Message Five

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
John 1:6-8

Some time ago I read of an old tradition in England. It said that if an Englishman had three sons, he selected the bravest and educated him for the navy; the next, if he was stupid but brave, he educated him for the army; and the third, if he was good for nothing, he prepared him for the church. But that's not God's method for making a minister. When one was needed to prepare the way of the Lord, John the Baptist was chosen. Of him the Lord said, "Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist."


Let's meet the man. It's written in John 1:6, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." He was a manly man who didn't practice self-indulgence but self-denial. He was brave and biblical, strong and spiritual. He dressed simply. He wasn't clothed in soft raiment, or with silks or satins, but camel's hair. He ate simply. He wasn't a luxury-lover; he ate locusts and wild honey. He spoke simply. He didn't use sugar-coated words; but his looks were as law-suits, his tones as thunder-bolts and his sentences as swords. He was a humble, holy and heroic man of God. Let's mark his mission. The Bible says, "There was a man sent from God." He wasn't in the ministry because of his selection, but because he was a sent one. The ministry wasn't that which he chose, but that for which he was chosen. There are too many in the ministry as a result of choice and not of a call. The ministry was a calling to Amos, for the Bible says, "The Lord took him as he followed the flock, and said, 'Go prophesy.'" That was true of the apostle Paul. It wasn't his oratory that made him a minister, but his ordination of God. That was true of Wesley. He did a great work among the miners at Cornwall. Whole villages were transformed from a drinking and gambling people to men and women of sobriety and godliness. In every home there was found a picture of Wesley. One day a stranger visited a home, and on seeing Wesley's picture, asked, "Who's he?" The host answered, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."


Let's mark his message. It's written in John 1:7 and 8, "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light." With some men the messenger is often more important than the message. So they asked John the Baptist, "Who are you?" Not, "Who is He?" Displeased with their disbelief, he answered definitely, "I am not the Christ." "Then, who are you, Elijah?" they asked. "No, I am not!" he answered. They asked, "Are you a prophet?" "No," and he said in effect, "Let's stop talking about me and let's start talking about Christ. I'm here to bear witness Let's mark the meaning. "Ye are My witnesses," said the Lord. "How often we hear the phrase, 'the cause of Christ,'" said Dr. Albert Banks. "That's a legal phrase. When you hear it thoughtfully, a court room presents itself before your imagination, the judge sits on the bench, and the jury members are in their places, the lawyers are there to plead, but if it's an honest court, the issue depends more upon the witnesses than anybody else. Now the Lord Jesus has a cause which is being tried in this world. Ministers of the gospel are only attorneys to prosecute His claim. Every Christian is subpoenaed as a witness in the cause of Christ. We're in court all the time. The jury is watching us. The stenographers are taking down our evidence. The Savior is looking and listening, and a record is being kept in heaven. O my brother, what kind of evidence are you giving for the Lord Jesus?" A man who had been very antagonistic to Christianity, credited his conversion to his timid neighbor. This stunned the Christian neighbor. He said, "I can't remember that I had very much to say to you." "No," answered the ex-infidel, "you didn't have very much to say. But do you know what you did? You lived me to death. I could stand the preaching of the ministers, and could upset their arguments. But I couldn't the way you lived." Witnessing is more than Christian argument; it's Christian action. Not only with your lips, but also your lives, be a good witness for the Lord.


copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.