245: Ryan King - What Went Ye Out To See?

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:13

   Welcome to Good Burger selfie and talks. I’m Levi and I’m Chris and I’m Brian, thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one taco week to help us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post a new episode of the start of each week with a short intro before. Hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to listen to and now let’s talk more about this week’s talk.

2. 0:50

   Welcome to the good christadelphians talks podcast. This is brother Brian. This week’s talk is a class from a series that was just given at a regional Gathering here on the East Coast. Brother. Ryan King gave six classes on John the Baptist. And today we’re listening to clash 3 which is entitled. What went ye out to see the entire series is phenomenal.

3. 1:18

   And I’ll work on getting all the links coordinated to be able to post on the extended podcast. Because brother Ryan had great slides to go along with the classes and coupled with a recent trip that he had taken to Israel itself. There’s just a lot of cool content to take in that you want to see as you’re listening to the classes.

4. 1:42

   I would at the very least, highly recommend that you listen to the class before this one, which is class 2, as that was Sensational in and of itself, but it sets the stage even better for what this class laid out, which was a visual breakdown of the events from Luke 3, With John’s excitation in the wilderness between the symbology of his appearance.

5. 2:15

   The back and forth between the various groups of people. And ultimately, the Legacy, the John set up for Jesus to pay off in Matthew 11, when being asked about the signs and the rumors. And if he was in fact, the Christ Jesus is declaration to the crowds. Being truly, I tell you that among those born of women, there has not been any one greater.

6. 2:40

   Than John the Baptist. So I’d like to think that it’s not just confirmation bias because I’m posting this series, but I think that this class and particularly two and three combined are some of the best material that I’ve heard in years between the mix of scriptural connection historical context and practical application. So I’ll refrain from waxing poetic any further and just encourage everyone to please make the time for the full set.

7. 3:14

   Once it’s posted So as always, we hope this strengthens your faith and brightens your day brother. Ryan King what went ye out to sea Good afternoon. Once again, brothers and sisters have everybody’s refreshed for the back half. When John was asked by a deputation of the Jews that were sent to him, who are you?

8. 3:43

   it’s interesting to see that the more John said, actually, the less he said, The Jewish leaders asked, are you the Christ, his answer? I am not the Christ. Are you Elijah? I am not. Are you the prophet of Deuteronomy 18? no, well will then who are you Nothing. Just a voice. The very fact that John saw himself as nothing brothers and sisters is what allowed God to make him a voice. See if there’s one thing that prevents God speaking through people, it’s when we insist on speaking for ourselves, It’s only when were able to divest ourselves of self that God can take our mouth in and use that mouth for his purpose. If we don’t need brothers and sisters, who go around the Ecclesia, speaking their mind, what we need is brothers and sisters who are going to speak God’s mind and we can only do that.

9. 4:48

   As John is going to show us when we empty ourselves of our own thoughts, that we might be filled with God’s. I am not the Christ. I am not know. Lynn. Who are you just a voice? It was interesting that he of whom it was said that he’s the greatest Prophet born among women.

10. 5:10

    We have just one verse of scripture that spans 30 years of his life and like, you just focus on that verse of scripture. Now, if with me in Luke chapter 1 and at verse 8 e much like the testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ, we have just a glimpse of him. They are don’t weigh in the temple dazzling, the the doctors of the law. But although this one verse Is spans 30 years of John’s life? It it really fits his purpose.

11. 5:39

    Absolutely beautifully. Luke 1, the very last verse The child grew and waxed strong in spirit. His parents are probably have now passed off the scene and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel. And as we’ve been repeating throughout the classes, he’s in the deserts. That’s where God’s voice can be heard. That’s where he can be understood. We have to isolate.

12. 6:07

    Don’t we ourselves from this world? You don’t think that God expects any of us brothers and sisters to live. Like John the Baptist. You were taught in the Book of Ecclesiastes to live a basic life, having contentment with food and raiment. You, he doesn’t expect us to live, like, John the Baptist. But what he is saying is that we have to cut off ourselves from this world, go out into a desert.

13. 6:33

    Even if in our minds and their uncluttered from society, we can hear the voice of God and that was his message. He He lived his message, he was in the desert for all of those years in a world that seized and Intrigue and all of its class distinctions, the voice was crying. Come out here, come out here and learn something about God. but that first says, Something else, John the Baptist claim to be just a voice. Now I understand that when you have a voice you listen, but what does that verse say he was in the deserts until the day of his showing.

14. 7:19

    Unto Israel. So they were looking at something. It wasn’t just that they were hearing a voice. They were seeing something, as well, you in the Lord. Jesus Christ. Spoke about John. He said in Luke 7 verse 24. What went she out to sea? So, it wasn’t just a voice. Although, John claimed to be only that they were seeing something about there was something they saw in his character. That was Was impressive too.

15. 7:50

    And we need to go down this morning and we need to have a look at him. This was efficient in the wilderness, his exhibition in the desert. Well, well, what do we see? Let’s come to Matthew chapter 3 because Matthew gives us those details. What went ye out to see said the Lord Jesus Christ?

16. 8:08

    Well, here he is. And everyone would have seen him. You guys, we turn up that reference. Let’s just have a look at the layout of the land where John was John was in the wilderness, the deserts until the day of his showing. So he was here in the the Wilderness of Judea which is very inhospitable terrain, very difficult to to walk through because it’s just up and down and up, and down, and up, and down. Very dry.

17. 8:37

    He was in the wilderness until the day of his show. Showing unto Israel. Now when John appeared on the scene to the, to the nation of Israel, he moved out of the Wilderness. And he went down here on the valley floor, which is we know is the lowest spot on the earth, just north of the Dead Sea on the Jordan River and there he manifested himself to the people and everyone would have been looking down on him. These Hills were you see this?

18. 9:07

    This rough part of the map, those Hills are about A thousand feet above sea level. John is down here on the valley floor. Probably about fourteen hundred feet below sea level. So everybody’s looking down on him. It’s like they’re in a grandstand and down there on the valley floor. Is this, this Apparition what were they all?

19. 9:26

    Looking at. Everybody would have seen him looking down the valley floor, down the amphitheater of nature. Matthew chapter 3. This is what they saw. First three, this is he that was spoken by the prophet, Isaiah saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare. Ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

20. 9:46

    And this same, John had his raiment of camels hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and Wild Honey. Now that is the total of John’s possessions. One leather girdle. And one camels hair garment he had nothing. He was completely undistracted by this world. That was all he had. As we said, a camel skin doesn’t have to be dry cleaned too often and grasshoppers, don’t need much cooking, and because of that, he was available.

21. 10:20

    God could get through to him, God could speak to him. Now, it’s interesting that there’s a fascinating difference. We saw the parallels, didn’t we with Elijah and Elijah was dressed in nature. Like, I’d like a piece of granite that was just cut out of The escarpment of Gillian. But of Elijah, it said that his clothing was the skin of an animal.

22. 10:39

    It doesn’t say what one but of John, we’re told what animal it was because it says there in verse 4, that it was camels. Hey, Now, why would the scriptures note that? Well, you know, the camel of All Creatures bows and sisters is made by the Creator for the desert. It’s the ship of the desert. You look at the unique features of a camel. A camel has special foot pads, which mold itself to the sand of the desert.

23. 11:13

    If you put a camera on Rocky ground, he’s hopeless. But if you put them on the sand of the desert, he’s absolutely sure. He has a hump in which to store his food. The poor camel doesn’t know how long he’s going to have to be trotting. So he has a hump that stores food.

24. 11:29

    He’s got a massive three. Bird stomach in which to store water so that he can constantly have a replenishment. Its nostrils are all pinched in. So, you see the blowing, Sands of the desert, can’t get in his nose, because they’re pinched in. it has lips that are like leather, so can eat cactus and all of the plants that are that are in the desert it sheds its coat just before the hot weather.

25. 11:59

    So, it has a thick coat in the winter and it has a small coat in the summer. It can go 100 miles in 12 hours. And if it needs, it can go for four successive days. Without a rest. Keeping going and keeping going and keeping going. And keeping going and John’s clothes in. And now, you look at, look at those characteristics Doesn’t the word of God need to be in several chambers of our thinking.

26. 12:25

    Don’t we need to have special shoes to get through the terrain of the world. You don’t, we need to have food stored up in case of a long trial that we’re going through, don’t we need to have our nostrils, you know, pinched in. So we don’t get the, the, the degrading Sands of criticism and negativity in there. You know, we need to wear warm coats in the winter to prepare for the trials of the winter.

27. 12:52

    And then when the hot weather is beating down on us, we need to have our thin coats. He’s adapted to his circumstances. And John’s clothes in and that’s what God is saying to us in that Camel. He is made for the desert and so must we, we’ve got to be made, not for this world and to be conformed to that.

28. 13:13

    But to be made for the desert. And you know, the camera was unclean under the law of Moses. He’s a priest. And John’s clothes in him. What? God has cleansed brothers and sisters? No man. Was the dare call common or unclean. That message was reverberating out of John, what went ye out to sea well he’s dressed in that because that’s the way that we have to be adapted to hardship adapted to the difficulties of the desert, having the word of God, in several chambers of our are thinking, and what was his.

29. 13:48

    His energy bar has entered his strength. It was locusts. Now who would live on Locust? I’m told they taste like armpits which I’ve never put to the proof but that that’s what I’m told. Now this seems like a strange thing to eat locusts until the days in which we live and you can go to Whole Foods and pick up yourself a bag of chirps which are sort of a cricket based potato chip. Now, but everything about this man is Clint is linked with the desert He’s eating Locust.

30. 14:26

    Now, locusts were clean under the law of Moses. Depending on what type you see, if a creature of a little Locust could could spring above the Earth, you could eat it. God didn’t authorize them to eat anything that groveled in the, in the dirt. But if a little creature could go doing like that he’s clean. Do you think about the message of John, the Baptist? What is he counseling us to do get Above This Life Spring? Off by setting our affection upon what’s above. Get away from the world, get away from the earth, go out into the desert if you can spring above your clean. And he’s eating those grasshoppers. That was his message.

31. 15:11

    You, he wasn’t asking us to do any more than what he’s doing himself. He lived his message. You’ve got to get away from this world. If ever, God is going to speak to you. Now, what were the Locust flavored with? Well, they’re flavored there with Wild Honey. Now, it doesn’t mean sort of angry, honey, that is wild in that sense. The word really means natural honey. And where is it found in the land of Israel? It’s mostly found in the desert under a rock. So Deuteronomy chapter 32 talks about how I gave them honey out of the rock.

32. 15:48

    Now, this picture here is a picture of bethsaida, which is one of the places you can visit in the land of Israel today. Now, what happened when we went to bethsaida is in all of these rocks that you see here, the bees had made their nest and they were making honey in between all of these rocks here.

33. 16:07

    Actually, there were so many bees and so many wasp, but we actually couldn’t visit bethsaida because we would have Yeah, we have been stung. So there was honey out of the rock submit get everything about this. This man is connected with the Wilderness with the desert. And note the context of Deuteronomy 32 Deuteronomy, 32 talks about how God In His blessings upon upon Israel.

34. 16:32

    He gave them honey out of the Rock. And you know what? It says, two verses later. It says I have brought you into a waste howling Wilderness that I might instruct you. And in that context, we read about honey out of the rock. Now, what is, what is John doing? Come out into the Wilderness and learned something about God, that I might instruct you, it was in the wilderness where the instruction of the word takes place. we can’t do that, literally But we have to do it in our minds. Close the door to our studies.

35. 17:15

    Go out at least in our minds walkout to the backyard and sit down and open the word. But how’re we ever going to do that, where we sit down and we open the Bible and we read for five minutes and then Bing. And then we we address whatever the ding is. And okay, when it was his first saying to me, read Real 2 minutes and then Bing, How’re we ever going to understand the Bible like that?

36. 17:40

    How’re we ever going to hear God’s voice? You put those things away, they’re being, they’re dragging us away all the time, put the cell phone away, turn the Wi-Fi off, and transport yourself to where the voice of God is heard and he will speak to your heart. As Hosea said, I will lure her into the Wilderness and there, I will speak to her heart to see the point of these studies brothers and sisters is really not very hard to grasp. Laughs, what’s very difficult is the application. And it’s, perhaps harder now than any other age in human history, you can read articles on, you know, that have been put out by people who have no connection with the Bible. No belief in God at all.

37. 18:25

    And they’ll tell you that the internet destroys your mind. They’ll tell you that television, damages the left-hand hemisphere of the brain, whether it’s a good program or not, That’s what people in the world, you know, they’ve got no connection at all with with the Bible. So we’ve got to put away those things, John had no possessions.

38. 18:47

    He had no status, you had a very low opinion of himself. But he lived what he taught. And God was able to get through to him his clothing, his desert, his food is Desert, he lives in the desert. So let’s come to have a look at him. Now in the desert, in Luke Chapter 3, The Day of His exhibition unto Israel.

39. 19:07

    What? When she out to sea the sea, ask the Lord. Jesus Christ. Well here, here it is. Now, good. Bible study is always based as we’ve been taught on good Bible reading. And here is one of those passages of scripture where all you have to do is read it because the message is so, Didn’t first one of Luke chapter 3, it lists, all of the world’s greats.

40. 19:29

    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea Herod. Being the tetrarch of Galilee me. How’s this for, a who’s, who of names and his brother Philip tetrarch of it Sharia and the region of track and itís in. Lice Aeneas, the tetrarch of Abilene e, Aniston Caiaphas being the high priest. The word of God.

41. 19:56

    Came unto John, the son of Zechariah swear. In the wilderness. You see there’s all the world’s greats real prizes, some of them and there’s all their territory and it finishes up with the last two, the high priest of the god of Israel himself. And the word of God went past every single one of them and it goes to John in the wilderness wearing a camel skin. In the wilderness really whose territory? None of those guys would have wanted. Your God can’t get through to Tiberius Caesar. He couldn’t get through to Herod John tried, with Philip and Herod Antipas, but gods were just wouldn’t find room in their life.

42. 20:43

    But God could get through to John, because he was unencumbered with the things of this life. He couldn’t speak through Herod. He couldn’t speak through Tiberius Caesar because the things of this world were two important, they had to position to protect, they had riches to preserve. But when you thinking about those things brothers and sisters, you can’t think about God. And so the word of God goes past every one of them and it comes to John in the wilderness wearing a camel skin. He’s not asking us brothers and sisters to do any more than what he’s doing, himself.

43. 21:19

    There is his message. We have to leave the world. We have to leave. Our possessions have to put behind materialism. We don’t need those things. All we need to live a Godly life. With contentment is the things which God provides food and raiment and and time to study the Bible. So John was down here in verse 3 and he was baptizing.

44. 21:41

    It says the baptism of repentance For the remission of sins. Now, to a christadelphians course, is a very familiar concept. Baptism. We are all very familiar with but you see you have to understand what the scribes and Pharisees top. See they thought they taught? There was a difference between Jews and well, we’ll call him Gentiles but they called them dogs.

45. 22:06

    And a Jew when he came to the age of 13, we know was inducted as a sign of the Covenant in a very elaborate ceremony. But but what if a gentile wants to be a son of the Covenant, what do you have to do? You gotta wash him. Baptism was something that Jews reserved to wash filthy and unclean Gentiles. Then what’s John saying here?

46. 22:31

    This is absolutely staggering to them. It’s not just Gentiles have got to get baptized. You’ve all got to get baptized unless you’re prepared to all. Go down into the muddy stream of Jordan confess that all flesh is grass. And there’s no way that you’re going to find Repentance. Imagine imagine a Pharisee having to lower his dignity to that you with his, his Royal robes and his broad. Phylacteries, you’ve all got to get down into that. Muddy mess and confess who you are. Have a look at what John was to do. Come back to John’s chapter Isaiah 40. So we said, we were going to be here in every session because this is the work of John all spelled out. Not just in the gospels with all predicted here by Isaiah In view of John’s preaching, the glory of Yahweh was to be revealed, says verse 5.

47. 23:32

    The glory of Yahweh was to be revealed and All Flesh verse 5 of Isaiah 40, shall see it together. The word together. They’re really means to become a like it’s the were decade which means to be United to to become alike. This Glory will bring everyone to a common level, whether you’re rich, whether you’re poor, no matter your race. Everything will be brought to a common level by what John is about to do, all distinctions will disappear and it was the glory of Yahweh.

48. 24:11

    It says that will that will do that. Now in John 1:14, you need turn into it but it says the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld, his glory The glory, as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. So there’s the glory of verse 5 being revealed that’s in John chapter 1, John chapter 3 deals with Nicodemus, a man who thought his blood was blue and everybody else’s was red. And John chapter 4 deals with a corrupt, Evil Woman of Samaria, the other end of the scale.

49. 24:47

    And God brought them together. He met Nicodemus at night, he met the woman of Samaria at the blaze of dead. He said to Nicodemus, God, so loved the world. He said, to the woman of Samaria, salvation is of the Jews. He brought them together. He narrowed Nicodemus has perspective, and he sorry. Yeah, he brought Nicodemus, his perspective and he narrowed the woman of Samaria use because all status All positions.

50. 25:20

    Everything Fades into insignificance in the view of that glory and every Valley was to be exalted. Every Mountain Hill, was to be made low, the Crooked places shall be made straight and so those lives that were crooked in, God’s sight would be straightened out and the rough places smoothed over and there are four classes in that verse.

51. 25:45

    There’s The Valleys, there’s the mountains and Hills. There’s the Crooked places and then there’s the rough places. And we come to the record of Luke chapter 3. There are only four classes of people who ask John questions. There’s the common people that he elevated. The scribes and the Pharisees that he leveled the tax collectors with all, their crooked dealings is tax collectors. He straightened them out and down came the Roman soldiers, with all of their brutality and he said do violence to no man. He’s smooth them over.

52. 26:26

    What? A remarkable fulfillment. There is of Isaiah chapter 40. Those are the only four classes that ask them questions, the common people whom he elevated, the scribes and the Pharisees home. Level. The tax collectors, he straightened out and the rough brutal. Roman soldiers. They said, what are we going to do? He’s smooth them over what we want. Now, want to consider is what he said. In fact, to each class come back to Luke chapter 3. So, the glory of Yahweh is revealed and All Flesh will be made alike.

53. 27:01

    So who comes there? Well, of course, it’s the scribes and the Pharisees. As you can expect that that come for first, they make their presence known immediately, Luke chapter 3, and verse 7, then said, he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, o Generation of Vipers. Who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come.

54. 27:24

    Now, in verse 7, where it says, they’re the multitude. We know from the parallel account in Matthew chapter 3 that this is In fact was the scribes and the Pharisees. They come first to be baptized. Do you know what a Pharisee means the word Pharisee? That means a separate one. It’s a separate one. Have a look at who they’re talking to who’s separate. John the Baptist or then down, come the separate ones and and John doesn’t even let them open their mouth. The Pharisees who, you know, could talk who make long prayers for a pretense.

55. 28:06

    They don’t even get one word in this record, John, just cuts them off before they even get there. He says, o Generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come bring forth. Therefore fruits Worthy of repentance. So in Isaiah’s prophecy, the mountains are now going. Because they were the mountains of that day and Jewish Society. They were the clergy, the mountains are now. John doesn’t even let them get a word in bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

56. 28:40

    And what he’s actually doing is he’s really drawing on the figure of the land. You see, Jordan overflows, its banks during the time of harvest, Every Spring, And if you’ve ever seen a war, you know, a river flood and then recede, what it does, is it leaves behind it, all the debris and trash in the, the sticks and the leaves that leaves that behind it. As it as it recedes, then, in the land of Israel gets really, really hot.

57. 29:13

    And it bakes, all of the debris in the Bracken and the trash that the Jordan has washed up and it makes it really, really hard. It’s really caked. And in John’s day, you know, who got down into and all that debris and all that Bracken snakes you in Zechariah the prophet in, Jeremiah the prophet.

58. 29:32

    He warn people about the Jordan, they were vipers down there. They were Lions down, there was a dangerous place. And so, what the farmers used to do is they would sometimes put the torch to that trash and all of that Bracken down there along the Jordan and outcome. All the snakes fleeing away.

59. 29:50

    Oh, serpents and Generation of Vipers. Who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come says, John bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. See the mountains are being leveled. Malachi 4:1 said, this the day is coming, that shall burn as an oven and ye upon all that are proud and all that do wickedly and he will need him, neither root nor branch.

60. 30:17

    And the end of that chapter says, behold, I send you Elijah. So here is John Drawing on the figure of the of the times, you know, who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come, you Generation of Vipers bring forth fruits meet for repentance before I ever baptize you, they don’t even get a word in, they don’t even get a word in. You see there in verse 7, where it says, o Generation of Vipers. The word actually is a little brew, a little brood of snakes. That would be fleeing from this fire. That the farmer would would use.

61. 30:52

    To burn up all that trash, the little little brood of snakes. Many years later. Jesus came along and he called them a Generation of Vipers. But then he said o Generation of Vipers. He said ye serpents and he used a mature word, therefore for serpents. They’re just a little brood here. But by the time the Lord comes along and Matthew chapter 23, where a absolutely up a braids them for their iniquity.

62. 31:20

    He calls them serpents since little brood and now matured, and it’s iniquity and had become a Full-blown serpent. You have to change your thinking before I’ll ever baptize you. By the time, the Lord came they hadn’t changed and they had grown up. Now, just to remind ourselves where we are, John is baptizing right here, where this, this arrow is at bethabara. Bethabara, you may remember, was where the children of Israel crossed in the days of the exes.

63. 31:55

    He’s not baptizing in the Dead Sea. He’s baptizing a little further north in the Jordan at bethabara. Nobody says next. He says, don’t think to say within yourselves that we have Abraham to our father, but I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, give me what Joshua did with the stones when they crossed.

64. 32:21

    You see, they were stones in the Jordan in the muddy filth of Jordan at the priest had to pick up 12 of them and put them in the land. And then Joshua, not the priest. Joshua took 12 Stones that were native to the land, native to the land. He took those 12 Stones and put it back in Jordan and Jordan washed him over.

65. 32:43

    Joshua, did that? God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. So just because you’re native to the land just because you’re Abraham’s natural, descendants that doesn’t mean anything. Joshua took the stones that were native to the land and stuck them in the Jordan and then stones that were not native to the land.

66. 33:07

    You could say Gentiles stones that aren’t native to land were picked up out of the muddy, filth of Jordan and put in glory in the promised land. God is able of these stones. To raise up children unto Abraham. He’s just keeps on going. I mean, the indictment just you get a feeling here for the the way John thought about these people. He knew they absolutely needed a dressing down and he says, the ax is laid first nine at the root of the tree. Every tree which bringeth not forth. Good fruit is hewn down and cast Into the Fire. When Israel planted a fruit tree. They weren’t to touch it for three years. They were to leave that alone and give it to God. The did bear fruit in the fourth year. They chopped it down.

67. 34:03

    So John is here at the beginning of the ministry of our Lord. Jesus Christ. Which lasted three and a half years and he’s saying is an axe at the root of that tree. You got three years, bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Three years later. Jesus comes along, and he gives a parable in Luke Chapter 13, a parable of a fig tree in a Vineyard, it been going for three years. It hadn’t brought forth fruit.

68. 34:36

    And he says, cut it down and someone says, well, let it go a little further. Let’s see if it brings fruit, but doesn’t and cut it down. Look at the correlation now between John and Jesus and their teachings and your brothers and sisters. We don’t know how much longer we have. Is it three years?

69. 34:57

    I don’t know. There’s an axe, it’s there. If we don’t bring forth, fruits meet for repentance. I like to think about that verse because I think, you know, I think I’ve got an unlimited amount of time in life, you know. I’m always one of my worst problems is, I think I’ll do it tomorrow.

70. 35:14

    But there’s an axe if I don’t bring forth fruit. We’ve got to do it now today, if you will hear his voice. Said the song Harden? Not your hearts. He’s yeah. What. A-what, a verbal blast this is from John who could stand up to that, the mountains, not accept it. Don’t come here until your attitude changes.

71. 35:36

    What about the valleys? What about the used in me is what about the working class verse 10? The people this is the common people asked him saying, what shall we do? John you know, the common people they would have just witnessed the Pharisees, you know, getting up writing native been a little bit more confident, you know, John, we’re not like those guys, you know, we’re not proud, we’re not materialistic. You know, we’re just we’re just common folk. We’re not like those Pharisees.

72. 36:06

    What what should we do? He that’s got two coats. Give one away. And every eye in that audience would have been on his coat. And if he offered you, his coat brothers and sisters, you wouldn’t take it.

73. 36:29

    And he that has food. Let him share it. And all eyes are looking at a handful of grasshoppers if he invited you to dinner, brothers and sisters. You’d feel sick. Those are the only two things, in fact that we know about John’s personal circumstances and they’re the only two things. He tells the common people, what he ate. And what he wore?

74. 36:56

    you know, as I was going through these notes, this morning I was thinking to myself You know, I would love to be in that position. Yeah, I would love to be able to tell you today to, you need to do this in your life and you need to do that your life. And in every one of those things that I’m telling you, I do in mine, but but I don’t, The Siege on could say that, you know, without any hypocrisy at all.

75. 37:25

    You know, I’ve, I’ve got a nice suits, I’ve got a car, I live in a better than average home. You know, I wish I could stand up here and say, yeah, whatever you see me, do do the same yourself but he could. He wasn’t asking any of us to do what he hadn’t done himself, share your coat and share your food. You know, hearts hearts would have melted, the common people come up confident, they’ve just watched the Pharisees, get blasted, this, we’re not like those guys, what would we do? John and then they all look at his coat. And they all look at his food, they think. Well, now they have something to think about. Now they have something to think about John. Didn’t let anybody off easy.

76. 38:10

    And what he told, the common people that those are the only two things we know about his food and what he ate. So they now have something to think about. So the common people as opposed to the scribes the Pharisees. The common people are elevated, if they could take that advice and put it to practice, they would be elevated.

77. 38:29

    Now, who’s next? Class number three, the publicans now, these of course, are the people. They are the Crooked places of Isaiah chapter, 40, the all their crooked dealings as tax gatherers, and they’re going to be made straight, they’re going to be smoothed over. You know, the tax system in that day was was known as the farming system and it was full of corruption.

78. 38:55

    You had the treasurer in Rome who was at the head. And he would say to his under Treasurer, you look, I don’t care what you charge. This is my cut. And then the under Treasurer would say to the under under Treasurer, look, I don’t care what you charge, but the Roman treasure needs this. And I need this and well, whatever you charge is your business and then the under under Treasurer would go to the Matthews and would go to the, to the Zacchaeus has and say, well, the Roman treasury wants this and the undersecretary wants this and the under under secretary wants this and I don’t care what you get, but this is what we need. And so people You’ll like Zacchaeus and people like Matthew had to charge exorbitant amounts just to get to get any way to survive.

79. 39:43

    It was called the farming system controlled by the treasure in Rome. They had to charge incredible amounts which is why people hated them. You know, I thank God that I’m not as other men, are extortioners unjust adulterers or even this public. I mean, it’s hard to overemphasize how much these these guys Tax Collectors were despised.

80. 40:08

    So what does John say to them? Taking. Let them off easy. Verse 13, Exact no more than what is appointed. You that really hurt. I mean, there’s there’s no place that you can hurt someone in the world more than hitting them in their pocket. Every time you hear of a tax increase you, every time you get a bill in the mail, I mean it hurts.

81. 40:32

    He says If the taxes say, that’s how much you receive and that’s what you receive only tax. What you need, exact, no more than what is appointed to you. I hope that would hurt because you see all the cream is gone. All the all the extra that that a tax collector would want. That’s all gone only tax.

82. 40:54

    What you need? I mean, he may get a little bit of commission, but all the cream, all the extra money is gone. If you follow that advice, you live paycheck to paycheck. Just exact no more than what is required. You only take what you need and nothing more. That the rough places would have been straightened out, wouldn’t they?

83. 41:19

    The Crooked places they would be straightened out in the view of that advice you know one thing that impresses me every day Is when Paul said the love of money is the root of all evil, there is not a crisis in this world, there is not a crime that is committed. That does not have somewhere.

84. 41:39

    Along the line to do with money. Money is at the bottom of every ill that we see in the world and that’s where John hit them. Exact, no more than what is appointed. Exact no more. That would have really hurt. I mean, these are already people, who are ostracize, people who are hated people who maybe need a needed a lift up in life. He said, you only take what you need even necessarily tell them to give up their vocation.

85. 42:12

    He said only take what you need. Be content with what you have the crooks. Were straightened out. And you were the fourth class. Was that came down of all people down, came the Roman soldiers, and all their brutality, and as they sent their delegate, to John, you know, the guy would have plunked his spear in the ground and say, what do we do?

86. 42:38

    In a threatening manner. Hey you what do we do? What do you have to say to us the John shrink back in fear? John told them three things. He said do violence to no, man. Don’t accuse. Anyone falsely. And be content with your wages. Now, the three things really all have to do with one thing and that’s money.

87. 43:06

    Do violence to no, man. What they would do is the Roman rations were very, very small. And so, what would they do to make extra money? Get extra rations. They would threaten people. They would do violence to them and take their rations. He says do violence to, no, man. Newark use any man falsely. If they wanted to get in the good graces of a high-ranking, general or Legion in the Roman army, Legionnaire they go to him and say, well he you know, so and so is plotting against you and there’s this there’s this aim to take down your position. I’ll tell you all about it if you pay me. And be content with your wages.

88. 43:48

    The Roman soldiers did not make very much all three of those things actually have to do with one thing money. Brothers and sisters. How much did John have in the bank? Think money worried him how Diversified was his portfolio. Are we content with our wages?

89. 44:14

    If I was to tell you that, you’re going to get a 20% pay, cut starting next month. How did you feel? 25% pickup. The 30% pick up. How would you feel? Would you still be content? It’s one thing to say, I don’t have a problem with money when you got plenty. But what if what if someone started sort of poking and started taking more and they’re taking more? Now, how would you feel?

90. 44:41

    Be content with what we have. And I think what that means, at the end of the day, brothers and sisters, is that we always live within our means. We should always live within our means. We don’t rack up credit cards. You know, we don’t spend beyond what is necessary. We live within our means. If we’re a wife, we learn to live within our husband’s salary, we don’t spend Beyond it or look for ways to get around the barriers that he is set.

91. 45:08

    We’re content always with what we have. John says, take the salary. You’ve been given Roman soldier and be happy with that. The rough places were made smooth. You know, I wonder how you could have been a Roman soldier after implementing those three things. I mean, I don’t know if you could, I mean, this is a verse that back in the days of the Vietnam War our Brethren would be getting hit with, you know, soon as you John doesn’t say give up their their job as soldiers, does he?

92. 45:40

    Well, if you put into practice that advice, I don’t know how good of a Roman soldier you’d be because that was their lives. That was how they survived. But he smooth them over. And so there is the summary, every Valley Shall be exalted, the common people were elevated Every Mountain and Hill. The scribes and the Pharisees were level, the Crooked places were made straight. And the rough places plane or is Isaiah 40 put it. The glory of Yahweh shall be revealed and All Flesh shall become a like everybody’s on one level after that exhibition. the crowd would have gone home, and Not only would they’ve been really struck with what they heard brothers and sisters, but It says in verse 15 that all men mused in their hearts, whether he was the Messiah or not, if you’re thinking, oh boy, I hope he’s not the Messiah because if he’s the Messiah boy, have I got a clean up my life because his, his example was, so unhip a critical, everything he said he did in his own life. Now you can imagine the common people, you know, heads down low and thinking, well, you know, I I really wanted a vacation and, you know, I really wanted to live in prosperity, like a Pharisee but, you know, I guess it’s best that I share what I have.

93. 47:07

    The Pharisees would have the Pharisees would have murdered in themselves. You know, who is he to call us those names in front of the people? I mean, we came down here with with good intentions. We thought we were serious and he said all those things about us about fleeing from the Wrath to come and, you know, the publicans would would go away. And, you know, they’d say, well, you know, it’s one thing for him to say, not to charge more but, you know, I’ve got to make a living and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. And well, the truth Maybe.

94. 47:37

    Important and I may need to get down to my Bible study and I may need to go visit those who are sick but you know I gotta earn a living too. And if I do what he does, if I play it straight, then I’m not going to get the things that I want. And the soldiers might say, well, you know, it’s one thing for him to be living in a desert. But how can we do this occupation? If we’re not violent, if I’m not Roth, if I don’t, you know, mess people up and hurt them, then how can I make a dollar and it all that, that really hurts.

95. 48:07

    So, they’re all amusing in their hearts. Whether John is the messiah. You know why? Because all of them, Pharisee commoner Publican and Soldier would have to say in their hearts. Finally, that, however, difficult it may be for me, I cannot say that guy’s a hypocrite, What whence you out to sea, ask the Lord, Jesus Christ.

96. 48:32

    Yeah, that tells us brothers and sisters about the power of an example. The name of John became a household word all over the world. As we saw, in our opening point, they knew him in Asia, Minor, they knew him in Egypt, he was all over the land. Not because he broadcasted how great he was but because of his awe-inspiring example of singleness of mine, he lived what he said. Now do we if we say something, Do we do it? We say we’re going to do something. If we say, we’re going to fulfill a commitment. Do we do it or do we drag our heels? You know, heads would have been hung in shame on that day, but, you know, Luke doesn’t leave it there. I’d like to finish with Verse 18. You know, the people would have all gone away in their hearts and all that hurt.

97. 49:18

    How am I ever going to apply that? But that’s not all John did on that day. Well, in verse 18, it says and many other things in his exhortation preached. He unto the people I’d like to just give that to you from from the dive lot and exhorting, many other things. He proclaimed Glad Tidings.

98. 49:41

    Unto the people Glad Tidings that’s Isaiah 40. Unto the people. So you pictured on John down there on the valley for he had left them with stinging, rebukes advice that that would have been really really hard to implement. It would have hurt. I mean the be to tell the public and you got to you got to only charge what is necessary and what the system says would have been very difficult.

99. 50:11

    You’re telling the soldiers, you essentially have to give up your jobs. If you want to survive, would have been very, very difficult. But, you know, the strength of that beautiful, golden voice didn’t just dwell upon the – he also went to the positive. You, he would have said to the Pharisees, he would have said to the people.

100. 50:27

     Let me tell you what the kingdom of God is going to be, like he gave them encouragement. Yes, yes, I know. I’ve had some hard things to say, yes, I know I’ve had some, some difficult things to say, but, but let me tell you what the kingdom is going to be like. See, he gave them an incentive.

101. 50:44

     To press on. He gave them motivation to continue and you won’t stoop to bark at people. They have its place. We have to supplement everything. We say that’s hard with some sites with some kind of encouragement and make people in our number feel like it’s worth carrying on like the kingdom is worth fighting for otherwise we’ll never really change anyone. So Verse 18 says there that, you know, yes, John had some hard things to say and we have some hard things to say at times to especially in this age, where we can see the world making inroads into the Brotherhood.

102. 51:24

     Yeah, we can see that that things are Challenging and we have to point out those challenges but but let’s make sure that we’re also giving people a reason to carry on. That’s what John did with many other things in his exhortation. He preached Glad Tidings unto the people. You know, it’s the Majestic and Powerful expositions that have changed me. Far more than getting a lecture from someone. You know, it’s those positive things that we hear from the word, even the most simple excerpt ations have been the most powerful because they encouraged me that. Yes, it is worth going on.

103. 52:05

     So what went ye out to see brothers and sisters. Look at those four classes. Put yourself there. How are you going to apply that advice? It says, we lay in bed tonight as we go to bed. Let’s let’s try to get a mental picture of that, of that day. As John is down there on the valley, floor exhorting, all of these people. You know, let’s let’s say in our prayers before our God that we will try to make the most of the time that we have left. Let’s take away those things that in our lives are not necessary.

104. 52:39

     To say that, you know, I’m sorry. Lord for the time that I’ve wasted my life and I want to use it better and grind on in this Wilderness and help me to make time to hear the voice, the voice that kings and queens and and prime ministers and presidents will never ever hear.

105. 52:57

     That’s the wonderful voice of God’s word. and let me never cease to be impressed with the power of what I went out that day to see Thank you for listening to the good christadelphians talks podcast. We hope this talk helped you in your walk. If you would like to hear more, please subscribe for new episodes and leave a review and apple podcast or whatever service you are using to help more people find the show when they search for For it.

106. 53:40

     If you enjoyed this particular talk, please share it with someone who you think might enjoy it as well for show notes on the talk. You just listened to visit our show page at anchor dot f, m / G, CT, or check the show notes section of your podcast player. Please share your thoughts on the talk from this week on our Facebook or Instagram Pages where we are at good christadelphians, talks on Twitter where we are at GCT underscore podcast or leave a comment on our YouTube channel where these talks are posted as well. If, you know of a great talk, we want to know about it, to send a suggestion to our e-mail at good Christian talks at gmail.com or message us on any of our social media accounts. Thank you for listening.

107. 54:21

     God, bless and talk to you next week.