John The B a ptist In those d a ys John the B a ptist c a me, pre a - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

John The B a ptist

In those d a ys John the B a ptist c a me, pre a ching in the wilderness of Jude a a nd s a ying, “Repent, for the kingdom of he a ven h a s come ne a r.” This is he who w a s spoken of through the prophet Is a i a h: “A voice of one c a lling in the wilderness, ‘Prep a re the w a y for the Lord, m a ke str a ight p a ths M a tthew 3 for him.’ ” John’s clothes were m a de of c a mel’s h a ir, a nd he h a d a le a ther belt a round his w a ist. His food w a s locusts a nd wild honey. People went out to him from Jerus a lem a nd a ll Jude a a nd the whole region of the Jord a n. Confessing their sins, they were b a ptized by him in the Jord a n River.

I. WHY THE WILDERNESS?

HARDSHIP, PAIN AND SUFFERING

THE GARDEN

W a lking Aw a y from God

WE PLANTED A GARDEN!

"For it is a s if a m a n, going on a journey, summoned his sl a ves a nd entrusted his property to them; to one he g a ve five t a lents, to a nother two, to a nother one, to e a ch a ccording to his a bility. Then he went a w a y.” M a tthew 25 It is not yours to begin with!

A Mess a ge from God in the Wilderness

“Repent, for the kingdom of he a ven h a s come ne a r.” God with us, a s in the g a rden

II. Repent, for the kingdom of he a ven h a s come ne a r.

Time a nd Pl a ce for God in your life

There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, "They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed Go God’s messag age him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" (Matthew 21)

Symbol of: 1. Life 2. W a shed Cle a n 3. Provision 4. Promise of the New G a rden III. B a ptized

A Voice crying out in the Wilderness Prep a re the w a y for the Lord, m a ke str a ight p a ths for him