Matthew 11:7-14
"As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
John the baptist was a mighty man of God! He was given the unique role of being a forerunner to the King of Glory, Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
John's ministry was not that long, him and Jesus had that in common, a very short ministry. But in that short time he was used by God to start the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
He was the only man mentioned in the bible that had God's Holy Spirit from birth!
Luke 1:13-17
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 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. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.”
John had a very important call and mission on his life and God even sent His angel to proclaim the message. John was used mightily by God to speak to the religious leaders of the day and to prophesy about the coming Messiah.
John had a very important call and mission on his life and God even sent His angel to proclaim the message. John was used mightily by God to speak to the religious leaders of the day and to prophesy about the coming Messiah.
Matthew 3:1-12
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
How were all the people coming from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan to be baptized by John in the Jordan River and confessing their sins as well? And how did the animals line up two by two to enter Noah's ark? A supernatural work of God that's how!
What a powerful word and prophecy! John had a gift of discerning of spirits from the Holy Spirit who was in him since birth! He knew who the Pharisees and Sadducees were from just looking at them! They may have looked good on the outside but he knew what was going on in their hearts and minds!
He prophesied that Jesus would come and usher in a New Covenant that would far surpass the Old and allow human beings to be forgiven of their sins through His atoning blood sacrifice, and Jesus Himself would baptize those who believe in Him with the Holy Spirit and Fire!
A truly spiritual prophecy that was spoken over two thousand years ago and millions of professing Christians don't understand it to this day!!
John was also used by God as His prophet to baptize and anoint Jesus in the Jordan River!
Mathew 3:13-17
John was also used by God as His prophet to baptize and anoint Jesus in the Jordan River!
Mathew 3:13-17
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
And many say today that you don't need to be baptized in water in order to be converted to Christ! What did Jesus Himself do? And what did He say about water and Spirit baptism? And what did He tell His apostle's to do? Ask yourself these questions and when you find the answer, obey the truth!
John the baptist was truly a mighty man of God who fulfilled the work that God gave him to do in his very short ministry. But it took years of preparation in the wilderness to be ready for this great work. It was the same for Jesus, and it's the same for us today!
Blessed is the man or woman who waits on the Lord! Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He WILL lift you up!!
In Jesus,
Tyrone
