John was giving the heads up that the Messiah would come and baptize people in one of two ways:
1) Holy Spirit - those who surrendered to Christ would be filled with His Spirit.
2) Fire - those who rejected Christ would experience eternal punishment.
I think we can apply this to Christians in another way as well.
Christ's baptism would come in two steps:
1) Step One - Holy Spirit. Being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.
2) Step Two - Fire. This is where suffering comes in and where God refines you in the fire!
Just like gold is refined by the fire where the dirt and "non-gold" is melted off.
A gold refiner knew that gold was ready when he could see his face in the gold!
Suffering is a choice, but apart from it you cannot experience the totality of Christ's baptism.
Remember what Jesus said to Paul? It was all about suffering.
Look at the letters to the churches in Revelation - it was all about overcoming suffering.
God has ordained suffering as a part of His reconciliation process for mankind.
Matthew 3:11 (1/8/15)
Holy Spirit & Fire
January 8, 2015 • Benham Brothers
Matthew 1:1 (1/2/20)
January 2, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* The OT ends with a mention of fathers and the NT begins with a list of dads. * The OT is about promises - the NT is about fulfillment of those promises - this is why the NT starts with a genealogy. It had to fulfill Isaiah 11:1 and 2 Samuel 7:11-16 that says the Messiah will come from the line of David. * We typically skip genealogies, but for God’s people they are extremely important. * Every one of the people mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy have stories about them in the OT. Those stories are REALLY IMPORTANT! Why? * In Hebrew thought you are the summation of all those past generations. * The Hebrew word used was “hityahsu” - the main idea is “to be enrolled.” Literally means “be part of the list of all whom you belong to.” * In Hebrew, you are a collection of all those past relationships. * They all happened because God engineered them. * What’s this mean for us? TWO THINGS: * 1) You are responsible to those who came before you - you have a debt to pay. * You aren’t the independent autonomous center of your own world - you don’t even exist without those who’ve gone before you. * You OWE them. * 2) You are responsible to those who come after you - you owe a debt to them too. You must “pay it forward.” * This is what relationship is all about - you owe the past and future. * ANALOGY: Live your life as a rower of a boat. * As you start the new year, move forward by looking at the past. * Look at all those who went before you (both personally and in the Scripture). * Move forward into the dark of the future and think of those who await our choices. * You have a debt to both - don’t let them down! * (Notes taken from Skip Moen commentary)
Matthew 1:1 (1/4/18)
January 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The New Testament must open up with a genealogy that shows two things: * 1) Jesus was a Jew descended directly from Abraham. * 2) Jesus was royalty descended directly from David. * The word used for genealogy is “hityahsu” - in Hebrew this means “be part of the list of all whom you belong to.” (Skip Moen) * Matthew was showing that Jesus belonged to the Jews as their king. * vs 2:1 - Herod was a descendant of Esau, which went against Genesis 25:23 that stated Esau would serve Jacob. * The opening of Matthew 2 could read like this - "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days when the descendants of Esau ruled over the descendants of Jacob....." * God had to set the stage for His Son to enter the world, and it was at a time when all hope seemed lost. But everything was about to be restored!
Matthew 1:18-25 (1/5/22)
January 5, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Matthew 1:18–25
* The OT is the genealogy of the first Adam / the NT is the genealogy of the last Adam. * the Bible is a book about RELATIONSHIPS. * these genealogies aren’t about people, but payment. * Row the Boat - to move forward, look at the past. * look at those who went before you and those who come after you. * Backstory - Matthew is trying to convince Jews that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah (lots of OT references). * God chose Mary & Joseph to raise His Son (like choosing adoptive parents). * What kind of guy was Joseph? How did he handle relationships? * Notice the actions Joseph took when he discovered his soon-to-be wife was pregnant with a child not his own: * 1) He covered (vs 19) - he was willing to bear the shame (he wouldn’t tell people what happened). * To cover someone means you’ll take the blows headed their way. * The foundation for intimacy (to be fully known and fully accepted) is an assurance that you are safe to reveal yourself (you’re covered). * 2) He considered (vs 20) - he was “considerate.” * Being considerate is about three words - YOU BEFORE ME! * We’ll see later he considered God’s ideas over his own. * 3) He obeyed (vs 24) - he obeyed God whatever the cost. Think about his options: * If he divorced her, he’s seen as a man who didn’t honor his commitment. * If he stayed with her, he’d be considered a fornicator. * 4) He honored (vs 25a) - to honor means “to give regard.” * He didn’t touch Mary before they got married. * He honored God by obeying Him and not touching her. * 5) He took authority (vs 25b) - naming rights signifies authority. * He walked in authority because he was faithful in his responsibility.