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Introduction: Opening words of Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds: “We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan of organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ‘There was a man sent from God whose name was John.’”

I.                    THE MAN – JOHN (v.6) – “There was a man” 

A.       God Seeks for Men

1.   He seeks for men of godly character (Jeremiah 5:1)

2.   He seeks for men who will stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30)

B.       God Takes Note of Men

1.   Job (Job 1:1, 8)

2.   Simeon (Luke 2:25)

C.       God’s Men have a Name – “whose name was John”

1.   More that a label to identify them

2.   An announcement of his character (Proverbs 22:1)

3.   A gift from God (Luke 1:13)

II.                 HIS MASTER – GOD (v.6) – “sent from God”

A.       Every Man has a Master (Romans 6:16); our only choice is who we will serve

B.       Our Strength Comes from being Under Authority (Matthew 8:5-10)

C.       Our Highest Calling is to Please God (2Timothy 2:4)

III.               HIS MISSION – TO WITNESS (v.7) – “came for a witness”

A.       A Man Without a Mission is a Mess

1.   He gives his life for toys and trifles (Isaiah 55:2)

2.   He is prone to fall into many hurtful lusts (1Timothy 6:9)

B.       Our True Mission is God’s Purpose for our Life (Acts 9:6)

IV.              HIS MESSAGE – TO BELIEVE ON THE LIGHT (v.7) – “might believe”

A.       A Message Brings Others into Our Lives

1.   No man lives unto himself (Romans 14:7-8)

2.   No earthly pursuit exceeds that of a soul (Mark 8:36-37)

3.   Only people have an eternal soul; only people can receive the message

B.       A Message Gives Us Something to Say

1.   Words of spirit and life (John 6:63)

2.   The word of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:19)

3.   A word in season to him that is weary (Isaiah 50:4)

Conclusion: Consider the old poem:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost;

For want of a shoe the horse was lost;

For want of a horse the rider was lost;

For want of a rider the battle was lost;

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Today, one of the crying needs of the land is for men—men of integrity; men who love and serve God. May the Lord say of someone here today: “There was a man sent from God….”