PREPARE THE WAY

There is much we can learn from John the Baptist and his calling that will help us and equip us to fulfill our end-time calling.

In Luke 1:13-17, we have the miracle of John’s birth and the declaration of his prophetic purpose.

Luke 1:13

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

John means, “the Lord has shown favor; grace”.

Luke 1:14-15

And you shall have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:16-17

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.

How do we partner with the Holy Spirit to help make ready a people prepared for the Lord?

1. Believe God for the Miraculous

Luke 1:17a

He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Luke 1:78 (NIV)

Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.

Isaiah 58:6-8a (NIV)

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear.”

2. Bring a Message of Repentance

Luke 1:16

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

When John the Baptist began his public ministry, his message was a message of repentance.

Matthew 3:1-2

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah had a great confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 18:38

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

Look at the response of all Israel that had gathered:

1 Kings 18:39

Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

Luke 3:4-6 (NLT)

Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”

3. Be a Bridge of Healing Between the Generations

Luke 1:17a

He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to ‘turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.’

Malachi 4:5-6

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been a pioneer in some way in your family, your business, or the Body of Christ?

2. If you have been a pioneer in some way, what was it like? What was exciting? What was difficult?

3. How is the calling of John the Baptist similar to our calling to prepare the way of the Lord?

4. What needs to happen in your life for you to begin to walk consistently in the power of the Holy Spirit?

5. What are some practical ways we can call our nation to repentance? How can we encourage our friends and family to repent and turn back to the Lord?

6. How can you be a bridge for healing between the generations in your family and your circle of influence?