INTRODUCTION - A VERY STRANGE THING HAPPENED IN THE HILL COUNTRY EAST OF JERUSALEM ABOUT 30AD

• A strange man, unshaven, long hair, camel hair cloak, large leather belt - a desert man
• But as he approached anyone he cried like a herald of the King- "Repent, make way for the Lord!"
• God sent him as a stepping stone to Jesus - but many found him a stumbling stone -
• Many have tried to copy John the Baptist - but he was a man sent from God - no copy possible

I. THE MAN - "JOHN THE BAPTIZER"

There has been no stranger man in all of history than this man who came to prepare the way for the Lord

THIS STRONG DESERT MAN WAS DEDICATED TO GOD BY HIS PARENTS EVEN BEFORE HE WAS BORN

• He was given in answer to his mother's prayer - Luke 1:13 - his father was a priest
• They raised him apart from the busy city, in the wilderness of the Jordan River - Luke 1:80
• He was a Nazarite from his birth - Num 6, Luke 1:15,16 - and he walked with God as His voice

HE WAS A MAN, BUT HE WAS A MAN SPECIALLY CALLED OF GOD, AND HE WAS SENSITIVE TO THIS

• God gave him the spirit of Elijah - Luke 1:17 - and as God's messenger sent ahead - Mal 3:1,4:6
• But he was unconscious of this special gift - John 1:21 - lake one with any great virtue -
• But Jesus knew him, and who he was - Matt 17:10-13 - and Jesus knew the hearts of all men 

JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS PERSONALLY SUBMISSIVE TO THE WILL AND SPIRIT OF GOD

• He submitted during the years of confinement in the desert - a lonely Nazarite - no complaints
• He was very forceful with the common people as he launched his brief ministry
• He was unswerving in his battle against every kind of sin and hypocrisy - sparing no person
• Yet he was humble concerning himself - unworthy to loose the shoes of Jesus

II. THE MESSAGE - "REPENT AND PREPARE FOR THE LORD" - Matt 3:2

• So very little is known about his personality, but his message rang loud and clear

HE CRIED "REPENT YE, AND BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN" - Luke 3:3

• This was not the Christian believers baptism - cf. Acts 19 - but the message was clear - REPENT
• Christ echoed the message - Matt 4:17 - and continued to urge repentance - Luke 13:3,5
• John was given God's special insight to refuse some, because they did not show repentance

JOHN INSISTED IN PEOPLE BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS OF REPENTANCE BEFORE BEING BAPTIZED - Luke 3:8

• He called them Vipers - they boasted of their parentage - he cut them short - v. 8b,9
• He insisted in practical godliness being shown - by sharing - simple was of showing love
• Publicans needed to become honest - v. 13 - soldiers asked to be gentle, truthful, content - v. 14

JOHN'S MESSAGE WAS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, FOR HERE HE COMES

• John said plainly - the Christ is coming - and His Kingdom will force righteousness - get ready
• He spoke of a baptism by the Holy Ghost and of fire - v. 16b - God in heart - instant judgement
• The coming of Jesus was not to be the sweet utopia some expected - God living with men!
• But the principle of the gap applies to John's prophecy - we have the Holy Ghost - not fire judgement

III. THE RESULTS - ALL JUDEA HEARD HIM - Matt 3:5

• As long as mankind has free will - some will demand the right to be wrong - but many heard

THE MULTITUDES OF COMMON PEOPLE BELIEVED JOHN - Matt 21:26

• So many people came to Jesus that they said all Judea came - Matt 3:5 - all baptized Luke 3:21
• So many people came that even Pharisees and Sadducees came - wanting to be identified here
• Even Herod - the wicked one - put John in prison, but heard him gladly - Mark 6:20 

BUT MANY REJECTED HIS MINISTRY, AND HIS MESSAGE, ONLY PRETENDING TO FOLLOW GOD

• John came as a Nazarite - deeply separated - and they accused him of being crazy - Luke 7:33
• But when Jesus came entering into the joys of the people - they accused him, too - Luke 7:34
• Many people just cannot be satisfied - nor pleased - and God knows the difference - Matt 7:1,2

WHAT EFFECT WOULD THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST HAVE TODAY? - HIPPIES TRY TO COPY HIM!

• Many people would praise their difference - revolution - but not change to receive Christ!
• John pointed men and even his own disciples to Jesus - John 1:29,35 - and they followed Jesus
• Jesus is looking today for people who will obey John's message - and get ready
• Just as John was harsh - some today have gift of being harsh - we need it, don't counterfeit

CONCLUSION - JESUS IS COMING TO BAPTIZE WITH FIRE THIS TIME, MAKE READY FOR HIS COMING SOON

• If you are not Born Again - Saved - a follower of Jesus - then look to the Lamb of God
• Don't let this hypocritical life keep you from following Jesus to a clean life!
• Maybe God is calling you to be another special messenger today - some feel the call!