Sermon Central
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There Was A Man Sent From God
Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Nov 19, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Just as God raised up John the Baptist to proclaim repentance and to call men to prepare the way of the Lord, even so today when He has a work to be done, He seeks for a willing servant.
THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROM GOD
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:6-9.
I. WHEN GOD HAS A TASK HE WANTS DONE, HE SEEKS A MAN TO DO IT…ELSE HE LEAVES IT UNDONE:
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath, and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 22:30-31
II. A DIVINE TASK DEMANDS A DIVINE COMMISSION: “…sent from God.” “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:20-21.
“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.”
III. A DIVINE TASK HAS A DISTINCT PURPOSE: “came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light…”
One cannot be a witness to that of which they have no knowledge. We cannot share that which we do not have nor give that which we do not possess. Note the witness of John and the testimony that he declared.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.” John 1:29-30.
IV. A DIVINE TASK NEVER DISCRIMINATES IN THE BLESSING IT AFFORDS: “…that all through him might believe.”
John the Baptist declared: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The Apostle Paul declared: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16.
The Apostle Peter declared: “The Lord is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
IIPeter3:9.
