约翰：一个公开布道家
路加福音三章7至18节
7约翰对那出来要受他洗的众人说：“毒蛇的种类！谁指示你们逃避将来的忿怒呢？
8你们要结出果子来，与悔改的心相称。不要自己心里说：‘有亚伯拉罕为我们的祖宗。’我告诉你们：神能从这些石头中，给亚伯拉罕兴起子孙来。
9现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里。”
10众人问他说：“这样，我们当做甚么呢？”
11约翰回答说：“有两件衣裳的，就分给那没有的；有食物的，也当这样行。”
12又有税吏来要受洗，问他说：“夫子，我们当做甚么呢？”
13约翰说：“除了例定的数目，不要多取。”
14又有兵丁问他说：“我们当做甚么呢？”约翰说：“不要以强暴待人，也不要讹诈人，自己有钱粮就当知足。”
15百姓指望基督来的时候，人都心里猜疑，或者约翰是基督。
16约翰说：“我是用水给你们施洗，但有一位能力比我更大的要来，我就是给他解鞋带也不配。他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。
17他手里拿着簸箕，要扬净他的场，把麦子收在仓里，把糠用不灭的火烧尽了。”
18约翰又用许多别的话劝百姓，向他们传福音。
信息分享
他首先呼吁他们悔改。「你们若要作好准备，迎接神的儿子弥赛亚降临，就必须悔罪。你们前来接受洗礼，就是你们想要罪得赦免和洗净的明证。」于是，数以百计的民众，或许更多，接受他的挑战。那是一次真正的复兴。
接着，他开始预言将要来到的那一位。当时的民众已经觉醒自己的罪，于是约翰便继续对他们说：「神的羔羊要来除去你们的罪。祂更要将圣灵赐给你们，使你们能活出新的生命。」
我们今天岂不是要将同一个信息带给他人吗？今天的人岂不是同样需要悔罪吗？岂不是同样需要知道耶稣基督能除去他们的罪吗？岂不是同样需要圣灵住在他们内心，帮助他们活出新生命吗？
约翰忠心耿耿地传扬以基督为中心的信息，我们是否也一样呢？神已将同样奇妙的福音托付我们，世上每一个人都需要聆听的信息，我们会如何去传呢？
牢记经文：「你们要作我的见证。」（徒一8）
JOHN - THE OPEN AIR EVANGELIST
Luke 3: 7-18
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
Message
His first message was a call to repentance. “If you want to be ready for the coming of God's Son, the Messiah, you need to repent of your sin. As a clear sign you want your sins forgiven and washed away, come and be baptized.” Hundreds, may be more, accepted his challenge. It was a genuine revival.
Then he began to talk about the one who was coming. The people had become aware of their sin. Here John told them, “Here's the Lamb of God who can take away your sin. And here is also the one who will give you the Holy Spirit to enable you to live your new life.”
Isn't that the same message you and I have to give to men and women today? Don't people need to repent of their sin? Don't they need to hear about Jesus Christ who can take away their sin? Don't they need the Holy Spirit's indwelling and ministry to enable them to live their new life?
John faithfully gave his Christ-centered message. How faithful are we as stewards of the same wonderful news of the Gospel? We have the message men need to hear. What are we doing with it?
A VERSE TO REMEMBER: “You will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)