Preparing For Rain
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Lessons on how to prepare for revival even in times of drought.
Text: John 10:40-42
Date: 06/03/2018, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 93
Description:
After Jesus is chased out of the Temple in Jerusalem by a mob furious at His claims of divinity, He returns to the place (across the Jordan river) where John the Baptist had baptized Him and His ministry began. There He found fertile soil among the people who had been impacted by John's ministry and many believed in Him. We will marvel at the contrast between the unbelief in Jerusalem and the belief in Perea and analyze the reasons why. We will find seven very valuable lessons in the text to help us in our own Kingdom work, learning to continue that work regardless of the visible results. Ultimately we will learn that sometimes revival is a multi-staged process requiring true disciples to ignore the drought and the cloudless sky and faithfully-- prepare for rain.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 10:40-42.
A. Context
1. The immediate context.
2. Revisiting the ministry of John the Baptist.
B. The return to "Bethany".
1. Moving across the Jordan, vs. 40.
a. The "why" of the move, John 10:31,39.
b. The "when" of the move.
c. The "where" of the move, John 1:28, 3:23.
2. Continuing His ministry, vs. 41a, John 7:37,38.
a. Discerning when to change locations, John 4:35.
b. Working through failure, Psa. 1:1-3.
c. Expecting the unexpected, Psa. 118:22, Eph. 2:20.
d. Ministry is life and life is ministry!
3. The impact of John the Baptist, vs. 41b.
a. A lasting impact, John 3:23-24, Matt. 14:3,10.
b. The "missing" signs, John 6:14, 20:29.
c. The truth spoken and appreciated.
i. John spoke of Jesus, Matt. 3:7, 14:3-4, John 1:20,23,26,27, 3:29-30.
ii. John spoke the truth, Deut. 18:18,22; John 4:37,38, 5:33,36, 14:6.
iii. John spoke the whole truth, John 1:29,33,34, 3:18-19.
4. The resulting revival, vs. 42.
a. Noticing the sharp contrast.
b. The power of John the Baptist's witness.
III. Application: preparing for rain, Matt. 3:11.
IV. Conclusion
