THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
TEXT: MATTHEW 3:1-11
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
A. The Man:
1. His appearance was intended to result in an association with Elijah
2. His appearance was intended to signify separation from the world
3. His appearance would signify the coming of the Messiah
B. The Mandate:
1. A Call to Repentance
2. A Call to Regeneration
3. A Call to Renewal
C. The Message:
1. Prophetic Message
2. A Messianic Message
3. A Preparatory Message.
CONCLUSION:
John’s preaching that the Gospel of God begins with the bad news of man’s sin and future damnation and ends with the good news of Jesus’ work on the cross. There is an amazing contrast between John’s priorities and ours today. Jesus spoke highly of John calling him the greatest man!
Note John’s attitude toward the three most frequent priorities of man today:
(1) Popularity. We want more than anything to be sought out as friends by others. How different was John.
(2) Prosperity. Money is the god of many men today. John had little if any of that. John was never rich in this world’s eyes, but he received of our Lord the greatest compliment given any man.
(3) Position. Some men will sell their souls is position—power. They will, in their desire to get to the top, climb over anyone who gets in their way. How different was John. “He must increase, but I must decrease.
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