John the Baptist

Where is John when we need him?

John the Baptist had an extraordinary life. His life was one devoted to serving the “one who follows me – who’s shoes I am not worthy to unlatch!” John was the one who went around announcing the Lords coming. Matthew 3:3 ““This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” He had the inestimable privilege of baptising Jesus, and yet he still ended up executed because his views were unpalatable to the hierarchy of the day.

Where is our John the Baptist? Where is our ‘voice in the wilderness’?

Here we are, in what is generally accepted to be the ‘end times’, and yet where are the preachers who will fearlessly proclaim the Gospel? who will fearlessly denounce sin – wherever it may be found? and who will be fearlessly uncompromising in their interpretation of God’s Word? Where are these valiant men and women of God who will not give in to pressure to keep quiet or to sit down?

We have plenty of watchmen on the walls warning us but most people don’t even believe in prophecy any more. We have plenty of signs and wonders in our meetings but even these don’t convince most of the people. The enemy has never had such a strangle hold on the church as he has right now. He has the church fearing its own shadow, fearing its loss of income, fearing not preaching the right words to retain the people we have.

I regard 2 Timothy 4:1-5 as the preachers mandate. Listen to Pauls words of encouragement that ring right through the ages to us, now, in the 21^st Century. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

All that we need to hear is in this passage. “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. “ That’s the encouragement for us to do what is right – to be the ‘voice in the wilderness’ if needed. Then Paul turns to us with this warning - “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Isn’t that just happening? Ear tickling is rampant in our pulpits today. I know of churches where, if there is the slightest move of the Holy Spirit, the pastor jumps up and apologises for “this unusual happening”.

Lord, send us your preachers, your John the Baptists, to tell the church what it needs to hear – regardless of wealth, or education, or privileged position, or anything. Send us men and women prepared to speak your words without hesitation or fear. Jesus is coming soon. You know it Lord and we know it. Yet where is our preparation.

Lord send us a new John – we need him right now.