WEBVTT - Jack Graham - Oct 29 - 2:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art

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<v Speaker 1>my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mark

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<v Speaker 1>1.11 As I step into my purpose, I thank you that,

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<v Speaker 1>like Jesus, I am being baptized into my new life

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<v Speaker 1>and mission here on earth. Before I even begin, I

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<v Speaker 1>thank you that also, like Jesus, you have affirmed and

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<v Speaker 1>validated me as your child. With my identity secured, I

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<v Speaker 1>know that even as I walk through the deserts of temptation,

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<v Speaker 1>you are with me and have equipped me to overcome

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<v Speaker 1>the lies of Satan. When I am tempted with comfort

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<v Speaker 1>instead of commitment, I will remind Satan of your word

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<v Speaker 1>and command him to flee. When Satan tries to get

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<v Speaker 1>me to doubt my identity, I will remind him that

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<v Speaker 1>I am fearfully and wonderfully made. When Satan tempts me

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<v Speaker 1>with the luxury and fame of this world, I will

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<v Speaker 1>remind him that the source of my fulfillment comes from you, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>and that it is you who elevates me, and I

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<v Speaker 1>will command him to flee. I thank you, Lord, that

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<v Speaker 1>through your word, I have supernatural steadfastness and resolve. Satan

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<v Speaker 1>has no authority over my life. And through the life, death,

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<v Speaker 1>and resurrection of Jesus, I have complete victory. In Jesus' name, amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God.

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<v Speaker 1>Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible

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<v Speaker 1>in a Year.

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<v Speaker 2>Baptism and Temptation In our last story, we peered into

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<v Speaker 2>the childhood of Jesus. Even as a young boy, His

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<v Speaker 2>purpose was clear. He was to teach the Word of

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<v Speaker 2>God and turn people's hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

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<v Speaker 2>Although His family did not entirely understand, Jesus grew up

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<v Speaker 2>with purpose.

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<v Speaker 3>And a mission.

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<v Speaker 2>He grew in strength and wisdom, worked as a carpenter,

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<v Speaker 2>and waited to begin His ministry. Now we see John

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<v Speaker 2>preparing the way of Christ through baptism. He preached repentance

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<v Speaker 2>until the day of the Lord finally arrived. Then, before

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<v Speaker 2>his very eyes, God enters in, inspired by the Gospels.

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<v Speaker 4>I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in

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<v Speaker 4>a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode,

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<v Speaker 4>I want you to know that I would absolutely love

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<v Speaker 4>to send you my daily devotional, that will give you

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<v Speaker 4>fresh encouragement every single morning and day. From the moment

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<v Speaker 4>we wake up to the moment our head finally hits

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<v Speaker 4>the pillow, there are thousands of things demanding our attention.

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<v Speaker 4>But it's in the midst of all this crush and

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<v Speaker 4>hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and

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<v Speaker 4>truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help

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<v Speaker 4>you spend time each day growing in God's life-giving, life-changing

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<v Speaker 4>Word by sending you my free daily email devotional, PowerPoint Today.

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<v Speaker 4>So visit JackGraham.org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional.

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<v Speaker 4>That's JackGraham.org. JackGraham.org. In our last episode, we heard how Jesus,

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<v Speaker 4>at just 12 years of age, was full of wisdom

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<v Speaker 4>and insight and in perfect fellowship with God. His desire

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<v Speaker 4>was to be near to the Father, and when his

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<v Speaker 4>parents went to Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus spent his days

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<v Speaker 4>in the temple, sitting with teachers and rabbis, answering questions

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<v Speaker 4>but also sharing the depth of his understanding so that

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<v Speaker 4>all around him were amazed. From an early age, just 12,

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<v Speaker 4>it was clear that he knew his purpose, even when

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<v Speaker 4>others didn't understand it. Today, We'll see John the Baptist

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<v Speaker 4>preaching repentance and baptizing people, preparing the way for Jesus'

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<v Speaker 4>ministry to begin. God was using him to soften the

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<v Speaker 4>hearts of his people, turning them back to him and

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<v Speaker 4>getting them ready to meet the Messiah. Then we'll hear

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<v Speaker 4>how Jesus came onto the scene, God's very presence, Emmanuel

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<v Speaker 4>among his people, the lamb that would take away the

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<v Speaker 4>sin of the world. Let's listen now to the reading

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<v Speaker 4>of God's word.

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<v Speaker 2>John rose to the sounds of birds chirping in the trees.

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<v Speaker 2>Crawling out of his makeshift hut, he could see the

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<v Speaker 2>morning light peeking through the edge of the forest.

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<v Speaker 3>He stretched his.

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<v Speaker 2>Lean and muscular arms to the sky, breathing in the

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<v Speaker 2>cool morning air. He walked down to the brook nearby

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<v Speaker 2>and washed his shaggy hair. Then he ate his breakfast.

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<v Speaker 2>Cooked locusts from the desert with honey he foraged from

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<v Speaker 2>the trees. John prayed to the Lord after his meal,

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<v Speaker 2>calling upon him for favor and anointing. He strapped his

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<v Speaker 2>cloak of camel fur securely around his waist and ventured

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<v Speaker 2>off to the Jordan River. A multitude of people gathered

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<v Speaker 2>by the Jordan waiting for John. They had been meeting

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<v Speaker 2>him for weeks now, listening to him proclaiming the way

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<v Speaker 2>of the Lord. John scanned the sea of faces and stepped.

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<v Speaker 3>Into the river. The water was cool and refreshing.

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<v Speaker 2>He turned around to the people and raised his voice. Repent,

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<v Speaker 2>for the kingdom of heaven is near, he yelled. One

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<v Speaker 2>by one, the people walked into the water with John

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<v Speaker 2>and were baptized. Their submersion in the water represented a

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<v Speaker 2>turning away from sin and idolatry. It was often a

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<v Speaker 2>custom Gentiles would undergo to come into the family of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Yet Jews flocked to John to be baptized. Their hearts

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<v Speaker 2>were softening towards the Lord, and they knew they needed

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<v Speaker 2>to turn from their selfish ways and be restored. John

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<v Speaker 2>would preach the truth of God to thousands of people daily.

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<v Speaker 2>Then he would baptize those whose hearts were ready to

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<v Speaker 2>receive the restoration. John would baptize each person, and the

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<v Speaker 2>crowd would erupt in cheers. A revival was beginning in

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<v Speaker 2>the heart of Israel. John knew that the day of

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord was coming very soon. As John was baptizing,

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<v Speaker 2>he saw a group of hooded figures coming towards the water.

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<v Speaker 2>It was the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious elite responsible

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<v Speaker 2>for upholding the law. They stared at John with scornful eyes.

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<v Speaker 2>They had spent their entire lives sowing seeds of shame

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<v Speaker 2>into the people of God, yet John would not allow

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<v Speaker 2>them to poison his followers. John marched out of the

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<v Speaker 2>water and pointed towards them. Brood of vipers, he shouted.

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<v Speaker 2>Do not presume you are secure with the Lord because

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<v Speaker 2>you are children of Abraham. God could make these rocks

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<v Speaker 2>children of Abraham if he pleased. The men said nothing.

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<v Speaker 2>They only glared at John with loathing. John continued, saying,

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<v Speaker 2>Come and bear fruit worthy of repentance, for a day

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<v Speaker 2>will come when all that does not bear good fruit

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<v Speaker 2>will be cut off. The people marveled at John's words.

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<v Speaker 2>John's eloquence and bravery stirred the children of God. They

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<v Speaker 2>began to mumble rumors of him being the promised Messiah.

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<v Speaker 2>John paused for a long moment, and the people were

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<v Speaker 2>silent as they waited for him to speak. John touched

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<v Speaker 2>the water and let it fall out of his hands.

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<v Speaker 2>I baptize you with water, John said calmly, but the

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<v Speaker 2>one who comes after me will baptize you with the fire.

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<v Speaker 3>Of the Holy Spirit.

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<v Speaker 2>John's words were interrupted as he saw a man standing

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<v Speaker 2>in the crowd. John's eyes widened and his lower lip

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<v Speaker 2>began to quiver. The man stepped forward from the group

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<v Speaker 2>of people standing on the shore. A few tears streamed

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<v Speaker 2>down John's hairy face as he watched Jesus walk into

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<v Speaker 2>the water. John could barely speak. His entire purpose in

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<v Speaker 2>life was to prepare the way of God's chosen, and

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<v Speaker 2>here he was standing before him. Behold the Lamb of

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<v Speaker 2>God who takes away the sins of the world, he

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<v Speaker 2>whispered to himself. Jesus smiled and held his cousin's shoulder.

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<v Speaker 2>Would you baptize me, John?

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<v Speaker 3>He asked. John shook his head. Let it not be so,

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<v Speaker 3>my Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>It is you who should be baptizing me. Jesus held

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<v Speaker 2>up his hand and grinned.

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<v Speaker 3>Let it be so.

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<v Speaker 2>It is fitting to fulfill what is about to take place.

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<v Speaker 2>So John agreed and led Jesus deeper into the water.

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<v Speaker 2>John held the middle of Jesus' back with one hand

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<v Speaker 2>and his arm in another. Then John slowly dipped Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>back into the water. The crowd watched silently as Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>went under the river. As John brought Jesus back up,

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<v Speaker 2>the skies opened up. A bright light shone like a

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<v Speaker 2>second sun, and the Holy Spirit descended down in the

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<v Speaker 2>form of a dove. All in attendance awed as they

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<v Speaker 2>heard the voice of God speak for the first time

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<v Speaker 2>in over 400 years. This is my beloved Son. It

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<v Speaker 2>is with Him I am pleased. This event marked the

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<v Speaker 2>beginning of Jesus' ministry. The favor of the Father and

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<v Speaker 2>the presence of the Spirit dwelled richly with the promised Son.

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<v Speaker 2>In his baptism, Jesus modeled repentance for the rest of humanity.

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<v Speaker 2>He identified with sinful and broken man, yet he was

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<v Speaker 2>not sinful nor broken. Already Jesus was beginning to take

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<v Speaker 2>on the.

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<v Speaker 3>Dirtiness of mankind.

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<v Speaker 2>The Holy Spirit dwelled with Jesus richly and it was

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<v Speaker 2>by his guiding presence that Jesus departed the Jordan into

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<v Speaker 2>the wilderness. Jesus hiked the hills outside Judea. There he

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<v Speaker 2>fasted for forty days, seeking the presence and wisdom of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus fixed his gaze on the nation of Israel and

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<v Speaker 2>A gentle wind blew, rustling the tall grass beside him.

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<v Speaker 2>He was hungry for food, yes. However, Jesus was more

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<v Speaker 2>hungry for the restoration of his people. As he was

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<v Speaker 2>praying to the Lord, a slithering presence entered his midst.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus looked over his shoulder to find the accuser behind him.

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<v Speaker 2>The author of deception, disguised as an angel of light,

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<v Speaker 2>loomed over Jesus as he sat. This was the same

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<v Speaker 2>enemy that spoke to Eve in the garden. Satan. The

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<v Speaker 2>two did not stand as equals. However, Satan in his

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<v Speaker 2>pride believed he could trick Jesus into compromising his heart.

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<v Speaker 2>He knew Jesus was hungry from fasting, so he drew

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<v Speaker 2>in close to Jesus and whispered, What good is the

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<v Speaker 2>Son of God if he cannot feed himself? Why not

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<v Speaker 2>just make these stones into bread?

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<v Speaker 3>Surely you are able.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus was fully God and fully man, so the human

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<v Speaker 2>side of him hurt from hunger. However, he would not

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<v Speaker 2>be swayed.

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<v Speaker 3>Man does not live by bread alone.

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<v Speaker 2>He said, but every word that pours forth from the

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<v Speaker 2>voice of God. Satan spat and took Jesus up into

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<v Speaker 2>a high place to gaze at the kingdom of the earth.

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<v Speaker 3>You see those kingdoms, Jesus? Look at those people.

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<v Speaker 2>They are ready to be ruled, to be conquered. I

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<v Speaker 2>am in the ears of every king in the world.

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<v Speaker 2>If you bow to me, all of it shall be yours.

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<v Speaker 2>Satan's words were soft and cunning.

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<v Speaker 3>However, they dripped with poison. Jesus turned away and looked

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<v Speaker 3>deeply into the angel's eyes. It is written, You shall

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<v Speaker 3>worship God and God alone.

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<v Speaker 2>Only he is worthy to serve, he said.

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus' voice was strong and resolute.

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<v Speaker 2>Growing angry, Satan took Jesus to the edge of the

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<v Speaker 2>mighty temple. Below, there were thousands of people. He had

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus gaze upon the multitudes. He whispered softly in Jesus' ear, saying,

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<v Speaker 2>If you truly.

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<v Speaker 3>Are the Son of God, why not throw yourself over?

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<v Speaker 3>Surely the angels will come to your rescue. They will

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<v Speaker 3>see it too, the people. They will see your glory.

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus looked down at the people below. He did not

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<v Speaker 3>need them to watch a spectacle.

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<v Speaker 2>He wanted their hearts to turn towards him and be

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<v Speaker 2>saved from their own sin.

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<v Speaker 3>You shall not test the Lord your God, Jesus said.

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<v Speaker 2>His last answer was a rebuke as well. So Satan

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<v Speaker 2>crawled back into the shadows. So Jesus returned to the people.

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<v Speaker 3>After 40 long days.

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<v Speaker 2>He ate, he gathered his strength, and marched towards Galilee.

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<v Speaker 4>As we begin today's reading, we meet a very unusual man.

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<v Speaker 4>John the Baptizer didn't fit the mold of society. He

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<v Speaker 4>lived in the desert. eating insects and honey and wearing

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<v Speaker 4>camel's hair. But this was no madman. His voice was

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<v Speaker 4>strong and sure. He spoke boldly, proclaiming that the kingdom

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<v Speaker 4>of God was on the way. And each day he

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<v Speaker 4>grew larger and larger crowds, Jews and others whose hearts

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<v Speaker 4>were being warmed toward God. And as they heard John's

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<v Speaker 4>call for repentance, they came to be baptized as a

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<v Speaker 4>sign of of their commitment to turn away from their

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<v Speaker 4>sin and begin a brand new commitment to God. God

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<v Speaker 4>worked powerfully through John the Baptist, just as he said

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<v Speaker 4>he would, to prepare the way of the Lord, the Messiah,

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<v Speaker 4>to begin his ministry. This was a threat to the

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<v Speaker 4>religious establishment, the powerful and oppressive Pharisees and Sadducees who

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<v Speaker 4>wielded power and control over the Jews with dogma and

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<v Speaker 4>burdensome rules. They watched from a distance, sneering, seething at

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<v Speaker 4>this man who preached repentance and forgiveness from sin, not religion.

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<v Speaker 4>But John did not cower before them. He was courageous.

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<v Speaker 4>He called them out. He called them actually a brood

0:14:16.630 --> 0:14:20.970
<v Speaker 4>of vipers, poisonous snakes, threats. John called them to repentance

0:14:21.030 --> 0:14:23.470
<v Speaker 4>as well, warning them that the day was coming when

0:14:23.510 --> 0:14:26.790
<v Speaker 4>they would be cut off from bearing any fruit. His

0:14:26.890 --> 0:14:30.230
<v Speaker 4>boldness impressed the crowds. They began to wonder if he

0:14:30.270 --> 0:14:33.630
<v Speaker 4>was the Messiah. The people were ready for a Savior,

0:14:33.720 --> 0:14:37.060
<v Speaker 4>and they wanted John to be their hero. But he

0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:41.740
<v Speaker 4>was quick to correct their misconception. His baptism was with water,

0:14:42.280 --> 0:14:44.460
<v Speaker 4>but the one who was to come would baptize them

0:14:45.100 --> 0:14:48.400
<v Speaker 4>with the fire of God's Spirit. It would signify a

0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:52.620
<v Speaker 4>deeper change of life. And then one day, suddenly Jesus

0:14:52.660 --> 0:14:56.260
<v Speaker 4>came through the crowd. John knew exactly who he was,

0:14:56.420 --> 0:14:59.680
<v Speaker 4>even if others didn't. This was the very moment for

0:14:59.720 --> 0:15:02.720
<v Speaker 4>which John had been born. And he didn't miss it.

0:15:03.310 --> 0:15:07.330
<v Speaker 4>Here was the Savior the world needed. And he announced loudly, boldly,

0:15:07.390 --> 0:15:10.150
<v Speaker 4>that Jesus was the Lamb that would take away the

0:15:10.230 --> 0:15:14.810
<v Speaker 4>sins of the world. Then what Jesus did shocked John.

0:15:15.510 --> 0:15:20.230
<v Speaker 4>He asked to be baptized, and John was incredulous. He

0:15:20.250 --> 0:15:24.170
<v Speaker 4>in fact protested. Shouldn't Jesus be the one baptizing him?

0:15:24.630 --> 0:15:27.700
<v Speaker 4>But Jesus assured him that this was what must take place.

0:15:28.780 --> 0:15:31.940
<v Speaker 4>And so Jesus submitted to the baptism of John. to

0:15:32.000 --> 0:15:37.660
<v Speaker 4>fulfill all righteousness. And then something supernatural happened. God spoke

0:15:37.700 --> 0:15:40.640
<v Speaker 4>from heaven. The voice from the heavens gave the people

0:15:40.680 --> 0:15:44.470
<v Speaker 4>a clear message that we find in Matthew 3, 17.

0:15:44.470 --> 0:15:46.830
<v Speaker 4>And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my

0:15:46.890 --> 0:15:51.030
<v Speaker 4>beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. As God

0:15:51.090 --> 0:15:53.490
<v Speaker 4>the Father spoke, God's Spirit in the form of a

0:15:53.530 --> 0:15:57.260
<v Speaker 4>dove descended and rested on Jesus. So here we see

0:15:57.780 --> 0:16:02.240
<v Speaker 4>the Trinity, the triune God, all three persons, Father, Son,

0:16:02.660 --> 0:16:07.320
<v Speaker 4>and Holy Spirit. The meeting was abundantly clear to everyone present,

0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:10.850
<v Speaker 4>and it should be to us. This one, the Savior

0:16:10.870 --> 0:16:13.300
<v Speaker 4>of the world, Jesus, was more than a prophet or

0:16:13.330 --> 0:16:17.290
<v Speaker 4>a teacher. He was God's one and only Son, and

0:16:17.350 --> 0:16:20.910
<v Speaker 4>God's Spirit anointed him and appointed him to be the

0:16:20.970 --> 0:16:25.530
<v Speaker 4>Savior of the world. Immediately after this event, Jesus went alone,

0:16:25.670 --> 0:16:29.350
<v Speaker 4>filled with God's Spirit, to the wilderness. He fasted 40

0:16:29.350 --> 0:16:33.770
<v Speaker 4>days and was tempted by God's adversary, the devil. Satan

0:16:33.810 --> 0:16:36.830
<v Speaker 4>knew that Jesus' presence and ministry would spell his end,

0:16:36.890 --> 0:16:40.810
<v Speaker 4>his ultimate defeat. So he attacked him at the very

0:16:40.890 --> 0:16:43.859
<v Speaker 4>outset of his ministry, trying to destroy the mission of God.

0:16:44.530 --> 0:16:46.580
<v Speaker 4>Just as he had done with Adam and Eve, Satan

0:16:46.660 --> 0:16:51.440
<v Speaker 4>twisted God's word. But Jesus stood firm against every attack.

0:16:51.800 --> 0:16:55.840
<v Speaker 4>Each temptation he fired back with scripture, showing that with

0:16:55.880 --> 0:16:59.270
<v Speaker 4>God's word, we overcome the enemy. The word of God

0:16:59.360 --> 0:17:01.760
<v Speaker 4>is like a weapon. It is a sword, the sword

0:17:01.780 --> 0:17:05.859
<v Speaker 4>of the Spirit. This was real temptation. This was more

0:17:05.920 --> 0:17:09.080
<v Speaker 4>than just the testing of Jesus' mind and metal. In

0:17:09.119 --> 0:17:13.199
<v Speaker 4>this moment, Jesus demonstrates that he can identify with us

0:17:13.320 --> 0:17:16.939
<v Speaker 4>and the temptations we face. Because just as he faced

0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:20.370
<v Speaker 4>and overcame temptations in his life, he empowers us now

0:17:20.450 --> 0:17:24.919
<v Speaker 4>by his Spirit to overcome every temptation. He went to

0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:27.140
<v Speaker 4>the cross and died for our sins so that we

0:17:27.240 --> 0:17:31.010
<v Speaker 4>no longer need to be bound by our sins. Satan

0:17:31.190 --> 0:17:33.730
<v Speaker 4>is soundly defeated, and now we can live in the

0:17:33.790 --> 0:17:37.130
<v Speaker 4>victory that is ours in Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for

0:17:37.230 --> 0:17:40.570
<v Speaker 4>coming to this earth to take away our sins. We

0:17:40.630 --> 0:17:42.880
<v Speaker 4>know that you are the Lamb of God, the precious

0:17:43.080 --> 0:17:45.860
<v Speaker 4>one who gave your life on the cross so that

0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:49.160
<v Speaker 4>we could be forgiven. Thank you for taking on every

0:17:49.220 --> 0:17:52.129
<v Speaker 4>temptation of the enemy. so that we could live in

0:17:52.170 --> 0:17:55.270
<v Speaker 4>the promise and in the peace of victory in you.

0:17:55.990 --> 0:17:59.409
<v Speaker 4>And we pray this in your powerful and saving name. Amen.

0:18:00.130 --> 0:18:03.350
<v Speaker 4>Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

0:18:03.770 --> 0:18:06.550
<v Speaker 4>I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. And before we go,

0:18:06.990 --> 0:18:08.669
<v Speaker 4>I want you to know that I would love to

0:18:08.730 --> 0:18:12.560
<v Speaker 4>send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement

0:18:12.800 --> 0:18:16.859
<v Speaker 4>every single day. So visit jackgraham.org to sign up for

0:18:16.880 --> 0:18:21.350
<v Speaker 4>your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's jackgraham.org. dot org.