The promise to Abraham, the liberation of the Israelites, the writing of the Law, and the prophets were all signs that pointed towards Jesus. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until haven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:17-20)."
John the Baptist was the last of these signposts; his life was devoted to proclaiming in the wilderness, 'prepare ye the way of the Lord.' He recognized that a new era was at hand and that there was going to be a shift from the new to the old. "Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)."
John baptized with water for repentance while Jesus was to come with power, baptizing with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Something was changing with Jesus, a lifestyle that was going to be released that exceeded that of John himself. "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (Luke 7:28)." John was a sign pointing towards Jesus, we are different in the fact that we can become like Christ, exemplifying Him to everyone around us.
The Holy Spirit is within us, sanctifying us to look more like Him, and empowering us to do the works that He did (2 Cor. 3, John 14:12). We are in a continually process of transformation, through unity with God our thoughts, emotions, and actions align with Him. Christ has set us free, paid the price, and given us a destiny of co-laboring with Him in this world; however, we do not need to take it. Many believers have fallen into traps of comfort and compromise; either not knowing what they have access to, or choosing not to pursue it, they are little different from the rest of the world. This ought not be so.
It is time to raise the bar, to lay claim to the inheritance we have in Jesus, to manifest His holiness, power, and authority everywhere we go. God is looking for those who are willing to step into the unknown, to become dependent on the Holy Spirit for all fulfillment and joy; He is waiting for those who dare to believe unto action, to take risk that defy experience and prove His goodness and faithfulness.
I want my life to reveal Christ, to live in the holiness I am intended for, to produce the fruits of the Spirit in abundance, and to walk in the power and authority of a son of God. Supernatural, God-breathed, seated in heaven, utterly dependent, I am but a vessel housing the Holy Spirit. Growing in His goodness, learning who He is and who I am in Him, hungry for His presence, eager for His word, that is the man I want to be. What about you?
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