Matthew 11 verse 10 let's look there the Bible says for this is he of whom it is
written behold I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy
way before thee barely I say unto you among them that are born of women there
hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist not withstanding he that is
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he what we see here is some
lofty praise coming from the Lord Jesus Christ to John the Baptist Jesus says
there hath not risen a greater than John a greater man than John and you know in
a world today where the wicked are being exalted in a world today in which a
feminist hag like Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies and the world mourns for her where
flags are brought down to half-staff and respect for somebody who promoted pro
abortion anti God values a Jew right now is in hell burning forever praise God
for that in a world in which celebrities are exalted in a world in
which politicians are exalted in a world in which athletes these black lives
matter promoters by the way you can't run away from politics even if you try
watching sports with these athletes and these celebrities and these politician
being exalted by the world today looked at as role models I think it's more
important than ever as God's people to look to men like John the Baptist as our
role models and look to men like John the Baptist as positive examples for us
to pattern our behavior after which is why the title of my sermon is the
positive example of John the Baptist the positive example of John the Baptist let
me introduce you to a real hero somebody that we as Bible believing Christians
should be looking up to not the celebrities and politicians and athletes
who promote the wisdom of this world go to Isaiah chapter 40 Isaiah chapter
number 40 I want to say first of all thank you to pastor Shelley for the
opportunity to fill in here it's always an honor and a privilege to do so if you
haven't heard his morning sermon by the way I'm sure the the p.m. sermon is gonna
be good too but if you haven't heard his morning sermon go watch it I'll leave it
at that as you turn to Isaiah 40 I'll read from Malachi 4 where the Bible says
behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to
the children and the heart of the children to their fathers lest I come
and smite the earth with a curse Elijah the prophet would come the Bible tells
us in Malachi chapter 4 we see that fulfilled in the person of John the
Baptist how because Elijah was a picture he was a type of John the Baptist and
I'll have more on that in a little bit but look down at your Bibles in Isaiah
chapter 40 verse 1 this is a famous portion of Scripture here where the
Bible tells us starting at verse 1 comfort ye comfort ye my people saith
your God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her
warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned for she hath
received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins the voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the
desert a highway for our God every valley shall be exalted and every
mountain and hill shall be made low and the crooked shall be made straight and
the rough place is plain and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all
flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it that's
powerful right there in Isaiah chapter number 40 and I wanted to start off
showing you a prophecy of John the Baptist and who would come later on his
ministry was revolved our should say his ministry revolved around the Lord
Jesus Christ he came to prophesy of the Messiah that would come whereas we as
Christians we look back at the cross that's what we do every time we go
soul-winning as we exalt Jesus Christ by telling people about what he
accomplished for the world at Calvary the primary role of John the Baptist
prepare the way for the Messiah he was a voice crying in the wilderness this is
quoted in several portions in your New Testament several places in your New
Testament Matthew chapter 3 Mark chapter 1 we see this appear also in Luke
chapter 3 John chapter number 1 as well the voice crying in the wilderness and
what was he doing proclaiming the coming of the Messiah he looked forward to the
cross go to Luke chapter 7 Luke chapter number 7 John was a miraculous birth
foretold to Zacharias by an angel of the Lord and boy did he live up to that
miraculous birth again to refer to as someone who was at the top of the food
chain if you will by Jesus Christ that among women there is no one better think
about that the magnitude of that compliment coming from God manifest in
the flesh that's someone we could look to as a positive example my first point
is John the Baptist was authentic John the Baptist was authentic what does it
mean to be authentic it means to be genuine to be real not fake the opposite
of someone who is fake you know there's a problem with Christianity today and it
seems to be getting worse and worse every day what's the problem the problem
is it's well it's got a problem with people who are fake there are a lot of
fakes out there calling themselves Christians there are a lot of fakes out
there who want the glory for themselves how about the holier than thou's how
about the hyper spiritual brother Dylan preached about that recently brother
Dylan I might take a few points from your sermon this morning it doesn't mean
I ripped you off it was just we were thinking the same way you know these
people that go around I'm so spirit praise everything that comes out of the
mouth praise the Lord brother I'm so spiritual look at me talking all
spiritual their fakes who are they behind the scenes who are they when
people aren't looking at them when they don't have the spotlight I guarantee you
they're not doing as much soul-winning as somebody who's just quiet and serving
the Lord quietly to exalt Jesus Luke 7 verse 24 notice what it says and when
the messengers of John were departed he began to speak unto the people
concerning John what went ye out into the wilderness for to see a reed shaken
in the wind you know it's a red flag for someone who is fake they're tossed
about with every wind of doctrine and Jesus implies that John the Baptist
wasn't that way what did you come to see a reed shaken in the wind someone who's
just tossed about with every wind of doctrine someone who's gonna believe one
thing on Monday and totally change it on Tuesday out of convenience no that was
not John the Baptist that was not who he was because he was real you know one
minute we have guys out there preaching in their joke churches one minute
church planting is biblical and then another minute it's not I wonder what
changed and you probably know who I'm referencing his name's Adam Fannin when
he's the leader of a church plant it's biblical it's righteous when he's
begging other pastors to take him on because he failed as an evangelist well
church planting in that scenario totally biblical as soon as he realizes
he has no choice but to have a bunch of bozo clowns lay hands on him and call
him pastor then all of a sudden oh well the satellite church model is the
antithesis of what the Bible teaches it's garbage you want to know why he
says that because he's fake that's the mark of a fake person that's the mark of
someone who doesn't believe anything that comes out of their mouth because
they're willing to change their doctrines and just be tossed about with
every wind of doctrine based only on what benefits them personally you know
I'm glad to go to a church where the pastor is gonna believe the Bible
whether it's popular or not whether it benefits him personally or not I used to
go to a church in Jacksonville before Pastor Shelley took over in which there
were different factions you had one group over here that was right on the
Trinity and you had another group on a different side of the church that was
confused on the Trinity and they were tossed about with every wind of doctrine
make no mistake about it one day I'd walk into church and they would talk
about how you know what I see what the Bible says about this doctrine now and
you know what I think these oneness people are out to lunch and then the
next week I would go to church and they would say oh but you know Elliot Ray put
out this video and I'm not sure how to refute it and all of a sudden they were
confused again they want from being confused to getting it right to being
confused to getting it right and it was this endless cycle because they were
tossed about with every wind of doctrine fakes is what they were a lot of people
they'll just check which direction would be appropriate for them to go before
deciding what they believe you know there's people out there they believe
the gap theory one day the next day they wake up they believe the day age theory
the next day they wake up they go on YouTube they watch a video belonging to
a guy eating 50 pounds of ice cream every day and his mommy's basement
making videos about the Nephilim and all of a sudden they believe that why
because their foundation on which they build their doctrine is not the Word of
God and so that's how they end up getting tossed about with every wind of
doctrine that does not describe John the Baptist and that's strongly implied here
in verse 24 look at verse 25 but what we what went ye out for to see a man
clothed in soft raiment behold they which are gorgeously appareled and live
delicately are in Kings courts John the Baptist he was not wearing soft raiment
that you would find in Kings courts but rather he wore a raiment of camel's hair
rather he emanated in the wilderness but rather he didn't live a lavish lifestyle
that describes John the Baptist he didn't live a lavish lifestyle you
weren't gonna find him in long robes that you would see from the religious
Pharisees of that time and of today as well they still wear that kind of
garment in 2020 no flashy spiritual attire you wouldn't catch John the
Baptist wearing that he didn't graduate from some fancy theological seminary
with his doctrine of divinity degree no go to Amos 7 I want to show you an
example Amos chapter 7 John the Baptist didn't necessarily stick out from a
crowd you wouldn't think that he was who Jesus Christ described as the greatest
among those who were born of women if you saw him in an airport you wouldn't
necessarily be able to pick him out as the man who would preach sermons that
would usher in the Messiah Amos 7 is where I had you turn Amos chapter 7 when
you get there look at verse 14 Amos chapter 7 let's look at an example of a
prophet of God who didn't necessarily meet the description of someone who you
would look at and see as an individual who sticks out from a crowd Amos 7 verse
14 the Bible says then answered Amos Amos 7 verse 14 then answered Amos and
said to Amaziah I was no prophet neither was I a prophet son but I was a
graduate of the theological seminary where I attained a master's of divinity
degree is that what that says no then answered Amos and Amaziah I was no
prophet neither was I a prophet son but I was an herd man and a gatherer of
sycamore fruit and the Lord took me as I followed the flock and the Lord sent it
to me go prophesy unto my people Israel Amos was what a herd man he was an
ordinary man who was given this opportunity by God to prophesy to
Israel and in fact he got in trouble for doing so because when you stand for the
truth you're gonna receive backlash we'll see that in the life of John the
Baptist momentarily but God looks for ordinary people that's what he looks to
use why because ordinary people tend to be the most authentic the most real you
don't have to worry about them preaching deceitfully now go to Luke chapter 20
Luke chapter 20 like John the Baptist Amos wasn't exactly someone who you
would look at and pick out from a crowd as someone who looked outwardly like
they were special in some way he was a simple man he was a herd man a gatherer
of sycamore fruit you say well I'm just a simple man I'm a plumber I work with
my hands God could use you don't think just because you don't have a gold boat
just because you don't have a giant mansion that God isn't gonna be able to
use you Luke 20 Luke chapter number 20 look at verse 45 when you get there Luke
chapter 20 verse 45 the Bible says Luke chapter 20 verse 45 then in the audience
of all the people he said unto his disciples beware of the scribes which
desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets and the highest
seats in the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts which devour widows
houses and for a show make long prayers the same shall receive greater
damnation you say is that is it possible for somebody to suffer more torments in
hell than usual yeah it says right here they'll suffer they'll receive rather
greater damnation why are they wearing long robes for a show why do they engage
in long prayers for a show doesn't mean they love God more than you it's just a
show they want to be seen of men the Matthew 6 individual you know there's a
mechanism on Facebook that allows you to broadcast to the world the charity that
you decided to donate to yep that's on Facebook and I see it all the time look
at me I donated to so-and-so charity it's probably fake charity anyway but
everyone wants to be seen event why for a show to virtue signal that's what the
that's what these corporate conglomerates are doing right now with
the black lives matter garbage virtue signaling to be seen of men their works
are to be seen of men and that's what these religious Pharisees the scribes
and Pharisees were fake people this is what they're gonna do they're gonna
grandstand about all their works in front of the entire world John the
Baptist wasn't a grandstander John the Baptist was a simple man and I'll tell
you this some of you might not like this but I'll go ahead and say it anyway
John the Baptist wouldn't be standing up buying the highest hilltop he can find
to grandstand about how he's still going to church in the middle of a pandemic he
wouldn't be doing that you know what he would do he would quietly serve the Lord
like he would have done whether there's a pandemic or not that's what he would
have done oh I don't like that well don't grandstand them we want me to tell
you the hyper spiritual they'll lay it on thick all over social media they're
in genuine they're fake don't fall for it go to Matthew chapter 3 Matthew
chapter 3 meanwhile I'll read from Matthew 23 as you go to Matthew 3 the
Bible says there but all their works they do to be seen of men they make broad
their phylactries and enlarge the borders of their garments here's another
attribute of the fake person they enlarge the borders of their garments
all right that's not how John the Baptist dressed all right because that
he had that raiment of camel's hair now I don't want fake friends I don't know
about you guys but I do not want fake friends I want friends who are real I
want friends who have authenticity to them okay I don't you know here's the
thing I want friends who have a zeal for God who have a zeal for the things of
God who have a zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ and for soul winning and for
church not a zeal for public affirmation that's the difference I don't want to
have friends like that I don't want to surround myself with people like that
and you shouldn't either Matthew 3 look at verse 1 in those days came John the
Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying repent ye for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand but this is he that was spoken of by the prophet
of sighs saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of
the Lord make his past straight and this same John had his raiment of camel's hair
and a leather and girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wild honey
so again no long robes no no flashy clothing raiment of camel's hair a
leather and girdle this was the antithesis of the scribes and the
Pharisees the total opposite of the scribes and the Pharisees because unlike
them he was genuine he was real now my second point is that John the Baptist
didn't live to gratify the flesh John the Baptist did not live to gratify the
flesh instead he served God with his life his raiment and his diet it
exemplified an individual who put God first who didn't live to gratify the
flesh at himself he was rugged you would never find John the Baptist wearing
skinny jeans he was a rugged man a masculine man a real man not these
skinny jean wearing fake pastors at the fun centers today they don't resemble
John the Baptist they don't resemble any of the prophets of God who did mighty
works his life didn't resolve didn't revolve around superfluous delicacies
that wasn't who he was go to Proverbs 30 Proverbs 30 Bible says in Proverbs 23
labor not to be rich cease from thine own wisdom I know it was covered this
morning but I'll add to it there's a difference between laboring to be rich
and laboring to feed your family there's a difference the difference is what are
you living for if you're living for those riches you're not right with God
Proverbs 30 I think this one right here describes John the Baptist to a T look
at verse 8 remove far from me vanity and lies give me neither poverty nor riches
feed me with food convenient for me John ate food that was convenient for him he
ate locusts and wild honey that's not an extravagant meal folks you're not
gonna find that at a super expensive restaurant or anything like that it was
food that was convenient for him his diet proved that he didn't need to
perennially feed the flesh that he didn't live for materialism and for the
carnal things of this world but rather he prioritized that which is spiritual
and we should do that as well we should do that as well now I did some online
shopping at Neiman Marcus very famous place to go shopping of evidently and so
I went online I went to their VIP section okay I just this is all I typed
I just clicked shirts that's it just simple shirts okay and this is what I
found Brioni this is the brand Brioni sounds like it like an Italian pizza
parlor or something Brioni men's silk medallion sport shirt $1,375 imagine
spending that much money on a shirt I could go to a thrift store and get one
for $5 and be perfectly fine I think this is where this came from I don't
even know where it came from I've had a lot of my clothes for way too long I'll
just say that there's pictures of me in high school with the same anyway let's
just move on from that st. Laurent men's leopard sheer silk shirt sounds
effeminate to me a thousand two hundred ninety dollars for this thing thousand
two hundred ninety dollars and if you think that was bad how about this one
this is a Stefano Ritchie t-shirt right here I don't know what this is but
Stefano Ritchie apparently is a highly valuable a button-down sport shirt
button-down sport shirt four thousand three hundred fifty dollars on their
website right now you'd have to finance the thing to afford it this is vanity
folks the the chapter we're memorizing right now the words of the preacher the
son of David King in Jerusalem vanity of vanity saith the preacher all is vanity
will folks this is not going to fill the void it's not gonna fill the void and
you know what this is not what John the Baptist concerned himself with wasn't
wearing the expensive clothing that you would see in Kings courts know that
Neiman Marcus doesn't have a John the Baptist section that'd be in the dollar
store okay go to the dollar store you'll probably find things that he would
approach now here's the thing again I'm not and this was covered in the morning
I'm not saying if you have riches you're not right with God we learned in Genesis
13 already about Abraham he was wealthy Boaz would fit that description as well
job would fit that description as well and here's the Abraham he was called a
friend of God according to Isaiah chapter 41 see what matters is what are
you given to John was not given to materialism that's why I bring this up
he was not given to materialism go to 2nd Kings chapter 1 this is what you
have to understand austerity is not a sign of someone who was more spiritual
than you keep that in mind austerity is not a sign of superior spirituality if
you will with John the Baptist we know and this is why he would be a positive
example he didn't live for riches he was fed with food that was convenient for
him he lived for God he lived for Christ he had the bare minimum think about this
he had the bare minimum as small as you can get as far as values and and and
riches the bare minimum carnally but he abounded spiritually and so that's the
good news if you're someone who isn't abounding carnally if your bank account
isn't very impressive but you are able to feed your family guess what you could
abound spiritually and you know what abounding spiritually is a heck of a lot
more important anyway Matthew 3 says and the same John had his raiment of
camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and
wild honey I want to focus on that here first of all we know that he wore a
raiment of camel's hair well 2nd Kings 1 we see that this is actually typified
through Elijah now the context here Ahaziah the king of Israel his
messengers had received a prophecy from Elijah concerning his death concerning
his future and when he asks about it he says in verse number 8 2nd Kings 1 verse
8 said well who gave you this this prophecy and they answered him he was an
hairy man I can relate to that one a
different topic for a different time he wasn't it you guys should have seen baby
John I mean I knew that was my son I'll just leave it at that that was a hairy
baby on his in the exact same spots I had it too like on the arm and back
interesting those Middle Eastern genes I'm telling you 2nd Kings 1 8 and they
answered him he was in hairy man so that would be the coat that's a picture of
the coat of camel's hair that John wore and girt with a girl of leather about
his loins just like John the Baptist wore the exact same thing and he said it
is Elijah the Tishbite so Elijah being hairy that was a foreshadowing of the
raiment that John the Baptist would wear in the future a raiment of camel's hair
we also know that he consumed locusts and wild honey what did these things
symbolize I have a theory on this if you would go to Deuteronomy 28
Deuteronomy chapter 28 first of all the girdle well where in the New Testament
does it talk about a girdle well Ephesians chapter 6 and Ephesians
chapter 6 the Bible tells us in verse 14 as you turn to Deuteronomy 28 it says
stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the
breastplate of righteousness I think that's what the leather girdle would
symbolize with respect to John the Baptist the idea that he was girt about
with truth he loved the truth he was girt about with that truth and that's
one of the attributes of the prophets of God that they stood for the truth even
if it put them at risk of facing physical harm which that did happen to
John the Baptist and I'll cover it later on in the sermon so it was girdle right
symbolizing what I think we read there in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 14 but what
about the locusts if you read your Bible locusts often times are the product of
God's wrath and we see that in Exodus chapter 10 it was used as a component of
the plagues that you that you know God used to judge Egypt revelation chapter
9 talks about this as well it says in there came out of the smoke locusts upon
the earth and unto them was given power as the scorpions of the earth have power
this is a particularly frightening component of God's wrath which is coming
in the second half of Daniel 70th week locusts from hell tormenting people and
in Deuteronomy 28 we see that locusts are promised to the children of Israel
as a curse it says in verse 38 Deuteronomy 28 38 thou shalt carry much
seed out into the field and shall gather but little in for the locust shall
consume it so the locusts would eat up the produce of the land if the children
of Israel rebelled against the Lord their land would be cursed with a lot
more than just that by the way but that was a component of the curses that God
promised to the Israelites if they transgressed him it was used to judge
the nation it was a curse on Israel so locusts associated with God's wrath and
his judgment what about the wild honey well the Bible tells us in Psalm 119
how sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth we
see that honey throughout the scriptures often used to typify the Word of God
God's Word so with that in mind we know John the Baptist he ate locusts and he
ate wild honey why well the locusts represent the judgment of God his wrath
I believe that the honey could represent the sweeter part of God's Word now when
we go soul winning what are we feeding people locusts wild honey what's the
locust for the wages of sin is death that's God's wrath what would be the
wild honey but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord you see mercy and you see judgment so what's the lesson we can extract from
this John the Baptist was a hard preacher who preached both positive and
negative he preached both locusts and wild honey go to Matthew chapter 3 and
we'll prove it Matthew chapter 3 Bible says in John 3 as you turn to Matthew
3 he that believeth on the Sun hath everlasting life there's your honey and
he that believeth not the Sun shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on
him that's the locust right there and you need to make sure that when you go
out so winning you're feeding people locusts and wild honey they need to know
that they deserve hell before they can taste the sweetness of God's Word that's
how we get people saved John the Baptist was well balanced as a preacher you know
what came in locusts and wild honey you know what came out both mercy and
judgment both positive and negative there are some preachers out there
they're just all locust kind of rare but especially today and there are other
preachers just all wild honey just all positive never anything negative
everything is just lovey-dovey rainbows and daffodils and flowers and everything's
gonna be okay God loves you I love you you're doing everything right I would
throw up in the middle of a service like that Matthew 3 look at verse 5 then went
out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan were
baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins but when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism he said unto them all generation
of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come bring forth
therefore fruits meat for repentance and think not to say within yourselves we
have Abraham to our father for I stand to you that God is able of these stones
to raise up children unto Abraham and now also the axe is laid on the root of
the trees therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down and cast into the fire what are we reading about here we're reading about
judgment we're reading about wrath fire the unfruitful trees would be cast into
the fire I believe the context here if you read this in context the fruit
that's being described would be words because it says and think not in verse
9 and think not to say within yourselves it's the words that he's talking about
and oftentimes that that is what fruit is pointing to but notice he isn't a
limp-wristed compromiser is he no and that's what spirit-filled men of God are
like in your Bible they're not skinny jeans wearing compromising sissies
they're willing to preach the whole counsel of God and that's what John the
Baptist was all about your spirit-filled men of God in your Bible you know what
they preached about oftentimes very frequently in fact they preach judgment
they preached fire and brimstone and wrath they didn't hold back they
thundered forth God's Word and you know what if John were alive today you know
what he would say about what's going on in our country right now he'd be
condemning it he'd be condemning the wicked you think that he would support
any Dylan I'm sorry but I'm gonna go ahead and it's my turn now okay you
think he would be supporting John MacArthur you think that he would care
about John MacArthur's Church being shut down because the coronavirus he'd be
celebrating it he'd love it you know what he would say to John the Baptist
I'm sorry you know he would say to John MacArthur he'd say go jump in a lake you
false prophet heretic that's what he would say to John MacArthur because
guess what he preached fire and brimstone he preached judgment he
preached wrath he said to the Pharisees and the scribes he said Oh generation of
vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come there's no one worse
than a false prophet and he wouldn't be soft on them
it's Constitution they get to say I want John MacArthur Church needs to stay
open to the Constitution your First Amendment let me here's my First
Amendment okay I'm gonna show you my First Amendment
Galatians chapter 1 is my First Amendment okay here we go right Galatians
chapter 1 it says in verse 8 but though we or an angel from heaven preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be
accursed that's my First Amendment and you know it trumps yours by the way I
like this better as we said before so say now again if any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that we have received let him be accursed that's the
Word of God today that's what the Bible says in Galatians chapter 1 and you'll
never convince me that it's a good thing that a bunch of Mormons riding on
their stupid bicycles and Jehovah's Witnesses and Calvinist work salvation
heretics going around and preaching a false gospel is a good thing because
Constitution you know what I like better than the Constitution it's called the
Bible it's called the Word of God and I appeal to this and if there's a conflict
between the Constitution and the Bible guess which one I'm gonna pick every
single time it's called your King James Bible so you'll never convince me it's
a good thing for John MacArthur it's church to stay open I would hope that it
gets burned to a crisp I would hope that the church belonging to Ray Comfort
who's not going to be very comfortable when he's burning in hell I would hope
that his church would burn to a crisp I would hope Adam Fannin I would hope Adam
Fannin's church would burn to a crisp to that the different topic go to Mark
chapter 6 Mark chapter 6 these people they use their platform to indoctrinate
people into believing a false gospel which sends them to hell and if you
think I'm being a little over-the-top here then you need to get in your Bible
today you need to reprioritize your life and figure out what actually matters is
it just a bunch of political talking points is that what really matters today
if a pastor agrees with you on politics if a pastor agrees with you on what's
going on with the corona virus does that supersede what they teach about how
to get to heaven is that where we're at today that we prioritize that over the
gospel of Jesus Christ folks it's a spiritual warfare right now not a
physical one so I will always care more about doctrine not their political views
I'll take someone who completely disagrees with me on kovid if they
actually believe the right gospel over John MacArthur any day of the week guy
denies the blood of Christ thinks he could take the mark of the beast and
get saved he thinks salvation is is difficult because it's difficult because
by works according to him gonna split hell wide open let him be accursed the
Bible says in Galatians chapter 1 Bible says in Luke 3 and many other things in
his exhortation preached he unto the people and but Herod the tetrarch being
reproved by him for the for Herodias his brother Philip's wife and for all the
evils which Herod had done added yet this above all that he shut up John in
prison his messaging John's messaging where did it get him sent to prison how
if you're one of these skinny Jean guys how do you even apply them oh you know
if we love the sodomites we could get sent in prison no that's not how it
works you get promoted by television and radio actually no way to apply that if
you're one of these lame people mark 6 verse 14 look at verse 14 and King Herod
heard of him for his name was spread abroad and he said that John the Baptist
was risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in
him others said that it is Elias and others said that is a prophet or as one
of the prophets but when Herod heard thereof he said it is John whom I be
headed he is risen from the dead for Herod himself had sent forth and laid
hold upon John and bound him in prison for Herodias sake his brother Philip's
wife or he had married her where John it's said unto Herod it is not lawful
for thee to have thy brother's wife so Herodias gets him killed is Hillary
Clinton here gets him killed for standing for the truth again there's an
inherent risk of backlash of physical harm for you standing for what's right
that's what John did in the face of political degeneracy saying it's not
lawful for you to have your brother's wife and what's he quoting Leviticus 18
verse 16 which is thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father or I'm sorry
thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife it is thy brother's
nakedness he appeals to Leviticus that's what John the Baptist does and if
Leviticus is good enough for him it's good enough for me too it's good enough
for you as well that should be what we appeal to the law of God that's exactly
what John did and he was beheaded for it you say oh that'll never happen to us
you know there's actually a time coming where we might end up getting
decapitated for speaking the truth it's called the tribulation and when the
abomination of desolation is set up and there's 75 days of Great Tribulation it
all will happen to those who refuse the mark of the beast contrary to what John
MacArthur says if they refuse the mark of the beast they will be decapitated
and if they take it contrary to what he says they'll go straight to hell they'll
be reprobates but there is coming a time in which we could be beheaded for
preaching the truth we know John the Baptist was and here's the thing people
will blame the man of God oftentimes for what the Bible says now you can get up
and preach Leviticus 2013 and they think it's your opinion you're quoting
the Bible that's what you're doing when we go out sowing and we tell people hey
you know you're not saved they'll think that we came up with that on our own no
no we're doing it based on the authority of Scripture there's a difference but in
the carnal mind they can't understand that and so they'll assign us with the
responsibility for what the Bible says for what God's judgment has already been
pronounced we know John the Baptist he appealed to God's law and he preached
against the deviancy of the political establishment at the time of the
political leadership at the time this is why I like it when preachers get up and
they're preaching against the Democrats I like it when they preach against the
Republican Party establishment I like it you know when they preach against these
puppet politicians today when they rebuke them from the Bible I like
hearing that because it's the same attitude that John the Baptist had now
why why would I like to hear this because folks just assures it wasn't
lawful for Herod to have his brother's wife it's not lawful for our government
to be going around starting a bunch of wars all over the world for the benefit
of the military-industrial complex not lawful for that I like it when preachers
call that out it's it's not lawful for our government to promote the sodomites
all over the world and to send sodomite ambassadors all over the world to try
and convince countries that haven't been as defiled as we have been over the last
several decades to change their laws on the sodomites and make it legal it's not
lawful for us to promote that filth all over the world
according to the law of God it's not lawful for the government to murder
hundreds of thousands of unborn babies every single year courtesy of Planned
Parenthood which harvests their organs by the way according to the Center for
Medical Progress it's disgusting it's filthy and it's funded using government
dollars not lawful it's sick it's twisted and by the way it's not lawful
for us to teach other nations to do the exact same thing and cloak that with
this fake meaningless platitude known as women's rights it's a woman's right
to choose to murder her own baby no it's not
proverbs 28 says they that forsake the law praise the wicked but such as keep
the law contend with them now the preacher that gets up and rips on the
Republican establishment that rips on the Democratic Party establishment
they're contending with the wicked leaders of this world and that is a
token of the fact that they're following God's law that they haven't forsaken
God's law so John the Baptist did go to John chapter 1 John chapter 1 what about
those who would praise leftists for example they forsaken the law it doesn't
take a rocket scientist to figure that out these people are insane but who
contends with the with the wicked well according to Proverbs 28 such as keep
the law my next point is John the Baptist exalted Jesus Christ John the
Baptist exalted Jesus Christ and he did this by preaching biblical repentance by
the way a lot of people will throw John the Baptist's preaching on repentance in
our face to shove a work salvation down our throats but what John the Baptist
meant when he said and I'll just quote this you could stay where you're at in
John chapter 1 but you know he did preach repentance I'm not gonna deny
that but when he did so he wasn't preaching a work salvation says in
Matthew chapter 3 in those days came John the Baptist preaching the witness
of Judea of Judea and saying repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand so
he did preach repentance but what exactly did does that mean well Acts
chapter 19 actually will give us our answer because repent just means to turn
it doesn't mean repent of all your sins it means to turn and in the context of
salvation it's talking about turning away from your unbelief to belief
turning away from whatever you were trusting in before to get you into
heaven and rather trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone acts 19 and verse 4
says then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptism repentance saying unto
the people that they should believe on him which had come after him that is on
Christ Jesus remember John exalted Jesus he didn't preach a work salvation
because that would be the opposite of exalting Jesus it would be removing the
power of the death burial and resurrection of Christ I would challenge
you to ask this question to someone who's hard-hearted about salvation by
faith so do you think the death burn resurrection was not enough is that what
you think and they'll stumble over their words oftentimes in response to that
question because they're not exactly sure how to answer it without coming off
as a complete you know psycho I mean how could you how do you answer that oh well
no that Jesus we have to what he did wasn't enough we have to add to it no
one would readily admit that unless they're just totally gone a total false
prophet maybe one of these street preachers but John 1 it says in verse 22
then said they unto him who art thou that we may give him I'm sorry that we
may give an answer to them that sent us what sayest thou of thyself he said
I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the
Lord as said the prophet of sighs and they which were sent were of the
Pharisees and they asked him and said unto him why baptize this now then if
thou be not that Christ nor Elias neither that prophet John answered them
saying I baptized with water but there standeth one among you whom you know not
he it is who coming after me is preferred before me whose shoes latch it
I am not worthy to unloose so John says he isn't even worthy to when Lou to
unloose Christ's shoe latch it but that right there I believe is an example of
his humility and it's further proof that he exalted Jesus Christ above all else
it was all about Jesus that's what his ministry revolved around all about Jesus
not about himself now let's look at John chapter 3 John chapter 3 I want you to
notice the reverence notice the esteem the respect that he has for Jesus the
respect that he has for the Lord Jesus Christ and we see that further in John
chapter 3 verse 22 look at verse 22 after these things came Jesus and his
disciples into the land of Judea and there he tarried with them and baptized
and John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salem because there was much water
there and they came and were baptized for John was not yet cast into prison
then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about
purifying and they came on to John and sent it to him rabbi he that was with
thee beyond Jordan to whom God bears witness behold the same baptize it then
all men come to him they're trying to make John envious
another guy baptizing all men come to him he seems to be attracting a large
crowd now a lesser man would be perturbed by that it would make him
anxious a little bit of anxiety would creep in upon finding out this news but
what does John say well verse 27 John answered and said a man can receive
nothing except it be given him from heaven know what he says he affirms that
he's doing exactly what God tasked him to do a man can receive nothing except
it be given him from heaven so be it verse 28 ye ourselves bear me witness
that I said I am NOT the Christ but that I am sent before him he that hath the
bride is the bridegroom with the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and
heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice this my joy
therefore is fulfilled notice this part right here verse 30 he must increase but
I must decrease how can I sum that statement up he exalts Jesus he exalts
Jesus above all else he also talks about how he rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice even though he's not necessarily a major part of that wedding
he's still rejoicing at the voice of the bridegroom now somebody may come up to
you and say hey you know there's this there's this preacher in Arizona and
he's getting a lot of people saved and all men you know they seem to be listed
he's got a huge following online although of course his YouTube channel
was taken down recently but before that happened he's got a big following you
know what I mean and he seems to be attracting a lot of people his sermons
always get the most views and he's succeeding in the Christian faith you
know a wicked person would then be envious of that is that what John the
Baptist did no what he said he must increase I must decrease you know what
you ought to say to somebody like that who's trying to tempt you into falling
into envy they say hey you know what praise God if he's preaching Jesus
Christ then it's Jesus Christ who's being exalted therefore it's a good
thing we're all the same team here if it benefits the cause of Christ then praise
God for it why because it's all about Jesus it's all about Jesus we're all
sinful men trying to do the best we can here to serve Christ that includes the
pastors in this quote-unquote movement but let me tell you something right now
I will never turn on a man of God who's serving Christ to the best of his
ability who's preaching the right gospel who's preaching against sin it's never
gonna happen no matter how envious you might end up being it's never gonna
happen because it's all about Jesus about us thought about gaining a
following not about popularity so what great I think it's awesome that people
are gaining a following for preaching the gospel verse 33 he that hath
received this testimony had said to his seal that God is true for he whom God
hath sent speak at the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure
unto him the Father love of the Son and have given all things into his hand the
John affirms that Jesus has all power and all authority completely a hundred
percent filled with the Holy Spirit because he exalts Christ so here's my
question for you why are you here what's the purpose why are you even here
tonight why are you even here at steadfast Baptist Church attending
regularly Sunday morning Sunday night and Wednesday night why what's the
purpose you know some might answer by saying well you know my friend comes
here so I just go to fellowship with him some might answer and say I like the
the free ice cream when we have the record the attendance record breaking I
like to get that free ice cream that's kind of sad to go buy it at the
supermarket so I don't know why you would come here just for that but
somebody might answer that way some might say I'm just being dragged here
by my spouse that's why I'm here some might say I'm here because the church is
convenient for me in terms of location so that's why I'm here and all those
answers wrong wrong if you answer anything other than Jesus Christ you
need a change you need to renew your mind you need to change your mind a
little bit you need to renew your mind with the Word of God remember what was
the purpose of John's ministry was it for himself was it to exalt self was it
to blow the trumpet was it to gain a following no it was about Jesus wasn't
it it was about Jesus why do we go soul winning is it for self no it's for Jesus
we go soul winning to exalt Jesus and that's the beautiful thing about
salvation by grace through faith alone it exalted Jesus alone not our own works
I'm always baffled by those who would not even mention the name of Jesus when
you ask them how they know for sure they're going to heaven they don't even
mention him why go all-in on the Christian life and receive persecution
from this world and have people look at you like you're some kind of weirdo for
Jesus that's why we do it for Jesus to demonstrate our love for God that's why
we do it we do it so we can raise our children in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord rather than putting them in front of a television set and watching
them get brainwashed every day with the world's fill that's why we do it we do
it to reach people with the gospel of Christ to be sent out and to get people
saved that's why we do it we do it to advance the cause of Christ with all thy
might so I would warn you today that there are people out there who are going
to confuse the issue they're gonna be people out there who seemingly forget
why we even come to church to begin with and for them it's not about Jesus for
them it's about forming a clique for them it's about you know causing sewing
division in the in the local church speaking against the pastor speaking
against other people railing and gossiping and and talking and
backbiting talking behind other people's back so that they can try and stymie the
work being done in the local church there are people out there who forget
about why we're even here for them it's about a clique it's about a group it's
about a claim it's about exalting themselves and they've forgotten that
the reason why we're here it's not for ourselves it's not so we can look
spiritual it's not so that we can brag about it all over social media we're
here for Jesus it's all about Jesus the reason why we go soul winning is Jesus
the reason why we live for God is Jesus it's all about him and John the Baptist
recognized that so I said here in this sermon John the Baptist was authentic I
said that he didn't live to gratify the flesh I said that he was a hard preacher
and you know what else I said the final point I made is that John the Baptist
exalted Jesus let's take that example and apply it into our lives never forget
the reason why we come to church not about a church building not about being
entertained by the preacher it's not about any of that it's about serving the
Lord Jesus Christ and earning some rewards in heaven so I would hope that
you know reading about the exploits of John would provoke you and it would
provoke you to want to be more like him rather than the prophets who pattern
themselves after the world because there are many of them out there and they're
only growing each and every single day let's pray father we thank you for our
church Lord I pray that you would help us to take some of the positive
attributes from John the Baptist's personality apply it to our lives Lord
and be more like him rather than you know the celebrities and false prophets
out there and the watered-down preachers and father I just pray that also that
you would just help us to keep the main thing the main thing understanding that
we're here for Jesus to serve Jesus and and Lord that you know we just never
forget that and keep being steadfast and understanding what matters most which is
you Jesus name I pray amen