.  Allow that light to shine through clearly.

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