PLT

March 8, 2008

Called To Be a Messenger for God

KEY TEXT: Luke 3:1-9
“At that time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness
(Luke 3:2).”
• From the beginning of this passage, Luke is trying to show, through the eyes of man, who the
rulers, religious leaders, people of importance are. And then, the words of God fell upon a
man in the wilderness.

INTRODUCTION
God is looking for a messenger! What is the difference between a preacher/teacher and a
messenger? Preachers/teachers should be messengers of God…but messengers are those who
receive the Word of God and then proclaim it to the people. I want you to see the difference between
just preaching/teaching (agreeing with theology) and being a messenger of God’s words. Without
hearing from God, the Pharisees were able to teach out of the Bible…but that is not teaching from the
heart of God. We must be messengers from God.

BODY
I. God is seeking to find a messenger who will proclaim His Word.

1. Why does He need a messenger?

o We are all called to be ministers…not just the full-time pastors.
o Ephesians 4:11-12 – “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles,
the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to
equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
o Change your mindset! You must go out and baptize people in the name of the Holy
Spirit, equipping them to be Disciples of Christ among all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
1) People are dying without God’s Word (Psalm 107:10-11).
o Psalm 107:10-11 – “Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering
in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the
counsel of the Most High.”
o People are imprisoned because they have rebelled against the Word of God.
o People live according to their own thoughts and the ways of this world  enslaved by
the king of this world (that is the real problem!).
o Rejecting the word of God is rejecting life itself…because His word is life.
2) God rescues them by His Word (Psalm 107:19-20; John 6:63).

Called To Be a Messenger for God 1

 PLT
March 8, 2008

o Psalm 107:19-20 – “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He saved them
from their distress. He sent forth his Word and healed them; He rescued them from
the grave.”
o Jesus’ teaching (His Word) was different because He did not teach from his own
understanding, He heard from Father God and taught His heart because the Words of
God bring eternal life (Mark 1:22, John 12:49-50).
o The key  pray for your souls and God will instruct your tongue (Isaiah 50:4).
 The purpose of ministry is to revive souls that were dead according to the
Words of God.
 We must pray (awakens me morning by morning; Isaiah 50:4) continuously and
the Holy Spirit will train and guide us  save souls
 God is looking for those who will carry His message because His message
brings life!

2. What kind of person is God seeking to be His messenger? (Luke 3:1-2)

1) God has a different point of view.
o Luke was showing (3:1-2) all of the most influential people of that day.
o Yet God did not pick any of those “influential people.” God picked John the Baptist, the
one who was nobody in the eyes of man but everything in the eyes of God.
o John the Baptist was living in the desert  purpose was to find the Word of God.
o So how can we save the world? We must be people who are willing to be in the
desert, listening to the Word of God, cut off from worldly things.
 Example: if you have 10 TVs and turn them on to 10 different channels, can
you focus on one channel? No! You must turn all of the rest of and focus on
the one  cut off all the things of the world and focus on the Word of God!
o God does not want people like the biblical teachers of the law/religious leaders. They
wanted to use the Word of God to control people, not to bring the Kingdom of God.
God does not want people like the Roman Emperor, who only wants to further his own
kingdom  God is looking at your heart! Do you sincerely desire the Kingdom of
God? This Kingdom of God is where Jesus reigns!
2) God is seeking for a man or a woman whose ears are open to God.

II. What kind of message should we speak?  The message that came upon John the Baptist, God’s
chosen messenger

1. Message of repentance (Luke 3:7-8a)

Called To Be a Messenger for God 2

 PLT
March 8, 2008

o Luke 3:7-8a – “When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of
snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? Prove by the way you live
that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
o If somebody had cancer, as a doctor, I should not say, “Oh it’s ok, don’t worry about it.
Continue to live the way you do and everything will be alright.” NO! We must tell them
the truth  repentance and changing lordship!
2. Message of awakening (Luke 3:8b)
o Luke 3:8b – “Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of
Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from
these very stones.”
o These people were truly children of Satan, not of God!
o People must be awakened to who they are truly serving in their lifestyle; we must
explain to them the truth from God’s heart.
3. Message of judgment (Luke 3:9)
o Luke 3:9 – “Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of
the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and
thrown into the fire.”
o We must preach this kind of message because we are messengers from God!
*** It is not by your fruit (deeds) that you are saved. BUT on the last day, the standard of judgment
will be your fruit (Matt. 7:21). Fruit is true evidence that you believe in Jesus Christ and have living
faith. When you root your life in Christ  sooner or later your life will be affected! (Example: virus in
you, your body will be affected  how much more will you be affected if Christ is in you!!) ***

III. How can we be equipped to become effective messengers?

1. Receive revelation of the gospel, not just information about it (revelation

= life; no revelation = no power!)
2. Set your minds on the things of heaven (Colossians 3:1-4) by dedicating most of your time to
prayer, studying, and sharing the word of God  open only one channel to God!
3. Form an OHANA through which we can stand together in battle (without a community, you will be
swayed into the ideas of the world  wherever you are at home or at school…form an OHANA).

QUESTIONS FOR APPLICATION

1. Do you believe that you are called to proclaim the Word of God to those who are dying in this
world, that they may have life?
2. In your life, are you living up to God’s calling? If you’re not, what changes do you need to make?

Called To Be a Messenger for God 3