MATTHEW 3:1-3 – “In those days (immediately preceding the introduction of Christ) came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea (the area near Jericho);

“And saying, Repent you (recognize one’s wrong direction): for the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom from the heavens, headed up by Jesus Christ) is at hand (was being offered to Israel).

“For this is he (John the Baptist) who was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the Way of the LORD, make His paths straight (Isa. 40:3).”

From the time of Malachi to John the Baptist, a period of nearly 450 years, Israel had been without the voice of a Prophet of God. Four hundred and fifty years had gone by without a word from God to the people, but now a fresh wind would begin to blow across Israel.

“IN THOSE DAYS”

This statement represented the beginning of Israel’s greatest day. The Person and Ministry of Jesus Christ was about to begin, but first there had to be an announcement of His Coming. One had to be Divinely chosen to herald that announcement, and that person was John the Baptist, the greatest Prophet to ever live.

IN THESE DAYS

I believe that the world stands today as Israel did two thousand years ago. As Christ then was about to make His First Advent, I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is about ready to make His Second Advent. As well, I truly believe that as the Lord would send one to be His Voice of warning and preparation, so too will He send a voice or voices of warning and preparation.

PREACHING

Preaching proclaims the manner in which the Lord has chosen to deliver His Message. John was not a teacher, he was not a motivational speaker, he was not a life coach, he was not a diplomat, he was not a unifier, he was not a community organizer, he was a Preacher.

What America needs today are Preachers of the Gospel. Men who are not interested in currying favor with the world, or the religious establishment. Men whose hearts burn with the passion, zeal, and Fire of the Holy Spirit. Men whose lips have been touched with a live coal from Heaven’s Altar. Men who proclaim “Thus Saith the Lord.”

It is important to note that the closer to God a Church or denomination is, the more it will produce forceful and powerful Preachers. Today, for the most part, the colleges connected with the major Pentecostal denominations produce everything but preachers.

The Nation is in the mess it’s in because instead of Preachers of Righteousness, we have preachers of greed, preachers of tolerance, preachers of inclusion, preachers of appeasement, preachers that make people feel good. But I remind you that when Moses stepped back into Egypt, he didn’t try to have a meeting of the minds with Pharaoh, neither did he seek to find the consensus of the people, but instead he had one message and one message only, “Let My People Go.”

We need Preachers who will preach Hell hot, and Heaven Holy. We need Preachers who will call sin, sin. We need Preachers who still believe in opening the pages of God’s Word and proclaim Truth regardless of what the people think.

“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS”

This statement not only refers to the place of his Ministry, but also the style of his preaching. John’s preaching was deep, heartfelt, emotional preaching. It was not the studious, calm, laissez-faire presentation given in a calm collected voice, but instead animation that resulted in strong emotional preaching. He felt what he preached. Kenneth Wuest says of John’s preaching that it was more of a command to the people, given with military snap and curtness. Wuest says and I quote: “His was no pussyfooting, no beating about the bush, no smooth, oily, namby-pamby preaching. The Baptist was a man among men, and his preaching was straight from the shoulder.” (Source: Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies In The Greek New Testament, Vol. 1.)

The man and his message cannot be separated, as they are one in the same. Their personality and emotion come through in their message. The full range of human emotion, joy, anger, etc., will come through as they preach.

The wilderness was an area near Jericho. The wilderness was a part of the symbolism of his whole life. It spoke of separation from Jerusalem as the place of religious life, and Spirituality, separation from false apostate religion.

For many today the Lord is saying it is time you left Jerusalem (your denomination, your church) and go into the wilderness. I know many reading won’t understand, but in its simplicity, it means forsaking religious institutions that no longer stand for anything, and find where the Lord is truly Moving. That place may look like a wilderness, but if that’s where God is Moving, so be it.

“SAYING, REPENT YOU: FOR THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN IS AT HAND”

John had only one message, and that message was “Repent.” Now, please understand, John was telling the church of that day to “Repent.” As Repentance had to be preached before the First Advent of Christ, so too must the message of Repentance be preached to the church before the Lord’s Second Advent.

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

In its simple meaning, it’s “to be sorry,” or “to regret,” and to turn around from the wrong direction that one is walking. To turn from sin to Salvation, to turn from self-righteousness to God-righteousness, from religion to relationship. Repentance makes one to see one’s self as God sees us.

THE CHURCH

The church needs to repent. To repent from leaving the Cross. If you take the Cross out of Christianity, you are left with nothing more than philosophy. A philosophy that will not help anyone, but instead send them to Hell. The Cross is what separates Christianity from all other religions. The Cross is the only thing standing between the Church and apostasy.

REVIVAL

Repentance in the Church produces Revival. Revival means “to revive” that which was lost. The church has lost its way, and if the church repents, Revival will come.

“PREPARE YOU THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT”

This statement is taken from Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. The idea was of repairing roads before a king traveled down them. In closing, let me say, THE KING IS COMING, AND THE ROAD NEEDS REPAIRING!

Your Evangelist, Donnie Swaggart