Follow John’s Example in Preparation

David W Palmer

In preparation for our own ministries in the spirit and power of Elijah, we look now at how John the Baptist prepared, announced his ministry, and described himself. His declarations and self-descriptions came from the overflow of what he treasured in his heart:

(Luke 6:45 NKJV) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The principle, “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” came from Jesus; so it is absolutely true. It’s also true that when put under pressure, we are far less likely to be guarded or inventive about what we say, and normal filters for our words shut down. Therefore, when John the Baptist was put under pressure, what came out of his mouth was coming from the treasured abundance and overflow of his heart. So, when cornered by religious leaders and questioned pointedly in public, the abundance of his heart overflowed in telling words. What he treasured and fed into his heart as his daily routine and lifestyle was accumulated and established in abundance—the overflow of which was poised and ready to emerge through his mouth. In other words, what he spoke at the outset of his ministry is what he had been feeding on daily during his time of preparation. From this, we can learn and apply the same principles.

The following passage gives us insight as to what John put into his heart during his preparation phase:

(John 1:19–23 EMTV) And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they might ask him, “Who are you?” … {23} He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.”

When religious leaders asked John the Baptist who he was, he overflowed the abundance of his heart. This passage records his answer: “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.” By revelation, John had seen himself and his ministry in God’s word; so he fed on that word and meditated on it until he could see himself in it, as it, with it, and fulfilling it. He had a full assurance of this; so when questioned under the pressure of public scrutiny and religious intimidation, he confessed it wholeheartedly.

John also knew where his role began and where it finished; he knew his standing in relation to God the Father and Jesus God’s Son:

(John 1:26–34 EMTV) John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. {27} He is the One who comes after me, who has come to be before me, of whom I am not worthy that I should loose the strap of His sandal.” {28} These things happened in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. {29} The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! {30} This is the One about whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who ranks before me, because He was before me.’ {31} I did not know Him; but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” {32} And John testified, saying, “I have beheld the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. {33} I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ {34} And I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

John had no hesitation in confessing: that his “rank” was inferior to Jesus; that God sent him to baptize with water; that God spoke to him, describing his encounter with Jesus before it happened; and that Jesus is the Son of God, etc.

Live in the Word

To discover himself in God’s word, and to receive assurance from the word of who he was, John must have “lived” in the word, so to speak. To be this assured of his call and where he fitted into God’s blueprint, he must have given himself over to his call, God’s word, and his faith in it.

Have you discovered yourself in God’s word? Have you seen there that you are a new creation; you have a new nature, righteous standing with God, and your identity is now in Christ, etc.? Have you also identified your call, your gift, and your God-assigned mission? Are you assured of all of this to the point of confessing it aloud when put on the spot?

Fulfilling our call in the spirit and power of Elijah begins in God’s word. I believe God is calling us to re-energize our study, reading, memorization, meditation, and confession of it today. This is where we will see Jesus and our relationship to him. In the word, we will discover our place in God’s plan; we will grow to understand God’s call on our lives, and the limits and extent of our responsibility and authority.

When the word comes alive to us, when the Living Word fills us to the point it pours forth in overflow, then our ministry will begin; the overflow is our ministry.

Today, the application for us from John’s example is obvious. We need to stay focused on what God says about us, until it is the only overflow of our hearts through our mouths—despite the coercion of the most intimidating pressure that can be applied to us. Are you at that point yet? Have you been tested in this? Can I humbly suggest in Jesus’s name that you get ready? Your day of pressurized public testimony is coming.

But so is your showing to the world. Even though you will operate in the Spirit and Power of Jesus and the facet of it that is called the spirit and power of Elijah, your assignment is unique. God created you to do this assignment and calling; it’s the only vocation and pursuit that can truly satisfy you, because it fits exactly with the way God created you.

Find yourself in God’s word today. Stay in that word until it comes alive in you and grows to harvest in your heart. Learning about the spirit and power of Elijah and how God intends to use it today is exactly the right thing to do. I encourage you to keep learning and growing in this … along with all that Jesus taught; you will soon be overflowing in powerful ministry. Be ready for it to begin today.