Who are you?

Send us a text

The question echoes through time: "Who are you?" When religious leaders confronted John the Baptist, his answer wasn't about credentials or achievements. "I am not the Christ," he declared with striking humility. "I am a voice."

Pastor Harry takes us to the banks of the Jordan River in John 1:19-28, where this pivotal exchange reveals profound truths about identity and purpose. Through John's testimony, we discover what it means to find ourselves not in titles or accomplishments, but in our calling to prepare the way for Jesus.

The world measures worth by credentials and recognition, but God's kingdom operates differently. Throughout history, heaven's authority has rested not on framed certificates but on divine calling and faithful obedience. D.L. Moody was never ordained. A.W. Tozer had no formal education beyond sixth grade. Charles Spurgeon held no degree. Yet each became a powerful voice because they understood what truly matters.

When John called himself merely "a voice," he wasn't diminishing his role but embracing it fully. He wasn't building a platform; he was preparing a path. While many religious leaders today craft services that resemble concerts more than sacred assemblies, John's example challenges us to reconsider our approach. Are we willing to disappear behind the message so Christ can be seen more clearly?

The question transforms from "Who are you?" to "Whose are you?" and finally to "Will you go when He calls?" Like Moses before the burning bush who questioned his adequacy, we often focus on our limitations rather than God's power working through us. But God doesn't need your qualifications—He simply requires your "yes."

Ready to discover what it means to be a voice in your own wilderness? Listen now and embrace the freedom of finding your identity in Christ alone.

Support the show

Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
When John the Baptist was confronted by the religious
leaders of his day, they askedhim the question that echoes
through every generation who areyou?
In a world where identity isoften measured by titles,
achievements and credentials,john's answer was striking in
its humility I am not the Christ, I am a voice.
In this episode, pastor Harrietspores John, chapter 1, 19 to

(00:31):
20, examining what it means tofind our identity not in
ourselves but in our calling toprepare the way for Jesus.
Through John's testimony we seethe beauty of humility, the
power of obedience and thecalling to be a voice pointing
others to Christ.
Join Pastor Harry as he unpackswhat it means to step aside so
that Jesus can be seen moreclearly.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Hello, welcome again to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, Pastor HarryBehrens.
And today we're stepping intothe dusty roads of John, chapter
1, verses 19 to 28, where agroup of religious leaders
approaches John the Baptist witha direct question who are you?
But let's not just breeze pastthat Pause with me and think If
someone asked you that today,how would you answer?

(01:21):
And if we dig a little deeper,whose are you and what gives
your voice authority?
Now, before we enter thatmoment on the river bank, here's
a quick flyover of where we'vebeen.
In episode one, we saw John,chapter one, verses one to three
.
We met Jesus as the eternalword.
In the beginning was the word,and the word was with God and

(01:43):
the word was God.
All things were made throughhim.
In episode two, we coveredverses four and five.
Showed us that in him was lifeand the life was the light of
men.
The light shines in thedarkness and the darkness has
not overcome it.
The kind of life that lightpushes back every shadow.
The kind of life that lightpushes back every shadow.

(02:04):
Then, in episode 3, we coveredverses 6 to 18.
It brought us close.
The word made known.
John the Baptist bore witnessand we heard the promise that to
all who did receive him, hegave the right to become
children of God, who were bornof God, and that from his
fullness we have all receivedgrace upon grace.

(02:27):
No one has ever seen God, theonly God who is at the Father's
side.
He has made him known.
With that backdrop, the stage isset.
The prologue gives way to thefirst on-the-ground moment.
A delegation steps out fromJerusalem to the Jordan with one
burning question who are you?

(02:48):
John's gospel shows us thatidentity isn't just about what
you do.
It's tied to who you belong toand the mission you've been
given.
And John the Baptist's response?
It's not a list of achievementsor credentials, it's a humble
embrace of the role God gave him.
That sets the stage for theopening scene, an interrogation

(03:11):
that forces John to definehimself not in the eyes of man
but in light of his calling.
This encounter begins with aninterrogation the priests and
Levites sent by the religiousleaders in Jerusalem.
They come to question John theBaptist, not out of curiosity
but out of concern.
John is drawing crowds,preaching repentance and

(03:33):
baptizing with authority, butwith no official credentials.
Who are you, they ask.
It's a loaded question, and yetJohn responds with bold
humility he says I am not theChrist, I am not Elijah, I am
not the prophet.
He defines himself not by whohe is, but by who he is not.
Only then does he clarify I amthe voice of one crying out in

(03:57):
the wilderness Make straight theway of the Lord.
Today we face similarquestioning, Whether from others
or from within who are you tospeak for God?
Where did you get yourauthority?
And here's the truth.
Ordination in man's sight mayopen doors in religious circles,
but it means nothing indetermining God's call.

(04:17):
Heaven's authority does notrest on a framed certificate,
the laying on of human hands orrecognition from an institution.
It rests on the sovereignchoice of God.
Throughout history, he hasdelighted in using the ones the
world overlooked, theuncredentialed, the
underestimated.
So that no one can mistake thesource of the power, Just look

(04:39):
at the record DL Moody he wasnever ordained, yet led
thousands to Christ.
Dl Moody he was never ordained,yet led thousands to Christ.
Aw Tozer he had no formalschooling beyond sixth grade,
yet became a prophetic voice forthe church.
Charles Spurgeon was called theprince of preachers, yet never
held a degree.
And Dr HA Ironside he pastoredMoody Church without ever being

(05:02):
ordained, refusing to compromisehis convictions.
These men didn't need humanapproval to fulfill their
calling, because the one whocalled them had already given
them his authority.
As Paul wrote Paul an apostle,not from men alone, nor through
man, but through Jesus Christ,Galatians 1.1.

(05:25):
The point is this God doesn'tneed credentials, he uses
obedience and the question nolonger who are you, but whose
are you?
When John denies being Elijah,he's not contradicting Jesus,
who later said he is Elijah, notcontradicting Jesus who later
said he is Elijah who is to come.

(05:45):
The key is understanding thatJohn came in the spirit and
power of Elijah, not as areincarnation but as a prophetic
forerunner.
Luke 1, verse 17 says and hewill go before him in the spirit
and power of Elijah to turn thehearts of the fathers to the
children and the disobedient tothe hearts of the fathers to the
children and the disobedient tothe wisdom of the just, to make

(06:08):
ready for the Lord a peopleprepared Like Elijah.
John boldly confronted corruptrulers.
Elijah said to King Ahab I havenot troubled Israel, but you
have because you have forsakenthe commandments of the Lord and
followed the Baals.
1 Kings 18.
John said to Herod it is notlawful for you to have your

(06:30):
brother's wife.
Mark 6.
18.
They dressed as a desertdweller.
Prophet Elijah wore a garmentof hair with a belt of leather
around his waist 2 Kings 1.
8.
John was clothed with camel'shair and wore a leather belt
around his waist and ate locustand wild honey.
In Mark 1.6.
They both called people torepentance.

(06:51):
Elijah urged Israel if the Lordis God, follow him.
1 Kings 18.21.
And John proclaimed repent, forthe kingdom of heaven is at
hand.
Matthew 3.2.
You don't need Elijah's name tocarry Elijah's fire.
You just need the same spirit.
When John calls himself a voice,he's doing more than quoting

(07:13):
Isaiah 40, verse 3.
He's declaring his role toprepare the way, not to take the
stage.
That's our calling also.
Are we content being just avoice?
Too often we want recognition,applause or significance, but
God is looking for those willingto disappear behind the message

(07:34):
, because it's not about themessenger, it's about the one
who's coming.
Just look at the state of manypulpits today.
Churches are dimming the lights, turning up the fog machines
and crafting worship servicesthat resemble concerts more than
sacred assemblies.
Pastors enter to applause,deliver motivational talks

(07:57):
wrapped in scripture and subtlyshift the spotlight to
themselves or their brand.
The focus drifts from the wordof God to the charisma of the
preacher, from God's glory tochurch's popularity.
But John the Baptist wasn'tbuilding a platform, he was

(08:19):
preparing a path, and thatshould still be our model today.
And that should still be ourmodel today.
John didn't have a degree or atemple backing, but he had the
call of God and that was enough.
What if God is calling you notto be somebody, but to be a
voice?
Maybe your excuses looksomething like this I'm not

(08:41):
trained, I'm not ordained, I'mnot qualified.
Well, neither was John.
But remember, God chose what isfoolish, what is weak, what is
low and despised.
1 Corinthians 1, 26-29.
We have this treasure in jarsof clay.
2 Corinthians 4, 7.

(09:02):
And it is God who works in you.
Philippians 2.13.
God is not looking at yourresume, he's listening for your
yes.
Now, looking at verses 24 to28,.
When asked why he baptizes, Johnresponds I baptize with water,

(09:23):
but among you stands one you donot know.
He points to Jesus, stillhidden from public recognition,
and with utter humility, he saysI'm not worthy to untie his
sandals.
This was a task too low evenfor a Jewish servant.
And John, the greatest ofprophets, says he's not even

(09:45):
worthy of that.
His baptism wasn't a religiousritual.
It was preparation to meet theking.
Now, in ancient times, before aking arrived, a herald went
ahead to announce the king'scoming.
Roads were cleaned, Cities wereprepared.
That's what John was doing withhis baptism Not empty ceremony,

(10:07):
but heart level cleansing.
Make straight the way of theLord.
And where did this all happen?
Not in the temple, but in thewilderness.
This happened in Bethany,beyond the Jordan.
This is where Elijah once stood, where Joshua led Israel across
the river, where transitionshappened.

(10:28):
That's where John prepared.
The way John's ministry wasn'taccidental.
It was prophetic, precise androyal in nature.
He stood as a herald on sacredground, proclaiming the coming
of the king.
He didn't seek attention orapplause.
He didn't campaign forinfluence.
He cleared the road not forhimself, but for Jesus.

(10:51):
His life was a livinginvitation.
Make straight the way of theLord.
That same calling rests on ustoday not to convince others by
force or cleverness, but to liveas those who are utterly
convinced ourselves.
When we live like we've seenthe glory of the King, when

(11:12):
repentance marks our steps andhumility shapes our voice, the
world begins to see Jesusthrough us.
We are not the light, we arethe lampstand.
We are not the message, we arethe echo.
Like John, we prepare the waybecause we've met the one who is

(11:33):
the way.
So when someone asks who are you, how do you respond?
Are you known for your title oryour calling in Christ?
Are you willing to be a voicethat points others to Jesus,
even if it means stepping intoobscurity?
And here's a closing picture Iwant you to hold on to.

(11:55):
Moses was in the wildernesstired, angry, old, unsure.
He wasn't looking for God, hewas looking after sheep.
And there, in the middle ofnowhere, God spoke from a
burning bush.
Moses said who am I?
But God didn't need hisconfidence, he just needed his

(12:18):
obedience.
The same is true for you.
When God calls, don't wait tofeel ready.
Say yes, because the realquestion is no longer who are
you, but will you go when hecalls?
Let's pray, father, god.
We thank you for your word, foryour message, for the truth of

(12:40):
what you show us, that it's notso much about who we are but who
we belong to, that it's not somuch about who we are but who we
belong to, and our willingnessto say yes.
I think of the freedom you gaveus Jesus, Not a freedom to
choose what's best for us orwhat we think is best for us,
but a freedom to live inrighteousness, A freedom to say

(13:05):
yes to you, God, no longerenslaved to sin, serving the
desires and the passions of theflesh, but serving you,
proclaiming your greatness andwho you are.
Oh God, I pray that ourlisteners hear this today, that
they submit to this calling.
Not a calling to go into theworld to convince them, but a

(13:25):
calling to go into the worldbeing people who are convinced
and that the world would seethat on us and be transformed
because of the light thatreflects off of us.
Father, we love you and we thankyou for all that you've done to
reflect your glory off of thesefilthy rags.
In Jesus' name, amen.

(13:46):
Now as always, I want to thankyou for joining us today, and I
hope this episode has helped youtake a step closer in your
relationship with Jesus and thatyou now have a deeper
understanding of just how muchGod loves you and wants you to
know him.
Before we go, I want toencourage you to send us any
questions or comments you mayhave using the text us link in
the episode description.

(14:07):
Your input helps us shapefuture episodes that speak
directly to your needs and helpyou grow in your faith.
It's our desire that thisministry be a tool to reach the
lost and equip the saints for alife that brings glory to God.
So, God bless, and we'll seeyou next time on the Takeaway.