In Matthew 3:1-3 we are introduced to John the Baptist. He is a voice crying out in the wilderness. His assignment was to be a forerunner to Christ. The Bible says that He was to prepare the way of the Lord.
Jesus said this about John the Baptist in Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those borne 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.” Jesus recognized John the Baptist as a prophet. As a matter of fact He said, "there is not a greater prophet than John. In the Old Testament both Moses and Elijah were revered. Moses was used of the Lord as a deliverer and prophesied that one greater than him would come. This was a prophecy of the coming Messiah.
Elijah was known as the prophet of the supernatural. He called fire down out of heaven and stood up against the worship of Baal that had infiltrated Israel. God used this great prophet to call Israel back to the worship of Jehovah. The Lord used this great prophet of God to anoint kings and to raise up his successor, Elisha.
John’s assignment was to initiate a new order. His task was to prepare the way of the Lord. What did Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist have in common? They were used of God as forerunners. They prepared the people of God for the new thing that God was getting ready to do. God is doing a new thing today. Isaiah 43:19 reads, “Behold, I will do a new thing, NOW!” What is the new thing that God is doing? Dr. Chuck Pierce, in his book, “Interpreting the Times,” gives five new things that God will do:
God is birthing a new order and bringing us into a new day. We must be prepared for His coming. Malachi 3:1 - “Behold, I send My messenger,and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. Verse 2 - “ But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. Verse 3 - "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness."
These are the last days. We must get serious about seeking for Him. There is a wake up call to the sleeping church. Ephesians 5:14 – “Therefore He says: “ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” How do we prepare the way of the Lord? We learn from John the Baptist. He came with a message of repentance. Repentance will prepare the way of the Lord.
Jesus said this about John the Baptist in Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those borne 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.” Jesus recognized John the Baptist as a prophet. As a matter of fact He said, "there is not a greater prophet than John. In the Old Testament both Moses and Elijah were revered. Moses was used of the Lord as a deliverer and prophesied that one greater than him would come. This was a prophecy of the coming Messiah.
Elijah was known as the prophet of the supernatural. He called fire down out of heaven and stood up against the worship of Baal that had infiltrated Israel. God used this great prophet to call Israel back to the worship of Jehovah. The Lord used this great prophet of God to anoint kings and to raise up his successor, Elisha.
John’s assignment was to initiate a new order. His task was to prepare the way of the Lord. What did Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist have in common? They were used of God as forerunners. They prepared the people of God for the new thing that God was getting ready to do. God is doing a new thing today. Isaiah 43:19 reads, “Behold, I will do a new thing, NOW!” What is the new thing that God is doing? Dr. Chuck Pierce, in his book, “Interpreting the Times,” gives five new things that God will do:
- A new identity – He is going to restore our souls so that we can enter into God designed us to be.
- New garments of favor – Favor is much like grace but is linked with obedience. Favor opens doors.
- New relationships – When God does a new thing in us, we must evaluate all of our relationships. He has new, fresh, divine connections to bring into our paths.
- A new anointing – God is going to give us a new anointing for a new day.
- A new level of authority – We are going to stand in dominion in the sphere of authority that we have been assigned by the Lord.
God is birthing a new order and bringing us into a new day. We must be prepared for His coming. Malachi 3:1 - “Behold, I send My messenger,and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. Verse 2 - “ But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. Verse 3 - "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness."
These are the last days. We must get serious about seeking for Him. There is a wake up call to the sleeping church. Ephesians 5:14 – “Therefore He says: “ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” How do we prepare the way of the Lord? We learn from John the Baptist. He came with a message of repentance. Repentance will prepare the way of the Lord.
Comments
JR