John The Baptist
In this message, Stephen emphasizes the importance of being an epic-making vessel for God, drawing lessons from the biblical account of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist. He highlights that God often works through vessels of grace, consecration, and zeal to bring about significant change in history. Zechariah and Elizabeth, despite their advanced age and barrenness, remained faithful and prayerful, exemplifying trust in God's timing. Stephen explains that God's work often involves testing and refining His vessels, as seen when Zechariah was chosen to serve in the temple and received the divine promise of John’s birth, which was linked to the coming of the Messiah. He stresses that grace only operates when natural strength is exhausted, urging believers to respond with full consecration—living a life separated from worldly pleasures and dedicated to God's service, like John the Baptist, who vowed lifelong Nazarite separation. Stephen also underscores the spirit of Elijah—zeal and jealousy for God's honor—as essential qualities for God's vessels today. Ultimately, he calls for believers to prepare a people ready for the Lord’s return, emphasizing that only those fully committed and filled with God's Spirit can fulfill this divine purpose. The message concludes with a prayer for humility, grace, and zeal to be used as vessels to prepare others for Christ’s coming.
Outline of Main Points
- God works through epic-making vessels of grace, consecration, and zeal.
- Zechariah and Elizabeth’s faithfulness despite delayed answers exemplify trust in God's timing.
- Grace is activated when natural strength is exhausted; believers must respond with full consecration.
- John the Baptist’s lifelong Nazarite vow symbolizes total dedication and separation for God's purpose.
- The spirit of Elijah—zeal and jealousy for God's honor—is vital for effective vessels today.
- Preparing a people for the Lord’s return is the ultimate divine purpose for believers.
- Believers must be fully committed, Spirit-filled, and zealous to fulfill God's plan and be ready for Christ’s coming.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
