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Amazing Facts

Doug Batchelor

The King’s Ambassador

This presentation is brought to you by the Friends of the Amazing Facts Ministry.

Did you know most baby mammals, birds and even some fish instinctively identify and bond with their parents in the very early stages of their lives.

But if the parents aren't available, well, some strange things can happen.

In the 1930s, Austrian zoologist, Conrad Lorenz, conducted some of the first experiments on the imprinting of precocial birds, those that leave the nest soon after hatching.

When he presented himself to a newly hatched group of mallard ducklings and he quacked softly to them, they recognized him as their mother and consequently followed him everywhere.

Cross-species imprinting has been observed many times, even among some species that are naturally enemies like cats and squirrels or lions and antelope.

Did you know that in a spiritual sense we humans can also be imprinted?

That's why it's so important that we fix our eyes on Jesus.

So join me today as we explore the Bible facts about how we can be imprinted by our Heavenly Father and have a life-changing experience with Jesus.

We've come to learn that prophecy in the Bible is more than just the books of Zechariah and Daniel and Revelation or Ezekiel.

Prophecy encompasses the message of the prophets.

And the message of the prophets can be found all through the Bible, a number of books.

Our study tonight is dealing with the subject of the King's ambassador.

And I really could say the king is ambassadors because he's calling all of us to be ambassadors for him.

We're thinking more particularly of someone who was called by Jesus the greatest of the prophets.

He said, among those born among women, there is no prophet like John the Baptist.

You know, if you look in Matthew, you can read here in Matthew chapter 3, it tells us about John the Baptist.

I'm going to read the first few verses for you.

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, the voice of 1 crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.

Now, often when kings traveled in Bible times, they had a team that would go before them.

Very powerful, wealthy king would have a big team.

And when the king was traveling, they would inspect the road, not only for spies and booby traps, but they would prepare the road.

They would take the rocks out of the road.

If there were low spots and potholes, they'd fill them in.

If there were high spots, they'd cut them down and they'd smooth the path.

And the Bible tells us in Isaiah that this was the work of this messenger.

He was going to cut down the high places and fill in the low places.

And someone said, you know, that's sort of the work of a pastor is that he is supposed to comfort those who are humbling themselves, that are unhappy, that are struggling, and he's supposed to take those that are too comfortable and make them uncomfortable.

And so John the Baptist went out and he would prepare the way of the Lord.

Now, John himself tells us that he lived a very holy, austere life.

John himself was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist.

His food was locusts and wild honey, and we're all hoping that was carob pod.

And then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around Jordan, they went out to him.

Here's this man that some would probably ascribe to being a maniac out there in the wilderness by the Jordan River.

He's preaching that the Lord is coming, that they needed to repent of their sins, they needed to turn back to God, and the people were so moved by the Holy Spirit that not 1 or 2 came out, but it seems like everybody came out to hear this man preaching with eloquence and power.

He had great courage and great force through his speech.

And they were baptizing them in Jordan, confessing their sins.

And so there was this great revival that was caused by the preaching of John and he was giving specific information about how to repent and how to live holy lives to everybody.

Even the soldiers came to him and they said, what shall we do?

And what he meant by that, he didn't say you couldn't be a soldier, He meant sometimes they would rough people up and take their property.

And, but he was telling everybody what they needed to do to follow God.

Now I'm gonna have you jump with me to Revelation.

This is a message that goes to the world just before Jesus comes.

This is a group that has the seal of God, and we know they're preparing others who receive that seal.

Then I looked, and behold, a lamb standing, Revelation chapter 14, verse 1, on Mount Zion, and with him 144, 000, having his father's name written on their foreheads.

And I heard a voice like the voice of many waters and the voice of a loud thunder, and I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps, and they sang as it was a new song before the throne and before the 4 living creatures and the elders, and no 1 could learn that song except the 144, 000 who were redeemed from the earth.

These are the ones who are not defiled with women, for they are virgins.

I've heard some people preach that and say, in the last days, all people saved need to practice virginity.

No, you read in Revelation, that's telling us that you get 2 women.

And it's saying, They are not defiled with women.

They're not defiled with the false teachings, for they are pure.

It says they follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

How many of you want to follow the Lamb in heaven?

Do you know if you want to follow Him there then, you need to follow Him here now first.

These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and the Lamb.

They're not the only ones, but it's a special group in the last days.

And in their mouth was found no guile, no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God." So I think you're getting the message that John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, the 144, 000, and people that are preparing for Christ's first coming or second coming, he's calling them to lives of dedication and holiness.

You know, we're living in a day and an age where it's really hard to tell Christians from apart from everyone else in the world, and I believe that people should know there's a difference in the way that we conduct ourselves.

I was in a restaurant with a friend, and the young lady that was serving our table, as she walked away, I said to my friend, she's a Christian.

Her smile, there's something about her appearance, there's a simplicity, there's a peace.

She came back to the table, I said, now I don't want to embarrass you, but are you a Christian?

And she blushed a little bit, and she said, well, yes I am, I go to church.

And She was clearly from her answer a practicing Christian.

I don't know about you, but I've been able to spot that before.

I think that you can sometimes see a difference.

And it's almost like once you are a Christian, you've got this Holy Spirit radar where you can spot each other.

But it shouldn't just be with Christians.

I think the world ought to see that there's a difference.

We're going to find out what the Bible says.

Was there something different about John the Baptist?

What was 1 secret to John the Baptist's spirit-filled life?

If you look in Luke chapter 3, verse 16, John answered and said, I baptize you with water, but 1 mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.

And of course here he's talking about Jesus.

1 secret of his life was you notice that he's self-defacing, there's a humility there in his life.

1 of the keys for a Christian is there's gonna be humility.

Lewis that wrote in his book, Mere Christianity, a chapter called The Great Sin.

And he talks about the devil, the great sin of Lucifer was putting himself in the position of God and pride is the mother of all sins Pride is a handle that fits every other sin.

Even though he was brave and he was bold and audacious for God, he also said in John 3, verse 30, he said, he, speaking of Jesus, He must increase, but I must decrease.

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The King’s Ambassador

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