Introduction:  Some believers are strong and some believers are weak, yet even the strongest can and will have times of weakness.  The Bible admonishes us, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
See All...)  The bottom line is that every one of us no matter how weak or strong in the faith can fall into times of weakness.  We must guard against those times and be willing to rather draw close to Christ and increase in faith.

1. THE GREATNESS OF JOHN 
1. In the Angel’s Description (Luke 1:15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
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1. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
2. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
2. In His Mother’s Womb (Luke 1:39-44 [39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; [40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. [41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: [42] And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. [43] And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
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3. In His Childhood
1. The son of a priest (Luke 1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
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2. The son of righteous parents (Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
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4. In His Purpose (Luke 1:16-17 [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. [17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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1. To turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord
2. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
3. To turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just
4. To make ready a people prepared for the Lord
5. In His Preaching
1. The hardness of John’s preaching (Luke 3:7-9 [7] Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
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2. The stand against sin (Luke 3:18-19 [18] And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
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6. In His Baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:13-17 [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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7. In His Exaltation of Christ
1. John’s denial of being the Christ (Luke 3:15-17 [15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; [16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
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2. John’s heart (John 1:25-27 [25] And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? [26] John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; [27] He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
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3. John’s declaration of Christ as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
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4. John’s desire to decrease (John 3:30He must increase, but I must decrease.
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8. In the Lord’s Praise of Him
1. No greater prophet than John born of women (Luke 7:28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
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2. None greater than John born of women (Matthew 11:11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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9. In His Death (Matthew 14:1-12 [1] At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, [2] And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. [3] For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. [4] For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. [5] And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. [6] But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. [7] Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. [8] And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. [9] And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. [10] And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. [11] And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. [12] And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
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2. THE WEAKNESS OF JOHN (Luke 7:11-19 [11] And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. [12] Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. [13] And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. [14] And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. [15] And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. [16] And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. [17] And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. [18] And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. [19] And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
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1. The Timing of John’s Weakness
1. On the heels of a great miracle (Luke 7:11-18 [11] And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. [12] Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. [13] And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. [14] And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. [15] And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. [16] And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. [17] And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. [18] And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
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2. Compare to Elijah after the victory over the prophets of Baal, running for his life from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-4 [1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
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2. The Severity of John’s Weakness
1. Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? (Luke 7:19And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
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2. This questioned the ministry to which John had devoted his whole life.  Was he right in his ministry?  Had he wasted his life declaring the presence of the “Lamb of God”?  These were the questions in his mind.
3. THE CURE FOR JOHN'S WEAKNESS (Luke 7:20-23 [20] When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? [21] And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. [22] Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. [23] And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
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1. The Words of Christ (Luke 7:20-22 [20] When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? [21] And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. [22] Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
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1. The cure for doubt is faith.
2. The acquisition of faith is by hearing the words of God (Romans 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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2. The Rebuke of Christ (Luke 7:23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
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Conclusion:  Are you guarding today against the times of weak faith?  Are you constantly questioning your fulfillment of God’s will for your life?  Are you concerned that your life has been wasted in the service of Christ?  If so, put yourself under the hearing of God’s word and allow Him to build your faith in what He has done.