Thursday, December 30, 2010

Confirmation of Jesus Being the King – the Messiah by His Herald (Part I)

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH


TEXT: Matthew 3:1-5
THEME: Confirmation of Jesus Being the King – the Messiah by His Herald
TITLE: The Message from the Herald (Part I)
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: Reasons Why People Did Not Repent

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Review
• The book of Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the King
• Genealogy, Birth, King Recognizer, Hatred of Herod, and Fulfillment of the Prophecies
B. The Person and Work of a Herald
• Herald is the messenger who carries important news
• He is the one who send by the King to announce His arrival.


II. BODY
A. THE HEARALD’S ARRIVAL (v.1)
There is a time gap between the last verse of chapter two and chapter 3. That was the time when Jesus and His parents settled at Nazareth. There is no information about Jesus Christ in His stay in Nazareth except during when He was 12 years old Luke 2:41-52. The time gap is approximately 20 years.
1) Period (In those days)
“In those days” describes a long period of time He spent in the Desert of Judea preaching repeatedly about the Kingdom of Heaven and repentance
• One manifestatation of a long period of preaching he had many disciples
o (John 3:25) An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew
o (Matthew 11) John was in prison and he sent his discples to Jesus
o It took time in order the message reached distant places in Israel.
2) Person (John the Baptist)
• Cousin of Jesus who was 6 years older than Jesus
• Zacharriah and Elizabeth (cousin of Marry) were the parents.
• John means “a gracious gift from God” the name was given by God.
• He was under the Nazarite vow
• He was filled with the Holy Spirit even during his birth (Luke1:15)
• He grew up in Qumran community when his parents died
o Qumran people were Essenes - Act of baptizing, they were waiting for two fold Messiah (Priesly, Politcal Messiah)
• He was called the Baptizer because of the act of baptizing.
3) Purpose (Preaching)
Preaching means to herald, to proclaim, to convey information about the coming King
4) Place (Desert of Judea)
the location is really a desert an arid place.
This dwelling place of demons (luke 11:24)
Temptation of Christ happened in the desert (wilderness)
The Pulpit of John the Baptist

B. THE HERALD’S CREDIBILITY (v.3-4)
In Luke 1:66 there is a question about John the Baptist, “What then is this child going to be?”.
1) Prophetic Claim (Isaiah 40:3)
• The book of Matthew presents that John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Christ by quoting a prophesy
• Proclaiming the coming of the King
• Preparing the way of the Lord y telling the people to repent.
• Making a straight path for the King
2) Personal Claim (John 1:23)
• John the Baptist was aware that he was the one who come before the Lord.
• He claimed that he was the one whom prophet Isaiah prophesied.
3)
C. The Herald’s Message (v.2)
The focus of this chapter (chapter 3) is the message of the King through His herald. And from the desert, he received the word from the Lord (Luke 3:2). What is the message?
1) Commission (Repent)
• The first word of the Gospel meaning be converted (General Call)
o Turning away from sin and turning to God
o Say no to sin and yes to holiness
o Abhor sin and love Christ
o It is a change of perspective, will, desire, behavior
2) Reason (the Kingdom of Heaven is Near /at hand)
• Kingdom of Heaven (Jewish)
• Imminent (Near/at hand) it is the next thing to happen
• Involves blessing and judgment
o Parable of Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
o Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 22:43)
o Parable of the Weeds and The Parable of Net (Matthew 13)
• Involves giving up what you have and who you are
o Parables of Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13:44-45)
• Involves attitude ( Mark 10:14)
• Five Phases of the Kingdom
o Prophetic Kingdom (prophesied Kingdom)
o Imminent Kingdom (Kingdom at hand – message of John the Baptist)
o Mystery Form of Kingdom (By heart)
o Manifest Form of the Kingdom (Millennial Kingdom)
o Eternal Kingdom (Final State)
3) Implications of the Message
• Kingdom is all about holiness that’s why repentance is required
• If there will be no repentance judgment will come like what happened to the 5 churches in Asia Minor in Revelation
• No repentance is rejecting Jesus Christ as King

Propositional Statement : The Three Reasons Why Some People Did Not Repent

1) They did not know that they are lost (You cannot repent unless you know you are a great sinner)
Matthew 5:3-5 Unless you know you are a sinner, spiritually incapable, you will not repent. Unless you mourn over your spiritual condition as a sinner and you long for righteousness you will not repent
• Biblical Examples
o Tax Colector (Luke 18:13 .. beating his breast and said “God have mercy on me I am a sinner
o Lost Son (Luke 15:21… Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son

2) They did not see the Value of the Kingdom (You cannot repent unless you see the value of the Kingdom)
• The man gave up everything just to have the treasure (Kingdom of God)
• The merchant who sold everything just to have the pearl of great value
• Apostle Paul had considered everything he had in his former live as rubbish, non sense, of no value. He gave up everyghing (ambition, pride, friends, fame, authority). He saw that knowing Christ is the real treasure

3) They did not know the Character of King (You cannot repent unless you know the King of the Kingdom)
• The older son in the parable of the lost son did not know the goodness of his father (You will not repent unless you know that the king is faithful, powerful, and gracious King)
• The Pharisees did not aware of the coming judgment. ( You will not repent unless you are aware of the coming judgment)

III. CONCLUSION

Jesus is the King proclaimed by His herald. He will come as King who will give blessings of eternal life or will judge the unrepentant heart. The message of the Lord is still the same today. REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.


For God’s Glory
10//10/10

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