THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING
Isaiah 40: 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord;Make straight in the desertA highway for our God.
More than 700 years after Isaiah’s prophetic vision, the voice of one crying in the wilderness shows up again—this time in literal fashion: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). John applied Isaiah’s prophecy to himself, saying, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’”.
Not only did John minister in the wilderness of Judea, but God also chose him to introduce the nation of Israel to Jesus Christ and prepare the people’s hearts to receive their Savior and Redeemer. John preached boldly, calling people to “repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). After people confessed their sins, they demonstrated repentance by being baptized and then living transformed lives.
Title: THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING
- The Importance of Voices.
- Becoming Forerunners In A Groaning World.
- When Our Voice is Unheard
- Go Back to the One Who Cried On the Cross
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF VOICES.
Voices are the medium through which we do a lot of communicating with the outside world: our ideas, and also our emotions and our personality.
Your voice is important because:
- Your Voice is Power.
We have a voice! When we speak, people listen. We’ve been given instruments of influence.
With our voices, we champion causes. We comfort the suffering. We encourage, respond, embolden, warn, inspire and teach.
- Your Voice is an Instrument.
- Instrument of Peace.
“To silence the guns, we must raise the voices of peace.” (Antonio Guterres 9th Sec. Gen. of the UN).
In a world of violence, we need an instrument of peace.
– Instrument of Love.
Love is often voiced in songs.
- Instrument of Hope.
We exist to use our voice to bring hope, healing and ultimately love to the people we encounter.
A voice can be a source of hope in difficult times. It is a tool that transports us into the future, a future that has more possibilities and more solutions. It is a tool that can be used for standing up for what is right, rather than what is easy. It gives your opinions a platform, and gifts you with the opportunity to have perspective and knowledge on things that matter.
- Instrument of Life.
“Speak life” chorus – Toby Mac
So speak life, to the deadest darkest night
Speak life, when the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the broken hearted
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak life.
- Your Voice is a Gift.
Our voice is a gift from God.
God has given us the gift of voice and we must use this gift to build.
He gives you credibility to speak into issues based on what he’s taught you and what he’s exposed you to. He gives us things for a purpose.
Are you being a good steward of what he’s given you?
Martin Luther said, “We are all mere beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.” With your voice, show others where to find the bread.
We use our voices with eternity in mind. When he gives his children gifts, like the gift of voice, we respond in gratitude by using our voices to tell of his greatness.
II. BECOMING FORERUNNERS IN A GROANING WORLD
Most of us can see that the world is troubled—and increasingly so. The world is groaning under the rising tide of injustice, immorality, and corruption.
As deep darkness covers the earth, the Lord is calling forth messengers of hope. Evil is rising, but God will release His Word in power as the Kingdom invades every sphere of society through His people – The FORERUNNERS.
A Forerunner is something or someone that acts as an early and less advanced model for what will appear in the future, or a warning or sign of what is to follow.
When forerunners realize that their voices are powerful gifts and use them as instruments of peace, love, hope and life, lives will shift, souls will be saved, and many will see the glory of Jesus before He returns.
Like the disciples and prophets of old, our God is calling forth voices to bring His truth to a lost and dying world. Will you stand among them?
Your voice matters. The threat is real, but so is the glory.
Silence is not an option.
Mordecai told Esther when the Jews faced a terrible threat, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
As Christ’s return approaches, God is raising up forerunners in the spirit of John the Baptist, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight’” (Mark 1:3).
All voices are needed.
Only light pierces darkness, and light comes as we speak His Word. The Holy Spirit is calling, stirring the hearts of men and women. How will you respond?
Believers are forerunners and their powerful voices can be their:
- Sanctified Lives.
This kind of sanctification is a practical experience of our separation unto God. “Progressive” or “experiential” sanctification, as it is sometimes called. It is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life.
This type of sanctification is to be pursued by the believer earnestly and is effected by the application of the Word.
Sanctified life includes:
- Discernment. A forerunner cannot be deceived and is not deceived.
- Separation. He is not involve in sinful affairs that can weigh him down.
- Life. He has life from the Spirit because he lives in the Spirit. He is full of life and brings life.
Our sanctified life speaks. It voices out a life that is powerfully changed.
- Cry in Prayer.
We are the voice of the Lord on the earth as we declare his will through our prayers.
We become God’s voice on the earth for breakthrough by praying His will as we listen and obey. He wants us to be His mouthpiece on the earth.
Jeremiah 1:9-10 says, ‘Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” He was called to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
Through our prayers we can do the same. We need the Lord to touch our lips and put His Words in our mouth.
God’s Spirit wants to flow through us as rivers of living water. We must believe this, and as the days darken we must learn to be His voice and speak His truth!
Kingdom people know how to pray in His Kingdom. Isaiah 58:12:“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
When we have the assurance that a promise is from God’s Word for us, we can pray it confidently and claim it authoritatively.
III. WHEN OUR VOICE IS UNHEARD
Observation of the present time:
People are becoming more vocal and outspoken – of their needs, their rights, their concerns, their religious beliefs. They are joining their voices together and their joined voices are being heard.
Where is the voice of the people of God among these? Where is the Bride of Christ today?
We have become the literal Voice of one crying in the wilderness that means, “A lone voice in the wilderness.” Someone who is pointing out the dangers in a situation or the truth about it, but nobody is paying any attention.
Is the world not listening? Why is our Voice unheard of today?
- Our Hearts Declined.
We have lost our passion. We have lowered the standard of holiness. We compromised our values.
In the beginning, the church was a powerful group in Jerusalem, and everywhere the apostles went. In the early decades of 20th century, the end-time message was a powerful influence among churches and ministries.
Today, churches have succumbed to divisions because they focused on doctrinal issues, fanaticism, and personal grudges.
- Our Hearts Distended. (Bloated)
John humbly acknowledged his inferior position as only “a voice.” Even though he drew huge crowds, he never lost sight of his supporting role: “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11)
When Jesus stepped into the limelight, He said, “I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him” (John 3:28).He said: “It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:29–30).
As Christians, we need to learn from John’s humility as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” John understood that he was not the focal point of his ministry. The apostle Paul grasped this, too, saying, “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
As the Lord’s servants, we are privileged to play a part in God’s work, but we are not the light. Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). We are mere reflections of that light purposed to point people to Him (Matthew 5:14–16).
- Our Hearts Do Not Care.
- Loss of Practical Voice
James, the half-brother of Jesus said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
Rick Warren: “We already know way more than we’re doing.”
In being practical, we connect the eternal truth of God’s Word to the daily walk in which every believer lives. We get to give them not only a higher aim and vision about life, but tracks to run on in order to achieve that higher life.
- Loss of Prophetic Voice
As Paul instructed young Timothy, we must “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).
When you are called to represent the Creator as a mouthpiece to his world, you must at times address the sins and stains that are entirely human in origin.
The church needs your voice. When God has placed a word inside you, you simply must let it out. It has to be offered to the intended hearer so that it can be fruitful.
- Loss of Pastoral Voice.
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV).
The Shepherd, who cares so deeply for the well-being of those in his flock, speaks in a voice commanding enough to convey security but not so harsh as to be threatening.
In a world where the people who attend churches are beaten up and stressed and living on the ragged edge, it is vital that they know they are cared for, and at least part of that assurance is communicated in our voice.
What we really should desire is to sound winsome and welcoming.
That’s the pastoral voice – the voice that lifts up the fallen and holds up the broken and catches up with people in the middle of their pain.
IV. GO BACK TO THE ONE WHO CRIED ON THE CROSS
When you are losing your passion as a Christian, you need to go back to the person and what he did that gave you the reason to live.
John is the voice crying in the wilderness – the forerunner, Jesus the Greater John is the Voice crying on the cross – The Savior. John is the voice of repentance, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus is the voice of salvation, “It is done”. He could come down from the cross but He chose to stay.
Jesus removed our fears when took every step towards Calvary. He removed our unworthiness when He carried our cross. He empowers us when He rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit.
When you feel that your passion is dying until your heart declines and you do not care anymore, you need to go back to the Heart of the Gospel, to the One who cried on the cross because He loves you much that he gave much. We need to fill our eyes again with the vision of the Man hanging on the cross.
If you are not becoming the Voice of One because of “self” or pride has crept in your heart, look at the cross and you will see the selfless Man who thought of no one else but you.
If you have not gone back to being the voice of One because of fear, here is the message for you by the cross – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear…”The love Jesus has shown you by giving his own life will once again propel you to go back to your calling.
CONCLUSION:
It is glorious to be a believer and it is an honor and privilege to serve the one who gave his life for us.
Christians, when we look at the Son of God on the cross, it will not be difficult to give our lives back. Yes there will be struggles but it will not be a burden when we use everything we have for God’s purpose, because it is all about Him and His kingdom. We are all subjects of the kingdom of God and as subjects we fight, serve and give all for our King’s cause.
And our king has one cry, that men might be save.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? Romans 10: 14- 15.
