SEVEN STRANGE PREACHERS
Text: Mt 3:1-5 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Introduction:
A. John The Baptist Was A Strange Preacher.
1. He had a strange Message
2. He had a strange Pulpit.
3. He had a strange Dress.
B. Some Other Strange Preachers In The Word
I. NOAH'S DOVE.
Gen 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
A) THE DOVE BROUGHT A MESSAGE.
1) The waters had abated
2) Just as God had promised they would.
B) MESSAGE OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
1) God is always faithful to what he tells us.
2) He is faithful in His care for us.
II. BALAAM'S DONKEY.
Num 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
A) THE DONKEY HAD A MESSAGE.
1) Balaam was ready to sell out God’s people.
2) God sent donkey to talk some sense to Balaam
B) HIS MESSAGE WAS OF REBUKE.
1) You cannot sin and get by with it.
2) God will bring you down - one way or another
III. ELIJAH'S RAVENS.
1 Ki 17:6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
A) THE RAVENS HAD A MESSAGE.
1) Elijah was hiding at the brook Che-rith as to God’s Instructions
2) God had instructed the Ravens to feed Elijah.
B) ELIJAH'S NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1) There was drought in the land.
2) God was preparing Elijah for further use.
IV. THE RICH MAN'S DOGS.
Lk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
A) THE DOGS HAD A MESSAGE OF COMPASSION
1) Lazarus was begging at the rich man’s gate
2) All he wanted was a few crumbs from the table
B) WE OUGHT TO ALSO HAVE COMPASSION.
1) Passage shows how we should have compassion
2) We have more that the rest of the world.
V. PETER’S ROOSTER.
Lk 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
A) THIS WAS PRIVATE MESSAGE FOR PETER.
1) Peter thought he was to strong to deny Christ
2) Jesus warned him what he would do. Lk 22:62 Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
B) ROOSTER HAD A MESSAGE ON REPENTANCE.
1) I believe the rest of his life Peter remember this
2) This was a special lesson just for Peter.
VI. HEROD'S WORMS.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
A) WORMS HAD A MESSAGE OF JUDGEMENT.
1) One day the worms will devour the sinner
2) “Where the worm dieth not.”
B) YOU AND I WILL ONE DAY FACE JUDGEMENT
VII.THE ANGEL OF NO MORE TIME.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven
A) WHAT WAS THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE
1) Telling a lost world the end is here.
2) Judgement day is here.
B) THE TIME FOR GOD'S MERCY HAD RUN OUT
1) God give us mercy when Christ died on the cross
2) Now mercy is NO more.