Written June 13, 2021 Did you know that John the Baptist was a teacher and he had his very own students? It’s true! He taught the Word of God and the act of repentance. His message was that God’s judgment on the world was imminent, therefore people needed to act fast to repent from sin and be baptized before it was too late. John also also said, "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. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Isn’t it interesting? So many people today believe that water baptism is the final will of Jesus. Many churches teach this. But here we see John declaring the truth in love. Water baptism is only the beginning! It represents a symbol of repentance. Going into the water and coming out, represents the cleansing of a person’s heart - by washing off the sins of the flesh and exposing their heart. You SEE, the act of water baptism is to expose yourself. If your spiritual heart is still mixed with dirt - then 7 more demons will come into your home. This is why pastors are doing a disservice when they equate spiritual success with the number of water baptisms! Instead, churches should be teaching discipleship, so that the gospel message becomes the foundational doctrine! Let me tell you a story. One day John’s students went to Jesus to ask him why his students didn’t fast, and this is how Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” So, let me ask, what do you think Jesus meant by this? The answer is this - “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast again.” Mark 9:14-15 Do you not SEE? Jesus IS the bridegroom! John, Jesus’s beloved student, said that at the end of the age, the bride will “rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7 The Lamb is no other than the Lamb of God! The only One worthy to open the scroll! And His bride is the Church - the whosever who believe that Jesus is Lord! Jesus and his disciples walked in perfect union, they were equally yoked by their unending faith. Jesus had trust in the Father, and his disciples had trust in Him. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. My refuge and my fortress lies in my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 And then there was Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. He did not know how to be monogamous. His love was divided. He had a love for the world, and for God. And yet, his adulterous heart was used to glorify God. Judas gave Jesus into Roman hands. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 2:28 “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 You SEE, God knew Judas’s heart. “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13 Judas’s heart was divided. His love for money was more than his love for God. God says, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” Exodus 20:4-5 God is monogamous and He gets jealous when we covet. He desires a pure heart. A virgin bride who only has eyes for Him. The apostle Paul said to the Corinthian Church, “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband - Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 Fasting is about casting off the desires of the flesh, closing your physical senses to things that your body wants. Fasting is about making a decision to be monogamous. Fasting is a choice to stay at home instead of going out. Fasting is also about mourning a loss. It reflects our sin condition - anytime we are separated from God. Fasting is about spiritual endurance. It’s a mindset - a willingness to be corrected by God. A willingness to bow down and serve Him. Jesus is our bridegroom. He has been taken away from us but only for a season! He came as God in the flesh, to be a willing sacrifice for us, to save His bride from eternal death! Jesus is the suffering servant. He laid down his life and shed his blood for us. He died on the cross, resurrected and then ascended back into Heaven. He did this to make a Way! To create a Highway of Holiness, as described in Isaiah 35:8. Those who have faith to believe t that Jesus is the Son Of God, the Lamb of God that was slain for us, also believe that He is the Risen King who will rule and reign in the new earth and heaven when the appointed time comes. You SEE, the Day of the Lord is coming soon. “Michael, the great prince who protects the people of Israel, is preparing to arise.” “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered.” “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3 Do you not SEE? Jesus IS the engagement ring! The promised seed that makes a new harvest of grain that gives life to a filling bread! And Holy Spirit is God’s wedding ring. He is the person of God who impregnates the bride of Christ with His Word. Daniel was told to roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. I believe that “here and there to increase knowledge” means that when the Bride of Christ quiets herself and pays attention to the Word of God , the Old and the New Testament - the Law of Moses, the Old Testament Prophets and Gospel of Christ, then she will feel her baby move, and prepare for His new birth. Prepare the way of the Lord! The Lion of Judah is coming soon!
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