Forerunner for Christ

In this season of Christmas I believe the Lord is looking for a few good men and women to be a modern day forerunner for Christ. He is looking for a few who are up for the challenge recognizing that the Lord has already appointed to you be to be great. Yes even Jesus said in 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.......

This account by Luke of the announcement of John’s coming is exciting news. It comes at a time when his father, Zechariah a priest in the house of the Lord gets his assignment to burn incense before the Lord. This is something he was likely waiting his whole life to do. It was so infrequent that a priest git his chance to burn incense before the Lord be cause lots had to be pulled to determine who is next. Yet beside his desire to perform his priestly duties he had a greater desire to have a son. This was prevented because his wife was barren. Yet how many know we serve a prayer answering God and when he ready to bless you he will bless you. So at the same time he gets to burn incense for the Lord he get a visit from Gabriel and angel of the Lord to announce his wife who was barren would conceive. Now get this, God is moving and the people are a part of the movement. The word said that the people were praying on the outside while He was worshipping on the inside. This is a lesson for us today Pray and Worship still pleases God.

He was worshipping by burning incense and the multitude was praying! I wonder if we can get there today. Prayer and Worship! The Bible reminds in us that man ought to always pray and not lose heart. 1 Thessalonian 5:17 said we should pray without ceasing!

So Zechariah gets the announcement that his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son and you shall call him John= “Jehovah is a gracious giver.” The angel tells Zechariah that this child will cause him to have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. He lets him know that this child will be set apart for great use. He could not drink wine or strong drink. When God has special plans for you he wants you to prescribe to a regimen of Holiness. John would be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb. We know this to be a fact because when Mary after be ing impregnated by the Holy Ghost with Jesus came to visit Elizabeth the Bible said the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy.

John was born with a purpose! He would be a forerunner for Christ.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

What is a forerunner? a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else. Synonyms include a herald, or a messenger. This what we should be today one who herald or make known Christ.

John’s one purpose was to tell a sinful world that the Messiah was soon to come. After John’s birth we next see him preaching in the wilderness. He fulfils his one purpose. B -3 the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

He was called to preach and we find him preaching. Have you asked the Lord whats your purpose? I believe you really dont start living until you start fulfilling or walking in your purpose. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. God knows the plans he would have for us but have we consulted him about those plans?

John was forerunner. He gives us an example of fulfilling our purpose. The angel told Zechariah who John would be. Its clear he was raised with that expectation of being just who God wants us to be. One thing we know he was born to Godly parents. Even when the crowd thought they would name John another name. We see Zechariah confirm his name would be John. So John was raised with expectations of GREATNESS. How many are believing God today concerning who he said you would be.

What’s the purpose of your life? Or to be more specific, what is it that adds meaning and satisfaction to your life? What is it that gives you a sense of purpose? It’s the essential question that has challenged mankind throughout the ages. About 14 years ago I taught a Bible class on the book Purpose Driven Life. That book change my life because it was then I became focused on what my purpose is. Yes I would be a forerunner for Christ also. See he came to save us already but he is coming back to claim us. My energy my time must be to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My life has purpose! Does yours? What should you be doing?

What’s the purpose of life? Or to be more specific, what is it that adds meaning and satisfaction to life? What is it that gives us a sense of purpose? It’s the essential question that has challenged mankind throughout the ages. Living a purpose driven life is one of the most commonly held goals throughout all the layers of the population. Finding an answer to this profound question isn’t easy. Many people struggle to find purpose and satisfaction in life. It doesn’t have to be this way. Perhaps, taking the necessary steps to live a meaningful life might not be as difficult as it seems at first sight. All it takes is a set of effective strategies and the unquenchable willingness to affect positive change in one’s life.

Living a purpose driven life is one of the most commonly held goals throughout all the layers of the population. Finding an answer to this profound question isn’t easy. Many people struggle to find purpose and satisfaction in life. It doesn’t have to be this way. Perhaps, taking the necessary steps to live a meaningful life might not be as difficult as it seems at first sight. All it takes is a set of effective strategies and the unquenchable willingness to affect positive change in one’s life.

1. Pursue your passion

Following your passion makes a life worth living. It will give you a sense of purpose and will add meaning to your life. Whenever you spend time on accomplishing something that you’re passionate about, it will add joy and a sense of fulfillment to your life.

Pursuing your passion will keep your motivation at a constant high level. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’ll be able to accomplish better results. Also, there’s nothing more draining than having to complete tasks that you neither like nor care about. There’s a huge difference between being forced to fulfill unpleasant tasks and finding solutions to the challenging problems that stand in-between you and your goals. Perhaps, doing what you’re passionate about every once in a while will greatly help you to find a profession that you actually enjoy.

2. Define what’s important for you

So many people wander through life without knowing what’s important. Each and every one may believe to know what is important to them. But there lies a great difference between attributing importance to something that is irrelevant/entertaining and that which is actually important.

I learned to trust the Lord with the plans he has for me. I put something deep in me that drives me every day. Its a passion. Like Jeremiah said its like fire shut up in my bones!

Like Elizabeth and Zechariah trusted the Lord we have to learn how to trust the Lord.