CAN I GET A WITNESS?
The Word Made Flesh – Part 1
Steve Gallimore | pastorsteve@tvcc.us
August 6, 2017
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Matthew 11:11 (ESV)
31 These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (ESV)
“John’s purpose is to give you evidence so that we might believe, and evangelistic so that believing you might be saved and receive eternal life.”
~ John MacArthur ~
John confirms two values…
1 . The value of the
• The Word
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2 (ESV)
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3 (ESV)
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
• The Word was
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (ESV)
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (ESV)
2 . The value of the
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. John 1:6-8 (ESV)
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. John 1:19-28 (ESV)
Three inner qualities of the witness…
•
“I am a voice…”
• A
• Absolute
“We don’t need more people to become preachers; we need more people who will preach!”
~ Ralph Morris ~
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)
The purpose of the Word is not for
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11 (ESV)