We are a people that are being made ready.
Before glory is poured out, the way is always made straight.
Before glory comes, divine order must be established.
This is why the ministry of John the Baptist preceded the ministry of the Son of God.
John was the one that prepared the way.
Through the ministry of repentance and water baptism, John prepared the hearts of those that would receive the One who will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire (see Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16).
John was a man of the wilderness.
He was a man equipped with what it was he received in stillness and seclusion.
He was fed by what he received while alone with God.
He was a man fully consecrated to the Lord and there was no one born of a woman greater than he (see Matthew 11:11).
And his message was simple: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (see John 1:29).
Isn’t that beautiful?
It really is that simple.
Look…
See…
Gaze…
Turn your eyes to the One who takes away, not manages or makes allowance for, your sin.
John testified about and pointed people to the Light (see John 1:7).
And I believe with all of my heart that there is and will be a resurgence of John’s message.
We need to get back to beholding the Lamb and to understand that He is the One that baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Dear reader… if there was a first preparation for Jesus’ coming, there’s going to be a second.
But before Jesus returns, there will be the greatest outpouring of the Spirit the world has ever seen.
Never forget that the best wine is always served last.
And although we do not know the exact day and time of the Lord’s return, we are called to discern the seasons.
John the Baptist prepared the way for people to receive the One who baptizes not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. That is significant.
This is why the Lamb of God takes away our sin — so that we might be touched, purified by fire and filled with the Spirit of God Himself.
This is what divine order prepares us for.
It prepares us to receive.
Order is established when the heart is fully turned to the Lord in repentance.
And the way is only prepared when everything that’s in the way is removed out of the way so that He can be the Way.
That is what John did and he did it in the spirit and power of Elijah (see Luke 1:16-17).
When asked by His disciples why the scribes say that Elijah must come first, Jesus replied by saying that Elijah is coming and will restore all things (see Matthew 17:11).
And it was Peter, after healing the man at the gate called Beautiful, that told the people that Jesus will not return until the restoration of all things is complete (see Acts 3:19-21).
However, it’s not the person of Elijah that’s returning, but his anointing.
It’s that very anointing that turns the hearts of people back to the Lord their God and the hearts of fathers and sons to one another.
In other words, one of the things that must be brought into order is family.
I believe we will see family reconciliations and healings take place before this great outpouring of God’s Spirit.
But the truth is that nothing is fully restored until the heart is turned and given to the Lord.
When God has the heart, He has everything… He has our affections, our decisions, our meditations, our motivations.
Everything in life comes from that place (see Proverbs 4:23).
This is why I believe with all of my heart that there will be those anointed with this same anointing that will once again encourage us to behold Jesus, to make ourselves ready in consecration, and prepare to receive this coming glory.
These people will be wilderness people… sold out ones… fiery ones that are totally consecrated themselves and who do not point people to themselves, but to Jesus — the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
They will seek not to elevate themselves, but, in humility, they will endeavor to lift up the Lamb.
They will urge us, like a bride, to make ourselves ready for the return of the One we love.
- Brian Connolly, Faith Like Birds Ministries
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