Preparing for the King Matthew 3:1-12 NIV

Preparing for the King “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

Preparing for the King "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.

Preparing for the King His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees

Preparing for the King and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our

Preparing for the King father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for

Preparing for the King repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering

Preparing for the King his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

THREE OBSERVATIONS: 1. John Was Not Just a Baptist. Preparing for the King

“To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.” (Matthew 17:11 NIV) Preparing for the King

“A voice of one calling in the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3 NIV) Preparing for the King

“But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for Preparing for the King

he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on Preparing for the King

before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous— to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17 NIV) Preparing for the King

THREE OBSERVATIONS: 2. The Message of Repentance Is Timeless. Preparing for the King

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2) Preparing for the King

Definition of Repentance: to change one’s mind or perspective on something even to the point that it impacts the way one lives his or her life. Preparing for the King

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT) Preparing for the King

A. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward God. Preparing for the King

A. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward God. B. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward Others. Preparing for the King

A. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward God. B. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward Others. C. Repentance Should Alter One’s Ethics. Preparing for the King

A. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward God. B. Repentance Shows One’s Attitude Toward Others. C. Repentance Should Alter One’s Ethics. D. Repentance Should Alter One’s Speech. Preparing for the King

THREE OBSERVATIONS: 3. Failure to Repent Risks the Wrath of God. Preparing for the King

“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones that God can raise children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce Preparing for the King

good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:9-10 NIV) Preparing for the King

“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” (Matthew 3:6 NIV) Preparing for the King

HOW DO I REPENT: 1. Decide that God is Right About Everything. Preparing for the King

HOW DO I REPENT: 1. Decide that God is Right About Everything. 2. Ask God for Forgiveness (I John 1:9). Preparing for the King

HOW DO I REPENT: 1. Decide that God is Right About Everything. 2. Ask God for Forgiveness (I John 1:9). 3. Resolve to Live a Life that Bears the Fruit of Repentance Preparing for the King

Matthew 3:1-12 NIV