A Forerunner’s Heart

Matthew 3:1-17  (Amplified Bible)

The Preaching of John the Baptist

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, ² “Repent [change your inner self your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the road for the Lord, Make His highways straight (level, direct)!’”

⁴ Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; ⁶ and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath and judgment to come? ⁸ So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham. ¹⁰ And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). ¹² His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us [k]to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him. ¹⁶ After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”

Mathew 3 presents to us the ministry of John the Baptist, a man sent by God to prepare the way for the coming of the King. John was a forerunner. He did not come seeking recognition, position, or applause. He came with a message from Heaven: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).

His assignment was to prepare hearts for the appearing of Jesus Christ. As I look at the hour in which we live, I feel the same pull of God upon my heart. I believe the Church needs forerunners once again men and women who will prepare the way for the Presence of the Lord.

A forerunner does not seek to build his own kingdom. He seeks to prepare people for God’s Kingdom. John understood that before there could be visitation, there had to be preparation. Before there could be revival, there had to be repentance. Before there could be an outpouring, there had to be a people willing to make room for God.

Isaiah prophesied of John, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight'” (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3). The cry of the forerunner is still the same today: Prepare the way of the Lord.

As I look at BASH Family Worship Center, I believe God has called us to carry this burden. We are not called merely to hold services. We are called to carry the Gospel into the streets, into broken homes, into places of addiction, despair, and hopelessness. We are called to bring all sheep home.

Like John, we are called to minister beyond the comfort zones of religion and reach those whom others have forgotten. The resistance is real, but resistance has always accompanied those who prepare the way for God. Noah faced resistance. Elijah faced resistance. John faced resistance. Jesus Himself faced resistance.

Opposition does not always mean we are outside the will of God; often it means we are advancing into territory that darkness has occupied for too long.

Yet one of my greatest prayers is not simply to be bold, but to remain tender. I do not want a hardened heart toward God, His people, or His Church. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

The danger of ministry is not only compromise; it is becoming hard while fighting compromise. John preached with conviction, but Jesus ministered with compassion. I believe the Lord is calling us to carry both. We must speak truth without becoming harsh. We must confront darkness without losing love. We must stand for holiness while maintaining tears for those who are bound.

The spirit of a true forerunner is not anger; it is burden. It is not pride, it is surrender. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The true forerunner is content to step aside if Christ is glorified. He is not building a platform for himself; he is preparing a throne for the King.

One area where this burden burns deeply in my heart is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues remain gifts for the Church today. Jesus promised power through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and on the Day of Pentecost they were all filled and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

Yet I also recognize there are many sincere believers who love God deeply and have not yet entered into this experience. My responsibility is not to condemn them, but to teach truth with humility and love.

Truth has a way of preparing the heart for greater revelation. As believers grow in the Word of God and become open to the work of the Holy Spirit, many discover dimensions of God’s presence they had never previously understood.

My prayer is not that people would simply adopt a doctrine, but that they would encounter the Person of the Holy Spirit. When truth and faith meet in a surrendered heart, God is faithful to reveal Himself.

Today, more than ever, the Church needs forerunners who will prepare the way for the Lord. We need men and women who will stand between the porch and the altar, who will weep between God and a generation, who will cry out for awakening while remaining tender before the Holy Spirit. We need voices that will not compromise truth, yet hearts that will not lose compassion.

My prayer is simple: Lord, let me be a voice. Let me prepare the way. Let me carry Your Gospel to the streets. Let me walk in truth. Let me never lose my tenderness before Your Presence. Let me never grieve Your Spirit. Let me decrease so that You may increase. And let my life help prepare a people ready for the coming of the King.

The true forerunner spirit, is not tearing down everything in the past. Foundations are meant to undergird truth, I am grateful for those who put it in my heart to study the word, those who gave their best so I can stand where I am today.

25 years ago, I was ordained in the Pentecostal Church of God, Rev. Dr. C. Don Burk of the Pentecostal Church of God preached the service in which I was ordained in. Rev. Don and His wife Naomi were Indian Missionaries. The night I was ordained, an impartation came upon me, the forerunner spirit came upon me. I am preparing the way of the Lord. I Honor the Memories I have of this man and his wife. I remember drives we used to have for Indian Missions.

Truly I believe God has prepared me and I believe God has prepared you for the moment we are in to prepare the way.