John the Baptizer, Part 2

Location: Ballard Campus
Preacher:Mark Driscoll
Date:5/16/10
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Tags: Marriage, Repentance, Criticism, Parables, Parenting
John the Baptizer, Part 2
Luke 7:28-35
Jesus' estimation of John's Life: the greatest man who has ever lived other than Jesus himself
There is such a thing as redeemed humble ambition
John was great because he called people to repentance
Proclaimed repentance to all, even the king, baptism shows how people need to be clean
Gave offense to religious people:
They didn't like John's declaration that even they are filthy in sin
They didn't want to be baptized with all the perverts, thieves, and murderers
Sin - living with anything other than God at the center and goal of my life, the human problem that leads to all the -isms
If we never get to the heart of the problem the world will never change
Repentance
It is NOT:
Religious Repentance - confess other's sin, thinking that they are good but other people are bad - Temple: Prayer of the arrogant religious man (not justified) vs. the sinner who needs forgiveness (justified)
Pagan Repentance - assumes God is not good so we need to manipulate him
Worldly Sorrow - we feel bad b/c we are bad - don't change - pagan catholicism: there is a priest (talk show host), god (the audience), purgatory (rehab), repayment (donate to a charity), back to the old life
Mere Confession - called on their evil, they agreed about the sin, but don't repent, keep doing it, week after week <-------ME
Blame Shifting - I'm a victim, they did it, go get them
Minimizing - comparison to someone more evil than you, "You're so emotional"
Excuse making - blaming on something in your genes or upbringing
It IS:
Conviction comes first - considering God just
Confession - agreeing with the Bible measuring rod and your falling short
Repentance - turning around, putting my sin to death, Sin can never be wounded or managed it must die
Restitution - trying to make it right, truely owning my sin and trying to be part of the healing process of who I wounded
Reconcilation - only possible through Jesus' death and resurrection, requires two people
***Saying that I cannot forgive myself is saying that I am a higher god than the supreme God of the Bible - BLASPHEMY
John was great because he endured Impossible People
John could not be ignored because he was offensive
Parable of the Brats - "We played the flute...We mourned to you..."
The kids would play either game - people are negative - always have a reason to be against everthing...people who criticized Jesus and John for doing the same thing
Kids emulate the big events they see - There are some who would rather play miserable religious child instead of playing either wedding or funeral
Parable is of the impossible children.
Danger: taking on the role of ciritc
Jesus was well liked by sinners and was hated for it by the religious people
Six Kinds of Ciritcism
Billy Graham - turn critics into coaches so that you can be a better image of Christ
1 - Theological = accept their wrong positon (Mormons, Muslims, etc. will not agree)
2 - Jealousy of Success = Serve them, love them, often they are hurting and they may be projecting their problem from God on you
3 - Misinformation = try to inform them
4 - Personal Dislikes = Accomodate them or ignore them, they don't like your style, personality, humor, etc.
5 - Legitimate (sin, a mistake) = repent, own your sin
6 - Take Up Offense for Another = rebuke the busibodying, rebuke the meddler
John was Great because he was filled with the Holy Spirit
This means that John pursued - a spirit filled life
His life is not about what I can do for God, rather it is what God has already done for me
Made new, controlled by, mastered by, empowered by the Spirit - he causes
Jesus for us, Jesus in Us, Jesus through us, by the power of the Ghost.
The Result is a humble boldness
Kite Story at Ocean Shores - With Goose
Mysterious
The least in the kingdom is greater than John, "take the kite out of the box"

Group:
Marriage: Ultimately it has to come back to God and Me not just reconciliation with my spouse
Parenting: Teach the 5 repentance steps early to my kids
Wen they see injustice in their life address it via the cross every time