Episode 54 - Truckers Church

Welcome back to my friends, the Trucker's Church, where faith brite, shotgun,

and the Word of God rolls with us from coast

to coast. Whether you're haul in logs through the mountains,

sitting at a rest area, or were cruising under the

stars with nothing but the hum of your engine and

the Lord in your art, I'm so glad you're here.

Even working through the Gospel of Matthew together, chapter by chapter,

we've seen the birth of Jesus, the visit of the

wise Man, and how God protected him from HER's wicked schemes.

Today we're rolling into Matthew chapter three, where a wild

prophet shows up in the wilderness calling people to repent,

and the Son of God steps into the waters to

be baptized. Let's break it down and see what God

has for us today. Enter John the Baptist Matthew three

one through six. Let's read verses one and two. In

those days, John the Baptist came preaching into the wilderness

of Judea repent that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

John wasn't your typical preacher. He didn't show up in

robes or sandals from the temple courts, He came from

the desert dressed in a camel's hair, eating locust and

wild honey. I don't know about you, but that sounds

more like a survivalist than a Sunday school teacher. That's

exactly how God wanted him. Because John wasn't there to

entertain or impress. He was there to shake people awake.

What was his message? One word repent. The word repent

means to turn around, to stop going in your own

direction and head God's way. You ever miss an accident,

have to turn around. That's repentance. You realize you're on

the wrong road, and you just don't feel bad. You

change direction. That's what John was calling people to do.

Preparing the way Matthew three three Matthew tells us John's

fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight

Back in the day when the King was coming to visit,

Rose would literally be cleared and straightened. Debris was removed,

holes were filled, the paths were made level to johnas

ain't get ready, the King is coming. Cleaning out your heart,

remove the jump, make space for the Savior. What needs

to be cleared out in your life so the Lord

can come in fully. Maybe it's pride, maybe it's killed.

Maybe it's something you've been holding on to that you

need to surrender. People responding Matthew three four through six,

Verse five and six say in Jerusalem and all Judaea

and all the region about the Jordan were going out

to it. They were baptized by him and the river Jordan,

confessing their sins. Thousands of people came to hear John.

This wasn't entertainment, it was conviction. People were tired of

living in sin and real and John didn't baptize people

to get them into heaven. He baptized them because they

were turning their hearts toward God. It was a public

symbol of private repentance. Getting baptized doesn't make you saved,

but if you've given your life to Jesus, baptism is

your way of saying, I'm going public, I'm not ashamed

to follow in Christ. John confronts the religious leaders in

Matthew three seven through ten. Here's where John gets bold.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Saateestes

come into his baptism, he said to them, you brute

of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath,

to come bear fruit and keeping with repentance. Oh that's

a strong language, brute of vipers. See the Pharisees and

Sadateestes were the religious elite. They had the looks, the prayers,

the robes, but not the heart. John saying it's not

about how holy you look. Where's the fruit, Where's the change?

Then he says something important in verse nine. Do not

presume to say to yourselves we have Abraham as our father.

Where I tell you God is able from these stones

that raise up children for Abraham. Your family name, your

church membership, your background, none of that saves you. Only

a true repentant heart does. Don't rely on your last name,

your church attendance, or your reputation. And you stand before God.

Is going to be about your relationship with Jesus, not

your resume, judgment and fire Matthew three eleven through twelve.

Now John starts painting a head, pointing ahead to someone greater.

I'll baptize you with water for repentance. But he was

coming after me, is mightier than I. He will baptize

you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He's talking about Jesus.

John's saying, I'm just a messenger, but the one who's coming,

he's bringing the real power. Then he gives us powerful message,

this powerful image of a winnowing fork, separating wheat from chaff,

those who truly followed God from those who just play church.

Jesus didn't come just to make people feel better. He

came to transform us, fill us with his spirit, and

set our hearts on fire for the kingdom. And Jesus

is baptized. In thirteen through seventeen, here's the main event.

And Jesus came from Galilee to the George to John

to be baptized by him. The first John tries to

stop him. He says, I need to be baptized by you, Jesus,

and says, why.

Let it be so now?

For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Jesus didn't need to repent, he was sinless, but he

was identifying with us, setting an example, showing obedience to

the Father. And then it happened when Jesus was baptized.

Immediately he went up from the water and behold, the

heavens were open to him, and he saw the Spirit

of God descending like a dove and coming to rest

on him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, this

is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

All three members of the Trinity were present. Jesus in

the water, the Spirit descending like a dove, the Father's

voice speaking from heaven. This is God's stamp of approval.

The King has arrived and his ministry is about to begin.

When you step into obedience, the Father is pleased. You

may not hear his voice audibly, but you'll feel his

presence guiding you. Let's pray together, Father, thank you for

calling us to repentance, not just so we can feel guilty,

but so we can be free. Thank you for the

voice in the wilderness, and for the lamb of God

who takes away our sins. Lord, give his hearts that

turned towards you, lives that bear fruit in boldness, like

John to speak truth in love. God is on the

road ahead in Jesus name. Amen. That wraps up today's

episode of Truckle Church. If you're enjoying this journey through Matthew,

be sure to share it with another driver, a family member,

or anyone who needs a word from the Lord. But

head and read chapter four for next week. Next time

in Matthew four, we'll ride along with Jesus into the

wilderness and see how he stood strong in the face

of temptation. It's a message every one of us can

relate to. Until then, keep it between the lines, trust

the Lord with your journey, and remember you're never too

far from grace, no matter where the road takes you.

Running through life with blinders, then't wait to see what

you don't want to see. Doing things your own way.

I'd as well let it be. You've got it all

under control. Hitting the past and lane. Now, life's not

gone to pass you by. Gotta stay ahead.

Some been in a bank of it. Everything changes so fast,

it's a little too late when you find out your

faith this life man gonna last. What you are on

your true stone, that you beat on a way you

leave aloud to the fullest pitch, and never read what

you have your true stone, say you in this prayers

today you live it for you.

He forgave your sin.

I hope to see you again someday, waking up in

a white room to who's going everywhere? The second chance

is giving the youth wonder why doesn't care.

Trying to turn it around?

Now you'll no longer long gonna list for you each

and every day until.

The day he comes me home. What are you on

your tustone? That's your deadity? You wrong? You live alone

to the falls? Teacher readay? But you ever have your

to stone set your d today? He lived it for him.

He's okay to sin.

How to see you against someday? Here is shot. Don't

ever forget I all know any sound day say the

nettle pad leaves the Luvey tnle cam him to day