Luke 7:28, For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
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The Preparation of God’s Timing.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4)
“And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”(Luke 1:41)
Esther knew she was brought into the palace “for such a time as this!” Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul both recognized the fact that they were separated from their mother’s womb to a particular ministry. John the Baptist, likewise, leaped for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of the Saviour. John understood that he was a prepared vessel for a specific time, place, and ministry. He had confidence in his calling.
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The Preparation of Parenting.
John’s Father Zacharias: “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;”(Luke 1:76)
John’s Parents: And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.(Luke 1:6)
In our life, there is the unconscious preparation of God’s perfect timing and also spiritual mentors and parents.
John was blessed to have “parents with a purpose!” Zacharias and Elisabeth were great parents both in word and in deed. Long before this godly couple had John, they were leaving their prophet son a godly legacy!
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Preparation of the Wilderness.
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”(Luke 1:80)
John the Baptist’s life was marked by growth! Long before John went public telling people to prepare for God, he was preaching the message of preparation to himself. In the wilderness, John took godly timing and mentoring and personally applied it. John grew spiritually until the day of his death. This is one of the reasons John was great.
It is not enough for us to be born at our God-ordained time and have great spiritual parenting, but there also has to be “The Preparatory School of the Wilderness.” The school where we prepare by hearing, learning, and obeying the voice of God.