Complete Sermon Notes
He Will Turn The Hearts
Matt. 17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying,“Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
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Malachi 4:5-6 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
“A brief look at the ministry of John the Baptist reveals many notable ways that he was “Elijah.” 1. God predicted John’s work as being like that of Elijah (Luke 1:17). 2. he dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4). 3. like Elijah, John the Baptist preached in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1). 4. both men preached a message of repentance. 5. both men withstood kings and had high-profile enemies (1 Kings 18:17 and Matthew 14:3). Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Elijah-end-times.html#ixzz3dtd7dRW6
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BUT John the Baptist said he was not Elijah to come…
The Focus of John’s Ministry – He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.
LUKE 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins.”
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How does a person prepare to meet the Lord?
Whether the word for repentance is nocham in the Old Testament, or metanoeō [menta-nie-ay-o] in the New, biblical repentance involves turning from and turning to…
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The influential Baptist evangelist, John R. Rice (1895-1980), said, “There is no way you can please God, no way you can have the sweet communion with Him to get your prayers answered if you are in rebellion against the known will of God.”
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Failing to turn the heart from sin results in rebellion against God.
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How can some churches preach an entire series and never mention ‘S’ word?
The one word that changes everything is: repentance. Richard Owen Roberts said, “You can be certain that at the forefront of every significant recovery from backsliding…the doctrine of repentance has been among the precious truths that God has quickened and used.” Repentance is one of the first commands in the gospel and it may be the most important word that a person hears. “Wait a minute. What about love?” Yes, thank God for John 3:16, but love doesn’t nullify repentance; it encourages it—the love of God leads us to repentance.
Many mistakenly believe that Jesus didn’t mention sin—after all, He was “a friend of sinners.” However, Scripture reveals quite the opposite. For example, in John 5:14 Jesus exhorted a man to sin no more or a worse thing would happen to him. He also told the woman caught in the act of adultery to “go and sin no more”.
God’s Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm – “repentance engages God’s mercy” – YOU’RE TURNING THE HEART BACK TO GOD.
PICKING BACK UP AT LUKE 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins.” 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
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If you’re sitting in darkness or if joy and peace have left, there is hope…
