Pulpit Truth

WEDNESDAY'S WORD: John 1:22-23

10/10/2018

"Then they said to him, 'Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord."
John 1:22-23

John the Baptist had a unique and critical calling upon his life. As the forerunner of Christ, he began to thunder forth the message of biblical repentance after nearly 400 hundred years of heavenly silence. Multitudes left their bustling cities, quiet towns, and rural homes to travel to the wilderness area around the Jordan River to hear this powerful prophet. With such a diverse audience seeking to hear him, John may have been tempted to change both the style and substance of his messages to fit the expectations of his listeners, but he never compromised the truth that God had given to him. In fact, his preaching finally led to his imprisonment and untimely death.

Some could easily criticize this man of God for having such a brief ministry, or for his refusal to approach King Herod in a softer, user-friendly, and seeker-sensitive kind of way. Yet Jesus said about this man: "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." John fulfilled the ministry that God had called him to and equipped him for. The nation had responded to his preaching, he baptized the Lord Jesus, and he began to point others to Him as the ultimate fountain of grace as he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!" In the sunset of his God ordained ministry, John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

There might be seasons of life that you and I encounter when we feel as if we are all alone on the pathway of faith. Two thoughts should occupy our minds and hearts during these kinds of experiences: One, Jesus said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, so we are not alone. Praise the Lord! And two, if it does appear that you are the only one in your workplace, family, neighborhood, school, etc. that sincerely loves Jesus and desires to live for His glory, then by the power of the Holy Spirit living in you as a Christ follower, be faithful to the One who has graciously and eternally saved you!

I often think of a popular song written by Squire Parsons, released way back on January 1, 1995, that reminds me of the faithfulness of John the Baptist when his voice was the only one declaring the way of the Lord. Listen, worship, and remain faithful to proclaim the gospel of Christ with your voice.

"One Voice"

by

Squire Parsons

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD: Psalm 23:1

7/25/2018

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"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
~ Psalm 23:1

If you are like most who were born, or now live in the "Bible-belt" of our nation, then you are familiar with the wonderful 23rd Psalm. God inspired David to write this beautiful song that so marvelously describes the relationship between a faithful shepherd and his beloved sheep.

David, a mighty warrior and successful king, grew up as a shepherd boy in the pastures of a family farm near Bethlehem. He knew well how that sheep demanded a keen, tender, firm and brave shepherd to guide and guard them. David spoke personally in this Psalm, yet he also spoke prophetically, as he looked forward to the greatest of all shepherds, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The role of the sheep in this passage is very simple. The are to hear and heed the voice of the Shepherd. He does everything else. He leads them in the right way. He chooses their paths for them. He insures that those paths are ones that the sheep can walk in safety. He doesn't send them along the journey alone, but goes before them. He locates the green pastures and the calm waters necessary for life, and lovingly leads them to His provision. The sheep have no need of planning; no decisions to make; no anxious thoughts of failure. They have absolutely nothing to do but to trust themselves entirely to the care and compassion of the Shepherd, and to follow Him wherever he leads. Isn't it all very simple? You see, friend, there is nothing complicated about obeying completely the One Who is eternally trustworthy; and neither is there anything complicated in obeying with perfect confidence the glorious Shepherd who promises to each one of us an experience of abundant life!

No wonder David could say, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Is He your shepherd?

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Pulpit Truth

WEDNESDAY'S WORD: John 1:22-23

"Then they said to him, 'Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord."
John 1:22-23

"One Voice"

by

Squire Parsons

TO GET THE WEDNESDAY'S WORD DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX USE THE ENVELOPE TO THE LEFT.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD: Psalm 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
~ Psalm 23:1

Charles Smith

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Pulpit Truth

WEDNESDAY'S WORD: John 1:22-23

"Then they said to him, 'Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord." ​John 1:22-23

​"One Voice" by ​ Squire Parsons

TO GET THE WEDNESDAY'S WORD DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX USE THE ENVELOPE TO THE LEFT.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD: Psalm 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."~ Psalm 23:1

Charles Smith

Archives

Categories

"Then they said to him, 'Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord."
John 1:22-23

"One Voice"

by

Squire Parsons

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
~ Psalm 23:1