Leckieville Freewill Baptist Church

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The Forerunner

12/03/06  Bro. Lee Dotson

Lu 1:13(But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.)

What a great announcement that Zacharias heard that day in the Temple, Not only were they going to have son, He was going to be great in the sight of God. Lu 1:14(And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.).

What was going to make their son so great? Why were they going to be so glad, and many shall rejoice?

A person of great riches and reputation is great in the sight of men; but the man of great ability and usefulness, the man of great integrity and serviceableness, he is truly great in the sight of the Lord. They are little men in the sight of the Lord, that live in the world to little purposes; who do little service to God, and bring little honor and glory to him. But the man that does all the possible service he can for God, and the utmost good he is capable of doing to all mankind; he is a person great in the sight of the Lord; and such was the John the Baptist.

John had a great purpose. He was the Forerunner for Christ. His baptism was at once a preparation and a promise of the spiritual cleansing which the Messiah would bestow. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire".