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this is our second period class the teacher is brother john martin the teacher is brother john martin his subject his subject the prophet of the highest the prophet of the highest john the baptist john the baptist this is the first day's class and the this is the first day's class and the title is in the spirit and power of title is in the spirit and power of elijah elijah brother john martin my daily beloved brother and sisters in our lord jesus our lord jesus christ let me first of all say how christ let me first of all say how absolutely delightful it is brother and absolutely delightful it is brother and sisters to be amongst you again after 15 sisters to be amongst you again after 15 years absence years absence and to see those faces which i'll never and to see those faces which i'll never forget forget you know like bob lloyd you'd never you know like bob lloyd you'd never forget that forget that and to meet those people that we and to meet those people that we endeared ourselves to and were endeared endeared ourselves to and were endeared to 15 years ago to 15 years ago let me apologize to you for not coming let me apologize to you for not coming earlier earlier let me tell you the reason why let me tell you the reason why i am a coward i am a coward i i developed the problem in 1969 with an developed the problem in 1969 with an airplane when we were in the middle east airplane when we were in the middle east tour tour bob was on the same tour so that'll bob was on the same tour so that'll probably help you understand her as well probably help you understand her as well and from then on i have been grounded i and from then on i have been grounded i went to england two years ago and it went to england two years ago and it took 12 brethren to get me there and took 12 brethren to get me there and they carried me on the plane and sat on they carried me on the plane and sat on me all the way me all the way i went to south africa last year with i went to south africa last year with four other people four other people and this year all i've needed is clemmy and this year all i've needed is clemmy weeks one so i'm getting better and weeks one so i'm getting better and better and better better and better but though that may sound funny to you but though that may sound funny to you brother and sisters brother and sisters it is to me a great trauma because i've it is to me a great trauma because i've come here to tell you about faith and come here to tell you about faith and courage courage and believe me and believe me that weakness makes me feel about one that weakness makes me feel about one and a half inches high and a half inches high but i believe that it's affliction which but i believe that it's affliction which i probably deserve i probably deserve it keeps me in perspective and i thank it keeps me in perspective and i thank god for it god for it and i hope and pray that we're able to and i hope and pray that we're able to be able to be able to overcome it one day and perhaps come overcome it one day and perhaps come more often more often but for the time being let's get but for the time being let's get immersed into the life of this man john immersed into the life of this man john the baptist the baptist and this is one of the most thrilling and this is one of the most thrilling studies i've ever done in my life i say studies i've ever done in my life i say it about every one of them but it is it about every one of them but it is particularly true about this one i particularly true about this one i always wanted to do john the baptist always wanted to do john the baptist because wherever i get stuck into the because wherever i get stuck into the word brethren scissors i get involved in word brethren scissors i get involved in the character i can't help it the character i can't help it i just love the people of that book i just love the people of that book and he's a remarkable character and he's a remarkable character and the reason that i did this study for and the reason that i did this study for our glenn locke easter camp was because our glenn locke easter camp was because i feel it is a very great need today i feel it is a very great need today because we are laboring under a curse because we are laboring under a curse and if you were to ask me and if you were to ask me the greatest single problem we've got in the greatest single problem we've got in australia today australia today i would have no hesitation whatever in i would have no hesitation whatever in telling you what that is telling you what that is it is the curse of materialism it is the curse of materialism it might sound strange to you people it might sound strange to you people here here who live in perhaps the pinnacle of who live in perhaps the pinnacle of materialism materialism but it's coming in our country but it's coming in our country and the effects of materialism are and the effects of materialism are marked upon our community marked upon our community and if ever there's a study brothers and and if ever there's a study brothers and sisters which would shake us out of our sisters which would shake us out of our lethargy and apathy induced by lethargy and apathy induced by materialism it is the story of john the materialism it is the story of john the baptist as god chose baptist as god chose this man who they must have seen as a this man who they must have seen as a radical a recluse radical a recluse an extremist an extremist and yet one who stood before them and yet one who stood before them the epitome of the simple power of that the epitome of the simple power of that book book and what an enormous power that is and what an enormous power that is i could go do no better brother and i could go do no better brother and sisters to introduce this subject and sisters to introduce this subject and its importance by telling you this its importance by telling you this that in accordance with the that in accordance with the opinion of our lord jesus christ opinion of our lord jesus christ no lesser than he no lesser than he the man that we're going to study is the man that we're going to study is underscored and important by these words underscored and important by these words among those among those born among women born among women there have not risen there have not risen a greater prophet than john the baptist a greater prophet than john the baptist the theme over the top of the stage the theme over the top of the stage brother and sisters is that we should brother and sisters is that we should hearken to god's prophet if ever we hearken to god's prophet if ever we should hearken to a prophet it's this should hearken to a prophet it's this one one because according to our lord jesus because according to our lord jesus christ he's the greatest of them all christ he's the greatest of them all and so he was and so he was there's only one way to introduce this there's only one way to introduce this subject subject and that's to link him up with elijah in and that's to link him up with elijah in whose spirit whose spirit and power he claims and power he claims and brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters i invite your closest attention to this i invite your closest attention to this opening address because it is the opening address because it is the absolute crux of his life absolute crux of his life it is the very center of his life if we it is the very center of his life if we can grasp the significance of what we can grasp the significance of what we are now going to learn together we will are now going to learn together we will understand the purpose of john's life understand the purpose of john's life what did luke mean what did luke mean when he said that he came in the spirit when he said that he came in the spirit and in the power and in the power of elijah of elijah and for years i considered well as and for years i considered well as elijah proceeded elijah proceeded elisha elisha so john the baptist preceded our lord so john the baptist preceded our lord jesus christ jesus christ that elijah was a sort of a prototype of that elijah was a sort of a prototype of john john and that is elijah of course came before and that is elijah of course came before christ at his first event so elijah will christ at his first event so elijah will proceed him at his second advent that's proceed him at his second advent that's what i thought it meant what i thought it meant and i suppose in a sense but brother and sister that is not the essence of it essence of it what is the spirit of elijah what is the spirit of elijah what is the power of elijah that john what is the power of elijah that john came in came in well listen to this well listen to this take power first of all take power first of all he came in the power of elijah he came in the power of elijah in the 10th chapter of john and pardon in the 10th chapter of john and pardon me for not turning all these references me for not turning all these references up because you know they're there in the up because you know they're there in the 10th chapter of john verse 41 it says of 10th chapter of john verse 41 it says of john the baptist he did john the baptist he did no miracle and yet he came in the power of elijah who did it so it was not that sort of power that he came came it was a different form of power britain it was a different form of power britain and sisters and sisters what about the spirit of elijah what about the spirit of elijah what was the spirit that john came in what was the spirit that john came in well you may recall on one occasion well you may recall on one occasion recorded in the ninth chapter of luke recorded in the ninth chapter of luke that the lord jesus christ was making that the lord jesus christ was making his way to the village of the samaritans his way to the village of the samaritans and they would not receive him and they would not receive him and the two sons of thunder james and and the two sons of thunder james and john said shall we bring down fire from john said shall we bring down fire from heaven and consume them like elijah did heaven and consume them like elijah did and the answer came brethren sisters you and the answer came brethren sisters you don't know what banner of spirit don't know what banner of spirit you are of you are of for the son of man came not to destroy for the son of man came not to destroy men's lives men's lives but to save but to save the spirit and power of elijah brothers the spirit and power of elijah brothers sisters sisters was not physical was not physical terrible terrible or inspiring it was persuasive it got to the heart of madness it got to the heart of madness and what luke is trying to tell us is and what luke is trying to tell us is this this that john came in a spirit that john came in a spirit and in a power and in a power that elijah should have but never did that elijah should have but never did get around to exercising in his day get around to exercising in his day but which he most assuredly will but which he most assuredly will when he comes again to lead that great when he comes again to lead that great second exodus second exodus up the valley of acor up the valley of acor to face to face the lord jesus christ with those jewish the lord jesus christ with those jewish people people the representatives of the nation that the representatives of the nation that crucified crucified and they will only get their brother and and they will only get their brother and sisters by the persuasive power sisters by the persuasive power of the spirit of that book and that's of the spirit of that book and that's what luke meant what luke meant and therefore we come and see job and therefore we come and see job dressed in nature as elijah wash dressed in nature as elijah wash very much light him in appearance very much light him in appearance and exercising that spirit and power and exercising that spirit and power which god fully intended that elijah which god fully intended that elijah should exercise and so brothers and should exercise and so brothers and sisters in order that we won't sisters in order that we won't appreciate that what we've got to do is appreciate that what we've got to do is take him back to where elijah learnt take him back to where elijah learnt that lesson and we want bounce through that lesson and we want bounce through the record first of kings 19 isaiah 40 the record first of kings 19 isaiah 40 straight into matthew and you'll see the straight into matthew and you'll see the connection it's so plain connection it's so plain elijah has raced down the valley of elijah has raced down the valley of jezreel before the chariot of ahab jezreel before the chariot of ahab that action brother and sisters was not that action brother and sisters was not one to show that he was faster than one to show that he was faster than ahab's horses ahab's horses that was not the point at all that was not the point at all everywhere in the bible where people ran everywhere in the bible where people ran before chariots it was to illustrate before chariots it was to illustrate that those running in front that those running in front recognize the one behind to be superior recognize the one behind to be superior and elijah was recognizing he thought and elijah was recognizing he thought the king had been converted he thought the king had been converted he thought the power of god from heaven had the power of god from heaven had converted the king he thought the converted the king he thought the prophets of our being the nation was prophets of our being the nation was repentant he thought that i had from repentant he thought that i had from then on would lead them to glory then on would lead them to glory and in deference to the royal majesty of and in deference to the royal majesty of the kingdom he raced down the dust bowl the kingdom he raced down the dust bowl of the valley of jezreel to the gates of of the valley of jezreel to the gates of jezreel jezreel stood aside and the king swept into that stood aside and the king swept into that city and the door slammed city and the door slammed and from behind those doors and from behind those doors that imperious woman jezebel fired their that imperious woman jezebel fired their verbal thunderbolts at him verbal thunderbolts at him and the man that has stood up on mount and the man that has stood up on mount carmel listening to his own name shouted carmel listening to his own name shouted by the people the lord he is god by the people the lord he is god was next found beneath the judiciary was next found beneath the judiciary saying hold on a time and he went brethren and sisters inextricably to mount sinai inextricably to mount sinai it's the only time in his life he ever it's the only time in his life he ever moved moved without being told by god where to go without being told by god where to go ten times the record said do this or do ten times the record said do this or do that in the name of the lord that in the name of the lord only once ever did elijah ever direct only once ever did elijah ever direct his steps without that word and he went his steps without that word and he went to sinai because he was bitter in his to sinai because he was bitter in his heart he was disappointed he was heart he was disappointed he was shattered he felt that god had let him shattered he felt that god had let him down and he thought if he could get them down and he thought if he could get them outside eye he could get god back on his outside eye he could get god back on his side didn't god understand what was side didn't god understand what was going on going on and the angel said and the angel said woke him up fed him twice woke him up fed him twice and said the journey's too great for the and said the journey's too great for the elijah elijah who told him where he was going how did he know god knows everything and he's waiting god knows everything and he's waiting for him for him and when he got there brother and and when he got there brother and sisters sisters in the first of kings 19 but we'll pick in the first of kings 19 but we'll pick the record up now the record up now and this is where you're going to learn and this is where you're going to learn about the spirit and power of john the about the spirit and power of john the baptist when he got there he had to learn a tremendous lesson we read this in verse 9 in verse 9 and he came this unto the cave and he came this unto the cave the original hebrew language there has the original hebrew language there has the definite article the definite article he came to the cave and lodged there and he came to the cave and lodged there and behold the word of the lord came unto behold the word of the lord came unto him and said what doest thou hear elijah him and said what doest thou hear elijah now brother and sisters vk what's that k now brother and sisters vk what's that k we wouldn't know for absolutely certain we wouldn't know for absolutely certain we couldn't be dogmatic about this but we couldn't be dogmatic about this but look when you look at the whole spirit look when you look at the whole spirit of what happened here what earth could of what happened here what earth could it really be but the cave where moses it really be but the cave where moses stood stood when he went down there brother and when he went down there brother and sisters and ascended into that mount to sisters and ascended into that mount to pray for pray for israel israel and to say to god and to say to god bless me out of the book but save them bless me out of the book but save them and the apostle paul putting his finger and the apostle paul putting his finger on the spirit of elijah at this moment on the spirit of elijah at this moment said watching not what the scripture said watching not what the scripture says of elijah how he went to make says of elijah how he went to make intercession intercession against israel against israel it's a dangerous practice it's a dangerous practice and there he came to make intercession and there he came to make intercession against israel standing in the very cave against israel standing in the very cave where moses stood i believe to make where moses stood i believe to make intercession for israel and the question intercession for israel and the question is and this is the great question is and this is the great question brethren sisters what are you doing brethren sisters what are you doing here here in this place elijah in this place elijah what god was trying to ask you brothers what god was trying to ask you brothers and sisters was and sisters was what is it elijah about me what is it elijah about me that you associate with me at this place that you associate with me at this place and elijah of course had remembered that and elijah of course had remembered that place hadn't he when the earth was place hadn't he when the earth was shaken shaken with the earthquake when the law was with the earthquake when the law was given and the mountain was all on fire given and the mountain was all on fire and the cloud descended and there was and the cloud descended and there was blackness blackness and thunder and lightning and thunder and lightning and darkness and tempest and the voice and darkness and tempest and the voice of words which voice they heard they of words which voice they heard they could not endure that even an animal could not endure that even an animal approaching the mountain they couldn't approaching the mountain they couldn't even kill it with their hands but even kill it with their hands but speared it because they stood in all of speared it because they stood in all of god and that's what elijah had god and that's what elijah had associated with mount sinai and that's associated with mount sinai and that's how he saw god's character what are you how he saw god's character what are you doing doing here here elijah elijah what is it about me what is it about me that you think that you think that you'll get me to agree with you that you'll get me to agree with you here here and it all came out and it all came out it all came out it all came out i have been very jealous i have been very jealous for the lord for the lord god god of hosts and there's his problem of hosts and there's his problem there is his problem in a nutshell there is his problem in a nutshell lord god brothers and sisters lord god brothers and sisters as we would understand it with the as we would understand it with the expositions of our brother thomas he who expositions of our brother thomas he who will be the mighty ones will be the mighty ones the covenant name of god the covenant name of god god will become god will become clearly seen all those who've got like clearly seen all those who've got like characteristics characteristics the wonderful covenant name the wonderful covenant name but elijah attacked on the end of it the but elijah attacked on the end of it the word for armies word for armies and that's the only second time in the and that's the only second time in the whole record of the bible that that's whole record of the bible that that's found and what elijah was saying brethren sisters sisters that he thought that he thought that god's purpose was that god's purpose was that he would imprint his character on that he would imprint his character on men and women men and women if he couldn't do it by persuasion if he couldn't do it by persuasion he'd fostered on them he'd fostered on them the lord god of armies and in that he was tragically mistaken he was tragically mistaken for this for this is the covenant which i will make with is the covenant which i will make with them in those days saith the lord not like the covenant i made with them when i brought them forth out of the when i brought them forth out of the land of egypt which covenant they break land of egypt which covenant they break even though i was a husband under them even though i was a husband under them but this is the covenant i will make but this is the covenant i will make with the house of israel in the house of with the house of israel in the house of judah in those days said the lord i will judah in those days said the lord i will write my law on their hearts and in write my law on their hearts and in their minds i will print it their minds i will print it and that's not done by force president and that's not done by force president sisters sisters that's not done by miraculous power that's not done by miraculous power though it is miraculous though it is miraculous it is the miraculous power of the it is the miraculous power of the persistence and insistence of the persistence and insistence of the powerful spirit of this book powerful spirit of this book and how you tell me and how you tell me how that for centuries god dealt with how that for centuries god dealt with that people and never could get that law that people and never could get that law in their minds and hearts do you think in their minds and hearts do you think brothers and sisters that we who love brothers and sisters that we who love god with all our hearts soul and mind god with all our hearts soul and mind are any better flesh than them are any better flesh than them what is it about a jewish heart and a what is it about a jewish heart and a christian heart that's so different christian heart that's so different nothing nothing well how did god finally get that into well how did god finally get that into our hearts our hearts well you see when he took israel out of well you see when he took israel out of egypt he released them from slavery by killing another man's son by killing another man's son he fed them with manner he fed them with manner he didn't allow their shoes to wear out he didn't allow their shoes to wear out their clothes upon their back their clothes upon their back he took them into the round of canaan he took them into the round of canaan drove jordan backwards conquered seven drove jordan backwards conquered seven nations of canaan gave them judges and nations of canaan gave them judges and then set up over them kings at their then set up over them kings at their request request he did all those things he did all those things and still and still that law was not written in their hearts that law was not written in their hearts so the prophet eyes eye an exasperation so the prophet eyes eye an exasperation said said what more could i do for my vineyard what more could i do for my vineyard what more what more could i do could i do well brother and sisters well brother and sisters it wasn't so much a question of it wasn't so much a question of exasperation exasperation as a question of fact that there was as a question of fact that there was just one little thing that could be done just one little thing that could be done my beloved hath a vineyard and a very fruitful hilt and in mark chapter 1 12 the lord's and in mark chapter 1 12 the lord's parable parable he said unto them his well beloved he said unto them his well beloved as i have five as i have five what more could be done what more could be done one more thing one more thing and if that doesn't get the law in our and if that doesn't get the law in our hearts and minds brothers and sisters hearts and minds brothers and sisters then we are hopeless then we are hopeless for while we were yet sinners christ for while we were yet sinners christ died for us died for us it may be for a just man it may be for a just man we might respect the just man we might respect the just man a stern dignified man we might stand in a stern dignified man we might stand in awe of him says the apostle awe of him says the apostle never die for him a benevolent man a kind man we might uh we might uh get here to die for him said the get here to die for him said the but it would have to be but it would have to be a daring act it would have to be a a daring act it would have to be a moment's decision talk a deep breath and moment's decision talk a deep breath and do it do it we might we might dare to do that for a good man says the dare to do that for a good man says the apostle apostle but god and his love and mercy brethren but god and his love and mercy brethren sisters sisters for at least 4 000 years of history that for at least 4 000 years of history that we know we know measured that off measured that off and waited and waited until mankind had reached his worst until mankind had reached his worst stage stage in due time in due time in what time due time he died for who in what time due time he died for who the ungodly they weren't even just they weren't even kind and god didn't have to do it with a kind and god didn't have to do it with a daring act he measured it off for four daring act he measured it off for four thousand years of human history thousand years of human history and if you wanted to go back further and if you wanted to go back further than that before the world was our lord than that before the world was our lord had a glory with the father had a glory with the father and the father in the heavens brothers and the father in the heavens brothers and sisters looked out upon that brutal and sisters looked out upon that brutal murder and allowed it when he could have murder and allowed it when he could have sent 12 legions of angels and prevented sent 12 legions of angels and prevented it and we come sunday morning by sunday it and we come sunday morning by sunday morning to talk about the sacrifice of morning to talk about the sacrifice of christ and rightly so have you ever christ and rightly so have you ever scared a thought for the sacrifice of scared a thought for the sacrifice of the father and that's what it was that finally wrote that law in our that finally wrote that law in our hearts hearts and god can do no more and god can do no more you can't go further than that you can't go further than that and that's what elijah had to learn and that's what elijah had to learn brother and sister brother and sister the lord god of hosts the lord god of hosts he's not going to enforce it by physical he's not going to enforce it by physical might or power might or power but by the persuasion but by the persuasion of the power of his word of the power of his word epitomized epitomized in the son of his life as elijah protested his case before god his case before god he was sent back into the cave he was sent back into the cave and an earthquake shook that mount you and an earthquake shook that mount you can see elijah in that cave the whole of can see elijah in that cave the whole of that mountain shaking that mountain shaking whether it's all over god's not there not in that earthquake not in that earthquake fire raids up that mountain brothers and fire raids up that mountain brothers and sisters there's nothing there to burn sisters there's nothing there to burn but fire burped that granite but fire burped that granite as if it was tender as if it was tender and the throwing heat would send elijah and the throwing heat would send elijah to the back of that cave and he'd feel to the back of that cave and he'd feel the heat and when the heat was gone he was still lonely god was not in the fire the wind came not wind that bends trees as i did at not wind that bends trees as i did at shippensburg while we were there snapped shippensburg while we were there snapped them off at the base them off at the base bad enough this wind picked up rocks bad enough this wind picked up rocks hurtled them past the mouth of that cave hurtled them past the mouth of that cave and smashed them against the granite and smashed them against the granite walls of sonia walls of sonia reverberating in elijah's ears reverberating in elijah's ears all over all over god was not in the wind god was not in the wind and what he was trying to tell elijah and what he was trying to tell elijah you've brought down fire from heaven the you've brought down fire from heaven the river kishon has run blood red with the river kishon has run blood red with the blood of the prophets of baal blood of the prophets of baal but what have you done but what have you done that's positive except it be that's positive except it be the widow of xanathan and then brethren and sisters a remarkable verse of scripture verse remarkable verse of scripture verse 13. and it was so 13. and it was so when elijah heard it that is the still when elijah heard it that is the still small voice small voice in verse 12 will go back a verse and in verse 12 will go back a verse and after the earthquake of fire but the after the earthquake of fire but the lord was not in the fire and after the lord was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice you know in the fire a still small voice you know in the hebrew it means a thin hebrew it means a thin crushed voice perhaps just the opposite crushed voice perhaps just the opposite the mind the mind rotherham renders it a gentle whisper and when he heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out in his mantle and went out he went out he went out he went out brother and sisters it was he went out brother and sisters it was the voice that got him out in the open the voice that got him out in the open and when that voice sounded in the and when that voice sounded in the wilderness a voice crying when they wilderness a voice crying when they heard that voice again the record in heard that voice again the record in matthew says and all judea went out to matthew says and all judea went out to hear him hear him he drew them inexorably to him he drew them inexorably to him with that very voice with that very voice as we'll illustrate to you as we'll illustrate to you as we proceed as we proceed it got him out of that cave it got him out of that cave but not before but not before he wrapped his face in his mantle he wrapped his face in his mantle and the mantle of course a garment of and the mantle of course a garment of hair as it was called earlier hair as it was called earlier was a symbol was a symbol of his prophetic office of his prophetic office he's a little ashamed of it brethren he's a little ashamed of it brethren sisters sisters because now you see the question comes because now you see the question comes again from god what are you doing here again from god what are you doing here but the question is with a difference but the question is with a difference and note the difference and note the difference in verse 9 the word of the lord came to in verse 9 the word of the lord came to him saying him saying what are you doing here elijah what are you doing here elijah but in verse 13 halfway through the but in verse 13 halfway through the verse verse and behold there came and behold there came a voice a voice to him saying what are you doing here elijah and he repeated his defense almost like a prepared statement almost like a prepared statement i have been very jealous for the lord i have been very jealous for the lord god of hosts but you can say you can see god of hosts but you can say you can see him now brethren sisters saying it with him now brethren sisters saying it with his eyes to the ground his eyes to the ground because that voice that's talking to him because that voice that's talking to him is nothing like what he had been doing is nothing like what he had been doing in israel in israel when he had gone through his prepared when he had gone through his prepared statement statement the answer of god to him was the answer of god to him was you go back to your way you go back to your way to the spirit to the spirit and power and power of that voice you know brothers and sisters do you think that i got all of that out of my think that i got all of that out of my own head own head do you think that's the true rendition do you think that's the true rendition of that record of that record listen to the last words of the old listen to the last words of the old testament testament remember ye remember ye the law of my servant moses the law of my servant moses which i commanded him in horror but all which i commanded him in horror but all the statutes and with all the judgments the statutes and with all the judgments behold i send you elijah because moses the elijah brother and sisters for this purpose is far better sisters for this purpose is far better educated educated remember ye the law of my servant moses remember ye the law of my servant moses which i commanded him in horeb and he'd which i commanded him in horeb and he'd gone there to stand in moses shoes gone there to stand in moses shoes behold i send you elijah behold i send you elijah before the great and dreadful day of the lord lust lust i smite the earth with a curse i smite the earth with a curse two words two words quote as to what they're telling us quote as to what they're telling us about the spirit and power about the spirit and power of john the baptist and elijah of john the baptist and elijah i'm going to send you before i'm going to send you before the great and dreadful day the great and dreadful day yes i smite the earth with a curse and yes i smite the earth with a curse and he went down there brethren sisters for he went down there brethren sisters for the express reason to procure that curse the express reason to procure that curse of israel of israel watching what the scripture says of watching what the scripture says of elijah how he made intercession against elijah how he made intercession against israel israel and so there was a voice in the and so there was a voice in the wilderness and it's an isaiah 40 isn't wilderness and it's an isaiah 40 isn't it it and it's isaiah the prophet in his 40th and it's isaiah the prophet in his 40th chapter that picks up that story chapter that picks up that story and here we have our voice brother and and here we have our voice brother and sisters sisters and this is what john said they said how and this is what john said they said how are you john he said i'm the voice and are you john he said i'm the voice and here it is and he quoted the 30th here it is and he quoted the 30th chapter of isaiah and i of course is chapter of isaiah and i of course is picking it up from the voice in the picking it up from the voice in the wilderness wilderness and what voice could have that been but and what voice could have that been but the one that was heard the one that was heard at the very apex of that wilderness at at the very apex of that wilderness at mount sinai mount sinai and the voice said in isaiah chapter 40 and the voice said in isaiah chapter 40 and verse 1 and verse 1 comfort ye comfort you my people said comfort ye comfort you my people said your god speak to the heart of my people your god speak to the heart of my people says the margin says the margin and how do you do that and how do you do that now brother and sisters we're getting now brother and sisters we're getting near to the story of john the baptist's near to the story of john the baptist's life we're getting into the purpose of life we're getting into the purpose of his life and expressing that voice how his life and expressing that voice how do you get to the heart of people well here's how you do it jose said i will allure her i will allure her into the wilderness into the wilderness speaking of the restoration of israel speaking of the restoration of israel hosea ii hosea ii and the very words of hosea ii are and the very words of hosea ii are couched in the terms of elijah's life couched in the terms of elijah's life great shall be the day of jezreel great shall be the day of jezreel i will hear the earth and they will hear i will hear the earth and they will hear the heavens and they will hear the hot the heavens and they will hear the hot corn and they will hear the wine the corn and they will hear the wine the story of elijah on the ground bringing story of elijah on the ground bringing down rain upon a parched earth all the down rain upon a parched earth all the references to the life of elijah and references to the life of elijah and jose says i will lure her into the jose says i will lure her into the wilderness wilderness and i will speak to her heart and that and i will speak to her heart and that brother and sisters is the lesson of our brother and sisters is the lesson of our life life and believe me when i tell you this here and believe me when i tell you this here i haven't come all this way from my i haven't come all this way from my family to illustrate to you that i can family to illustrate to you that i can speak from the bible because i don't speak from the bible because i don't really think but i tell you what i have come to say to you say to you that if we don't get out into that that if we don't get out into that wilderness from this cursed wilderness from this cursed materialistic world god will never talk materialistic world god will never talk to your heart to your heart and i say that on the authority of the and i say that on the authority of the word of god and by the experience that word of god and by the experience that he can't talk to my heart because i am he can't talk to my heart because i am basically materialistic basically materialistic and that brothers and sisters and that brothers and sisters is not false humility it is a tragic is not false humility it is a tragic fact i am very much taken over with materialism materialism not that i've got much but i think a lot not that i've got much but i think a lot about what i could get about what i could get and if god can't lure me into the and if god can't lure me into the wilderness he'll never talk to my heart wilderness he'll never talk to my heart comfort you speak to the heart of this comfort you speak to the heart of this people that her warfare is accomplished people that her warfare is accomplished the time of her hard service has come the time of her hard service has come she has received she has received of it says here she has received of the of it says here she has received of the lord's hand double for all her sins you lord's hand double for all her sins you know the words she hath received brother know the words she hath received brother and sisters literally rented in the and sisters literally rented in the hebrew she has accepted the punishment hebrew she has accepted the punishment she's accepted her punishment she's she's accepted her punishment she's agreed with it and that's taken straight agreed with it and that's taken straight out of the 26th chapter of leviticus out of the 26th chapter of leviticus that what israel accepts the punishment that what israel accepts the punishment of their iniquity of their iniquity then i will remember the covenant which then i will remember the covenant which i made with jacob i made with jacob with isaac with isaac with abraham that's backwards because well god will remember them jacob jacob isaac abraham that's backwards isaac abraham that's backwards and in hebrews chapter six and in hebrews chapter six paul says god is not unmindful to forget paul says god is not unmindful to forget your labor of love your labor of love your service of hope your service of hope and your continuance in faith and that's and your continuance in faith and that's backwards backwards because god is not a minor mindful to because god is not a minor mindful to forget you forget you and there's the creator thinking back to and there's the creator thinking back to them because we have accepted brethren them because we have accepted brethren and sisters the truth of the matter and sisters the truth of the matter that we are no good in god's eyes that we are no good in god's eyes and that he can never speak lying in the and that he can never speak lying in the wilderness it's a voice crying wilderness it's a voice crying and what's he saying and what's he saying the voice is crying and it's reads like the voice is crying and it's reads like this this in the wilderness prepare you the way of in the wilderness prepare you the way of the lord and make straight in the desert the lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our god a highway for our god the proof of it brother and sisters is the proof of it brother and sisters is in the parallelism that's the proof of it and the voice says what what does the and the voice says what what does the voice say in the wilderness voice say in the wilderness prepare you the way of the lord and make prepare you the way of the lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our straight in the desert a highway for our god that's the hebrew parallelism that's god that's the hebrew parallelism that's what it's got to mean what it's got to mean and so i die the provinces upon the soil and so i die the provinces upon the soil the adamah and inviting them all to come out there and listen to what god had to say and listen to what god had to say their brothers and sisters is the great their brothers and sisters is the great lesson of that man's life god doesn't lesson of that man's life god doesn't ask us to leave house at home he doesn't ask us to leave house at home he doesn't ask us to sell all our possessions ask us to sell all our possessions that's not what he's trying to tell us that's not what he's trying to tell us brothers and sisters we don't have to go brothers and sisters we don't have to go and buy a camel skin and buy a camel skin we don't need to do that we don't need to do that we can't escape our environment we're we can't escape our environment we're caught up in it we're like rats in a caught up in it we're like rats in a truck truck but unless we get that head but unless we get that head out of that environment we'll never out of that environment we'll never learn about god's word learn about god's word i can't do it i can't do it in older days when brethren of the in older days when brethren of the pioneers went to the meeting and horse pioneers went to the meeting and horse and trap and they went along jig jogging and trap and they went along jig jogging along with the horse and trap slowly to along with the horse and trap slowly to the meeting brothers and sisters they the meeting brothers and sisters they regurgitated things they zip here and regurgitated things they zip here and zip there they can't spend two seconds zip there they can't spend two seconds to quietly sit down quietly and listen to quietly sit down quietly and listen to the voice of god speak to their heart to the voice of god speak to their heart and the truth is going downhill brethren and the truth is going downhill brethren sisters sisters i don't know about your country i know i don't know about your country i know nothing about your country i'm talking nothing about your country i'm talking about my country the truth is going about my country the truth is going downhill because of the curse of that downhill because of the curse of that situation situation and people come to me and they say how and people come to me and they say how do you study the bible can you show us do you study the bible can you show us lessons what colors do you use to mark lessons what colors do you use to mark up your bible i say i say to them now up your bible i say i say to them now look before we ever start talking about look before we ever start talking about colors colors pens and inks or whatever pens and inks or whatever i want to know are you prepared to spend i want to know are you prepared to spend hour after hour after hour after hour after after upper on that book if you're not after upper on that book if you're not forget it because brother and sisters he will allure us into the wilderness and speak allure us into the wilderness and speak to our heart to our heart and so john was there and so john was there in the wilderness in the wilderness prepare the way of the lord and down prepare the way of the lord and down they came and looked down nature's they came and looked down nature's amphitheater and heard the voice amphitheater and heard the voice every valley was to be exalted he would every valley was to be exalted he would lift up the meat lift up the meat every mountain was to be made low he every mountain was to be made low he would depress the mighty and the and the would depress the mighty and the and the proud proud the crockett places would be made the crockett places would be made straight brother and sisters straight brother and sisters and all those lives that were crooked in and all those lives that were crooked in god's sight would be made straight god's sight would be made straight and the coarse rough natures of men and the coarse rough natures of men would be smoothed over would be smoothed over and do you know something there were only four classes of people registered in the gospels that listen to registered in the gospels that listen to john john the common people who heard him gladly the common people who heard him gladly and were exalted and were exalted the scribes and pharisees whom he the scribes and pharisees whom he leveled leveled the republicans with all their crooked the republicans with all their crooked dealings as tax gatherers he straighted dealings as tax gatherers he straighted out and down came the roman soldiers out and down came the roman soldiers with all their brutality with all their brutality and he said do violence to know me what a remarkable fulfillment of that chapter of scripture chapter of scripture only those four classes were mentioned only those four classes were mentioned and the glory of the lord shall be and the glory of the lord shall be revealed for his isaiah and all flesh revealed for his isaiah and all flesh shall see it shall see it together together all flesh would see it together all flesh would see it together you know that means brethren and sisters you know that means brethren and sisters you read it and you say all christ will you read it and you say all christ will come come god's glory will be seen well all the god's glory will be seen well all the world will be converted world will be converted yes no doubt about that yes no doubt about that that's not really what eyes i say that's not really what eyes i say the word together means to be alike the word together means to be alike all flesh will be alike and he's not all flesh will be alike and he's not talking about all flesh in the totality talking about all flesh in the totality of brethren sisters what he's saying is of brethren sisters what he's saying is this that when they saw the glory of god this that when they saw the glory of god as john was telling that they would see as john was telling that they would see it in our lord jesus christ all flesh it in our lord jesus christ all flesh and the sense of all kinds of people and the sense of all kinds of people would see it and then i'll become a like would see it and then i'll become a like they'd become a like they'd become a like is that what i think did i get there out is that what i think did i get there out of my own head brethren sisters listen of my own head brethren sisters listen the gospel of john says the gospel of john says and will saw his glory and will saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the the glory as of the only begotten of the father father full of grace and truth so it was full of grace and truth so it was revealed revealed that's in john chapter one that's in john chapter one john chapter 3 deals with nicodemus john chapter 3 deals with nicodemus a ruler of the jews a ruler of the jews who thought that his blood was blue and who thought that his blood was blue and everybody else's was red everybody else's was red and john chapter 4 deals with an immoral and john chapter 4 deals with an immoral wicked woman of samaria wicked woman of samaria the other end of the sky the other end of the sky and the glory of god was revealed and the glory of god was revealed and all flesh and all flesh from the blue blooded rabbi from the blue blooded rabbi to the poor destitute woman of samaria to the poor destitute woman of samaria that he despised that he despised saw that glory saw that glory and when glory when the glory of god is and when glory when the glory of god is seen by the mighty and perceived by the seen by the mighty and perceived by the humble brethren sisters humble brethren sisters human distinctions disappear human distinctions disappear and they become alike and they become alike because everything fades into because everything fades into insignificance insignificance status status importance importance everything fades into insignificance everything fades into insignificance in the view of that glory in the view of that glory that's what john come to do that's what john come to do to turn the heart of the fathers to the to turn the heart of the fathers to the children children and the children to the fathers to quote luke's record to turn the heart of the fathers of the to turn the heart of the fathers of the children children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just just and the heart of the fathers would and the heart of the fathers would return to the children when isaiah's return to the children when isaiah's prophecies fulfilled which said prophecies fulfilled which said behold your children the work of my behold your children the work of my hands hands and when abraham isaac and jacob rise and when abraham isaac and jacob rise from the dead as they most assuredly from the dead as they most assuredly will will and we are presented to abraham as his and we are presented to abraham as his children he being the father of the children he being the father of the faithful faithful his heart will go out to us brothers and his heart will go out to us brothers and sisters because he will see that we are sisters because he will see that we are the work of god's hands the work of god's hands i can raise up of these stones children i can raise up of these stones children under abraham and so the heart of the under abraham and so the heart of the fathers will go out to their spiritual fathers will go out to their spiritual children children and we as their spiritual children who and we as their spiritual children who one time were disobedient one time were disobedient have learned have learned that the fathers being justified by that the fathers being justified by faith were wise the disobedient to the wisdom of the just just and so john came and so john came to demonstrate those things to demonstrate those things elijah elijah full of power full of power full of fervent zeal and spirit full of fervent zeal and spirit came down to thine eye depressed came down to thine eye depressed to be told brother and sisters to be told brother and sisters that god does not work through physical that god does not work through physical means to impress his law upon people means to impress his law upon people that it is by the still small persuasive that it is by the still small persuasive voice of that spirit that the truth will voice of that spirit that the truth will finally get through finally get through and the voice cried to and the voice cried to allured him allured him down there down there that god might talk to his heart that god might talk to his heart isaiah picked that up beautifully isaiah picked that up beautifully the voice crying the voice crying and when they came to john to ask him and when they came to john to ask him who he was brother and sisters who he was brother and sisters the more he said the more he said the less he said the less he said are you the christ are you the christ i am not the christ i am not the christ are you are you elijah elijah i am not i am not well are you well are you the prophet of deuteronomy 18 nor he said the message and there was the answer brother and sisters sisters and you see what he's saying don't you and you see what he's saying don't you the lower one gets in their own the lower one gets in their own estimation estimation the less one is cluttered about with the less one is cluttered about with this world's good this world's good the less distractions one has the less distractions one has the greater the opportunity the greater the opportunity for god to speak through you if someone comes up and dusts your coat and says that was a and dusts your coat and says that was a mighty address mighty address and you run away with yourself and think and you run away with yourself and think gee well it really was a good address gee well it really was a good address won't be very long brother and sisters won't be very long brother and sisters and you'll be dumb if on the other hand we go on piling up in our house the the things that jesus in our house the the things that jesus called stuff whereby we can't find time to get down to god's word because i've got to do to god's word because i've got to do this i've got to polish that got to this i've got to polish that got to clean that mend this make sure i've got clean that mend this make sure i've got enough money to buy that and so on there enough money to buy that and so on there won't be very long before we're done won't be very long before we're done but john didn't have a motor car he but john didn't have a motor car he didn't have a house didn't have a house he had a very low opinion of himself he had a very low opinion of himself camel skin didn't have to be dry cleaned camel skin didn't have to be dry cleaned too often too often grasshoppers didn't need much cooking grasshoppers didn't need much cooking and he was available and he was available he was available he was available i'm nothing i haven't got any status i'm nothing i haven't got any status i'm not very great i'm not very great but i'm a voice but i'm a voice do you know brother and sisters do you know brother and sisters i believe i believe that john's voice was the greatest voice that john's voice was the greatest voice ever heard not only because of what he ever heard not only because of what he said but the quality of it what else said but the quality of it what else could it be when he held those people in could it be when he held those people in the gallery of nature's amphitheater the gallery of nature's amphitheater riveted with attention riveted with attention looking at this hermit figure looking at this hermit figure thinking to themselves well what could thinking to themselves well what could he do and when he lacked it up his voice he do and when he lacked it up his voice repaired can be baptized and it repaired can be baptized and it reverberated up with the wilderness of reverberated up with the wilderness of judea everyone was transfixed with that judea everyone was transfixed with that voice he might have been nothing else voice he might have been nothing else brethren sisters but he had a golden brethren sisters but he had a golden voice do you know we know this from the voice do you know we know this from the biblical record biblical record that's so powerful was his influence that's so powerful was his influence that though he performed no miracle they that though he performed no miracle they opened up a school in egypt opened up a school in egypt to learn his teachings to learn his teachings we know that because apollos we know that because apollos came from alexandria in egypt came from alexandria in egypt where he had been skilled the record is where he had been skilled the record is in the greek in the teachings of john in the greek in the teachings of john he had a college in egypt so powerful was that voice that came that came up that nature's amphitheater up that nature's amphitheater that was the voice of him crying that was the voice of him crying you the way he did come in the spirit and power of elijah in another way too brother and elijah in another way too brother and sisters look at the parallels in their sisters look at the parallels in their life life both came at a time of extreme both came at a time of extreme wickedness wickedness i have of whom it was said i have of whom it was said that no king before him have ever done that no king before him have ever done so wickedly so wickedly so they both came at a time when the so they both came at a time when the fathers had filled up the measure of fathers had filled up the measure of iniquity ahab's father means to fill up iniquity ahab's father means to fill up omri means to fill up and ahab means his omri means to fill up and ahab means his father's brother so he had filled up the father's brother so he had filled up the measure of his fathers measure of his fathers so had the elders of israel by the time so had the elders of israel by the time john got there john got there both men were dressed in nature both men were dressed in nature untouched by human hands untouched by human hands both men pronounce stern judgments both men pronounce stern judgments as elijah raced before ahab thinking as elijah raced before ahab thinking that the nation had been converted that the nation had been converted to proclaim the royal majesty of the to proclaim the royal majesty of the kingdom so john came before kingdom so john came before the royal majesty of the kingdoms of the royal majesty of the kingdoms of heaven heaven elijah stepped aside brother and sisters elijah stepped aside brother and sisters to give way to the gentler to give way to the gentler elisha elisha and john and john in exactly the same locality stood aside in exactly the same locality stood aside to give way to give way to the greater jesus to the greater jesus elijah's name means the salvation of elijah's name means the salvation of isle or god isle or god and jesus name means the salvation of and jesus name means the salvation of yahweh or god yahweh or god they had very similar names they had very similar names and elijah gave way to him and elijah gave way to him and john gave way to him and john gave way to him and the mantle changed at exactly the and the mantle changed at exactly the same spot elijah came to his the end of his career you might say as an effective career you might say as an effective career because he dared to because he dared to denounce denounce the unholy alliance of ahab with jezebel the unholy alliance of ahab with jezebel and john was brought tragically to death and john was brought tragically to death because he dared to denounce because he dared to denounce the unholy alliance of herod the unholy alliance of herod with herodias his brother phillips was with herodias his brother phillips was he wouldn't get two more lies brothers he wouldn't get two more lies brothers and sisters that echoed one another more and sisters that echoed one another more than them than them and the great difference was and the great difference was it was the prophet from gilead it was the prophet from gilead like a piece of granite carved out of like a piece of granite carved out of the escarpment of gilead had come the escarpment of gilead had come to terrorize that nation to terrorize that nation this one that was came through the this one that was came through the wilderness through the line of the wilderness through the line of the priesthood priesthood drew all to him drew all to him by the power of that voice that wafted by the power of that voice that wafted up that is that amply theater of the up that is that amply theater of the wilderness of judea and prix so many wilderness of judea and prix so many hearts hearts it's a wonderful parallel and a it's a wonderful parallel and a wonderful contrast wonderful contrast and as we proceed with our studies and as we proceed with our studies brother and sisters it is our wish that brother and sisters it is our wish that we would go with him we would go with him to become mentally involved in his life to become mentally involved in his life that by our vision together we might that by our vision together we might transport ourselves in those days and transport ourselves in those days and stand there and look at that man and say stand there and look at that man and say to ourselves to ourselves could we ever could we ever could we could we ever ever in in 1983 1983 be allured into a wilderness be allured into a wilderness solitude solitude quietness quietness in the midst of a mad in the midst of a mad mad mad mad materialistic world and give god the mad materialistic world and give god the chance chance to speak to our heart

Transcript

this is idlewild 1983. 1983. this is our second period class this is our second period class our teachers our brother john martin our teachers our brother john martin from australia from australia his subject for the week is the prophet his subject for the week is the prophet of the highest of the highest john the baptist john the baptist his subtitle for today the second day his subtitle for today the second day gabriel's announcement gabriel's announcement brother john martin my beloved brother and sisters in our lord jesus christ the apostle john brothers and sisters introduced john the baptist in a very introduced john the baptist in a very simple way simple way he said he said there was a man there was a man sent from god sent from god whose name was john and of course john is but an abbreviation of that wonderful is but an abbreviation of that wonderful hebrew name hebrew name johannen johannen which really means which really means the grace the grace of the lord you know brothers and sisters although these words that i'm going to read to these words that i'm going to read to you now you now are not directly related to john are not directly related to john they fit his life and his purpose they fit his life and his purpose absolutely beautifully absolutely beautifully the grace of god you listen the grace of god you listen paul to titus in his second chapter from paul to titus in his second chapter from verse 11 verse 11 for the grace of god that bringeth for the grace of god that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts lusts we should live soberly we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present righteously and godly in this present age age looking for that blessed hope and looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great god and glorious appearing of the great god and our savior our savior jesus christ jesus christ those words brother and sisters could those words brother and sisters could form could they not a caption over the form could they not a caption over the life of john life of john looking for the grace of god and there looking for the grace of god and there he was he was teaching us to live righteously teaching us to live righteously soberly soberly denying worldly lusts in this present denying worldly lusts in this present age age absolutely epitomized in the life of absolutely epitomized in the life of that man that man the lord jesus christ referred to him on the lord jesus christ referred to him on many occasions brothers and sisters when john referred to the lord he says i am not that light that should come into am not that light that should come into the world the world he said there was going to come that he said there was going to come that true light which would lighten every man true light which would lighten every man that came into the world that came into the world but when the lord referred to john as a but when the lord referred to john as a light in chapter five of john's gospel light in chapter five of john's gospel he referred to him like this he referred to him like this and in the fifth chapter of john and at and in the fifth chapter of john and at verse 35 verse 35 the lord referred to john in these words the lord referred to john in these words he said he was a burning and a shining he said he was a burning and a shining light light and you were willing for a season to and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light rejoice in his light now there are two different words you now there are two different words you know but used brethren sisters for the know but used brethren sisters for the lord and for john the baptist john saw lord and for john the baptist john saw our lord as the true light our lord as the true light and the word in the greek in that place and the word in the greek in that place is foss which means a luminous light a is foss which means a luminous light a permanent light permanent light like phosphorus glowing in the dark like phosphorus glowing in the dark but the lord described john but the lord described john as a burning and a shining light and he as a burning and a shining light and he referred to a little portable hand lamp referred to a little portable hand lamp which was charged up with the oil and which was charged up with the oil and because it was a portable lamp it didn't because it was a portable lamp it didn't have much oil in it have much oil in it i used to use that lamp brothers and i used to use that lamp brothers and sisters to go short distances sisters to go short distances and so when they had to go to the in the and so when they had to go to the in the dark like we sometimes do from the hall dark like we sometimes do from the hall back to our rooms back to our rooms they would light this portable lamp and they would light this portable lamp and it would flare up it would flare up light up their path for a moment light up their path for a moment and then out it would go and then out it would go and that's exactly what happened and that's exactly what happened he wasn't burning in a shining portable he wasn't burning in a shining portable lamp lamp he flared out for a while he flared out for a while lit up the whole landscape and gave men lit up the whole landscape and gave men and women a moment of time and women a moment of time to see themselves as they were to see themselves as they were before they had to stand in a permanent before they had to stand in a permanent light where they couldn't be hid one of the disadvantages of living today brethren sisters is brethren sisters is that we're not going to get a john the that we're not going to get a john the baptist before that permanent light baptist before that permanent light comes comes and it would be to our advantage and it would be to our advantage if we could have someone if we could have someone to flare up in front of us that we might to flare up in front of us that we might see ourselves for what we are see ourselves for what we are momentarily momentarily to have that moment of time to have that moment of time to prepare for standing to prepare for standing in the permanent light in the permanent light and that's what israel got and that's what israel got and they needed it and they needed it micah had said that the sun would go micah had said that the sun would go down down over the prophets over the prophets and it had and it had for 400 years for 400 years and in the chapter that i've just and in the chapter that i've just alluded to the third chapter of micah alluded to the third chapter of micah and verse 6 where he said that the sun and verse 6 where he said that the sun would go down over the prophets he said would go down over the prophets he said in the eighth verse of that same chapter in the eighth verse of that same chapter but he said i am full of the power but he said i am full of the power and the spirit and the spirit of the lord and the son had gone down over the prophets but here was one brother and prophets but here was one brother and sisters who after 400 years of darkness sisters who after 400 years of darkness had come in the spirit spirit and power had come in the spirit spirit and power of elijah which was the spirit and power of elijah which was the spirit and power of his god of his god that's what micah had said that's what micah had said and during the course of those 400 years and during the course of those 400 years judea groaned under the iron heel of the judea groaned under the iron heel of the of the yoke of rome brother and sisters of the yoke of rome brother and sisters and jewish nationalism and jewish nationalism seized and fermented with discontent and in that very very bad situation bad situation the jewish people who were the ecclesia the jewish people who were the ecclesia in the wilderness at one stage in the wilderness at one stage god's people god's people divided and they divided into several sections and john was to come to all of them and and john was to come to all of them and expose them momentarily that they might expose them momentarily that they might have their opportunity have their opportunity to put matters right to put matters right there are the pharisees there are the pharisees superstitious superstitious hypocrites zealous of traditions over and above over and above the scripture the scripture so proud so proud they were even too proud they were even too proud to submit themselves to submit themselves under the iron yoke of rome under the iron yoke of rome there are sadducees there are sadducees a rich influential group a rich influential group who had for the moment who had for the moment the office of the priesthood the office of the priesthood and as such and as such they had the key they had the key to the treasury box in the temple to the treasury box in the temple and feasted at the expense of others and feasted at the expense of others they were men who believed that this they were men who believed that this life only life only could give hope could give hope they didn't believe in spirit angel they didn't believe in spirit angel they didn't believe in supernatural they didn't believe in supernatural powers powers you lived for this life you lived for this life you got out of this life what you could you got out of this life what you could get out of it get out of it and depending how well you did in and depending how well you did in business business that was to them a measure of the way that was to them a measure of the way which god blessed you which god blessed you i hope brother and sisters that as we i hope brother and sisters that as we delineate these various groups delineate these various groups that we will find somewhere in our body that we will find somewhere in our body somewhere somewhere an empathy for some of these things that an empathy for some of these things that we might have an opportunity to correct we might have an opportunity to correct it i've found them it i've found them i know where my problem lies i know where my problem lies there are the scribes and the lawyers there are the scribes and the lawyers legal parasites legal parasites trading in religion to the highest buyer trading in religion to the highest buyer they're the zealots they're the zealots hot-headed fanatics hot-headed fanatics who would stop at nothing who would stop at nothing and slit throats at the drop of a hat and slit throats at the drop of a hat there were the herodians there were the herodians who were formerly scribes who were formerly scribes and who even changed their garments that and who even changed their garments that they might have an alliance with herod they might have an alliance with herod now now for politically political expediency for politically political expediency prepared to sell the truth prepared to sell the truth to keep roma by to keep roma by men of no principle whatever complete men of no principle whatever complete traitors to the jewish courts traitors to the jewish courts there is the population at large there is the population at large brethren sisters in which there was no brethren sisters in which there was no middle class middle class there was no middle class in israel there was no middle class in israel the parable of the rich man and lazarus the parable of the rich man and lazarus was absolutely true of that generation was absolutely true of that generation you were either very very rich you were either very very rich or you were very very poor and amidst all of all that division of thought and action of thought and action there still existed there still existed an expectancy of the coming of messiah an expectancy of the coming of messiah among the old people among the old people the anas the anas and the simians and the simians people who could remember people who could remember better guys better guys and who groaned and who groaned and tortured their soul and tortured their soul for all that was going on in the world for all that was going on in the world to all those classes brother and sisters to all those classes brother and sisters there was a man sent from god there was a man sent from god whose name was john whose name was john and god offered to every one of those and god offered to every one of those classes his grace if only classes his grace if only they would see themselves for what they they would see themselves for what they were in that momentary flash of light were in that momentary flash of light which gave them that opportunity which gave them that opportunity and we pick up the record in luke's and we pick up the record in luke's gospel of the way in which john was announced that he would come into the world it's a wonderful record brother and sisters of two old people in luke chapter one we'll pick up the record say from verse five and luke of course that brilliant historian says that there was in the days of herod the king of judea a certain priest named the king of judea a certain priest named zacharias of the course of a buyer zacharias of the course of a buyer and his wife was at the daughters of and his wife was at the daughters of aaron and her name was elizabeth aaron and her name was elizabeth very interesting brother and sisters to very interesting brother and sisters to learn that it was in the days of herod learn that it was in the days of herod who earned the title who earned the title the infamous title of herod the great the infamous title of herod the great he was known as herod the great he was known as herod the great he was impious and cruel he was impious and cruel and he reigned over judea for nearly 40 and he reigned over judea for nearly 40 years years he was an edomite of the hated egymians and edomite there was a mutual hostility between him there was a mutual hostility between him and the jewish people and the jewish people and he was a fulfillment of bible and he was a fulfillment of bible prophecy prophecy because years before moses had told them because years before moses had told them that when israel had requested their that when israel had requested their king and would be disobedient king and would be disobedient that a stranger that a stranger would rise above them would rise above them and become ruler over them there he was and become ruler over them there he was and there couldn't be more stranger to and there couldn't be more stranger to israel than an edomite israel than an edomite he married he married ten times he was a product of his age of his age one of his wives one of his wives was miriam a maccabean princess was miriam a maccabean princess a jewish girl a jewish girl he built the temple which took 46 years he built the temple which took 46 years to complete to complete and gained the favor of the jewish and gained the favor of the jewish people people by giving them a great object of by giving them a great object of materialism and he was known as herod the great and there appeared down in the and there appeared down in the wilderness of judea wilderness of judea of the one that we've been talking about of the one that we've been talking about brethren sisters of whom it is said in brethren sisters of whom it is said in verse 16 15 verse 16 15 that he too was great for he shall be that he too was great for he shall be great great in in the sight of the lord the sight of the lord and in and in no one else's sight no one else's sight so in the days of herd the great who was so in the days of herd the great who was great in everything that men called great in everything that men called greatness greatness in his cruelty in his cruelty his in his impiety his in his impiety his materialistic ways in which he built his materialistic ways in which he built that temple and in following the fashion that temple and in following the fashion of being having 10 marriages of being having 10 marriages he was great in everything that made man he was great in everything that made man great great and down there was one who was great in and down there was one who was great in the sight of the lord the sight of the lord and the only one and the only one who would ever recognize that greatness who would ever recognize that greatness was his god was his god now he was the son we read of a certain now he was the son we read of a certain priest named zacharias now very interesting brother and sisters the details of john the baptist's the details of john the baptist's parents these are not coincidental things i'm going to mention to you now going to mention to you now they are wonderful things they are wonderful things you see because you see because zacharias his name means zacharias his name means yah hath remembered yah hath remembered his wife elizabeth his wife elizabeth her name means the oath of god her name means the oath of god and john of course means the grace or if and john of course means the grace or if you like the mercy of god and later on you like the mercy of god and later on in chapter 2 of this 72 of this chapter in chapter 2 of this 72 of this chapter in 273 there is an obvious play upon the in 273 there is an obvious play upon the names of that family names of that family when in the great eulogy when in the great eulogy the great prayer of zacharias he said in the great prayer of zacharias he said in verse 72 verse 72 that god would perform the mercy that god would perform the mercy promise to our fathers promise to our fathers to remember his holy covenant the oath to remember his holy covenant the oath which he swear to our father abraham which he swear to our father abraham zacharias yah hath remembered zacharias yah hath remembered elizabeth the oath of isle elizabeth the oath of isle john the mercy of god and whilst there john the mercy of god and whilst there are times i know brothers and sisters are times i know brothers and sisters usually you can string a lot of names usually you can string a lot of names together make a sentence out of them together make a sentence out of them which may or may not be the case that's which may or may not be the case that's fairly obvious isn't it fairly obvious isn't it that that little family was tied that that little family was tied together together and in the very and in the very words of zacharias there is a deliberate words of zacharias there is a deliberate play upon the names of those of that play upon the names of those of that family of mum and dad and of the boy family of mum and dad and of the boy that was born to them that was born to them we learned that zacharias was a priest we learned that zacharias was a priest so john was of the priestly class how so john was of the priestly class how unusual it was then brethren sisters to unusual it was then brethren sisters to see him down in the wilderness of judea see him down in the wilderness of judea dressed as he was dressed as he was when he had all the qualifications when he had all the qualifications according to exodus 28 according to exodus 28 to be dressed in glass garments of glory to be dressed in glass garments of glory and beauty and beauty it wasn't as it wasn't as if he was from some obscure tribe that if he was from some obscure tribe that had no connection either with kingdom or had no connection either with kingdom or priest he was a priestly class but look priest he was a priestly class but look at him at him he's not dressed like they were dressed he's not dressed like they were dressed and yet he had a divine right to dress and yet he had a divine right to dress like that like that in garments of glory and beauty in garments of glory and beauty but he didn't take that right but he didn't take that right we learned that the course of zacharias we learned that the course of zacharias was the cause of abaya was the cause of abaya a buyer a buyer and of course you may recognize in that and of course you may recognize in that name brothers and sisters the two hebrew name brothers and sisters the two hebrew names abba names abba father father abbay ah or yah abbay ah or yah god god is his father is his father and you know and you know mean for the divine intervention in the mean for the divine intervention in the case of those two aged people case of those two aged people john would never have been born more than that brethren sisters so important is that that luke mentions so important is that that luke mentions it it that when we go back to the first that when we go back to the first chronicles chapter 24 and we look at the chronicles chapter 24 and we look at the 24 courses of priesthood that david 24 courses of priesthood that david organized that they might do organized that they might do their periodical service in the temple their periodical service in the temple we find that the course of a buyer we find that the course of a buyer happened to be happened to be the eighth course and of course we're all familiar or should be should be that the eighth day that the eighth day was the day of circumcision was the day of circumcision and that circumcision was given to and that circumcision was given to abraham primarily to teach him abraham primarily to teach him the children born of him would not be the children born of him would not be born by natural descent born by natural descent for immediately upon his circumcision for immediately upon his circumcision abraham could not have produced a child abraham could not have produced a child and so stephen in his defense reported and so stephen in his defense reported again by that brilliant historian luke again by that brilliant historian luke puts the two incidents together puts the two incidents together he gave him the covenant of circumcision he gave him the covenant of circumcision and so and so abraham begat isaac abraham begat isaac many years were of course many years were of course separating those two incidents separating those two incidents but luke puts them together to teach us but luke puts them together to teach us that isaac also that isaac also was a child of the spirit brother and was a child of the spirit brother and sisters sisters not as jesus was not as jesus was not born of a virgin not born of a virgin but had not god intervened in his case but had not god intervened in his case or in john the baptist they had never or in john the baptist they had never seen the light of day seen the light of day and so his father was yahweh and the and so his father was yahweh and the eighth course spoke of that day of eighth course spoke of that day of circumcision of which it speaks of the circumcision of which it speaks of the cutting off of the flesh cutting off of the flesh that the seed to come would not be borne that the seed to come would not be borne by humankind by humankind it's rather interesting brother and it's rather interesting brother and sisters that as you pass between the sisters that as you pass between the pages of malachi to matthew pages of malachi to matthew the eighth day which is really an the eighth day which is really an anomaly in the old testament because anomaly in the old testament because there's no such thing there's no such thing there's only seven days in the week there's only seven days in the week but that which is called the eighth day but that which is called the eighth day which was a peculiar anomaly when you which was a peculiar anomaly when you pass the division of testaments becomes pass the division of testaments becomes the first day of the week in the new the first day of the week in the new testament testament because there is its fulfillment its because there is its fulfillment its proper title proper title and our lord and our lord was born of god was born of god both in his conception of mary and from both in his conception of mary and from that tomb that tomb on that first day of the week he came on that first day of the week he came forth a product of divinity forth a product of divinity so all these things are terribly so all these things are terribly interesting interesting not only do we have this with his father not only do we have this with his father but here's another fascinating thing but here's another fascinating thing elizabeth brother and sisters elizabeth brother and sisters is the greek equivalent of the hebrew is the greek equivalent of the hebrew elisheva elisheva and as we pointed out eli sheba means and as we pointed out eli sheba means the oath of ale the oath of ale ale sheba ale sheba the oath of isle the oath of god the oath of isle the oath of god but the fascinating thing about that is but the fascinating thing about that is this this that elizabeth or eli sheba was the wife that elizabeth or eli sheba was the wife of aaron of aaron the high priest of israel the first high the high priest of israel the first high priest of israel and here is a new priest of israel and here is a new beginning as it were beginning as it were god has remembered his people god has remembered his people the oath which he swore to their fathers the oath which he swore to their fathers and the boy was born and the boy was born of eli sheba of eli sheba the very name the very name of aaron's wife of aaron's wife quite incredible really she we learned brother and sisters in verse seven had no child because verse seven had no child because elizabeth was barren and they were both elizabeth was barren and they were both now well stricken in years and you know now well stricken in years and you know so much so notorious was the fact that so much so notorious was the fact that elizabeth had no child that she became elizabeth had no child that she became called called they used to call her the barren one they used to call her the barren one if you look at verse if you look at verse 36 36 of luke chapter one of luke chapter one you read there and behold thy cousin elizabeth she has also conceived a son in her old age also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her who and this is the sixth month with her who was called baron but in the original was called baron but in the original greek is surrendered by rotherham's greek is surrendered by rotherham's translation translation it's like a proper name she was called it's like a proper name she was called the boring one the boring one and as we would well appreciate sisters and as we would well appreciate sisters particularly in israel it was a joy to particularly in israel it was a joy to have children have children it was a wonderful joy and a privilege it was a wonderful joy and a privilege to have children because they all wanted to have children because they all wanted to bear did they not that child that to bear did they not that child that would lead to the line of messiah would lead to the line of messiah and they all wanted to experience in and they all wanted to experience in their life the joy of that their life the joy of that and here's a poor woman who goes around and here's a poor woman who goes around known as the barren one known as the barren one but the previous verse says but the previous verse says concerning mary that her child the concerning mary that her child the latter portion of that verse therefore latter portion of that verse therefore that holy thing which shall be born of that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called thee shall be called the son of god and so here is that poor the son of god and so here is that poor woman with her title of the barren one woman with her title of the barren one and the one that was coming was going to and the one that was coming was going to be called the son of god and she had the be called the son of god and she had the great privilege brothers and sisters of great privilege brothers and sisters of being able to bear that boy who would being able to bear that boy who would announce his coming announce his coming so there is a great joy coming for so there is a great joy coming for elizabeth which of course she at this elizabeth which of course she at this stage that we're reading about stage that we're reading about had no conception of had no conception of now another thing that's very now another thing that's very interesting in that first chapter of interesting in that first chapter of luke in verse 8 is this luke in verse 8 is this but we read and it came to pass that but we read and it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office while he executed the priest's office before god in the order of his course before god in the order of his course according to the customer the priests according to the customer the priests offered his lot offered his lot his lot was to burn incense when he went his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the lord into the temple of the lord now that's very interesting brother and now that's very interesting brother and sisters because what happened was this sisters because what happened was this that as each of those orders of that as each of those orders of priesthood came up to the temple they priesthood came up to the temple they did so periodically so they all relieved did so periodically so they all relieved each other for a period of time and in each other for a period of time and in that course that whole course would go that course that whole course would go home and another course would take over home and another course would take over but when they came up but when they came up the great privilege which everyone the great privilege which everyone considered a wonderful privilege was to considered a wonderful privilege was to burn incense in that holy place burn incense in that holy place and because there were many priests who and because there were many priests who sought that honor sought that honor they drew lots for it they drew lots for it and in his book ersheim's book on the and in his book ersheim's book on the temple and its services in the time of temple and its services in the time of christ christ a remarkable book dr edersheim himself a remarkable book dr edersheim himself was a christian who was originally a jew was a christian who was originally a jew i used the curve christian inverted i used the curve christian inverted commerce but he was a christian who used commerce but he was a christian who used to be a jew and a very eurodiete jew and to be a jew and a very eurodiete jew and he wrote very wonderfully of jewish he wrote very wonderfully of jewish customs and he pointed out brothers and customs and he pointed out brothers and sisters that tradition has it sisters that tradition has it but if you drew a lot to burn incense in but if you drew a lot to burn incense in that holy place that holy place once that was done you never got that once that was done you never got that opportunity again because it was so much opportunity again because it was so much of a privilege that your name was then of a privilege that your name was then taken away and when they drew lots again taken away and when they drew lots again your name was not included because you your name was not included because you had your privilege and so what a had your privilege and so what a wonderful coincidence in history it was wonderful coincidence in history it was that on the only time ever that the old that on the only time ever that the old man would go into there to burn incense man would go into there to burn incense there was gabriel standing at the right there was gabriel standing at the right hand hand of that altar to meet him of that altar to meet him what a remarkable thing that was what a remarkable thing that was and we know that all the people were and we know that all the people were outside praying at the time of incense outside praying at the time of incense now they burnt the incense of course as now they burnt the incense of course as the evening deepened and as the morning the evening deepened and as the morning sacrifice was coming to an end as it sacrifice was coming to an end as it ascended up to god in its last stages ascended up to god in its last stages when the whole thing was consumed as a when the whole thing was consumed as a whole burnt offering they went into that whole burnt offering they went into that temp temple or tabernacle be whatever temp temple or tabernacle be whatever the case may be and they offered up the case may be and they offered up incense to god and it was the time of incense to god and it was the time of prayer prayer and david says in the 141st psalm in and david says in the 141st psalm in verse 2 let my prayer he says be like verse 2 let my prayer he says be like unto incense and the lifting up of my unto incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice so he hands as the evening sacrifice so he combined the two together didn't he combined the two together didn't he his prayer with others incense his prayer with others incense and the lifting up of his hands as the and the lifting up of his hands as the last smoke of that evening sacrifice last smoke of that evening sacrifice and so it was a time of prayer in israel and so it was a time of prayer in israel and they're all out there praying and they're all out there praying i believe for both zacharias and i believe for both zacharias and elizabeth and of course the startling elizabeth and of course the startling revelation when he got in there in verse revelation when he got in there in verse 11 11 and there appeared unto him an angel of and there appeared unto him an angel of the lord standing the lord standing on the right side of the altar of on the right side of the altar of incense incense now from verse 19 brother and sisters now from verse 19 brother and sisters we learned that that angel was gabriel we learned that that angel was gabriel gabriel gabriel there are special angels there are special angels two we know two we know of michael the archangel of michael the archangel and gabriel and gabriel is is his hebrew name his hebrew name a mighty one of god a mighty one of god and how fitting it was that gabriel and how fitting it was that gabriel should be the one to come to both to should be the one to come to both to announce the coming of john the baptist announce the coming of john the baptist and our lord jesus christ and our lord jesus christ because some 500 years earlier brother because some 500 years earlier brother and sisters he appealed to he appeared and sisters he appealed to he appeared to daniel to give him these very details to daniel to give him these very details of the prophecy of the seventy weeks of the prophecy of the seventy weeks when jesus christ the messiah would be when jesus christ the messiah would be born into the world born into the world and they would become the time and they would become the time of the manifestation of the end of all of the manifestation of the end of all things as far as the law was concerned things as far as the law was concerned and the setting up of everlasting and the setting up of everlasting righteousness righteousness how fitting that that angel how fitting that that angel should bridge history should bridge history to be there to tell daniel that and to to be there to tell daniel that and to tell zacharias this tell zacharias this we haven't got time brethren and sisters we haven't got time brethren and sisters to turn up the ninth chapter of daniel to turn up the ninth chapter of daniel but if you read it in your leisure this but if you read it in your leisure this is what you will find is what you will find that in daniel chapter nine the verses that in daniel chapter nine the verses one to three daniel prays for god to one to three daniel prays for god to remember remember that the seventy years captivity had that the seventy years captivity had come to an end come to an end in verses in verse 4 he appealed for in verses in verse 4 he appealed for god's mercy god's mercy and then verse 11 he acknowledged and then verse 11 he acknowledged that israel was suffering because they that israel was suffering because they did not understand the oath of the law and here were the names of this little family family to whom that same angel appeared to whom that same angel appeared that epitomized that epitomized all that daniel was praying for all that daniel was praying for it took 500 years for that prayer to get it took 500 years for that prayer to get answered brother and sisters answered brother and sisters and we've got to learn patience and we've got to learn patience when we pray to god when we pray to god 500 years 500 years god hath remembered his holy covenant god hath remembered his holy covenant the mercy he swore to our fathers the the mercy he swore to our fathers the oath oath here it all is and they were the very here it all is and they were the very things that daniel was praying for things that daniel was praying for 500 years before when that same angel 500 years before when that same angel came to him and here he is came to him and here he is what a remarkable thing that is now the fact that gabriel was standing on the right side on the right side of the altar of insects was incredible of the altar of insects was incredible because you see because you see it matters not to god brother and it matters not to god brother and sisters sisters as far as lending his strength is as far as lending his strength is concerned be it on the right hand or the concerned be it on the right hand or the left left but you see the right hand if you look but you see the right hand if you look through the psalms you'll find through the psalms you'll find particularly in the psalms the use of particularly in the psalms the use of the right hand was used as a symbol of the right hand was used as a symbol of that which is the most dexterous of our that which is the most dexterous of our of the of our two arms we may be of the of our two arms we may be left-handed like the benjamites were left-handed like the benjamites were whose name means the son of god's right whose name means the son of god's right hand they're all left-handed hand they're all left-handed so we might be left-handed but most of so we might be left-handed but most of us would be right-handed us would be right-handed and the fact that he was standing on and the fact that he was standing on that right hand of the altar he was that right hand of the altar he was telling zacharias as the psalm said his telling zacharias as the psalm said his right arm has gotten him the victory right arm has gotten him the victory there is strength and power there there is strength and power there now let me tell you something about the now let me tell you something about the altar of incense brother and sisters altar of incense brother and sisters that is also intensely interesting that is also intensely interesting you'll pardon me if we don't turn all you'll pardon me if we don't turn all these references up these references up because of the time factor because of the time factor now he gave the details for the building now he gave the details for the building of the altar of incense that small order of the altar of incense that small order that stood before the veil in the holy that stood before the veil in the holy place place it was described separately from all the it was described separately from all the other pieces of furniture in the other pieces of furniture in the tabernacle tabernacle and when it was described in exodus 30 and when it was described in exodus 30 if you look at that in your leisure if you look at that in your leisure you'll read that when it talked about you'll read that when it talked about the top of it and the sides of it it the top of it and the sides of it it didn't the margin gives you an alternate didn't the margin gives you an alternate rendering in the hebrew rendering in the hebrew and the top is described in the margin and the top is described in the margin in the hebrew word for ruth in the hebrew word for ruth and the side of the order of incense is and the side of the order of incense is described in the margin in the hebrew as described in the margin in the hebrew as the walls so the order of incense was described in the terms the terms of building a house of building a house in the 22nd chapter of deuteronomy and in the 22nd chapter of deuteronomy and at verse 8 israel were told that every at verse 8 israel were told that every home they built had to be of the same home they built had to be of the same pattern pattern they had to build it with a flat roof they had to build it with a flat roof they had to put a they had to put a a balustrade around the roof to prevent a balustrade around the roof to prevent accidents and they had to have an accidents and they had to have an outside staircase that they could get to outside staircase that they could get to the top of that brethren sisters without the top of that brethren sisters without in interfering with the domestic circle in interfering with the domestic circle so they could have privacy so jesus said so they could have privacy so jesus said let him that is upon the house stop let him that is upon the house stop enter not into the house to take the enter not into the house to take the stuff he could do that by coming down stuff he could do that by coming down the outside staircase and going the outside staircase and going and the order of incense having its and the order of incense having its walls and its roof walls and its roof flat roof flat roof also had a round about it a crown of also had a round about it a crown of gold gold and what god was saying brother and and what god was saying brother and sisters is this sisters is this that every house in that ecclesia in the that every house in that ecclesia in the wilderness wilderness or in the land or in the land or now or now ought to be ought to be a house of prayer a house of prayer and standing right alongside that altar and standing right alongside that altar was gabriel in answer to a man and a was gabriel in answer to a man and a woman woman whose house was exactly like that altar that is a wonderful detail of the law of moses and so the chapter went on to describe what this boy would be like what this boy would be like first of all in verse 13 that zacharias first of all in verse 13 that zacharias is reminded that his prayer was heard is reminded that his prayer was heard and that elizabeth would bear a son and that elizabeth would bear a son brother and sisters we read that very brother and sisters we read that very quickly you know we think well he's a quickly you know we think well he's a man of great faith he he his wife was man of great faith he he his wife was barren and he prayed to have a child so barren and he prayed to have a child so he's got great faith well let's just add he's got great faith well let's just add to that somewhat brother and sisters and to that somewhat brother and sisters and think of this that he was an old man think of this that he was an old man his wife was an old lady his wife was an old lady she would have got past the age of she would have got past the age of childbearing and he's still praying for childbearing and he's still praying for a child so it's the quality of that faith that we're going to think about we're going to think about he's still praying for a child and he he's still praying for a child and he gets the promise gets the promise in verse 14 that they would have joy and in verse 14 that they would have joy and gladly and many would rejoice at his gladly and many would rejoice at his birth which they did in verse 58 the birth which they did in verse 58 the neighbors and the friends came there and neighbors and the friends came there and they rejoiced in his birth they rejoiced in his birth and in verse 15 he shall be great in the and in verse 15 he shall be great in the sight of the lord and shall drink sight of the lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the holy spirit shall be filled with the holy spirit even from his mother's womb in other even from his mother's womb in other words brother and sisters he would be a words brother and sisters he would be a nazirite from birth nazirite from birth now there's something very remarkable now there's something very remarkable about that about that very very remarkable about john the very very remarkable about john the baptist being a nazarite baptist being a nazarite and this was what was remarkable about and this was what was remarkable about it it because the nazirite vow was given for a because the nazirite vow was given for a singular reason singular reason there was one thing why the reason why there was one thing why the reason why the nazarite vowel was given the nazarite vowel was given now here's your reason now here's your reason when israel stood at the foot of mount when israel stood at the foot of mount sinai sinai god said to them god said to them ye shall be unto me ye shall be unto me a kingdom of a kingdom of priests priests then he gave them a law which said it then he gave them a law which said it could never happen because the law said that unless you were from the family of that unless you were from the family of aaron which of course was from the tribe aaron which of course was from the tribe of levi you could never be a priest of levi you could never be a priest and previous to the law in genesis 49 and previous to the law in genesis 49 the principle was laid down the principle was laid down that royalty would come from judah so even if you were from the tribe of judy you couldn't be a priest if you judy you couldn't be a priest if you could be a king could be a king if you were the family of aaron you if you were the family of aaron you could be a priest but you couldn't be a could be a priest but you couldn't be a king and if you were a family from any king and if you were a family from any other tribe you could be neither but you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests a kingdom of priests what god was telling the brethren what god was telling the brethren sisters as long as that law was in sisters as long as that law was in existence that promise could never be existence that promise could never be fulfilled and so peter in writing to fulfilled and so peter in writing to people who now were no longer in the law people who now were no longer in the law but under grace said ye are but under grace said ye are a kingdom of priest and a holy nation a kingdom of priest and a holy nation not only futuristic brothers and sisters not only futuristic brothers and sisters but we are at present but we are at present kings and priests kings and priests in the sense in the sense that we have the word of god and we that we have the word of god and we represent god's thinking to men and represent god's thinking to men and women women now john now john was of the priestly line yet he had to was of the priestly line yet he had to be a nazareth be a nazareth and the purpose of the nazirite was and the purpose of the nazirite was singular in that the god gave the the singular in that the god gave the the the nazarite vow for no other reason the nazarite vow for no other reason than that men and women than that men and women when either man or woman when either man or woman takes upon themselves and as a right takes upon themselves and as a right thou the purpose was that they might thou the purpose was that they might imitate imitate the high priest for any period of their the high priest for any period of their own designation own designation so the high priest was never to uncover so the high priest was never to uncover his head so they grew the hair long his head so they grew the hair long the high priest was never to drink wine the high priest was never to drink wine nor strong drink so they weren't nor strong drink so they weren't permitted to drink wine or strong drink permitted to drink wine or strong drink the high priest was never going near a the high priest was never going near a dead body so they were permitted to go dead body so they were permitted to go near a dead body near a dead body and what the nazarite bow was doing and what the nazarite bow was doing brethren sisters was offering brothers brethren sisters was offering brothers and sisters in the truth the opportunity and sisters in the truth the opportunity during the course of this life of their during the course of this life of their own choosing to imitate own choosing to imitate their high priest their high priest and we've seized that opportunity and we've seized that opportunity and we come every sunday morning and we come every sunday morning to renew that vow to renew that vow because we want to imitate our high because we want to imitate our high priest john had no need of that vow priest john had no need of that vow because he was born in the priestly line because he was born in the priestly line but brethren sisters but brethren sisters the nazarite the nazarite doing what he the nazarite the nazarite doing what he did imitating the high priest under the did imitating the high priest under the law law was really in a sense was really in a sense greater than the high priest because the greater than the high priest because the high priest was there by a carnal high priest was there by a carnal commandment commandment by descent by descent of flesh and blood of flesh and blood the nazarite was there the nazarite was there by being a volunteer by being a volunteer and even though john had and even though john had the authority of the carnal commandment the authority of the carnal commandment both mother and father both in the both mother and father both in the family of aaron family of aaron he brothers and sisters chose he brothers and sisters chose to stand out there as a voluntary priest to stand out there as a voluntary priest that was what was so wonderful about that was what was so wonderful about that that absolutely wonderful absolutely wonderful and he lived out the terms of that and he lived out the terms of that nazarite vow nazarite vow jesus said of him on one occasion jesus said of him on one occasion john came neither eating meat nor john came neither eating meat nor drinking wine drinking wine and he didn't and he didn't and so he lived to the terms of that and so he lived to the terms of that nazarite vow nazarite vow and in verse 16 we read brother and and in verse 16 we read brother and sisters in verse 16 and many and many of the children of israel shall he turn of the children of israel shall he turn to the lord their god to the lord their god not all not all but many what a wonderful thing it was that he was able to accomplish what elijah would was able to accomplish what elijah would never accomplish never accomplish but when you think about it brother and but when you think about it brother and sisters there's a progression in god's sisters there's a progression in god's purpose isn't there purpose isn't there you see elijah really apart from the you see elijah really apart from the widow of zarephath widow of zarephath and of the seven thousand of course and and of the seven thousand of course and elijah he didn't affect them they were elijah he didn't affect them they were already a remnant according to the already a remnant according to the election of grace that wasn't elijah's election of grace that wasn't elijah's work apart from the widow of zarapath work apart from the widow of zarapath elijah turned nobody to the lord their elijah turned nobody to the lord their god god he left an indelible impression upon the he left an indelible impression upon the nation nation he shook them to their foundations he shook them to their foundations but when he was taken up in a storm but when he was taken up in a storm out of this world brethren sisters he out of this world brethren sisters he left nobody left nobody except the widow of zarape except the widow of zarape john caines comes along and many shall john caines comes along and many shall he turn to the lord their god because he he turn to the lord their god because he will express that still small voice that will express that still small voice that elijah didn't elijah didn't but brethren sisters but brethren sisters an even greater destiny is ahead an even greater destiny is ahead for malachi says he shall turn the five for malachi says he shall turn the five heart of the fathers of the children heart of the fathers of the children and the heart of the children of the and the heart of the children of the fathers he'll convert fathers he'll convert all of them all of them not all in the sense of the totality not all in the sense of the totality because some of the rebels will fall in because some of the rebels will fall in the wilderness ezekiel says the wilderness ezekiel says but of all those that elijah will bring but of all those that elijah will bring the multitude of the scattered tribes of the multitude of the scattered tribes of israel back to their land to meet israel back to their land to meet messiah the prince messiah the prince of all those who come with him of all those who come with him all of them all of them he'll have he'll have so there was none in the first instance so there was none in the first instance many in the second instance many in the second instance all of them finally all of them finally what a remarkable progression that is what a remarkable progression that is in the divine purpose in the divine purpose now zacharias of course was overwhelmed now zacharias of course was overwhelmed with all this brothers and sisters with all this brothers and sisters he was absolutely overwhelmed he was absolutely overwhelmed and in verse 18 he said unto the angel and in verse 18 he said unto the angel whereby shall i know this whereby shall i know this for i am an old man and my wife is well for i am an old man and my wife is well stricken in years stricken in years you may remember that the words whereby you may remember that the words whereby shall i know this really were said shall i know this really were said almost exactly those words many many almost exactly those words many many years ago by another very faithful man years ago by another very faithful man so faithful that he became known as the so faithful that he became known as the father of the faithful father of the faithful when abraham in genesis 15 was told when abraham in genesis 15 was told so shall thy seed be so shall thy seed be he believed it he believed it with all his heart and soul it was with all his heart and soul it was accounted unto him for righteousness accounted unto him for righteousness righteousness therefore brothers and righteousness therefore brothers and sisters is defined scripturally sisters is defined scripturally in believing in the humanly impossible in believing in the humanly impossible that's what abraham did that's what abraham did when we believe in the humanly when we believe in the humanly impossible impossible god says that i define as righteousness god says that i define as righteousness if we imagine that by human prowess if we imagine that by human prowess ability we can ever reach god's kingdom ability we can ever reach god's kingdom when we're going to be shattered when we're going to be shattered but when abraham had said that he also but when abraham had said that he also said later on whereby shall i know that said later on whereby shall i know that i will inherit it but god didn't condemn i will inherit it but god didn't condemn him for unbelief you know why brothers him for unbelief you know why brothers and sisters because his problem was and sisters because his problem was different than zacharias's zacharias's different than zacharias's zacharias's was just simply he was overcome for the was just simply he was overcome for the moment and he just couldn't believe it moment and he just couldn't believe it it was so great it wasn't abraham's it was so great it wasn't abraham's problem problem abraham's problem was so shall i seed abraham's problem was so shall i seed being looking up at those stars he said being looking up at those stars he said i believe it i believe it but then looking at that body he said but then looking at that body he said how can it be how can it be because i'm a mortal man because i'm a mortal man what god is talking about is immortal what god is talking about is immortal life life i'm a sinner there's no perfect man i'm a sinner there's no perfect man except our lord jesus he was a sinner except our lord jesus he was a sinner like everybody else is a sinner in the like everybody else is a sinner in the sense that he was not perfect sense that he was not perfect and so he thought how can god give me and so he thought how can god give me eternal life look at the principles of eternal life look at the principles of the deity how can we get past them and the deity how can we get past them and god immediately showed him a sacrifice god immediately showed him a sacrifice to divide those animals to divide those animals and he met abraham as the burning lamp and he met abraham as the burning lamp passed between the pieces passed between the pieces so the very expression whereby shall i so the very expression whereby shall i know know in the mouth of zacharias was those very in the mouth of zacharias was those very words that abraham used but they were words that abraham used but they were vastly different in character vastly different in character and poor old zacharias and who could and poor old zacharias and who could ever blame him brethren and sisters we ever blame him brethren and sisters we know he was praying we know he had great know he was praying we know he had great faith but isn't it true that when god faith but isn't it true that when god does answer our prayers we sometimes does answer our prayers we sometimes just are so aghast in unbelief we just just are so aghast in unbelief we just can't accept it can't accept it and then the angel said this in verse 19 and then the angel said this in verse 19 and the angel answering said unto him i am i o gibbon i o gibbon the mighty one of god the mighty one of god that stands in the presence of god that stands in the presence of god and am sent to speak unto thee and show and am sent to speak unto thee and show thee thee glad tidings glad tidings the gospel the gospel and because he didn't believe it brother and because he didn't believe it brother and sisters in verse 20 and sisters in verse 20 he was struck dumb he was struck dumb why was he struck dumb for not believing why was he struck dumb for not believing the gospel why strike him dumb for not believing the glad tidings for not believing the glad tidings well of course well of course there was nothing else the angel could there was nothing else the angel could do do because the gospel brethren sisters is because the gospel brethren sisters is not a new testament thing it's an old not a new testament thing it's an old testament doctrine testament doctrine lift up thy voice with strength lift up thy voice with strength lift it up lift it up and say under the cities of judah and say under the cities of judah behold your god behold your god bring good tidings of good things bring good tidings of good things isaiah 40. isaiah 40. and so the good tidings of good things and so the good tidings of good things that were said to the cities of judah that were said to the cities of judah behold your god behold your god were said with a voice that was lifted were said with a voice that was lifted up up because he didn't believe it because he didn't believe it he was dumb and exactly the same thing brethren and sisters is said in isaiah 52 sisters is said in isaiah 52 the watchmen shall lift up the voice the watchmen shall lift up the voice with strength with strength they shall cry together they shall cry together say undesired say undesired good tidings good tidings thy god reigneth thy god reigneth and because it had to be said and because it had to be said with a loud voice and he didn't believe with a loud voice and he didn't believe it he was struck dumb you know brethren and sisters one other time in isaiah one other time in isaiah it is said the spirit of the lord god is it is said the spirit of the lord god is upon me for he hath anointed me to upon me for he hath anointed me to preach good preach good tidings tidings the gospel under the meek the gospel under the meek and that gospel was and that gospel was the day of vengeance of our god the day of vengeance of our god and in the three places where that is and in the three places where that is found found in isaiah in isaiah you have what paul called in romans you have what paul called in romans chapter one chapter one the gospel the gospel of god of god and in isaiah 40 the good tidings were and in isaiah 40 the good tidings were behold your god behold your god in isaiah 52 the good tidings were in isaiah 52 the good tidings were behold our god behold our god in isaiah 61 the good tidings were in isaiah 61 the good tidings were behold your god behold your god and the personal pronoun brethren and and the personal pronoun brethren and sisters is attached to god's name in sisters is attached to god's name in every case the good news to you and i is every case the good news to you and i is that he's our god that he's our god not just simply any god not the god or a not just simply any god not the god or a god but your god my god our god god but your god my god our god that's good news that's good news and because zechariah failed to believe and because zechariah failed to believe it it and because it had to be said and because it had to be said in a loud voice in a loud voice he was struck down it was scriptural that it should be so and you know when his mouth was opened and you know when his mouth was opened one of the first things that he said in one of the first things that he said in verse 68 verse 68 is blessed be the lord god of israel for is blessed be the lord god of israel for he hath visited he hath visited and redeemed his people and redeemed his people as soon as his mouth was open brother as soon as his mouth was open brother and sisters he saw the point of that and sisters he saw the point of that gospel of god gospel of god the good tidings that he become your god the good tidings that he become your god my god thy god my god thy god god had visited god had visited his people his people and he announced that wonderful gospel and he announced that wonderful gospel of god of god which of course isaiah had so which of course isaiah had so beautifully put before him beautifully put before him so many years before so many years before and concluding our first session brother and concluding our first session brother and sisters and sisters we come back to that first chapter of we come back to that first chapter of luke and we read in verse 24 the fulfillment of god's promise of god's promise and after those days his wife elizabeth and after those days his wife elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months conceived and hid herself five months saying thus hath the lord dealt with me saying thus hath the lord dealt with me in the days in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men reproach among men she hid herself brother and sisters she hid herself brother and sisters for for five months five months to think about to think about the grace of god the grace of god and i know and i know that we can stretch that we can stretch biblical numerics biblical numerics i am not one of those i am not one of those fanatics about that brother and sisters fanatics about that brother and sisters i sometimes think that that sometimes i sometimes think that that sometimes can be overdone can be overdone but believe me when i tell you but believe me when i tell you that there are plenty of places where that there are plenty of places where the number five is used of god's grace the number five is used of god's grace and she went away to hide herself for and she went away to hide herself for five months five months to think about the grace of god which to think about the grace of god which was to be born into her house was to be born into her house johannen johannen for he shall be great for he shall be great in the sight of the lord in the sight of the lord and you know brethren sisters when he and you know brethren sisters when he came along to announce the coming of the came along to announce the coming of the lord jesus christ he said lord jesus christ he said that we have received grace that we have received grace for for grace so that he was the grace of god there was one coming mightier than he there was one coming mightier than he and when he did come along and when he did come along they did receive grace they did receive grace for for another form of grace another form of grace even greater than that which they even greater than that which they received in john the baptist

Transcript

this is idlewild 1983 the teacher's brother john martin the teacher's brother john martin enfield australia the subject the enfield australia the subject the prophet of the highest prophet of the highest john the baptist john the baptist and the subtitle for today is the day of and the subtitle for today is the day of his showing unto israel brother martin our beloved brother and sisters and our lord jesus christ it seems quite remarkable brother and sisters that sisters that of him of whom it is said that there had of him of whom it is said that there had been no greater prophet born among women been no greater prophet born among women than john the baptist than john the baptist that we should only have one that we should only have one single verse of scripture single verse of scripture that spans 30 years of his life that spans 30 years of his life very similar of course to our lord jesus very similar of course to our lord jesus christ isn't it christ isn't it we did get a glimpse of him at the age we did get a glimpse of him at the age of 12 of 12 sitting at the feet of the doctors of sitting at the feet of the doctors of the law in the temple the law in the temple but the verse of scripture in question but the verse of scripture in question brother and sisters brother and sisters though it stands 30 years of john the though it stands 30 years of john the baptist life baptist life is absolutely is absolutely eloquent eloquent as to what it says as to what it says concerning god's purpose in him concerning god's purpose in him and i would like us all now to focus our and i would like us all now to focus our attention upon that verse of scripture attention upon that verse of scripture in luke chapter 1 and verse 80. in luke chapter 1 and verse 80. what this verse says is eloquent what this verse says is eloquent brethren and sisters it really is and after zechariah had finished his great praise of of his heavenly father great praise of of his heavenly father for the mercy performed in providing for the mercy performed in providing john the baptist to him john the baptist to him we read the last verse of that first we read the last verse of that first chapter chapter and the child grew and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit and waxed strong in spirit and was in the deserts and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto israel you just contemplate that brethren sisters sisters i believe there are two very important i believe there are two very important things we're told in that verse about things we're told in that verse about that man's life that man's life the first one is this the first one is this that he was in the deserts that he was in the deserts and that was his message and that was his message as we pointed out he's not a voice as we pointed out he's not a voice crying in the wilderness that's not what crying in the wilderness that's not what the hebrew is saying at all the hebrew is saying at all he's a voice crying and the message of that voice is in the wilderness in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the lord prepare ye the way of the lord and make straight in the desert a and make straight in the desert a highway for our god highway for our god and the proof of what i'm saying brother and the proof of what i'm saying brother and sisters is so obvious because that's and sisters is so obvious because that's the parallelism and so here was one who was saying that if we're ever going to understand that if we're ever going to understand anything about god anything about god we must at least be able to isolate we must at least be able to isolate ourselves from this world and our mind ourselves from this world and our mind i do not believe brother and sisters for i do not believe brother and sisters for one moment that god ever expected any of one moment that god ever expected any of us to live like john the baptist us to live like john the baptist he was an extreme case he was an extreme case for an extreme circumstance for an extreme circumstance god does not ask us to do that god does not ask us to do that we're taught in the in the book of we're taught in the in the book of ecclesiastes to live a normal ecclesiastes to live a normal happy happy life life was sufficient was sufficient that we might have security with that we might have security with ourselves and our families ourselves and our families what god is saying in that man what god is saying in that man is that unless in the circumstances of is that unless in the circumstances of life we can isolate our thinking that we life we can isolate our thinking that we might go out where we are uncluttered by might go out where we are uncluttered by this society god can never speak to our this society god can never speak to our heart heart and that was his message and that was his message in a world that seized in intrigue in a world that seized in intrigue in hatred in hatred immaterialism and in all class immaterialism and in all class distinctions distinctions and his point was the voice was crying and his point was the voice was crying to them crying to them crying crying to them crying to them come out here and learn something about come out here and learn something about god and where was he god and where was he in the deserts in the deserts he was not a hypocrite he was not a hypocrite he was doing that yes to the extreme he was doing that yes to the extreme that he might that he might galvanize them out of their apathy and galvanize them out of their apathy and indifference towards the word of god and indifference towards the word of god and we need that brethren and sisters i need we need that brethren and sisters i need that you need that in this dark and that you need that in this dark and degenerate age in which we live degenerate age in which we live that's one thing that's one thing but remember what we said about him in but remember what we said about him in our opening talk on the introduction our opening talk on the introduction that john claimed to be nothing else but that john claimed to be nothing else but a voice a voice now i understand that when you've only now i understand that when you've only got a voice you listen got a voice you listen but here the record is saying he was in but here the record is saying he was in the desert until the day of his the desert until the day of his showing showing unto israel unto israel isn't that remarkable isn't that remarkable and that is not a coincidental word and that is not a coincidental word brethren and sisters the greek word brethren and sisters the greek word means an exhibition means an exhibition until the day of his exhibition unto until the day of his exhibition unto israel israel and the lord jesus christ himself picked and the lord jesus christ himself picked that point right up and he said that point right up and he said what went she out to what went she out to see so it wasn't only a voice though john claimed to be just that claimed to be just that but it was a voice brother and sisters but it was a voice brother and sisters that was on exhibition in that man please understand me i haven't got a phobia about materialism i haven't got a phobia about materialism i haven't come over here brother and i haven't come over here brother and sisters because i think you're sisters because i think you're materialistic because i never even materialistic because i never even considered that when i chose this considered that when i chose this subject but i know what we are because i live there because i live there and we need every day of our life to go and we need every day of our life to go out in our mind and have a look at him out in our mind and have a look at him the exhibition the exhibition that god showed in that desert that god showed in that desert what went he out what went he out to see to see and that's a very very important thing and that's a very very important thing well let's have a look what we ought to well let's have a look what we ought to see matthew chapter three see matthew chapter three here it is brethren sisters this is what here it is brethren sisters this is what they went out to see and bear in mind everyone would have seen him everyone would have seen him now before we quote this verse i'd just now before we quote this verse i'd just like to draw your attention to that like to draw your attention to that chart at the back there if you i hope chart at the back there if you i hope you can all see it you can all see it now that was drawn by our young people now that was drawn by our young people it's not it's not entirely accurate of course but it's entirely accurate of course but it's supposedly to represent the wilderness supposedly to represent the wilderness of judea as it leads down to the dead of judea as it leads down to the dead sea sea the on the other side of the water is the on the other side of the water is that little peninsula you see on the that little peninsula you see on the dead sea that sticks out into the end of dead sea that sticks out into the end of the water and it was down there behind the water and it was down there behind those mountains brother and sisters that those mountains brother and sisters that john stood on the floor of the valley of john stood on the floor of the valley of jordan and people went down to hear him jordan and people went down to hear him and to see him and it was nature's and to see him and it was nature's amphitheater because they would have amphitheater because they would have been looking down like we were looking been looking down like we were looking at that fellow the other day taking our at that fellow the other day taking our picture picture they'd all been looking down this way they'd all been looking down this way though we'd have been up on that ladder though we'd have been up on that ladder we'd all and we're all looking down at we'd all and we're all looking down at john right there wasn't anyone who john right there wasn't anyone who couldn't see him couldn't see him and there he was this god figure and there he was this god figure and have a look what they're looking at and have a look what they're looking at and this was god's exhibition now it says here in matthew chapter 3 in verse 4 verse 4 and the same john and the same john had his raiment of camel's hair had his raiment of camel's hair and a leather girdle about his loins and and a leather girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wild honey and his meat was locusts and wild honey and that is the sum total that is the sum total of the inventory of his possessions or of the inventory of his possessions or his lada his lada all in that verse all in that verse now this is what they saw of course now this is what they saw of course looking down there if you and i were looking down there if you and i were crowded on the slopes of judea watching crowded on the slopes of judea watching him you'd say to your neighbor to your him you'd say to your neighbor to your brother alongside you brother alongside you doesn't he remind you of elijah doesn't he remind you of elijah of course you would whoever looked like of course you would whoever looked like that that but there was a difference brother and but there was a difference brother and sisters sisters there was a difference there was a difference see other elijah it is said see other elijah it is said that his coat was a skin of an animal that his coat was a skin of an animal doesn't say what it was but this one you doesn't say what it was but this one you know what it is know what it is so i'd say to my neighbor yes he does so i'd say to my neighbor yes he does look like john the better have you look like john the better have you noticed the difference why what's the noticed the difference why what's the difference difference got his coat in a different shop got his coat in a different shop it's a camel one it's a camel one why does the scripture note that why does the scripture note that because the camel brother and sisters because the camel brother and sisters is made by the creator to be adapted to is made by the creator to be adapted to the desert that's where he was living come out here and he was adapted to his circumstances and he was adapted to his circumstances the camel has foot pads the camel has foot pads that spread out so he can walk on the that spread out so he can walk on the terrain on the sandy terrain and he can terrain on the sandy terrain and he can do that with great dexterity you put him do that with great dexterity you put him on rocky ground and he's hopeless on rocky ground and he's hopeless but on the desert he's absolutely sure but on the desert he's absolutely sure he's got a hump on his back brother and he's got a hump on his back brother and sisters in which he stores his food sisters in which he stores his food he's got a three he's got a three chambered stomach chambered stomach in which the stories water in which the stories water his lips his lips are thick are thick and they're like leather and they're like leather so he can eat thistles and cactus he sheds his coat he sheds his coat before the summer he sheds his coat before the summer his nostrils are all pinched in his nostrils are all pinched in so that the sand of the storms can't so that the sand of the storms can't penetrate he can go brother and sisters a hundred miles in 12 hours miles in 12 hours and for four successive consecutive days and for four successive consecutive days he can go at a trot for the whole day he can go at a trot for the whole day for four consecutive days for four consecutive days without a respite without a respite he's adapted to his circumstances he's adapted to his circumstances look at him what a great lesson there isn't that for you and i brother and sisters you and i brother and sisters i realize that what i'm saying of course i realize that what i'm saying of course is unpalatable to us all is unpalatable to us all i've i've grown under this burden just i've i've grown under this burden just as much as you do as much as you do i like my comfort i like my comfort but you know brother and sisters if but you know brother and sisters if we're going to be useful to our creator we're going to be useful to our creator we've got to be adapted to the we've got to be adapted to the circumstances of hardship circumstances of hardship made that creature for the deserts made that creature for the deserts and john's clothes with him what went ye and john's clothes with him what went ye out to see out to see well that's what i'm looking at that's well that's what i'm looking at that's all i know about him i've only got one all i know about him i've only got one verse that describes him so i've got to verse that describes him so i've got to be adapted to my circumstances be adapted to my circumstances i've got to learn to go through a bit of i've got to learn to go through a bit of hardship hardship we've just got two brethren sisters we've just got two brethren sisters we've got to have our feet adapted to go we've got to have our feet adapted to go through difficult terrain we've got to through difficult terrain we've got to have our minds stored up with the power have our minds stored up with the power of god's word of god's word and the water of god's word has got to and the water of god's word has got to be in several chambers of our thinking be in several chambers of our thinking that we can always draw upon that in that we can always draw upon that in difficult circumstances difficult circumstances we've got to be prepared brothers and we've got to be prepared brothers and sisters to eat anything at any time even sisters to eat anything at any time even the food at idlewild if the food at idlewild if it means we're going to endure under the it means we're going to endure under the end end it means that we can't always have our it means that we can't always have our comforts of life comforts of life we've got to be our nostrils are going we've got to be our nostrils are going to be pinched against the grating sands to be pinched against the grating sands of criticism of criticism and we've got to have all these things and we've got to have all these things we're going to be adapted in the summer we're going to be adapted in the summer to to prepare for the hot and we've got to to prepare for the hot and we've got to have our coats on in the winter to to have our coats on in the winter to prepare for the cold prepare for the cold and if necessary we're going to go for and if necessary we're going to go for hour after hour in god's service without hour after hour in god's service without respite on the trotters that were respite on the trotters that were keeping going and keeping going and keeping going and keeping going and keeping going keeping going if that's what it means to serve our if that's what it means to serve our creator creator and believe me brother and sisters i and believe me brother and sisters i haven't done anything of course that's haven't done anything of course that's what that's worthy to boast of but i what that's worthy to boast of but i have had circumstances in my life when i have had circumstances in my life when i didn't think i could go any further but didn't think i could go any further but i always found that you could do it if i always found that you could do it if you put your trust in god you put your trust in god we must become adapted to our we must become adapted to our circumstances if we're going to do circumstances if we're going to do anything worthy of the name of the anything worthy of the name of the creator which we serve creator which we serve what weren't you out to see and that's what weren't you out to see and that's what i said what i said i don't i got no other description i don't i got no other description nothing but that nothing but that locust was his was his food brothers and locust was his was his food brothers and sisters locusts was his food sisters locusts was his food who'd live on locusts who'd live on locusts nobody nobody before we get onto the local server let before we get onto the local server let me just i forgot to mention one thing me just i forgot to mention one thing about the camel the camel was unclean about the camel the camel was unclean under the law of moses he's a priest under the law of moses he's a priest they were dressed for glory and beauty they were dressed for glory and beauty according to the details of the law according to the details of the law there is a priest down there and he's there is a priest down there and he's got an unclean garment on him got an unclean garment on him but what god had cleansed brother and but what god had cleansed brother and sisters none was to dare call common or sisters none was to dare call common or unclean unclean now come on to the locusts now come on to the locusts now you know locusts were a form of food now you know locusts were a form of food actually they taste very much like actually they taste very much like almonds i've never tasted them i just almonds i've never tasted them i just you know i believe it i don't want to you know i believe it i don't want to put it to the proof put it to the proof but they they tell me that they taste but they they tell me that they taste very much like almonds but the whole very much like almonds but the whole point that's being made is that they point that's being made is that they were found in the deserts were found in the deserts see everything about that man is see everything about that man is described about his environment described about his environment and that's what he's saying come out and that's what he's saying come out here to me and listen to god's word it's here to me and listen to god's word it's not whether it's just as if he's dashing not whether it's just as if he's dashing up in the into the judean hills to go to up in the into the judean hills to go to the nearest drug store to buy himself an the nearest drug store to buy himself an ice cream he's got everything he wants ice cream he's got everything he wants down in that desert he's not asking you down in that desert he's not asking you to do any more than what he's doing to do any more than what he's doing himself himself that's the whole point of that that's the whole point of that exhibition exhibition now locusts under the law of moses were now locusts under the law of moses were a clean thing depending on what type a clean thing depending on what type not all locusts were unclean and the not all locusts were unclean and the term locusts of course covered a variety term locusts of course covered a variety of insect life of insect life and the thing which made the locust and the thing which made the locust clean clean it one single attribute it must have to it one single attribute it must have to make it clean under the law of moses and make it clean under the law of moses and edible it must have the ability to edible it must have the ability to spring above the ground if it didn't have that ability it was unclean god never ever authorized him to unclean god never ever authorized him to eat anything that grovelled in the dust eat anything that grovelled in the dust but if a little creature could go ding but if a little creature could go ding like that you could eat him so don't like that you could eat him so don't worry about your rue burgers in america worry about your rue burgers in america they're quite okay they're quite okay it has the ability to get off the ground it has the ability to get off the ground and of course there in li and of course there in li was the lesson wasn't it if we have the was the lesson wasn't it if we have the ability to rise above the things of life ability to rise above the things of life then that's what makes us clean but then that's what makes us clean but again i believe the emphasis was on the again i believe the emphasis was on the fact that that belonged to the desert fact that that belonged to the desert and then we learned that he also at and then we learned that he also at wild honey wild honey which doesn't mean of course that honey which doesn't mean of course that honey you know come out and scrambled all over you know come out and scrambled all over you in a vicious way it wasn't wild in you in a vicious way it wasn't wild in that sense it meant really the greek that sense it meant really the greek means natural honey means natural honey not that honey not that honey which was then gleaned by the beekeeper which was then gleaned by the beekeeper who cultivated that bee and kept it of who cultivated that bee and kept it of course in aprilies and so on and course in aprilies and so on and therefore cultivated in that sense not therefore cultivated in that sense not that sort of honey brethren sisters but that sort of honey brethren sisters but the honey that you would find in the the honey that you would find in the desert and strangely enough desert and strangely enough in the land of israel where virtue was in the land of israel where virtue was not great was not extensive like you not great was not extensive like you have here in the idle wild pines it was have here in the idle wild pines it was the practice of some of the bees to the practice of some of the bees to build their nests in a rock build their nests in a rock to build their hive in a rock and to build their hive in a rock and operate out of that rock so that operate out of that rock so that deuteronomy 32 says deuteronomy 32 says that i gave them honey out of the rock that i gave them honey out of the rock and listen to this present sisters and listen to this present sisters listen to what this says in that same listen to what this says in that same context context i brought him i brought him into a waste howling wilderness into a waste howling wilderness that i might instruct him that's exactly that message and the wild honey the natural honey in and the wild honey the natural honey in deuteronomy 32 deuteronomy 32 in verse 13 in verse 13 is in the context of verse 10 is in the context of verse 10 that i brought him into a waste howling that i brought him into a waste howling wilderness wilderness that i might instruct him that i might instruct him and that brothers and sisters again is and that brothers and sisters again is god's exhibition of how we go about god's exhibition of how we go about understanding his word understanding his word please understand me we are not saying please understand me we are not saying god is not saying that we have to go god is not saying that we have to go into a literal wilderness into a literal wilderness but unless we are going to find the time but unless we are going to find the time to close off to close off in quietude we will never come up with in quietude we will never come up with the thoughts out of the scripture that the thoughts out of the scripture that you learn at bible schools you learn at bible schools we've got to go into that study and i'm we've got to go into that study and i'm talking out of the brethren who of talking out of the brethren who of course course upon whom devolves this great upon whom devolves this great responsibility of feeding the flock and responsibility of feeding the flock and it applies to everyone in general of it applies to everyone in general of course who listens to but more course who listens to but more appropriately to those brethren who have appropriately to those brethren who have got the ability to feed the flock unless got the ability to feed the flock unless they are prepared according to this word they are prepared according to this word and it's not my exhortation brethren and it's not my exhortation brethren sisters to go down and have a look at sisters to go down and have a look at that exhibition they will never be able that exhibition they will never be able to prepare the way of the lord to prepare the way of the lord close that door close that door life is behind it and beyond it life is behind it and beyond it and we're in that study and we're with and we're in that study and we're with god god open up his book open up his book pray for understanding and help pray for understanding and help and then brethren and sisters and then brethren and sisters walk out where there is no distractions walk out where there is no distractions and let your mind assimilate to the and let your mind assimilate to the wonderful thinking that is there but how wonderful thinking that is there but how on earth could i ever understand that on earth could i ever understand that bible if i'm in my study saying bible if i'm in my study saying uh i wonder if the car is clean i should uh i wonder if the car is clean i should clean um what does it say here clean um what does it say here um i um i i should really get in the street and i should really get in the street and get some of that now how on earth am i get some of that now how on earth am i going to understand the bubble like that going to understand the bubble like that you see what i'm doing i'm being you see what i'm doing i'm being drawn away all the time what i've got to drawn away all the time what i've got to do what i must buy where i've got to go do what i must buy where i've got to go finish that finish that get out there with josh get out there with josh isolate yourself in your mind isolate yourself in your mind and god will speak to your heart and god will speak to your heart as hosea said i will allure her into the as hosea said i will allure her into the wilderness and speak to her heart wilderness and speak to her heart now we're going to see the day that came now we're going to see the day that came in luke chapter 3 brother and sisters in luke chapter 3 brother and sisters when the great day of his showing unto when the great day of his showing unto israel and what a day that was what a day it was when the day when he came for his showing unto israel there are some parts of the bible brothers and sisters brothers and sisters that need no exposition that need no exposition they are the exposition of them is on they are the exposition of them is on the surface itself not all the bible's the surface itself not all the bible's like that but there are some parts of it like that but there are some parts of it what all you need to do is read it what all you need to do is read it and here's the great lesson of john's and here's the great lesson of john's life and i will read these verses to you life and i will read these verses to you i will read them in an exaggerated way i will read them in an exaggerated way i won't read like brother mcgill did the i won't read like brother mcgill did the other night i've never heard such a other night i've never heard such a reading like that i compliment him upon reading like that i compliment him upon that was a magnificent reading if you that was a magnificent reading if you listen carefully last night i won't read listen carefully last night i won't read it quite so well as that it quite so well as that but i will read it in an exaggerated way but i will read it in an exaggerated way and i won't have to tell you the meaning and i won't have to tell you the meaning of it of it because luke introduces god's exhibition because luke introduces god's exhibition by giving us a list of the great men in by giving us a list of the great men in the world the world now you listen to me read the opening now you listen to me read the opening verses of luke and you'll get the point verses of luke and you'll get the point now in the 15th year of the reign of now in the 15th year of the reign of tiberius caesar tiberius caesar pontius pilate being governor of judea pontius pilate being governor of judea and herod and herod being the tetrarch of galilee being the tetrarch of galilee and his brother philip and his brother philip tetrarch of ichiria and of the region of tetrarch of ichiria and of the region of trachonitis trachonitis and lysanias and lysanias the tetrarch of abellini the tetrarch of abellini anis and cahiaphus anis and cahiaphus being the high priests the word of god came unto john came unto john the son of zacharias the son of zacharias in in the wilderness that doesn't need any exposition brethren sisters does it brethren sisters does it here's all the world's greats here's all the world's greats here's all their territory here's all their territory far as the eye could see far as the eye could see and the list finishes brethren sisters and the list finishes brethren sisters with the high priests of god and unto none of those greats did the word of god come did the word of god come but under job but under job whose whose territory nobody wanted in accordance with a man's importance of himself with a man's importance of himself brother and sisters brother and sisters so god cannot speak through him so god cannot speak through him are you the christ i am not the christ are you the christ i am not the christ are you elijah i am not are you elijah i am not are you the prophet are you the prophet no no the more he said the less that he said the more he said the less that he said what are you nothing god says i can what are you nothing god says i can speak through you speak through you could never speak through tiberius could never speak through tiberius caesar caesar or herod or philip or lysanius or anas or herod or philip or lysanius or anas or cahiapus or cahiapus because god's voice brothers and sisters because god's voice brothers and sisters wouldn't find room in their life wouldn't find room in their life why do you think it was when jesus said why do you think it was when jesus said in the 16th chapter of john in the 16th chapter of john he said i will send you the comforter he said i will send you the comforter when he cometh he will convince the when he cometh he will convince the world of sin of righteousness and of world of sin of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not judgment of sin because they believe not on me on me of righteousness because i go to my of righteousness because i go to my father of judgment because the prince of father of judgment because the prince of this world is judged when he cometh he this world is judged when he cometh he will do this peter stood up on the day will do this peter stood up on the day of pentecost brothers and sisters and of pentecost brothers and sisters and his diac in his speech in acts chapter his diac in his speech in acts chapter one one rather acts chapter two is divided into rather acts chapter two is divided into three sections of sin by wicked hands three sections of sin by wicked hands you have crucified and slain of you have crucified and slain of righteousness because he said he's gone righteousness because he said he's gone to the father of judgment because he to the father of judgment because he said save yourself from this underwater said save yourself from this underwater generation why was it that peter was the generation why was it that peter was the spokesman on that day because he was the spokesman on that day because he was the most eloquent of all the apostles most eloquent of all the apostles because he could speak better than james because he could speak better than james and john and john no brethren sisters because he was the no brethren sisters because he was the one that swore and cursed that he didn't one that swore and cursed that he didn't know his lord know his lord and they all knew it and there was in peter that day none of peter none of peter god was able to use his mouth god was able to use his mouth it's a wonderful it's a wonderful and a marvelous lesson and a marvelous lesson he was able to speak to peter's heart he was able to speak to peter's heart because peter got out of himself into a because peter got out of himself into a wilderness wilderness he was ashamed of what he had done he was ashamed of what he had done and that made him and that made him available that's why he was the available that's why he was the spokesman when he cometh he will say spokesman when he cometh he will say this that's not peter talking this that's not peter talking that was the spirit of the comforter that was the spirit of the comforter the spirit of our lord jesus christ the spirit of our lord jesus christ speaking through him what a remarkable speaking through him what a remarkable lesson that is in life brothers and lesson that is in life brothers and sisters sisters and luke says in verse 3 of this chapter and luke says in verse 3 of this chapter that this john came that this john came into all the country about jordan into all the country about jordan preaching the baptism of remittance preaching the baptism of remittance repentance for the remission of sins repentance for the remission of sins well we might say well to a christian well we might say well to a christian elephant that's very very familiar and elephant that's very very familiar and to us of course we said oh well that's to us of course we said oh well that's very doctrinal but you see brothers and very doctrinal but you see brothers and sisters you've got to appreciate what sisters you've got to appreciate what that meant to that crowd standing in the that meant to that crowd standing in the amphitheater because you see you've got amphitheater because you see you've got to understand what the scribes and the to understand what the scribes and the pharisees taught pharisees taught because they thought you see that there because they thought you see that there was a difference between jews and was a difference between jews and well we'll call them gentiles but they well we'll call them gentiles but they called them dogs called them dogs quite a difference really quite a difference really and when they do of course came to and when they do of course came to maturity maturity uh he was certain that he was uh he was certain that he was circumcised the eighth day and then he circumcised the eighth day and then he came to the age of about 13 and he was came to the age of about 13 and he was inducted inducted as a son of the covenant of the law in a as a son of the covenant of the law in a very elaborate ceremony very elaborate ceremony but this chap here he might want to but this chap here he might want to become a jew too become a jew too a proselyte a proselyte gotta wash him baptism brother and sisters was in vogue long beach or before john king baptism is not just a christian doc doctrine it was in vogue long before doctrine it was in vogue long before john came and was reserved to wash john came and was reserved to wash filthy gentiles to come into the truth filthy gentiles to come into the truth of israel's covenant and here's john of israel's covenant and here's john standing up there and telling all of standing up there and telling all of them that unless they're prepared to get into the muddy waters of jordan and confess the muddy waters of jordan and confess that that all flesh is grass not just gentile all flesh is grass not just gentile flesh flesh then there's no way then there's no way that they're ever going to find that they're ever going to find repentance repentance that was john's power brothers and that was john's power brothers and sisters sisters imagine a pharisee imagine a pharisee lowering his dignity to that lowering his dignity to that with years of tradition behind him with years of tradition behind him of that act speaking of washing filthy of that act speaking of washing filthy gentiles gentiles imagine imagine the audacity of that one down there the audacity of that one down there suggesting that suggesting that but that's what he suggested brother and but that's what he suggested brother and sisters sisters and you know despite the unpopularity of and you know despite the unpopularity of that doctrine that doctrine that man's doctrine went all over the that man's doctrine went all over the world world he never performed a single miracle we he never performed a single miracle we learned that in john chapter 10 and learned that in john chapter 10 and verse 41 as we saw before verse 41 as we saw before but this we are told in the 11th chapter but this we are told in the 11th chapter of mark and verse 32 of mark and verse 32 that all men that all men counted john a prophet there must have counted john a prophet there must have been something very compelling about been something very compelling about that message as unpalatable as it was to that message as unpalatable as it was to them them we learned in the 18th chapter of acts we learned in the 18th chapter of acts in verse 25 that apollos came from in verse 25 that apollos came from alexandria in egypt alexandria in egypt and he was and he was skilled skilled in the teachings of john the baptist and in the teachings of john the baptist and the greek word that is chosen there the greek word that is chosen there is really the word of one of our of uh is really the word of one of our of uh one of our pieces of literature one of our pieces of literature catechesis catechesis he had categorized john's teaching so he had categorized john's teaching so there was a school in egypt there was a school in egypt teaching what john taught so powerful teaching what john taught so powerful was that was that the apostle paul came to ephesus which the apostle paul came to ephesus which was really the capital of asia minor was really the capital of asia minor brothers and sisters and he found brothers and sisters and he found certain disciples who knew about the certain disciples who knew about the baptism of john it baptism of john it had penetrated into asia minor had penetrated into asia minor and as unpalatable as this doctrine was and as unpalatable as this doctrine was it must have been altogether powerful as it must have been altogether powerful as it came reverberating up that wilderness it came reverberating up that wilderness of judea of judea matthew it is don't turn away from luke matthew it is don't turn away from luke because we want to stay here for a while because we want to stay here for a while but it is matthew who gives us his but it is matthew who gives us his opening words which luke doesn't opening words which luke doesn't and in the diagram version of his and in the diagram version of his opening words he says opening words he says the royal majesty of the heavens hath the royal majesty of the heavens hath approached approached and of course he was announcing the fact and of course he was announcing the fact that the lord jesus christ or that the lord jesus christ or the christ as he would understand it he the christ as he would understand it he wouldn't know he was jesus wouldn't know he was jesus but the christ the messiah was about to but the christ the messiah was about to appear now you imagine i mean if if the appear now you imagine i mean if if the if israel were told the messiah was if israel were told the messiah was going to appear well of course the going to appear well of course the pharisees would all get dressed up in pharisees would all get dressed up in their in their their in their paraphernalia with their phylacteries paraphernalia with their phylacteries and they would tie their little things and they would tie their little things little leather little leather boxes around their foreheads with the boxes around their foreheads with the law in there and they would look very law in there and they would look very lovely wouldn't they and they would go lovely wouldn't they and they would go down the streets of jerusalem and they down the streets of jerusalem and they would proclaim with the silver trumpets would proclaim with the silver trumpets and with the ramshorn of jubilee but the and with the ramshorn of jubilee but the royal majesty of the kingdoms has royal majesty of the kingdoms has approached have a look who's telling you approached have a look who's telling you that the royal majesty of the kingdom is that the royal majesty of the kingdom is on his way look at him think wow the royal majesty of the heavens is the royal majesty of the heavens is approaching look he's saying it approaching look he's saying it the apostle paul says they wandered in the apostle paul says they wandered in sheepskins and in goat skins sheepskins and in goat skins they lived in the caves and dens of the they lived in the caves and dens of the earth earth of whom this world was not worthy of whom this world was not worthy and although he was proclaiming the and although he was proclaiming the coming of a royal majesty coming of a royal majesty yet look at him brethren and sisters yet look at him brethren and sisters thus says thus says the high the high and the lofty one that inhabits eternity and the lofty one that inhabits eternity he that is holy he that is holy i will dwell with him that is of a poor i will dwell with him that is of a poor and a contrite spirit and a contrite spirit and to proclaim the coming of the and to proclaim the coming of the majesty majesty i don't want to turn these references up i don't want to turn these references up i want to conserve our time brother and i want to conserve our time brother and sisters sisters but isaiah that you know isaiah the but isaiah that you know isaiah the providence says providence says preparing you the way of the lord in the preparing you the way of the lord in the wilderness prepare you the way of the wilderness prepare you the way of the lord make straight in the desert a lord make straight in the desert a highway for our god do you know how they highway for our god do you know how they made highways isaiah 62 tells us cast up made highways isaiah 62 tells us cast up cast up the highway behold thy salvation cast up the highway behold thy salvation cometh cometh and their majesty was approaching and and their majesty was approaching and the way that people made highways in the way that people made highways in those days brothers and sisters was that those days brothers and sisters was that as you made your way to jerusalem the as you made your way to jerusalem the first pilgrims would find the easiest first pilgrims would find the easiest path path and as they went along they would pick and as they went along they would pick up the stones and pull them out of the up the stones and pull them out of the way so their brother wouldn't trip over way so their brother wouldn't trip over them and as they did that they would define the path which they would define the path which stonewalled my hand they would define stonewalled my hand they would define that path that path that's the way walk in it that's the way walk in it and when you came along the pathway was and when you came along the pathway was defined defined and it was defined by the stumbling and it was defined by the stumbling blocks that your brother had taken out blocks that your brother had taken out of your way of your way that's what defines your path to the that's what defines your path to the kingdom kingdom cast up cast up the highway was the cast up cast up the highway was the words of the prophet words of the prophet and the same chapter says brethren and the same chapter says brethren sisters the same chapter says that my sisters the same chapter says that my salvation shall come as a lamp that salvation shall come as a lamp that burneth burneth and jesus said and jesus said he was a burning and a shining light he was a burning and a shining light and radiating along that path for a and radiating along that path for a moment of history moment of history a short moment of history john the a short moment of history john the baptist went out up there putting aside baptist went out up there putting aside all the stumbling blocks from people and all the stumbling blocks from people and flaring that path towards the coming of flaring that path towards the coming of the royal majesty the royal majesty and that's exactly the context of isaiah and that's exactly the context of isaiah 62 cast up cast up the highway behold he 62 cast up cast up the highway behold he cometh cometh and the chapter opens up with those and the chapter opens up with those words behold his salvation cometh as a words behold his salvation cometh as a burning light burning light what a remarkable context that is in the what a remarkable context that is in the in the light of john the baptist coming in the light of john the baptist coming and he fulfilled did he not brethren and he fulfilled did he not brethren sisters the terms of that voice every sisters the terms of that voice every valley shall be exalted luke chapter 3 valley shall be exalted luke chapter 3 and verse 10 he speaks to the common and verse 10 he speaks to the common people people every mountain and hill shall be made every mountain and hill shall be made low in matthew 3 and verse 7 he spoke to low in matthew 3 and verse 7 he spoke to the jewish leaders the jewish leaders the crooked shall be made straight and the crooked shall be made straight and in verse 12 of this chapter of luke he in verse 12 of this chapter of luke he spoke to the publicans spoke to the publicans the crooked tax gatherers the crooked tax gatherers the rough places should be made plain the rough places should be made plain and in verse 14 he smoothed over the and in verse 14 he smoothed over the soldiers soldiers and are there any four classes that he and are there any four classes that he spoke to spoke to every valley the common people were every valley the common people were exalted every mountain the pharisees exalted every mountain the pharisees were leveled were leveled every one that was crooked the every one that was crooked the republicans were made straight and the republicans were made straight and the every rough one the soldier was made every rough one the soldier was made smooth smooth and they were the four classes that came and they were the four classes that came to him what we now want to do brother to him what we now want to do brother and sisters and sisters is to see what he said to each class is to see what he said to each class now in verse 7 of luke chapter 3 now in verse 7 of luke chapter 3 then he said to the multitude if you then he said to the multitude if you compare that with the with verse seven compare that with the with verse seven of matthew chapter three you'll read of matthew chapter three you'll read you'll read there that the first words you'll read there that the first words were addressed to the pharisees and the were addressed to the pharisees and the sadducees sadducees and to them john said to the pharisees and to them john said to the pharisees and sadducees a generation of vipers who and sadducees a generation of vipers who had warned you to flee from the rock to had warned you to flee from the rock to come come now this was very interesting brother now this was very interesting brother and sisters and sisters he called them a generation of vipers he called them a generation of vipers the word generation means the word generation means a brood or an offspring that's how the a brood or an offspring that's how the rsv and rotherham renders it rsv and rotherham renders it a brood of vipers a brood of vipers they were snakes just born they were snakes just born they were just starting to manifest they were just starting to manifest their true characteristics their true characteristics they were just beginning to be shown up they were just beginning to be shown up for what they were for what they were later on when the lord jesus christ later on when the lord jesus christ called them the same thing he said called them the same thing he said oh ye generation of vipers ye serpents oh ye generation of vipers ye serpents by the time he came along by the time he came along they'd grown up they'd grown up he quoted the words of john and added he quoted the words of john and added the mature word for serpent the mature word for serpent they had filled up the measure of their they had filled up the measure of their fathers fathers cruz warned you to flee from the rock cruz warned you to flee from the rock becomes his job who's warned dutifully becomes his job who's warned dutifully from the roth to come you know brother from the roth to come you know brother and sisters he was referring of course and sisters he was referring of course to the custom down there that in the to the custom down there that in the wilderness of judea during the winter wilderness of judea during the winter months it was covered with a very low months it was covered with a very low virgin virgin green for a very short period of time green for a very short period of time during the winter but quickly scorched during the winter but quickly scorched by the sun by the sun in the summer months and when it got hot in the summer months and when it got hot down there and it got tinned to dry of down there and it got tinned to dry of course there was always the fire and out course there was always the fire and out of the fire would come these vipers of the fire would come these vipers shooting out of that out of that grass shooting out of that out of that grass and brushes and tearing off for their and brushes and tearing off for their life and that's how he liked those life and that's how he liked those scribes and pharisees scribes and pharisees the day is coming said malachi the day is coming said malachi that'll burn as an oven that'll burn as an oven and all the wicked of those that do and all the wicked of those that do wickedly shall be burnt up as stubble wickedly shall be burnt up as stubble and i'll leave them neither root nor and i'll leave them neither root nor branch and the end of that chapter says branch and the end of that chapter says behold i said you elijah and here is the behold i said you elijah and here is the one that's coming in his spirit and one that's coming in his spirit and power power so the prophecy of malachi has been so the prophecy of malachi has been brought to the bear upon them and the brought to the bear upon them and the words of verse 8 of john to the to this words of verse 8 of john to the to this class of people were to bring forth class of people were to bring forth fruit meet for repentance brothers and fruit meet for repentance brothers and sisters sisters fruit is how you determine a tree fruit is how you determine a tree it's not what our brother says it's not what our brother says it's not his external appearance it's not his external appearance sometimes that can be very deceptive sometimes that can be very deceptive we can be very oily we can be very we can be very oily we can be very smooth we can always be talking about smooth we can always be talking about the love of god the love of god we may not be like that in our hearts it's what we produce in life brethren sisters sisters you look at your quality of your you look at your quality of your ecclesia look at the quality of your ecclesia look at the quality of your young people look at the quality of your young people look at the quality of your families there's the proof families there's the proof you bring forth those sort of fruits you bring forth those sort of fruits says john before i ever put you in that says john before i ever put you in that water water and that's what he had the words he and that's what he had the words he addressed to these people and sisters addressed to these people and sisters and he said if you're not prepared to and he said if you're not prepared to bring forth those fruits he says the axe bring forth those fruits he says the axe is laid to the root of the trees is laid to the root of the trees they said they said that they had abraham to their father that they had abraham to their father they said we have abraham for us our they said we have abraham for us our father father john says god is able of these stones john says god is able of these stones to raise up children unto abraham to raise up children unto abraham you know brothers and sisters he took you know brothers and sisters he took them from that wilderness further north them from that wilderness further north to baptize them he didn't baptize him to baptize them he didn't baptize him the dead sea he baptized him at the dead sea he baptized him at bethebara bethebara which which means the forts the house of which which means the forts the house of the forts the forts and that's the place where israel and that's the place where israel crossed when they came into the holy crossed when they came into the holy land and when they came into the holy land and when they came into the holy land god drove back the river jordan and land god drove back the river jordan and picked up stones out of the the black picked up stones out of the the black oozy stinking mud of jordan and it was oozy stinking mud of jordan and it was brothers and sisters that's no brothers and sisters that's no exaggeration jordan at that at that exaggeration jordan at that at that point is very very stinking river as it point is very very stinking river as it gathers up all the debris before it gathers up all the debris before it dumps it into the dead sea and god drove dumps it into the dead sea and god drove that water back and he blocked those that water back and he blocked those stones out of the muck and forth and stones out of the muck and forth and stood him up on dry ground stood him up on dry ground and john says in the very place where and john says in the very place where that was done don't you tell me that that was done don't you tell me that you're descendants from abraham god is you're descendants from abraham god is able of these stones to raise up able of these stones to raise up children under abraham children under abraham and if we're prepared to go into the and if we're prepared to go into the waters of baptism which we have and waters of baptism which we have and stand there or go under the water and stand there or go under the water and say all flesh is grass say all flesh is grass god will drive that water away god will drive that water away bring us up to newness of life bring us up to newness of life and from the muddy depths of our and from the muddy depths of our morality brethren sisters he will stand morality brethren sisters he will stand us with his son in unis of life that we us with his son in unis of life that we should bring forth fruits worthy of should bring forth fruits worthy of repentance don't tell me that your repentance don't tell me that your natural descendants of abraham says john natural descendants of abraham says john everything john said everything john said was calculated to send their minds back was calculated to send their minds back to the word of their god to the word of their god because he was nothing but a voice these because he was nothing but a voice these were not his opinions were not his opinions the axe is laid at the root of the trees the axe is laid at the root of the trees where did he get that from brother and where did he get that from brother and sisters sisters where did he get that from now you look where did he get that from now you look at the correlation this is marvelous you at the correlation this is marvelous you look at the correlation of john and look at the correlation of john and jesus in their teaching jesus in their teaching the axe is laid at the root of the trees the axe is laid at the root of the trees now what are they what did the law say now what are they what did the law say it says that when they plan the fruit it says that when they plan the fruit tree this is in the 21st chapter of tree this is in the 21st chapter of leviticus when you when you planted a leviticus when you when you planted a fruit tree fruit tree god says i will give that tree three god says i will give that tree three years years i'll give it three years i'll give it three years and if it doesn't produce food in the and if it doesn't produce food in the fourth year cut it down john comes along brother and sisters at the beginning of the three years at the beginning of the three years and he says and he says there's an axe at the root of that tree and at the end nearing the end of his ministry ministry jesus said a certain man jesus said a certain man planted a fig tree and it didn't bring forth fruit for three years for three years and he's now getting to the end of three and he's now getting to the end of three and a half years of his ministry and a half years of his ministry and he says cut it down and he says cut it down and they make an appeal and they make an appeal let it go a bit longer let it go a bit longer let's fertilize it let's fertilize it and give it a chance and give it a chance and that's exactly what happened look at and that's exactly what happened look at the correlation the correlation john says the act is there john says the act is there they saw jesus pick it up they saw jesus pick it up three and a half years later three and a half years later and that's what the law of moses said and that's what the law of moses said john wasn't telling them anything there john wasn't telling them anything there wasn't back in that old testament wasn't back in that old testament that's what he told the scribes and that's what he told the scribes and pharisees in verses 10 and 11 the people pharisees in verses 10 and 11 the people asked him saying what shall we do then asked him saying what shall we do then you know brother and sisters i'm not you know brother and sisters i'm not trying to be dramatic really this is trying to be dramatic really this is drama this is real drama let's try and drama this is real drama let's try and put ourselves say this bible school and put ourselves say this bible school and hundreds of other bible schools are all hundreds of other bible schools are all spread along those hills and we're all spread along those hills and we're all standing there we're looking down at standing there we're looking down at god's exhibition god's exhibition and we're only common people and we're only common people all of us are only common people all of us are only common people and we're all pricked in our hearts and we're all pricked in our hearts we realize that our way of life is not we realize that our way of life is not what it ought to be we don't know much what it ought to be we don't know much about god's word we're all cluttered up about god's word we're all cluttered up with this life's goods and we realize with this life's goods and we realize now how destitute we are of the now how destitute we are of the understanding of god's word this high understanding of god's word this high time that we separated ourselves if only time that we separated ourselves if only in our mind we were able to get isolated in our mind we were able to get isolated from this world and think about god and from this world and think about god and being clicked in our hearts we say we being clicked in our hearts we say we call out down that wilderness john what call out down that wilderness john what a weed you want to do what are we going a weed you want to do what are we going to do and the answer brethren sisters was devastating devastating absolutely absolutely devastating devastating oh rolling up those hills came that oh rolling up those hills came that golden voice golden voice he that got two cokes he that got two cokes give one away give one away and every eye and every eye is on that coat and you and i brothers and sisters wouldn't be seen dead in it he wasn't asking you to do any more than he could do any more than he could do he didn't have to he didn't have to and if he offered you the only one he and if he offered you the only one he had had you wouldn't take it you wouldn't take it and the only other thing he said to the and the only other thing he said to the common people was common people was he that's got food he that's got food let him share it let him share it and every eye is down there looking at and every eye is down there looking at that exhibition that exhibition and if he invited you home for dinner and if he invited you home for dinner brethren sisters brethren sisters you'd feel sick you'd feel sick because you'd never eat because you'd never eat what he's eating and the only two things he mentioned to the common people that they should do the common people that they should do were the only two details that we know were the only two details that we know about him in the whole of the record of about him in the whole of the record of his life his life about his personal details you heard my about his personal details you heard my personal details last night personal details last night you heard jim's you heard jim's you heard her other brother you heard her other brother warren well all we know about him is his warren well all we know about him is his coat and his food coat and his food and that's all he asked us to do and that's all he asked us to do brethren sisters that's all brethren sisters that's all and i could imagine all of us going home and i could imagine all of us going home from that in that night in the bitter from that in that night in the bitter cold of the judean hills cold of the judean hills going up the hills and we might have going up the hills and we might have called him anything in our minds we called him anything in our minds we might have called him radical might have called him radical we might have caught him an extremist we might have caught him an extremist we might have even said he was a hermit we might have even said he was a hermit we might have even said he was mad there was not a soul in that crowd that could have said that he was a that could have said that he was a hypocrite i would love brother and sisters to have a life that i could stand up here and a life that i could stand up here and talk to you and have my life as an talk to you and have my life as an example of what i'm saying example of what i'm saying sad to say that is not the case but nonetheless it is our duty it is our duty to tell you what we believe that bible to tell you what we believe that bible is saying is saying and i looked down that exhibition and i and i looked down that exhibition and i can tell you that when i was in my study can tell you that when i was in my study and saw that and saw that and listened to that voice telling me and listened to that voice telling me about those two things only about those two things only i wept i wept because i don't do that i can't do that because i don't do that i can't do that but i could never ever say to him but i could never ever say to him that he asked me to do what i couldn't that he asked me to do what i couldn't what he didn't do himself what he didn't do himself he that have two coats let him impart to he that have two coats let him impart to him they have none him they have none and he that hath food and he that hath food let him do likewise let him do likewise oh what a magnificent lesson oh what a magnificent lesson absolutely magnificent absolutely magnificent to the republicans he said this brother to the republicans he said this brother and sisters in verses 12 and 13 and sisters in verses 12 and 13 he says and the republicans he says and the republicans then came also republicans to be then came also republicans to be baptized they'd made a decision it baptized they'd made a decision it didn't say that about the other crowd didn't say that about the other crowd they'd come to be baptized why had the they'd come to be baptized why had the republicans made up their mind and the republicans made up their mind and the others hadn't because they were brothers others hadn't because they were brothers and sisters i despised it a lot and sisters i despised it a lot tax gatherers tax gatherers farming system farming system so a roman governor so a roman governor was responsible to someone higher than was responsible to someone higher than he who was responsible to someone back he who was responsible to someone back in the senate in rome who was in the senate in rome who was responsible to someone higher in the responsible to someone higher in the government than he and each one of them government than he and each one of them had allowed each one to take a section had allowed each one to take a section of a portion of the taxation as long as of a portion of the taxation as long as someone got back to number one and so someone got back to number one and so the poor little fellow at the end of the the poor little fellow at the end of the line the tax gatherer had to tax him line the tax gatherer had to tax him enormously that he might get better enormously that he might get better pass the rest onto his governor who pass the rest onto his governor who passed it onto his superior who passed passed it onto his superior who passed it over his superior who finally passed it over his superior who finally passed on to the government itself but everyone on to the government itself but everyone got a bit of it as it went along the got a bit of it as it went along the line and these poor devils who live like line and these poor devils who live like that brother and sisters and they tax that brother and sisters and they tax the people on behalf of rome that people the people on behalf of rome that people walked past them and held their nose walked past them and held their nose oh they stank oh they stank and because they were an ostracized and because they were an ostracized group and hated among the nations they group and hated among the nations they came to be baptized came to be baptized they wanted to be baptized their hearts they wanted to be baptized their hearts were yearning to be baptized like the were yearning to be baptized like the harlots were because everyone hated them harlots were because everyone hated them and they flung themselves on their god and they flung themselves on their god for who else cared for who else cared they came to be baptized they came to be baptized and all the lord told them and all the lord told them exact no more exact no more than what is appointed he didn't tell than what is appointed he didn't tell him to give up their vocation him to give up their vocation he didn't say it was wrong he didn't say it was wrong because he knew the miserable life that because he knew the miserable life that many of them left many of them left not all of them not all of them some of them were avaricious as others some of them were avaricious as others but those that came down there to be but those that came down there to be baptized like zacchaeus baptized like zacchaeus living a miserable life living a miserable life ready ready to throw themselves into the arms of to throw themselves into the arms of their heavenly father because everybody their heavenly father because everybody else hated them else hated them you go on with your work you go on with your work but just don't do any more but just don't do any more than what you're told than what you're told you don't need more than what you need you don't need more than what you need soldiers came down there soldiers came down there verse 14. the soldier said what are we verse 14. the soldier said what are we going to do the rough places going to do the rough places what does it do violence to no man the what does it do violence to no man the margin says put no man in fear margin says put no man in fear accuse no man falsely and be content accuse no man falsely and be content with your wages and i believe brother with your wages and i believe brother and sisters i can't prove this but i and sisters i can't prove this but i believe those three sentences all have believe those three sentences all have to do with their material possessions to do with their material possessions because what they used to do was because what they used to do was intimidate one another for extra intimidate one another for extra provisions the provisions were all provisions the provisions were all farmed out and they would intimidate farmed out and they would intimidate each other that they might by brutality each other that they might by brutality bullying their their fellow soldiers to bullying their their fellow soldiers to get more rations get more rations they were to be not informers against they were to be not informers against one another because there were rewards one another because there were rewards for informing which of course would for informing which of course would increase their material possessions increase their material possessions and of course of all the things that a and of course of all the things that a soldier a mercenary was never soldier a mercenary was never satisfied with his wages satisfied with his wages and what about us brothers and sisters and what about us brothers and sisters you satisfy your wages in our country oh what a fool's paradise what a fool's paradise i'm here on long what a fool's paradise i'm here on long service leave you've never heard about service leave you've never heard about that some of you 13 weeks off extra that some of you 13 weeks off extra for 10 years service for 10 years service four weeks and you'll leave a year and four weeks and you'll leave a year and in those four weeks annual leave i get in those four weeks annual leave i get 17 and a half percent of my wages over 17 and a half percent of my wages over and above that by my basic wage just in and above that by my basic wage just in case i might miss out on some overtime case i might miss out on some overtime while i'm on holiday oh deary dearly me content with your wages content with your wages that's the world we live in that's the world we live in and if that was a problem then brethren and if that was a problem then brethren sisters how much more is it a problem sisters how much more is it a problem now now and of course as the crowd dispersed in and of course as the crowd dispersed in verse 15 verse 15 and as the people were in expectation and as the people were in expectation and all men mused in their heart and all men mused in their heart look at the margin look at the margin they debated reasoned or debated in they debated reasoned or debated in their hearts their hearts of john whether he was the christ or not of john whether he was the christ or not you know brethren sisters they weren't you know brethren sisters they weren't debating that because they were debating that because they were wondering whether he was the messiah wondering whether he was the messiah whether he was not the messiah they were whether he was not the messiah they were doing this in their hearts because this doing this in their hearts because this is what they would be thinking is what they would be thinking i'm being told to share me coats and i'm being told to share me coats and he's only got one i'm being told to he's only got one i'm being told to share my material provisions and that's share my material provisions and that's all he's got to share i wouldn't touch all he's got to share i wouldn't touch it i don't want nothing to do with his it i don't want nothing to do with his life now because he's told me that life now because he's told me that i'm thinking in my heart oh dear i'm thinking in my heart oh dear oh i hope he's not the messiah because oh i hope he's not the messiah because if he's a messiah oh boy what about my if he's a messiah oh boy what about my life oh dear i hope he's not the messiah others might have been saying brother and sisters who saw the point yes john and sisters who saw the point yes john that is an exhibition to me of faith that is an exhibition to me of faith i hope you are the messiah and i hope i i hope you are the messiah and i hope i can live up to at least can live up to at least a seminar to that ideal a seminar to that ideal they mused in their hearts about that they mused in their hearts about that and i said whatever they thought about and i said whatever they thought about him brother and sisters they could never him brother and sisters they could never have said that he was a hypocrite have said that he was a hypocrite and i want to conclude on a positive and i want to conclude on a positive note note because you know because you know luke adds a very beautiful touch to the luke adds a very beautiful touch to the finish of john's preaching and in verse finish of john's preaching and in verse 18 he said 18 he said and with many other things in his and with many other things in his exhortation exhortation preached he preached he unto the people unto the people and you know literally brethren sisters and you know literally brethren sisters in the greek in the greek literally in the greek it would read literally in the greek it would read like this like this and many other things in his exhortation and many other things in his exhortation did he bring did he bring glad tidings under the people glad tidings under the people so you see it's not all that he said so you see it's not all that he said the main issues are put forth by luke the main issues are put forth by luke but you can imagine john that when he'd but you can imagine john that when he'd finished and there were tears streaming finished and there were tears streaming down the faces of the common people and down the faces of the common people and republicans and those who came to be republicans and those who came to be baptized stricken and smitten in heart baptized stricken and smitten in heart and saying oh deary me what's my life and saying oh deary me what's my life like in relation to that like in relation to that where am i going in life where am i going in life what am i doing with my time what am i doing with my time and having reduced the brethren sisters and having reduced the brethren sisters to almost rubble on those mountains to almost rubble on those mountains lurk says lurk says but depart from the exhortation but depart from the exhortation he spoke glad tidings under the people he spoke glad tidings under the people oh i only wish luke had recorded that oh i only wish luke had recorded that with that voice saying it because john with that voice saying it because john would have looked up and said you people would have looked up and said you people who listen to me who listen to me you common folk who have got the message you common folk who have got the message you who are determined to go away from you who are determined to go away from this bible school to do what is right in this bible school to do what is right in god's eyes you people who want to god's eyes you people who want to isolate your mind from the mad rat race isolate your mind from the mad rat race that you're in let me tell you what the that you're in let me tell you what the kingdom's going to be like how beautiful kingdom's going to be like how beautiful are the feet of him that preached the are the feet of him that preached the gospel of peace gospel of peace and there he was and there he was how beautiful upon the mountains of the how beautiful upon the mountains of the feet of him that preached the gospel of feet of him that preached the gospel of peace and they were all standing on the peace and they were all standing on the mountain yet he was down there mountain yet he was down there and i would have imagined brother and and i would have imagined brother and sisters sisters that apart from the stern challenging that apart from the stern challenging words of john words of john there would have been the change of tone there would have been the change of tone and emphasis and emphasis for all those prepared to accept that for all those prepared to accept that message message a voice crying come out here a voice crying come out here in your minds if only in your minds and in your minds if only in your minds and prepare the way of the lord there would prepare the way of the lord there would have been those eloquent under overtones have been those eloquent under overtones of the glory of god's kingdom for all of the glory of god's kingdom for all those who are prepared those who are prepared to submit themselves at least to the to submit themselves at least to the principles principles of the day of his exhibition of the day of his exhibition unto israel the question is brethren unto israel the question is brethren sisters sisters what did we go out what did we go out to see

Transcript

this is idlewild 1983. our second period speaker is brother our second period speaker is brother john martin his subject this week is john martin his subject this week is the prophet of the highest john the the prophet of the highest john the baptist baptist this is the fourth class and the title this is the fourth class and the title for the fourth class is to fulfill all for the fourth class is to fulfill all righteousness brother martin my daily beloved brother and sisters in our lord jesus christ our lord jesus christ the last time we saw john brother and the last time we saw john brother and sisters together sisters together was to watch him on that desert floor was to watch him on that desert floor giving us all a very very powerful giving us all a very very powerful exhortation exhortation to live within our means to live within our means to live a quiet to live a quiet simple life simple life with the ability to be able to isolate with the ability to be able to isolate in our minds ourselves from this in our minds ourselves from this terrible world terrible world and give god the opportunity and give god the opportunity to speak to our heart to speak to our heart if we've learned that lesson brothers if we've learned that lesson brothers and sisters and sisters we've taken a gigantic step i believe we've taken a gigantic step i believe towards the kingdom of god towards the kingdom of god or there is no other way to that kingdom or there is no other way to that kingdom other than that that and that that god other than that that and that that god should speak to our heart should speak to our heart let us all therefore give him that let us all therefore give him that opportunity opportunity but now a different phase is coming but now a different phase is coming the words of the prophet are about to be the words of the prophet are about to be fulfilled fulfilled behold i send my messenger and he shall behold i send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me prepare the way before me and the lord jesus christ quoted that and the lord jesus christ quoted that third chapter of malachi and applied it third chapter of malachi and applied it to john the baptist so we know it's to john the baptist so we know it's speaking of john the lord being our speaking of john the lord being our authority authority he shall prepare the way before me and he shall prepare the way before me and the lord whom ye seek the lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple shall suddenly come to his temple and whilst john was at the banks of the and whilst john was at the banks of the river jordan brother and sisters river jordan brother and sisters baptizing others baptizing others he was in a further of expectancy he was in a further of expectancy because god had told him because god had told him that any day that any day one was going to walk up one was going to walk up in whom of course the purpose of god was in whom of course the purpose of god was to be focalized to be focalized what an era of aura of expectancy that what an era of aura of expectancy that would be fancy standing there like he would be fancy standing there like he was watching them come down by their was watching them come down by their droves into that into that water because droves into that into that water because it says all judea all around about it says all judea all around about jordan jordan they came from everywhere to be baptized they came from everywhere to be baptized of him of him and you can imagine him watching them and you can imagine him watching them one after the other passed through those one after the other passed through those waters brothers and sisters wandering waters brothers and sisters wandering with his body quivering with excitement with his body quivering with excitement knowing that any time knowing that any time he of whom the old testament had spoken he of whom the old testament had spoken would come would come you know we're in that fervor of you know we're in that fervor of expectancy brothers and sisters expectancy brothers and sisters and how exciting it is to think about and how exciting it is to think about that that and so we come to the first chapter of and so we come to the first chapter of john and we learn here john and we learn here of that excitement that john must have of that excitement that john must have felt building up within himself the climax of his mission was coming of his mission was coming and in john chapter 1 and verse 33 and in john chapter 1 and verse 33 john says here john says here i knew him not i knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with but he that sent me to baptize with water water the same said unto me the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the spirit upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining on him descending and remaining on him the same as he which baptizeth with the the same as he which baptizeth with the holy spirit holy spirit in verse 31 he says in verse 31 he says and i knew him not and i knew him not but that he should be made manifest to but that he should be made manifest to israel therefore i am come baptizing israel therefore i am come baptizing with water with water and so you see brothers and sisters and so you see brothers and sisters john's purpose was not only to baptize john's purpose was not only to baptize others but in the very process others but in the very process messiah would appear he says i knew him messiah would appear he says i knew him not but that he should be made manifest not but that he should be made manifest to israel therefore to israel therefore i am come baptizing with water i am come baptizing with water he was waiting for him it was absolutely he was waiting for him it was absolutely necessary that messiah be introduced necessary that messiah be introduced this way it wasn't that god had chosen this way it wasn't that god had chosen at brother and sisters because it was an at brother and sisters because it was an ideal opportunity because the crowds ideal opportunity because the crowds were all there and this would draw were all there and this would draw attention to jesus he attention to jesus he had to come through that water had to come through that water because scripture demanded it because scripture demanded it and therefore john was waiting for him and therefore john was waiting for him and of course these words which are here and of course these words which are here are written in retrospect are written in retrospect john didn't know who he was when he john didn't know who he was when he first came what we're reading here is first came what we're reading here is john's words in retrospect john's words in retrospect and after the the next day we read in and after the the next day we read in verse 29 of john chapter 1 that is the verse 29 of john chapter 1 that is the next day after his baptism next day after his baptism john seeth jesus coming again he now john seeth jesus coming again he now know who's who he now does know who he know who's who he now does know who he is brother and sisters and he saw jesus is brother and sisters and he saw jesus coming unto him and he said coming unto him and he said behold the lamb of god which taketh away behold the lamb of god which taketh away the sin of the world the sin of the world and that brother and sisters and that brother and sisters was a monumental statement was a monumental statement it was not an outburst of emotionalism it was not that john looked at him and saw him merely as being meek and mild saw him merely as being meek and mild that was not the point at all it was a calculated intelligence statement of fact statement of fact a startling a startling fact because the fact of the matter is fact because the fact of the matter is this brother and sisters this brother and sisters that you will search in vain that you will search in vain from genesis to malachi from genesis to malachi in vain you will search in vain you will search to find a male to find a male lamb lamb for a sin offering for a sin offering it isn't there it isn't there anywhere anywhere it's not in the law it's not in the it's not in the law it's not in the psalms it's not in the prophets psalms it's not in the prophets nowhere nowhere does the old testament ever speak does the old testament ever speak of a male lamb of a male lamb for a sin offering the nearest you'll for a sin offering the nearest you'll ever get to it ever get to it is isaiah 53 he was as a lamb led to the is isaiah 53 he was as a lamb led to the slaughter slaughter and even in that chapter and even in that chapter it says it says thou shalt make his soul an offering for thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin and the word in the hebrew is sin and the word in the hebrew is trespass offering so it's still not a trespass offering so it's still not a sin offering sin offering and the very words used in isaiah 53 the and the very words used in isaiah 53 the exact terminology is taken from the law exact terminology is taken from the law of the trespass offering so not even of the trespass offering so not even that was a sin offering that was a sin offering and so when john directed all the eyes and so when john directed all the eyes of those rabbis of the law of those rabbis of the law who knew every jot and tittle what he who knew every jot and tittle what he was saying was here he comes of whom the was saying was here he comes of whom the lord knew nothing lord knew nothing as far as a sin offering was concerned as far as a sin offering was concerned here's one above here's one above and beyond that law and beyond that law the lamb of god the lamb of god and because brother and sisters and because brother and sisters it was something that the law never it was something that the law never offered offered something entirely different something entirely different it had to be for the sin of it had to be for the sin of the world so there were monumental facts being placed before them by this one who being placed before them by this one who had come to john had come to john to fulfill to fulfill all righteousness all righteousness what a wonderful thing that is what a wonderful thing that is and they would have been arrested by and they would have been arrested by that statement that statement the glory of god had appeared says john the glory of god had appeared says john we saw his glory we saw his glory full full of grace of grace and truth and truth and you know brethren and sisters and you know brethren and sisters those two words conjure up those two words conjure up the extent of god's character if we can the extent of god's character if we can say if we could ever use that word say if we could ever use that word extent of god extent of god but of our knowledge of him but of our knowledge of him it conjures up all that we know about it conjures up all that we know about god's character grace god's character grace and truth and that's what was manifested to john you know brethren sisters when you think you know brethren sisters when you think about those two things about those two things what are what are they well as i say they they represent they well as i say they they represent behold the goodness and the severity of behold the goodness and the severity of god god grace and truth grace and truth the characteristics of exodus 33 now the characteristics of exodus 33 now embodied in this personality from embodied in this personality from nazareth nazareth shone forth in all its glory in a man shone forth in all its glory in a man who was able to bring together those who was able to bring together those almost opposite principles almost opposite principles which we cannot exercise perfectly and which we cannot exercise perfectly and yet which we are exalted to do yet which we are exalted to do by the words of zechariah the prophet by the words of zechariah the prophet execute true judgment and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother every man to his brother and there's no soul that's ever been and there's no soul that's ever been born except the lord jesus christ who born except the lord jesus christ who could make mercy and truth kiss each could make mercy and truth kiss each other as the psalm says and become other as the psalm says and become compatible compatible perfectly perfectly because whatever judgment we make because whatever judgment we make brothers and sisters and we have to make brothers and sisters and we have to make judgments judgments not about our brother's motive not about our brother's motive but we've got to make responsible but we've got to make responsible decisions decisions whatever judgment we make we're going to whatever judgment we make we're going to earth somewhere earth somewhere between those two between those two we're either going to be unbalanced one we're either going to be unbalanced one way way or another or another but here was one that was full of grace but here was one that was full of grace and truth that came to john and truth that came to john we're going to be kings and priests we're going to be kings and priests brethren sisters aren't we you ever brethren sisters aren't we you ever wondered why wondered why because those two officers are those two because those two officers are those two characteristics he the rulers over men characteristics he the rulers over men must be just must be just ruling in the fear of god ruling in the fear of god and every high priest taken from among and every high priest taken from among men has ordained four men in things men has ordained four men in things pertaining to god that he might have pertaining to god that he might have compassion compassion on the ignorant of them that are out of on the ignorant of them that are out of the way the way kings kings and priests and priests mercy and truth mercy and truth if you like if you like and those characteristics magnificently and those characteristics magnificently presented presented in the case of our lord jesus christ and in the case of our lord jesus christ and that's what john was waiting for that's what john was waiting for and when one came who could balance and when one came who could balance those principles perfectly those principles perfectly he had to be the son of god because he had to be the son of god because there's no man woman alive that could there's no man woman alive that could ever do that ever do that in this mortal frame in this mortal frame and that's what john was waiting for and that's what john was waiting for and he was waiting for him at jordan and he was waiting for him at jordan i made the statement brethren sisters it i made the statement brethren sisters it had to be this way had to be this way it had to be this way for several it had to be this way for several reasons reasons not only because the lord was to not only because the lord was to manifest the fulfillment of all manifest the fulfillment of all righteousness righteousness in his own body that he might become the in his own body that he might become the example for others example for others that was the primary reason of course but i only know of three men in the bible in the bible who were highlighted to israel by coming who were highlighted to israel by coming up out of jordan up out of jordan now this is fascinating now this is fascinating there are three men that i know there are three men that i know who were to lead that nation who were to lead that nation and that god demonstrated their and that god demonstrated their leadership out of that river leadership out of that river and those three men were joshua and those three men were joshua elisha elisha and the lord jesus christ i want you to and the lord jesus christ i want you to have a look at them brethren sisters and have a look at them brethren sisters and then i'll tell you why i believe it's then i'll tell you why i believe it's those three men joshua chapter three those three men joshua chapter three notice the language here and when we see the principles we'll see how inevitable it was that jesus had to how inevitable it was that jesus had to come to that jordan come to that jordan to be manifested to israel joshua was to succeed moses but there may have been doubts about but there may have been doubts about that brethren sisters that brethren sisters there may have been those in israel who there may have been those in israel who felt that they should succeed moses felt that they should succeed moses and so we read in the third chapter of and so we read in the third chapter of joshua and at verse seven joshua and at verse seven and the lord said unto joshua and the lord said unto joshua this day this day will i begin to magnify thee in the will i begin to magnify thee in the sight of all israel sight of all israel that they may know that as i was with that they may know that as i was with moses so i will be with thee and thou moses so i will be with thee and thou shalt command the priest to bear the ark shalt command the priest to bear the ark of the covenant saying of the covenant saying when ye come to the brink of the waters when ye come to the brink of the waters of jordan ye shall stand still in jordan of jordan ye shall stand still in jordan and so their brothers and sisters was and so their brothers and sisters was the principal the principal god says the people must know joshua god says the people must know joshua they must know that you are the true they must know that you are the true successor of moses i will magnify you successor of moses i will magnify you this day this day get the priest to stand in that water get the priest to stand in that water and then we read in verse 11 and then we read in verse 11 behold the ark of the covenant behold the ark of the covenant of the lord of all the earth of the lord of all the earth passes over before you into jordan and passes over before you into jordan and of course that ark represented the of course that ark represented the leadership in israel with which joshua leadership in israel with which joshua was related now brothers and sisters you was related now brothers and sisters you will see will see that the word in verse 11 for lord that the word in verse 11 for lord is in small print it's not in small is in small print it's not in small capitals capitals where of course we have it in verse where of course we have it in verse seven in capitals we know it is the seven in capitals we know it is the hebrew name of our heavenly father hebrew name of our heavenly father he who will be but down in verse 11 the he who will be but down in verse 11 the hebrew word is adon and it means the hebrew word is adon and it means the ruler of all the earth ruler of all the earth behold the ark of the covenant the ruler behold the ark of the covenant the ruler of all the earth passes over before you of all the earth passes over before you into jordan and on that great day into jordan and on that great day brethren sisters joshua was magnified brethren sisters joshua was magnified not that god would say that he would be not that god would say that he would be the ruler of all the earth but most the ruler of all the earth but most assuredly assuredly as a shadow as a shadow as a figure as a figure as a type that stretched forward of the as a type that stretched forward of the substance substance joshua prefigured him joshua prefigured him who would come brother and sisters to be who would come brother and sisters to be the true ruler of all the earth the true ruler of all the earth and so it was necessary for god to and so it was necessary for god to demonstrate joshua's leadership by demonstrate joshua's leadership by bringing up out of the jordan bringing up out of the jordan i hope you're paying attention because i hope you're paying attention because we'll have a climax to this we'll have a climax to this in the second of kings chapter two we in the second of kings chapter two we have the other incident of the other man who was manifest in the same way as he succeeded in the leadership in verses 13 to 15 elijah is departing this earth elijah is departing this earth the question is the question is who is his successor who is his successor he had there were 50 aspirants for the he had there were 50 aspirants for the job job 51 if you count elisha but there were 50 51 if you count elisha but there were 50 great men standing by who thought that great men standing by who thought that they might one of them might be the they might one of them might be the leader and we read in verse 13 of the leader and we read in verse 13 of the second of kings chapter 2 that elisha second of kings chapter 2 that elisha took up the mantle of elijah that fell took up the mantle of elijah that fell from him and went back and stood by the from him and went back and stood by the lip of jordan lip of jordan and he took the mantle of elijah that and he took the mantle of elijah that fell from him and smote the waters and fell from him and smote the waters and said said where is the lord god of elijah where is the lord god of elijah and when he also had spit in the waters and when he also had spit in the waters they parted hither and this and elisha they parted hither and this and elisha went over went over and when the sons of the prophets which and when the sons of the prophets which were to view at jericho saw him they were to view at jericho saw him they said the spirit of elijah doth rest upon said the spirit of elijah doth rest upon elijah elijah and they came to meet him and bowed and they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him themselves to the ground before him and so again brethren and sisters when and so again brethren and sisters when the question of the question of the successor came the successor came it had to be manifest it had to be manifest through the river of jordan through the river of jordan and when that happened people and when that happened people acknowledged that i think you can see acknowledged that i think you can see where i'm going where i'm going and the day came and the day came when john's successor when john's successor was to be manifest was to be manifest all the people had been impressed with all the people had been impressed with john john we learned later on that despite the we learned later on that despite the words of john himself telling them to words of john himself telling them to follow jesus follow jesus they still wouldn't forsake him and they still wouldn't forsake him and there were such people known as john's there were such people known as john's disciples disciples even though he told them to follow the even though he told them to follow the lord jesus christ lord jesus christ and so it was necessary with that sort and so it was necessary with that sort of quality in him and leadership in him of quality in him and leadership in him that god should make should make it that god should make should make it known that day who is going to be his known that day who is going to be his successor and how did he do it successor and how did he do it straightway when jesus came up out of straightway when jesus came up out of the water he said this is my beloved son the water he said this is my beloved son now brother and sisters now brother and sisters it begs the question it begs the question why those three men and why coming up out of jordan they are the two coming up out of jordan they are the two questions questions why are those three men why are those three men and why coming up out of jordan and why coming up out of jordan because the three men's names because the three men's names two of them are identical two of them are identical and the other one is that close it and the other one is that close it doesn't matter joshua yahooshua yahooshua yahweh will save yahweh will save is the name of our lord jesus christ is the name of our lord jesus christ jesus is but the greek equivalent jesus is but the greek equivalent elisha elisha or elisha or elisha is isle god will save is isle god will save and so we find therefore the three men and so we find therefore the three men who are manifest coming up through who are manifest coming up through jordan brothers sisters all had names jordan brothers sisters all had names basically meaning the same basically meaning the same that's answer question number one that's answer question number one question number two is question number two is why must they be manifest to israel by why must they be manifest to israel by coming up out of jordan coming up out of jordan we'll never understand that brethren we'll never understand that brethren sisters unless we understand the sisters unless we understand the principle for which jordan stood jordan means the descender it rises at the foot of mount hermon it rises at the foot of mount hermon several thousand feet above sea level several thousand feet above sea level it bubbles out from right underneath it bubbles out from right underneath hermann hermann and by the time you turn around from and by the time you turn around from when you're looking at the springs when you're looking at the springs coming out of hermann behind your back coming out of hermann behind your back it's a very broad stream already it's a very broad stream already it is aqua blue it is aqua blue in places other places emerald green in places other places emerald green as it represents the sparkling as it represents the sparkling refracting water of the melting snows refracting water of the melting snows bubbling and gurgling and foaming over bubbling and gurgling and foaming over the rocks like the stream down there the rocks like the stream down there by the time it reaches the sea of by the time it reaches the sea of galilee it's a dirty brown and it's already at the sea of galilee 600 feet below sea level 600 feet below sea level as it makes its torturous way down the as it makes its torturous way down the jordan valley brothers sisters like the jordan valley brothers sisters like the winding of a snake winding of a snake it's already there when you get to the it's already there when you get to the top of the lake it's about top of the lake it's about 1392 feet below sea level at the dead 1392 feet below sea level at the dead sea no wonder it's called the descender sea no wonder it's called the descender and because it's got such a steep and because it's got such a steep descent and such a torturous course descent and such a torturous course when the snows melt in the thaw when the snows melt in the thaw the river overflows all its banks so we the river overflows all its banks so we learn in the first chapter of joshua the learn in the first chapter of joshua the first of chronicles chapter 12. first of chronicles chapter 12. quickly overflows its banks quickly quickly overflows its banks quickly recedes and you ever see a river do that recedes and you ever see a river do that it will leave on the banks all the it will leave on the banks all the bracken bracken all the debris all the mud caked in all the debris all the mud caked in layers layers baked hard in the sun on top baked hard in the sun on top but beneath oozy and black but beneath oozy and black jordan ever stood jordan ever stood for the flesh for the flesh as it started in all its purity as it started in all its purity and stagnated and stagnated in the dead sea in the dead sea and about 15 miles north of the dead sea and about 15 miles north of the dead sea according to the third chapter of joshua according to the third chapter of joshua and verse 16 was a little city called and verse 16 was a little city called adam and through adam it's stagnated it's stagnated into death into death and nothing lives in that sea and nothing lives in that sea jordan ever stood jordan ever stood as a symbol of the flesh as a symbol of the flesh zechariah the prophet jeremiah the zechariah the prophet jeremiah the prophet looking down upon jordan from prophet looking down upon jordan from the heights of judea you look down upon the heights of judea you look down upon it it's a beautiful sight it it's a beautiful sight the winding river the winding river and because the bracken grows up in the and because the bracken grows up in the debris debris and it's got a green top and it's got a green top it looks beautiful brothers and sisters it looks beautiful brothers and sisters you look down upon a river like that you look down upon a river like that from a great height and you're looking from a great height and you're looking straight down at it you're looking at straight down at it you're looking at the top of the bracket it's beautiful a the top of the bracket it's beautiful a green sword seems to to converge and green sword seems to to converge and close both banks of the river as it close both banks of the river as it flows peacefully towards the dead sea flows peacefully towards the dead sea but when you get down there but when you get down there on ground level and you see underneath on ground level and you see underneath the dead looking branches which just got the dead looking branches which just got the green on the top and the oozy black the green on the top and the oozy black mud and the slimy stuff there and the mud and the slimy stuff there and the vipers making their way through that vipers making their way through that bracken it's a dangerous place it's also bracken it's a dangerous place it's also where the lions were very where the lions were very very prevalent down there and a very very prevalent down there and a very dangerous place to go and so jeremiah dangerous place to go and so jeremiah said said if they have weary d with footman how if they have weary d with footman how will you contend with horses will you contend with horses and if in the land of peace you couldn't and if in the land of peace you couldn't get on however will you do in the pride get on however will you do in the pride of jordan of jordan in other words if you can't keep up with in other words if you can't keep up with men running you'll never keep up with men running you'll never keep up with horses horses if in the land of peace you can't get on if in the land of peace you can't get on you'll never get on when you get down to you'll never get on when you get down to the pride of jordan and the word pride the pride of jordan and the word pride is used because it looked good but oh is used because it looked good but oh boy you get down there and you're all boy you get down there and you're all sorts of trouble sorts of trouble and so when we understand therefore and so when we understand therefore brother and sisters brother and sisters for what jordan stood we begin to for what jordan stood we begin to understand why it is that god manifested understand why it is that god manifested his salvation by men who are able to his salvation by men who are able to climb out of its water he who can get out of that water has to be god's salvation has to be god's salvation not that joshua was not that joshua was not that elisha was not that elisha was they were but representatives of him who they were but representatives of him who should come should come but there was a man brethren sisters who but there was a man brethren sisters who came of adam came of adam and he's with us or was with us i should and he's with us or was with us i should say correcting myself he was with us in say correcting myself he was with us in the stagnation of death the stagnation of death but he got out of it and the only way he could ever get out of it of it was by the power of his god was by the power of his god he was yah's salvation he was yah's salvation and so that's why the men have got the and so that's why the men have got the same names and that's why they came out same names and that's why they came out of the same river of the same river if you can overcome the flesh if you can overcome the flesh if you can live a perfect life brethren if you can live a perfect life brethren sisters sisters then you are of god as he was of god but then you are of god as he was of god but you're not you're not and i'm not and i'm not and we will never ever in reality and we will never ever in reality get out of that water until he comes to get out of that water until he comes to pluck us out pluck us out but he did but he did and when he come up out of that water and when he come up out of that water god says this is my son and you know god says this is my son and you know brother and sisters that was not so much brother and sisters that was not so much as a statement again of endearment as a statement again of endearment although of course that's clearly although of course that's clearly implied in it this is my world beloved implied in it this is my world beloved son what god is trying to tell us this son what god is trying to tell us this is my is my son son that's why he got out of that river that's why he got out of that river had he not been my son he had never got had he not been my son he had never got out of it out of it he would have still been he would have still been in the grave with the rest of the stream in the grave with the rest of the stream of humanity that stagnated in that of humanity that stagnated in that water and so john was waiting for that water and so john was waiting for that to happen to happen for the tide of humanity turned back for the tide of humanity turned back from the first adam through to the from the first adam through to the second atom by one man came death by second atom by one man came death by another man brother and sisters came another man brother and sisters came resurrection to life john was waiting resurrection to life john was waiting for that for that and god told him that's how he's going and god told him that's how he's going to be manifest prophecy demanded it to be manifest prophecy demanded it principal demanded it principal demanded it type demanded it type demanded it and because he was god's son stepping up and because he was god's son stepping up out of that water he stood there clean out of that water he stood there clean pure pure because the mighty power of his father because the mighty power of his father operated in him in a manner which i operated in him in a manner which i could never understand or describe for could never understand or describe for which i could never match either which i could never match either and so we come to the third chapter of and so we come to the third chapter of matthew with that little bit of an matthew with that little bit of an introduction which took after session introduction which took after session we'll have now look brother and sisters we'll have now look brother and sisters at the monumental occasion at the monumental occasion when the lord came to that river in the when the lord came to that river in the 33rd chapter of matthew 33rd chapter of matthew and we'll basically stay with this and we'll basically stay with this record perhaps with just deviating here record perhaps with just deviating here and there to illustrate our principles and there to illustrate our principles and in the third chapter of matthew we and in the third chapter of matthew we read read and listen to what it says and listen to what it says then cometh jesus then cometh jesus from galilee to jordan unto john to be from galilee to jordan unto john to be baptized of him he almost traversed the baptized of him he almost traversed the whole course of that river whole course of that river see the point see the point he almost traversed the whole course of he almost traversed the whole course of that river that river he descended and he that ascended far up above all the heavens what is it first the heavens what is it first but that he descended but that he descended to the lower parts of the earth to the lower parts of the earth he that will be exalted must first he that will be exalted must first humble himself humble himself if we want to ride upon the high places if we want to ride upon the high places of judah and be fed with the heritage of of judah and be fed with the heritage of jacob bregman sisters we must first walk jacob bregman sisters we must first walk the distance the distance down jordan down jordan he came from galilee and he descended he came from galilee and he descended the course of that river the course of that river now of course john was embarrassed now of course john was embarrassed wasn't he wasn't he he was absolutely embarrassed he was absolutely embarrassed because although he didn't know that because although he didn't know that jesus of nazareth was the messiah as he jesus of nazareth was the messiah as he himself confessed he didn't know himself confessed he didn't know he knew him as a he knew him as a person he knew him as an individual he person he knew him as an individual he knew him as a character knew him as a character and john was utterly embarrassed that and john was utterly embarrassed that this one should stand in that water with this one should stand in that water with him and looking into those beautiful him and looking into those beautiful eyes eyes which of course was the light of the which of course was the light of the body and knowing behind those eyes that body and knowing behind those eyes that body had lived a life of utter body had lived a life of utter perfection oh how embarrassing it is to perfection oh how embarrassing it is to stand there and have to baptize him into stand there and have to baptize him into the baptism of the baptism of repentance what is john gonna do brethren sisters lord i have need to be baptized of thee lord i have need to be baptized of thee cometh thou to me cometh thou to me john john john you must understand john you must understand john thus it becometh us the two of us john thus it becometh us the two of us to fulfill to fulfill all righteousness all righteousness what righteousness was fulfilled on that what righteousness was fulfilled on that day day that a perfect man should be baptized that a perfect man should be baptized into that baptism into that baptism well you see brethren sisters well you see brethren sisters john wasn't only preaching john wasn't only preaching the gospel of repentance you see sin sin is the outcome of a cause is the cause is the outcome of a cause is the cause right of an effect sin is the cause of the effect and so there's got to be something to be and so there's got to be something to be acknowledged what was the righteousness acknowledged what was the righteousness to be fulfilled to be fulfilled well listen well listen they said who are you he said i'm a they said who are you he said i'm a voice voice and he identified himself with that and he identified himself with that voice in isaiah 40. voice in isaiah 40. and the voice said cry and he says and the voice said cry and he says what shall i cry all flesh flesh is grass not some of it all all flesh flesh is grass is grass had not jesus submitted to that baptism had not jesus submitted to that baptism brother and sisters brother and sisters he would be claiming to be a man from he would be claiming to be a man from another planet but for as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood partakers of flesh and blood he also he also himself himself likewise likewise took part of the sight took part of the sight all flesh is grass all flesh is grass john john thus it becometh us to fulfill all thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness for it became him of whom righteousness for it became him of whom are all things and through whom of all are all things and through whom of all things things in making the captain of their salvation in making the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering says the perfect through suffering says the apostle in hebrews 2 apostle in hebrews 2 it became him it became him it behoved him it behoved him to be made like under breath unto his to be made like under breath unto his brethren so paul says it became him in brethren so paul says it became him in making him the captive of our salvation making him the captive of our salvation it behoved him to be made like unto his it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren if he's going to be a captain brethren if he's going to be a captain he's going to be a leader he's going to be a leader a captain represents his people a captain represents his people as joshua did as elisha did as the lord as joshua did as elisha did as the lord jesus christ did jesus christ did and so when the lord stepped into the and so when the lord stepped into the water brothers and sisters to fulfill water brothers and sisters to fulfill all righteousness all righteousness there was two things declared there was two things declared first of all his humanity first of all his humanity he was a descendant with everybody else he was a descendant with everybody else it was a stagnation of death and of it was a stagnation of death and of himself he could do himself he could do nothing nothing when the lord said that it wasn't when the lord said that it wasn't pseudo-humility it was an absolute pseudo-humility it was an absolute statement of fact he could of himself do statement of fact he could of himself do nothing and by the same token to quote our brother jim playing on the to quote our brother jim playing on the front foot front foot he was telling everybody the real source he was telling everybody the real source of his strength of his strength thus it becometh us to fulfill all thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness righteousness back keeping a hand in matthew back to back keeping a hand in matthew back to isaiah 42 here was the righteousness brother and sisters that was being fulfilled on that sisters that was being fulfilled on that day day some wonderful things written in the some wonderful things written in the prophets isaiah 42 verses 5 and 6 thus saith god the lord he that created thus saith god the lord he that created the heavens and stretched them out the heavens and stretched them out he that spread forth the earth and that he that spread forth the earth and that which cometh of it he that giveth breath which cometh of it he that giveth breath unto the people upon it unto the people upon it and the spirit to them that walk therein and the spirit to them that walk therein i the lord have called thee in i the lord have called thee in righteousness righteousness and will hold thine hand and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and will keep thee give thee for a covenant of the people give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the gentiles see the for a light of the gentiles see the point brothers and sisters point brothers and sisters i the lord have called thee in i the lord have called thee in righteousness but in order to do that righteousness but in order to do that i've got to hold your hand i've got to hold your hand there's no way there's no way that he could be called in righteousness that he could be called in righteousness unless god had hold of his hand unless god had hold of his hand and god says i will keep you and god says i will keep you give you give you it was all the work of god brother and it was all the work of god brother and sisters sisters far be it for me to stand here and to to far be it for me to stand here and to to to detract from the remarkable wonderful to detract from the remarkable wonderful loving cooperation of the son of god loving cooperation of the son of god never would i brothers and sisters ever never would i brothers and sisters ever want to hear want to hear depreciate the grandeur of his depreciate the grandeur of his submission submission but in accordance with his own wish but in accordance with his own wish his own doctrine and teaching his own doctrine and teaching it was his father where the victory it was his father where the victory belonged belonged his was but the submission to a power his was but the submission to a power beyond him beyond him and his father grabbed his hand and his father grabbed his hand kept him kept him gave him gave him in righteousness whose righteousness in righteousness whose righteousness the chapter finishes in verse 21. the chapter finishes in verse 21. on chapter 42 of isaiah finishes with on chapter 42 of isaiah finishes with these words these words the lord is well pleased for his the lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake righteousness sake he will magnify the law and make it he will magnify the law and make it honorable whose righteousness sake honorable whose righteousness sake brethren sisters brethren sisters rotherham i believe catches the spirit rotherham i believe catches the spirit of that verse when he says of that verse when he says the lord is well pleased for his own the lord is well pleased for his own righteousness sake righteousness sake and it has to be god's righteousness and it has to be god's righteousness because it's a magnification of the law because it's a magnification of the law which was given before jesus as an which was given before jesus as an individual saw the light of day it was making something honorable that came before the man that came before the man that god had instituted that god had instituted and so the lord was pleased and so the lord was pleased for his own righteousness sake for his own righteousness sake and when he took him by the hand and when he took him by the hand and led him in righteousness and led him in righteousness john john thus it becometh us thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness to fulfill all righteousness and the lord felt brethren sisters the and the lord felt brethren sisters the warmth and the strength of his father's warmth and the strength of his father's arm holding him there keeping him there arm holding him there keeping him there and then finally and then finally giving him giving him to the people for a covenant to the people for a covenant was also wonderful was also wonderful when the principles are discerned that's when the principles are discerned that's the atonement you know brothers and the atonement you know brothers and sisters it's a precious document sisters it's a precious document doctrine doctrine i've never found you may correct me in i've never found you may correct me in this in all my experience and the truth this in all my experience and the truth i've never found anybody who believes i've never found anybody who believes what we believe in its purity on the what we believe in its purity on the doctrine of the atonement it's a gift doctrine of the atonement it's a gift i will give him it's a gift i will give him it's a gift to understand that doctrine to understand that doctrine and so there was the fulfillment of all and so there was the fulfillment of all righteousness righteousness and straightway says matthew as he came and straightway says matthew as he came up out of the water up out of the water god acknowledged that god acknowledged that and when he was baptized he went up and when he was baptized he went up straight way out of the water and lo the straight way out of the water and lo the heavens were open unto him and he saw heavens were open unto him and he saw the spirit of god descending like a dove the spirit of god descending like a dove and lighting upon him and lighting upon him there was an acknowledgment brother and there was an acknowledgment brother and sisters in one decisive act sisters in one decisive act in one decisive act in one decisive act god acknowledged what had been going on god acknowledged what had been going on during the whole course of his life during the whole course of his life just as you and i in one decisive act of just as you and i in one decisive act of baptism baptism we give credence to the doctrines which we give credence to the doctrines which we have been taught and are determined we have been taught and are determined that that one decisive act will be but that that one decisive act will be but an epitome of all our life an epitome of all our life and that's what god was to to and that's what god was to to acknowledge on this occasion acknowledge on this occasion now i have a very wonderful matter to now i have a very wonderful matter to put before you put before you it may not always be easy to grasp this it may not always be easy to grasp this but it is truly wonderful but it is truly wonderful when we put the gospel records together when we put the gospel records together brethren sisters brethren sisters luke tells us luke tells us that as that voice came to him from that as that voice came to him from heaven he was praying it was in the attitude of prayer that the lord received that acknowledgement the lord received that acknowledgement isn't that wonderful isn't that wonderful that's what luke says but i want you to that's what luke says but i want you to turn to mark because mark says something turn to mark because mark says something different too different too about this incident and it's from mark about this incident and it's from mark that we're going to go to the old that we're going to go to the old testament again for a remarkable testament again for a remarkable application of scripture now in mark chapter one recording the same incident recording the same incident mark says this mark says this in verse 10 in verse 10 and straightway and straightway coming up out of the water coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened he saw the heavens opened and the spirit like a dove descending and the spirit like a dove descending upon him he says almost the same with upon him he says almost the same with what matthew says with a difference what matthew says with a difference brethren and sisters that if you look at brethren and sisters that if you look at the margin for the word opened mark's the margin for the word opened mark's greek word is different than all the greek word is different than all the other gospel writers other gospel writers the word means as the margin says cloven the word means as the margin says cloven or rent he saw the heavens rent or rent he saw the heavens rent and any brother and any brother who is familiar in any way with his who is familiar in any way with his bible will know exactly or may not bible will know exactly or may not exactly but he'll know that somewhere in exactly but he'll know that somewhere in the old testament it is said that god the old testament it is said that god would rend the heavens would rend the heavens and mark with the choice of his greek and mark with the choice of his greek word is sending us straight to that word is sending us straight to that passage of scripture passage of scripture why why well let's have a look at it isaiah 64. well let's have a look at it isaiah 64. let's have a look at it brother and let's have a look at it brother and sisters and i hope by this illustration brothers and sisters that and sisters that we may be able to impress upon you as it we may be able to impress upon you as it has been impressed upon me has been impressed upon me the value of letting the bible speak for the value of letting the bible speak for itself itself so mark says the heavens were rent so mark says the heavens were rent and in isaiah 64 in verse 1 o that thou and in isaiah 64 in verse 1 o that thou wouldest render heavens that thou would wouldest render heavens that thou would has come down that the mountains might has come down that the mountains might flow down at thy presence flow down at thy presence and it's a play upon the wonderful and it's a play upon the wonderful events of mount sinai events of mount sinai but the prophet is asking brethren but the prophet is asking brethren sisters for another manifestation in sisters for another manifestation in another spirit and then we drop our eyes down to verses five and six five and six thou meet us to him that rejoiceth and thou meet us to him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness worketh righteousness they that remember thee in thy ways they that remember thee in thy ways behold thou art wrath behold thou art wrath for we have sinned for we have sinned in those is continuance in those is continuance but we shall be saved but we shall be saved but we are all as an unclean thing and but we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf and our and we all do fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the wind have taken us iniquities like the wind have taken us away away now brothers and sisters there's more in now brothers and sisters there's more in that that's on the surface than is on that that's on the surface than is on the surface the surface because you see the prophet is praying because you see the prophet is praying and try to follow this the prophet is and try to follow this the prophet is saying oh that that would have ran to saying oh that that would have ran to heaven what for well he says that you heaven what for well he says that you might meet might meet him that rejoiceth and worketh him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness not their own because righteousness not their own because verse 6 says that's filthy rags verse 6 says that's filthy rags it's a different sort of righteousness it's a different sort of righteousness brethren sisters brethren sisters but who are the people that isaiah is but who are the people that isaiah is talking about talking about upon whose behalf is he appealing upon whose behalf is he appealing i believe we can prove who it is i believe we can prove who it is by letting the bible speak for itself by letting the bible speak for itself because you see the end of verse 5 says because you see the end of verse 5 says we have sinned in those is continuance we have sinned in those is continuance and we shall be saved let me read that and we shall be saved let me read that from the revised standard version and from the revised standard version and you will see the sense is much better you will see the sense is much better in our sins we have been a long time in our sins we have been a long time but we shall be saved but we shall be saved now brother and sisters let me put a now brother and sisters let me put a proposition to you you just use your proposition to you you just use your logic logic the prophet is calling for a rending of the prophet is calling for a rending of the heavens as it was when god came down the heavens as it was when god came down in fire and melted mount sinai as it in fire and melted mount sinai as it were were and he's asking for another and he's asking for another manifestation manifestation of the same saving power of the same saving power he's talking about god coming to meet he's talking about god coming to meet people who work righteousness that's not people who work righteousness that's not their own and he's talking about a people who've been a long long time in their who've been a long long time in their sins sins but that god would eventually save who's but that god would eventually save who's he talking about he talking about he's talking about the gentiles he's talking about the gentiles israel had their manifestation israel had their manifestation and the prophets crying on behalf of and the prophets crying on behalf of another people another people another people have been left a long another people have been left a long time in their sins but who are able to time in their sins but who are able to work the righteousness of god in their work the righteousness of god in their lives and to be saved now the proof of lives and to be saved now the proof of it brother and sisters is this it brother and sisters is this peter's on the house top peter's on the house top the sheet is let down from heaven knit the sheet is let down from heaven knit at the four corners at the four corners in which there are all manner of four in which there are all manner of four footed beasts and creeping things footed beasts and creeping things leviticus 20 representing the gentiles leviticus 20 representing the gentiles and he's taken to the house of cornelius and he's taken to the house of cornelius and he came in and he said and he came in and he said i i perceive perceive that god is no respecter of persons that god is no respecter of persons but that he that worketh but that he that worketh righteousness righteousness is accepted of him is accepted of him 64. 64. and straightway as he come up out of the and straightway as he come up out of the water the heavens were torn asunder water the heavens were torn asunder and in him and in him god meets everyone god meets everyone who though they may have been a long who though they may have been a long long time in their sins long time in their sins they can be saved they can be saved if they meet in him if they meet in him he that works a righteousness he that works a righteousness that don't belong to us and that one word that mark uses opens up that whole chapter opens up that whole chapter and there we have it brother and sisters and there we have it brother and sisters the wonderful act of grace the wonderful act of grace of which john was the witness of which john was the witness that when all righteousness was that when all righteousness was fulfilled fulfilled when the lamb of god was presented that when the lamb of god was presented that the law knew nothing about the law knew nothing about it was so efficacious it was so efficacious that it reached out to a people that it reached out to a people who had been left a long long time in who had been left a long long time in their sins their sins a remarkable day it must have been for a remarkable day it must have been for john to perceive all that john to perceive all that and matthew goes on and tells us that he and matthew goes on and tells us that he saw the spirit descend upon him like a saw the spirit descend upon him like a dove rather wonderful brother and sisters the expression here used by matthew the expression here used by matthew he saw the spirit descend upon him like he saw the spirit descend upon him like a dove but look what he says it happened a dove but look what he says it happened and jesus when he was baptized went up and jesus when he was baptized went up straight way out of the water and lo the straight way out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him and he saw heavens were opened unto him and he saw the spirit of god descending like a dove the spirit of god descending like a dove and lightning upon him and lightning upon him do you know in the back in the story of do you know in the back in the story of elisha elisha that very word is used that the spirit that very word is used that the spirit of god came upon him and the word not of god came upon him and the word not that very word not that very greek word that very word not that very greek word but a similar hebrew word in isaiah 11 but a similar hebrew word in isaiah 11 when it says the spirit of the lord when it says the spirit of the lord shall rest upon him the word is the same shall rest upon him the word is the same and that both words mean the settling and that both words mean the settling down of birds down of birds and so here we have and so here we have the spirit settling down upon him like a the spirit settling down upon him like a dove dove now brethren sisters now brethren sisters if we go to john's gospel we won't turn if we go to john's gospel we won't turn it up now because my time is going it up now because my time is going if we go to john's gospel if we go to john's gospel john says john says i saw the spirit i saw the spirit descending upon him and descending upon him and and and remaining with him and immediately after that happened immediately after look we will turn it immediately after look we will turn it up because it'll be better for me to up because it'll be better for me to read it than describe it to you because read it than describe it to you because i wanted to get this point i wanted to get this point it's absolutely beautiful it's absolutely beautiful in john chapter 1 and verse 33 look what in john chapter 1 and verse 33 look what it says it says i was going to try and conserve time but i was going to try and conserve time but it's better to do it this way because i it's better to do it this way because i want you to see this point here in verse want you to see this point here in verse 33 and john says i knew him not but he 33 and john says i knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining see the spirit descending and remaining on him the same as he which baptized us on him the same as he which baptized us with the holy spirit with the holy spirit and then over in verse taking up at and then over in verse taking up at verse 49 verse 49 or verse 48 nathanael said unto him once or verse 48 nathanael said unto him once knowest thou me jesus answered and said knowest thou me jesus answered and said unto him before that philip called thee unto him before that philip called thee when there was under the fig tree i saw when there was under the fig tree i saw thee thee nathaniel answered and said unto him nathaniel answered and said unto him master master teacher there are the son of god they teacher there are the son of god they are the king of israel are the king of israel jesus answered and said unto him because jesus answered and said unto him because i said unto thee i saw the under the fig i said unto thee i saw the under the fig tree believe us now tree believe us now thou shalt see greater things than these thou shalt see greater things than these and he says unto him truly truly i say and he says unto him truly truly i say unto you unto you hereafter you shall see hereafter you shall see the angels of god ascending the angels of god ascending and descending and descending upon the son of man and so when that upon the son of man and so when that spirit came down like a dove brethren spirit came down like a dove brethren sisters and john records it stayed with sisters and john records it stayed with him him he goes to see nathaniel nathaniel was he goes to see nathaniel nathaniel was sitting under the under a tree and sitting under the under a tree and nathaniel was reading genesis 28 there's not a shadow of a doubt he was either reading it or thinking about it either reading it or thinking about it one of the two one of the two there's not a shadow of a doubt about there's not a shadow of a doubt about that because genesis 28 records the that because genesis 28 records the incident when jacob laid his head upon incident when jacob laid his head upon the pillar at bethel the pillar at bethel the house of god the house of god and he saw the angels of god and he saw the angels of god ascending ascending and then and then descending upon him descending upon him in which case in which case they were with him at the beginning they were with him at the beginning and they were with him at the end and they were with him at the end had it been the other way brothers and had it been the other way brothers and sisters had they been descending sisters had they been descending and ascending it would have meant that and ascending it would have meant that they were not with him at the beginning they were not with him at the beginning and they were not with him at the end and they were not with him at the end but it didn't say that it said they but it didn't say that it said they ascended from him and descended to him ascended from him and descended to him and god was telling him and god was telling him i will be with thee in all the way which i will be with thee in all the way which thou goest and immediately after that thou goest and immediately after that spirit came upon the son of god and spirit came upon the son of god and stayed with him he pointed his fingers stayed with him he pointed his fingers straight at that chapter of scripture straight at that chapter of scripture and said nathanael you say i'm the king and said nathanael you say i'm the king of israel so i am of israel so i am if that man was changed his name to if that man was changed his name to israel i certainly am the king israel i certainly am the king because the spirit was with him and so because the spirit was with him and so this is what we read in luke's gospel this is what we read in luke's gospel brethren sisters skipping over the brethren sisters skipping over the chronological order of our lord's life chronological order of our lord's life this is what we read in luke's gospel this is what we read in luke's gospel the spirit the spirit drove him into the wilderness drove him into the wilderness to be tempted of the diabolos to be tempted of the diabolos luke then records he came out of the luke then records he came out of the wilderness in the power of the spirit wilderness in the power of the spirit and then ignoring chronological events and then ignoring chronological events luke then records his visit to nazareth luke then records his visit to nazareth he stood up in the synagogue and says he stood up in the synagogue and says the spirit of the lord god is upon me the spirit of the lord god is upon me so it took him into the wilderness so it took him into the wilderness stayed with him during the temptation stayed with him during the temptation came out with him and stood up with him came out with him and stood up with him in that synagogue in that synagogue and all the way through that record and all the way through that record in luke's gospel as he ignores the in luke's gospel as he ignores the chronological order of details to chronological order of details to present that thought that the spirit was present that thought that the spirit was always with always with why did it come down brethren sisters why did it come down brethren sisters in the form of a dove there has been much speculation upon that i suppose the idea speculation upon that i suppose the idea that i will present you may think is that i will present you may think is speculation too that's your privilege speculation too that's your privilege some say well some say well the name of jonah is the hebrew word for the name of jonah is the hebrew word for a dove a dove and our lord said that they would not and our lord said that they would not get any sign but the sign of the prophet get any sign but the sign of the prophet jonah and therefore the dove represented jonah and therefore the dove represented him as the fulfillment of the type of him as the fulfillment of the type of jonah maybe jonah maybe doesn't impress me much doesn't impress me much well i think brethren sisters and i put well i think brethren sisters and i put this forward respectfully this forward respectfully but it really is beautiful i believe but it really is beautiful i believe that of all the characteristics we love that of all the characteristics we love about a dove about a dove harmless and everything else harmless and everything else there are two there are two which on this occasion i felt which on this occasion i felt i feel have a wonderful and remarkable i feel have a wonderful and remarkable application application the thing that the scripture notes about the thing that the scripture notes about the dove is that is a very clean little the dove is that is a very clean little bird bird my dove my undefiled song of solomon my dove my undefiled song of solomon it will not it will not ever ever put its foot put its foot in dirt mud filth in dirt mud filth it will hover around and flutter until it will hover around and flutter until it finds firm ground clean ground and it finds firm ground clean ground and it'll land it'll land point number one point number one another feature the dove which is noted another feature the dove which is noted by the prophets by the prophets which i think has peculiar application which i think has peculiar application here here is that it has strong is that it has strong homing instincts because it belongs to homing instincts because it belongs to the pigeon family they shall fly as the pigeon family they shall fly as doves to the windows doves to the windows says the prophet isaiah in his 60th says the prophet isaiah in his 60th chapter chapter it's a pigeon family it has strong it's a pigeon family it has strong homing instincts homing instincts and putting those two things together and putting those two things together brother and sisters when he came up out brother and sisters when he came up out of the muddy waters of jordan of the muddy waters of jordan and the water flowed from his body and the water flowed from his body and he left his his humanity as it were and he left his his humanity as it were back in that water denying his flesh back in that water denying his flesh and he stood up on clean ground and he stood up on clean ground he was a morally he was a morally perfect perfect man never done a wrong thing in his life and so a little dove came and settled on and so a little dove came and settled on him and because that dove had strong homing instincts instincts the spirit of his father which had made the spirit of his father which had made that life holy it was the reason why his that life holy it was the reason why his life was holy the origin of his morality life was holy the origin of his morality was in heaven was in heaven it homed in where it belonged it homed in where it belonged what else could it do this is my beloved son in whom i am well pleased we've left john for a while haven't we brethren and sisters we've been making a brethren and sisters we've been making a study of our lord jesus christ really study of our lord jesus christ really but it is one section of john's life but it is one section of john's life where he had a stand where he had a stand as an awe-stricken spectator and from that moment onwards it was inevitable it was inevitable that he must decrease that he must decrease and as we follow him in the next study and as we follow him in the next study brother and sisters brother and sisters we will see how greatly impressed john we will see how greatly impressed john was with that occasion was with that occasion and how he drew constant attention to and how he drew constant attention to him who was truly the lamb of god and him who was truly the lamb of god and the next day as jesus walked by with the the next day as jesus walked by with the disciples standing around him amongst disciples standing around him amongst whom were peter and andrew whom were peter and andrew the next day the next day they were clinging to john and john says they were clinging to john and john says look my disciples i'm telling you i've look my disciples i'm telling you i've had i my work is finished there he is had i my work is finished there he is there's the lamb of god which takes away there's the lamb of god which takes away the sin of the world and he said that as the sin of the world and he said that as john said as jesus walked past and some john said as jesus walked past and some of those disciples of those disciples left john including peter and andrew left john including peter and andrew joined in the joined in the with the lord and walked away from him with the lord and walked away from him and the fulfillment of john's course of and the fulfillment of john's course of course was seen brother and sisters in course was seen brother and sisters in the action of those disciples and it is the action of those disciples and it is our great and earnest prayer that the our great and earnest prayer that the studies of john the baptist might help studies of john the baptist might help us to do exactly what they do he us to do exactly what they do he directed us to the lord as he walked directed us to the lord as he walked past let's join in and follow in his past let's join in and follow in his footsteps