Strange Preacher . . . Strong Proclamation, Part 3

Today on Insight for living but every sermon I preached I would say you really are not ready to live when you're ready to buy is no fear you're believing you're the one who takes you beyond lives waiting for you on the other side didn't offer conciliatory words of peace and grace. John scolded the hypocrites for their duplicity wasn't exactly a picture of sunshine and rainbows. He boldly declared the awful consequences of their sin today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll re-creates this colorful scene in Matthew chapter 3 in which John the Baptist declared the deadly penalty of rebellion in the wisdom of facing our mortality and struck off and says we're not ready to live until we're ready to die. Today's message is titled strange creature strong proclamation seeing so happens that puts a permanent chill at your back. John never lost that you when you realize that Isaiah wrote of him seventh century before he ever existed.

It gave strength of his voice took away all resistance, all reluctance all compromises message back to Matthew three, his voice shouting in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord. John comes on the scene suddenly he preached, for he was trained in the wilderness, and interestingly, the word got out that there was this preacher out of the wilderness wearing camel's hair and a leather belt with a strange diet, but his message is like no other message we've ever heard.

What is his proclamation that was some strong verse two.

Repair and turn to God you are so proud of your own accomplishment. Change your mind. Everything starts there, right in the mind, change your mind regarding the true and move in a new direction regarding life itself. You been going in this direction on your life. I challenge you now to repent and turn in the other direction leave that lifestyle behind the kingdom of heaven is near.

Turn from your sinful ways and know that when you do your moving toward that kind of righteousness that will one day fill the earth. Some of them believed those he baptized, look at this verse six when they confess their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River who knows how many by the time Jesus comes on the scene. He is quite a following, but you know what it never went to his head. John wasn't about increasing himself.

In fact, his great words were he that's Jesus must increase. I must decrease.

It's all about him. He's the word I'm just a voice. He's the light on just the lamp. He is the living God on earth in human flesh. I'm just a man what a servant heart so we baptized those who repented, but look at verse seven. Look at this when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to what why would they come out of curiosity, to look at this weird guy that's out there in the wilderness, and please observe his response to them. He didn't know them, but it is opening line, you brood of snakes who would talk to us like that to realize that the Pharisees and Sadducees took delight in intimidating people in here they are standing in front of this strange wilderness preacher calling them snakes who flee God's coming wrath. Now he says it further proved, by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turn to God. Don't just say to each other were safe, for we are descendents of Abraham.

Quit hiding behind the shadow of Abraham.

No one ever talked to them like that before thumbs under their suspenders. They brag about the fact that they were of their father Abraham and John has the audacity to say you not safe because of that you're safe because you repent and you turn to the living God normally save the gospel to the end of my message but I'm going to give it right now.

You may have been around religion, much of your life you may even be attracted to this church. You may like the way you ministries done.

You may love the music.

Who wouldn't, you may have been around long enough to learn some of the songs we sing in, and there are great songs you may have a few friends here or elsewhere know the Lord Jesus Christ know that means you are anywhere near a relationship with God. None of it. You build a relationship with God by coming through his son, the one who is the true he is the way he is the life one who himself said no one comes to the father but through me if you hope to die and stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, you will need to know Jesus during your lifetime. If you wait until you die. It is too late. There is no purgatory that's heresy. There is no opportunity after death for you to believe it's in life is Wasi with passion just with the just with the, the wilderness preacher said change your mind concerning Christ concerning religion concerning church turn in the direction of your own personal faith in the one who died on the cross, paying the complete payment for your sin when you do that will be marvelously born again and you will be ready for life as well as for debt, but every sermon ever preached. I will say you really are not ready to live until you're ready to die. And when you're ready to die. You really are ready to live.

Death is no fear you're believing in the one who takes you beyond and lives waiting for you on the other side, but I urge you to take the message personally and don't think you're safe because you learn trappings of religion so you will know Chuck it pretty strong words. I think maybe he was stronger than Jesus really turn to John chapter 8 questions. See leave here will come back moments but look at John chapter John is now gone. He's beheaded. He's out of the picture. Jesus is in full swing in his ministry and he has encountered the same Pharisees and Sadducees again and they are standing toe to toe against him for his message.

They see them as an illegitimate child probably sired by some Roman swine in Nazareth.

Mary lied about it and told people he was of God is just a hometown boy that clings to be beside no no is not, but they say to him where of our father Abraham, it's all in chapter 8.

When you get toward the end. The heat rises. Look at verse 36 Jesus said so.

If the sun set you free. Your truly free. He's the son by the way, yes, I realize your descendents of Abraham and yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message there sons of Abraham in birth only. The Jewish and that since Abraham is there spirit is their physical father you go far enough back some of your trying to kill me. There's no room in your heart for my message I tell you what I saw when I was with my father. I look closely with your following the advice of your father.

Look at the response you think they were hateful.

Our father is Abraham. They declared Jesus replied you really were the children of Abraham could follow his example. Consider trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God.

Abraham never did such a thing. Know your imitating your real father. Look at the response we illegitimate children.

What's the implication you are. We have a word for it. That's not appropriate for pulpit but as it washes around in your mind.

That's what they were thinking were not illegitimate like you are God himself as our true father Luke, Jesus. Jesus doesn't back down a lot this. He told them if God were your father you would love me because I've come to you from God. I'm not here on my own, but he sent me what gets you understand what I'm saying is, because you can even hear me your the children of your father the devil finally just says sly John saying you brood of vipers, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. By the way, they're the ones ultimately among the Jews responsible for nailing it to a crawl. This is prophetic. They go back and forth, back and forth. They keep saying were of our father owed Abraham to Jesus in verse 58 he answers and says of them. I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born. I am meeting what I was in existence before Abraham was even conceived and born in Ur of the Chaldeans on eternal their response. At that point they picked up stones to throw at him.

Jesus was hidden from them and left the temple I never get years ago when I was a student out of seminary, Jimmy Williams and sweet Anderson and I they were with crusade and I went along to be with them as with University of Texas campus are go by invitation was to speak in the athletic dorm to the football team, University of Texas, very unusual opportunity probably would never be granted today but back then in the very early 60s, it was so there we were trying to take different angles and different approaches to interest these ballplayers are sitting in front of us trying to make sense of what we were saying and I had the audacity to use John eight is my passage of Scripture not a really great choice for people who don't know a thing about the Bible doesn't look at that lesson before Abraham was, I have not. I was not I will be but I am high-grade is that like and in the back grade middle linebacker stood up is that you yeah he says I got a question okay who is this guy Abraham amazing you can think people occlude and when you're way over their head. You know I love everybody would know of it know he did and had the privilege of making it known that Abraham were no Abraham what's important is his relationship with the Savior.

That's the point here. It took courage to say that the religious people trust me, the most difficult people to reach are those steeped in their own self-righteousness, their own religion you could talk to sinful people and you won't get much pushback you talk to people that are self-righteous that while you talking about, you realize our background.

We trace our roots back to Brigham Young or go all way back to our religions. Father whatever the cult may be that there apart, or religion or what, but Jesus, that's the turning point. So Jesus says to them. John says to them, you must repent, even now, the acts of God's judgment is poised you're closer to the end and you realize you are hiding behind says to them later, through the lips of Jesus, you are of your father the devil. My hope is as a result of this message that you are without Christ would realize how guilty you are that this message of nothing else will shred all self-righteousness from you and you'll realize no matter how morally upright. You may have lived, no matter how many companies you may have started. No matter what your salary may be, no matter how important your name may be in your circles without Christ, you are lost, and until you change your mind and move from guilt to righteousness. You will live lost and you will die in that condition, and great will be the condemnation Carl miniature number of years ago, wrote a book with it.

Fascinating title. Whatever became of sin you may have written.

He begins this chapter.

On a sunny day in summer 1972, a stern faced plainly dressed man could be seen standing still on the street corner in the busy Chicago Loop as pedestrians hurried by on their way to lunch or business, he would solemnly lift his right arm and pointing to some individual walking by he would intone loudly the single word guilty guilty. Then, without any change of expression he would resume his still stance his stiff stance for a few moments before repeating the gesture then began the inexorable raising of his arm in the pointing of the solemn pronouncement in one word guilty guilty. The effect of this strange pantomime on the passing strangers was extraordinary almost hearing they would stare back at him hesitate look away, look at each other and then look at him again and hurriedly continue on their way.

One man turning to another who was my informant exclaimed. How did he know how you know no doubt many others had similar thoughts.

How did he know indeed guilty. Everyone guilty, guilty of what guilty of all the parking guilty of lying guilty of arrogance and hubris toward the one God guilty of borrowing not to say embezzling money guilty of unfaithfulness to a faithful wife, guilty only of evil thoughts or evil plans. Guilty before whom is a police officer following that anyone see. Will they be likely to notice it. Did he know about it. This isn't technically illegal. Is it solemn accuser of the Chicago street corner has had many predecessors in the 8 to 6th century BC peripatetic eggs orders held forth in thriving Palestinian villages, attracting large and attentive crowds to their listeners. These earnest young men cried out guilty and proclaimed ominously that for all the general prosperity.

Sam was prevalent thereabouts which unacknowledged and unrepented would bring dire consequences. These men known as prophets were ignored, ridiculed as alarmists J old as trans passers trends passer as trespassers or driven from the current country in the course of time the predictions were fulfilled in their countries were annihilated.

One of these John Ben Zechariah lived in the desert outside the Metropolis and attracted considerable attention from the common people, crowds trekked into the desert to hear him. He reproached many of them for their swinging ways in public and private life desist repent. He cried but why some must've asked. We never had it so good why not set others and vowed to mend their ways to signalized their intentions, they underwent a public bathing ceremonial John Ben Zechariah, then became known by the nickname the baptizer little community sprang up devoted to bathing poverty, chastity, penitence, stay with me. A few more lines this commotion in the desert did not go unnoticed by the establishment Ben Zechariah was picked up at the police taken back to the city and jailed soon afterwards he was decapitated without warning or trial in his severed head was publicly displayed on the platter at a social gathering prosperity with much public construction and international commerce continued on briskly wife this year could go right on for you.

It would be as though you never heard a word today. My prayer, however, is that you will be haunted by these were without Christ, you are as guilty as sin and only through Christ can you know the freedom from all of that guilt and shame that you now hide the secrets will no longer be held secret you will make things right with those you have wronged you will repent you will change your direction in this year will be like none other. You've ever lived. Unless of course you wish to go on with business as usual. This is all I can say or do but it is enough turn to Christ start to your right begin here now. Please bow with me, realize the message today is strong. It needs to be.

I'm not cut a corner or hedge on the truth.

You heard it question is what even to do about it.

You can go right on thinking everything will be is always the same, but I'll be honest with you this year could be your last. We could bear you before December will take that chance. Don't let that happen. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledge her guilt and hide behind a parent or grandparent a lot of religious stuff, some of the good things you've done. Don't let that turn you the only way you will be cleansed through the blood of Christ who died for you trust him now, let us know you've done that will help you in your first steps toward a whole new life more.

Father I pray that as a result of the words in the passion of this message. Not a soul will walk away. The same condition which they came. Speak to every Pharisee ever said you see every secret center. Every individual who has lived one way, but talked another and bring us to our faces before you as we bow in order. Humility and faith, thank you for the courage of John, who would declare the truth against all odds, knowing that his days would be number not give us who have heard the courage to believe, to repent, to walk with you the rest of in the blessed name of Jesus way, the truth of life. Pray everyone's a man.

John the Baptist didn't try to take the rough edges of his message. He didn't pull any punches. He spoke boldly to his audience about the dangers of leading a sinful lifestyle. You're listening to Insight for living in another message in Chuck Swindoll's brand-new study of Matthew to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org will this series will capture our imagination. Over the next several months affect the better part of the year as Chuck guides us through a verse by verse study of Matthew's New Testament book.

We're starting with the birth of our king, tracing his footsteps through all 28 chapters moving all the way through his great commission to go and make disciples. Now, in conjunction with this brand-new broadcast series. Chuck has recently completed a commentary on Matthew was well and it's available right now exactly because of the enormity of this study Chuck's commentary comes into hardbound volumes. The set is called swindles living inside commentary on Matthew. Whether you're new to the Bible or your teaching the Bible is a pastor, you'll find Chuck's approach to Matthew, both scholarly and accessible, and it's written in the engaging style that's become a hallmark of Chuck's teaching to purchase swindles living inside commentary on Matthew go to Insight.org/store or if you prefer, call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 Insight for living ministries is supported not by the purchase of books and resources through the contributions of people like you and we invite you to join our mission to introduce King Jesus while 195 countries of the world to give a donation today. Call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 that's 1-800-772-8888 or you can choose to automate your giving by becoming a monthly companion. This growing family of supporters is allowing Insight for living to advance its mission with boldness to become a monthly companion today. Call us listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 or you can easily sign up online@insight.org/monthly companion.

Have you ever been so by that's our topic Friday when Chuck Swindoll continues her study in the book of Matthew right here on Insight for living.

The preceding message strange creature strong proclamation was copyrighted in 2015 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. all rights are reserved worldwide.

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