{"id":1014,"date":"2023-10-08T22:06:03","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T22:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/index.php\/podcast\/264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T06:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T06:51:15","slug":"264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/index.php\/podcast\/264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist\/","title":{"rendered":"264: Matt Sturgeon – Exhortation: The Heralding of John the Baptist"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week we are listening to an exhortation given at the Verdugo Hills Ecclesia by Bro. Matt Sturgeon titled \u201cThe Heralding of John the Baptist\u201d.<\/p>\n

We hope this strengthens your Faith and brightens your day!<\/p>\n

Thank you for listening, God bless, and talk to you next week.<\/p>\n

Send talk suggestions or comments to:\u00a0GoodChristadelphianTalks@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n

For Show Notes, visit our website:\u00a0GoodChristadelphianTalks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Social Media:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

1
\n00:00:13,880 –> 00:00:15,600
\nWelcome to good Chris Selfian
\ntalks. <\/p>\n

2
\n00:00:15,600 –> 00:00:17,320
\nI’m Levi.
\nAnd I’m Chris. <\/p>\n

3
\n00:00:17,560 –> 00:00:19,480
\nAnd I’m Brian.
\nThank you for joining us this <\/p>\n

4
\n00:00:19,480 –> 00:00:23,080
\nweek on this podcast.
\nWe select one talk a week to <\/p>\n

5
\n00:00:23,080 –> 00:00:26,240
\nhelp us get the Bible in our
\nDaily News feed. <\/p>\n

6
\n00:00:26,560 –> 00:00:28,520
\nWe post a new episode at the
\nstart of each week. <\/p>\n

7
\n00:00:28,950 –> 00:00:31,550
\nWith the short intro beforehand.
\nTo kind of set the stage for the<\/p>\n

8
\n00:00:31,550 –> 00:00:35,470
\ntalk you’re about to listen to.
\nAnd now, let’s talk more about <\/p>\n

9
\n00:00:35,470 –> 00:00:51,910
\nthis week’s talk.
\nFor this week, we’re listening <\/p>\n

10
\n00:00:51,910 –> 00:00:54,750
\nto an exhortation that was given
\nby Brother Matt Sturgeon. <\/p>\n

11
\n00:00:55,390 –> 00:00:58,350
\nTalking about the heralding of
\nthe coming of John the Baptist, <\/p>\n

12
\n00:00:58,910 –> 00:01:01,750
\nwhat I really appreciated about
\nBrother Matt’s exhortation is he<\/p>\n

13
\n00:01:01,750 –> 00:01:04,390
\nis taking a look at a story that
\nsometimes they feel like we <\/p>\n

14
\n00:01:04,390 –> 00:01:06,790
\nalmost gloss over when we’re
\nreading it in Scripture. <\/p>\n

15
\n00:01:06,790 –> 00:01:10,350
\nBecause oftentimes when we go to
\ntalking about John the Baptist, <\/p>\n

16
\n00:01:10,590 –> 00:01:13,950
\nfrequently our focus is instead
\non reading through that part to <\/p>\n

17
\n00:01:13,950 –> 00:01:17,910
\nget to the message from Gabriel
\nto tell Mary about the coming of<\/p>\n

18
\n00:01:17,910 –> 00:01:19,750
\nJesus or getting into the
\nministry of Jesus. <\/p>\n

19
\n00:01:19,750 –> 00:01:22,830
\nAnd so sometimes we can focus on
\ndifferent parts of John the <\/p>\n

20
\n00:01:22,830 –> 00:01:24,550
\nBaptist, especially when he’s
\nolder. <\/p>\n

21
\n00:01:24,940 –> 00:01:29,020
\nAnd he’s preparing the way
\nbefore Christ began his <\/p>\n

22
\n00:01:29,020 –> 00:01:31,540
\nministry.
\nBut I really appreciated his. <\/p>\n

23
\n00:01:31,620 –> 00:01:35,820
\nTaking a look at all the little
\nhints and nuances that go into <\/p>\n

24
\n00:01:36,300 –> 00:01:38,900
\nJohn the Baptists, both his
\nparents and the events that <\/p>\n

25
\n00:01:38,900 –> 00:01:43,420
\npreceded his prophesied birth, I
\nfound it to be a really good <\/p>\n

26
\n00:01:43,420 –> 00:01:44,820
\ndive into it.
\nSome really practical <\/p>\n

27
\n00:01:44,820 –> 00:01:46,300
\napplications that I really
\nenjoyed. <\/p>\n

28
\n00:01:46,740 –> 00:01:50,660
\nSo I hope that you find this
\nexertation as encouraging and <\/p>\n

29
\n00:01:50,660 –> 00:01:52,540
\ninteresting as I did when I got
\nto hear it. <\/p>\n

30
\n00:01:53,180 –> 00:01:55,620
\nSo I will turn it over to
\nBrother Matt Sturgeon for his <\/p>\n

31
\n00:01:55,620 –> 00:01:58,180
\nexhortation, the heralding of
\nJohn the Baptist. <\/p>\n

32
\n00:01:58,540 –> 00:02:04,100
\nWell, good morning everybody.
\nSister Katie and I are so <\/p>\n

33
\n00:02:04,220 –> 00:02:08,419
\nincredibly grateful and happy to
\nbe with you this morning. <\/p>\n

34
\n00:02:10,620 –> 00:02:13,660
\nIt’s always a pleasure when we
\nget to see brothers and sisters <\/p>\n

35
\n00:02:13,660 –> 00:02:18,720
\nfrom.
\nFar away and close by and we’re <\/p>\n

36
\n00:02:18,800 –> 00:02:22,400
\nwe’re really thankful to have
\nthe opportunity to share not <\/p>\n

37
\n00:02:22,400 –> 00:02:24,160
\nonly in fellowship, but around
\nthe table of the Lord. <\/p>\n

38
\n00:02:24,160 –> 00:02:29,520
\nThis morning we read Luke One.
\nI want to 1st put you at ease. <\/p>\n

39
\n00:02:29,920 –> 00:02:32,680
\nOur expectation is not to do an
\nexposition on the whole of Luke <\/p>\n

40
\n00:02:32,680 –> 00:02:36,520
\n1 so you can take a breath, but
\nrather we’re going to look at <\/p>\n

41
\n00:02:36,520 –> 00:02:39,440
\nthe heralding of of John the
\nBaptist at the beginning of Luke<\/p>\n

42
\n00:02:39,440 –> 00:02:41,600
\n1.
\nSo if you’re not already there, <\/p>\n

43
\n00:02:41,600 –> 00:02:44,680
\nturn with me, if you could, to
\nthe Gospel of Luke. <\/p>\n

44
\n00:02:45,000 –> 00:02:47,160
\nIn chapter one, and we want to
\nstart with verse 5. <\/p>\n

45
\n00:02:47,720 –> 00:02:49,880
\nThe bulk of our time this
\nmorning is actually going to be <\/p>\n

46
\n00:02:49,880 –> 00:02:53,160
\nspent looking at the things that
\nthe Angel Gabriel said to <\/p>\n

47
\n00:02:53,160 –> 00:02:56,600
\nZechariah, but we want to start
\nby looking at his parents, <\/p>\n

48
\n00:02:56,960 –> 00:03:00,440
\nZechariah and Elizabeth.
\nJust have a look there at the <\/p>\n

49
\n00:03:00,480 –> 00:03:05,720
\nthe book of Luke, chapter one
\nand verse 5, where it says there<\/p>\n

50
\n00:03:05,720 –> 00:03:10,000
\nwas in the days of Herod the
\nking of Judea certain priests <\/p>\n

51
\n00:03:10,000 –> 00:03:12,680
\nnamed Zechariah of the course of
\nAbaja. <\/p>\n

52
\n00:03:13,600 –> 00:03:17,640
\nHis wife was of the daughters of
\nAaron, and her name was <\/p>\n

53
\n00:03:17,840 –> 00:03:20,560
\nElizabeth.
\nSo what are we being told here? <\/p>\n

54
\n00:03:21,280 –> 00:03:24,640
\nWell, we’re being told that
\nZachariah was of the chorus of <\/p>\n

55
\n00:03:24,640 –> 00:03:28,160
\nAbaija, which if we were to go
\nback to first of Chronicles 24, <\/p>\n

56
\n00:03:28,360 –> 00:03:31,800
\nwe would see that Zachariah was
\nof the line of Aaron going all <\/p>\n

57
\n00:03:31,800 –> 00:03:34,280
\nthe way back.
\nHe was related to Aaron and <\/p>\n

58
\n00:03:34,280 –> 00:03:37,120
\nElizabeth.
\nWhat we’re told plainly that she<\/p>\n

59
\n00:03:37,120 –> 00:03:40,000
\ntoo was of the daughters of
\nAaron. <\/p>\n

60
\n00:03:40,500 –> 00:03:44,780
\nSo what that means is that
\nZachariah and Elizabeth had a <\/p>\n

61
\n00:03:44,780 –> 00:03:48,940
\npure Christadelphian bloodline,
\nif you will. <\/p>\n

62
\n00:03:49,980 –> 00:03:53,580
\nTheir parents, parents, parents,
\nparents, parents, parents were <\/p>\n

63
\n00:03:53,580 –> 00:03:57,140
\nall Christadelphians.
\nAnd so we would say, wow, that <\/p>\n

64
\n00:03:57,140 –> 00:03:59,540
\nfamily, you know, they must be
\ndoing something right. <\/p>\n

65
\n00:03:59,540 –> 00:04:01,420
\nIf they’ve been able to stay in
\nthe truth that long, perhaps we <\/p>\n

66
\n00:04:01,420 –> 00:04:04,260
\nmight feel that way.
\nBut more importantly, have a <\/p>\n

67
\n00:04:04,260 –> 00:04:07,970
\nlook at verse 6.
\nThey were both righteous before <\/p>\n

68
\n00:04:07,970 –> 00:04:11,970
\nGod, walking in all the
\ncommandments and ordinances of <\/p>\n

69
\n00:04:11,970 –> 00:04:16,890
\nthe Lord, Blameless.
\nImagine if that was to be said <\/p>\n

70
\n00:04:16,890 –> 00:04:19,570
\nabout us in the record of
\nScripture. <\/p>\n

71
\n00:04:19,970 –> 00:04:24,850
\nThey were blameless before their
\nGod, and righteous so both in <\/p>\n

72
\n00:04:24,850 –> 00:04:30,610
\nblood and in spirit.
\nZechariah and Elizabeth were as <\/p>\n

73
\n00:04:30,610 –> 00:04:33,490
\npure as you could find in the
\ntruth in those days. <\/p>\n

74
\n00:04:34,850 –> 00:04:38,770
\nAnd yet.
\nThey had no child because <\/p>\n

75
\n00:04:38,770 –> 00:04:45,290
\nElizabeth was barren, and
\nScripture takes the time to tell<\/p>\n

76
\n00:04:45,290 –> 00:04:50,410
\nus that she was well stricken in
\nyears, that she was old, that <\/p>\n

77
\n00:04:50,410 –> 00:04:53,690
\nthey had gone their entire life,
\nand the truth having been raised<\/p>\n

78
\n00:04:53,690 –> 00:04:57,370
\nthe right way, having done the
\nright things, and having no <\/p>\n

79
\n00:04:57,370 –> 00:05:03,810
\nchildren, and being in prayer
\nperhaps every day. <\/p>\n

80
\n00:05:04,440 –> 00:05:08,840
\nWondering why God would curse
\nthem to be barren. <\/p>\n

81
\n00:05:10,160 –> 00:05:12,800
\nAnd we emphasize this point
\nbecause perhaps we feel that way<\/p>\n

82
\n00:05:12,800 –> 00:05:17,400
\nabout all sorts of things.
\nBecause we feel compelled that <\/p>\n

83
\n00:05:17,400 –> 00:05:21,160
\nour timing should be right.
\nBecause it seems appropriate <\/p>\n

84
\n00:05:21,160 –> 00:05:24,920
\nthat today I should have a child
\nor a husband or a job or or this<\/p>\n

85
\n00:05:24,920 –> 00:05:25,960
\nthing or that thing or whatever
\nit is. <\/p>\n

86
\n00:05:25,960 –> 00:05:27,680
\nAnd that’s not unreasonable to
\nfeel that way. <\/p>\n

87
\n00:05:27,680 –> 00:05:32,640
\nThat’s why they prayed about it.
\nBut in this case, and in ours, <\/p>\n

88
\n00:05:32,640 –> 00:05:34,880
\nthere was something greater
\ngoing on. <\/p>\n

89
\n00:05:35,680 –> 00:05:38,240
\nAnd that thing was John the
\nBaptist. <\/p>\n

90
\n00:05:39,760 –> 00:05:44,840
\nAnd so we find as we skip down
\njust a little bit to verse 11, <\/p>\n

91
\n00:05:45,000 –> 00:05:48,200
\nthere appeared unto Zechariah an
\nAngel of the Lord, standing on <\/p>\n

92
\n00:05:48,200 –> 00:05:50,720
\nthe right side of the altar of
\nincense in the temple. <\/p>\n

93
\n00:05:50,720 –> 00:05:54,600
\nAnd when Zachariah saw him, he
\nwas troubled, and fear fell upon<\/p>\n

94
\n00:05:54,600 –> 00:05:57,860
\nhim.
\nThe Angel said unto him, Fear <\/p>\n

95
\n00:05:57,860 –> 00:06:03,380
\nnot, Zechariah, for thy prayer
\nis heard, and thy wife Elizabeth<\/p>\n

96
\n00:06:03,380 –> 00:06:07,660
\nshall bear thee a son, and shall
\ncall his name John. <\/p>\n

97
\n00:06:08,220 –> 00:06:10,580
\nNow we want to just emphasize
\nthis again. <\/p>\n

98
\n00:06:10,580 –> 00:06:13,140
\nLook at what Gabriel says to
\nZechariah. <\/p>\n

99
\n00:06:13,140 –> 00:06:16,860
\nThy prayer is answered.
\nDo you think that that meant <\/p>\n

100
\n00:06:16,860 –> 00:06:20,260
\nthat today was the first time
\nthat Zechariah had made a prayer<\/p>\n

101
\n00:06:20,260 –> 00:06:22,700
\nfor a child?
\nAnd thus, Gabriel said, well, <\/p>\n

102
\n00:06:22,900 –> 00:06:25,300
\nnow that you finally decided to
\npray about it. <\/p>\n

103
\n00:06:26,230 –> 00:06:29,430
\nI’m going to give you a child,
\nbut of course not. <\/p>\n

104
\n00:06:29,830 –> 00:06:34,230
\nThis was decades of fervent
\nprayer to God. <\/p>\n

105
\n00:06:34,990 –> 00:06:38,630
\nThis was also, by the way,
\nprobably decades of murmuring <\/p>\n

106
\n00:06:38,630 –> 00:06:41,950
\namongst the Ecclesia Hall of
\nIsn’t it such a shame that <\/p>\n

107
\n00:06:42,750 –> 00:06:45,230
\nBrother Zechariah and Sister
\nElizabeth can’t have kids? <\/p>\n

108
\n00:06:45,310 –> 00:06:47,510
\nThey’re such lovely.
\nThey’re such a lovely couple. <\/p>\n

109
\n00:06:48,630 –> 00:06:53,690
\nIsn’t it unfortunate?
\nAnd finally, by the course of <\/p>\n

110
\n00:06:53,690 –> 00:06:58,970
\nGod’s timing, fear not, for you
\nand your wife will have a son <\/p>\n

111
\n00:07:00,210 –> 00:07:03,950
\nyou’ll call his name John.
\nAnd what we want to spend the <\/p>\n

112
\n00:07:03,950 –> 00:07:06,510
\nrest of our time doing this
\nmorning and get your fingers <\/p>\n

113
\n00:07:06,510 –> 00:07:08,870
\nready, because we’re going to be
\ndoing some page turning, is we <\/p>\n

114
\n00:07:08,870 –> 00:07:12,910
\nwant to get a sense of what the
\nAngel said to Zechariah about <\/p>\n

115
\n00:07:12,910 –> 00:07:16,350
\nhis coming son John, and why he
\nsaid it. <\/p>\n

116
\n00:07:16,550 –> 00:07:18,870
\nSo we might just read briefly
\nthese next few verses that <\/p>\n

117
\n00:07:18,870 –> 00:07:23,470
\ndescribe what the Angel said to
\nZechariah about his coming son. <\/p>\n

118
\n00:07:23,790 –> 00:07:28,230
\nSo have a look at verse 14.
\nThou shalt have joy and <\/p>\n

119
\n00:07:28,230 –> 00:07:30,710
\ngladness, and many shall rejoice
\nat his birth. <\/p>\n

120
\n00:07:31,440 –> 00:07:34,680
\nHe shall be great in the sight
\nof the Lord, and shall drink <\/p>\n

121
\n00:07:35,400 –> 00:07:38,360
\nneither wine nor strong drink,
\nand he shall be filled with the <\/p>\n

122
\n00:07:38,360 –> 00:07:41,440
\nHoly Spirit even from his
\nmother’s womb. <\/p>\n

123
\n00:07:42,320 –> 00:07:45,120
\nAnd many of the children of
\nIsrael shall he turn to the Lord<\/p>\n

124
\n00:07:45,120 –> 00:07:47,840
\ntheir God.
\nAnd he shall go before him in <\/p>\n

125
\n00:07:47,840 –> 00:07:51,480
\nthe spirit and power of Elijah,
\nto turn the hearts of the <\/p>\n

126
\n00:07:51,480 –> 00:07:54,960
\nfathers to the children, and the
\ndisobedient to the wisdom of the<\/p>\n

127
\n00:07:54,960 –> 00:07:59,640
\njust, to make ready a people
\nprepared for the Lord. <\/p>\n

128
\n00:08:00,950 –> 00:08:03,470
\nThe first thing they’re in verse
\n14, many shall have joy and <\/p>\n

129
\n00:08:03,470 –> 00:08:06,150
\ngladness at his birth.
\nWell, we read that just over in <\/p>\n

130
\n00:08:06,150 –> 00:08:08,030
\nverse 58.
\nIt says her neighbors and her <\/p>\n

131
\n00:08:08,030 –> 00:08:11,790
\ncousins heard how the Lord had
\nshowed great mercy upon her and <\/p>\n

132
\n00:08:11,790 –> 00:08:16,670
\nthey rejoiced with her.
\nSo indeed, many did rejoice at <\/p>\n

133
\n00:08:16,670 –> 00:08:20,900
\nthe birth of John the Baptist.
\nAnd then in verse 15, it says <\/p>\n

134
\n00:08:20,900 –> 00:08:23,900
\nthat he will drink neither wine
\nnor strong drink. <\/p>\n

135
\n00:08:23,900 –> 00:08:28,180
\nThat should be a indicator to us
\nabout the Nazarete vow from <\/p>\n

136
\n00:08:28,180 –> 00:08:30,060
\nnumber six.
\nWe’re not going to turn that up.<\/p>\n

137
\n00:08:30,340 –> 00:08:33,820
\nBut the whole idea behind the
\nNazarete vow is that any brother<\/p>\n

138
\n00:08:33,820 –> 00:08:38,539
\nor sister could take part in the
\nNazarete vow of not drinking any<\/p>\n

139
\n00:08:38,659 –> 00:08:41,260
\nalcohol, of not being near
\nanything dead, and of not <\/p>\n

140
\n00:08:41,260 –> 00:08:45,100
\ncutting your hair as a symbol of
\nthe priesthood. <\/p>\n

141
\n00:08:45,500 –> 00:08:48,020
\nYou could act like a priest in
\ndoing these things. <\/p>\n

142
\n00:08:48,870 –> 00:08:51,990
\nWithout actually being a priest
\nand doing the priestly duties. <\/p>\n

143
\n00:08:52,670 –> 00:08:54,350
\nAnd you could do that
\nvoluntarily, and you could do <\/p>\n

144
\n00:08:54,350 –> 00:08:59,190
\nthat for as long as you wanted.
\nSo the Angel tells Zachariah <\/p>\n

145
\n00:08:59,430 –> 00:09:01,990
\nthat this is going to be
\nsomething that John’s going to <\/p>\n

146
\n00:09:01,990 –> 00:09:03,750
\ndo.
\nAnd we might say, well, why is <\/p>\n

147
\n00:09:03,750 –> 00:09:06,350
\nthat necessary?
\nHe’s the son of a priest. <\/p>\n

148
\n00:09:06,830 –> 00:09:10,430
\nWell, yes, but John’s role was
\nnot to be a priest. <\/p>\n

149
\n00:09:11,070 –> 00:09:13,670
\nJohn’s role was the herald, the
\nSon of God. <\/p>\n

150
\n00:09:14,190 –> 00:09:17,310
\nAnd yet he would act like a
\npriest in the things that he <\/p>\n

151
\n00:09:17,310 –> 00:09:22,210
\ndid.
\nAnd then it says in verse 16, <\/p>\n

152
\n00:09:22,610 –> 00:09:25,490
\nmany of the children of Israel
\nshall he turn to the Lord their <\/p>\n

153
\n00:09:25,490 –> 00:09:26,730
\nGod.
\nNow we’re going to put a pin in <\/p>\n

154
\n00:09:26,730 –> 00:09:27,970
\nthis.
\nWe’re going to come back to it. <\/p>\n

155
\n00:09:28,290 –> 00:09:32,210
\nBut I want you to note the word
\nmany, many of the children of <\/p>\n

156
\n00:09:32,210 –> 00:09:34,410
\nIsrael shall he turn to the
\nLord, their God. <\/p>\n

157
\n00:09:34,850 –> 00:09:38,810
\nAnd I want you to think that it
\ndoesn’t say that all would come <\/p>\n

158
\n00:09:38,810 –> 00:09:41,490
\nto John the Baptist and learn of
\nGod, but that many would. <\/p>\n

159
\n00:09:41,490 –> 00:09:42,570
\nSo we’re going to put a pin in
\nthat. <\/p>\n

160
\n00:09:42,570 –> 00:09:45,880
\nWe’ll come back to it.
\nWhen our verse 17 we see an <\/p>\n

161
\n00:09:45,880 –> 00:09:51,320
\nallusion to 2 Old Testament
\nprophecies, he shall go before <\/p>\n

162
\n00:09:51,320 –> 00:09:55,040
\nhim in the spirit and power of
\nElijah to turn the hearts of the<\/p>\n

163
\n00:09:55,040 –> 00:09:58,160
\nfathers to the children and the
\ndisobedient. <\/p>\n

164
\n00:09:58,950 –> 00:10:03,670
\nTo the wisdom of the just now
\nthat’s our first reference and <\/p>\n

165
\n00:10:03,750 –> 00:10:05,870
\nif you look in your center
\nmargin, you might see there that<\/p>\n

166
\n00:10:05,870 –> 00:10:08,590
\nit’s in a reference to Malachi
\nChapter 4. <\/p>\n

167
\n00:10:08,870 –> 00:10:10,670
\nSo keep a hand in, Luke you’re
\ngoing to want to do that <\/p>\n

168
\n00:10:10,670 –> 00:10:12,310
\nthroughout our consideration
\nthis morning. <\/p>\n

169
\n00:10:12,630 –> 00:10:14,670
\nBut just come over to Malachi
\nChapter 4. <\/p>\n

170
\n00:10:16,510 –> 00:10:21,510
\nAnd yes, if if you did catch it,
\nI I’m doing the study day on <\/p>\n

171
\n00:10:21,510 –> 00:10:23,630
\nMalachi, so this is kind of
\nwhere my head has been. <\/p>\n

172
\n00:10:24,390 –> 00:10:28,150
\nSo just if you look at the end
\nof Malachi chapter 4, Malachi 4 <\/p>\n

173
\n00:10:28,150 –> 00:10:30,630
\nis about the future.
\nIt’s about things that haven’t <\/p>\n

174
\n00:10:30,630 –> 00:10:32,870
\nhappened yet.
\nAs with many of Old Testament <\/p>\n

175
\n00:10:32,870 –> 00:10:36,510
\nprophecies, they might talk
\nabout things that had to do with<\/p>\n

176
\n00:10:36,510 –> 00:10:40,710
\nthe problems of the day.
\nThey also talk about the things <\/p>\n

177
\n00:10:40,710 –> 00:10:42,430
\nthat would come to pass in the
\nfuture. <\/p>\n

178
\n00:10:42,990 –> 00:10:46,750
\nAnd so right at the end of
\nMalachi 4 and verses 5 and six, <\/p>\n

179
\n00:10:46,750 –> 00:10:52,110
\nit says, behold, ice will send
\nyou Elijah the prophet. <\/p>\n

180
\n00:10:52,700 –> 00:10:56,940
\nBefore the coming of the great
\nand dreadful day of the Lord. <\/p>\n

181
\n00:10:57,780 –> 00:11:01,260
\nAnd he shall turn the hearts of
\nthe fathers to the children, and<\/p>\n

182
\n00:11:01,260 –> 00:11:03,300
\nthe hearts of the children to
\ntheir fathers. <\/p>\n

183
\n00:11:03,660 –> 00:11:07,100
\nLest I come and Smythe the earth
\nwith a curse. <\/p>\n

184
\n00:11:07,540 –> 00:11:10,020
\nNow keeping a hand in Malachi
\nand a hand in Luke, I just want <\/p>\n

185
\n00:11:10,020 –> 00:11:12,420
\nto read you the Luke portion
\nagain on what the Angel says. <\/p>\n

186
\n00:11:13,140 –> 00:11:16,300
\nThe Angel says to turn the
\nhearts of the fathers to the <\/p>\n

187
\n00:11:16,300 –> 00:11:19,180
\nchildren.
\nWe saw that and. <\/p>\n

188
\n00:11:19,900 –> 00:11:23,820
\nThe disobedient to the wisdom of
\nthe just so the Angel does <\/p>\n

189
\n00:11:23,820 –> 00:11:26,820
\nsomething very interesting.
\nThe Angel changes the words of <\/p>\n

190
\n00:11:26,820 –> 00:11:32,100
\nMalachi to be more specific,
\ninstead of the children to the <\/p>\n

191
\n00:11:32,100 –> 00:11:37,780
\nfathers, the Angel says the
\ndisobedient to the wisdom of the<\/p>\n

192
\n00:11:37,780 –> 00:11:40,060
\njust.
\nAnd So what we’re seeing here is<\/p>\n

193
\n00:11:40,060 –> 00:11:41,980
\nthere is a change.
\nWhat Gabriel’s saying is there’s<\/p>\n

194
\n00:11:41,980 –> 00:11:44,620
\na change from the way that the
\nchildren, the descendants, <\/p>\n

195
\n00:11:44,820 –> 00:11:47,500
\ngeneration after generation
\nafter generation, had been doing<\/p>\n

196
\n00:11:47,500 –> 00:11:50,210
\nthings.
\nThose disobedient people, <\/p>\n

197
\n00:11:50,410 –> 00:11:53,690
\nthey’re going to go back to the
\nwisdom of their just fathers, <\/p>\n

198
\n00:11:53,850 –> 00:11:56,930
\nthe wisdom of the way that
\nthings were always intended to <\/p>\n

199
\n00:11:56,930 –> 00:12:00,210
\nbe.
\nThere’s going to be a change in <\/p>\n

200
\n00:12:00,250 –> 00:12:04,890
\nattitude in spirit, because what
\ndoes it say at the beginning of <\/p>\n

201
\n00:12:04,890 –> 00:12:08,130
\nverse six that he shall turn the
\nhearts? <\/p>\n

202
\n00:12:09,150 –> 00:12:11,470
\nWhen we think about this all the
\ntime, right, we’re constantly <\/p>\n

203
\n00:12:11,470 –> 00:12:13,750
\nthinking about what’s the right
\nway to dress and is there an <\/p>\n

204
\n00:12:13,750 –> 00:12:16,670
\nappropriate version to read, and
\nall these different procedural <\/p>\n

205
\n00:12:16,670 –> 00:12:18,830
\nthings that we’re constantly
\nthinking about, wondering what’s<\/p>\n

206
\n00:12:18,830 –> 00:12:21,510
\nappropriate and what’s not.
\nAnd it’s good for us to do those<\/p>\n

207
\n00:12:21,510 –> 00:12:23,110
\nthings.
\nThere’s nothing wrong with that.<\/p>\n

208
\n00:12:24,270 –> 00:12:27,830
\nBut what there was a specific
\ninterest in here is a changing <\/p>\n

209
\n00:12:27,830 –> 00:12:31,510
\nof the heart, a changing of a
\nperson’s composition, the way <\/p>\n

210
\n00:12:31,510 –> 00:12:36,160
\nthat they live their lives.
\nAnd interestingly it says that I<\/p>\n

211
\n00:12:36,160 –> 00:12:39,600
\nwill send you Elijah the prophet
\nin order to do it. <\/p>\n

212
\n00:12:40,280 –> 00:12:42,880
\nAnd one of the things that we
\nfind throughout the ministry of <\/p>\n

213
\n00:12:42,880 –> 00:12:45,880
\nJohn and we see it with the
\nministry of Christ as well, is <\/p>\n

214
\n00:12:45,880 –> 00:12:50,120
\nconstantly the scribes and and
\nthe priests and all these <\/p>\n

215
\n00:12:50,120 –> 00:12:53,640
\nreligious people kept saying,
\nare you Elijah? <\/p>\n

216
\n00:12:54,600 –> 00:12:56,720
\nWell you must be Elijah.
\nIs Christ Elijah. <\/p>\n

217
\n00:12:56,760 –> 00:12:58,640
\nWho’s Elijah and why were they
\ndoing that? <\/p>\n

218
\n00:12:58,640 –> 00:13:01,200
\nWhy did they keep asking if
\nthese people were Elijah? <\/p>\n

219
\n00:13:02,050 –> 00:13:07,130
\nWell, because the last prophecy
\nof the Old Testament was, I will<\/p>\n

220
\n00:13:07,130 –> 00:13:10,290
\nsend you Elijah, the prophet
\nbefore the great and dreadful <\/p>\n

221
\n00:13:10,290 –> 00:13:13,650
\nday of the Lord.
\nThey kept wondering, this must <\/p>\n

222
\n00:13:13,650 –> 00:13:15,490
\nbe Elijah.
\nJohn must be Elijah. <\/p>\n

223
\n00:13:15,490 –> 00:13:18,090
\nChrist must be Elijah.
\nSomebody’s got to be Elijah, <\/p>\n

224
\n00:13:18,090 –> 00:13:20,170
\nbecause we’re stuck on this
\nprophecy and we don’t know what <\/p>\n

225
\n00:13:20,170 –> 00:13:23,010
\nto do with it.
\nAnd I think what we’re going to <\/p>\n

226
\n00:13:23,010 –> 00:13:27,210
\nfind this morning is that John
\npartially fulfilled Malachi 4. <\/p>\n

227
\n00:13:27,210 –> 00:13:30,890
\nThat’s why Gabriel says it, but
\nnot completely. <\/p>\n

228
\n00:13:32,150 –> 00:13:36,350
\nThere’s still work to be done.
\nSo that’s the first prophecy <\/p>\n

229
\n00:13:36,350 –> 00:13:38,150
\nthat’s alluded to.
\nMalachi 4. <\/p>\n

230
\n00:13:38,310 –> 00:13:41,310
\nAgain, he says to turn the
\nhearts of the fathers to the <\/p>\n

231
\n00:13:41,310 –> 00:13:45,270
\nchildren and the disobedient to
\nthe wisdom of the just so part <\/p>\n

232
\n00:13:45,270 –> 00:13:49,350
\nof the role of John the Baptist
\nwas about changing hearts. <\/p>\n

233
\n00:13:50,030 –> 00:13:53,030
\nThere’s a lot of power in that,
\nespecially in these times when <\/p>\n

234
\n00:13:53,030 –> 00:13:58,190
\nit was all about law.
\nWhat’s the 2nd prophecy that’s <\/p>\n

235
\n00:13:58,190 –> 00:14:00,970
\nspoken about?
\nWhat’s really subtle here? <\/p>\n

236
\n00:14:01,450 –> 00:14:06,090
\nIt’s at the end of verse 17.
\nIt says to make ready a people <\/p>\n

237
\n00:14:06,210 –> 00:14:10,850
\nprepared for the Lord.
\nIt’s really brief, and if you <\/p>\n

238
\n00:14:10,850 –> 00:14:12,730
\nwent looking through your
\nconcordance trying to figure out<\/p>\n

239
\n00:14:12,730 –> 00:14:14,810
\nwhere that’s coming from, you
\nmight come up with all kinds of <\/p>\n

240
\n00:14:14,810 –> 00:14:16,250
\nanswers.
\nSo. <\/p>\n

241
\n00:14:16,880 –> 00:14:19,120
\nLet’s go to a place where we can
\nget some more clarity because <\/p>\n

242
\n00:14:19,120 –> 00:14:22,040
\nJohn himself, when people ask
\nhim who are you? <\/p>\n

243
\n00:14:22,360 –> 00:14:26,840
\nHe says, well, let me tell you,
\nI come from this prophecy in the<\/p>\n

244
\n00:14:26,840 –> 00:14:29,480
\nOld Testament.
\nSo again, keep a hand in Luke, <\/p>\n

245
\n00:14:29,480 –> 00:14:32,960
\ncome over with me to John one.
\nLet’s look at what John has to <\/p>\n

246
\n00:14:32,960 –> 00:14:42,360
\nsay about himself.
\nSo John, one and just look with <\/p>\n

247
\n00:14:42,360 –> 00:14:48,500
\nme if you will.
\nLet’s start back, actually at <\/p>\n

248
\n00:14:49,300 –> 00:14:51,620
\nverse 19, we’re going to see
\nsome of what we’re talking <\/p>\n

249
\n00:14:51,620 –> 00:14:53,460
\nabout, where the people want to
\nknow if he’s Elijah. <\/p>\n

250
\n00:14:54,380 –> 00:14:56,860
\nSo John one.
\nIn verse 19, this is the record <\/p>\n

251
\n00:14:56,860 –> 00:15:00,580
\nof John when the Jews sent
\npriests and Levites from <\/p>\n

252
\n00:15:00,580 –> 00:15:03,180
\nJerusalem to ask him, Who are
\nyou? <\/p>\n

253
\n00:15:04,460 –> 00:15:05,980
\nThey knew something was up with
\nthis man. <\/p>\n

254
\n00:15:05,980 –> 00:15:07,980
\nThey couldn’t quite figure out
\nwhat it was, so they wanted to <\/p>\n

255
\n00:15:07,980 –> 00:15:11,540
\nget to the bottom of it.
\nAnd he confessed and denied not,<\/p>\n

256
\n00:15:11,540 –> 00:15:14,310
\nbut confessed.
\nI am not the Christ. <\/p>\n

257
\n00:15:14,310 –> 00:15:15,950
\nOK, so they put that to the
\nside. <\/p>\n

258
\n00:15:15,950 –> 00:15:18,390
\nWell, you got to be somebody
\nimportant, so let’s go through <\/p>\n

259
\n00:15:18,390 –> 00:15:20,710
\nthe list.
\nWhat then? <\/p>\n

260
\n00:15:20,710 –> 00:15:24,110
\nAre you Elijah?
\nAnd he says, I am not. <\/p>\n

261
\n00:15:25,350 –> 00:15:30,150
\nAre thou that prophet?
\nAnd he answered no, and said <\/p>\n

262
\n00:15:30,150 –> 00:15:33,030
\nthey unto him, Who art thou?
\nThat we may give an answer to <\/p>\n

263
\n00:15:33,030 –> 00:15:35,550
\nthem that sent us?
\nSo the priests and Levites want <\/p>\n

264
\n00:15:35,550 –> 00:15:37,910
\nto know who you are, John, and
\nwe need an answer. <\/p>\n

265
\n00:15:38,110 –> 00:15:42,680
\nTell us who you are.
\nWhat sayest thou of thyself? <\/p>\n

266
\n00:15:43,560 –> 00:15:48,120
\nAnd he said, I am the voice of 1
\ncrying in the wilderness, make <\/p>\n

267
\n00:15:48,120 –> 00:15:54,680
\nstraight the way of the Lord.
\nAs said, the prophet Isaiah and <\/p>\n

268
\n00:15:54,680 –> 00:15:57,880
\nthey which were sent were of the
\nPharisees, so he refers to a <\/p>\n

269
\n00:15:57,880 –> 00:16:02,490
\npassage from the prophet Isaiah.
\nThat says and the voice of 1 <\/p>\n

270
\n00:16:02,490 –> 00:16:04,970
\ncrying in the wilderness makes
\nstraight the way of the Lord. <\/p>\n

271
\n00:16:05,410 –> 00:16:07,650
\nAnd again, if you have a note in
\nyour Bible or perhaps in your <\/p>\n

272
\n00:16:07,650 –> 00:16:09,650
\ncenter margin, you’ll see where
\nthat’s from. <\/p>\n

273
\n00:16:09,650 –> 00:16:12,410
\nAnd that is from Isaiah chapter
\n40. <\/p>\n

274
\n00:16:12,570 –> 00:16:18,170
\nWe might just have a brief look
\nover there at Isaiah 40 and <\/p>\n

275
\n00:16:18,170 –> 00:16:21,610
\nremember the passage from Luke
\nsays prepare ye the way of the <\/p>\n

276
\n00:16:21,610 –> 00:16:24,450
\nLord.
\nThat’s what it says about John <\/p>\n

277
\n00:16:24,450 –> 00:16:29,170
\nfrom Gabriel and here Isaiah 40
\nand just looking down at verse <\/p>\n

278
\n00:16:29,170 –> 00:16:35,800
\n3.
\nIt says the voice of him that <\/p>\n

279
\n00:16:35,800 –> 00:16:41,160
\ncries in the wilderness, Prepare
\nye the way of the Lord. <\/p>\n

280
\n00:16:41,800 –> 00:16:45,640
\nMake straight in the desert a
\nhighway for our God. <\/p>\n

281
\n00:16:46,120 –> 00:16:50,320
\nSo this is the reference that
\nboth John uses to refer to <\/p>\n

282
\n00:16:50,320 –> 00:16:56,920
\nhimself, and that Gabriel uses
\nto describe John to Zechariah. <\/p>\n

283
\n00:16:57,200 –> 00:17:00,480
\nSo we have Malachi 4, which is
\nabout the turning of hearts. <\/p>\n

284
\n00:17:00,740 –> 00:17:04,140
\nThe turning of the disobedient
\nto the wisdom of the just. <\/p>\n

285
\n00:17:04,500 –> 00:17:08,220
\nAnd we have the voice of Him
\nthat cries in the wilderness, <\/p>\n

286
\n00:17:08,220 –> 00:17:10,339
\nwhich we know.
\nThat’s where John came from. <\/p>\n

287
\n00:17:11,300 –> 00:17:15,819
\nPrepare the way of the Lord.
\nPrepare the way for Christ. <\/p>\n

288
\n00:17:16,780 –> 00:17:19,780
\nMake straight in the desert, a
\nhighway for our God. <\/p>\n

289
\n00:17:20,099 –> 00:17:22,339
\nNow, does that mean that John
\nwas to God into the desert and <\/p>\n

290
\n00:17:22,339 –> 00:17:25,020
\nstart paving roads?
\nWell, of course not. <\/p>\n

291
\n00:17:25,380 –> 00:17:28,740
\nIt’s about laying a path by
\nwhich. <\/p>\n

292
\n00:17:29,590 –> 00:17:33,510
\nYou and I would come to a
\nknowledge and an understanding <\/p>\n

293
\n00:17:33,510 –> 00:17:36,230
\nand acceptance of the Lord Jesus
\nChrist. <\/p>\n

294
\n00:17:36,470 –> 00:17:39,310
\nThis was the work of John the
\nBaptist. <\/p>\n

295
\n00:17:39,550 –> 00:17:43,430
\nAnd these are the 2 great
\nprophecies that Gabriel uses to <\/p>\n

296
\n00:17:43,430 –> 00:17:49,590
\ndescribe the coming of John.
\nSo now we want to look just a <\/p>\n

297
\n00:17:49,590 –> 00:17:51,110
\nlittle bit back.
\nRemember we talked in the <\/p>\n

298
\n00:17:51,110 –> 00:17:54,950
\nprevious verse.
\nIt says many would come to a <\/p>\n

299
\n00:17:54,950 –> 00:17:58,450
\nknowledge.
\nOf God through John the Baptist.<\/p>\n

300
\n00:17:59,010 –> 00:18:01,770
\nSo for that we might just have a
\nlook at the book of Matthew. <\/p>\n

301
\n00:18:02,010 –> 00:18:04,690
\nCome with me to Matthew and
\nwe’ll start in Matthew 11. <\/p>\n

302
\n00:18:16,810 –> 00:18:18,730
\nI guess it would help if I was
\nin Matthew and not Mark. <\/p>\n

303
\n00:18:20,770 –> 00:18:24,970
\nSo Matthew 11 and have a look at
\nwhat Christ has to say about <\/p>\n

304
\n00:18:24,970 –> 00:18:28,150
\nJohn the Baptist.
\nMatthew 11 and verse seven. <\/p>\n

305
\n00:18:28,590 –> 00:18:31,550
\nAs they departed, Jesus began to
\nsay into the multitudes <\/p>\n

306
\n00:18:31,550 –> 00:18:36,430
\nconcerning John the Baptist what
\nWhitney out into the wilderness <\/p>\n

307
\n00:18:36,430 –> 00:18:40,670
\nto see a Reed shaken with the
\nwind, some sort of frail <\/p>\n

308
\n00:18:40,670 –> 00:18:43,590
\nindividual.
\nBut what went she out to see? <\/p>\n

309
\n00:18:43,590 –> 00:18:47,710
\nA man clothed in softer,
\ngorgeous fancy apparel. <\/p>\n

310
\n00:18:49,310 –> 00:18:52,790
\nBehold, they that wear soft
\nclothing are in King’s houses. <\/p>\n

311
\n00:18:54,190 –> 00:18:56,270
\nBut what went she out for?
\nTo see a prophet. <\/p>\n

312
\n00:18:56,850 –> 00:18:59,850
\nYeah, I say unto you, and more
\nthan a prophet. <\/p>\n

313
\n00:19:00,690 –> 00:19:02,170
\nFor this is he of whom it is
\nwritten. <\/p>\n

314
\n00:19:02,410 –> 00:19:06,090
\nBehold, I send my messenger
\nbefore thy face, which shall <\/p>\n

315
\n00:19:06,090 –> 00:19:08,850
\nprepare the way before thee.
\nThat’s a reference to Malachi <\/p>\n

316
\n00:19:08,850 –> 00:19:13,050
\n3IN verse one, the messenger
\nthat would prepare the way for <\/p>\n

317
\n00:19:13,050 –> 00:19:16,450
\nChrist.
\nVerily I say unto you in verse <\/p>\n

318
\n00:19:16,450 –> 00:19:22,570
\neleven, Among them that are born
\nof women there hath not risen a <\/p>\n

319
\n00:19:22,570 –> 00:19:27,330
\ngreater than John the Baptist.
\nAnd outwithstanding, he that is <\/p>\n

320
\n00:19:27,330 –> 00:19:30,010
\nleast in the Kingdom of heaven
\nis greater than he. <\/p>\n

321
\n00:19:30,010 –> 00:19:34,290
\nI’m going to read that again.
\nAmong them that are born of <\/p>\n

322
\n00:19:34,290 –> 00:19:39,050
\nwomen there has not risen a
\ngreater than John the Baptist. <\/p>\n

323
\n00:19:40,050 –> 00:19:43,130
\nThat’s pretty high praise of all
\nthe prophets, of all the men and<\/p>\n

324
\n00:19:43,130 –> 00:19:47,690
\nwomen that came before Christ
\nsays John is the most important,<\/p>\n

325
\n00:19:47,770 –> 00:19:52,130
\nthe greatest of them all.
\nThat’s powerful and it’s <\/p>\n

326
\n00:19:52,130 –> 00:19:55,480
\nsignificant because.
\nAnd we haven’t gotten here yet, <\/p>\n

327
\n00:19:55,480 –> 00:19:58,080
\nbut it says that he came in the
\nspirit and power of Elijah, and <\/p>\n

328
\n00:19:58,080 –> 00:20:02,400
\nyet this John the Baptist was
\ngreater than even Elijah <\/p>\n

329
\n00:20:02,400 –> 00:20:05,720
\nhimself, because he was coming
\nand preparing the way for <\/p>\n

330
\n00:20:05,720 –> 00:20:09,040
\nChrist.
\nAnd he says finally in verse 12,<\/p>\n

331
\n00:20:09,040 –> 00:20:11,720
\nfrom the days of John the
\nBaptist until now the Kingdom of<\/p>\n

332
\n00:20:11,720 –> 00:20:15,560
\nheaven suffers violence and the
\nviolent take it by force. <\/p>\n

333
\n00:20:15,840 –> 00:20:20,040
\nFor all the prophets in the Law
\nprophesied until John, and here <\/p>\n

334
\n00:20:20,040 –> 00:20:23,680
\npay close attention if you will
\nreceive it. <\/p>\n

335
\n00:20:24,480 –> 00:20:27,560
\nThis is Elijah which was for to
\ncome. <\/p>\n

336
\n00:20:27,800 –> 00:20:30,920
\nSo what Christ is telling us is
\nJohn the Baptist came on the <\/p>\n

337
\n00:20:30,920 –> 00:20:35,240
\nscene talking about the coming
\nof Christ and he says if you <\/p>\n

338
\n00:20:35,240 –> 00:20:39,840
\nreceive John the Baptist then he
\nwas the Elijah of Malachi <\/p>\n

339
\n00:20:39,840 –> 00:20:42,560
\nchapter 4.
\nSo when all the priests in the <\/p>\n

340
\n00:20:42,560 –> 00:20:45,480
\nscribes are running all over the
\nplace looking to see is John the<\/p>\n

341
\n00:20:45,480 –> 00:20:48,840
\nBaptist Elijah, Christ says he
\nis. <\/p>\n

342
\n00:20:49,960 –> 00:20:53,600
\nIf you listen to the message
\nthat he’s trying to tell you. <\/p>\n

343
\n00:20:55,320 –> 00:20:57,080
\nDid they listen to the message
\nof John? <\/p>\n

344
\n00:20:58,520 –> 00:21:00,440
\nSadly, the majority of them
\ndidn’t. <\/p>\n

345
\n00:21:01,080 –> 00:21:04,200
\nHe was beheaded for the things
\nthat he said and for the things <\/p>\n

346
\n00:21:04,480 –> 00:21:07,800
\nthat he stood for.
\nJohn was rejected. <\/p>\n

347
\n00:21:07,960 –> 00:21:11,600
\nAnd it’s why I think that Christ
\nsays he that has ears to hear, <\/p>\n

348
\n00:21:12,360 –> 00:21:15,200
\nlet him hear.
\nAnd so we just want to pause <\/p>\n

349
\n00:21:15,200 –> 00:21:17,560
\nhere and ask ourselves, are we
\nlistening? <\/p>\n

350
\n00:21:18,400 –> 00:21:23,250
\nWe have the ears to hear.
\nAre we hearing Because too <\/p>\n

351
\n00:21:23,250 –> 00:21:27,050
\noften, even coming week after
\nweek and and doing all the right<\/p>\n

352
\n00:21:27,050 –> 00:21:29,330
\nthings, we stand up, we sit
\ndown, we we read in our homes, <\/p>\n

353
\n00:21:29,330 –> 00:21:33,770
\nwe pray, we do all these things.
\nIt’s still easy for us to not <\/p>\n

354
\n00:21:33,770 –> 00:21:37,170
\nhave the word and our
\nrelationship with our God change<\/p>\n

355
\n00:21:37,370 –> 00:21:41,050
\nour hearts, which was the whole
\nreason why John was coming. <\/p>\n

356
\n00:21:41,050 –> 00:21:44,650
\nRemember what Malachi 4 said?
\nThat this Elijah was coming to <\/p>\n

357
\n00:21:44,650 –> 00:21:48,930
\nchange the hearts of the people
\nto make straight a highway for <\/p>\n

358
\n00:21:48,930 –> 00:21:52,090
\nour God.
\nAnd still they rejected him <\/p>\n

359
\n00:21:52,820 –> 00:21:54,580
\nbecause the people didn’t want
\nto change their hearts. <\/p>\n

360
\n00:21:55,260 –> 00:21:57,740
\nIn fact, what did the priests in
\nthe scribes want when the <\/p>\n

361
\n00:21:57,740 –> 00:22:00,020
\nMessiah came?
\nWell, they expected that the <\/p>\n

362
\n00:22:00,020 –> 00:22:02,540
\nMessiah’s first order of
\nbusiness would be walking right <\/p>\n

363
\n00:22:02,540 –> 00:22:05,620
\nup to them and saying, oh,
\nyou’ve done such a lovely job at<\/p>\n

364
\n00:22:05,620 –> 00:22:07,220
\nthe place here.
\nWe’ve got some nice seats for <\/p>\n

365
\n00:22:07,220 –> 00:22:09,580
\nyou here, We’ve got some nice
\nseats for you over here. <\/p>\n

366
\n00:22:09,780 –> 00:22:13,580
\nAnd now we’re going to come and
\ndrive down judgment on all these<\/p>\n

367
\n00:22:13,580 –> 00:22:15,980
\nother people who haven’t been as
\nclean and as righteous as you. <\/p>\n

368
\n00:22:17,210 –> 00:22:18,610
\nAnd of course that’s the
\nopposite of what John the <\/p>\n

369
\n00:22:18,610 –> 00:22:21,130
\nBaptist in Christ did.
\nThey were actually quite <\/p>\n

370
\n00:22:21,130 –> 00:22:25,050
\ncondemning of the hypocritical
\nbehavior of the Pharisees <\/p>\n

371
\n00:22:25,890 –> 00:22:28,050
\nbecause they were coming to
\nchange hearts. <\/p>\n

372
\n00:22:29,290 –> 00:22:32,410
\nNow another reference about John
\nover in Matthew 17. <\/p>\n

373
\n00:22:37,010 –> 00:22:38,930
\nSo Matthew 17.
\nThis must not be a good <\/p>\n

374
\n00:22:38,930 –> 00:22:41,810
\nreference, but that’s Okay.
\nMatthew 17. <\/p>\n

375
\n00:22:41,810 –> 00:22:43,370
\nWe have the Transfiguration,
\nright? <\/p>\n

376
\n00:22:43,370 –> 00:22:48,530
\nSo Christ says in chapter 16 and
\nverse 28. <\/p>\n

377
\n00:22:48,810 –> 00:22:51,730
\nVerily I say unto you, there be
\nsome standing here which shall <\/p>\n

378
\n00:22:51,730 –> 00:22:54,490
\nnot taste of death.
\nSo they see the Son of Man <\/p>\n

379
\n00:22:54,490 –> 00:22:57,290
\ncoming in his Kingdom.
\nAnd then right after that we <\/p>\n

380
\n00:22:57,290 –> 00:22:59,850
\nhave the Transfiguration, and
\nChrist is standing there with <\/p>\n

381
\n00:22:59,850 –> 00:23:03,610
\nMoses and Elijah.
\nAnd do you know what Luke has to<\/p>\n

382
\n00:23:03,610 –> 00:23:06,890
\nsay about the Transfiguration?
\nWhat were they talking about? <\/p>\n

383
\n00:23:07,090 –> 00:23:09,050
\nWhere they were talking about
\nhis departure? <\/p>\n

384
\n00:23:09,610 –> 00:23:12,810
\nAnd that word in Greek means
\nExodus. <\/p>\n

385
\n00:23:13,210 –> 00:23:15,810
\nExodus is actually a Greek word.
\nThey were talking about the <\/p>\n

386
\n00:23:15,850 –> 00:23:19,610
\nExodus of Christ and who better
\nqualified than Moses who led his<\/p>\n

387
\n00:23:19,610 –> 00:23:23,730
\nExodus and Elijah who we’re
\ngoing to get to, And now Christ <\/p>\n

388
\n00:23:23,730 –> 00:23:25,490
\nleading an exodus out of sin and
\ndeath. <\/p>\n

389
\n00:23:26,770 –> 00:23:30,290
\nBut the point is after the
\ntransfiguration ends, the <\/p>\n

390
\n00:23:30,290 –> 00:23:32,490
\ndisciples are all turned around.
\nThey don’t know what to do. <\/p>\n

391
\n00:23:33,770 –> 00:23:39,210
\nAnd so they say in verse 10, his
\ndisciples asked Christ saying, <\/p>\n

392
\n00:23:39,410 –> 00:23:41,930
\nwhy?
\nThen say the scribes that Elijah<\/p>\n

393
\n00:23:41,930 –> 00:23:44,890
\nhas to come first.
\nThey just saw Elijah. <\/p>\n

394
\n00:23:44,890 –> 00:23:46,570
\nWas this it?
\nWas this what they were talking <\/p>\n

395
\n00:23:46,570 –> 00:23:48,250
\nabout?
\nAgain, they’re all turned around<\/p>\n

396
\n00:23:48,250 –> 00:23:50,250
\nby this.
\nThey just saw Moses and Elijah. <\/p>\n

397
\n00:23:51,170 –> 00:23:53,450
\nAnother reference says that they
\nwant to make tabernacles for the<\/p>\n

398
\n00:23:53,450 –> 00:23:55,730
\nthree of them, that they don’t
\nknow what to do. <\/p>\n

399
\n00:23:55,770 –> 00:23:57,170
\nI suspect we wouldn’t have
\neither. <\/p>\n

400
\n00:23:58,570 –> 00:24:01,290
\nWhy do the scribes say that
\nElijah has to come first? <\/p>\n

401
\n00:24:01,930 –> 00:24:06,610
\nAnd Christ says in verse 11
\nElijah truly shall first come <\/p>\n

402
\n00:24:06,610 –> 00:24:11,790
\nand restore all things.
\nIt doesn’t say many things, <\/p>\n

403
\n00:24:11,790 –> 00:24:13,750
\nwhich is what Gabriel had to say
\nabout John. <\/p>\n

404
\n00:24:13,950 –> 00:24:17,750
\nIt says that Elijah would come
\nand restore all things. <\/p>\n

405
\n00:24:18,950 –> 00:24:23,510
\nBut I say unto you that Elijah
\nis come already, and they knew <\/p>\n

406
\n00:24:23,510 –> 00:24:27,950
\nhim not, but have done unto him
\nwhatsoever they listed. <\/p>\n

407
\n00:24:28,710 –> 00:24:31,270
\nLikewise show also the Son of
\nman suffer of them. <\/p>\n

408
\n00:24:32,030 –> 00:24:34,950
\nThen the disciples understood
\nthat he spoke unto them of John <\/p>\n

409
\n00:24:34,950 –> 00:24:37,550
\nthe Baptist.
\nSo what’s Christ trying to say? <\/p>\n

410
\n00:24:38,110 –> 00:24:41,310
\nHe says Elijah is going to come
\nfirst. <\/p>\n

411
\n00:24:43,670 –> 00:24:48,750
\nJohn came as a type of Elijah.
\nWe saw that from Malachi 4. <\/p>\n

412
\n00:24:50,070 –> 00:24:54,670
\nAnd what did the people do with
\nthis representation of Elijah? <\/p>\n

413
\n00:24:54,670 –> 00:24:57,430
\nDid they accept him with open
\narms? <\/p>\n

414
\n00:24:57,430 –> 00:25:01,230
\nDid they cry tears of joy that
\nthis one who would come <\/p>\n

415
\n00:25:01,230 –> 00:25:03,390
\nproclaiming the coming of Christ
\nwas here? <\/p>\n

416
\n00:25:05,070 –> 00:25:08,250
\nNo, it says they knew him not
\nand have done unto him <\/p>\n

417
\n00:25:08,250 –> 00:25:11,810
\nwhatsoever they listed because
\nultimately, as we said, John was<\/p>\n

418
\n00:25:11,810 –> 00:25:17,410
\nbeheaded.
\nSo yes, this type of Elijah did <\/p>\n

419
\n00:25:17,410 –> 00:25:21,090
\ncome, and as we just saw from
\nMatthew 11, he could have been <\/p>\n

420
\n00:25:21,090 –> 00:25:24,210
\nthe fulfillment of Malachi 4.
\nHe could have been the coming of<\/p>\n

421
\n00:25:24,210 –> 00:25:27,250
\nElijah.
\nIn fact, theoretically, Christ <\/p>\n

422
\n00:25:27,250 –> 00:25:29,610
\ncould have set up the Kingdom
\nright there when he first came <\/p>\n

423
\n00:25:29,610 –> 00:25:33,410
\non the earth, but John was
\nrejected and Christ was <\/p>\n

424
\n00:25:33,410 –> 00:25:36,220
\nrejected.
\nThe coming of the changing of <\/p>\n

425
\n00:25:36,220 –> 00:25:39,500
\nhearts that John tried to do,
\nthe people weren’t interested in<\/p>\n

426
\n00:25:39,500 –> 00:25:41,220
\nit.
\nThey rejected him. <\/p>\n

427
\n00:25:42,180 –> 00:25:44,860
\nAnd again, we have to ask
\nourselves, are we allowing our <\/p>\n

428
\n00:25:44,860 –> 00:25:47,740
\nhearts to be changed?
\nThat when Christ comes again it <\/p>\n

429
\n00:25:47,740 –> 00:25:52,180
\nwon’t be the same result because
\nthey were totally and completely<\/p>\n

430
\n00:25:52,980 –> 00:25:58,540
\ndismissive of John’s appearing.
\nSo coming back to Luke again, <\/p>\n

431
\n00:25:59,620 –> 00:26:01,420
\nand the point we’re making and
\nall of that as we come back to <\/p>\n

432
\n00:26:01,420 –> 00:26:06,310
\nLuke 1, is that John was a
\npartial fulfillment of the <\/p>\n

433
\n00:26:06,310 –> 00:26:09,110
\nthings that Elijah is ultimately
\ngoing to come to do. <\/p>\n

434
\n00:26:09,910 –> 00:26:12,870
\nBecause Elijah is going to come
\nagain, and he is going to turn <\/p>\n

435
\n00:26:12,870 –> 00:26:15,470
\nthe hearts of the fathers to the
\nchildren and the hearts of the <\/p>\n

436
\n00:26:15,470 –> 00:26:18,390
\ndisobedience to the wisdom of
\nthe just in preparation for the <\/p>\n

437
\n00:26:18,390 –> 00:26:24,950
\ncoming of Christ.
\nBut it hasn’t happened yet, and <\/p>\n

438
\n00:26:24,950 –> 00:26:29,240
\nhe’s going to do it.
\nAnd a very specific spirit and <\/p>\n

439
\n00:26:29,240 –> 00:26:31,320
\npower.
\nBecause there’s one thing that <\/p>\n

440
\n00:26:31,320 –> 00:26:34,960
\nwe missed from what Gabriel had
\nto say to Zechariah about John. <\/p>\n

441
\n00:26:35,240 –> 00:26:40,320
\nAnd here it is at the beginning
\nof verse 17, the last thing that<\/p>\n

442
\n00:26:40,320 –> 00:26:44,720
\nwe haven’t talked about, that
\nGabriel says about John, verse <\/p>\n

443
\n00:26:44,720 –> 00:26:50,040
\n17 of Luke, one he shall go
\nbefore him in the spirit and <\/p>\n

444
\n00:26:50,040 –> 00:26:54,520
\npower of Elijah.
\nThe spirit, his attitude, his <\/p>\n

445
\n00:26:54,520 –> 00:26:58,770
\nmentality and his power, the
\nworks that he does well, those <\/p>\n

446
\n00:26:58,770 –> 00:27:03,730
\nare going to be like Elijah.
\nSo if we can figure out what <\/p>\n

447
\n00:27:03,730 –> 00:27:08,090
\nthat spirit and power was, we’ll
\nhave a good sense of what John <\/p>\n

448
\n00:27:08,090 –> 00:27:12,810
\nwas coming to do.
\nSo we want to take a look as our<\/p>\n

449
\n00:27:12,810 –> 00:27:15,410
\nfinal consideration for this
\nmorning of what that was. <\/p>\n

450
\n00:27:16,050 –> 00:27:18,450
\nSo come with me over to Luke
\nChapter 9, and let’s first look <\/p>\n

451
\n00:27:18,450 –> 00:27:23,050
\nat his spirit.
\nLuke Chapter 9 and verses 51 to <\/p>\n

452
\n00:27:23,050 –> 00:27:30,120
\n55.
\nLuke Chapter 9 and verse 51. <\/p>\n

453
\n00:27:30,720 –> 00:27:32,960
\nAnd it came to pass.
\nWhen the time was come that he <\/p>\n

454
\n00:27:32,960 –> 00:27:36,640
\nshould be received up.
\nHe, that is Christ, steadfastly <\/p>\n

455
\n00:27:36,640 –> 00:27:40,800
\nset his face to go to Jerusalem
\nand sent messengers before his <\/p>\n

456
\n00:27:40,800 –> 00:27:43,400
\nface.
\nAnd they went and entered into a<\/p>\n

457
\n00:27:43,400 –> 00:27:45,800
\nvillage of the Samaritans to
\nmake ready for him. <\/p>\n

458
\n00:27:46,710 –> 00:27:49,710
\nBut they did not receive him
\nbecause his face was as though <\/p>\n

459
\n00:27:49,710 –> 00:27:52,790
\nhe would go to Jerusalem.
\nSo Christ and the disciples, <\/p>\n

460
\n00:27:52,790 –> 00:27:55,550
\nthey come to a city of the
\nSamaritans, and the Samaritans <\/p>\n

461
\n00:27:55,550 –> 00:27:57,630
\ndidn’t want to see him because
\nthey knew he was going somewhere<\/p>\n

462
\n00:27:57,630 –> 00:27:59,510
\nelse.
\nSo they rejected Christ. <\/p>\n

463
\n00:28:00,430 –> 00:28:03,670
\nAnd have a look at what the
\ndisciples have to say about this<\/p>\n

464
\n00:28:03,750 –> 00:28:08,310
\ninteraction.
\nWhen the disciples verse 54 <\/p>\n

465
\n00:28:08,310 –> 00:28:14,300
\nJames and John saw this, they
\nsaid, Lord, wilt thou that we <\/p>\n

466
\n00:28:14,300 –> 00:28:19,740
\ncommand fire to come down from
\nheaven and consume them even as <\/p>\n

467
\n00:28:19,900 –> 00:28:23,300
\nElijah did.
\nNow we want to pause here for <\/p>\n

468
\n00:28:23,300 –> 00:28:29,060
\nsomething else, because there’s
\na situation where people are not<\/p>\n

469
\n00:28:29,060 –> 00:28:33,580
\non the same page.
\nThey do something against Christ<\/p>\n

470
\n00:28:33,580 –> 00:28:34,780
\nthat they really shouldn’t have
\ndone. <\/p>\n

471
\n00:28:35,940 –> 00:28:39,390
\nAnd the default reaction of
\nJames and John is to say, you <\/p>\n

472
\n00:28:39,390 –> 00:28:41,870
\nknow, you know, it’d be great.
\nWe really teach them a lesson. <\/p>\n

473
\n00:28:42,110 –> 00:28:43,830
\nLet’s call down fire from
\nheaven. <\/p>\n

474
\n00:28:44,270 –> 00:28:46,830
\nThen they’ll really get it.
\nThey’ll also be dead, but <\/p>\n

475
\n00:28:46,830 –> 00:28:49,910
\nthey’ll get it.
\nSometimes. <\/p>\n

476
\n00:28:49,910 –> 00:28:53,870
\nSome of us, and the truth, for
\ngood reasons, want to call down <\/p>\n

477
\n00:28:53,870 –> 00:28:56,630
\nfire from heaven.
\nI felt that way. <\/p>\n

478
\n00:28:57,270 –> 00:29:01,100
\nI don’t know if you’ve ever felt
\nthat way, because we think that <\/p>\n

479
\n00:29:01,100 –> 00:29:02,580
\nthat’s what people need to
\nchange. <\/p>\n

480
\n00:29:02,580 –> 00:29:05,540
\nWe need to call down great fire
\nfrom heaven, and then once <\/p>\n

481
\n00:29:05,540 –> 00:29:07,220
\nthey’re all burnt through a
\ncrisp and there’s nothing there <\/p>\n

482
\n00:29:07,220 –> 00:29:11,100
\nleft, then they’ll get it.
\nSeems like a good idea. <\/p>\n

483
\n00:29:11,460 –> 00:29:14,740
\nElijah did it, and what does
\nChrist have to say about this? <\/p>\n

484
\n00:29:16,500 –> 00:29:21,820
\nBut he turned and rebuked them
\nand said, You know not what <\/p>\n

485
\n00:29:21,820 –> 00:29:29,040
\nmanner of spirit you are of.
\nThey thought that the spirit, <\/p>\n

486
\n00:29:29,080 –> 00:29:32,880
\nthe attitude of Elijah, was when
\npeople misbehaved, you burnt <\/p>\n

487
\n00:29:32,880 –> 00:29:34,680
\nthem to a crisp with fire from
\nheaven. <\/p>\n

488
\n00:29:34,800 –> 00:29:39,280
\nThat’s the spirit of Elijah.
\nBut that’s not the spirit of <\/p>\n

489
\n00:29:39,280 –> 00:29:40,960
\nElijah.
\nWhat does Christ have to say in <\/p>\n

490
\n00:29:40,960 –> 00:29:43,600
\nverse 56?
\nThe Son of Man has not come to <\/p>\n

491
\n00:29:43,600 –> 00:29:47,080
\ndestroy men’s lives, but to save
\nthem. <\/p>\n

492
\n00:29:48,360 –> 00:29:49,920
\nAnd they went to another
\nvillage. <\/p>\n

493
\n00:29:51,680 –> 00:29:55,470
\nThere are times in our lives and
\nthe truth Well, people will do <\/p>\n

494
\n00:29:55,470 –> 00:29:59,910
\nthings where we will do things
\nthat might seem worthy of great <\/p>\n

495
\n00:29:59,910 –> 00:30:03,870
\nfire from heaven.
\nBut the reality is Christ is <\/p>\n

496
\n00:30:03,870 –> 00:30:07,070
\ncoming to save the lives of men,
\nand we must try to do everything<\/p>\n

497
\n00:30:07,070 –> 00:30:11,470
\nwithin our power to save rather
\nthan to destroy. <\/p>\n

498
\n00:30:12,150 –> 00:30:17,430
\nSo our point is with the Spirit.
\nThe spirit of Elijah is not a <\/p>\n

499
\n00:30:17,430 –> 00:30:20,550
\nspirit of a person who wants to
\ncome and burn people to a crisp.<\/p>\n

500
\n00:30:20,670 –> 00:30:24,480
\nThat’s not the spirit of Elijah.
\nI haven’t figured out what it is<\/p>\n

501
\n00:30:24,480 –> 00:30:25,880
\nyet, but that’s what it’s not.
\nOkay. <\/p>\n

502
\n00:30:25,880 –> 00:30:28,720
\nNow let’s talk about the power
\nof Elijah. <\/p>\n

503
\n00:30:29,160 –> 00:30:34,920
\nCome with me over to John 10,
\nJohn 10 and verse 40. <\/p>\n

504
\n00:30:35,160 –> 00:30:44,800
\nThe power of Elijah John 10 and
\nverse 40 says, And we’re <\/p>\n

505
\n00:30:44,800 –> 00:30:46,840
\njumping, we’re parachuting into
\nthe record, which we always say <\/p>\n

506
\n00:30:46,840 –> 00:30:49,080
\nnot to do.
\nBut you’ll see why John 10 and <\/p>\n

507
\n00:30:49,080 –> 00:30:52,560
\nverse 40 he went away again
\nbeyond Jordan, into the place <\/p>\n

508
\n00:30:52,560 –> 00:30:58,360
\nwhere John at first baptized,
\nand there he abode, and many <\/p>\n

509
\n00:30:58,680 –> 00:31:04,440
\nresorted unto him, and said,
\nJohn did no miracle. <\/p>\n

510
\n00:31:05,480 –> 00:31:07,800
\nBut all things that John’s spake
\nof this man were true. <\/p>\n

511
\n00:31:08,640 –> 00:31:14,240
\nJohn did no miracle.
\nNow, if I asked you what’s the <\/p>\n

512
\n00:31:14,240 –> 00:31:16,600
\npower of Elijah, what would you
\nsay? <\/p>\n

513
\n00:31:17,360 –> 00:31:20,000
\nWell, I would have said it’s
\ncalling down fire from heaven. <\/p>\n

514
\n00:31:20,000 –> 00:31:22,400
\nThat’s the power of Elijah.
\nHe does it more than once. <\/p>\n

515
\n00:31:22,720 –> 00:31:24,960
\nIt has a great impact.
\nAnd how does it get more <\/p>\n

516
\n00:31:24,960 –> 00:31:27,600
\npowerful than calling down fire
\nfrom heaven? <\/p>\n

517
\n00:31:27,800 –> 00:31:31,520
\nAnd yet, if that was the power
\nof Elijah that John was supposed<\/p>\n

518
\n00:31:31,520 –> 00:31:34,040
\nto come in, he would have done
\nmiracles. <\/p>\n

519
\n00:31:34,440 –> 00:31:38,440
\nAnd we’re specifically told that
\nJohn never did a miracle. <\/p>\n

520
\n00:31:39,640 –> 00:31:42,250
\nAnd by the way, he’s the
\ngreatest man to ever walk the <\/p>\n

521
\n00:31:42,250 –> 00:31:44,450
\nearth aside from Christ.
\nThat’s what Christ says himself.<\/p>\n

522
\n00:31:45,650 –> 00:31:49,050
\nSo if the spirit of Elijah, if
\nhis attitude is not to call down<\/p>\n

523
\n00:31:49,050 –> 00:31:52,930
\nfire from heaven, and his power
\nis not to do the miracles to <\/p>\n

524
\n00:31:52,930 –> 00:31:56,770
\ncall down fire from heaven, what
\nis the spirit and power of <\/p>\n

525
\n00:31:56,770 –> 00:32:02,290
\nElijah that John came in that
\nGabriel prophecies in Luke one? <\/p>\n

526
\n00:32:03,410 –> 00:32:06,970
\nI think our answer is found in
\nthe First of Kings chapter 19. <\/p>\n

527
\n00:32:07,330 –> 00:32:12,540
\nLet’s just go back there.
\nFirst of Kings 19. <\/p>\n

528
\n00:32:13,820 –> 00:32:20,940
\nNow first of Kings 18 is a great
\nSunday school story because <\/p>\n

529
\n00:32:20,940 –> 00:32:23,780
\nfirst of Kings 18 is Elijah and
\nthe prophets of Bale. <\/p>\n

530
\n00:32:24,700 –> 00:32:27,060
\nSo Elijah’s on the one side and
\nthe prophets of Bale are on the <\/p>\n

531
\n00:32:27,060 –> 00:32:28,860
\nother side.
\nAnd all day long the prophets of<\/p>\n

532
\n00:32:28,860 –> 00:32:32,380
\nBale cut themselves and dance
\naround and all this nonsense. <\/p>\n

533
\n00:32:33,400 –> 00:32:38,040
\nAnd Elijah, you know, digs the
\nthe ditch around the the altar <\/p>\n

534
\n00:32:38,040 –> 00:32:40,320
\nand fills it with water.
\nAnd here comes the great fire <\/p>\n

535
\n00:32:40,320 –> 00:32:42,240
\nfrom heaven and destroys the
\naltar. <\/p>\n

536
\n00:32:43,680 –> 00:32:46,680
\nAnd it’s a great dramatic story
\nand we all love it because it’s <\/p>\n

537
\n00:32:46,720 –> 00:32:52,400
\nthe power of God.
\nBut after that happens, it’s not<\/p>\n

538
\n00:32:52,400 –> 00:32:54,880
\nthat the wickedness falls apart
\nand all the people turn to God. <\/p>\n

539
\n00:32:54,880 –> 00:32:57,680
\nAnd what a relief it was that we
\nhad a great fire from heaven. <\/p>\n

540
\n00:32:58,000 –> 00:33:03,790
\nElijah has to go on the run, and
\nthe first of kings 19 In verse <\/p>\n

541
\n00:33:03,910 –> 00:33:09,790
\n10, after God says to Elijah,
\nWhat doest thou here, Elijah, we<\/p>\n

542
\n00:33:09,790 –> 00:33:13,630
\nsee a response that perhaps we
\nat sometimes can relate to verse<\/p>\n

543
\n00:33:13,630 –> 00:33:18,870
\nof kings 19 and verse 10.
\nAnd he said, I’ve been very <\/p>\n

544
\n00:33:18,870 –> 00:33:22,510
\njealous for the Lord God of
\nhosts, for the children of <\/p>\n

545
\n00:33:22,510 –> 00:33:26,030
\nIsrael have forsaken thy
\ncovenant, thrown down thine <\/p>\n

546
\n00:33:26,030 –> 00:33:29,430
\naltars, and slain thy prophets
\nwith the sword. <\/p>\n

547
\n00:33:29,790 –> 00:33:35,080
\nAnd I even I only am left, and
\nthey seek my life to take it <\/p>\n

548
\n00:33:35,080 –> 00:33:38,720
\naway.
\nElijah felt that the only person<\/p>\n

549
\n00:33:38,720 –> 00:33:42,200
\nleft who had any devotion to God
\nwhatsoever was him. <\/p>\n

550
\n00:33:43,080 –> 00:33:44,520
\nPerhaps at times we can feel
\nthat way. <\/p>\n

551
\n00:33:44,880 –> 00:33:47,040
\nPerhaps we can feel like in our
\nfamilies or in our ecclesias. <\/p>\n

552
\n00:33:47,040 –> 00:33:49,160
\nAnd the truth as a whole, The
\nonly person left that cares <\/p>\n

553
\n00:33:49,160 –> 00:33:52,720
\nabout God at all is me, because
\neverybody else is falling short.<\/p>\n

554
\n00:33:53,520 –> 00:33:56,880
\nThat’s how Elijah felt even
\nafter the great fire from <\/p>\n

555
\n00:33:56,880 –> 00:34:00,240
\nheaven.
\nAnd what does God tell him to <\/p>\n

556
\n00:34:00,240 –> 00:34:03,240
\ndo?
\nVerse 11, He said, Go forth, <\/p>\n

557
\n00:34:03,640 –> 00:34:07,720
\nstand upon the mound before the
\nLord, and behold the Lord passed<\/p>\n

558
\n00:34:07,720 –> 00:34:12,400
\nby, and a great and strong wind
\nrent the mountains and break <\/p>\n

559
\n00:34:12,400 –> 00:34:14,679
\nthem in pieces, the rocks before
\nthe Lord. <\/p>\n

560
\n00:34:15,679 –> 00:34:19,120
\nBut the Lord was not in the
\nwind, And after the wind and <\/p>\n

561
\n00:34:19,120 –> 00:34:24,320
\nearthquake, the Lord was not in
\nthe earthquake, and after the <\/p>\n

562
\n00:34:24,320 –> 00:34:30,969
\nearthquake a fire that the Lord
\nwas not in the fire, and after <\/p>\n

563
\n00:34:30,969 –> 00:34:36,290
\nthe fire the voice of a gentle
\nwhisper. <\/p>\n

564
\n00:34:36,290 –> 00:34:45,850
\nAnd what Elijah came to
\nunderstand is that the voice of <\/p>\n

565
\n00:34:45,850 –> 00:34:50,810
\nGod that changes people, that
\nstrikes them to their core, has <\/p>\n

566
\n00:34:50,810 –> 00:34:53,889
\nnothing to do with fire from
\nheaven or winds or earthquake or<\/p>\n

567
\n00:34:53,889 –> 00:34:56,760
\nanything else.
\nIt has purely to do with the <\/p>\n

568
\n00:34:56,760 –> 00:35:01,840
\nvoice of the Word of God.
\nIf our hearts are going to be <\/p>\n

569
\n00:35:01,840 –> 00:35:03,960
\nchanged, brothers and sisters,
\nit will be because of our <\/p>\n

570
\n00:35:03,960 –> 00:35:05,920
\nrelationship with our God.
\nIt will be because of the <\/p>\n

571
\n00:35:05,920 –> 00:35:09,920
\nprayers that we make to Him and
\nthe answers that we receive in <\/p>\n

572
\n00:35:09,920 –> 00:35:13,240
\nour lives, in part, in large
\npart from His word. <\/p>\n

573
\n00:35:14,480 –> 00:35:19,760
\nThe spirit and power of John the
\nBaptist is right here in First <\/p>\n

574
\n00:35:19,760 –> 00:35:23,560
\nof Kings 19.
\nIt’s in the power of the voice <\/p>\n

575
\n00:35:23,840 –> 00:35:28,560
\nof the word of God.
\nWe can be so pent up and <\/p>\n

576
\n00:35:28,560 –> 00:35:33,120
\nfrustrated that we’re not seeing
\nGod work in our lives in the way<\/p>\n

577
\n00:35:33,120 –> 00:35:36,080
\nthat we feel He should or the
\nway that we expect him to. <\/p>\n

578
\n00:35:36,080 –> 00:35:39,400
\nBut the reality is he has worked
\nin our lives in a way that is <\/p>\n

579
\n00:35:39,400 –> 00:35:42,960
\nunbelievable.
\nWe have the words of our Lord <\/p>\n

580
\n00:35:42,960 –> 00:35:44,920
\nand Savior Jesus Christ right in
\nfront of us. <\/p>\n

581
\n00:35:44,920 –> 00:35:47,880
\nThe words of great men and women
\nof old that came before and <\/p>\n

582
\n00:35:47,880 –> 00:35:53,950
\nafter him, all bent up in His
\nword And just to drive this <\/p>\n

583
\n00:35:53,950 –> 00:35:57,750
\nhome, we want to turn back to
\nour last reference for this <\/p>\n

584
\n00:35:57,750 –> 00:36:00,790
\nmorning as we come to the
\nemblems, and that is back in <\/p>\n

585
\n00:36:00,790 –> 00:36:03,550
\nIsaiah 40.
\nSo we looked at Isaiah 40 <\/p>\n

586
\n00:36:03,550 –> 00:36:06,870
\nbefore, we looked at Isaiah 40
\nbefore because it was one of the<\/p>\n

587
\n00:36:06,870 –> 00:36:13,270
\ntwo prophecies that Gabriel uses
\nto talk about what John was <\/p>\n

588
\n00:36:13,270 –> 00:36:16,910
\ngoing to do.
\nHe uses Malachi 4 to talk about <\/p>\n

589
\n00:36:16,910 –> 00:36:21,650
\nthe turning of the hearts, and
\nhe uses Isaiah 40 to talk about,<\/p>\n

590
\n00:36:21,810 –> 00:36:25,130
\namong other things, building a
\npathway to Christ. <\/p>\n

591
\n00:36:25,930 –> 00:36:29,810
\nBut we cut it off early.
\nAnd furthermore, I think what <\/p>\n

592
\n00:36:29,810 –> 00:36:32,450
\nwe’ll find with Isaiah 40 is
\nthat when we read it with these <\/p>\n

593
\n00:36:32,450 –> 00:36:36,010
\nrenewed eyes, having looked at
\nfirst of Kings 19, that it is <\/p>\n

594
\n00:36:36,010 –> 00:36:43,570
\nmore powerful Isaiah 40 and
\nverse 3, the voice of him that <\/p>\n

595
\n00:36:43,570 –> 00:36:48,440
\ncries, what was the voice that
\nElijah heard in first of Kings <\/p>\n

596
\n00:36:48,440 –> 00:36:51,720
\n19?
\nIt was a still small voice. <\/p>\n

597
\n00:36:51,840 –> 00:36:55,360
\nAnd now in Isaiah 40, what’s
\nprophesied about John is that <\/p>\n

598
\n00:36:55,360 –> 00:36:58,960
\nthe voice cries in the
\nwilderness, that is the voice of<\/p>\n

599
\n00:36:58,960 –> 00:37:01,360
\nGod.
\nThe spirit and power of John was<\/p>\n

600
\n00:37:01,360 –> 00:37:03,520
\nnot in these great incredible
\nmiracles. <\/p>\n

601
\n00:37:03,520 –> 00:37:07,280
\nIt was the fact that he came
\nproclaiming the voice of the <\/p>\n

602
\n00:37:07,280 –> 00:37:10,000
\nword of God and look at what he
\ndoes. <\/p>\n

603
\n00:37:10,000 –> 00:37:12,080
\nWe already looked at verse 3,
\nbut just look at the rest. <\/p>\n

604
\n00:37:12,880 –> 00:37:15,080
\nEvery valley in verse four
\nshould be exalted. <\/p>\n

605
\n00:37:15,360 –> 00:37:18,000
\nEvery mountain and hill should
\nbe made low. <\/p>\n

606
\n00:37:18,240 –> 00:37:21,680
\nThe crooked shall be made
\nstraight, and the rough places <\/p>\n

607
\n00:37:21,800 –> 00:37:27,040
\nplain, and the glory of the Lord
\nshall be revealed, and all flesh<\/p>\n

608
\n00:37:27,040 –> 00:37:29,400
\nshall see it together.
\nFor the mouth of the Lord has <\/p>\n

609
\n00:37:29,400 –> 00:37:31,840
\nspoken it.
\nIt’s a vision of the Kingdom. <\/p>\n

610
\n00:37:32,720 –> 00:37:36,000
\nAll the bad places will be
\ndestroyed, and all the good <\/p>\n

611
\n00:37:36,000 –> 00:37:40,690
\nplaces will be lifted up, and
\nall flesh will see it together. <\/p>\n

612
\n00:37:40,850 –> 00:37:43,890
\nNot in the first work of John,
\nwhere many saw it, but they <\/p>\n

613
\n00:37:43,970 –> 00:37:48,810
\nultimately rejected him.
\nBut everyone all over the earth <\/p>\n

614
\n00:37:49,810 –> 00:37:52,490
\nwill come to an understanding of
\nour Lord. <\/p>\n

615
\n00:37:53,770 –> 00:37:57,330
\nAnd again the voice says in
\nverse six, cry. <\/p>\n

616
\n00:37:57,610 –> 00:38:03,490
\nAnd he said, What shall I cry?
\nAll flesh is grass, and all the <\/p>\n

617
\n00:38:03,490 –> 00:38:07,350
\ngoodliness thereof is as the
\nflower of the field, the grass <\/p>\n

618
\n00:38:07,350 –> 00:38:10,990
\nwithereth, the flower fadeth
\nbecause the spirit of the Lord <\/p>\n

619
\n00:38:11,150 –> 00:38:13,910
\nbloweth upon it.
\nSurely the people is grass, and <\/p>\n

620
\n00:38:13,910 –> 00:38:17,390
\nthe older we get, the more we
\nknow this is true, that we are <\/p>\n

621
\n00:38:18,230 –> 00:38:21,510
\nnothing but dust, that we are
\ngrass, that we fade. <\/p>\n

622
\n00:38:21,510 –> 00:38:26,770
\nThe older we get, the more we
\nfall apart, and yet the grass <\/p>\n

623
\n00:38:26,770 –> 00:38:31,090
\nwithereth the flower fadeth.
\nBut the word of our God shall <\/p>\n

624
\n00:38:31,090 –> 00:38:35,130
\nstand forever, because the
\nspirit and power of Elijah was <\/p>\n

625
\n00:38:35,130 –> 00:38:38,770
\nnot in great fiery miracles from
\nheaven, but in the word of our <\/p>\n

626
\n00:38:38,770 –> 00:38:41,130
\nGod.
\nAnd you know that first Peter <\/p>\n

627
\n00:38:41,130 –> 00:38:44,330
\nreferences Isaiah 40 And you
\nknow what it says about verse 8.<\/p>\n

628
\n00:38:44,730 –> 00:38:47,410
\nThe grass withereth, the flower
\nfadeth. <\/p>\n

629
\n00:38:47,690 –> 00:38:49,970
\nBut the Word of our God shall
\nstand forever. <\/p>\n

630
\n00:38:50,130 –> 00:38:55,420
\nFor this is the gospel which was
\npreached unto you, brothers and <\/p>\n

631
\n00:38:55,420 –> 00:38:58,700
\nsisters, as we come to partake
\nof the emblems and to remember <\/p>\n

632
\n00:38:58,700 –> 00:39:02,460
\nour Lord, and to take yet
\nanother week forward, as we try <\/p>\n

633
\n00:39:02,460 –> 00:39:05,660
\nto deny our flesh and move
\nforward, arm in arm, together, <\/p>\n

634
\n00:39:05,660 –> 00:39:10,900
\nas we await our Lord and Savior
\nJesus Christ, let us remember <\/p>\n

635
\n00:39:10,900 –> 00:39:14,180
\nthe ultimate objective, the
\nultimate objective of John and <\/p>\n

636
\n00:39:14,180 –> 00:39:18,040
\nof Christ himself, that it’s
\nabout turning hearts, about <\/p>\n

637
\n00:39:18,040 –> 00:39:20,360
\ntaking the flesh that we have
\nand putting it to death, <\/p>\n

638
\n00:39:20,680 –> 00:39:25,080
\nrecognizing that the things that
\nwe’re striving for are so much <\/p>\n

639
\n00:39:25,200 –> 00:39:30,040
\ngreater than the temporary
\nthings that we see today, Even <\/p>\n

640
\n00:39:30,040 –> 00:39:31,800
\nso.
\nCome Lord Jesus. <\/p>\n

641
\n00:39:46,360 –> 00:39:48,480
\nThank you for listening to the
\nGood Kissadelphian Talks <\/p>\n

642
\n00:39:48,480 –> 00:39:51,040
\nPodcast.
\nWe hope this talk helped you in <\/p>\n

643
\n00:39:51,040 –> 00:39:52,560
\nyour walk and brightened your
\nday. <\/p>\n

644
\n00:39:53,760 –> 00:39:55,800
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\nplease subscribe for new <\/p>\n

645
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646
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647
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648
\n00:40:04,880 –> 00:40:08,440
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649
\n00:40:09,030 –> 00:40:11,750
\nVisit
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650
\n00:40:12,030 –> 00:40:14,510
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651
\n00:40:15,790 –> 00:40:18,270
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656
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659
\n00:40:38,410 –> 00:40:41,170
\nThank you for listening.
\nGod bless and talk to you next <\/p>\n

660
\n00:40:41,170 –> 00:40:41,410
\nweek.\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week we are listening to an exhortation given at the Verdugo Hills Ecclesia by Bro….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":413,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/6d15708\/podcast\/play\/76947981\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2023-9-8%2Ff61b57ff-4474-564c-f253-145307e0a0ac.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:40:53","filesize":"28.08M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[26],"series":[25],"class_list":["post-1014","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-season-6","series-gct"],"aioseo_notices":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1043826-1538368279370-f9a01192c26a6-scaled.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/1043826-1538368277276-821bad30bed.jpg?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1","download_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-download\/1014\/264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist","player_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/1014\/264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist","audio_player":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/1014\/264-matt-sturgeon-exhortation-the-heralding-of-john-the-baptist<\/a>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"anchor":{"key":"anchor","url":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/gct","label":"Anchor","class":"anchor","icon":"anchor.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast\/id1437292980?mt=2&uo=4","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"breaker":{"key":"breaker","url":"https:\/\/www.breaker.audio\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Breaker","class":"breaker","icon":"breaker.png"},"castbox":{"key":"castbox","url":"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1440738","label":"CastBox","class":"castbox","icon":"castbox.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82ZDE1NzA4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"overcast":{"key":"overcast","url":"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/itunes1437292980\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Overcast","class":"overcast","icon":"overcast.png"},"pocketcasts":{"key":"pocketcasts","url":"https:\/\/pca.st\/Z7Ad","label":"PocketCasts","class":"pocketcasts","icon":"pocketcasts.png"},"podbean":{"key":"podbean","url":"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/podcast-detail\/xz83n-77022\/Good-Christadelphian-Talks-Podcast","label":"Podbean","class":"podbean","icon":"podbean.png"},"radio_public":{"key":"radio_public","url":"https:\/\/radiopublic.com\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcas-WoAbj4","label":"Radio Public","class":"radio_public","icon":"radio-public.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/5cQpWNoeONkDYEIhC12wp7","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/anchor-podcasts\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/GoodChristadelphianTalksPodcast","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/feed\/podcast\/gct","embedCode":"

264: Matt Sturgeon – Exhortation: The Heralding of John the Baptist<\/a><\/blockquote>