A Message by Pastor
to Students, Scott Hamilton
Given to
June 6, 2010
“God Prepared the
Way Long Ago!”
Matthew 3:1-12
I. Opening: Story: I went to Carowinds on
Wednesday, and I did none of the planning or driving. It was great – do this, take these guys, and
go. All I had to do was follow. Don’t get me wrong, I kind of enjoy making
the decisions, but learning to follow is part of being a good leader. We enjoy taking charge and being the one in
charge. We would rather tell people what
to do than allow others to lead and just follow. The problem is that we try to
do the same thing in our relationship with God.
Read Matthew
3:1-12. We can learn from John the
Baptist about how to follow God and make a difference for His Kingdom.
II. Understand that God PREPARED the way for His children. Matthew
3:3
A. VS 3 – John’s
path was DETERMINED before his birth.
1. God knew that He would have to
send Jesus to pay for the sins of the world right after Adam and Eve sinned in
the garden.
2. Read Isaiah 40:3-5.
3. God had picked John 750 years
before his birth.
4. God sent an angel to prepare
Elisabeth and Zachariah for John.
5. God is a preparer of events and
people to accomplish His will.
- God is preparing us to do
something for Him!
B. VS 3 – John
was PREPARING the way for Jesus.
1.
God
wanted John to make a big deal about Jesus.
2.
He
obeyed God – no more and no less.
3.
It
would have been easy for John to make much of himself.
III. Understand Our ROLE in His Kingdom. Matthew 3:3-6
A. We can follow John’s example as we
continue to grow in Christ.
B. VS 3 – Be
CLEAR about who we are.
1. John knew that God was in control
and he was not.
2. We tend to forget that sometimes.
3. Could you imagine going up to a
coach and tell him what to do?
4. Story: There
is only one coach on the team. (video)
C. VS 4 –
We need to willing ACCEPT our role.
1. John did not try to make himself
out to be something he was not.
2. This was the first Word from God
in over 400 years.
3. People wanted to know who he was.
4. Read John 1:19-23.
5. He dressed as a prophet. He dressed like Elijah. (2 Kings 1:8)
6. Story: Do
not try to be someone you are not – the way you dress.
D. VS 5 –
Remember God DIRECTS our circumstances.
1. God placed him in the wilderness,
not the city.
2. John went where he was told to go.
3. Story: Will
Graham’s story about going where he was told.
IV. Understand true PASSION for God. Matthew
3:7-10
A.
VS 6-7 – Others should not CHANGE
who we are.
1.
John preached the truth of God no matter who was around.
2.
He did not care about their titles.
3.
We need to allow God to use us everyday, wherever we are.
B.
VS 8-9 – We need to always tell
the TRUTH about God.
1.
Repentance is a heart matter.
2.
Repentance is shown by what your life is producing.
3.
Our heritage will not save us.
C.
VS 10 – Explain God’s WRATH.
1.
We live in a world that does not like to hear about
judgment.
2.
God will judge us by what our life is producing.
V. Understand our MESSAGE of the Kingdom. Matthew 3:2,11-12
A. We need to point to Jesus
as the way.
B. VS 2 – Teach REPENTANCE.
C. Tell people to turn to
Jesus and away from sin.
D. VS 11-12 – Reveal God’s final JUDGEMENT.
E. Our eternal life will be effected by our choices in this life.
VI. Closing Statement: God has a plan for each of us to follow. Are you going to continue to control your
life or let go and allow God to lead, direct and set you free?
Read 1
Corinthians 7:22-23.
Story: Bill Arbo
– “It is not what I want, but what He wants.”
Your life will change and God can use you in a mighty way if you will
allow God to prepare your way, and point others to Jesus.