The Baptizer has Come
Matthew 3:1-17 (KJV)
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The Spirit that was upon John was the same Spirit that was upon Elijah and Elisha. The first time I saw the Spirit in this capacity is upon Noah. I’m challenged to live closer to Jesus every day of my life.
The Spirit that was upon these men strikes fear in the heart of the devil. Unwavering devotion to God, a life surrendered to God can only open a supernatural door of breakthrough.
Adam and Eve ate of the tree, known as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This tree symbolizes the choice between obedience to God and the pursuit of knowledge. Eating its fruit led to Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden.
For a little bit I want to talk to you about Spirit → Soul → Body
God’s design: Spirit → Soul → Body (the spirit leading, the soul agreeing, the body following).
After the fall, this order was reversed: the body and desires of the flesh often dominate, influencing the soul and silencing the spirit.
The Soul’s Key Role
The soul is called the site of personality because this is where your individual self—your ability to think, feel, and choose—resides.
It is the pivot: the soul has free will and can decide whether the spirit or the flesh will rule.
That’s why the Bible calls man “a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). Our individuality and choices flow from here.
Why This Matters
God’s desire is that the spirit (filled with the Holy Spirit) governs the whole person.
The soul must yield for this to happen. If the soul resists, the spirit is blocked, and the body may end up leading instead.
This explains free will: God will not force the spirit to rule—you must choose to submit your soul (your will, mind, and emotions) to God so His Spirit can direct your life.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
In The Living Bible Romans 6:12-14:
12 Do not let sin control your puny body any longer; do not give in to its sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes. 14 Sin need never again be your master, for now you are no longer tied to the law where sin enslaves you, but you are free under God’s favor and mercy.
When you are born again, the Holy Spirit gives you power over the flesh through the Spirit.
Some people want to be saved, but they haven’t repented, when you repent the Holy Spirit will come into your spirit and you will have the ability to control the flesh.
Man is a three-part being. The spirit is the noblest part, designed to connect with God. The body is the lowest, connecting with the physical world. The soul, in the middle, is the deciding factor. Whichever direction the soul yields—toward the spirit or the flesh—determines the flow of life. God’s original design is that the spirit governs through the soul, producing a spiritual body.
Jesus came to set us free from the dominion of sin, he ended the tyranny of the flesh. Now our soul can be led by the Holy Spirit .
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
God gave you a spirit; that spirit was guided by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the baptizer; man in his fall became a soulish creature who lost his ability to be led by the Spirit of God.
What would you do if I told you that you don’t have to continue in sin. You don’t have to obey the desires of the flesh?
Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.
The Holy Spirit wants to help you; he wants to lead you into righteous.
Mark 11:12-13,20-21 (NASB 1995)
12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.
21 Being reminded, Peter *said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”
Why did Jesus curse this tree? It was talking to Jesus; the fig leaves hide its fruit from the eye. Jesus saw the tree and it created desire. He became hungry. You say well that’s not sin. Yes I understand this, but Jesus was one week from the cross. Don’t let flesh lead you.
I ask you what is talking to you? Who is talking to you?