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The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Five: by turtle 12-14-2011

As Christmas fast approaches and the Christmas story is done, we press on to the early ministry of repentance in the life of the
one called to make way for Jesus. Jesus would begin his ministry shortly after his baptism, yet mean while ministry of
repentance and preparation for the Messiah must come first. How it is in the process of salvation, one must first recognize
wrong doing before understanding that God has made a way a man might be saved. John minister to all types of people and
their response was sometimes of approval and sometimes of discord. The Herod in the first verse would bring about the
beheading of John the Baptist at a later date.

Luke 3:1 KJV
(1) Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch
of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

Luke 3:19-20 KJV
(19) But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had
done,
(20) Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

Most people do not like to be corrected especially by someone that is under their authority or rule. In fact to correct a superior
insults the authority in charge. However authority should be glad for a correction if it could cause them harm. Yet if they refuse
to listen you could meet your match. You may find yourself in trouble as well as defrauded or tricked into committing a crime.
However in Bible days if they did not like you they beheaded you. Today in the streets people would just shoot you if they
have a criminal nature. However in polite society these things should not occur, correction should be welcome if it is done in the
right way. It should be considered help not a hindrance. Done in the wrong way it can reap repercussions of some kind. People
in general desire truth. And with that let us look at the rest of the people John spoke to, and what was their response to his
correction.

Luke 3:2-11 KJV
(2) Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
(3) And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
(4) As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare
ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
(5) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and
the rough ways shall be made smooth;
(6) And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
(7) Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?
(8) Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:
for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
(9) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire.
(10) And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
(11) He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let
him do likewise.

People response to John sermon and accusation is what can we do? There was a time when minister had respect and with that
came a level of authority that did not supersede kings, or government, yet often they stepped over the government by the word
of God. Those that listen to God even in high ranking government official respect the minister to a point. After all they
recognized they themselves were appointed by God. The people in the crowd though said what can we do. John respond give to
those who have less then you. If you got two coats give the person who has not a coat a coat. If you had meat and someone did
not, you were to share it.

The questions did not stop with the crowd. In fact different class of people had different questions, trying to trick, as well as
trying to answer question they themselves had. Let take a look.

Luke 3:12-13 KJV
(12) Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
(13) And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

People who paid taxes would often be extorted by their tax collectors for more money, but when asked, John responded not to
take more then what is owed. Extortion works in many levels of government as well in society among thieves. Yet honest
official, honest person should never take what does not belong to them.

Luke 3:14 KJV
(14) And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no
man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

The fact is one should not trump of false charges against someone is what John told the soldiers. It is like police officers writing
a ticket to someone caught in a speed trap, not because they broke the law.

Luke 3:15-18 KJV
(15) And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
(16) John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of
whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
(17) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he
will burn with fire unquenchable.
(18) And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Many wonder if John was the Messiah but he made quick work of letting them know he was not the Messiah. Yet John points
to the crowd the one that will baptize with fire would be the Messiah, he only baptized with water. To baptize with water is
more then just a physical cleansing it is introduction to who God is, who the Messiah and the Spirit is. Yet until one receive
Christ as Lord, you can not be baptized by fire. To be baptized by fire is to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, This is the teaching
of the word of God in your heart by His Spirit. John and no one else but Jesus and God the Father can perform spiritual
baptism in your life.

God would demonstrate the baptism on His beloved Son Jesus when Jesus was baptized with water baptism, God then sent the
Holy Spirit to baptize Jesus, declaring He was His Son before the people. This baptism was a testimony to those around Jesus at
the time of the baptism.

Luke 3:21-22 KJV
(21) Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was
opened,
(22) And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou
art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

God testified this was His Son and He does the same to us as daughter and sons by his protective hand on our lives, as well as
testifying spiritual to other believers and sometimes even non believers. Joseph linage is given next as a testimony of who Jesus
father was supposedly, though God testified differently. God testified to Mary, to Elizabeth, to Joseph and to the shepherds and
now to those present at the baptism.

Luke 3:23-38 KJV
(23) And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of
Heli,
(24) Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna,
which was the son of Joseph,
(25) Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli,
which was the son of Nagge,
(26) Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of
Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
(27) Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of
Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
(28) Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam,
which was the son of Er,
(29) Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat,
which was the son of Levi,
(30) Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan,
which was the son of Eliakim,
(31) Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan,
which was the son of David,
(32) Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon,
which was the son of Naasson,
(33) Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares,
which was the son of Juda,
(34) Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara,
which was the son of Nachor,
(35) Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber,
which was the son of Sala,
(36) Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe,
which was the son of Lamech,
(37) Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of
Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
(38) Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Take note at this last verse that Adam is called the son of God, because the only father he had created him, by forming him out
of dust of the earth. Yet though he was created he was not the Messiah. He believed in God but he sinned. We are never told if
Adam or Eve ever repented. Yet by physical creation Adam was only physically born of God, but Jesus was born of God both
by God’s spirit and by forming of the word of God.

Let me prove this point by a simple word manifest and a few other scripture.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
(16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Romans 1:3-4 KJV
(3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
(4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

John 1:1-18 KJV
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
(7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
(8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
(9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
(11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth.
(15) John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before
me: for he was before me.
(16) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
(17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
(18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Jesus became flesh, manifest through birth of a virgin woman named Mary and testified by all those around that Mary was the
Mother and God was the Father, yet many look to what they can physically see as Joseph being the father, because he was
betrothe to Mary. Yet Joseph even could testify that he knew not Mary and desired to put her away.

Matthew 1:16-24 KJV
(16) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
(17) So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into
Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away
privily.
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou
son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
(21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
(24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Adam knew no other father but God. Jesus knew an earthly mother, and a heavenly Father and a foster dad name Joseph, yet
God was never absent from Jesus, for His Spirit dwelled in Him and went forth from him through signs of miracles. May this
season remind you that Jesus was testified about by many, yet many would come to repentance before Jesus began to even
physically preach and work miracles and that People would believe in God and repent of their sins with John testimony making
a way for the Messiah to come.