John the Baptist: Consumed With Fire

“He was a burning and shining lamp” — John 5:35 ESV   

Jesus described John the Baptist as “a burning and shining lamp.” He burned with fire. He was such a fiery preacher that people came out to the middle of nowhere to investigate his ministry. On one occasion, Jesus rebuked the crowds for not accepting this forerunner’s message. He began speaking to people about their expectations of his ministry by asking, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” (Matthew 11:7, 9). He was referencing the fact that people went out to the wilderness to see John the Baptist in person, and were shocked because he was nothing like they thought he would be. But notice that Jesus uses the word “see.” The people went to see John the Baptist — but you don’t need to see a preacher. You hear a preacher. Blind people can hear preaching without having to see. Right now you can get on your phone and download more preaching podcasts than you could ever listen to. So why did Jesus emphasize the word “see?” The people didn’t want to hear John the Baptist. They wanted to see him, because they wanted to know a man on fire looks like. He was a spectacle because of how he burned.

During the height of John Wesley’s ministry in England, he was rejected by the church. But he didn’t need a church in order to preach. He would preach in an open field, and thousands of people would come out to see him. His open air meetings were so full of Holy Spirit power that people were told not to get in a tree while Wesley was preaching, because they might get hit with the power of God and fall out! Someone asked Wesley why so many people came to see him preach, and he replied, “I set myself on fire, and people come from everywhere to watch me burn.”

Have you caught fire? Or have you previously been on fire but have cooled off since then? It’s time to get on fire again. It’s as simple as setting aside more consistent time in the presence of the All Consuming Fire.


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This blog is an excerpt from Robert Presson’s devotional book, “People Of His Presence,” available on Amazon: Click here to purchase on Amazon.  Alternatively, the book is available for free when you give a donation of any amount to City Revival Ministries at  cityrevivalnola.com/give. Please indicate that you would like the book when you give.