Matthew 11:1-6
Preached Wednesday June 17, 2009
Introduction:
Discouragement is a very powerful weapon that our evil enemy uses against us. We try to live for God after we are saved, but sadly we stumble from time to time. A person who wants to make a grand success of the Christian life must understand that Jesus Loves His children even when they fall.
I. Jesus responded in love toward a doubting prophet – John the Baptist
A. John, like many of the Old Testament Prophets, saw the suffering and the reigning of the Messiah as very closely related events.
Matthew 3:1-3
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
B. The two great lines of prophetic truth blurred like one were viewing two mountains from a distance… they would appear to be one big mountain.
C. John began to wonder if he had the wrong man
D. Jesus told his disciples to tell John the truth AGAIN!
II. God Will Show Again His Truth to the Ignorant and the Doubter.
A. We are frail, and must be shown the truth again and again.
1. The disciples were astonished wjen Jesus fed the five thousand.
2. They were astonished when Jesus came walking on the water.
3. It took them a very long time to realize that Jesus was very God in human form.
4. They could not believe that Jesus would die an atoning death.
Matthew 12:40
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 17:22-23
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
5. Jesus has pity on our ignorance and weakness.
John 16:12
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
John 16:25
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
Psalm 103:14
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
1 Corinthians 3:2
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
B. Our doubts do not anger Jesus if we want to know the truth.
1. An honest doubter is invited to come and find out the truth.
James 4:8
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
John 7:17
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
2. No one needs to stay in doubt about the Lord Jesus.
Hosea 6:3
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
3. One must be ready to deal with what the light reveals when he does come to the truth.
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
III. Jesus calls the backslider back to fellowship and joy.
A. Peter was restored after his denial
Mark 16:7
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
B. Peter did not consider himself to be a disciple anymore, but Jesus did!
C. David sought restoration and forgiveness after his great fall and got it!
Psalm 51:16-17
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
D. The Christian worker who fails is called again to serve God.
1. Jonah
Jonah 1:1-3
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah 3:1
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
2. John Mark
Acts 13:5
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Acts 13:13
13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Acts 15:37-40
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
2 Timothy 4:11
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.