The Awesome Significance of Jesus' Baptism | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

it's always a joy to open God's word with you and so would you

meet me in the Gospel According to Mark in chapter chapter one,

I know we're still early in this book but I cannot help, but feel

When studying this gospel and teaching it that we're treading

on Holy Ground. when speaking about Christ, as much as we have

Liberty in him there's there's this the sense of reverence

there is no one like him and and because of that we need God's

help and understanding him and how we communicate him and speak

of him. The man something from us that

no other person demands and so if you're there in Mark 1 Meet

me in verse and verse 9. It says, in those days, Jesus

from Nazareth, rather, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And when he came up out of the water immediately, he saw the

heavens being torn open and the spirit descending on him, like a

dove. And the voice Came From Heaven.

You are my beloved Son with you. I am.

Well pleased. What we pray again.

Help us with this, help us see the awesome significance of the

baptism of Jesus Lori. Pray, that the spirit of God

would Open the Eyes of each Heart In This Place.

Lord breakthrough, familiarity breakthrough.

All distraction And Lord win our devotion.

And draw out fresh affection for the person of Jesus Christ.

Lord, we pray that you would indeed empower the ministry of

the word this afternoon and that we would sense something of the

radiating glory of God in Christ Jesus.

Bring us to our knees. Wipe away, every tear restore

the joy of your salvation. We Need You O Lord.

For we are we are so able to become hardened in light of

these truths. So able to become indifferent

but Lord, rescue us again, rescue us, Lord and receive from

us. What is your do?

Supreme love. Adoration and devotion.

We ask these things in Jesus name, amen. a time together last

week, hopefully Provided some clarity.

And understanding the meaning of the baptism of this wild Prophet

named John John, the baptizer. And the main idea behind John's

baptism baptism, is that it was a means to dismantle this false

confidence that the Jewish people had in their Heritage and

their ethnicity, and their culture and their race.

This was a community that believed wholeheartedly that

because they had a certain ancestry that they had automatic

access into the kingdom of God, that they were saved based on

that. And here comes John, the son of

a priest. After 400 years of silence and

begins to Proclaim repent. Repent, you juice and be

baptized. You cannot depend upon your

culture, you cannot depend upon your history.

You must make an individual commitment to realizing your

need for the mercy of God. You must recognize that your

culture doesn't erase your sin. Only God can do that.

And so, would you join with me in this water?

And would you make a declaration to your people?

And before God, that you need him?

Because the kingdom of God is at hand.

And so we understand that that is the emphasis of John's,

baptism it clarifies. The emphasis of the baptism that

you did right in the name of Jesus, where you identified with

his death, I'm dying with Christ.

My salvation is because of Christ and you clothed yourself

in him by faith. But that water envelops you as a

way of signifying your burial and your Resurrection in his

name. But with this fresh Insight in

our hearts, right? With this fresh insight, about

what? John's baptism, baptism was all

about. We come now to a new, A new

challenge, A new challenge in trying to understand, John's

baptism. And the challenge is. as we try

to interpret it is that this baptism for Sinners, this

baptism that called those who realize their need to repent and

confess their sins was something that the Lord Jesus Christ

himself participated in how can it be And so significant is this

that we must understand it. It may seem intimidating to

engage with but as we dig and as we discover why Jesus did this,

or I pray that you would have another reason to give him glory

and worship. And so we understand that Jesus

was in fact, baptized by this man who baptized people for them

to repent and in seeking to understand the Monumental moment

that this was in Jesus life and Ministry this afternoon you and

I will only answer to questions to questions.

And the first one was this, why is it that Jesus was baptized by

John and the second one will be what happened.

When the Lord Jesus Christ was Bye.

Bye. John.

You may be surprised to understand that the first answer

to that first question, why why did he come to this point?

Why did he come to the shore of the Jordan to experience this to

experience this campaign that was called to humble and

identify? Sinners, how can it be?

And I present to you the first reason and it is to affirm the

deity of Jesus Christ. When you read verse 9, I'm sure

the first question that comes to mind is why why is the sinless

Spotless savior? Who is God In the Flesh?

Responding to this call for Sinners to Humble themselves and

many who vehemently deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

will come to a verse like this as some kind of a proof text

that he was not God, that he did not share in the father's

nature. He was a good man but he was a

man, still a man who shared Adam sinned.

And the very same place, where people would try to repudiate

the character, the perfect nature of Jesus Christ is the

very same occasion where God actually wants to affirm his

Perfection. How, how can it be?

How do you get that out of this? And the only way that you can

get it is when you see the snapshot taken by the other

gospel writer Matthew, And in Matthews telling Matthew by the

spirit, knows the questions that we would come, that would come

through this text and desires to answer it and this is how he

answers it. But you have to go there and

Matthew chapter 3 and verse 13. Would you know that the answer?

Matthew 3 · chapter mention

To this question is in the response of John.

And his reaction when he learns that Jesus desires to be

baptized by him, Matthew 313. Then Jesus Came From Galilee to

the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

John would have prevented him saying.

I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?

This is nothing short of incredible.

This Prophet who called every man, every woman, every

politician, every ruler, even a religious one to repent and be

baptized has come now to a point where he is faced with a Jew

that occupies a category that no one else shares a Jew Flesh and

Blood who does not require to respond to John's baptism?

How can it be? Well, it's very simple.

John here is not just trying to be nice.

He's not trying to just be humble, he's not.

Acting Jesus as someone who might be slightly more Superior

than him by saying. You know, you should actually do

this for me. No, John here is highlighting

that this Jesus who is from Nazareth, does not need to

undergo, his Heavenly commission, baptism because

there is nothing that Jesus needs to repent of John bearing

witness to the sinlessness of Jesus.

The deity of Jesus is not only found in that famous statement,

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

It is also recognized in his refusal to baptize him.

This does not apply to you. This is not something that you

need. You are two worthy for this and

so he protests And he calls Christ to be at Bay, you do not

need to join me in this. And what's so amazing is when

you think about the crowds on that day, because Luke tells us

there was a multitude on that site when Jesus was baptized,

and what is site in must have been that for the first time in

John's short Ministry, but nationally powerful Ministry

that touch the entire people for the first time.

There is a man who doesn't need to go on under the water.

And the Waters of repentance, he doesn't need to be immersed

because this man who asked to be immersed was to worthy for it.

Therefore, even before looking at the words of Jesus and his

reasoning, why he must be baptized, we have John the

baptizer who is telling us that whatever is about to take place

is not because it is for the remission for sins.

And before moving on, I would like to make a comment about

John's response here to Jesus request, it's a practical thing.

It's very, very important to realize because John was a

unique preacher, he was a new preacher because he was a

confrontational preacher. He was one, who is disturbing

the consciousness of men who are comfortable in their

Disobedience. He was somebody that rumbled,

the message of repentance and he would even call out specific

sins that he knew that some of his audience members were

harboring and living in. He was indeed like Elijah and

some admired John's approach some really like this

fire-breathing kind of preaching and so they long to emulate it

themselves with the hopes that they would see the same fruit

and they want to confront false teachers in such a bold way.

And they want to call out hypocrisy in Christendom and God

can use that. And I am of those who believes

that, we need a Revival of such preaching to such an extent.

But what God can use in that can actually be counterproductive if

it is done in the wrong attitude, hear me if you're a

person who loves truth and not just loves choose, but desires

to Proclaim it uncompromisingly. Notice what John says to Jesus.

He says I need to be baptized by you.

This is not just his attempt to try to elevate Christ.

This is also a declaration of his own inferiority.

I need to be baptized by you. I love that.

And the reason why I so love it is because this man this

preacher who looked at crowds, he says you're a bunch of

snakes, you know that And your Sinners and you need to repent

in the wrath of God is coming upon you.

That same man realized that he was a sinner himself.

This Minister who is filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's

womb, still saw the need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit by

Jesus Christ. I need to be baptized by you.

I need that inward cleansing. That only you can offer.

Nothing can be more ineffective than someone calling people to

righteousness in a self-righteous spirit.

John was no such man. Even with this man's hard words,

it could be received because people could perceive as man's

humble. This man has broken.

This man is aware of his own. His own need for this Christ

that he speaks of for repentance that he's calling us to.

And I think that is very important because the gospel

will only sound sweeter when it rings from a vessel who realizes

his own need for it. I think I'm speaking to a people

who love the truth and some of you go beyond that you want to

tell people about this truth. So please hear what I have to

say. that even something as harsh as rebuke can be received,

well, by those who would recognize in you and me, a

person who is fully convinced that they need the mercy of God

themselves, There's something in the tone.

There's something in the approach.

There's something in the eyes that even the prophetic like

Ministry. Can be embraced because people

see a man who's preaching about something that he needs himself.

And if we love truth and want to declare truth, then would you

and I be a people who can prove to other people that we are just

as much of a sinner as they are. And we need that message.

We need to understand that the more and more.

We see the darkness in the world.

Do you really believe? Do you really believe in your

heart that the potential of your own wickedness can be that of

what we see today apart from Christ?

The answer should be yes, apart from the intervening grace of

God. You and I can be among those who

think the same way as those people think, and March in the

same way and present their crazy ideas in the same way.

Blessed, be the name of the Lord that he has saved us.

And let the world hear it, let the world see it.

Let them perceive like they perceive in John, a man of great

humility, who preached a truth that he himself needed Jesus in

his baptism. Baptized by John does not

contradict the concept of his deity and actually affirms.

It it was a very platform in which the Lamb of God was seen

and recognized by profit for his Purity and Holiness.

But more than that. Why was Jesus Christ?

Baptized by John not just. So his DD could be affirmed but

that he can identify with sinners.

Think about it. If John's reaction is not

sufficient to satisfy the skeptic than the words of Jesus

in response to John's protest should be the final nail in the

coffin. Look What the Lord says in verse

15 and Matthew 3, but Jesus answered him.

Let it be. So now for thus, it is fitting

for us to fulfill all righteousness.

The phrase to fulfill. All righteousness, is the

heartbeat of Christ decision to do this and it begs the

question. If Jesus did not share the

father's nature. If Jesus is not, in fact, God In

the Flesh, then wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity for him

to say something along the lines of let it be?

So, now, for thus, it is fitting for my sins to be cleansed and

for me to repent. And for me to be an example to

these Jews that I'm like them. And I, and I must also receive

the mercy of God and I confess it.

That would have been the perfect chance, but the obvious answer

is it doesn't happen because he doesn't need it.

So, why is he saying to fulfill all righteousness?

Well, you and I can understand that.

That phrase in the following way to fulfill.

All righteousness is to fulfill all the requirements of God to

fulfill. All righteousness is simply to

fulfill all the righteous requirements and decrees and

demands that God has made. And that's exactly what Jesus is

doing. Because the scriptures are

clear, that John's baptism was authorized by God.

It was something that heaven mandated, it had a divine

origin. John didn't just wake up in the

wilderness one day because I think I should have baptized

some people, God told them to do it.

And when we understand it, that way, when we couple it with the

understanding of Jesus purpose on the earth to fulfill all

that, the father had told him to do to walk in perfect obedience,

then he has perfectly obeying by doing what submitting to what

God had ordained namely. John's baptism being surrendered

to When Jesus is coming to John's baptism, what Jesus is

actually doing is obeying, the father, he's obeying God.

In other words, think of it this way.

If John's baptism was commissioned by God and Jesus,

our lord, the Son of God seeks to obey God, then he will gladly

respond to the mandate to join. John's baptism.

You know why? That's important. here's why

it's important, because the Lord Jesus, by doing this is securing

The Obedience that you and I need To stand right before.

God The Lord Jesus here. Since our faith in him is a

transfer of our Disobedience. For his obedience is in a sense

walking out our obedience on our behalf. he's identifying with

Sinners, he is Telling us through this.

I'm in your place I'm in your place.

Think about it this way, when you have entered into the Waters

of baptism in Jesus name, what are you doing there?

I hope. You know, I hope you did know

and if you don't know, let me remind you.

You identified with Christ. I am declaring that.

I am. I'm linking myself to this

reality and I'm symbolically showing it through this dramatic

ordinance. I'm Goin In bear with Coming up

resurrected with Christ you going into that water is

identifying with Christ's work. Now, let's look at and the

flipside Jesus going into the water.

Though without sin though. Perfect is identifying with you.

And he is now coming to this point in the beginning of his

ministry. To say I am standing in the

place of a fractured humanity. And in this moment I am

foreshadowing. What I will do on the cross.

In this moment, I'm saying, I will die, I will be buried and I

will come to life again. So very clear that we see that

Christ heartbeat is to satisfy God's righteous righteous decree

and to publicly identify with Sinners as their substitute, I

worship the Lord for that. What an incredible sight?

and if someone still can't see the distinction, Of Jesus

baptism through John's reluctance and Jesus own

explanation for why he's doing it.

Then we have another person who is testifying in this.

God, the Father himself who audibly speaks from heaven and

says this is my beloved Son in whom I am.

Well pleased and whom I am. Well pleased, it was audible.

It was there. It was a manifestation.

And why did that happen? Well, I mean that statement

means so much but at least And one thing he's telling all those

people who were there that day, my son is going into that water.

Not for the same reason why you will go into that water.

I'm pleased with him. I am.

Well, pleased with him sinless. My beloved Son, sharing my

nature. Perfect in my sight.

And so we see that he is identifying with sinners.

And that is something that we can Rejoice inning and close and

and just worship over this table.

But I love the thought that as much as the perfect Obedience of

Jesus was primary lived out so that mankind can have the the

righteous representative for them.

Jesus also did all that he did as an example.

The Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself to come into those

Waters. Do you know why you just heard

it? Because God demanded it.

And what I think is so amazing is that John tried to prevent

Jesus from being baptized. Not knowing at this moment that

he was intending to please the father.

Jesus In This Moment, possessed a revelation that John did not

have. I have a Clarity of what this is

all about and because I've received Clarity, I have this

Clarity. There is an urgency for me to

satisfy what God demands of me. and with that clarity, And with

that urgency Jesus provides an example.

Here's why I'm bringing this up because the attitude of the

Saviour, unfortunately stands in such contrast to the attitude of

many of his followers. And how they communicate their

obedience to God especially in even with water baptism.

The one in the name that is greater than John's by the way.

How many are convinced that what Jesus said about being baptized

in his name, the name of the father Son and the Holy Spirit

is, in fact, an ordinance for those who claim faith in him and

yet at the same time, treat such a thing as though it is a

suggestion as though it is something non-essential as

though it is. A thing that can be delayed

based on convenience. I'm not just talking about water

about this. I'm talking about anything that

God had decreed clearly in his word.

You do not see this in Jesus, even in the beginning of his

ministry, he sets the tone of his desire to obey the father.

By doing this. And if you are one who feels

hesitation in the face of obedience, would you look to

your master? Would you look to him as your

example and see that he was determined to obey the father's

will. And it doesn't matter what kind

of protest came or what kind of Praise came even if it came from

a great man. Like John, I must obey the

father and no one will stop me. What A Savior. one example, if

the father said it, And no man can stop me from doing it.

And so we see here that Jesus is giving us practical Practical

instruction is there more practical instruction in the

baptism of Jesus? I believe so, but it's only when

you marry it with the different accounts because Luke tells us

that Jesus did something else while he stood in those Waters

that, no other gospel writer tells us and you would see it if

you go there and Luke 321, look what Luke tells us that no other

gospel writer tells us And Luke 321. now, when all the people

were baptized, So there is more baptisms that day.

And when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, And

was praying, the heavens were opened.

Luke. Gives us a precious sight of

Jesus on that, on that day, in that scene, he told us that

Jesus was praying during his baptism.

And no wonder when you go to Luke, you'll see that he has a

desire to give a portrait of Jesus.

Praying he mentions Jesus praying more than any gospel

writer and it's in that gospel account even where you have the

Revelation that Jesus is close disciples were so intrigued

about some aspect of Christ Ministries.

And it was his prayer life. It is in that place where you

see where the disciples asked directly something that they

have not asked anything else about.

And that is, would you teach us to what prey would you teach us

to pray the same way? John taught his disciples.

You do not see the disciples asking for anything else to be

taught directly to them, except for prayer.

How wonder what they saw? I wonder if it was the early

mornings when they woke up and Jesus was not The campsite

because he was some somewhere deep in the bushes.

Communing with the father, I wonder if it was the way he

prayed, Hebrews tells us that he prayed with reverence.

I wonder if it was the Liberty that he had and calling

Godfather, whatever it was, it's so move.

The disciples that they said, oh, would you teach us to pray?

And as we know Jesus, used that opportunity to give what we know

as the Lord's Prayer and it's not so that we just pair it

exactly what Jesus said but it gives us a formula to frame the

way we commune with God. What to include what we should

be asking for how we should speak to him.

But, can I challenge you further?

Don't just look to the Lord's Prayer, as an example of how to

cultivate a prayer life. Look at how he prayed.

Look at when he prayed. and one of the things I see in Jesus

prayer life, is that he praised here during his baptism and what

I learn as I desire to be like him, is that there is The

Liberty. For my prayers to be legitimate.

In any place. At any time.

During any activity. In other words we see here that

as Jesus is standing in the presence of a multitude and as

Jesus is undergoing, a certain thing, he is still able to

commune with the father You know what that means.

That means that you don't have to go to a specific place and

get on your knees and Beyond a certain angle for the reception

to be right for God to give you his ear.

What I see in Jesus is that, while I'm in my car, I can pray

and he hears me. Well, I'm at the doctor's

waiting in that room and needing piece.

I can pray that while I am in a business meeting, not knowing

how to bring a solution to this, I can pray for wisdom.

And the father, will he while I clean?

I can turn that that scene into a worship center and praise him.

And pray him. And this is what Jesus is

showing here that in any Arena that with any activity I can do

what Paul says that we should do and that is pray without ceasing

to walk in a way in which I'm continually in communion with

the Lord. Inviting him.

In All Things, bringing all things to him.

This is what we say. Do we not as evangelicals, we

have a personal relationship with the lord.

Well, who's more personal to the father than Christ and here's

Christ exam. Find it while he's being

baptized. He speaking to the father.

Would you do the same? Do you feel a legalistic

limitation? That you cannot have that

freedom with your father. Look to Christ.

He is my example and yours. And we have access to the

heavenly father And he will hear us.

And this idea of Jesus, praying is a perfect transition, because

you heard three reasons, brief reasons to why Jesus was

baptized to affirm his deity to identify with Sinners, and to,

also be our example, to a certain extent.

But now we come to the second main question before we break

bread and that is not why the Lord Jesus were baptized.

But what happened when the Lord Jesus was baptized and that is

an important question. Because two things happened and

they were Supernatural one was visible.

One was audible the visible has to do with the person of the

Holy Spirit. The Audible has to deal with the

father and what we see in verse 10 is our Focus for the rest of

the message. And when he came up of Mark 110,

and when he came up out of the water immediately, he saw the

heavens being torn open and the spirit descending on him, like a

dove. I don't know about you but in

answering the main question I have more questions.

What happened when the Lord Jesus was baptized while I read

it in verse 10 and I think to myself, well, why is that

happening? Why is the holy spirit

descending Upon Jesus? Now and for what purpose?

There is no explicit statement that seeks to give us.

A look into the relationship with the Holy Spirit and the

Lord Jesus. Before his commencement into the

ministry. Yes, he was there during the

Incarnation but between those silent years.

We don't have any Clear Window into how it is at the Holy

Spirit related to Jesus being in the flesh walking in this world

until we come to this moment and we see that it is so clear that

he descends upon him, and John tells us that he remains on

Jesus. And when you look at that, you

have to be careful because that does not diminish.

The deity of Jesus Christ. Why this is brought up, is in

fact to emphasize on the humanity of Jesus Christ.

We believe Jesus Christ, fully God, fully man.

Truly got truly, man. And as we come to this moment,

we see that the humanness of Jesus, the essence of his

Humanity was, in fact, true. He did not come to this earth.

Taking on an earth suit. Only to appear as He was human.

No, he really came in the flesh and In the Flesh, he knew real

human limitations. He knew real human temptations,

though, he did not share in the corrupt nature that Adam

introduced to the human race. And so when you and I look at

this, we have to consider that the reality of the human nature

of Jesus is on Full display. Why?

Because as a man by being anointed by the Holy Spirit, he

is showing that He is in need in his humility.

In humbling himself. He is in need of the, of the

power of the spirit, of the guidance of the spirit of the

anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is just as much as a

declaration of Christ, humility, as him going to the cross and

submitting to the father's will. He is also submitting to the

holy spirit's influence as a man and the scriptures are so clear.

They tell us that in order for for us to honor the humanity of

Jesus. We see here that the source of

his divine power, when he was doing all those Supernatural

Works throughout his ministry. Was supplied by the third person

of the trinity. This is Jesus showing that he

was truly a man being closed by the power of the holy spirit

that there's not assault his deity.

All that does is highlight the sincerity of his humanity and if

you want a verse to confirm what I'm saying, Peter preached the

Cornelius household and he made it so obvious that you cannot

debate it unless you really want to deny the truth of the word of

God, if you take notes, take this reference down and acts

Acts 10:37

10:37 a 38. He's Preaching and Peter says,

you yourselves know what happened?

You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea

beginning From Galilee that after the baptism that John

proclaimed. Here's the sequence after the

baptism that John proclaimed verse 38 how God anointed Jesus

of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power to do what he

went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed

by the devil for God was with him.

For God was with them. Well, I thought he was God and

are you saying that God wasn't with him before the Holy Spirit?

Know there is a unique anointing that took place in that moment

for the sole purpose of a Ministry being fulfilled, it

would be Blasphemous to say that he was not in connection to God

or that he was not God or some crazy.

People would say that it was at this time, Jesus was born again.

It was solely a clothing of power from on high in a way that

no other man has known unmeasured unmeasured power so

that he can fulfill what prophets have told us.

What happened when the Messiah would come.

Jesus was clothed with power but let us consider the manner in

which the Holy Spirit enters into the scene and comes upon

Christ. You know what Mark says,

something that looked this and say something that Matthew

doesn't say and has to do. With the entrance.

Go back to Mark and look what he says in verse 10 of chapter one.

What happened to the heavens when the Holy Spirit came?

Torn open. Torn open.

That is a dramatic word that is almost a Vine word.

It means to rip something. It's a very same word that Mark

uses when he describes what happened to that veil in the

temple, how it was torn from top to bottom.

And yet we see here that in the beginning of Jesus ministry, not

just at the end, there is a tearing of the heavens for the

Holy Spirit to come down. Not As a dove.

So, the idea now is a white bird with an olive branch.

In the mouth has to be erased. That's not how the Holy Spirit

showed himself like a dove, not as a dove.

You didn't come like a bird. I know it's going to ruin your

painting at home. Like a dove with certain

qualities. That we would see in that unique

creature. But what's so amazing here is,

is that Mark for some reason, finds it so important.

It's obvious because the holy spirit is writing through him

that the sky above on that day was ripped.

Why does it matter? I'm sure different reasons but

may I present you one option and it is not in this moment.

God answered a prayer and it wasn't the prayer of Jesus.

Only that he answered, Jesus was praying in this moment.

And I believe that what he was praying for his, what he

received for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to come upon

him, but there was another prayer that was prayed there was

another appeal, another cry, many many years before this time

that I believe was answered at this scene. it was a prayer

given by a man who is used by God to give many many, many many

prophecies about the very Messiah that we are speaking

about Isaiah Isaiah, the prophet at one point in his ministry

comes before God and such a beautifully written prophetic

prayer because the nation of Israel have come to a point of

such destitution to such a degree that even the enemies of

God trampled upon the sanctuary of God.

They just brought the house of God to rubble.

And Isaiah was so stirred by this because on top of that,

there seems to be this long and extended Silence from God.

He seems to not to not intervene, he seems to not come

and rescue. His people to the point where

Isaiah's concerned that the nation are saying, this is

people even have a god. Who rescues them, who hears

them, who saves them? And with all of that, in his

heart, can. All of that bubbling in the

hearts of the remnant of the people of Israel.

Isaiah comes to a point where he makes this desperate cry.

And the cries and Isaiah 64 verse 1.

Isaiah 64:1

Oh, that you would Rend the heavens.

And come down. That the mountains might Quaker

your presence. Has been fire Kindles Brushwood.

And the fire causes water to boil.

To make your name known to your adversaries.

And that the nation's might tremble at your presence.

Oh, that you would Rend. The heavens and come down.

God answered, Isaiah's prayer. 700 years later, He did run the

heavens and he did come down, but who was it that entered into

and to our world. Who is it?

That descended the person of the Holy Spirit telling me what holy

spirit is God. Holy spirit is the same Yahweh.

That Isaiah's is appealing to. Come down and God hears that

prayer and fulfills it in the messiah's ministry and he does

come down. He comes down.

Yes, in the person of Jesus Christ, but here ends the

heavens and he comes down in the person of the Holy Spirit.

And as much as he has fulfilled, this prophetic prayer.

I believe that he did not answer it and the exact same way that

Isaiah had desired. Because when the heavens were

rent and God did come down, there was no quaking.

There was no shaking. There was no sign I like

symptoms. The Nations did not tremble at

the presence of God. No, instead, when God came down

after rending the heavens he did so in such Majestic gentleness.

He comes down with such an Elegance.

He comes down with such a tenderness and softness, a

delicacy and he approaches the scene not with judgment crashing

through. But with divine blessing

instead. Forgot to tear open the sky with

such Force. You would think in anticipate

that you are going to see what they saw on Sinai, fire smoke,

quaking fear. And instead what you do see Is

Grace. Softness.

Gentleness. Meaning what the yes.

The force was still there in the heavens being rent, but that

forces only. Declaring something about.

The eager desire of God to break through into our world, as one

would break into a sealed room to try to save a dying man.

That Sky splitting moment is to show.

Yes, and almost a forceful zealous way, but not to pour out

judgment but to come and to save, man.

That is what it is saying. And there is a time where the

sky will be opened again. But when the sky will be open

again, you're not going to see a dove coming down.

You're not going to see something like a dove coming

down. You're going to see a man on a

white horse. And that will be more closely to

what Isaiah was asking for. But between now and then the

heavens have been torn open. And the openness of the heavens

in a sense is still there to declare God's eager, did not

desire to rescue you. And this place, if you do not

know, Jesus Christ, as Lord and savior.

That he wants to descend upon your life to save you.

And to redeem you and to rescue you.

And not the judge you condemn you. and I wonder if you believe

that about God, That he broke into this world, to come to save

you from your sin before. It's too late.

See again, him breaking through the world's roof and descending

upon the Messiah so that he could commence his ministry in

the power that he needed. Is a visualization of the rescue

mission of God from Heaven, trying to get you into his fold.

And I wonder if you believe that today, How can you be?

So, casual with the gospel being preached?

If you do not know Christ, When Christ commencing his ministry

in the Holy Spirit and the father that trinitarian

relationship being on full display was nothing of being

casual or light. But being very intentional and

forceful to save you. That's what I'm bringing forth

to you today. And some of you have responded

that some of you have beheld and understood the significance of

Jesus and the Heart behind him coming to save.

And some of you haven't got it yet, I'm just going to be

honest. That's okay.

Because today you can all change today can change today.

It can all change through the message that you just heard.

because, The heavens will open again.

And it could happen in our lifetime.

People are more convinced of that truth today than ever

before. And if that is true, Then what

will come your way when the heavens do open?

Will it be what? That Dove at least the

manifestation of Dove like qualities?

On that day. Be what you experience.

In other words, the peace of God through Jesus Christ.

Or will it be what Revelation talks about?

Where that era of Peace? The invitation has been made

out? You've heard it, you're

accountable and now he comes to judge.

I hope you be on the side of knowing his peace.

He loves you more than you can imagine.

He died for you, he came for you.

And as we come to this table, we are remembering that, and this

is really, for those who have embraced that truth and have

been changed by that truth. And so, as we come to the table,

can we prepare our hearts to receive and remember what Jesus

has done for us? Louis, thank you for just a

glimpse of the significance of your baptism.

We thank you for the Practical truth.

We thank you for the truths that make our faith unique Lord as we

come to the table and observe the ordinance that you've

established for your church, may be an act of worship on our part

and may it bring healing reconciliation and Reviving to

our own hearts. But we thank you that you took

our place. You stood in our place, we thank

you that you are willing to identify with us and receive the

Wrath that we deserved Lord for those in this place who do not

believe that. Would you open their eyes?

We do open their eyes to see the force of Your Love.

Even in the skies being opened in such a way to come and reach

down and rescue us so that we can be with you forever.

Well, we love you for this and we give you glory in Jesus name,

amen.