No matter how absolute the darkness, the tiniest light cannot be overcome. A single light in the darkness really makes a difference.
My good friend Randy Murray went on a cave tour in Kentucky and he told me something very interesting. The tour guide did something to show the group just how absolute the darkness was in the Cave. When the group entered one of the larger Caverns deep inside the cave, he had all the lights shut off. Then he allowed their eyes to adjust to this absolute darkness. Randy said, "you
couldn't even see the hand in front of your face." Then the guide lit one little match. In absolute darkness that one match lit up the whole cavern. Everyone could see
each other and what was around them. One small light cut through the thickest darkness.
Jesus said of John the Baptist, "He was the burning and shining lamp,"
There had not been a prophet sent from God in over 400 years and now God sends John the
Baptist to shine in the darkness. To shine in one of the darkest hours in the History of Israel. The people were so corrupt they rejected the Messenger of the Messiah and the Messiah Himself.
But John Kept on shining even though men loved darkness.
God has also called us to be lights in the darkness. This morning the example of John the
Baptist will challenge us regarding our witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
We need to see the heart of John the Baptist. And answer the question;
1. What made him shine so brightly?
2. And also ask ourselves, how brightly am I shining in the darkness?
John 1: 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
God Sent a Man!
John was sent by God.
There was a Divine purpose...
Too many go forth with man's mission, doing things man's way, seeking man's success, pleasing man and not God.
But that was not the way of John the Baptist. He was out to please God. And When you please God you will may not please ungodly men.
Look at v. 7, John knew that he must "bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe."
What a responsibility to know that you were the lighthouse surrounded by a sea of people that live in darkness.
That was John's responsibility and that is our responsibility!
Think about this...What is the function of light? To shine in the darkness. That's just what John did. That's just what we are called to do:
Philippians
2: 15, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life.
Continuous action... we never stop holding forth the light of God's Word. Light stands out in the darkness. So did John, and so should we. I can't think of a stronger analogy than God's choice of light and darkness.
Light and Darkness don't mix. John's preaching is an example of this. He did not mix a little of the worlds ways with God's message.
Did he water down the message to make it more acceptable?
Did he tone down the seriousness of the message?
Did he remove the urgency of the message?
Not at all! He gave people in darkness the full light! You don't have to go far in the gospels to find out that John the
Baptist was not a man pleaser. He was out to serve his Lord and he made no apologies for it. He ended up being killed for his stand against sin. He
didn't preach what they wanted to hear, rather he preached what God sent him to preach.
So many churches have ignored the mission and ways of God and are doing things man's way. They get caught up in entertaining church goers. They tickle ears with man's doctrines that please men. They water down the Gospel message.
What did John Preach?
Mark 1: 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Change your mind, if you want forgiveness, confess and believe in the Messiah. John was careful to point people to Jesus. Too many men today draw men unto to themselves. John pointed and led people to Christ.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John's message was simple, but direct.
Confess your sins , Change your mind , Believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God
John warned... judgment is coming.
This kind of message is not real palatable for those that love darkness.
Those that think they have no sin. Those that think they're right with God and don't want to be told otherwise.
John said... Repent!
....change your minds
The apostles didn't hesitate to tell people to repent, "change your mind about Jesus"
Acts 26:18 &20 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of
Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
What boldness to challenge someone to change their mind.
If you don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
If you don't believe that Jesus died on the Cross for your sins.
If you don't believe that Jesus is the only way.
If you trust in anything else, save the works of Jesus on the Cross,
you must CHANGE YOUR MIND !
And there's more...
He dealt with those who rejected the message, but wanted to perform the ritual of baptism. Religious people have always been around.
Matt. 3:4 , And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
The Sadducees and Pharisees, came for baptism, thinking they did not need to repent. How many church goers are like that today? They want to perform the rituals , but reject the message of God.
Vipers were unclean, unacceptable to God. John knew the religious leaders had rejected the message from God. Yet in their self righteous minds they thought they were acceptable to God.
Ritual without relationship with God is empty. John rejected their attempts to be involved in the ritual of baptism without having believed in their heart.
He also dealt with those who thought their background gave them a right standing with God.
The Jews thought that they were OK spiritually.
They were Jews after all...
They had the spiritual advantage.
They had God's word.
They could point back to the faith of their fathers.
Matt. 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."
People in this country can think the same way: "My folks went to church...
this is a Christian country, So I'm "OK"!
How did John deal with these kinds of people, "You repent", "you believe in the Messiah." We need to do the same.
Children in Christian homes really need to listen to this! Growing up in a Christian home is a wonderful thing. But you need to have your own faith in Jesus Christ. You are not saved through your father's faith.
You are saved when you place your faith in Jesus as your
Savoir.
John also dealt with the issue of Judgment.
Luke. 3: 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Luke. 3: 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. 18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
John exposed Sin. He revealed the judgment to come. John had a clear message and he preached with Zeal.
John also had a clear purpose in life.
To bear witness of the Light!
John 5: 35 "He was the burning and shining lamp"
In John's day folks new where the evangelism was taking place. They knew to head for the river Jordan.
Go into the wilderness of Judea. Find John!
What about today? Who are the shining lights like John today? If someone you knew was looking for the light would they come to you?
Think of HOW many churches are growing today. So many churches are growing through migration... sheep just moving to bigger and better pastures.
How many churches are growing through evangelism? Are we a voice crying out in the wilderness?
Does anybody hear us?
They may not want to hear:
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
People think they are doing just fine in the darkness (a life without Christ).
Then we come along and Shine our light. We proclaim the Gospel. We expose sin! Some will respond violently towards us. Remember how John died.
People hate the light (until they're ready to repent).
But we must still shine!
Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'
Remember the principles that Jesus taught in Mt 5:15 , you don't put a basket over a lamp do you? You put it up where it gives light.
We have the light, We have the truth. We must tell others! We need to shine!
John had a passion to do God's work.
John was focused! He was intense about his mission!
Jesus said "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist" Luke 7:28
Why did Jesus esteem John so highly? John had nothing that made him great in the eyes of man. No earthly
possessions, no earthly standing that made him great. But he had a heart for God and a passion to Serve Him.
He set aside the things of this world.
He was not distracted!
He purposed to be a light! ... Purposed to proclaim the gospel message ... purposed to please God.
John understood his responsibility and he lived according to a clear mission and purpose. Jesus said of John that he was a burning and shining lamp.
What will He say of us?
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