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John the Baptist - A Powerful Witness!

by Trudy Belle  
5/31/2018 / Christian Living

John the Baptist used his voice powerfully to speak to people about the Messiah. He did not care what people thought about him. He did not mince his words, nor was he interested in being politically correct. He had a purpose, a destiny and completed it with boldness and zeal.

 The Mission of John the Baptist (KJV)

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

He had a short life on earth, was beheaded and His Lord and Saviour was not at his funeral. Here is the Bible reference link that tells us how he died - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A1-12&version=KJV. 

He was chosen for a purpose and accomplished it and the Bible testifies to his humble, zealous life. What if God also created us to impact lives? What if it was also to be a powerful witness? What if we had no clue of this until today? How would that change our present and future? What if God called us to be a 'God pleaser' and not a 'people pleaser'?

The cost to be a follower of our Saviour is high. People will throw stones and ridicule us. They may think we are crazy and shun us. We can be a target for many who hate God and they can do their best to ruin our name. Does it matter? 

John the Baptist was not fazed by the reaction of people. He was steadfast in his walk and committed to the calling on his life. He was single minded and pointed to Christ and took no glory or honour unto himself.

What if he was sent by God in 2018.

What would he say today? Would his message change? What if we invited him to church to speak? How about the many church conferences? What would he say to each church leader, the worship team, staff and congregation?

What would he say to people bowing down to statues that they think is Jesus but no connection to Him and only stones? What would he say to people praying to Mary or (who the catholic church call) saints and bow down to them or pray to angels etc.? Could it be – ‘Isn’t God the Father, Son and His Holy Spirit enough and did the Creator of the world lose His power?’

What would he say to a church that preaches false doctrine and tickle people’s fancy? What about those that teach a prosperity gospel?  What would he say to churches that do not talk about Lord Jesus’ second coming or warn people to get ready, we are in the last days and reiterate the warnings in the Bible of the end times? 

What would he say to church leaders who do not encourage holy changes in people and want to fill their own coffers and build their empire and kingdom?

What would he say when he doesn’t hear a cry out for repentance in each service or rare altar calls nor a strong powerful message that makes us squirm in our seats and fall down on our knees crying out to God for deliverance, pardon and mercy?

What would he say to non-believers? Would he keep quiet? What would he say to the world today?

These are certainly a lot of questions that we can ignore or allow to speak to our hearts and cause the change that God needs in each life. I stand a sinner amongst others - God brings correction and conviction to me too and not left untouched by Him.

What is God’s Spirit saying to us today?

Let’s read - Mathew 3:1-11 KJV.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

⁴ John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you withthe Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Prayer:

‘O God have mercy, forgive us and help us to change. Shake us of our complacency lest we continue to ignore Your tapping on our hearts. We pray for an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, let it start today. Start the revival O God, please, we need You. Thank You. Amen.’

Songs:

Create in me a clean heart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fVliokreqE

Come Holy Spirit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHuTFknAFTM

I will bow to You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJzOw1Ugk

 

John 14:6 KJV (emphasis added)
'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me'

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