When Jesus comes again it will be with might and power. When He came the first time there was a
powerful forerunner, preparing the way for him.
This forerunner, John the Baptist, had impressive, even powerful spiritual
credentials. For starters, he was “great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke
1:15). Elsewhere Jesus said, “For I say to you, among those born of women
there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28). He was a teetotaler and filled with the Holy
Spirit—not from birth, but from his mother’s womb! There is no Biblical record
of anyone else being “filled” in this fashion, not even Jesus.
John had his job description filled in by an angel, even to
the giving of his name before he was ever conceived. Here’s what the angel said, “he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God. He will also go
before Him (Jesus) 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”
(Luke 1:16, 17). This was an impressive individual who was
fearless, and totally unimpressed with himself.
Prior to Jesus’ “Second Coming” there will be a mighty
company of “John the Baptists”, round the world who will be temperate, full of
the Holy Ghost (operating in the spirit of the prophet Elijah) and self-effacing, always seeking to decrease while magnifying the soon-coming ministry of
Jesus (Malachi 4:5,6). When they begin exercising their
ministry they will work signs and wonders as did Jesus, stopping the mouths of
all the nay-sayers, and all those who have their arguments against Biblical
faith as revealed in Jesus. Restoring
sight to the blind, healing to the deaf, causing the lame to walk, healing disease
of every sort and raising the dead, who can stand before them? In response to
their ministry multitudes upon multitudes will embrace Jesus as Lord and
Savior.
These servants will be fearless and will not love their lives
even unto death. Because of this “John the Baptist Ministry”
many outside the present religious system will “press in” to find salvation,
while, sadly, even as in Jesus’ day, those inside present religious systems
will oppose these forerunners. This is
the way it was the first time; this is the way it will be the 2nd
time.
Presently many have allowed themselves to be “talked out” of
a meaningful faith, while wanting to believe always there was something
special about Jesus. Read the Gospel of
John for yourself. Follow it up by
reading the other three Gospels. Ask God
to give you a believing heart.
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