Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
Well Friends, the day for the giving of communal thanks is over. I surely hope we all made a satisfactory…sorry, an excellent showing and did not overdo the eating, drinking and partying. Unfortunately, it’s time to begin the cycle all over again; clear the land, plough it, and sow fruitful seed, so that we can reap another bumper crop at next year’s harvest, obviously with the Lord’s blessings and mercies. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop giving individual thanks, for remember Bruh Paul’s advice: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) And remember too that we only sow the seed, it’s God who gives the increase. That means to have a good harvest we’ve got to be faithful all year round. And those terms don’t only apply to the actual sowing of the land, but to all and any endeavours on which we embark. They will only be as successful as we are faithful. And now that I’ve gotten you in the mood, (smile) let’s embark on Today’s Bit; check out those momentous words of John the Baptist. John had been going around the Judean countryside preaching repentance to all and sundry, crying out: ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. for this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Mat.3:2-3) Isaiah did prophecy of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Messiah. (Is.40:3) And now that prophecy was coming through with John; this man dressed in camel hair clothes and a leather belt, with a reputed diet of wild locusts and honey, whom all the people of the area were going out to see. No doubt many went out expecting a spectacle, the way we still behave when there’s an eccentric person amongst us. However, when they got there and heard his powerful teaching and testimony, many of them ‘were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.’ (Mat.3:6) The power of God mih people! They were unable to resist it. They went seeking entertainment, a freak show, but thankfully ended up believing and baptized. And just like Jesus did later on, when John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptized, he taunted them. ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (worthy of) repentance…for every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.’ (Mat.3:7-8,10) Oh Friends, those words still apply to us today. If we don’t do useful works and be steadfast in the faith, hellfire and damnation will also engulf us. Luke’s gospel relates that John also gave, practical, worthwhile advice to those who came to be baptized, as many asked how they should live after repentance and baptism. To the ordinary folk he said: ‘He that hath two coats, let him impart (give) to him that hath none; and he that hath meat (food), let him do likewise.’ To the publicans (tax collectors), he said: ‘Exact no more than that which is appointed of you.’ His advice to the soldiers was: ‘Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.’ (Luke 3:10-14) Yes people, John was doing an excellent job setting up the Messiah’s coming, and in the early stages his ministry was very successful. But Luke also tells; ‘And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused (reasoned) in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not.’ (Luke 3:15) That’s when John uttered those memorable words that have so greatly impacted our faith even to this day. ‘I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Yes mih breddren, John certainly knew his place in the scheme of things; he was the just the messenger, just the harbinger of the good news; the Messiah is coming. We should note though that, per the scholars, John’s baptism wasn’t the Christian baptism that we now know, since Christ’s death and resurrection hadn’t yet taken place. Only after those monumental occurrences did Christian baptism begin. They classify it with ‘the Old Testament offerings (washings) that symbolized a cleansing of personal repentance on the part of a believer.’ I guess a lot of the listeners must have either been scared or considered John mad, or even both, for his concluding statement; ‘he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Today we all know that he was referring to the spiritual rebirth of the person who repents and sincerely receives Jesus as His Lord and Saviour, as Bruh Paul declares: ‘For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.’ (1 Cor.12:13) And that’s the Holy Spirit of Jesus which all believers now receive when they are born again. We all have that same Spirit. It’s no different from person to person, because we’re all one in the body, the church of Christ. We also know that the first anointing of the Holy Spirit blessed the disciples on the first day of the feast of Pentecost. Let’s listen to Luke tell it. ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (the disciples) were all with one accord (one purpose in mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4) Yes my Friends, that first blessing of the Holy Spirit on the disciples was such a strong anointing that it even enabled them to speak in languages they were not accustomed to, and it certainly seized everybody’s attention, especially those foreigners who later heard the disciples speak to them in their own tongue. Ah my people, so mighty is our God, that He can do untold wonders as He did on that Day of Pentecost, when the mighty wind, which the Jews associated with the Spirit, and the tongues of fire that divided and rested on each disciple proclaimed that the Spirit’s baptism was all inclusive, lacked nothing. That’s the same Spirit which also dwells in us my Friends and gives us wisdom, guidance, protection and many other good things, so please, let’s use it wisely, for good, and not for ill. Much LOVE!…oh what a beautiful feeling…when we believe…and are born again…through the Holy Spirit…
Well Friends, the day for the giving of communal thanks is over. I surely hope we all made a satisfactory…sorry, an excellent showing and did not overdo the eating, drinking and partying. Unfortunately, it’s time to begin the cycle all over again; clear the land, plough it, and sow fruitful seed, so that we can reap another bumper crop at next year’s harvest, obviously with the Lord’s blessings and mercies. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop giving individual thanks, for remember Bruh Paul’s advice: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) And remember too that we only sow the seed, it’s God who gives the increase. That means to have a good harvest we’ve got to be faithful all year round. And those terms don’t only apply to the actual sowing of the land, but to all and any endeavours on which we embark. They will only be as successful as we are faithful. And now that I’ve gotten you in the mood, (smile) let’s embark on Today’s Bit; check out those momentous words of John the Baptist. John had been going around the Judean countryside preaching repentance to all and sundry, crying out: ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. for this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Mat.3:2-3) Isaiah did prophecy of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Messiah. (Is.40:3) And now that prophecy was coming through with John; this man dressed in camel hair clothes and a leather belt, with a reputed diet of wild locusts and honey, whom all the people of the area were going out to see. No doubt many went out expecting a spectacle, the way we still behave when there’s an eccentric person amongst us. However, when they got there and heard his powerful teaching and testimony, many of them ‘were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.’ (Mat.3:6) The power of God mih people! They were unable to resist it. They went seeking entertainment, a freak show, but thankfully ended up believing and baptized. And just like Jesus did later on, when John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptized, he taunted them. ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (worthy of) repentance…for every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.’ (Mat.3:7-8,10) Oh Friends, those words still apply to us today. If we don’t do useful works and be steadfast in the faith, hellfire and damnation will also engulf us. Luke’s gospel relates that John also gave, practical, worthwhile advice to those who came to be baptized, as many asked how they should live after repentance and baptism. To the ordinary folk he said: ‘He that hath two coats, let him impart (give) to him that hath none; and he that hath meat (food), let him do likewise.’ To the publicans (tax collectors), he said: ‘Exact no more than that which is appointed of you.’ His advice to the soldiers was: ‘Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.’ (Luke 3:10-14) Yes people, John was doing an excellent job setting up the Messiah’s coming, and in the early stages his ministry was very successful. But Luke also tells; ‘And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused (reasoned) in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not.’ (Luke 3:15) That’s when John uttered those memorable words that have so greatly impacted our faith even to this day. ‘I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Yes mih breddren, John certainly knew his place in the scheme of things; he was the just the messenger, just the harbinger of the good news; the Messiah is coming. We should note though that, per the scholars, John’s baptism wasn’t the Christian baptism that we now know, since Christ’s death and resurrection hadn’t yet taken place. Only after those monumental occurrences did Christian baptism begin. They classify it with ‘the Old Testament offerings (washings) that symbolized a cleansing of personal repentance on the part of a believer.’ I guess a lot of the listeners must have either been scared or considered John mad, or even both, for his concluding statement; ‘he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Today we all know that he was referring to the spiritual rebirth of the person who repents and sincerely receives Jesus as His Lord and Saviour, as Bruh Paul declares: ‘For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.’ (1 Cor.12:13) And that’s the Holy Spirit of Jesus which all believers now receive when they are born again. We all have that same Spirit. It’s no different from person to person, because we’re all one in the body, the church of Christ. We also know that the first anointing of the Holy Spirit blessed the disciples on the first day of the feast of Pentecost. Let’s listen to Luke tell it. ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (the disciples) were all with one accord (one purpose in mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4) Yes my Friends, that first blessing of the Holy Spirit on the disciples was such a strong anointing that it even enabled them to speak in languages they were not accustomed to, and it certainly seized everybody’s attention, especially those foreigners who later heard the disciples speak to them in their own tongue. Ah my people, so mighty is our God, that He can do untold wonders as He did on that Day of Pentecost, when the mighty wind, which the Jews associated with the Spirit, and the tongues of fire that divided and rested on each disciple proclaimed that the Spirit’s baptism was all inclusive, lacked nothing. That’s the same Spirit which also dwells in us my Friends and gives us wisdom, guidance, protection and many other good things, so please, let’s use it wisely, for good, and not for ill. Much LOVE!…oh what a beautiful feeling…when we believe…and are born again…through the Holy Spirit…
SCRIP-BITS 