1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Out living your life. 2 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:24,000 John the Baptist was cast in the prison because of his preaching. 3 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:40,000 King Herod had married his brother's wife named Herodias. 4 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:52,800 And John the Baptist preached publicly against this vile and unlawful relationship. 5 00:00:52,800 --> 00:01:00,800 And for that reason he was arrested and thrown into prison. 6 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:16,800 While in prison, John began to have some doubts and concerns about who Jesus is and what he was doing. 7 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:28,800 His doubts worked against his faith and caused him to question the person and the work of Jesus. 8 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:40,800 Now brothers and sisters, the extent of John's cognitive dissonance should not be minimized. 9 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:54,800 Is it contrary to any true theory of John's prophetic mission that he should be for once seized with a spasm of doubt? 10 00:01:54,800 --> 00:02:02,800 Great men are not at their greatest all the time. 11 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:12,800 Paul reminds us that we have this treasure, but it is still in an earthen vessel. 12 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,800 You hear me this morning. 13 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:20,800 There are sufficient reasons for John's doubt. 14 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:28,800 Matthew has highlighted the mixed response to Jesus' ministry. 15 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:42,800 John had ample reason to believe in Jesus, but the delay of Jesus judging sin, John's current imprisonment, 16 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:52,800 and increasing opposition from the religious leaders has shaken John's confidence. 17 00:02:52,800 --> 00:03:14,800 The honest ones of us worshiping this morning, the honest ones of us this morning will readily admit that there are times when we all experience doubts and fears. 18 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:22,800 There are times when we wonder about our salvation and about our faith. 19 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:28,800 During these times, we ask ourselves some pretty deep questions. 20 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:34,800 Am I really saved? 21 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:40,800 And if I'm saved, am I really secure? 22 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,800 What if I made a mistake? 23 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:51,800 What if Jesus is not the only way to God? 24 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:59,800 What if the Bible is just a book and not the Word of God? 25 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,800 The honest ones of us in here will admit it. 26 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:03,800 We don't say it out loud. 27 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,800 We don't want to tell anybody. 28 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,800 But deep down in the very recesses of our soul, 29 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:20,800 if you're honest about what your faith means, there have been days when you've questioned your own salvation. 30 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Serious Christians really take a look at, is this all true? 31 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,800 Is my living in vain? 32 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,800 Is my preaching in vain? 33 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,800 Does going to church make sense? 34 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,800 Does believing God really pay off? 35 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,800 Is this a show? 36 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,800 Or am I here because it's real? 37 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,800 Am I going to heaven? 38 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,800 Is there a heaven at all? 39 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,800 These questions are in the throats of serious believers, 40 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:09,800 and we are scared to let it out because we don't want to seem doubtful. 41 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:18,800 But a faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. 42 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:24,800 And brothers and sisters, God is not intimidated by your questions. 43 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,800 God is not taken aback by your doubts. 44 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:37,800 John is saying, I don't really want to give my life for something if it's not true. 45 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:50,800 John's doubts and the way Jesus deals with those doubts are an example for all of us who are true disciples. 46 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,800 Jesus does not upbraid John the Baptist. 47 00:05:55,800 --> 00:06:00,800 He does not scold nor does Jesus criticize. 48 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:06,800 Jesus does not get angry because John has some doubts. 49 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:15,800 Here is how Jesus lovingly answers John's questions. 50 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,800 John's disciples come to Jesus in verses 2 through verse 6, 51 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:27,800 and they want to know, John sent us to ask you, are you the one? 52 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:35,800 Are you the one that should come or look we for another? 53 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,800 Jesus does not scold him. Jesus is not angry with that question. 54 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:45,800 Here is how Jesus answers John's doubts. 55 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:53,800 He tells John's disciples, go back and tell John the blind see. 56 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,800 The lame are walking. 57 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:59,800 Leppers are cleansed. 58 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,800 The deaf are hearing. 59 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,800 Dead people are being raised to life again. 60 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:11,800 And the gospel is being preached to the poor. 61 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Brothers and sisters, if John focuses on the words and works of Jesus, 62 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:25,800 he will not take offense or be scandalized by the gospel. 63 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:30,800 It's the word in the Greek scandaliso, which means the gospel is a scandal, 64 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:36,800 because Jesus is born of a mother without an earthly father. 65 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,800 That's scandalous. 66 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:46,800 Jesus is talking about he is the son of God, and he's God himself. 67 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,800 That's scandalous. 68 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,800 Jesus is talking about before Abraham was, I am. 69 00:07:53,800 --> 00:08:00,800 That's a scandal to the Jewish people, because Jesus is not saying I'm like God. 70 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:07,800 He's saying I'm God in the flesh. 71 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:17,800 And Jesus said, don't be offended by that, because my words and my works speak for themselves. 72 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:31,800 John, like many of us, fell into the mistaken notion that we are architects of the kingdom 73 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,800 and not day laborers. 74 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:46,800 We, like John, fall into the notion, the false notion that we are architects and not hired hands. 75 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:59,800 We think we ought to build the kingdom when God just hired us to work in the field. 76 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:04,800 They were trying to lay that on Paul and Apollo's. 77 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,800 Paul said, I preached. 78 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,800 Apollo's watered. 79 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,800 But God gave the increase. 80 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:20,800 It's my responsibility to preach the gospel, not to build Lilligrove Baptist Church. 81 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,800 That's what God is going to do. 82 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,800 My responsibility is to preach the gospel. 83 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:27,800 It's something like this. 84 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:33,800 Don't get mad with the mailman, because you get a light bill. 85 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:39,800 He's just delivering the mail. 86 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:49,800 Don't get warm with me in the middle of this message, because I'm the mailman, because I'm going to say some stuff here in a minute that's going to upset somebody. 87 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:51,800 But it's not my gospel. 88 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,800 It's the Lord's gospel. 89 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:59,800 And if I preach it and you don't hear it, then the blood is not on my hand. 90 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:08,800 But if I don't preach it and you go to hell, God is going to hold me responsible. 91 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:17,800 Jesus said, I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day, because the night is coming when no man can wait. 92 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:26,800 The one who teaches the truth and responsible for the truth, they just got to teach it. 93 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:40,800 Brothers and sisters, we are living in some perilous times where men will not endure sound doctrine. 94 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:46,800 They will heed for themselves teachers having itching ears. 95 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:51,800 They will join a church that's saying what they want to hear. 96 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:56,800 They will follow a preacher who is saying what they want to hear. 97 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:02,800 They want to hear his podcast, because he's not talking by sin. 98 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:08,800 They want to hear his sermon, because he's not talking about unrighteousness. 99 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:14,800 I wish I had somebody to help me. 100 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:23,800 Let's look first of all at John's essential greatness. 101 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:29,800 Here's what Jesus says about John's essential greatness. 102 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:37,800 The dispensation of John the Baptist was peculiar indeed. 103 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:43,800 John stood between the law and the gospel. 104 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:57,800 He transcended the prophetic office through his unique relationship to the Christ as the Messianic forerunner. 105 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:12,800 John is the turning point of salvation history, preparing the final fulfillment of God's plan in the person of Jesus Christ. 106 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:24,800 John is the culmination of the Old Testament and the launching pad for the New Testament. 107 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:34,800 He is the link between the inaugurated and realized eschatology. 108 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:43,800 He is in another world between the already and the not yet. 109 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:50,800 He is the last prophet before the coming of the Christ. 110 00:12:50,800 --> 00:13:01,800 He announces the kingdom, but before the kingdom can be inaugurated, John has been beheaded. 111 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:06,800 Because he told Herod to his face. 112 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:14,800 It's wrong for you to marry your brother's wife. 113 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:23,800 And Herod, who was too much of a weasel to listen to what John had to say, this girl came to a party that Herod threw. 114 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:39,800 Herodius behind the scene told that girl, when he asked you what you want for dancing naked before him, tell him you want the head of that so and so John the Baptist. 115 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,800 She dances and Herod says whatever you want, ask. 116 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,800 She says I want the head of John the Baptist. 117 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:53,800 And John the Baptist is beheaded because he preached the truth. 118 00:13:53,800 --> 00:14:01,800 That ought to be a word to those of us who call ourselves preachers and pastors and prophets in this age. 119 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:08,800 When everybody's speaking well of you, beware of that. 120 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:17,800 When everybody loves you, beware of that because when you tell the truth, you're going to make some enemies. 121 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:24,800 If you're trying to live godly in Christ Jesus, you are going to suffer persecution. 122 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,800 I wish I had somebody to help me preach it. 123 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:35,800 If you stand for something in the kingdom of God, people are going to hate you just because of what you stand for. 124 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:48,800 Because if they hate it, Jesus, the servant ain't no greater than his master. 125 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:58,800 John is the prophet who was himself prophesied. 126 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,800 This made him more than a prophet. 127 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:13,800 Malachi chapter three says, behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me. 128 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:25,800 Jesus seizes the moments of John's doubts to teach about John's apacal significance. 129 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:37,800 In posing a rhetorical question three times, Jesus was paying tribute to John's sterling character, 130 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:51,800 his moral fiber, his natural ability, his spiritual stature, and his unflinching resolve. 131 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:59,800 Jesus asked three times, what did you go out there to see? 132 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Because what you bring to a thing conditions what you bring away from it. 133 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,800 Y'all miss that? 134 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:20,800 What you bring to what you see is what you take away from it. 135 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,800 That's why some folk never worship. 136 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,800 They never get excited in church. 137 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,800 They never praise God with enthusiasm. 138 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:45,800 They never get out of control giving God glory because what you see is what you get. 139 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:57,800 And if he's not done anything for you because you've not put yourself in the way, then worship is just routine. 140 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:06,800 But if God has answered your prayers, if God has delivered you from a struggle, 141 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:19,800 if God has opened the door for you to take care of yourself, when you come to worship, it's not a spectator sport. 142 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:23,800 I ain't come here to watch you shout. 143 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,800 I didn't come here to watch you get happy. 144 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,800 I'm too busy praising God for myself. 145 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,800 I'm too busy thanking God for what he's done for me. 146 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:43,800 And I know I must be grateful for that if you don't get anything out of this preaching, I'm not preaching for you. 147 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:56,800 To God be the glory for the things he has done. 148 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,800 All this singing the choir just got through doing. 149 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,800 Some of y'all looking like a calf looks at a new gate. 150 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,800 Like a little puppy when he's scared to put his foot in the water. 151 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:16,800 But to those of us who dumped in the water and we've tried God for ourselves. 152 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,800 We know that God is a way maker. 153 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,800 We know God is a provider. 154 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,800 We know God is a deliverer. 155 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:29,800 We know God is a very present help in the time of trouble. 156 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,800 And so I don't care what you say about me on Facebook. 157 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,800 I don't care how you laugh at how I shout. 158 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:48,800 I came here to tell God thank you because praise is payment for blessings already received. 159 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,800 He's done so much for me. 160 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,800 I owe him my praise. 161 00:18:54,800 --> 00:19:05,800 I owe him my hallelujah. 162 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:11,800 What did you come here for? 163 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,800 What did you come to see? 164 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,800 I need one or two more witnesses. 165 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:28,800 Jesus said, did you come here to see a reed shaken by the wind? 166 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:39,800 John ain't no weak, unstable, 90 pound weakling. 167 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:44,800 He's neither fickle nor vacillating. 168 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:51,800 He's not easily moved by public opinion. 169 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:55,800 He's not a politician. 170 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,800 He's a prophet. 171 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:08,800 And the reason many of us who preach can't preach the truth is because we are in the pockets of politicians. 172 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:29,800 The reason why we can't be a prophet, P-R-O-P-H-E-T is because we are in it for prophet, P-R-O-F-I-T. 173 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:41,800 You can shake your finger in the king's face if you're getting money at the king's table. 174 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:46,800 That's why I don't let no politician talk when they come here to lily grow. 175 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:52,800 Because every other word comes out of their mouth is a lie. 176 00:20:52,800 --> 00:21:01,800 I'm not afraid to say that because everything I get comes from the tithes and offerings of the lily-grove missionary Baptist church. 177 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:15,800 And so I am free to say what the hell I want to say because I am paid by the people of God who come here Sunday after Sunday to hear me preach. 178 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:21,800 The wages of sin is death. 179 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,800 But the gift of God is eternal life. 180 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:34,800 And whoever does not like that finds you another place to worship. 181 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,800 You gotta be bold to talk like that. 182 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,800 You gotta be a man to talk like that. 183 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:50,800 You gotta have some people standing behind you who are ready to fight for you to talk like that. 184 00:21:50,800 --> 00:22:06,800 The reason I span out and cry loud is because I got some women in here who will take their heels off. 185 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:12,800 What you say about my pastor? 186 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:20,800 Some brothers in here who ain't too safe, they working on their salvation but they're not there yet. 187 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,800 They got something with them if you open your mouth too many times. 188 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:33,800 You've got to be bold to proclaim the truth of God because you're not looking for favor from men. 189 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:41,800 John was no reed shaken by the wind. 190 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:48,800 Jesus said, did you come to see a man in soft raiment? 191 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:59,800 The literal translation of that text is, did you come to see a man who was effeminate? 192 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:18,800 John was a rugged 100% USDA prime man. 193 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:36,800 John was not a sycophant who sided with the rulers but a bold prophet whose pronunciations got him arrested. 194 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:38,800 Now I want you to get this. 195 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:45,800 Jesus does not ask, who did you come to see? 196 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:51,800 He asks, what did you come to see? 197 00:23:51,800 --> 00:24:02,800 Because it is what John stood for that speaks louder than who John was. 198 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,800 That's John's essential greatness. 199 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:12,800 But then I want you to look with me at his evident discomfort. 200 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:25,800 The meaning of John the Baptist was mastered by an almost overwhelming consciousness of the sin of his age and the sin of his people. 201 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:33,800 John saw formalism covering corruption. 202 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:41,800 John saw dishonesty practicing officialism. 203 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:50,800 He saw the tyranny of the conqueror and he rebuked it with his preaching. 204 00:24:50,800 --> 00:25:01,800 And those of us who preach the gospel this morning has got to see corruption for what it is. 205 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:09,800 We've got to see this transgender mess for what it is. 206 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:15,800 We've got to see pride month for what it is. 207 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:22,800 We've got to see lying, unrighteous politicians for what and who they really are. 208 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:31,800 Because the agenda is a backhand lick against the sovereignty of God. 209 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:38,800 I am not calling you they or them. 210 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:44,800 I am not calling a woman he. 211 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,800 God made you a woman. 212 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,800 God made you a man. 213 00:25:51,800 --> 00:26:02,800 And anything that denies that is a slap against the sovereignty of God. 214 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:06,800 Creature, you've got to be bold enough. 215 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,800 You've got to be a member, church member. 216 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:18,800 You've got to be bold enough to stand up against it because truth without love is abuse. 217 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:24,800 But love without truth is hypocrisy. 218 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:29,800 And no hypocrite is going to stand in the presence of God. 219 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:39,800 They couldn't stand John. 220 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,800 Matter of fact, they couldn't stand Jesus. 221 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:47,800 Because the same crowd who didn't like John didn't like Jesus. 222 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,800 Because when you read further down in chapter 11, Jesus said, 223 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:53,800 Well unto shall I liken this generation. 224 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,800 You're like children in the marketplace. 225 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,800 We pipe to you and you didn't dance. 226 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,800 We wailed and you didn't mourn. 227 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,800 We played wedding music and you didn't dance. 228 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,800 We played funeral music and you didn't cry. 229 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:15,800 We played the DJ played some wedding music and you didn't do the electric slide. 230 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:21,800 We came to the funeral and brought flowers and sang sad songs and you wouldn't open your mouth. 231 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,800 John was too hard for you. 232 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,800 Jesus is too easy for you. 233 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,800 John is too rough for you. 234 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:30,800 Jesus is too nice for you. 235 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:35,800 You can't follow what the crowd say they want. 236 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,800 Because people don't know what they want. 237 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:44,800 Let me tell you what preaching is. 238 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:50,800 Preaching is telling you what you don't want to hear. 239 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,800 And then telling you what you don't want to hear again. 240 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,800 And then telling you what you don't want to hear again. 241 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:03,800 Until you want to hear it again. 242 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,800 Can I make that make sense? 243 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:14,800 Every Sunday you know how I'm going to end my sermon. 244 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:18,800 I've been doing it the same way 32 years. 245 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:27,800 And every Sunday you pile in here to hear me say he died. 246 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:35,800 And you know what comes next? 247 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,800 And you know what comes next? 248 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,800 Early Sunday morning. 249 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,800 He got up from the grave. 250 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:56,800 Now the only place you go to hear the same thing every time you go is Frankie Bevel his concert. 251 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:03,800 As a matter of fact you sing the song right along with Frankie. 252 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:09,800 You come to this church every Sunday because you know I'm going to say he died. 253 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:11,800 Didn't he die? 254 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:19,800 Because there's power not in my saying it, but there's power in the act of it having taken place. 255 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,800 He died according to the Scriptures. 256 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:28,800 He rose on the third day morning according to the Scriptures. 257 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:37,800 And every time I say it, it reinforces what you already believe. 258 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:43,800 John saw sin and condemned it. 259 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:49,800 And for his condemnation of sin, he was thrown in prison. 260 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:55,800 And in that prison cell, John is about to lose it. 261 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,800 So he sends his disciples to Jesus. 262 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:04,800 And he said, ask him, are you the one? 263 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,800 Why should we look for another? 264 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,800 Brothers and sisters, I'm through now. 265 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:17,800 But when the disciples of John came back with Jesus' words that the blind see, the lame are walking. 266 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,800 The deaf are hearing. 267 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:22,800 Leppers are being cleansed. 268 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,800 Dead people are getting up from the grave. 269 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,800 And the poor have a gospel priest of them. 270 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:33,800 John had an eager expectation. 271 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,800 David is through. 272 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:43,800 Because the first time we hear about a lamb is in Genesis chapter 22. 273 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:47,800 I need somebody who reads the bible to help me shout right here. 274 00:30:47,800 --> 00:31:02,800 Because in Genesis chapter 22, God told Abraham, take your only son, your uniquely born son, 275 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:11,840 only begotten son and bring him to a mountain that I will show you and sacrifice him on that mountain. 276 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:18,160 You're going to help me preach this, won't you? And the Bible says Abraham gets some servants 277 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:23,600 and some donkeys and they are going up to the mountain and and when him and Isaac get to the 278 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:31,680 mountain of Moriah, Abraham says to the servants wait here while me and the boy go yonder to worship. 279 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:40,240 Now Abraham is on his way to lay Isaac down to kill him and he calls it worship. 280 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:48,800 I'm going to get back to that in just a minute. He and Isaac are on their way up to Mount Moriah 281 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:59,840 and Isaac is now carrying the wood for his own sacrifice. Abraham has a lump in his throat 282 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:07,920 and a heaviness in his chest because he knows in his mind he's on his way to take the life 283 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:16,960 of his only begotten son. While they are walking up that mountain Isaac has a thought. 284 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:30,880 He says daddy I see the wood. I see the fire. But where is the lamb? 285 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:40,800 Abraham said my son God will provide. 286 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:51,360 While they are coming up in chapter two of Genesis looking for lamb, 287 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:57,840 John the Baptist is coming up in John chapter one with the lamb. 288 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:08,400 Isaac says daddy where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham says God will provide. 289 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:15,920 While Abraham is saying God will provide, John is getting ready to baptize Jesus in the Jordan 290 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:28,240 and John will baptize with these words. Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 291 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:40,080 While you are coming up one side with your problem, God is coming up the other side with your answer. 292 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:48,160 While you are coming up one side with your trouble, God is coming up the other side 293 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:55,840 with your deliverance. While you're coming up one side with your misery, God is coming 294 00:33:55,840 --> 00:34:00,280 one side with your depression God is coming up the other side with your 295 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:09,720 sunshine somebody ought to help me close here I've got sunshine on a cloudy day 296 00:34:09,720 --> 00:34:20,160 when it's cold outside I got the month of May I guess you say what can make me 297 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:27,400 feel this way while I'm coming up with my trouble on one side God is coming up 298 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:32,640 with my deliverance on the other side I need somebody to help me testify that 299 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:39,720 there is a lamb who takes away the sins of the world John said are you the one 300 00:34:39,720 --> 00:34:46,400 or should we look for another come on help me answer John with Jesus we don't 301 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:52,680 need to look for another the one that we need to look for has already come the 302 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:58,280 one that we ought to have joy in has already shown up the one that we ought 303 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:04,880 to get happy about was already born in Bethlehem he was already reared in 304 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:11,240 Nazareth he was already baptized in the Jordan he had already healed the sick 305 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:16,960 and raised the dead he's already given sight to the blind he's already made 306 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:24,080 the lame to walk he's already made the dumb to speak and the reason why you are 307 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:31,520 in here this morning because we know he is the one we don't have to look for 308 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:38,520 another savior he is the one you remember some years ago 309 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:45,040 Lewis Farrakhan preached over at the church a pleasant grove on the other 310 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:52,280 side of the highway and Lewis Farrakhan said if Jesus is your shepherd you need 311 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:58,800 to look for another shepherd I didn't go to that service I heard that's what 312 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:03,680 Lewis Farrakhan said but if I had a chance to talk with brother Farrakhan 313 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:09,440 this morning I would tell him I don't need to look for another shepherd because 314 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:16,360 I already have the shepherd I've been looking for the Lord is my shepherd I 315 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:24,880 shall not want he maketh me to lie down in green pastures he leads me beside 316 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:33,640 the still waters he restores my soul he leads me in paths of righteousness for 317 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:40,880 his name's sake he ain't gonna walk through the valley of the shadow of death 318 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:52,480 I will fear no evil for God is with me his rod and his staff they comfort me he 319 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:58,760 prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies he anoints my 320 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:09,400 head with oil so that my cup is just running over surely goodness and mercy 321 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:20,640 shall follow me all the days of my life and when it's all over I will dwell in 322 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:28,320 the house of the Lord forever that song is good going forward is also good 323 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:34,480 going backwards I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever because 324 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:42,360 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and the reason 325 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:48,480 goodness and mercy follows me is because he prepares a table before me in the 326 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:54,680 presence of my enemies and the reason he prepares a table before me is he wants 327 00:37:54,680 --> 00:38:02,160 to anoint my head with oil so that my cup is just running over the reason why 328 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:08,720 my cup is running over he makes me to lie down in green pastures the reason he 329 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:13,960 makes me lie down in green pastures is because he's made me come on the still 330 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:20,480 waters the reason I'm right by still waters is because the Lord is my shepherd 331 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:29,240 the reason I shall not want because I know who my shepherd is he's Adam's 332 00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:36,640 Redeemer he's Abel's vindicator he's Abraham's sacrifice he's a rock in a 333 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:42,560 weary land he's a shelter in a time of storm he's a friend when your friend 334 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:50,200 lifts bread when you're hungry y'all know him don't you he's God's only son he's 335 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:57,600 Mary's baby boy he's James and Jude's older brother he's Matthew's king he's 336 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:03,720 Mark's suffering servant he's Luke's great physician he's John's word made flesh 337 00:39:03,720 --> 00:39:10,040 he's acts coming of the Holy Ghost he's the only begotten of the father full of 338 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:16,000 grace and truth he's the blessed and the only potentate he's the faithful and the 339 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:22,280 true witness y'all know him don't you he's distinctive in supernatural capacity 340 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:29,080 he's superlative in sovereign majesty he's exclusive in spiritual beauty he's 341 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:35,520 radiant in eternal splendor he's matchless in superlative he's the God of 342 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:42,160 gods he's the prince of princes he's a virus of ten thousand he's a bright and 343 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:48,760 the morning star he's the rose of Sharon he's the Lily of the valley y'all know 344 00:39:48,760 --> 00:40:02,680 him don't you one Friday on a hill called Calvary he died didn't he die but 345 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:16,280 Sunday morning he got up from the grave with all power in his hand if you know 346 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:23,760 him and you're not ashamed to testify if he brought you and you know he's the 347 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:31,320 one if he's made a way for you and you know he is the Christ if he opened doors 348 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:37,200 for you and you know he's the redeemer if he's brought you from a mighty long 349 00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:44,400 way and you're not ashamed to testify why don't you look at somebody tell him 350 00:40:44,400 --> 00:41:09,600 he is the one he is the one he is he is he is he is he is he is he's able he's 351 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:19,800 available he will he can won't he do it I said won't he do it why don't you 352 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:40,320 grab somebody tell him God will God will 353 00:41:49,800 --> 00:42:04,240 he walks with me he talks with me he tells me I am his own I know it's time 354 00:42:04,240 --> 00:42:13,040 to go I know how to be wrapping up here but I got so much to be thankful for I've 355 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:20,440 got so much to be grateful for I know it's time for the benediction but he's 356 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:28,320 opened so many doors he's made so many ways he's answered so many prayers he's 357 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:36,520 dry so many tears I need a witness this morning I got a story to tell thank you 358 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:49,380 Jesus thank you Jesus thank you Jesus thank you Jesus thank you Jesus thank 359 00:42:49,380 --> 00:43:05,020 you Jesus thank you thank you Jesus thank you Jesus thank you Jesus Thank 360 00:43:05,020 --> 00:43:08,020 I know he's alright 361 00:44:05,020 --> 00:44:07,020 Before 362 00:44:09,820 --> 00:44:11,820 Before I offer the invitation 363 00:44:13,860 --> 00:44:19,540 Here is the most important part of this message 364 00:44:22,780 --> 00:44:27,220 If you forget everything I just said remember this 365 00:44:28,940 --> 00:44:32,300 Jesus said there's not one born of a woman 366 00:44:32,300 --> 00:44:35,780 Greater than John the Baptist 367 00:44:37,780 --> 00:44:43,940 But the least in the kingdom is greater than him 368 00:44:46,540 --> 00:44:49,920 Here is why come on ask me why come on ask 369 00:44:51,740 --> 00:44:54,780 John was a bride groom 370 00:44:54,780 --> 00:44:59,060 We are the bride 371 00:45:05,220 --> 00:45:09,060 The church is the bride of Christ 372 00:45:11,220 --> 00:45:13,420 John was just a bride groom 373 00:45:15,540 --> 00:45:17,980 Ushering the bride 374 00:45:17,980 --> 00:45:27,220 John saw the kingdom from a distance we in the kingdom 375 00:45:30,980 --> 00:45:35,740 John was a herald we are beneficiaries 376 00:45:35,740 --> 00:45:45,900 John saw policies we bought policy 377 00:45:49,780 --> 00:45:54,460 John was a forerunner now you and I are running forth 378 00:45:57,780 --> 00:45:59,780 Trying to tell somebody 379 00:46:01,260 --> 00:46:03,260 Come see a man 380 00:46:03,260 --> 00:46:11,860 Who told me all that I ever did is not this man Christ