INTRODUCTION: God knew what He was doing. He knew the world would need John the Baptist before it would receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Before we receive Jesus we must first listen to John. The One who is coming – he comes to baptize to prepare us for the one who is Christ.

We must first listen to John. Who wants a Savior if he is unaware of his sin? Repentance precedes confession. Death to the old self must occur before new light can come. The caterpillar dies in the cocoon before it emerges in the new life of a butterfly.

Someone is needed to make us conscious of our sin. Someone is needed to lead us to repentance. Then and only then will we be ready for Christ to forgive us. What we need today is John the Baptist not Jesus! Jesus will come to us later, it we first would hear John!

1.                  John will persuade you to repent. “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Vs. 2)

A.      We must not put repentance off. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time. There might not be a second chance.

B.      Repentance means change. There is a break from the past pattern of sin.

C.     John is the one predicted by Isaiah the prophet.

1.      “The voice of one crying in the wilderness”.

2.      “Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” (Vs. 3)

Transition: We need John to persuade us of our need of repentance we need Him to direct us to Christ.

2. John will point us to Christ.

A.       John Baptizes with water for repentance. Recall the 4 R’s of repentance.

1.          Responsibility – I own up to the sin I have committed.

2.          Remorse – I’m sorry for the sin I’ve committed.

3.          Repay – I make restitution – I fix what I’ve broken.

4.          Repeat Not! – I have a break with sin, I do not go back to revisit.

B.       He who is coming after me is mightier.

1.          He baptizes with the Holy Spirit…

The 5^th R – Redemption – “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord or come to Him. But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified, and keeps me in the one true faith.”

2.          …and with fire.

Fire refines. Makes gold purified, clay is turned into expensive china; iron ore is changed into steel.

CONCLUSION: In the prayer for this day we ask that God would excite our hearts to prepare us. God sent John to prepare His people for the Messiah. As we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s first coming at Christmas may we be in the sure and certain hope of His 2^nd Advent when He comes again in glory. Thus the Christian will pray; “Come Lord Jesus, come even today.” Amen.