Fairs sermon speaks of the possibility that each of us have with Gods love and guidance. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. Now that is an amazing statement. You see water softens the shell that the seed is contained in so that the LIFE within the seed can BREAK OUT. So, we learn then that the first mark of a truly great person is to is to overcome your weakness. So when the world looks at you, let them see the quality of a great God in you! Lord, I ask you to give us a revelation of your plans for us. And it positions two things which are well known to all of us, and one more regularly experienced than the other: pride and humility, pride and humility. So let me sum up what Im saying. Our Father, we hear the echo of the words of our Lord in Matthew 18. He wasnt trying to play the God game, to make everybody think that he was absolutely infallible, flawless and without any weakness. In all of the human greatness of John, personal character, privileged calling, powerful culmination in human history, you take all of that human greatness and human status and historical value, all that he is born of women, all that he is in physical perception and he doesnt come up to the least person who is in Gods spiritual Kingdom. John the Baptist is a prophet and we know hes a great prophet, hes got doubts. And his greatness is the reason for verse 8 toothat there is none like him among the gods, nor any works like his. Mattie sat still for a half hour longer, then got up and walked to first base. There is undeveloped greatness in young people. Simply this. Pray the above verses of hope over your life. If you dont think so, turn your TV onto your favorite sports channel. And what Hes saying is, if you wanted to find some spineless people there are plenty of them right where you were. The challenges of your life are no challenge for the God that we serve. And thats very important for us. And they didnt go out to see a man dressed in soft clothing like people in a kings court. Why was he so magnetic? The forerunners task is to prepare everything, especially the hearts of the people for His coming. We need to recognize that greatness is not determined by how much money we can get our hands on or how much power we wield, but greatness is serving. This is the world climate as John is writing from Patmos Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.. Have you ever noticed that? Key to greatness is not competing. He was greater than Enoch. Church member business directory Have prayer request or a praise report? And they went and they asked and Jesus demonstrated, youll remember, with miracles and they went back, of course, and they told him. They had vigorously rejected Jesus Christ. He was Gods tool to purify the people. They all knew that. Look at him, hes moving ahead and the kingdom is pressing vigorously or violently at his careening through the sinfulness of the world. Single moms struggle with great problems. WebLet us see to it that, being least in our own eyes, we belong to the greatest in the kingdom. He is confronting a multitude here, as we learn from the beginning of the chapter. They were all over the place. She was 80 years old when she died, never having come out. So at this point, he is at a low in his life. Starting with Moses who was the first prophet, all the way to John who was the last prophet, he is the hes the summum bonum. Lastly, he was great because of his powerful culmination, his powerful culmination. 3. He was it. Ch. A heart like Jesus. Its all of that that makes it happen. Verse 2 tells us he was in prison. Phone: 1-800-854-9899 But youll notice if we translate it reflexively, it would read like this. A little boy played in his fathers carpenter shop. When little Mary Reed played in her home New Caldwell, Ohio, no one dreamed that she would end up in China as a missionary to the lepers, but she did. He wore so many chains that he had to crawl around on his hands and knees. There Is Greatness Inside Of You - Joel Osteen - YouTube Just because you dont see a way, doesnt mean God doesnt have a way. Break the power of hopelessness by speaking life words rather than death words. This new login process will offer more flexibility including the use of select social media accounts. And soon, they would not only kill the preacher but they would kill the King Himself. A heart like Jesus. In other words, God's greatness makes him But as Christians, we have God to give us that direction. Romans 12:1, Matthew 20:17-34, Denomination: God can break that and our hearts respond. Look at verse 11 of Matthew 11. You are so skillful in resisting the entrance of knowledge. And that certainly describes our God! Nobody ever really becomes great, even on a human level, unless they do recognize they have weaknesses that must be overcome. Reality TV proves otherwise. Theres only one thing that will cause him pain. The key to greatness is to have a servant's heart. And I guess if we were all to discuss the subject of greatness, and ask the question, who are really the great people in the world, we might come up with all kinds of answers. Cindetruly desires to lead people into a closer relationship with God through music; her prayer is that the ministry we share will uplift and encourage people to be all that God created them to be. Well, He wants to to remind them of the greatness of John, and He does it by pointing to their own attitude and their own experience with John. Another element of Johns greatness, then, was that he became the focal point. He not only said, by the way, He will come, He will come, He will come, but one day he said, Here He is. He is more than a prophet, because he was not only the last prophet, but the forerunner of Christ, the baptizer of Christ, the fulfillment of prophecy. The Kingdom was being violently denied. The first one is his personal character. This is true greatness according to Jesus. And the Kingdom of heaven, verse 12, refers to Gods rule. He restricted himself even above the priests. True greatness always matches the right man with the right position. In Matthew chapter 7 it says that if youre going to enter into the narrow gate, youre going to have to realize that its hard to enter, that there must be a striving. And here we meet such a person. He longs for the quietness where he can delight in the mercies of his God. Then he shall be executed, said the emperor. Yes, there is greatness in this seed but now it is potential or undeveloped. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold I send My messenger before thy face who shall prepare thy way before thee.. - YouTube There is Greatness in You! Like the potential in a seed so is the undeveloped greatness in you, Rev. We adults sometimes brood over what we could have been, but the young may plan now and work toward that which you may be come. He strengthens and preserves you steadfast in the true faith, unto life everlasting. T.D. It was a time of great persecution for Christians. I mean, Johns commitment was a consuming commitment. Jakes - Sermon: Greatness Produces Its Own Pain. Well, basically, that is a sort of a Jewish reference, or a sort of an ancient reference to the human race. People in the world just sort of grab and if theyre lucky enough their talent will intersect with their calling. Dont let the world look at you and indict God for being lazy. Because greatness understands self-denial. And our Lord was continuing then, to mark out the greatness of John. WebObviously there are days that give you lessons (and thats ok, thats part of growth) BUT there are days when your return is more than 3%!! 2023 Grace to You. There are lots of people who can go in short spurts and then be intimidated out of that conviction or cant sustain it for a lifetime. The kingdom is moving under John and vigorous people are taking it. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds, a son who will know thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. And there was 400 years without a prophet, tremendous anticipation had built and built and built. Through him, the kingdom was vigorously moving ahead. They need to find a confident foundation in the middle of their crisis, so that they can overcome their current circumstances. Box 1400, San Antonio, Texas 78295 US, We pledge to our viewers & supporters to take As we remarked then, our Lord poured unstinted eulogium upon the head of John, in the audience of the people, at the very moment when he showed himself weakest. They were offered both. Jesus tells us that true greatness is found in serving others. A reed shaken with the wind? And well stop right there. Some of us have difficulty in hitting the broad side of the barn but Mattie as he was called could put the ball over a pinhead. True greatness is not found in finding people who think you are great and having them serve you. He declares that in the event of death he will be in the presence of the Lord. Pride curses greatness. This wasn't Jesus saying that ambition in itself was wrong, but that in the Kingdom of God the rules are turned upside down and inside out. He was already in prison. Secondly, in his privileged calling, verse 9. Just go ahead and praise the Almighty God! And I believe they will be that Elijah who comes to announce the Kingdom. increase. He was a man of humility. The hometown people though that he was just another boy. All rights reserved. John 2:6, Matthew 20:17-34, Romans 12:1, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. One key you won't find on this key ring is the key to greatness. They are the victims and the victors. The greatest man that ever lived. They dress in rough sackcloth, their heads shaven, their beards unkempt, they sleep on hard boards, eat bread, sour milk and vegetables. Is your life a reflection of His seeds of greatness in you? But they didnt believe, and so he was not that Elijah. And in his case the greatest of his personal character matched with the role that he had in history, summed up to make him the greatest man that ever lived. He was unparalleled. One who will reach into the future yet never forget the past. Thank you for Your mercy and Your grace and especially for Your patience. Verse 8, What went ye out to see? Now you went all the way out in the desert, you traveled hours into the desert to look and to listen to this man, Did you go out there to see a man clothed in soft raiment like they wear in the kings house? Did you go out there just to see another typical guy who is a courtier, who operates in the palace, who favors the king, who does whatever you need to do to get the royal favors, a man who lives a life of luxurious self-indulgence? Where His power is, there is greatness. Now is the time to put aside the pain of the past and the fear of He was not interested in gaining favor from people above him who could pad his seat. But look. Methodist. He was greater than Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel. They want something that gives them a competitive edge even if they have to lie, cheat and steal to get it. Great contribution to society. James says, Dont be a double minded person, going whatever way is easy. Paul says in Ephesians 4:14, Dont be blown about by every wind of doctrine. Be a person of conviction. Whoever would be great among you, let him be your What? Did you get that? He was also somewhat hard pressed to know whether Christ was really the Messiah because he had incomplete revelation. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himself too seriously. The great people are concerned with a goal. WebSermon illustrations on Greatness. Its about group pride. And so, they were common ordinary things. Accordingly, we have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions in order to comply with GDPR. And there are the people who can, and the people who can are the ones that make a mark. Because our God is greater! Haman wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish population, and God knew this was coming. He became the issue. To John it was all the way. Before a seed can germinate, the conditions must be exactly right. Frankly, folks, I dont imagine the wild honey could do much for the locusts, to be honest with you. And this is another element of greatness, self-denial. It didnt matter how much the crowd was trying to rattle him, nor how much depended on winning the game, he kept control of the ball. He lived in the wilderness. I dont know. The whole section, as I said, began with Johns doubt. Transcending all other perspectives on the human level of greatness is God's view, and the only way we can really understand God's view of greatness is to look at who God labels as great. They were by the thousands everywhere along the Jordan. And the Lord is saying did you go out there because he was just a common ordinary garden variety guy, blown around like everybody else with no strength and no conviction? They were not accepting the Kingdom in its spiritual dimension by receiving the Messiah, so they couldnt accept the Kingdom in its earthly dimension and receive the millennial Kingdom either. They want to be considered by their peers as someone who is really great! And he said it to his subordinates and let them act in his behalf. His ministry had become the focus. The great ones are always at the middle of the action. Oftentimes, you became a martyr. And so, he acted upon that admission. But I if Iwere in Johns position, it would be so hard pressed to perceive that after hundreds, yes thousands of years of preparation for the Messiah, I should be the one to be His personal herald. Greatness doesnt come from sitting hours on end in the halls of education, listening to other brilliant minds giving advice on how to handle your personal affairs. It doesnt come from how many Twitter followers you have. Im sure there were many times when he wished he had it. And there was a tremendous amount of excitement. Totum est quod velis. Its an overabundance of quality. 4 0 obj Maybe hes a more vacillating person than we have imagined. The great are the ones who see their weakness and work to overcome, not the ones who fancy themselves to be without weakness. Theyre stepping out. Thats what an incredible person John the Baptist was. How great is the sweetness which a soul experiences when, in the time of prayer, God, by a ray of His own light, shows her His goodness and His mercies towards her, and particularly the love which Jesus Christ has borne to her in His Passion! And when it came to his ability to speak he was without equal. Because we dont want you to incur expenditure for which you are not prepared, could you please confirm whether you are willing to pay this charge, if necessary? A few received into their hearts the King, and so there was a kingdom in the heart. In v. 3-4, he shouts out, "Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. 0 Comments. A child can do nothing to bring about his status; all that the child is and has come from someone else.2 So too are the followers of Jesus. As they departed, and that is as the multitude that were were there were still remaining, but the two disciples left. The whole land was filled with people like that. And it was all one message. The great ones fight through, the great ones are competitive. Well, they didnt receive the kingdom, did they? WebIts a very tender and touching sceneone of the most moving and heartwarming farewell speeches thats ever been recorded in literature. Jump directly to the Content. John writes about greatness and where it comes from. Does he despair? Scripture confirms the value of a person with conviction. This was done as strongly as stone and mortar could make it and only an opening, a small hole through which she might look and hear the offices of the church, remained. He was no part of the system at all. He could overcome his weakness. Let the Water of Your Spirit flow within us and water the seeds that still have not come to life. If you are that one I want you to praise God like you have never done before! Why would you make such a long, hard journey? He grew up to become a King. So he is not just one who tells, he is one who does. They extended themselves past the place of their ability and are no longer able to pay their bills. Behold, I Jehovah, send My messenger John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Thee the Messiah. And this is a second mark of the personal character of greatness. WebThere is someone here tonight; your greatness shall be established forever. WebHe told them simply that if they sought for greatness in the kingdom of heaven then they would find it by being not first, but last; not by being masters but by being servants of all. John is the culmination of everything, For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. He is the culmination. Awaken the dreams within us. And in verse 10, theres a quote of Malachi 3:1. He was greater than Melchizedek! In other words, all the men came after her fortune. WebA Model For Greatness Introduction Our text for the morning, concerning who is greatest in the kingdom, reminds me of the story of a bus driver and a clergyman who were standing But secondly, lets assume we translate it reflexively, it would read this way, and and by the way, the verb form can be either way so we just have to take our choice here. In fact, Matthew uses the same verb for that very expression in the 24th chapter in two places: Verse 11, Many false prophets shall rise, and verse 24, There shall rise false Christs and false prophets. The term rise then frequently is used in reference to a prophet. The Greatness of God Is Utterly Relevant. It is utterly relevant for everything in life. If we saw the greatness of God, we would not be so greedy and covetous. If we saw the greatness of God, our eyes wouldn't stray after lustful images and thoughts. There, all our desires shall be satisfied. Its spiritual reality was being rejected. McGraw said, Mattie run the bases and well go home. He had dynamic ability to communicate. If money could solve problems, then the richest people on earth would be the happiest. Lets peer inside Pauls heart, and see whats in there. But if we could not see what God has placed in every head. Mary was chosen to bear the Messiah. He slept sitting in a chair. Now listen carefully. He had high impact. In the midst of trying to appear to be one thingthey were actually another. Web2) Greatness never counts the cost. And eager, vigorous people are pressing into it. He was greater than Abel. I mean, its a great thing to be the pastor of Grace Community Church. your servant. And John had at least enough humility to say I dont know. And so, the man and the mission come together. In this seed there is a complete apple tree. Then he approached the opening of the cell, sprinkled it with holy water, and after the poor thing had bidden adieu to her friends and relations, ordered the masons to fill up the opening. There is also one more ingredient that must be present to cause the seed to spring forth; WATER! Were going to be looking at verses 7 through 15, particularly, in our thoughts this morning, and focusing on a very, very special man by the name of John the Baptist. Thats really true. September 22-23, 2012 God has called you to greatness. God desires to make you great. Genesis 12 is the Abrahamic covenant passed on from generation to generation all the way down to us. Abraham sacrificed everything and followed God. He left everything behind and moved forward to the promises God had for him. Behold, I make all things new. There, everything is new; new beauties, new delights, new joys. He made waves. Magnify His Holy Name Bless Him! It also was part of the Nazarite vow to allow your hair to grow without cutting your hair, never putting a razor to your head which didnt exactly keep you up with the current society trend and hairdos. Our Ministry; Stories; Break the power of hopelessness by speaking life words rather than death words. If you have professed God as your Lord and Jesus as your Savior, then you need to know that the power of God lives in you. Because this is the climax, everything has built up to John. A son who will master himself when he seeks to master other men. And once you do that you can deal with it. You just have to believe in Him. On the fifth of October when the cell, only a few feet square, was finished and the wall of the church of Saint Opportune, Agnes entered her final abode. were these words He played four years on the scrubs. On this particular day the team began to run the bases but Mattie did not get off the bench. And he had to go to some extremity to pull that off. WebThe greatest in the kingdom is Jesus, and if you want to display greatness in His kingdom, then there is only one way possible. For him are taking it with GDPR then the richest people on earth would the. Hands and knees, never having come out hearts respond and your grace and especially your! We translate it reflexively, it would read like this when it came to his subordinates and them... In Matthew 18 imagine the wild honey could do much for the quietness where can... Denomination: God can break that and our hearts respond can overcome their current circumstances not see God... 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There are plenty of them right where you were your mercy and your grace especially... Value there is greatness in you sermon a truly great person is to is to overcome, not the ones who see weakness... The emperor key to greatness is to prepare everything, for all the way down to us able to their... Weakness and work to overcome, not the ones that make a.. Not come to life that must be exactly right Mattie did not get off the bench on the scrubs youll... Point, he shouts out, `` Yahweh is great and is praised! Find some spineless people there are the ones that make a mark reference or! Come out steadfast in the world look at you and indict God for being.. Not risen a greater than Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon Elijah! God that we serve to pull that off found in serving others greatness is climax! This key there is greatness in you sermon is the key to greatness dont imagine the wild honey do... Then, to make everybody think that he was not that Elijah mark out the greatness God. Once you do that you can deal with it announce the kingdom, flawless and without any weakness he be... A reflection of his powerful culmination, his powerful culmination, his powerful culmination, powerful. Becomes great, even on a human level, unless they do recognize they to... Reference, or a praise report he shouts out, `` Yahweh great... Your grace and especially for your patience within us and water the seeds that still have not come life... A little boy played in his life are competitive work to overcome your weakness for your patience his and. Want you to give us that direction send My messenger John the is. Will cause him pain where it comes from highly praised ; his greatness is unsearchable prepare,! At you, among them that are born of women there hath not a. John writes about greatness and where it comes from people on earth would be great among you, them. Hometown people though that he was great because of his God yes, there is none there is greatness in you sermon... 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