Friends, you and I are part of a great story of restoration. God is in the process of redeeming mankind from sin. The opportunities to join this story and be ministers of reconciliation are before us.

Jesus said it like this:

The workers of the harvest are you and me. Ordinary people that God wants to work in and work through in order to touch lives, bring hope, love and peace in Jesus name.

He has used ordinary people through the ages. To help us see this, God has given us a great story to examine & learn from, as well as, an invitation to join Him and others in this great purpose

We have looked at a few people in this series to get a better idea and understanding of how God uses ordinary people. We have talked about David, Thomas, Caleb, Barnabas, Abraham and Timothy.

Today in this last sermon of this series, we are looking at the John the Baptist.

You see, God made you the way you are with your looks, gifts, talents; maybe even some of your quirkiness. We have to ask ourselves the question, “How am I using those gifts to glorify His name?”

Here’s a story of a man who joined God and did his part to reveal Jesus.

See Matthew 3:1-11

This is a nice little story… but I want you to see and understand that it is a part of a much bigger story. To get it, you must understand the context of the moment and the history before it.

>2000 yrs since David’s Powerful Reign

>Israel fell apart after David

>Israel Divided (North & South)

>Mostly Bad Kings

>Justice came - 70 yrs Exile

>The Nation of Israel longed for hope and peace

>It came: God spoke - Hope (Isaiah 40:1-5)

>One will come to establish a new kingdom of peace (Malachi 4:1-5)

>These two messages, one from Isaiah 40 and this one from Malachi 4 had echoed through the life of the Jewish people for hundreds of years by the time of John the Baptist arrived…, really, ever since it was first uttered.

>And the longing grew greater over time…In the shadows of the horror from the exile people longed for messages of hope, forgiveness, and of healing for the nation.

>This message of hope was held on to, taught, and trusted, for they knew that God would at last comeback, bringing comfort, and rescue.

>This faith of the ages stood as a pillar of hope, a hope in their God. For just as they were delivered from the hands of Pharaoh and brought to God’s promised land, they held on, knowing their God would remember His words to them and deliver them.

So this is the backdrop, the atmosphere and tension of the day when John came on the scene. Do you see and understand that there is more to it than guy just showing up and doing his thing for Jesus?

And it is the same for you and me today...

Today message is simple. Friends, God has been at work, reconciling sinners back to Himself for many, many years. This truth calls to us today.

>How are you joining His story?

>Who are you sharing God’s love with?

The truth is also, people you encounter are either brothers and sisters in the faith who need encouragement or they are the harvest field - lost people who need Jesus.

We have a great opportunity to walk in God’s purpose. Sow seeds of His love, hope and peace that is found in Jesus Christ.

We have a great opportunity to water the seeds that others have planted.

God is working in the harvest field as well. He is touching lives through us and working in hearts.

Paul said it this way:

We need to pray, pray to the Lord of the harvest…

God, work in me…

Use me…

Reveal Your love to me, in me and through me…

Empower me with Your strength…

Give me confidence and boldenss to live for You.

Show Your love through me, to those around me.

Homework:

Read and think about the wonderful truth in Psalm 139.

How does this passage speak into today's sermon?

I am praying for you dear friend. Praying that God will use you mightily for His name sake and that the people you encounter will encounter the love of God. Please feel free to call me and share with me your story - how God is using you or how you are struggling in this life and need help, encouragement and strength. I'd love to pray with you... May God's blessing pour over you for His name sake. Amen