John the Baptist – The Thrill of Prophetic Fire (Part B)

This miracle was creating a condition by which people could discover a contrite heart in the presence of God steps how many times did John preach from Genesis Isaiah, Jeremiah, would you have love to have heard his sermons and to have experiences power and yet in spite of all of that. He was a man who never promoted himself.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Genesis. Please stay with us after today's message more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. The thrill of prophetic fires. The title of best Rick's message and today he will be starting in first Kings chapter 18 verse 43 of first Kings 18 Eliza speaking to his servant go up now look toward the sea. So he went and looked and said there is nothing and seven times. He said go again. How many times we need that in prayer roll again. I need a lot because sometimes I've made up my mind. The gods all ready made up his mind that he's not going to answer my prayer had plenty enough time to do it hasn't done it. I've been through this before. Why bother spirited gotchas go again and then the spirit of God says to me that you're going to get what you asked that you do ask is that I hear from you that you depend on me that you not ashamed to come to me that you are man enough because of the Holy Spirit to accept my know is your answer and then you know by faith I will hold your prayer forever in my heart. Amen that I will go again because the story goes, he goes and it rains so my point is, John the Baptist got this authority to distance himself from the corrupt care about their feelings. They care about what they said about him. Today we have people say that about the Catholics all I'll say that about anybody you should know that biblically out of line with Jesus Christ and still claiming to be under his authority know I can't have it both ways you can. Just don't expect me to applaud it is not arrogance. That's what we have for this is the prophetic fire that tells us that's why we love such characters in Scripture such as Elijah, and to pass my servant who was monitored. You read that is what I want to be me, but I sure would like. Note know more about this guy, because we were born again this fire. This appreciation for the drill. This is an emotional moment that in the Christian is linked to faith to Jesus Christ is that yeah is that I mean it.

No joy. Sometimes down in the dumps and then sometimes it's physical sometimes you just need to eat something maybe need some sleep, maybe to get away from somebody does mechanical things could be involve hindering the joy champion Christians have joy no matter what, I'm not a champion yet, but I do know that God wants me to overcome and I don't want to overcome… Easy that's on overcoming the system joy as you get older you get a little tired of this but then you get wiser to that offsets the weariness to begin this a.m. tired of it but I know how this game is played and I'm going to play it as though there's a Hall of Fame for me. In Hebrews 11 to not Hebrews 11 verse two Hebrews 11.

Also, John hears John the Baptist with this authority. He's fed up with those who played games in God's name is done with them.

He distances himself, Eliza and John assumed their roles as men of God because of God, not in their own strength didn't just get here today with this thing saw the wrong and that was that Nick does not want to do my thing. They waited for the voice of God to lead them and that is the part. Also, I think that pertains to us today is to identify what is my role as a Christian.

What is my short-term my long-term you know the business exec that will come up and say what where you see yourself in five years leading more people to have and that's where I see myself in five years because the business where you can keep that some words that might not be fair, but it could be part of the answer. When I say not fair. He's asking a question concerning the business. Would giving answers concerning life and so that is fair that we give answers concerning life but not to a fault where we are not able to communicate with people about the things that surround us and so Eliza and John assumed their roles that God had given them in their day one. His role was dominated by the power of miracles.

That was Eliza when he showed up.

Fire could be not far away. I'm quickly cursed God's guys going lightning down on people. John, on the other hand, his power was in preaching.

In fact he's called the Harold the corrupt, in the Greek the one this is make way for the king.

He's coming. It's a totally ancient date CIA owner, CIA, Secret Service, you know that they go ahead of the leader and they make sure the rollers clear for him well in the ancient kingdoms.

There were runners that were sent before the king's entourage to make sure the roof of the roads were clear and people were out of the way and everybody behave the way they were supposed to behave. That was John's role for Jesus Christ weapons of our warfare being spiritual and it was his intolerance of false faith that led him to be so outspoken and rebuked the sin in anybody that came in either side of this bad it all it was parallel murderous hair rod enterprise that is John the Baptist and UNESCO's to have your brother's wife care who you are. You cut my head off going to care, but not enough. That's what happened to him will get back to a little bit of that. Not too much and why the glory always makes us wake up. He preach Christ by exalting Christ and telling people this is the only way to him I got his sandal straps are not getting this. This is so righteous I don't deserve to touch that that's the idea behind this there stands one among you knew it was already here and was preaching it, but the way to this holy one was through repentance calling sin sin and pretending was anything less and to pretend that sin is less than what it is is due immediately distance yourself from the Savior. He saves us from sin so he preach Christ exalting him. Matthew chapter 3 how text is verse one but now quoting verse two. This is what he preached, saying, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now this is true in any age is essentially what Noah preached it in diet any minute in the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And if you haven't repented. Did on acts chapter 13 the apostle Paul in the synagogue, not in Israel. Now in the Gentile world is preaching a sermon and he's using John the Baptist as his text. He says that after John had first preached.

Acts chapter 13.

Before his coming before the Christ came the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel and as John was finishing his course, he said who do you think I am. I am not he. But behold, there comes one after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose. Paul picked up on that part of John's message and it resonated in his heart. I wonder how many times he preached just because it shows up in the Scripture wants to sit.

Many preached once, not at all John's proclamations went on long after he died.

Paul still using him as as part of the message.

But while John preached he soaked the people. The people in his audience.

He first soaked them in this recognize recognition got a deal sin that was his message. Repent, how come it's not the message today. How come there are so many Christians that are flocking to churches that will not deal would sit sin to them is the S word is the word they don't want to hear is the word that you know I'm insincere. Sorry I will stop that sin don't want to do that and they packed their churches up but that's not the message. And when Jesus came preaching in the days of John.

He continued the message of John repent for the kingdom is at hand. In other words, if you admit it. You can get admission. You admit that you are a sinner, repenting for Jesus Christ and Christ alone and John preached Messiah alone and at that he soaked the people in this awareness of sin. It gave them the solution and they responded in their response was immediate.

It was in front of every body. There were there was, you know I was.

I was raised to respect God, but I drifted when I got older, but when I was in boot camp.

They used to say this thing something like you know you've done something wrong before God and and and every body and I was kind of partially irritated felt something blasphemous about this, but I wasn't close enough to God. At the time to go any further with my point is, when these people were being baptized, they were being baptized in front of God and every body. Nowadays we try to meet the center but I don't know.

I'm beginning to rethink this. Maybe we need a note. Do we need to do all calls you can answer that and I can either God has answered.

If we do them do we do them in a way that our society has a better chance of responding to this when trying to make them tough guy conversions and make tough guy conversions out of the woods want them converted or do we do as John did you step right on down now if you believe now you already believe is yeah that's it.

But if you're sitting there and you say well I'm not.

I believe that I would have liked options to better what about in the workplace when you're preaching to someone about Christ and the tearing up because they know the guilty. We need to get them to confess right there not let him go not catch and release catching confess that's what John was doing his sermons spoke of death to the flesh, and that's what the water was all about the Jordan River flowing from Mount Harmon all the way down as it wound one answer is really not that impressive of a river. To me the most impressive part is up at the headwaters which starts after that is just not that impressive River. The great Mississippi is more impressive but the fact that it flows all the way to the Dead Sea says to the individual that you need to dive your sins, you need the filth washed off and let it just die let it go. Need to come out of this new creation. That's the symbolism behind the Jordan River and as he preached out in the wilderness. Matthew chapter 3 verse five we discover that his message was attractive. He's in the wilderness but yet they come to him from Jerusalem and Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

How did that happen. Somebody heard John preached was smitten was baptized, went back told somebody else that somebody else that I need.

They went out and got it on. They came back and they told somebody and then pen they were preaching that was real. This prophetic fire do we have it as individuals, as a church. Do we have this thrill. Both of my daughters have been quick to tell other children who don't go to church that they're going to hell LOL the one not so much anymore, but there was a time which you go over people's houses and and just lay conviction on the yes I don't remember ever try to tone that down my wife. I don't know what you have – or, but out of the mouths of babes and so should go and sit see all the switches and stuff and how they know Jesus does like that Jesus could appreciate that and you know they would be upset because the children would hear it. By the way Sarah causes bank about that cognovit always happen that way but but I like it.

I love when our children stand up and say this is what I believe and we should have this thrill for prophetic fire. This is the wrong time for them to do it. I don't know when is the wrong time to preach the truth well when God is told to be quiet. That's when is wrong time. Sure, Jesus told them the muscled and when he appreciated told others. Don't tell anybody what just happened here. Well this message was attractive, instruct people, but it drew them were sometimes afraid of the narco like me anymore. I'm going to lose all my friends again.

God will give you new friends, don't ever worry about that. I don't where is the pastor of the church will like it they won't come back.

Well, if he wants me to be his pastor who give me new people to come. I don't worry about that. We watch that over the years to be believe four people come back for different people come in, that isn't.

And it's God's department, but just don't be afraid of this. Don't be malicious. Don't try to hurt people don't wish pretending to be stronger than what you are were all week, but the message is powerful when when Jesus says among women they're not born one greater than John yet yet then he goes on, he talks about we being greater than John of the kingdom. Why is that how is that it's the message, not the man is the message.

Our message is greater than John. John headache pre-resurrection message. We have a post-resurrection message and in that sense our message.

We are greater than John.

Apologies for that, greater than, Isaiah, Noah and Abraham all the rest of the Old Testament saints. In that sense, his message was convicted of verse six of John chapter 3 it says and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Very clear, very simple. Repent to get right with God.

You know your rotten I know your rotten God knows your rotten repent, prodigal son, this is what happened to him first in his heart.

In Luke 1518. He says he says I will arise and go to my father and I will say to him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

He makes this commitment to himself. He practices his confession. Then he sees the father. The father cabal the father see symbols running to him. Then he makes good on his pledge this resolution. Verse 21 and the son said to him.

Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your site and am no longer worthy to be called your son. That's repentance that is the sweetest picture. I think of repentance in all the Bible is there some others that rival it so I can just say this with your none sweeter is outstanding. Parents whose children are prodigal you trust God, like the father of the prodigal, and so the message convicted people. John didn't say well you know the one hurt the feelings will walk way out here to the wilderness again and then his message was scathing. Verse seven invective. G. Campbell Morgan calls it is is but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. You bunch of snakes tricking may I know you are you got your robes on.

You see the people coming out and you really want to stop that they come back to your little get together bunch of snakes. That's what he did, tells us that right there. How do you make that means something other than what it means you can't unless you live in less you rewrite your Bible as their publishers trying to do, until someone told me they were making again another effort to make them gender specific, not even offering the old versions man that is hostile, God will deal with them, but a final note about John's preaching out in the wilderness is his message was invasive. It invaded the enemy's territory was that what is that the flash it got deep inside her erroneous. She was seeing when John said you wish, you cannot have your brother's wife, you are sending you our adulterer.

She never let that go. He got into her deep as the saying goes.

Got you go.

We got the whole farm and of course Hell has no fury like a sinner, scorned on-campus male or female and she had John beheaded. She was scorched, that is an occupational habit of a prophet, and we are supposed to be prophets of the Lord prophet is one who God speaks through priest is the one that speaks to God on behalf of the people. Prophet is one again that God speaks to the people through the prophet and sometimes he has to give them a little muscle to do it.

So the power of John sermons was in his life not in the miracles not in the message John in chapter 10 verse 41 thinks verse 41 tells us clearly that John did no signs he had no miracles. He didn't make get off the water partner.

He didn't bring fire from heaven, the miraculous power of John was in his message and in his life.

Those two were inseparable non-conformity. Now again were back to our time, the days that we live in. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in these days. Insert your name.

There came preaching because nonconformity takes conviction to stand up to people it takes conviction. It always has. Revolutions have been born and have succeeded because of people and their convictions, right or wrong. It is a fundamental of the universe.

It should be a fundamental of the church also saw his miracle was preaching to conversion his miracle was creating a condition by which people could discover a contrite heart in the presence of God. He accepts how many times did John preach from Genesis, Isaiah and Jeremiah, would you have love to have heard his sermons and to have experienced this power. And yet, in spite of all of that. He was a man who never promoted himself will get to that in a second, and so one of the lessons of this not having miracles but yet having so many people come to him is that we do not need the sensational. We need to truth. The world needs from us the truth. The world doesn't know if needed some Christian high claimant or fourth. Well, I just know it's going to happen when how one. How do you know it's going.

How do you know the future. How do you know what God said you are just not maybe be so aggressive. There and just stick to what he has already said why can you not be satisfied.

Why can we not be satisfied with what God has already said unless you are sure that the anointing is upon you, and that what you are about to say is from God and entirely consistent with his word. Eliza's power was by fire is what was needed in his day, but John's was by preaching that is what was needed in his day, and it's up to us to understand what is needed for us to baptize sincere souls to remove from them the judgment that awaits them, not by clever talking but by clear speech of the gospel, not by Whately words but mighty words not being wordy but being Whately depth truth, something that presses on the other person.

You do not have to be a scholar but the message will scorch them the message will touch them because in the presence of God.

I don't think I said this in a while. There are no intellectuals in God's presence is not while you pursue part and I'm impressed. So how do you tie issues again so that is it holds one of our brothers told me a story about years ago he met somebody and the person said to him, I'm an intellectual. I would love to meet such a character today and because after I got up off the floor laughing in and I would I would tell them it to God.

There are no intellectuals anyway.

Continuing with this.

The Lord's teaching on John. This is critical when it Jesus say about this prophet. That's what I'm interested in is I want some of this. If he be good man. Matthew chapter 1111 chapter 11 verse 11 Jesus said to Shirley I sent you among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. Then in Matthew 11 verse 14 he says and if you are willing to receive it. He is Elijah to come home man that sorry this is a reincarnation of these preaching what is how does this work what was going on with this well. The Lord's help. Maybe I can help us all with this Jesus said, John was Elijah, though John did not recognize this likeness. John didn't say was Elijah. John refused. It is a matter of fact. Why John's eyes were on God, not on himself when he says he I must decrease. He must increase when he was sending his disciples to follow Jesus is teaching us that it was not about John the Baptist. He was about God.

He was all about Yahweh. So when asked if he were Elijah and he was asked to write out said no you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick is teaching from God's Word each time you tune as we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast is teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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