2. God’s Preacher Matthew 3

3. John the Baptist…. 1. Did not need a formal place to preach (v. 1) 2. Spoke to anyone willing to listen (v. 1)

4. Luke 3:4-6 NKJV 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

5. Luke 3:12 NKJV 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" Luke 3:14 NKJV 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."

6. Matthew 3:7 NKJV 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Luke 3:7 NKJV 7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

7. Mark 11:31 NKJV 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' Luke 3:18 NKJV 18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

8. John the Baptist…. 1. Did not need a formal place to preach (v. 1) 2. Spoke to anyone willing to listen (v.1) 3. He spoke the truth (v. 2) 4. Did Not Exalt Himself (v. 4, 11) 5. He Was Not Timid (v.7, 3)

9. Matthew 14:3-4 NKJV 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

10. John the Baptist…. 1. Did not need a formal place to preach (v. 1) 2. Spoke to anyone willing to listen (v.1) 3. He spoke the truth (v. 2) 4. Did Not Exalt Himself (v. 4, 11) 5. He Was Not Timid (v.7, 3) 6. John Lived a Life of Self-Denial (Mat. 9:14; 3:4) 7. Did not sugar-coat the message (vs. 2)

11. Deuteronomy 9:12-14 NKJV 12 "Then the LORD said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly; they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molded image.' 13 "Furthermore the LORD spoke to me, saying, 'I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people. 14 'Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'

12. Isaiah 5:20-24 NKJV 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, 23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! 24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

13. Similar Message Needed Today: Bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance Bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance Kingdom HAS COME! – Church! Kingdom HAS COME! – Church! (Lk. 3:3) Be baptized for the remission of sins (Lk. 3:3) Be baptized for the remission of sins Judgment approaches! Judgment approaches!