THE WORTH OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD

CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4^TH 2024

Sermon par Pasteur Marc E SIMEON

The Hidden Worth of the Children of God

READING :  LUKE 7 : 24-28

²⁴ After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 

²⁵ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 

²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’^[b]

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

• Regardless of race, or creeds, or religion, people will find a way to classify you.
• People will find a way to determine your net worth and  your value.
• All their interactions with you will be based on those assumptions.
• You will either be in the list of the haves or in the haves not
• You will either be in the list of the famous or the common.
• Educated or uneducated
• Successful or losers
•  Powerful or powerless
• Most of the efforts we make on a daily basis are gymnastics to move from one side of the isle to the other.
• When it comes to John the Baptist, people did not know where to put him.
• He could not be registered as rich.
• He could not be registered as a savvy, a brain.
• He could not be registered as mighty.
• He could not be registered for rhetoric or academia
• He could not be registered as a miracle worker
• People could not pinpoint what it was about John that caused him to have such a huge influence over the people
• Jesus took advantage of the opportunity to inquire on the public opinion of John the Baptist.

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

• What is surprising about the statement of Jesus concerning John was that, it was said at a time when John was in his lowest state of being.
• It was said when John was sarcastic, doubtful, and even disenchanted with Jesus.
• It was said at a time when John even doubted himself and God.
• It was said when all eyes were now upon Jesus because of His great display of power while John’s ministry was at a stall.

Verse 28 give us two great puzzles that most Bible commentators seem to shy away from.

• The first part is greatest than all men born of women
• The second part is the comparison that the smallest in the kingdom of God to be greater than John

Lu 7:28 “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (NKJV)

The greatness of John would have to be based on the favors he received of God.

• Lu 1:15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

GOD’S EVALUATION ON YOU IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS

• What the crowd thought of John did not matter.
• Wherever John was in the social latter did not matter.
• His true net worth was based on God’s perception of him
• To have the Holy Spirit permanently residing in you before the dispensation of Grace, before the birth of the church was an all time privilege that no human being has had until John.
• Not Abraham, not Moses, not Joshua, not David, not even Mary the mother of Jesus had had that privilege.
• When you think of what makes someone worthy, have you ever considered  the worth of your relationship to God.

THE DISTINCTIVES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

John was considered greatest among all born of human:

• Because He was filled with the holy Spirit before the church era.
• Because He was the forerunner of the lord Jesus Christ.
• Because He walked with the spirit and authority of Elijah the great prophet of God.
• Because He was privileged to baptize Jesus.
• Because He was privileged to see the display of the Trinity of God during the baptism of Jesus.
• Because he was able to stir the heart of the people toward God after 400 years of silence from God.
• Because he was the last prophet of the Old Testament and the one to introduce the Messiah of the Testament.
• John’s social conditions had no bearing upon his worth as far as God was concerned.

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST?

Luc 7:28b  but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist.

1. We see that the dispensation of the church is far greater than that of the Old Testament.

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Eph 1:3-6 3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

• Are you still doubtful about your net worth?
• Are you a believer in Christ?
• Are you even the least in the Kingdom of God?
• Is your name written in heaven?
• Are you born of the Spirit of God?
• Do you have the seal of salvation on you?
• If Christ was to return today would you be taken in the rapture of the Church to partake in the wedding of the Lamb of God as bride of Christ?
• Then, you are worth even more than John the Baptist the greatest of all born of women.
• You are worth more than all the pagan kings of this world.

CONCLUSION

• Stop evaluating yourself by the standards of this world.
• Stop feeling sorry for yourself for not receiving a greater share of the goods of this world.
• Lets us end with assuring words that we find in Hebrews chapter 4

Hebrews 4 :14-16

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

AMEN !