John The Baptist Walked with God in Expectancy

Temple Baptist Church - 8-27-2023

Luke 1:5-17

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to continue to preach on “Walking With God”.  We look in the New Testament for the first time and find the last of the Old Testament Prophets, John the Baptist.

 

B.  I want to set the background for the ministry of John the Baptist.  The heavens had been silent for 400 years with no voice from God, no word of the Lord other than the canonized Old Testament.

 

1.  The People of Israel walked in times of great spiritual darkness.  Religion had replaced their hope in a coming Messiah.  Today, religion or the lack thereof has replaced the hope of salvation and a coming Lord.

 

2.  My mind goes back to 1 Samuel, chapter 3, where the Bible said, “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was…

 

3.  The light of God is going out in America and the rest of the world this morning.  Let us look at John the Baptist who walked with God in a hard time and spiritually dark time and place.

 

C.  In the days prior to the revelation of the Israel’s Messian, Jehovah God made flesh, Jesus Christ—the Son of God, one of the most important men in the Bible, John the Baptist, walked with God in Expectancy.  As John walked in Expectancy in the time of the First Advent, we MUST be found walking in light of the Second Advent.

 

1.  The Prophecy of John the Baptist.  Isaiah 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 

2.  The Revelation of John the Baptist.  Matthew 3:1-3  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  (2)  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  (3)  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 

3.  The Identification of John the Baptist.  Matthew 11:7-11  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  (8)  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.  (9)  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.  (10)  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  (11)  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

4.  The Person of John the Baptist.

 

a)  John the Baptist was a miracle man.  Luke 1:18  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

 

Luke 1:24  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

 

b)  John the Baptist was a Spirit filled man.  Filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.  Remember that this was the last of the Old Testament prophets and during that time, the Holy Ghost came upon people, and He also left them.  The Holy Ghost did not indwell the Old Testament believer.

 

c)  John the Baptist was a consecrated man.  A Nazarite from his birth, though the word “Nazarite” is not mentioned, the biblical separation of a Nazarite was there.  He cared not what the world thought of him.

 

Luke 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

 

d)  John the Baptist was a privileged man.  He was God’s messenger until the revelation of Christ.  We are privileged in our day to carry the message of old to this last generation.

 

e)  John the Baptist was an expectant man.  He knew that he was the fulfillment of prophecy sent to prepare the way of the Lord and to make His paths straight.  HE IS COMING AS HE SAID!

 

f)  John the Baptist was a valued man.  Our Lord said that John was the greatest prophet ever to be born and his message was a simple one.  REPENT AND BELIEVE ON THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST.

 

D.  John the Baptist!

 

1.  John the Baptist was a chosen man for a specific time.  John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (To be commissioned for a special task or mission.  We are a chosen generation.)

 

2.  John the Baptist was a dedicated man to a specific cause. Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. (John lived a clean life for the Lord.  We are to live a clean life for the Lord.)

 

3.  John the Baptist was a different man in an ungodly world. Matthew 3:4  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

 

4.  John the Baptist was a strong man in the face of adversity. Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

 

Mark 6:17-18  For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.  (18)  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

 

5.  John the Baptist was not a soft man.  Matthew 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

 

6.  John the Baptist was a faithful man who continued to cry in the wilderness.  Matthew 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

 

7.  John the Baptist was a preaching man who continued to put forth the Word of God.  Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (John preached the way of salvation and the coming of the Messiah.  We preach the way of salvation and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

 

8.  John the Baptist was a rewarded man who lived to know his Messiah’s coming.  John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

9.  John the Baptist was a humble man.  John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.  (John knew that he was not there to place himself on a pedestal but to glorify and point people to Christ.  We that are saved are to glorify Christ and point sinners to Him.)

 

10.  John the Baptist was just a man.  Luke 7:19  And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?  (We are just people but are the light and salt of these last days.)

 

Conclusion:  We are to occupy until He comes.  We look for Him expectantly as His coming is imminent. 

 

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.