『這些人是誰?』(18) 終生『活著為耶穌』的施洗約翰

經文:1:14-173:4-67:26-28;太3:1-3;約1:29, 363:29-30

背誦經文 7 我們沒有一個人為自己活,也沒有一個人為自己死。 8 我們若活著,是為主而活;若死了,是為主而死。所以,我們或活或死總是主的人。(14:7-8)

A)  是位終生歸給 神的拿細耳人

-父母的許願和他自己的見証

       他在主面前將要為大,淡酒濃酒都不喝,從母腹裏就被聖靈充滿了É(1:15)

       4 這約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服,腰束皮帶,吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。 5 那時,耶路撒冷和猶太全地,並約旦河一帶地方的人,都出去到約翰那裏, 6 承認他們的罪,在約旦河裏受他的洗。(3:4-6)

B)  具有以利亞的心志和能力

-幫助人悔改歸向神,且為 神預備合用的器皿

       他必有以利亞的心志能力,行在主的前面,叫為父的心轉向兒女,叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧,又為主預備合用的百姓。(1:17)

C)  不僅為主預備道路,自己也先成為主的路

       4 正如先知以賽亞書上所記的話,說:在曠野有人聲喊著說:預備主的道,修直他的路! 5 一切山窪都要填滿;大小山岡都要削平!彎彎曲曲的地方要改為正直;高高低低的道路要改為平坦! 6 凡有血氣的,都要見 神的救恩 (: 榮耀)(3:4-6)

D)  讓主居首位:「祂必興旺,我必衰微」是他一生最好的寫照

      曠野的呼聲看哪, 神的羔羊É(1:29, 36)

       29 娶新婦的就是新郎;新郎的朋友站著,聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂。故此,我這喜樂滿足了。 30 他必興旺,我必衰微。(3:29-30)

       約翰說:「我是用水給你們施洗,但有一位能力比我更大的要來,我就是給他解鞋帶也不配。」(3:16)

E)  雖然短暫,卻是「榮神益人」的一生

       我告訴你們É他比先知大多了...凡婦人所生的,沒有一個大過約翰的É(7:26-28)

       14 你必歡喜快樂;有許多人因他出世,也必喜樂。 15 他在主面前將要為大 É16 他要使許多以色列人回轉,歸於主他們的 神。 17他必有以利亞的心志能力,行在主的前面,叫為父的心轉向兒女,叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧,又為主預備合用的百姓。(1:14-17)

 

 

 

 

ÒWho are they?Ó(18) – Spent His Whole Life ÒLiving for JesusÓ: John the Baptist

 

Scriptures: Luke 1:14-17, 3:4-6; Matt 3:1-3; John 1:29&36, 3:29-30; Luke 7:26-28

Memorization Scripture:  ÒFor none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the LordÕs.Ó (Rom 14:7-8)

 

1)        His whole life consecrated to God as a Nazarite

a)       Vowed by his parents and with his own testimony

-          ÒFor he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his motherÕs womb.Ó (Luke 1:15)

-          ÒNow John himself was clothed in camelÕs hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.Ó (Matt 3:4-6)

2)        He possess the spirit and power of Elijah

a)       Helped men to repent and turn back to God and have prepared useful vessels for GodÕs use

-          ÒHe will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, Ôto turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,Õ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.Ó (Luke 1:17)

3)        Not only did he prepare the way for the Lord, but have first became a way for the Lord

-          ÒAs it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:  ÒThe voice of one crying in the wilderness: ÔPrepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.Ó (Luke 3:4-6)

4)        The LordÕs preeminence: ÒThat He may increase and I decreaseÓ was his biography

-          A voice in the wilderness:  ÒBehold! The Lamb of God É!Ó (John 1: 29, 36)

-          ÒHe who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroomÕs voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.Ó (John 3: 29-30)

-           ÒJohn answered, saying to all, ÔI indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.ÕÓ (Luke 3:16)

5)        Though short lived, but it was a life that glorified God and brought blessings to man

-          ÒÉ I say to you É (he is) more than a prophet É among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist ÉÓ (Luke 7:26-28)

-          ÒAnd you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his motherÕs womb.   And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.   He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, Ôto turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,Õ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.Ó (Luke 1:14-17)