John the Baptist was out proclaiming PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD.

[Stan]

John the Baptist was out proclaiming PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD. Out in the country, been there, middle of nowhere, 60+ miles from the nearest city.

Quote:

It was John the Baptist. Matthew 3:1-3 tells us, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

I was at the place that it is thought he Baptized Jesus.

I wondered, why would he be proclaiming this out on the middle of nowhere? Why not where people are?

I know some people are doing the same thing, feeling impressed by God to go live in the middle of nowhere to be sanctified, or get ready for the second coming etc.

Doesn't it seem weird that people should not be proclaiming this were people are? NOt in the middle of a desert where there are a few people.

Just a random thought..

[joeb]

I find it more interesting that where the message was preached was the place where the people congregated. It didn't matter that he was 60 miles from the city. It didn't matter that he preached repentance and reformation out in the middle of nowhere. People came because they were hungry for the truth that came from the lips of a man anointed by the Holy Spirit.

Man's plans don't work. God's plans do. He makes the wisdom of men foolishness.

[skyblue888]

John was called to do a special work; he was to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straights His paths. The Lord did not send him to the school of the prophets and rabbis. He took him away from the assemblies of men to the desert, that he might learn of nature and nature's God. God did not desire him to have the mold of the priests and rulers. He was called to do a special work. The Lord gave him His message. Did he go to the priests and rulers and ask if he could proclaim his message?--No, God put him away from them that he might not be influenced by their spirit and teaching." 1 S.M.410.

In order that he might learn the relation between nature and nature's God the Lord took him away from the assemblies of men that he might not be influenced by the spirit and teaching of the priests and rulers.

Can we learn from that? Do you not think that the Lord will do the same today with those whom He is preparing to do a special work?

What does it mean to learn of nature and nature's God?

"If men would open their understanding to discern the relation between nature and nature's God, faithful aknowledgments of the Creator's power would be heard. Without the life of God nature would die." E.G. White, 1 B.C.1081.

In the desert he learned what all of us are to learn and that is that without the life of God nature would die. He learned that "Not only is Christ the Originator of all but that He is the life of everything that lives." Education,197.

How did he learn that Christ was the life of everything that lived? He was taught by the Lord that "It is His life that we receive in the sunshine, in the pure, sweet air, and in the food which builds up our bodies and sustains our strength." Idem,197-198.

He learned that "A mysterious life pervades all nature--a life that sustains the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, that lives in the insect atom which floats in the summer breeze, that wings the flight of the swallow and feeds the young ravens which cry, that brings the bud to blossom and the flower to fruit." Education,99.

He learned that "The same power that upholds nature, is working also in man." Idem,99.

That power is Christ for "In Him all things hold together." Col.1:17.

This is the knowledge of God which effects on body and mind and soul are beyond estimate.

sky

[Gail]

People who have the Holy Spirit as their teacher find the most wonderful things in God's word :)

[skyblue888]

John the Baptist learned that "The Lord puts His own Spirit into the seed, causing it to spring into life." Testimonies, Vol.8,326.

John learned that under the care of the Holy Spirit "the germ breaks through the case enclosing it and springs up to develop and bear fruit." Idem,326.

He learned a "simple, holy truth that brings the heart into close touch with God." Idem,327.

Isn't it interesting that the Lord had to take him away from the religious assemblies of men in order to teach him this simple, holy truth?

sky

By being taught this simple, holy truth he learned "the secret of growth in grace." Idem,327.