“Unshakable Faith”

2. “Unshakable Faith” (Mat. 14:1-12; Mk. 6:14-29; Lk. 9:7-9)

3. John’s Family Tree: Descended From Aaron the High Priest (Luke 1:5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (NKJV)

4. John Prophesied (Malachi 3:1) "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. (NKJV)

5. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly John’s Character: Unshakable Faith (Matthew 11:7) As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (NKJV)

6. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly John: A Prophecy Fulfilled (Luke 1:11-18) Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "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. "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." And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." (NKJV)

7. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly John: A Prophecy Fulfilled (Matthew 3:1-3) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'" (NKJV)

8. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly Honest people drawn to people of conviction: John (Matthew 3:5-6) Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. (NKJV)

9. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly John spoke boldly to even people of power/leadership (Matthew 3:7-12) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NKJV)

10. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly Spoke to all: “The publicans he cautioned against extortion, the soldiers against crime and plunder." His doctrine and manner of life roused the entire south of Palestine, and the people from all parts flocked to the place where he was, on the banks of the Jordan. There he baptized thousands unto repentance.” – Easton’s Bible Dictionary

11. John Lived His Faith and Spoke to Others About it Unashamedly Word of Jesus Spread – Even to Prison! (Matthew 11:2) And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples (NKJV)

12. Though it is not our intention to upset or offend, we must boldly proclaim the truth Understand that it will offend some, but tell it anyway! Incestuous relationship between near kinsmen; Herodus was Herod Antipas’ niece (Lev. 18:6; 12-14; 20:19-20) It was a forbidden marriage between in-laws, and she had been married to his brother (Lev. 18:16; 20:21); the only manner in-laws were to be married was in a levirate marriage: when the husband had died and his wife redeemed by a brother or another near kinsman as in the case of Ruth and Boaz It was blatant adultery (Mat. 5:32:19:9; Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10)

13. Though it is not our intention to upset or offend, we must boldly proclaim the truth Tell it like it is; We should rebuke sin regardless of who is involved What the Bible reveals (about all): You are a sinner (Rom. 3:23) Your sins have separated you from God (Isa. 59:2) God will send you to Hell for your sins (Mk. 9:47) There is no other way to be saved but through complete and total obedience to Christ (Heb. 5:9) Time is of the essence; you need to obey and continue living right, right now! (Ac. 22:16; 2 Cor. 6:2)

14. Sin we have not repented of ought to haunt us. Herod hears of Christ’s great miracle: (Luke 7:11-17) Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. (NKJV)

15. When we serve the Lord, the wicked will oppose us. Herod weak before wife & her daughter (Mark 6:19) Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; (NKJV) (Mark 6:26) And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. (NKJV)

16. To compromise with sinners is to sin ourselves. Herod knew of John’s righteousness (Mark 6:20) for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. (NKJV)

17. Think carefully before you speak. Do not make rash oaths. (Leviticus 5:4-6) 'Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it-when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. 'And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; 'and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin. (NKJV)

18. One Sin Often Leads to Another We should learn to hate the beginnings of sin. (Matthew 5:28) "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (NKJV)