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I. John Compared Himself to Jesus. Jesus was the Word; John called himself only a voice in the wilderness. John said he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ shoes. Next to Jesus, he said he was a slave.
Now, John was important. He was sent by God as the forerunner to introduce the Messiah and Savior to the world (Jn.1:6). Jesus said that he was the greatest man ever born of women (Mt.11:11). It’s not that he wasn’t important, it’s how he saw himself in comparison to Christ. It’s called humility. Jesus identified the greatest as the one who humbled himself (Mt.18:1-4).
But compared to Jesus? You can’t compare angels to Jesus, much less a mere man of dust. Philosophers were sitting around talking about who they’d like to see walk through the door to be with them. One said Washington, another said Lincoln, another said Plato, and everyone had someone famous in mind. Then one said, “If any of those men walked in we would all stand and greet them. But there is one who if He walked in they would all bow and worship.” No man can compare himself to Jesus. He is king of kings, Lord of heaven and earth, and the Lamb of God before whom all of creation will bow the knee and worship (Rev.5).
But compared to Jesus, our daily or lifelong earthbound and temporary agenda, they are but dust on the scales compared to His plan for your life and how He can use you to accomplish His agenda. He calls you to do more than live a mundane life on this earth. We all need to admit we are nothing and can do nothing without Christ, but with Him we can do all things (Phil.4:13).
II. John Compared Water Baptism to Spirit Baptism.
Water baptism is important because Jesus was baptized and He commanded us to be baptized. Weighty issues are at stake in water baptism or else Jesus would not have allowed Himself to be baptized by John. Enough said. But Jesus was not only baptized in water, He was baptized with the Holy Spirit.
What is this baptism with the Spirit John spoke of? Same as happened to Jesus! This baptism gave Him power to defeat the devil and do His work of helping people, which is what the rest of Mark is about, including giving the wisdom of God in words of power. Acts 10:38 said, “How God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”
To know what this baptism is all about Jesus explains it in Acts 1:4-5, 8. Then this happened in Acts 2 and the future of the church. This is a baptism with power. To accomplish God’s will we all need this baptism with the Spirit.
You might say, “I’m quite satisfied with where I am right now.” Jesus could have said that before He went to be baptized with the Spirit, but then all those people that He helped, healed, delivered, and has saved after that, where would they be?
Beware of being satisfied. Beware of being stagnant in your life with God. Beware of being in a rut. “But I just want enough of God and what He can do for me and my family, and we’re doing alright.” You selfish pig! There are billions of people perishing and on their way to hell, and all you want of God is enough for you and your family? You ever heard of John 3
Stay Connected with Grace Church!
Dive deeper into sermon notes and see how Christ is moving in our community by visiting our website: https://sites.google.com/view/gracehouseclinton/sermons
If you feel led to support our ministry, you can give securely here: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=674824c2-5d42-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11
Thank you for being part of our ministry! #GraceChurch #FaithInAction #terrysimpson #terry #simpson #clintonar #sermons #pastor #ministry #discipleship
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By Terry Simpson
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I. John Compared Himself to Jesus. Jesus was the Word; John called himself only a voice in the wilderness. John said he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ shoes. Next to Jesus, he said he was a slave.
Now, John was important. He was sent by God as the forerunner to introduce the Messiah and Savior to the world (Jn.1:6). Jesus said that he was the greatest man ever born of women (Mt.11:11). It’s not that he wasn’t important, it’s how he saw himself in comparison to Christ. It’s called humility. Jesus identified the greatest as the one who humbled himself (Mt.18:1-4).
But compared to Jesus? You can’t compare angels to Jesus, much less a mere man of dust. Philosophers were sitting around talking about who they’d like to see walk through the door to be with them. One said Washington, another said Lincoln, another said Plato, and everyone had someone famous in mind. Then one said, “If any of those men walked in we would all stand and greet them. But there is one who if He walked in they would all bow and worship.” No man can compare himself to Jesus. He is king of kings, Lord of heaven and earth, and the Lamb of God before whom all of creation will bow the knee and worship (Rev.5).
But compared to Jesus, our daily or lifelong earthbound and temporary agenda, they are but dust on the scales compared to His plan for your life and how He can use you to accomplish His agenda. He calls you to do more than live a mundane life on this earth. We all need to admit we are nothing and can do nothing without Christ, but with Him we can do all things (Phil.4:13).
II. John Compared Water Baptism to Spirit Baptism.
Water baptism is important because Jesus was baptized and He commanded us to be baptized. Weighty issues are at stake in water baptism or else Jesus would not have allowed Himself to be baptized by John. Enough said. But Jesus was not only baptized in water, He was baptized with the Holy Spirit.
What is this baptism with the Spirit John spoke of? Same as happened to Jesus! This baptism gave Him power to defeat the devil and do His work of helping people, which is what the rest of Mark is about, including giving the wisdom of God in words of power. Acts 10:38 said, “How God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”
To know what this baptism is all about Jesus explains it in Acts 1:4-5, 8. Then this happened in Acts 2 and the future of the church. This is a baptism with power. To accomplish God’s will we all need this baptism with the Spirit.
You might say, “I’m quite satisfied with where I am right now.” Jesus could have said that before He went to be baptized with the Spirit, but then all those people that He helped, healed, delivered, and has saved after that, where would they be?
Beware of being satisfied. Beware of being stagnant in your life with God. Beware of being in a rut. “But I just want enough of God and what He can do for me and my family, and we’re doing alright.” You selfish pig! There are billions of people perishing and on their way to hell, and all you want of God is enough for you and your family? You ever heard of John 3
Stay Connected with Grace Church!
Dive deeper into sermon notes and see how Christ is moving in our community by visiting our website: https://sites.google.com/view/gracehouseclinton/sermons
If you feel led to support our ministry, you can give securely here: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=674824c2-5d42-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11
Thank you for being part of our ministry! #GraceChurch #FaithInAction #terrysimpson #terry #simpson #clintonar #sermons #pastor #ministry #discipleship