Why the life and ministry of John the Baptist is significant for your life and ministry today! - Part 1

 

 

The life and ministry of John the Baptist is pretty well known to us today because it was written about in all four gospels. John’s ministry was incredibly significant during his time, yet why is it still importance to us today? How can his knowing about life and ministry help you in your life and ministry today?

First, let us give a just little background. His life was announced by an angel of the Lord who said that he would be great in the sight of the Lord (Luke 1:15). This same angel also said that John was not to drink alcohol, rather he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even while in His mother’s womb (vs. 15). The angel further explained to Zacharias, John’s father, that John would turn the hearts of many people in Israel back to the Lord (vs. 16). John was to be a forerunner before Jesus in the power and spirit of Elijah to make ready a people prepared to receive the Lord (vs. 17).

After approximately four hundred years of silence, between the end of old covenant and beginning of the new covenant, God suddenly, and with great emphasis, announces through John the coming of Jesus. John’s message was a clarion call telling the people of Israel to repent and be baptized (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4), thereby making themselves ready to receive the life and ministry of Jesus.

Isaiah 40:3 (NASB) says “a voice is calling, make smooth in the desert a highway for our God”. This prophecy is fulfilled by John (Luke 3:4-6) providing vivid imagery of his ministry as one who clears the way for Jesus to be received by Israel. Luke 3:4 says concerning John – “The voice of one crying in the wilderness”. While John ministered by the power of the Spirit, his was an emotional appeal of a man calling and crying for Israel to repent and prepare to receive her messiah. Yet, it was also, and even more importantly, the call and cry of God to his people.

John’s entire life (his mind, will, emotions, intellect, body, along with his actions) was so totally aligned with God, being a Nazarite from birth (one who sets his life apart for God and avoids any defilement), and obedient in his calling, thereby allowing the Spirit to move through John unimpeded, as a human vessel, and pour out the blessing of God upon the people. John’s voice of one calling/crying was God’s voice.

John the Baptist functioned as an ambassador sent from God to Israel, commissioned as a messenger under God’s authority and direction to speak for Him. Similar to John, ambassadors speak and act on behalf of their king or president, not themselves. John was a man who was under God’s authority and operated within it. When John ministered, it was God ministering to Israel through his servant. The same needs to be true concerning our own lives.

Ministering for the Lord flows from having an intimate walk and relationship with Jesus. In order to operate effectively in God’s authority a strong relationship of love for Him is required. Corresponding to this we need to obey the Lord in all that we are and do. Obedience rightly flows from love (John 14:21). When our lives are totally aligned with God, not serving our personal ambitions or egos, we will walk and minister powerfully in His anointing, as well as experience the Spirit flowing through us to accomplish His purposes and confirming His Word with signs and wonders following (Mark 16:20). John the Baptist serves as a wonderful example of a life lived for God and shows how God can use such a life for great purposes.  


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