FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME - John the Baptist
“FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME” – John the Baptist
October 25, 2014, the Year of the Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
In these days, when Luke 21 and Matthew 24 prophecies are unfolding before our eyes on steroids, I remember hearing of the old time preachers how with boldness, fidelity and fire in their bones, preached fire and brimstone messages. I believe it is time to resurrect that “fiery preaching”
As we watch the beheadings “with the sword” (Luke 21:24) --- (this week an axe), my spirit turned toward the first martyr of the gospel age, John the Baptist. I felt the spirit of"Herodias"was a spirit behind the ISIS beheadings.
The voice of prophecy had been silent for four hundred years. God had sealed up the vision since the days of Malachi. With the exception of a few devout souls, who, like Simeon and Anna, “waited for the consolation of Israel,” the spiritual life of Judah was well-near extinct---religion had degenerated into a round of empty forms and worthless routines.
The temple in type was like that of Ezekiel’s Valley, filled with dead men’s bones and skeletons. But the long night of darkness had at last ended ---there was a coming dawn. News spread that the prophetic spirit had again revived---that a prophet in the spirit of Elijah, if not the great Tishbite himself, had appeared in the remote wilds of Judea!
One had risen, bold enough to make his voice heard, summoning, like the old prophets, the degenerate nation to repentance.
John the Baptist began his ministry warning the Pharisees to “flee from the wrath to come”. He ends his ministry that whoever does not believe that the Christ is the Son of God, the wrath of God abides on him. Paul confirms in 1 Thess. 1:10: that Jesus Christ has delivered us from the wrath to come.
Matthew 3:7-8: “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.”
This past week, it has fallen on my ears that two major Christian denominations are in a battle as to whether to perform and accept same sex marriages. Another sect of the Charismatics is doubling down on the heresy of apostolic pyramids of dominion over ministries.
People of God, we must honor the authority of the Holy Scripture. We need bold and heroic men and women of God to come forth and unmask hypocrisy in all its forms and phases. We must not tolerate the false doctrine of “political correctness” which quenches the Holy Spirit of Truth. We must not compromise with the “spirit of the age”, and the sins and vices of our times. We need statesmen with moral courage and fearlessness.
It was no small matter, for a Jew to say boldly to an excited crowd of Hebrews: “Think not to say with your selves, we have Abraham as our father. I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” (Mt. 3:9)
The covenant nation was unfaithful. Therefore others would supersede it; for out of barren Gentile rocks, God would raise up true “children unto Abraham.”
The mutinous soldiers demanded of John, “What shall we do?” John replied, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14).
John’s was not a mere momentary impulsive boldness that rose in the passion of the moment and then collapsed. He was no Peter, with brave hero-speeches one day, and cowering fears the next. (With all respect to Peter, he became a true hero and never faltered again). John was not even like his great but impetuous prototype---the reprover of Ahab one day and the next plunging into a cave.
John’s dauntlessness is noblest in adversity.
John’s disciples still had access to him in prison. Their courage began to droop and their faith to stagger. “Could he not have been mistaken in the testimony he bore of the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth? If Jesus were indeed the Christ, why did He not come to the rescue of His innocent forerunner?
John sends two of his disciples to Jesus with the question, “Are you he that should come? Or do we look for another?” Christ enumerates his miracles and then adding, “Blessed is he whoever shall not be offended by me”.
A very short sentence – let it be resounded across the Christian pulpits of the world.
When the messengers had departed, Jesus turns to the multitude that were present and delivered to them a noble vindication of his servant’s character.
Matthew 11:7-14: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see, a reed shaken with the wind? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in king’s houses. Did you go out to see a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you. Verily I say to you, among them that are born of women, there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. If you will receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come.”
Most of the utterances of Christ are of a grand and serious simplicity---the calm statements of a “Being” of meek majesty---who had come “to bear witness to the truth”. However, on this occasion, He rises to fervor. His words glow with a lofty energy, beauty and power. Lest the people might misinterpret the motive of John in sending these delegates from prison, Jesus impresses upon them that it was not from doubt that existed in the mind of the sender, who had ever been strong in faith, giving glory to God.” What did you go into the wilderness to see, a reed shaken by the wind?”
No, John is a hero, the true, the brave. He had the boldness at the opening of his ministry to denounce Pharisee and Sadducee---at the close of it to rebuke the royal adulterer.
People of God, we need bold, uncompromising ministers today to speak truth with fiery passion.
Evangelical preaching in these days is tolerated only as long as it adheres to doctrinal statements and keeps clear of the call to special duties or the rebuke of special sins. We must have men in the spirit and power of the Baptist, who have the moral courage to stand up in the pulpit as the reprovers and denouncers of sins which have become fashionable---popular---glossed over---palliated---excused---yes through the deadening influence of habit, consciences have become insensible.
The Baptist did not speak about “the evil of sin” in general. He spoke pointedly and personally, to every class and individual of their dominant passion or lust. He spoke to the Pharisees, the soldiers, the publican of his dishonesty and grasping greed. He spoke to the courts of the day of their sins of lack of restraint. He spoke to the head of the court of his special sin---“It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Nor did he water-down or honey-down with hazy figures of speech regarding coming retribution. He gave things their right names---“generation of vipers”, “wrath to come”, “The chaff shall be burnt with unquenchable fire!”
Can we imagine this great preacher if he walked the streets of our cities today, what sins he would unmask and condemn? What would be the special sin or sins, his eagle eye would detect, and against which his trumpet tongue would declaim?
The good news of mercy to us who have received Jesus Christ is written in 1 Thess. 1:10: “You have turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.”
In the narrative in Luke, the Baptist instructs all the classes that to go back to their ordinary occupations, but only inspired with a new heavenly spirit; seeking that our faith would moderate worldly cares, engrossments, employments and enjoyments leaving its sanctifying influence upon all.
To the people he said—“Go back to the world and your work and manifest a spirit of brotherly kindness - Luke 3:11: “The people asked him, what shall we do? He answers and says to them, He that has two coats; let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.”
Well, I have more than two coats, but I believe the Baptists is encouraging us to have a generous heart always sharing what we have with those who have none whether food or clothing.
To the Publicans he said, “Return home! Be tax-gatherers still; but hold the balance of truth in your hand. Scorn all this is base and dishonest. To the soldiers, he did not say—“Leave the war---throw down your commission—cast sword and gun into the Jordan.” No! “Go forward in your present warlike mission against the desert chief of terrorism or ISIS. Be brave, good and true. Temper your heroic deeds with mercy”.
We have spoken of the Baptist’s boldness, courage and fidelity. There is a second notable element in the character of John that we need today. It is his self-denial. We have no reason to suppose that the Baptist’s childhood was one of poverty. His father was a priest which would have given him social status. As a priest’s son he would have been educated.
Any thoughts regarding mere earthly well-being and advancement were superseded by a higher principle and a nobler mission. He willingly forfeits the prizes which any man would covet: the pride of family; the love of the world; the distinctions of learning. Assuming a poor man’s garb, he secludes himself among the Judean mountains that he might attune and tutor his soul for his appointed work. He was no candidate for earthly honors. The sackcloth and leather belt excluded him from court life.
He was one of those lofty spirits to whom the world and all its tinsel glitter was nothing---a star dwelling apart—shining not for itself, but for others---a grand and rare example of self-sacrifice and self-surrender to God.
Not that rough garb and crude attire or lodging in the desert is an example for us to follow. Many a time, a proud, religious, self-righteous, unloving heart has lurked in the false humility of a monkish garb or the hermit’s cell.
The son of man came eating and drinking and was falsely stigmatized as “a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber;” in the case of both---John, the man of the desert, and Jesus, mingling in social life ---the saying was appropriate for both, “He pleased not himself.”
2 Cor. 8:9: “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.”
A Third element in John’s character was his earnestness. What the world and the Church needs is a living earnestness. It is the earnest man who alone can stand the test. Ministers of little intellectual energy---devoid of the arts or oratory---but are men in earnest---animated by the love for souls the glory of God.
This earnestness which gave John access to the hearts of the people, opened his way to the heart of the Tetrarch.
Mark 6:20: “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly.”
God grant us an earnest ministry. Let there be an infusion of “the earnest life”. It is this alone which will confound the reasoning and surmises of a semi-infidel world. The world is keen in perceiving motives. The world is discerning in estimating character. Many draw the conclusion, “These men preach, but they are not earnest. They are only skillful players on stage. These pulpit orations are shams”.
The other trait in John’s character was his humility. This outlines all the others. If ever a man could have risen to power and position by his popularity, it was the Baptist. He was the great preacher of the day; the idol of the people; the first to resume and renew the long-interrupted voice of the old prophets.
If he had been susceptible to vain glory, concerned about his ministry or his legacy, he could have been lifted up to a place of stature because he was the son of a priest.
When they asked him, Who are you? He replied, I am but the feeble echo of a Greater one---the pioneer and herald of a Mightier---the voice of one crying in the wilderness. I am not that Light, but am sent to bear witness of that Light. The latchet of His shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
When the brighter Light, the Sun of Righteousness, had arisen—when Jesus began to baptize in the Jordan, and the disciples of John in a spirit of unworthy jealousy, came complaining of the crowds that were deserting John’s teaching and following Jesus.
John calmly rebukes them. Under a beautiful figure, he tell them he is only “the friend of the Bridegroom”---not the Bridegroom Himself---that his joy is fulfilled and complete, by “standing and hearing the Bridegroom’s voice.” “He must increase, but I must decrease.” “A man can receive nothing unless he receives it from Heaven.” (John 3:27-30)
The great theme and subject of the ministry of John is the exaltation of Christ.
John warned the Pharisees to “flee from the wrath to come”. He ends his ministry that whoever does not believe that the Christ is the Son of God, the wrath of God abides on him. Paul confirms in 1 Thess. 1:10: that Jesus Christ has delivered us from the wrath to come.
John 3:31-36: “He that comes from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth; he that comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no man receives His testimony. He that has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives not the Spirit by measure to Him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
It is a study unto itself of the “wrath of God”. Even though Luke 21 warns of wrath being poured out upon this people, we have the promise that Jesus Christ has delivered us from the wrath to come.
We need preachers to preach this Word. Without preachers, how shall the people know that through believing in Christ Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we are all delivered from the wrath to come.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Ross MacDuff, John The Baptist. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. MacDuff.