Today's Devotional

"The Call of John the Baptist"

 We all have it.

^15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.” Luke 1:15-17 (MSG)

When I read this today God immediately spoke to me. This is my call as well. If we read what the Angel tells Zachariah about his son John the baptist we find that in preparing the way for Christ's first coming, he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our Lord's second coming. 

Lets break this verse up.

ABSTINENCE

"He’ll drink neither wine nor beer." As young people or even in our adult lives one of the greatest temptations is to to what the world does. The problem is that when we are young lets face it, we think we are INVINCIBLE. When we take a look into the world, fun HAS to go together with drinking alcohol. But we are called to be misfits. We will not join the "fun" this world has to offer. That "fun" can kill you while your driving. It will cause you to stay home all day the next day vomiting with a huge headache. It can leave you pregnant. So many things alcohol brings, exactly why we should never indulge in activities like this.

FILLED

"He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb." We have to know one thing everyday when we wake up, WE ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! He lives inside of you. The moment you received Jesus in your life He came to live inside of you. Repeat and believe this every morning "I am filled with the Holy Spirit" your life will never be the same. We must make sure we STAY filled by praying, congregating, and reading Gods word.

EVANGELISM

"He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God." One of the greatest callings you have in your life is to bring people to God. So many lost souls in the world that need you to speak to them about Jesus. We cannot sleep on this calling, WE MUST WIN SOULS for the kingdom of God. If not the devil will.

POWER AUTHORITY AND WISDOM

He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics. Authority is something we must have to conquer this world for Christ. We must understand that we are sons and daughters of the most high. When people see the confidence and authority in the way you speak they will see something different. That difference will bring them to God. It is awesome to see when homes and families are restored. Whether you are with the youth or with the adults, bringing families together and restoring the hearts of the parents and children is one of our callings. The bible says if one lacks wisdom to ask God. There will always be skeptics and people with doubts that will come against you. We must show that we have wisdom! Read the word of God, read books, and get to know God intimately in your prayer time. You will be amazed at the things God tells you! Matter of fact this post is fruit of that!

Something to think about!

The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel. Luke 1:80 (MSG)

  

In the natural order of things, the son of Zacharias would have been educated for the priesthood. But the training in rabbi schools would have unfitted him for his work. God did not send him to the teachers of theology to learn how to interpret the Scriptures. He called him to the desert, that he might learn of nature and nature's God.  

It was in this lonely desert where he found his home. But it was his choice to forgo the enjoyments and luxuries of life for the stern discipline of the wilderness. Here his surroundings were favorable to habits of simplicity and self-denial.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST. Jesus is coming soon and our job is to prepare his coming and get the people ready.

People, GET READY!

I hope this post encourages you to keep moving forward, keep seeking God, keep winning souls. You have a GREAT calling. Shalom, I'm out.