Friday, April 27, 2012

Lover of my soul VI


 

John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus. John 3:22-36

“John, John! That man you testified about is baptizing and He is taking your members with Him!” said one of John’s disciples. To their surprise, John was not alarmed. In fact, he reiterated his position in relationship to Jesus. He was the preparer of Jesus’ ministry. He was the friend, not the bridegroom. “He must become greater; I must become less,” he stated. He continued his discourse stating that Christ is from above and above all. John confessed Jesus being the Son of God.

Many come into ministry promoting themselves. Every once in a while they would insert the name of Jesus. John the Baptist was not like that. He knew his purpose and the will of God for his life. He was faithful to walk in the will of God. He prepared the way for Jesus as he was assigned. When the Prince of Peace arrived, John’s ministry took a back seat until it eventually vanished.  But he will never be forgotten for his ministry was documented in the Bible. 

What can we learn from John’s life? There is a time and season for everything? We need to know God’s will and purpose for our lives and walk faithfully in them? Our service may just be for a short season that we need to prepare a lifetime for? Or our service may be for the duration of a lifetime? What entails a successful ministry? Many measure a successful ministry by the quantity of people following the ministry, paying into the ministry, or joining the ministry. But does success really entails quantity? I can have the appearance of success and be spiritually bankrupt simultaneously while having many following. So what is a spiritually successful ministry? From John’s life we learn that it is the knowing your purpose. It is the knowing of God’s will for your life. It is the walking faithfully in this ministry whether it is a small or a huge role. It is the placing of Jesus Christ as the foundation of the ministry. It is the glorifying Jesus first and foremost. “He must become greater; I must become less.”  

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