Preparing the Way of the Lord!
Saturday, December 4, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I pray that today you will pour out Your Holy Spirit in my life. I want to live for You and You alone. I desire to live in Your will, and for the glory of Your Kingdom. Empower me to do that. Empower me to live fully and faithfully for You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Matthew 3:1-12
1In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, 2“Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
‘Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming!
Make a straight road for him!’”
4John’s clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming judgment? 8Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say, ‘We’re safe—we’re the descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Reflecting on God's Word
What was it like for you when you first recognized Jesus’ presence in your life?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does John say is the difference between his baptism and the baptism of Jesus? (3:11)
What will happen to those who do not respond to John and Jesus’ message? (3:11)
Understanding God's Word
What does it mean to you that Jesus will (or has) baptize us in the Holy Spirit and fire?
What do we learn about John’s ultimate motives from today’s reading?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What is the most important application of today’s Scripture in your life right now?
Thoughts...He Will Baptize You with The Holy Spirit and Fire!
John was obviously talking about Jesus when he contrasted his baptism for repentance with Jesus’ baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire. A quick question John’s statement raises is: what does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire? With only a couple hundred words to share, it is impossible to cover the depth of the meaning of the statement, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” What we can say is that John recognized that Jesus’ baptism was superior in every way to a simple water baptism of repentance. Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit is NOT a baptism with water. It comes to us from the Holy Spirit. Some believe it occurs at the moment of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Certainly, we receive the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus, because the Father, Son and Spirit are One. Yet Jesus’ offers us a baptism in the Holy Spirit according to John, and this baptism empowers us not only to be saved, but to live in Jesus’ power here and now. My prayer is that each of us would ask Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire, so that we may have all He intends and live in His power!