Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6
Several prophesies were written of the prophet, John the Baptist. Through Isaiah, he was prophesied to be the Voice crying in the wilderness for the preparation of the way for the Savior of the world; Malachi foresaw him as Elijah, the prophet who turned the hearts of Israel from Baal to the living God, for in such a way will be turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice versa; and his father prophesied him to be "...the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. Luke 1:63-80. John was a bridge between the Old and New Testament. He was the last prophet who spoke in line with the Old Testament and the first to usher Israel into the New Testament through his preaching of salvation. The prophets of old never preached the Kingdom of God nor its salvation, but John did. He made an introduction of Jesus to Israel before He arrived. John, due to his ministry, was made a refiner and purifier of Israel, purging and washing the hearts of the children of Israel through his words from God, that they may offer pure and righteous sacrifices to the Lord. These prophets predicted the coming of John and his ministry, which was to prepare the way of the Son of God, who would redeem the people back to God and get them ready, a holy and perfect people (without any spot or wrinkle) for His Kingdom. John called this Saviour, "The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the whole world."John 1:29-34.
John was a man conceived through divine revelation. Luke 1:5-24. He was anointed, baptized and separated from certain unclean things that he be sanctified to the Lord, even from the womb.Luke 1:57-80. He was born the only child of a priest. It would have been expected that he be pampered and well catered for because he came at the old age of his parents. He could have been trained to fill the priestly shoes of his father when he was of age, and well nourished for life ahead. But when he came to age, he rejected the comfort of his father's house and nation for the wilderness in fulfilment of his purpose, call and vision. The Spirit of the Lord prompted in him these changes and led him to the wilderness where he dedicated and consecrated his life to the Lord. And through his dealings with the Lord there, he emerged as a man not easily tossed to and fro through sentiments or words. His comforts had nothing to do with the world. He neither ate nor dressed like every normal human. Rather, through his separation, he denied distractions to stand firm for his call and ministry. John's mind and aspirations were centered around the will of God. He lived to please God. Brethren, we are not here to live as we want. We are in this world to fulfill a certain purpose. But if we refuse to seek out that purpose, we will live like men with no direction. John pursued the fulfillment for his being on earth just like our Savior.
Jesus knew the purpose for which He was born, so He pursued it to the Glory of God. He kept saying, "I came from God and go back to God." He knew He was born to redeem mankind from their sins, heal to broken hearted, set free the captives, deliver the oppressed and preach the acceptable year of the Lord, so He fought well to fulfill His ministry even to the Cross. He lived for the Father. Luke 9:22-26. He knew the reason He came to the world. Who are you living for? Do you want to live for the Father's will or to please men? Paul was a man who lived and preached these words of Jesus - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 12:1-2. He charged men to be separate from the world and its system, and offer themselves as holy sacrifices unto the Lord. All these John did. His message was that of salvation and redemption. It was different and clear, "Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Many desire to be profitable instruments for the Lord but refuse to be separated from all pleasures of the world. This is impossible. If you want to be a true instrument in the hands of God, you must be completely yielded, converted and obedient to Him. There are standards and divine instructions for any man to be an instrument. John was a man totally given to carrying out the Father's assignment on the earth. He denied himself completely to follow the way of the Lord. If you lose your life for the world, you will be damned. But if you lose your life for Jesus' sake, you will be saved.
John's proof to the world of God's standard was in his separation from the world to the Lord. He preached salvation, fruit bearing, the coming judgement for sinners and the Kingdom of Heaven; and much people ran to him to confess their sins and be baptized. The anointing in his life made men leave their comfort zones of civilization for the wilderness for help. Today's messages from preachers are geared towards soft and soothing words which pamper men in their sins that they don't leave the Church. But John spoke the truth as it was and men left cities to him in repentance. The words of John are words which likely today can scatter a Church and send members away. But he spoke them just the way they were because they were of God. He showed forth God's holiness through his holy living, and Herod testified of him. He had observed him and could attest that his life, words and actions showed holiness. When you become a new creature in Christ, men begin to observe you. You don't have to hold high positions in the Church before men begin to observe your life, to see if you would stick with your convictions till the end. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away: OBSERVE all things are become new." It was his words of rebuke that made Herod throw him in prison. Luke 3:2-16. We ought not to fear punishment for the Lord's sake.
Every thing a man acquires or has been endowed with has an end. They cannot last forever, but are as grass which withers, and flowers which fade away. But the Word of God stands forever. Isaiah40:1-8. John's ministry was to refine, purify and wash the hearts of the people, initiating them into God's Kingdom. Though Israel was God's own people, yet they had need for a purification and purging, that they may offer righteous sacrifices to God. John's light of righteousness, purity and holiness shone in his day, that men ran to him to see it. John 5:32-35. He showed men the Saviour able to save them from their sins. Even when his disciples came to him in complaint that Jesus baptized more men than he did, he made it clear that he was to decrease while Christ increased. He was but the friend of the Bridegroom. He didn't try to struggle with Jesus, because he had a different mandate and commission. John 3:26-31. And Jesus testified of him, stating that of all men born of women, John was the greatest ever to live. But then, the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. The least in the Kingdom are those who have been bought and washed by the precious blood of the Lamb. Their names are in the Book of Life. Matthew 11:2-14.
Holiness is our watchword. Ephesians 5:26-27. The Lord's desire is that we pursue holiness. In any true Church where in is holiness, righteousness and purity, men of God are feared, and sinners scarcely misbehave. John obeyed the Father's commission and was never carried away. He had a mandate. Without the word of God in you, when the flowers of your age will fade and the grasses of your labour wither, so will you.
REMAIN BLESSED.
Pst Ig Nwabuo