A Voice in the Wilderness

Hello, I’m Pastor Sandra Kay Williams from North Cleveland Church of God. It’s a pleasure to join you as we ponder the issue of Preparing for the Coming Jesus. As a minister of the gospel, at times I feel so inadequate for the many tasks before me. No matter how much I study, pray, and prepare, I remain totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit to minister.
I can’t help but wonder how John the Baptist felt as he prepared the way of
the Lord. In Matthew chapter three, the NIV reads:

1 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.’”

“A voice of one calling: John spoke up loudly. We must speak and share the hope of Jesus at every opportunity.
Where was he speaking loudly? in the wilderness, (not the respectable synagogue or temple) We may feel like we are living in a type of spiritual wilderness with a society that has forsaken God and all things holy. We, like John, must be willing to use our voice in unlikely places to tell of Jesus and His love. What was he saying in the wilderness?
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’, I believe He was preparing the way by first crying out to God. Preparing for ministry begins on our knees in prayer.
‘Make straight paths for him.’ We don’t want to make it difficult for people to come to Jesus. We must make it is easy for them to get to him. Provide a ride, send the online link to someone sick or unable to attend church in person. Reach out with a text, a call, a visit, a shoutout on social media. Whatever it takes… Like the men in Mark 2:4 who cut a hole in the roof to lower the paralytic down so Jesus could heal him. The Church can sometimes be a barrier rather than the avenue to healing and salvation. So many rules, judgmental Pharisees turning their nose up at the wounded, confused, or mentally, emotionally, spiritually
damaged neighbors. Make straight paths for Jesus. Be the conduit, not the barrier.

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around
his waist. (Not fancy robes or turbans) His food was locusts and wild honey
(whatever he could find from the land, not fine dining). To me verse 4 speaks of John’s priorities. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. (Interesting that they went to him, much like the animals who came to Noah for rescue from the flood.) If something significant is going on, people will come 6 Confessing their sins, (that’s the ultimate goal after developing connections and relationships with the lost) they were baptized by him in the
Jordan River. (Made ready for heaven and for work on the earth until Christ
returned)

In v. 7-10

He addresses some not so well-intentioned religious skeptics and calls them
vipers and tells them to repent that if they don’t produce good fruit they will be cut off and cast into the fire regardless of their pedigree or who they claim as their father.

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 (HUMILITY). He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is pointing to Jesus again. He’s not out to build his own following, ministry, or kingdom. Some ministry leaders and pastors can get into a numbers game as though the more people, the better, or more followers makes ministry greater.

State Offices here in the USA used to publish a state news magazine that showed the tithes and number of attendees for every church in the state. How many did you have at church Sunday? As though the attendance was the measure of meaningful ministry success.

Success is sharing Jesus one person at a time.

John is saying it’s not about me! John is all about Jesus and building His
kingdom. Verse 11 continues He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat (saints) into the barn and burning up the chaff (those who rejected Him) with unquenchable fire (hell).” Strong words of warning!

I want to be a preparer like John the Baptist. Do you?

Pray, preach, point to Jesus not yourself in everything. Be filled with the Holy Ghost so the fire flaming from you will ignite those you serve. It’s all about Jesus!

Prepare them for every good work and give them souls for their labor in the Lord. May the Church of God women in Western Europe plunder hell to populate
heaven. In Jesus name! AMEN!