083 God's People in Isolation 3 - John the Baptist in Prison - a podcast by Dr David Petts - Pentecostal preacher, former AoG Bible College Principal

John the Baptist doubting (Matthew 11:2-6, 11)

 

2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples

3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

 

11. I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

Jesus said he was the greatest man who ever lived!

Filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb...

...he had been chosen by God to prepare the way of the Lord.

He preached that people should repent – and they did!

All Jerusalem and all Judea went out to be baptised by John in the Jordan.

No wonder Jesus said he was the greatest... (11)

 

And yet, isolated in Herod’s dungeon,

 

THE GREATEST OF THE PROPHETS IS OVERWHELMED WITH DOUBT!        Are you the one? (v.3)

 

If this great man of God was overwhelmed with doubt, we must not be surprised or feel guilty if we are tempted to doubt in our experience of isolation

 

Let’s take a look at

 

• The nature of his doubt
• The causes of his doubt
• The remedy for doubt

 

 

 

 

The Nature of his Doubt

He was doubting:

 

His own testimony – one mightier than I – the Lamb of God...

The testimony of Scripture

 (Isa. 61) – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...

The testimony of God himself

(Jesus’ baptism) – This is my beloved Son

 

The Cause of his Doubt

Circumstances – he was in prison v.2

Lack of fellowship

The apparent non-fulfilment of a promise (‘set the prisoner free’)

 

The Remedy for Doubt - 5 things

 

Talking to Jesus about it

John sent a message to Jesus

 

Hearing from God afresh

Jesus had an answer for John

 

Recognising the need for Fellowship

v4 ‘GO, and show...’

       

Emphasising the promises that HAVE been fulfilled (v.5)

In this connection we need:

                Patience

                Right understanding of Scripture (spiritual fulfilment)

       

Submitting to the will of God (v.6)

We must not be offended by God’s will for our lives

When John did that, deliverance came! He was set free from the prison – but not as he had expected!

 

Some promises – especially with regard to the body – will not reach final fulfilment until the redemption of the body at the resurrection.

 

Is God cheating us in this way? By no means. We have no grounds for resentment. See Hebrews 11:35

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain A BETTER RESURRECTION.

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