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He must increase, and I decrease

Text: John 3:22-36
6 April 2008

(I) THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER IN PROPHECY

1. Angelic Prophecy

a) Birth ( Luke 1 )

“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1:14

i) Son of Zacharias and Elizabeth

ii) Nothing short of a miracle

b) Prophecy concerning his life

“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15

i) Greatness

ii) Filled with the Holy Spirit

c) Prophecy concerning his ministry

“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ ” Luke 1:16-17

i) Ministry to the children of Israel

ii) Ministry to the disobedient

iii) Ministry to the family (fathers and children)

iv) Ministry – to prepare hearts for the coming of the Messiah

2. Zechariah’s prophecy

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.
To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins.” Luke 1:76-77

a) A prophet

b) An evangelist

(II) THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROHECIES

1. Prophecy of Isaiah

“…The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord…” Luke 3:4

2. Powerful Preaching

a) Against the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees ( Matthew 2:7 )

b) Against evil practices of the Tax collectors/soldiers ( Luke 3:10-14 )

3. Product of Powerful Preaching

“Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptiSed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:5-6

(III) THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE BAPTISER CONCERNING JESUS

1. His Greatness

“…He who is coming after me is mightier than I…” Matthew 3:11a (Cf . Luke 3:16a )

2. His Worth

“…whose sandals I am not worthy to carry…” Matthew 3:11b (Cf. Luke 3:16b )

3. His Majesty

“He who comes from above is above all…” John 3:31

4. Fullness of the Spirit

“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” John 3:34

5. The Beloved Son of God

“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” John 3:35