Amen all right. We're there in Luke chapter number three and of course
We are making our way through the book of Luke on Sunday mornings and Sunday nights
we are in on a journey with Jesus and
We are learning all about the life of Jesus and studying this gospel together and tonight. We are going to
Pick up right where we left off this morning and this morning. We went through Luke chapter 3 verses 1 through 9 tonight
We're going to pick up right at verse number 10, and if you remember this morning
we saw John's ministry and we learned about John the Baptist and
The ministry the impactful ministry that he had and we saw that his ministry was focused on getting people saved
but not only getting people saved helping those new believers become fully engaged followers of
The Lord Jesus Christ and obviously we know that the ministry of Christ had not yet started, but he was preparing them for
The Lord he was preparing them for the one that was
Coming now just real quickly just to set the context and to give you a little bit of review if you remember from this morning
We saw that there were some who?
Did not take well to John's preaching his preaching was bold it was direct
It was applicable and and as a result he gained some enemies in Luke chapter 3 if you look at 19 verses 19 and 20
Again the Bible says, but Herod the Tatriarch being reproved by him referring to John
John had reproved and preached against Herod was a political leader by him for Herodias his brother
Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done added yet to this above all that he shut up John in
prison so we know that because of John's Bible preaching ministry and the fact that he
Preached the word and he made sin exceeding sinful
he gained some enemies and of course any Bible believing preacher any any preacher that preaches the Bible and
Preaches it consistently doesn't skip anything you're going to develop some enemies. There's gonna be some people that aren't gonna like
What you have to say?
Because they don't like the Word of God because they don't like what God has to say so we saw this morning that he had
Developed some enemies, but tonight. I want you to focus on the fact
And we're gonna focus on the fact that there were some sincere converts that actually
Believed and appreciated the preaching of John we saw that this morning. We saw that they were baptized
They were saved and baptized they were growing in the Lord
But we're gonna pick up right there in verse number 10, and I want you to notice that in in this passage
We're gonna look at specifically verses 10
11 12 13 and 14 we have this question that keeps coming up
It's this question that these converts of John are asking John is getting them saved. He's getting them baptized
He's helping them grow. He's preparing the way of the Lord and now they're curious about how to live the Christian life
They're asking this question notice there in verse 10 the Bible says and the people this is the first group and the people
Asked him and these are not like the Pharisees and the Sadducees that we talked about this morning
These are sincere converts new Christians babes in Christ the people asked him saying once you notice this question that they asked
This is the right question for every Christian to ask
This is the right question for every new believer old believer a believer
That's right with God or a believer that needs to get right with God
This is the question to ask they asked John what shall we do then?
They said what shall we do then notice there in verse number 12 you have the second group
The first group is in verse 10. We saw it says the people in verse 12
We have a another group a second group of sincere converts notice what it says then came also
Publicans so in verse 10 we have the people in verse 12 we have the publicans these are not the
Republicans all right not a political group. This is a group of tax collectors
We're gonna see that here in a minute, but the Bible says then came also
Publicans to be baptized and said unto him master notice the question they asked. What shall we do?
Very similar the people said what shall we do then?
After hearing John's preaching after hearing his Bible
Message they asked this question
What shall we do then then we see the publicans after John had got done preaching the Word of God and and teaching them about the Bible
They said master. What shall we do?
then in verse 14
we've got a third group notice there in verse 14 and
the soldiers
Likewise the man that him of him saying notice what this third group asked this group of soldiers
They said and what shall we do?
And I'm here to tell you tonight
When you come to a place like Verdi Baptist Church or any church where the Word of God is being preached and the Bible is
Opened it is explained it is expounded upon it is made clear. It is given to you in clarity and
Urgency and it is applied to your life
The proper response is not I'm offended the proper response is not
I don't want to hear that the proper response should always be to ask this question. What shall we do then?
What shall we do?
I'm reminded of the
Apostle Paul before he was Paul and he was Saul on the road to Tarsus if you remember the story as he was on the
road to Tarsus the Bible tells us the Lord Jesus Christ and his glorified body appeared to him and
And and had a conversation with him and the response of the Apostle Paul at that conversation
What he said was this Lord. What will thou have me to do?
And that is always the right question. That is always the proper question as a believer
I hope you're here tonight and you are curious you I hope you're here on a Sunday night saying I want to know what God
Says I want to know what the Bible says because I want to know what it is that God wants me to do
What does God want me to do? What shall we do then? So I want you to notice tonight
We're gonna look at these three groups. We'll move through it as quickly as we can
I want you to notice the response that John gives to these three groups. They all ask pretty much the same question
What shall we do then? What shall we do?
But he gives them different responses and I want you to notice that tonight if you're taking notes
I want to encourage you to of course
Jot some of these things down on the back of the course of the week
There's a place for you to take some notes
The first thing he tells this the first group and if you remember the first group is the people he tells them to be generous
Notice what he says there in Luke chapter 3 and verse number 10 and the people is his group number one
Asked him saying what shall we do then?
He answered answer it and save them to them notice what he says
He says he that have two coats let him impart to him that has none and
He that has meat the word meat is the Bible word for our word food
He that have me or food let him do likewise here
We have the people asking these people just got saved. They just got baptized
They're starting their walk with God and they're asking this very sincere question
They're saying what shall we do and John says let me tell you what you should do
Here's what you should do if you have two coats
You got to find someone that doesn't have any coats and you got to give one of your coats to the guy that doesn't have
A coat and if you have enough food for more than yourself and more than your family and more than what you need
Then you got to find someone who doesn't have any food and do likewise
John here is telling them you know what you should do after you get saved
You know what you should do after you get baptized
You know what you should do if you want to begin to walk with God and be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ
He says you ought to learn to be generous
You ought to learn to to be generous with the things that you have
He says he that have two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath me let him do
Likewise now keep your place there in Luke chapter 3 if you would and go with me to the book of 1st John
Towards the end of the New Testament. You've got the book of 1st John. It's a little book
If you start in the book of Revelation and head backwards
You have the book of Jude and then you have 3rd 2nd and 1st John go to 1st John chapter number 3 if you would
1st John chapter number 3
You know the Bible says we just got done with this Christmas season and we're in the New Year and we're done with Christmas
The Bible tells us in the book of Acts that Jesus said it's interesting because it's a quote of Jesus in the book of Acts
The quote from Jesus is not found in the Gospels
He said it but it's not something that was recorded in the Gospels
It was recorded in the book of Acts as something that Jesus said while he was on this earth
But he said it is more blessed to give than to receive
he taught us that there is a
secret in generosity
that the blessing is not in receiving but the blessing is in
Giving and being generous and here we find John telling these people they just got saved
They want to know what should we do and he says he that have two coats
Let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath me let him do likewise
He says you know what you ought to learn is you ought to learn how to be generous and I'm here to tell you tonight
Verity Baptist Church, you know what you ought to learn and you know, what I ought to learn is to be generous
We ought to learn to give you say who should we get? Well, we should give to others
You're there in 1st John chapter 3 notice verse 17
1st John 3 17 the Bible says this but who so
hath this world's goods
So you've got the goods of this world the merchandise of this world
notice and see this brother have need and
Shut it up his vows of compassion from him. How do I let the love of God in him?
See the Bible teaches that the way that we show our love the way that we show our
affection for towards someone is by what we're willing to give is by how we're willing to
Sacrifice and to be generous and to provide the most famous verse in the Bible tells us about the love of God
It says for God so loved the world, but when God wanted to prove his love for us
You know what? He did is he gave
In fact, he proved his love by what he was willing to give for God
So loved the world that he gave his only begotten son
This is why the Bible says that God
Commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
See the best way to show your love is to be generous is to give we had to give to others if you've got these
The world's goods and you see your brother in need we ought not shut up our vows of compassion
From him go if you would to first chronicles 29
First chronicles 29 in the Old Testament. You've got the books of the Bible that are the one and two books
They're all clustered together first second Samuel first second Kings first second Chronicles first Chronicles 29
Let me say this when it comes to giving and and we don't preach a lot about giving at Verity Baptist Church if you
Come to our church for any length of time, you know, that's true
I mean, we'll go weeks and weeks and months and months without
Preaching on giving but when we're preaching through the Bible if it's in the text and we're gonna deal with it and the
John here is teaching us about a Christian discipline, which is a discipline to give we ought to give to others
But let me say this as well. We also have to give to the work of God
We ought to support the work of the Lord there in first Chronicles 29. Look at verse 3 the Bible says this moreover
Because I've set my affection to the house of my God. Here's David
Saying I have set my affection. What's the word affection me?
It means love because I love the house of my God
What's a God that you and I could say today that we have an affection for the house of God?
That we have a love for the house of my God
And of course, we know that in the Old Testament the house of God was a tabernacle and then a temple
But the Bible tells us in the New Testament that the church of the Living God is the house of God
The church the local church is the house of the Lord today and here David says I've sent my affection to the house of my
God he says I have of mine own proper good of gold and silver
Which I've given to the house of my God notice what he says over and above all that I prepared for the holy house
He says I've sent my affection to the house of my God you say well prove it David David says I'm happy to prove it
He says I'm happy to put my money where my mouth is
He says I have given he says of mine own
Proper good of gold and silver which I have given to the house of my God
I want you to notice what he says there. He says over and above
He says I'm not just talking about some
Law that God gave that I was to give him 10%
Now that's in the Bible and David did that he says but I wasn't just giving God what God requested
He says I gave over and above
He said I I gave to show my affection and sometimes when you preach about these things
People don't like you talking about money, and I understand that but let me say this if you're here tonight
You say I don't like preachers talking about money. You know Jesus said this where your treasure is there where your heart be also
And it may be that you don't like preachers preaching on money because your heart's not right
You
Here we have
John talking to these new converts
It's funny to me because we get this idea and say well let people be saved for a while
and let let them be saved for a long time and and help them grow a little bit before you start talking to them about
Tithing and offerings and giving you know when they're a new Christian don't talk to them about that
Well John must have not got that memo because these people literally just got saved and baptized
I mean they got saved he takes them down Jordan River. He baptized them
They come up out of the water. They say what now and he says you ought to give
He says you ought to be generous
You say why would John say that here's why because where your treasure is there where your heart be also
Some of you would have more of a love for the work of God and the house of God if you supported the work
of God
If you got financially committed
into the work of the Lord
And let me say this go to Luke if you would go back to Luke
Go back to Luke, but don't go to Luke 3 flip over to Luke chapter 6 if you would
Let me say this about giving
The reason that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive
You are more blessed
It is a benefit for you to give than you receive see I love the paradoxes in the Bible
All throughout the Bible God gives us these paradoxes that make absolutely no sense
You you you would think well no it's more blessed to receive
Than to give it's more blessed to keep than to give
Jesus said it's more blessed to give than to receive
How does that make sense but here's why it makes sense and it only makes sense if you have faith in God
Because it's more blessed to give than to receive. Here's why because you cannot outgive God
You cannot give more
To anyone or anything then God will bless you and give back to you
Are you there in Luke chapter 6 look at verse 38 Luke 6 and verse 38 the Bible says this this is Jesus
He says give and it shall be given unto you good measure
Pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men gift into your bosom
For with the same measure and here's the key
Here's the key to understanding giving he says with the same measure that ye meet say
What does that mean he says with the same measuring cup that you decide to measure?
How much you're going to give he says with all it shall be measured to you again
He says look God will not be out given by you
He says give and it shall be given unto you
But when God gives to you and I always bring this out when we look at this passage
I think of a measuring cup and like flour or sugar or some sort of product like that that you're measuring out
He says look when God gives to you
He's going to take the same measuring cup that you
Decided to scoop out to give to others that you decide to scoop out to support the work of God
He said as soon as you put that measuring cup down
He's going to pick that same measuring cup up and he's going to scoop out of his blessings
But the difference is that when God does it he will do it with good measure pressed down shaken together
He's going to make sure it's compacted. There's no air bubbles there
He's going to get in the ideas
He's going to get in as much as he can into that same measuring cup that you use he says and running over
shall men give into your bosom
For with the same measure that you meet with all it shall be measured to you again
And we won't take the time to look at it
But when you look at the passage in fact
If you would go to the book of 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 9 you have Luke John Acts Romans 1st Corinthians 2nd Corinthians
2nd Corinthians chapter 9 if you look at the passage in Malachi
about tithing and
Consistently supporting the work of God with 10% of your income in that same passage. He gives a promise where he says
He says prove me now therewith and
See if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you pour you out a blessing that you cannot contain
The truth is is you cannot outgive God
Now, let me just give this disclaimer because we need to give this disclaimer in the day. We live in I
Am not preaching a prosperity gospel
I'm not I'm not getting up here like cleft dollar or some TV preacher and saying you saw
$100 into the ministry and God's gonna give you back a thousand
The Bible doesn't say that
The Bible doesn't teach that
What the Bible does say is that you cannot outgive God?
Now some there are some things see there are some things that money cannot buy
There are some things you would agree that are more valuable than money
there are some things that are more important than money and
God is not only can God can not only be the source of money which is corruptible
Which is which will fade away
But God can also be the source of all those other things that money cannot buy see I'd rather invest in the work of God
physically financially with money that's gonna get destroyed and get devalued and
Inflation is going to destroy it and have God bless me with blessings that are better than money
But the trick is this
That you cannot outgive God
It is more blessed to give than to receive
now the reason I want to
bring this up to you and hope you understand this is this because
There's this interesting thing we see in this passage of scripture that we're gonna look at tonight. I want to explain to you. I
was recently asked by a
Young man here in our church
About
The types of business books and leadership books that I like to read and obviously I read and study the Bible
But I like to read secular books and on leadership and business and administration and things like that as well
Nobody and I was I was been asked, you know
Are there any books you recommend and I was thinking about different books that I've read that I've liked and as I was writing
The sermon I realized that
When you read some of these books, and of course, I don't recommend and I don't you know
Endorse everything in all of these books. There's secular books written by secular men
But when you read books like the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership
when you read books like entree leadership or the seven habits of highly effective people or developing the leader within you or
books like that in that category about business and administration and and and leadership
What you find is that you'll you'll find this consensus
You'll find what I like to call this common denominator that a lot of these books tend to highlight the same
Principle or the same similar thing and one of those things it's interesting to me
Because Jesus said that
He came that ye might have life and that ye might have it more abundantly
He said I didn't only come to give you life
I did not only come to give you new life that you might be born again
He said I came to give you eternal life, but I also came to make this life better
This life more productive this life more effective that doesn't mean there won't be heartaches
That doesn't mean there won't be persecutions
But he said I came to give you life and that you might have a life more
Abundantly that you might accomplish more and do more and what's interesting is that when you look at the things that John is telling
These new converts to do it's the same things that you find in these
Leadership type business books whenever you study highly successful
Highly effective people you'll begin to see these common denominators and one of them is this
I'll just give you a little secret one common denominator you find amongst
Extremely successful people I'm not talking about the Bernie Madoff's
That you know steal people's money and our crooks and that I'm talking about people who are and I'm not even talking about
Save people because did you know that the laws and promises of God applied to any anybody can do them and they'll work I
Mean anybody you you will reap what you sow whether you're saved or not safe
So you find just just normal people that work hard
That build businesses that are successful. You know what you find you find that they are extremely generous people
What you find is that people that have a lot of money
Tend to be very generous
And people this is what people think see some of you're thinking this I'm gonna help you out right now
Here's how broke people think you had this thought you're probably broke. I'm not mad at you. I'm just trying to help
I'm just prophesying
Here's how broke people think well if I had if I had that much money. I'd be generous too wrong
They have that much money because they're generous
Broke people think I'd be generous if I had the money
Successfully people think I'll be generous and I'll be blessed with money
I'll be generous and I'll be
Successful why because give and it shall be given unto you good measure present out and taken together and running over
So I'm ungiven to your bosom for with the same measure that you meet with all it shall be measured to you again
Here at our church, I've lost count, but I think last time I sat down to count
I think we've got 15 different business orders in our church
Which is an amazing thing when you consider the size of our church
But
What I've learned is I watched some of these guys, I mean we've got some business owners in our church
That are highly successful very successful
And as I watch these guys and kind of you know just walk through life with them. You know I'll hear things and
I'll see things and I hear you know this guy's doing this job for this other guy for free
And then this other business owner is doing this other job for this other guy for free and this other business owner
You know I hear about these guys
just just just doing work for each other helping each other out calling each other in the middle of the week and showing up and
Helping them in a bind and helping them in this and I think myself one of these guys never make money
Every time I look I turn around is maybe this guy's helping this guy for free and this guy's on this guy's roof for free
And this guy's helping him with this job and this thing and I think myself man these guys are really successful
But it seems like they're never out there making money
But then I realize the Bible says this second Corinthians 9 and verse 6 are you there the Bible says?
But this I say he would sow it sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he would sow it bountifully shall reap
Also bountifully I'm here to tell you when you're generous you cannot give God
Men and women that are generous men and women that are not cheap that are that
That give of their time and their treasure and their talent it just somehow works out that God blesses them
God helps them and God's good with them
And we're here we have John the Baptist
Looking at these new converts, and I understand that John was a prophet. He was not a pastor
I understand that but I feel like he almost had the heart of a pastor here at this moment because he's looking at these young
Converts converts, and they're saying what shall we do and he says you know the best thing you could do
Is learn to be generous?
Learn to not be cheap
Learn to give
Learn to give away
learn to invest
Give and it shall be good invest in other people
Because Jesus said give and it shall be given unto you
Because Paul said he which so it sparingly shall reap also sparingly
That's the same idea as with the same measure you meet
But he which so it bountifully
He that so it's bountifully shall reap also bountifully
So we see this first lesson. What is it be generous?
If I could teach you something tonight, you said what should we do? What should we do? Here's the lesson be generous
Be generous, but I want to give you a second thought tonight go back to Luke chapter 3 if you would
the first thing we see
John the Baptist teaches new converts is to be generous. He tells the people he tells the people be generous
They asked what shall we do then and he says he that have two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he
That hath me let him do likewise
And I want you to notice secondly
He tells the second group something different
The first group was the people he says be generous the second group is found in verse 12 Luke chapter 3 verse 12
That's what he says then came also
publicans
to be baptized and
Said unto him master
What shall we do?
Now notice the first group said what shall we do that?
They're asking the question in response to his sermon he just got done preaching they got baptized just like we do
You know I preached and at the end of service. We do the baptisms. He got done preaching
He vipers and you know he's preaching a sermon then he baptized them then they come out and they said well
What shall we do that?
So he just got done preaching the Word of God
What do you want us to do and he says you need to be generous then this other group?
They come up the publicans and the way it's worded
It's almost like they were there to hear what he said to the people so the publicans
Then came also publicans we baptized and said unto him master. What shall we do?
Well, what do you want us to do but notice?
He gives them a different answer verse 13. He said unto them
Exact no more than that which is appointed you
See when we're talking to the publicans here and again, it's not the
Republicans, but like the Republicans and the Democrats there are tax collectors
These people are collecting taxes from the people
They're not only collecting taxes from the people. They're collecting taxes from their own people
So notice they're separate from the people in verse 10. We have the people in verse 12. We have the publicans
Another group they said what shall we do then and he said exact no more than that, which is appointed you
They said well, what does that mean? And why is it telling them that we'll go to Luke chapter 19 if you would
Luke chapter 19. Let me show you this as an illustration from maybe the most famous
We rephrase that the second most famous tax collector in the Bible. The first is probably Matthew
Let me give you the second
Here's what James understand about these tax collectors these publicans they were despised and hated by the people
Because not only did they gather taxes
For or on behalf of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire is the empire that is
Controlling the nation of Israel at this time. So here you have Jews
That are working for the enemy
People from Israel that are working for the Roman Empire and
Collecting taxes from their own people. That's enough to get you hate it. I mean doesn't everybody kind of hate the IRS
But these people take it a step further
Where they're not only collecting taxes from their own people for the Roman government, but they're also
collecting more
than they're supposed to and
Pocketing the difference in
fact history tells us that this was an agreement that Rome had with the
publicans throughout the Roman Empire that they were allowed to collect as much as they could possibly get
From the people and they would have to give whatever was due to Rome
But anything that they kept that they gathered above that they were able to keep for themselves
So these people ended up being rich as a result of stealing
From their own people
Let me give you an example of that and the second most famous tax collector in the Bible the guy named
Zacchaeus Luke chapter 19. Are you there? Look at verse 2 remember Zacchaeus
The Bible says in verse 2 and behold there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the notice chief among the publicans
So this wasn't just a publican. He was like their manager, you know
He was like the guy in charge chief among the publicans and he was rich
Now I remember when Zacchaeus got saved
verse 8
Notice what he says to Jesus Luke 19 and verse 8 and Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord
Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor doesn't that sound like what John told the first group?
He says and if I have taken anything from any man
Notice by false accusation. I
restore him fourfold
See Zacchaeus is admitting to the fact that he had taken more
Than he was supposed to take he had taken more by false accusation
This is something that the publicans were known for so when the publicans show up and they ask this question
What shall we do?
John and Luke chapter 3 go back to Luke 3 and verse 13. He says to them
exact no more than that which is appointed you
Now they worked for the Roman government they worked in collecting taxes and notice that John didn't say
quit your job
He didn't say start protesting the tax system. He didn't say stop paying taxes
In fact, he said hey just make people pay the taxes, but don't
Charge them more than what it's due
He said go ahead and work for the government
Gather the taxes pay how people pay their taxes to the government
He says but exact no more than that which has appointed you and I'm just saying that to say this because in a church like
ours when you get around a lot of conservative people you also get a lot of
Conspiracy people and I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but I'm here to tell you the Bible teaches to pay your taxes. I
Know there's a lot of conservative Christians don't like to hear that and they want to be you know
Be against the government but the but you never find Jesus telling his people don't pay your taxes and here
John is telling the tax collectors. Hey, just do your job
But don't lie
Don't have fault don't take more than is appointed to you
Don't take a false accusation because like he is we see later on
He says if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him for full because they'd stolen from people
So what do we learn?
From the second group the first group John says be generous to the people
The second group John says be just
He says be just
To the publicans he says be just go back to 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 if you would we were just there in 2nd Corinthians
We can make your way back there
2nd Corinthians chapter 8 while you turn there. Let me go
Let me read to you from the book of Micah Micah in the Old Testament Micah chapter 6
You turn to 2nd Corinthians 8
You don't have to turn to Micah
I'm just gonna read this to you, but you might want to jot this reference down if it interests you
Micah chapter 6 in verse 8 is one of two verses that that are very similarly worded
And it's a very interesting verse. I know you're not there, but let me read it to you
Micah chapter 6 in verse 8 says this he hath showed thee oh, man
what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee and
Micah chapter 6 in verse 8 we are told
That Micah is going to tell us what it is that the Lord requires of thee and of me of us
It's very interesting verse. He says here's what the Lord requires of you
Here's what the Lord requires of us, and then he tells us to do three things the first thing is to do justly
The second thing is and to love mercy
The third thing is and to walk humbly with thy God
He says you want to know what the Lord requires of you
He requires that you do justly that you love mercy and that you walk humbly
But the first thing he tells us there is to do
Justly, what is it that John tells these publicans these people that have been stealing from their own people?
He says be just
He says be just be honest have integrity
2nd Corinthians 8 look at verse 21 notice what the Bible says about Christians it says
providing for honest things
Not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men
Let me tell you something there ought not be a more honest people on this earth and God's people
You ought to be look the most honest person at your job ought to be you
Say why because you're a Christian. That's why
As a Christian you ought to tell the truth as a Christian
You ought not take money for times that you weren't working as a Christian. You shouldn't steal from your boss
You shouldn't steal you that you know pastor. Are you anti-government where I'm anti-government. I think we're all anti-government at this point
But you know what you ought to pay your taxes
And not steal from the government
Yeah, we ought to be just
Providing for honest things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men
We ought to be just
We ought to do justly we ought to do right
You know what's interesting?
When you study highly successful people not only do you find that highly successful people?
I'm talking about in the business world not only do you find that highly successful businessmen are
Generous, but you find that highly successful people
They also have almost an obsession
with integrity
They're obsessed with being honest with not lying and not being lied to
With surrounding themselves with people that don't mislead them that don't lie to them
And they don't mislead and lie to others see when you study successful people you find that they're very
Generous and that they have a strong character for integrity then we have John telling these new converts
You know what you ought to do if you're asking me what you ought to do
Let me tell you what I think you ought to do you ought to be generous and you ought to be just
You ought to tell the truth
You ought not exact more than it is appointed unto you
You ought to have an honest lifestyle go to 1st Peter chapter 2 if you would 1st Peter chapter 2 towards the end of the New Testament
You have Revelation Jude 3rd 2nd and 1st John 2nd and 1st Peter
1st Peter chapter 2
1st Peter chapter 2 and verse 11 the Bible says dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims
Abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul 1st Peter 2 and verse 12 notice having your conversation
the word conversation is we're going to a is defined as a lifestyle a
Conduct or a behavior having your conversation notice honest among the Gentiles
That whereas they speak against you as evildoers
They may by your good works, which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation
We ought to be honest people. I
Didn't say we should be fake
Obviously, none of us are perfect
But we ought to have a strive to be honest to be just to do right
to not be deceptive
Having a conversation honest among the Gentiles providing for honest things not only in the sight of the Lord
But also in the sight of men
Let me give you the third one go to Luke chapter 3
We had the first group remember who they were the people
What did John tell them?
He said be generous
If you have two coats find someone that has no coat and give him one you have enough food for you and your family find
Someone that has no food and give him some
The second group we have the publicans he says exact no more than that which is appointed the first group
He said to the people he says be generous to the second group the publicans
He says be just then we have the third group was the third group in verse 14 and the soldiers
we could call this the public servants and
the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying and what shall we do and
He said unto them knows what he says. He says do no violence to no man
neither accuse any falsely and
Be content with your wages
notice he gives the third group the group of soldiers a
third set of instructions
He's looking at soldiers and he says do violence to no man
Neither accuse any man falsely and be content with your wages now
some people believe and they believe this wrongly that the Bible teaches to be a pacifist a
Pacifist is one who does not believe in ever
Defending themselves or fighting or engaging in any war and I realize that there are definitely some wars that are not just and that
That are not of God, but the Bible does teach that war something look the Bible calls God himself a man of war
So the Bible does not teach people to be pacifist
You know and through the years there have been different religions
That have taught these things that we're not supposed to fight
We're not supposed to defend ourselves and people look at this passage and say
You know here
John told the soldiers to do violence to no man. So he's telling them not to fight
Well, what's wrong with that is the fact that you're defining the word violence in an incorrect way
because you're using the modern term or the our modern definition for the word violence and
Not understand that the Bible use the word violence in a different way
now I can prove that to you not just through the definition but through the text itself because here John says do violence to no
Man, and people say see that means they're not supposed to fight. They're not supposed to go to war
They're not supposed to battle
Well, here's the problem with that
He also tells us tells the soldiers neither accused any falsely and he tells the soldiers and be content with your wages
Now what are soldiers getting wages for what are they getting paid for? They're getting paid to fight
So is John telling them hey don't fight anymore and be content with your wages
Well, that would go against what he just told the publicans to be honest
Just to get to get paid for something that you're not willing to do is not honest
You say well, what's the contradiction here? There's no contradiction. You just need to understand today
We use the word violence for pretty much any sort of you know, public or the public
physical
Contact like fighting, you know, you're gonna have two guys in a ring sparring and we'll say that, you know people say that's violence
That's violence
But the Bible doesn't use the word violence in that way
The word violence in the Bible it comes from the same root word as the word to violate
Here's what John is telling the soldiers. He's not telling them. Hey don't fight
Obviously, they're being paid to go and fight
For the Roman Empire to fight as soldiers to battle what John is telling them
He says do no do violence to no man. Here's what he's saying. Don't violate anyone
Neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages. You say why is John telling the soldiers this?
Here's why because all throughout history
It is a known fact that sometimes when soldiers go off to battle
they find themselves on a foreign field somewhere in the midst of battle, you know, because of just the
Tragedy of war people lose their minds and then all of a sudden they find themselves in some village on a foreign field somewhere
after they've won a battle and now they think it's okay to rape and
pillage and kill and
John is telling these soldiers. Hey, I know you got a job. I know your job is to go out and fight
I know your job is to go out and protect
Society, I know that's what you're getting paid to do and you should be content with your wages
But when you're out there doing what you're supposed to do do violence to no man. He says don't violate people
Neither accused any falsely
He says look do what you got to do within the parameters of your job, but don't go rape anybody
Don't go plumb, you know plunder and steal from people just because you're in a war zone
He says just be content with your wages
Just because you're in a war zone and you see somebody and this is you know
We could apply it today and whenever in our society today, you know
some tornado or some hurricane will hit a town and just because there's no cops anywhere and people are kind of
Sheltering in place people think it's okay to you know, start breaking windows and stealing TVs
It's like hey just because you find yourself in a in a situation like a war zone where people aren't paying attention
It's not okay to violate or do violence. Just be content with your wages. You're getting paid couldn't be content with your wages
So once you notice the message from John to these soldiers is be content
Be content. He says and be content with your wages
He says be content with your job the fact you're getting paid and don't go out and accuse people falsely
Don't go out and violate people don't steal from people don't use your power and your mic and your authority
to violate people
Go to Philippians just real quickly Philippians chapter 4
Let's just quickly look at this passage on contentment most famous passage in the Bible on the contentment
Paul says this in Philippians 4 verse 11 not that I speak in respect of want
Why don't you notice these words? He says for I have learned just notice that phrase for I have learned in whatsoever state
I am therewith to be content notice these two words. I know
He said in verse 11. He says for I have learned then in verse 12
He says I know both how to be a base and I know how to abound
Everywhere and in all things notice these words I am instructed you see that
He says in verse 11 for I have learned he says in verse 12. I know he says in verse 12
I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need
Let me tell you something the secrets of contentment. Here's what people think they think when I get everything I want I'll be content
When I get all my ducks in a row when I finally live in the house
I want to live in I finally drive the vehicle. I want to drive in I want finally get the
Promotion that I want or the raise that I want once I get everything I want then I'll be content
The the problem with that is that you'll never get everything you want
Because as soon as you get that brand new, you know phone that does your laundry and cooks you lunch
They're gonna come out with another one
That also, you know makes a better lunch or whatever. I don't know
See there's no end to your wants
So Paul says the secret to contentment see people think contentment is something that happens to them. I
Get married. I have kids. I buy a house. I have this. I'm you know, I buy a dog
Let me tell you something getting a dog is the last thing that'll make you content
especially a stupid puppy
They think contentment is something that happens to me no no contentment is not something that happens to you you happen to contentment
You learn to be content
He says for I have learned he says I am instructed
He says I know see people that are content then it didn't happen to them
They chose and they've learned to be content and they can say I have learned in what's whoever state
I am there with to be content
And I can be content
with much or with little
He says I know both how to be a base and I know how to abound
Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry
Both to abound and to suffer need
Here's what's interesting is that as you study highly successful people
You'll find that they're not only generous
You'll find that they're not only obsessed with integrity
But you'll also find that highly successful people
Have found the balance between drive and contentment
Highly successful people are often driven
There's something that gets them out of bed in the morning
They want to win. They want to succeed. They're driven people nothing wrong with that
But there's a difference between being driven and ambitious
see, they're not so driven that they're going to
Cross their integrity to lie and steal and cheat to get ahead
Because they've learned a balance between being driven and content
Being driven to accomplish more and do more but yet being content where at the end of the day wherever we find ourselves
Whatever we've accomplished I have learned and whatsoever state I am there with to be content
So we have John telling this third group of people the public servants, I wish somebody would tell our public servants today. Hey be content
He says don't take advantage of people
Don't violate people be content which then such things as you have to go back to Luke chapter 3
Luke chapter 3
I'm gonna shift gears here for a second. We're in the conclusion
Okay
We're almost done but I'm gonna shift gears on the conclusion because I want to show you a couple of things at the end of this
Passage to set us up for next week when we're in Luke, but while you turn there
Let me just give you some ending thoughts on these these ideas from these three groups the people the publicans the public servants
You
Know what's interesting is that?
Everyone had their own areas to work on. Did you notice that all three groups are different and
John told
The groups to work in the area in which they were lacking
See he told the people who were poor be generous
Say why would you tell poor people to be generous because when you're poor, it's hard to be generous
But when the publicans showed up who were rich and they said oh man, what shall we do then?
I'm sure they were hoping that John would say hey be generous because they had so much money
It would be easy to be generous, but John says to them. Don't worry about being generous. Just stop stealing from people
And they're like, oh man. Well, that's actually what we're doing
See John was applying it to their lives
He
Was looking at people that were poor and saying you need to learn to be generous
He was looking at people that were stealing and he said you need to exact that which is appointed unto you
He was looking at people that were maybe
Taking their authority a little too far and violating others and saying you need to be content with your wages and quit violating people
Do violence to no man?
Everyone was told to work in the area in which they were lacking
He didn't tell the rich publicans to give that would have been easy for them he told the rich publicans to stop stealing
You know one lesson we can learn from this story is this that everyone can do something right where they're at
People that are not content get this idea. Well, I could really serve the Lord if I if I had a different job
I could really serve the Lord. No, you could serve the Lord in the job you're in
You can serve the Lord of the state you're in
You can serve the Lord whatever position you find yourself in. Hey in that place you could serve the Lord
He didn't tell any one of them. You got to quit your job. He didn't tell any one of them
You got to do this. You got to do that
He said right where you're at, you can serve God and you can serve the Lord
Look at Luke chapter 3 and verse 15
We're gonna finish this up
But I want to just transition a little bit and kind of give you some closing thoughts here with with this passage
in
verses 15 through 20
We have the end of this story with John and his ministry and his preaching
In verse 15 the Bible says this and as the people were in expectation
That word expectation is referring to the fact that people were looking at John and they were expecting something from him
They were looking at him with hope and expectation
That was incorrect what they were hoping or what they were expecting was that John was the Messiah
That John was the Christ and they were wrong about that. John was not the Messiah
he was the forerunner to the Messiah and as the people were in expectation and all men muse the word muse means to
ponder to think about
And all men muse in their hearts of John notice whether he were the Christ or not the word Christ means Messiah
John answered saying unto them all
So they're all you know, there's kind of standing back and they're watching this guy John preach and they're like, is this the Messiah?
Is this the Christ and John?
Understood that this is something that people were saying about him or he overheard them talking about this
So he responds to them in verse 16 John answers saying unto them all he says I
Indeed baptized you with water
He said I'm doing a water baptism. I'm taking you under the water and bringing you up out of the water
He said but that water baptism. It's just an ordinance. It's a symbol
It's symbolic of what of something else. He says I indeed baptized you with water
He says but one mightier than I cometh because they're thinking he's the Messiah and he's telling them no
No, I'm just baptizing you with water, but there's one mightier than I who's coming we know of course, that's Jesus
He says the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose
He said I'm not even worthy to tie and untie his shoes
He says he referring to Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire
He says look I'm baptizing you in water
But there's a mightier one coming that will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire now
Let me just quickly just as we finish tonight explain these
Baptisms he's referring to the first one. He's referring to hear the baptism of the Holy Ghost
the charismatic like to make a big deal about
Baptism of the Holy Ghost and let me just show you a couple things go to Acts chapter 2 if you would you're there in Luke
You have Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Luke John Acts Acts chapter 2
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is
referred to in different ways throughout the Bible
But I just want to help you understand this the baptismal Holy Ghost is a reference to the empowering of the Holy Ghost
The baptismal Holy Ghost is not something that happens at the point of salvation
Because
The disciples the Bible tells us that they received the Holy Spirit
When Jesus resurrected from the grave he breathed on them and they received the Holy Ghost
But then they were told to go and wait for the filling of the Holy Spirit which happened at the day of Pentecost
So the Bible teaches and I don't have time to develop this tonight
You know, I preached the whole series on the Holy Spirit and I preached through a doctoral series on this and I've taught a lot
About this in different sermons you can go and learn more about it in one of those sermons
But the Bible teaches that when you and I get saved we're sealed with the Holy Spirit
But then Christians can be empowered by the Holy Spirit
It's called walking in the spirit and that term is used throughout the Bible in different ways
the empowering of the Holy Spirit is referred throughout the scriptures as the filling of the Holy Spirit or the coming upon of the
Holy Spirit or the pouring of the Holy Spirit or what we see here the baptism of the Holy Spirit see the word baptism
simply means to
Submerge or to put under something we believe in water
Baptism because we take people under the water and bring them up out of the water
That's why sprinkling doesn't work because you don't go under the water
But the baptism of the Holy Ghost is when you are submerged
You are filled you are surrounded by the Holy Ghost
This happened in Acts chapter 2 and verse 1 notice what the Bible says and when the day of Pentecost was fully come
They were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind
Notice and it filled all the house
The Holy Ghost filled the house they're in the house and they are being baptized in the Holy Ghost
They're being empowered by the Holy Ghost and they were all sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues
like as a fire and it set upon each of them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other
Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. So John talks about the fact that there's one coming mightier than high
He says who shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and that is a reference to the day of Pentecost
That is a reference to the empowering the filling of the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost coming upon you the Holy Ghost being poured upon
You all these terms are used interchangeably. It's all referring to the power of the Holy Spirit
But I want to show you something quickly go back to Luke chapter 3 and verse 16. There's two things
He mentions here at the end of verse 16. He says he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. He says and
With fire and
with fire
To pot you could look at this and I want to word it this way because I'm not dogmatic on this
I'm just going to teach you something that I think
as
Two different baptisms that are being mentioned here one with the Holy Ghost and one with fire now some people
and many people will believe that the baptismal he goes and with fire is referring to the same baptism and
And there's an argument to be made for that
That's why I don't I'm not super dogmatic about it because for example when we saw in Acts chapter 2
The day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit the the rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house
The Bible says that there appeared unto them clove and tongues like as a fire
So people will say see that's the baptism with fire. And if that's your position on it, I don't disagree with you
You know, we can study the Bible and see different things. I just want you to notice
That he mentions fire
He says the baptism only goes and with fire
In verse 16 and then in verse 17 Luke chapter 3 in verse 17
He gives us this passage that when you look at it, it's without a doubt a reference to judgment
Luke chapter 3 17 whose fan is in his hand whose hand
He's talking about the one who is coming after him who is mightier than him the one whose shoe latches
He's not worthy to unloose
He says that one that's coming his fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly
Purge his floor and will gather the wheat into his gardener
But the chaff he will notice burn with fire unquenchable
You say what is that referring to
Well, let me help you define some of these words here
The wording here if you've read the Bible, you know
This is a wording in regards to judgment when you see these types of words. It's a reference to judgment
Notice he says whose fan is in his hand. We'll talk about the fan here in a minute. He will thoroughly
Purge his floor. This is an illustration of the harvest being taken up
Which the harvest throughout the Bible is a picture of the rapture and and the day that were raptured out of here
He says and will gather the wheat
into his gardener wheat
Represents believers and Christians all throughout the Bible and here he says that he's going to gather the wheat into his gardener
The word gardener means to collect into a storehouse or into a barn
but the chaff
This is not the wheat
He will burn with fire
Unquestionable unquenchable. He said what is being referred to here? Well when he says he will thoroughly purge his floor
the modern term that you and I would use today for that phrase would be
Winnowing and let me just read to you a little definition for winnowing
Winnowing is the process. In fact, go to Psalm if you watch Psalm 1
just real quickly Psalm 1 and
Let me show you this to you real quickly
Winnowing is the process in the time of harvest
It is a process by which the the chaff is separated from the grain in its simplest form it involves throwing
The mixture into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff
While the heavier grains fall back down for recovery. So what they would do is they would take the wheat and
The wheat would be mixed up with all this chaff, but the wheat itself is heavier than the chaff
So they would throw it into the air and as the wind would blow
The wheat that was heavier would fall to the ground
where it could be piled up and recovered and taken into the gardener or the barn as
They threw it into the air and the wind would blow
The chaff would be carried away by the wind and it would be separated from the wheat
On days when there was no wind or not much wind and they had to do this
They would use a fan where they would throw it up in the air and then they would blow it to create today
They would use like a like an electric fan to create the wind to separate the chaff from the wheat
This is what the Bible is referring to you. Are you there in Psalm 1?
Remember this passage of Scripture a very famous Psalm the first Psalm in the book of Psalms
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat
of scornful
But his delight is in the law of the Lord and his law that he meditate day and night and he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever you do it
Shall prosper look at verse 4 the ungodly are not so but are like the chaff
Which the wind driveth away
Notice the Bible
Says hey blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel. They are godly
It's all about the man that's walking with the Lord. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water
But then the contrast is the ungodly are not so the ungodly are not like a tree planted by the rivers of water
But they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous for the Lord knoweth the way of the
Righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish
So notice that throughout the Bible the chaff is a reference to the ungodly
Now just real quickly go to Matthew chapter 13 and let me illustrate this for you
John brings up the fact that there's one coming who's mightier than I John says
Whose shoe latches I'm not worthy to unloose
He says he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and we know that's the baptism of the day of Pentecost
The empowering of the Holy Spirit and he says and fire
Now some people would say the fire is referring to the baptism of the Holy Ghost and I won't argue that that may be so
But it's interesting though that in the very next verse he begins to talk about judgment
He says whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor. He's gonna clean up the floor
He's gonna get all the chaff out of the floor and will gather the wheat into the gardener into the storehouse into the barn
but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable in
Matthew 13 we have a parable that is not exactly like this, but it's so close. You just have to look at it
Notice what it says in Matthew 13. We I reach a whole sermon out of Matthew 13 is parable
I'm not gonna do that
But just look at it quickly and we'll be done here soon
Matthew 13 24 another parable putting forth unto them saying the kingdom of heaven is like an unto a man which sowed good seed in
his field
But while men slept his enemy came and sowed tears
Now what's a tear? A tear is a weed
It is a worthless plant has no value. The problem with the weed is that it resembles wheat
when young
So here we have a man which sowed good seed. He sowed wheat in his field
But while men slept his enemy came and sowed tears
Somebody was trying to be mean to this guy and while he was sleeping
He sowed tears in the same field where he sowed wheat
They sowed tears which are weeds that look like weeds and when they're young
They look exactly like wheat and you have to wait till they're full-grown for you to be able to figure out
Which one's actually wheat and which ones are tears. Look at verse 26
Well verse 25 but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tears among the wheat and went his way verse 26
But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit then appeared the tears the weeds
Also, so the servants of the householder came and said unto him, sir
Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field from whence then hath it tears?
He said unto them an enemy had done this the servant said unto him. Well thou then that we go and gather them up
He's talking about the fact that there's a field
growing with both wheat and tears and
They didn't notice it
till the fruit sprung up and
Now he's saying do you want us to go and separate them verse 29, but he said nay
Lest while you gather up the tears you root up also the wheat with them, by the way
I don't have time to preach this but this whole thing is about the end of the world to harvest the fact that there are
fake Christians among us
in the wheat there are tears and
And honestly, they're not gonna go away till God separates them
But he said nay, lest while you gather up the tears you root up also the wheat with them verse 30
Let both grow together notice until the harvest and in the time of harvest
I will say to the reapers gather ye together first the tears and bind them in bundles notice to burn them
But gather the wheat into my barn
So we have the same idea that the wheat and the tears or the wheat and the top are going to be separated
One is going to be gathered into the barn into the gardener into the storehouse. The other one is going to be
separated to burn
What is this referring to go to Revelation chapter 20?
Revelation chapter 20 I
I
Believe and you may disagree with me and if you do that's fine. I don't want to argue with you
That John is referring to the fact he's saying look I'm baptizing you with water
but there is coming one that's going to baptize you and
People might say well, I don't believe in Jesus. I don't believe Jesus existed
Well, I'm here to tell you it don't matter whether you believe in him or not. Jesus is going to baptize you
He's either gonna baptize you with the Holy Ghost or he's gonna baptize you with fire
Because of the harvest he's going to separate the wheat and the chaff
the wheat he already told us is gonna be baptized with the Holy Ghost and
He tells us he's gonna take the chaff or the tears and he's gonna baptize them in fire
You say what does that mean?
Well, it means that he's going to put them in a place where they are consumed with fire where they are
Put into the fire
They're going to be baptized with fire
It's interesting to me because in Revelation chapter 20 and verse 10. We have a description of hell
And I want you to notice how it's described
Revelation 20 and verse 10 and the devil had deceived them was cast into notice the lake of fire
The lake of fire and brimstone
When I when I read the lake of fire brimstone, I think of like lava
Like fire in a liquid form
The lake of fire and brimstone where the beasts of the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night
forever and ever and death and hell were cast into
notice the lake of fire
This is the second death and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into don't miss it
The lake of fire see either
Jesus is going to baptize you into the Holy Ghost and when you get saved or as a result of salvation
Or he's going to baptize you one day into the lake of fire
You're gonna be put into the lake of fire
He's going to separate see John says he says there's coming one. That's mightier than I he said
I'm only baptized you with water, but there's coming one. That's mightier than I he says one whose shoe latches
I'm not worthy to unloose. He said he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost
and with fire
He says whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor and will gather the wheat into his gardener
But the chaff he will burn with fire
and quenchable
See I don't believe in Jesus it doesn't matter
He's gonna baptize you
I'd rather get saved
And let me let me help you understand something and I need to be done
But in Revelation chapter 20, what we have is a picture of the great white throne
That's what's being as illustrated and the Bible teaches that we'll all be there
every one of us will be there the Bible says that the time and
And space have flood away
We will all be there all present now
If you're saved you will not be judged at the great white throne
You'll be judged at the judgment seat of Christ
You will not be judged to see whether you're saved or not
You're if you're saved you will not be that but you will be present and we will watch
Jesus has the dead as
the books are open and they're judged and
Angels escort them into the lake of fire and baptize them and submerge them
into the lake of fire
And at that point it'll be too late
but you and I right now like we talked about this morning can go out and
Teach people the knowledge of salvation
Because Jesus will baptize you one way or another
In the Holy Ghost or in fire this power heads and I won't pray how many father thank you Lord for your word
Thank you for the Bible think for these passages of Scripture
Lord I pray you'd help us to just learn these things to be motivated Lord
Help us to be Christians who ask this great question. What shall we then do?
What shall we do then?
Help us to be generous
Help us to be just
Help us to be content
The matchless name of Christ we pray. Amen