Sermon Tone Analysis

That you may believe … and have Life" #2 - Gospel of John

*John 1:6-9*

*There Came a Man …*

* *

This has been a *week* of *unexpected* *tragedy,* unimaginable actions, overwhelming* grief *and *uncertain *days.

Perhaps you have *struggled* with trying to wrap your mind around the *senselessness* of it all.

Perhaps you have struggled with the whys and the *"what* *nows".*

These are *sad* days.

These are *trying* days.

But are these *days* that should truly *surprise* us?

Hitler

Stalin

Ceausescu

Amin

Hussein

Ku Klux Klan

Jim Jones

David Koresch

Dahmer

911

Afghanistan

Iraq

Columbine

*Virginia* *Tech*

 

We live in a *sinful* *fallen* world … but

Has the world *ever* been like this?

 

Since we *left* *Eden* has the world ever *NOT* been like this?

 

Cain

Nimrod

Goliath

Philistines

Nebuchadnezzar

Assyrians

Ninevah - who sacrificed children to their gods

*Antiochus* Epiphanes - who *destroyed* Jerusalem, *desecrated* the temple and did *unspeakable* things to *those* who resisted him

*Nero's* atrocities and those of *Caligula* and so many other Caesars

 

People *what* is my *point?*

What kind of *world* did *Jesus,* the Word of God, God Articulated *enter?*

Was it that much *different* from our world?

We have gotten *sophisticated,* refined, and *Civilized* … but we are *still* sinners.

We live in a *fallen* world.

And *God* *sent* his Son.

But *throughout* the history of this *fallen* world, when God moves to *intervene,* he does an *interesting* thing … he *involves* *men* and women in the *process* of salvation and *deliverance.*

Return with me to John 1

*READ 1:6-9*

 

The *hope* of the world is Jesus Christ, and yet the *pattern* of God, throughout *history* involves God's *invitation* to godly men and women to *join* him, *sold* *out,* surrendered, set apart, *empowered,* and employed in *calling* people to *turn* to the Lord God Almighty, Creator, *Sustainer,* Redeemer, *Savior,* and Lord.

Can you *see* it?

The great *paradox* is seen here.

This beautiful *treatise* of John, verses 1-5, and verses *10-18* is interrupted by the introduction of a *man.*

John is *teaching* us about the wonderful *provision* of God to bring about the salvation of mankind.

And as in *every* *move* of God in history, there is *room* for a *man.*

*Oh* … do we have any *real* *men* here today?

*Oh *… do we have any *real* *women* here today

*Oh* … is there a *boy* or a *girl* here today that understands their *destiny* in the plan of God?

In the *middle* of the plan of God … at his invitation … *there* *Came* a *Man* …

 

*1.

Sent From God*

 

  *A.

Sent - *

Greek - /~/ap-os-*tel*-lo~// /to *order* to go to a place *appointed* … /

John was *sent* because God *called* him to *Go*

    1.

it was *preordained* - that he would Go. 

*Eph* *2:10* says /we are God's *workmanship,* created in Christ Jesus to *do* good works, which God *prepared* in *advance* for us to do/

God told *Jeremiah,* "I know the *plans* that I *have* for you …" *Jer* *29:11*

God *loves* you and has a *plan* for your life … 

When you *realize* that he has a plan for you, verse *12* says "then you will *call* upon me and *come* and pray to me, and *I* will *listen* to you … 13 *you* will *seek* me and *find* me when you seek me with all your *heart"*

    2.

it is *purposed* in God's plans and *God's* plans will always *succeed*

*Pr.* *19:21* /"many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"/

    3.

*Positioned* - John *wasn't* where he was by *accident,* it was God's *providential* hand.

If his parents had given *birth* at the *normal* course of life, he would have been *born* 30 years *earlier* and not have been *positioned* to be the *forerunner* to Christ.

*Look* *around* you, if you are a follower of Christ, you do *not* live by *chance,* not by your *own* *might,* not by your *own* *power,* but by *his* *Spirit* says the Lord

*What* has God *uniquely* positioned you to *do.*  *Where* are you that God has *readied* you for *ministry*

 

There *came* a man … *SENT* …

 

  *B.

From God* -

/Theos/

 

He was *FROM* God

    1.

That means he was God's *Ambassador*

    2.

He was God's *Representative*

    3.

He was on God's *Agenda* …

 

John came from a good *line.*

His Father and Mother were *good,* godly, *upright* people.

His Father could *trace* his *line* all the way back to *Aaron.*

But an *interesting* thing happened.

Because John was *born* to *old* parents, his parents probably *died* when he was *young.*

Then God *took* him out in the *wilderness,* the desert, and there he became somewhat of an *anonymous* wild man.

Dressed in *animal* *skins* … a man *no* *one* *knew* coming from no where …

So when he *came* … he was *lost* to all *identification* *except* that he came *from* God …

He was *not* John bar Zechariah …

He was *John* … The *Baptist*

 

We need to *see* ourselves as *nothing* more than servants from God

I would like to be *known* as Jim, *of* *God* … yes I'm *Pastor* Jim … yes I'm Jim, Lisa's *husband,* I'm Jim AJ and Bryan's *Dad,* I am Jim a *friend,* or a *musician* or a *sportsman* … but I *most* of all want to be Jim … *Sent* *FROM* *GOD* …

*Where* are you *FROM?*

There *came* a man … *sent* *from* God … he …

 

*2.

Came as a Witness*

 

*  A.

Came*

/Greek - erchomai ~/*er*-khom-ahee~// /to come … from one place to another, to come before the public/

The one who is *sent* from God … *cannot* *stay* where he is … he must *COME* …

*Seems* like a *simple* thing … but too  *often* we say "Lord, bring them to me …" but *we* *don't* *go* to them.

I'm preaching to the *preacher* here *too* people.

To be *sent,* we have to *leave* where we are

*Some* of you have *come* from a mighty *long* way to *follow* God … well *don't* get *comfortable* now, come *ALL* the *way.*