Guitar Jams: MAX LIFE Ezine Lesson -- "Two Keys to a Powerful Christian Life"

I have kids� two of them� and they are fantastic! I love 'em with all of my heart! Their names are Kara and Josh. They're "big kids now" - in 4th and 5th grades, but it wasn't long ago that I remember watching TV Shows like, Dora The Explorer, Teletubbies, and Sesame Street with them. Those were good times! And there was one other show that we watched quite a bit together. It was called "Little Bill." Ever heard of it? It was produced by Bill Cosby and it was great! I think it was loosely based on Bill's life as a kid� very cute. Anyway, in one episode Little Bill was having trouble with "name calling." His peers were calling him some not so nice names� like "stupid" and "boring" � and little Bill was hurt. So, he had a talk with his dad and told him all about his troubles. And his dad gave him some AWESOME ADVICE! He asked little Bill a question. He said, "Little Bill, do you think you're stupid?" To which Little Bill responded, "No dad, you I'm smart" (Little Bill was blessed with a loving affirming Father... that's key here). And then father responded, "Well then, do you think you are a boring person?" Again, Little Bill blurted out, "Daddy� I like to play and have lots of fun! I don't think I'm boring." Dad then wisely said, "Well Little Bill, if you KNOW that you are NOT stupid and you know that you are NOT boring, there's really no reason to worry about anybody who says those silly things about you -- is there?"

BOOM! The light went on in Little Bills heart. He got it! "Yeah Dad! You're right!" Little Bill shouted. And then he went on with his day and some how the episode worked out just fine--as Little Bill episodes always did.

There's a powerful truth in that little story. And here it is: WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND UP TO OPPOSITION AND CRITICISM WITH CONFIDENCE, DIGNITY AND GRACE. And that is exactly what we see John the Baptist do in this passage.

John 1:19-28 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"   He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " 24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26"I baptize with[c] water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

TWO KEYS TO A POWERFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

KEY #1: Knowing who you are. (Vs. 19-23)

These questioners were sent by the "religious leaders". Commentators say there were Pharisees here... and we know there were Sadducees because of the "priests" who are mentined. Both groups, no doubt, were "concerned" about John's ministry and popularity. Both the Pharisees and Sadducees M.O. would be to "feel John out and figure out how to handle him. The Sadducees were very politically motivated and if they sensed any threat to their status or power-they would be all over it! And givne John's popularity and bold prophetic message, he certainly fell into that category!

The Sadducees were a powerful group. They ran the Temple. They were in charge of the Priesthood and all of the Jewish sacrifices. The High Priest was a Sadducee - and we all know the way he manipulated things to have Jesus executed (even though in reality it was all part of God's plan). The point is: John had good reason to be intimidated by these guys.   But he wasn't. He stood right up to them and spoke forthrightly and frankly.   He answered their questions straight up.

How was he able to be so strong? He knew who he was. He knew he was a prophet of God sent to fulfill the ministry Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 40. John quoted Isaiah 40:3 when he said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

It's a powerful, wonderful, courage and confidence producing thing to know who you are in this world� to know why you are here and what your purpose is. As a matter of fact-I'll go even further and say-it's an essential thing for a person to know "who they are" if they want to live a life that honors Christ.   When you are a Christ-follower on this planet, you will face challenges and even intimidation. In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul wrote, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). But in the very same way that John was able to be courageous -- if we know that we know that we know -- that we belong to Christ... If we can unite with Paul in proclaiming that "we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. That the life we live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us" (Gal. 2:20).   Wow! Who can stop us? Who can be against us if we know that God is for us like that (Romans 8:31). What an awesome, encouraging and empowering thing it is to know who we are-in and because of-Christ!

KEY #2: Knowing WHY you do what you do. (Vs. 24-25)

John freaked the religious leaders out-in part because he was baptizing people. They didn't understand it. Why was this scruffy dude, who ate grasshoppers baptizing people... and not just any people... but JEWS!   And a LOT fo them!

I think what the Life Application Bible has to say about this passage is very helpful. In the notes for vss. 25-26 they write, "John was baptizing Jews. The Essenes (a strict monastic sect of Judaism) practiced baptism for purification, but normally only non-Jews (Gentiles) were baptized when they converted to Judaism. When the Pharisees questioned John's authority to baptize, they were asking who gave John the right to treat God's chosen people like Gentiles. John said, 'I baptize with water' - he was merely helping the people perform a symbolic act of repentance. But soon one would come who would truly forgive sins, something only the Son of God - the Messiah - could do."

Here's the deal: John knew why he was baptizing people. He was sent to "prepare the way for the Son of God"... so he was calling people to repent... to prepare their hearts -- to be ready to receive Christ. He knew who he was� he knew what his purpose and mission were and he knew WHY he was doing it! Can you see how empowering this is?

Confusion is the mother of fear. But when you know who you are, why you are here, and why you are doing what you're doing--I.e. why you are living the way you are living... making the decisions you are making� taking the stands that you are taking, etc. It's powerful! As a matter of fact-it's a pretty scary thing to consider what life would be like if we weren't certain of these foundational kinds of things. And the thing you have to understand is---the answers to all of these questions: WHO am I? WHY am I here, etc. are anwered in our releationship with Christ.   Perhaps that's why the Bible says things like:

"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

"If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (Jesus - quoted in John 15:5).

I don't know what your life situation is right now. But I do know this-if you know Christ as your Savior, you can draw that Philippians 4:13 strength from Him right now. You can lean on His sovereign arms knowing that you belong to Him� He died for you while you were a sinner---how much more will he be "for" you now that you have surrendered your heart to Him (Rom. 8:32-34)? He is on your side� He loves you and created you for a purpose on this planet (Eph. 2:8-10). He is your good Shepherd (Ps. 23 & John 10:11-18)� He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5)� You can cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7) and he is indeed working in EVERY circumstance of your life for your eternal good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). Be confident of that today! Press in and lean on His strength in your life today!

And if you have not yet received Christ as your Savior-I hope you'll consider doing that today! If you'd like to learn more about HOW to do that CLICK HERE. And -- as always -- know that as long as I have breath and an internet connection---I'm available.   Contact me any time at pastorbrad@aol.com.

Metal Blessings,
pb