Preparing the Way for Jesus
This morning a dozen men gathered at 5 AM to pick up where we left off last week in our discussion of the birth of John, the Baptist. We had a good discussion of verses 15-17. We broke down each phrase and sought to understand and apply God's Word.
We began with the fact that John, the Baptist, was so unique, because he was filled with the Spirit from his mothers' womb. He was not like the Old Testament believers who just had the Spirit "on" them for a short time to do a particular job. However, He was even unique for the New Testament, since he received the Spirit and was filled or controlled by the Spirit before birth. I am not sure anyone knows all of the reasons God did that, but we agreed that God did not force John to do His will, but He just gave Him every advantage to prepare the way for Jesus. The angel was announcing what John would do from foreknowledge, not from predestination.
Also, even though we do not have the Spirit until we are saved, God knows each of us before we are born, and He has a plan for each of us. John prepared the people to receive Jesus, but we have an important role in the Kingdom, also. God has made us special, and He has given us a unique ability to serve Him.
Then, we pointed out how John turned the hearts of the fathers to their children. It is obvious that the Father has a lot of influence on his children when it comes to the Lord. Even if a mother is godly and leads the children to do God's will, if the Father is not concerned, and if he is not righteous, it gives the children an excuse not to trust the Lord. Therefore, John did as it said he would do in Malachi, and he turned the fathers to their children. We need to concentrate on that today. Also, in Malachi 3 and 4 there is a description of John being the forerunner to the Messiah and even that Elijah would come before the Day of the Lord. Most people of Jesus' day thought that Elijah would come before the Messiah, but we pointed out that this reference could have been to Jesus' Second Coming. Also, Jesus said that John, the Baptist did fulfill that prophecy. (Matthew 17:10-12) However, it was not a case of reincarnation. John was not Elijah in the flesh, but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Also, Elijah never died, so if he does comes back before the Second Coming, it would not be reincarnation.
Finally, we discussed turning people to the wisdom of the just or godly. We need that a lot today, since it is the ungodly who are turning people to their wisdom. We need to stand up for truth, and speak the truth in love. This is true when we teach our children and others. We truly are to have a lot in common with John, the Baptist. When we do we will prepare people for Jesus, and even lead them to know Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 31-33 and Matthew 22:1-22.
We began with the fact that John, the Baptist, was so unique, because he was filled with the Spirit from his mothers' womb. He was not like the Old Testament believers who just had the Spirit "on" them for a short time to do a particular job. However, He was even unique for the New Testament, since he received the Spirit and was filled or controlled by the Spirit before birth. I am not sure anyone knows all of the reasons God did that, but we agreed that God did not force John to do His will, but He just gave Him every advantage to prepare the way for Jesus. The angel was announcing what John would do from foreknowledge, not from predestination.
Also, even though we do not have the Spirit until we are saved, God knows each of us before we are born, and He has a plan for each of us. John prepared the people to receive Jesus, but we have an important role in the Kingdom, also. God has made us special, and He has given us a unique ability to serve Him.
Then, we pointed out how John turned the hearts of the fathers to their children. It is obvious that the Father has a lot of influence on his children when it comes to the Lord. Even if a mother is godly and leads the children to do God's will, if the Father is not concerned, and if he is not righteous, it gives the children an excuse not to trust the Lord. Therefore, John did as it said he would do in Malachi, and he turned the fathers to their children. We need to concentrate on that today. Also, in Malachi 3 and 4 there is a description of John being the forerunner to the Messiah and even that Elijah would come before the Day of the Lord. Most people of Jesus' day thought that Elijah would come before the Messiah, but we pointed out that this reference could have been to Jesus' Second Coming. Also, Jesus said that John, the Baptist did fulfill that prophecy. (Matthew 17:10-12) However, it was not a case of reincarnation. John was not Elijah in the flesh, but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Also, Elijah never died, so if he does comes back before the Second Coming, it would not be reincarnation.
Finally, we discussed turning people to the wisdom of the just or godly. We need that a lot today, since it is the ungodly who are turning people to their wisdom. We need to stand up for truth, and speak the truth in love. This is true when we teach our children and others. We truly are to have a lot in common with John, the Baptist. When we do we will prepare people for Jesus, and even lead them to know Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 31-33 and Matthew 22:1-22.