Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus the Christ,

 “. . . Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.” Matthew 3:7-11 (MSG)

 John the Baptist didn’t play; his speak wasn’t complicated; he didn’t mince words by saying one thing but meaning another. Neither did his cousin – Jesus the Anointed One and His Anointing. Water immersion baptism indicates repentance by the free-will decision of going under as representing death in regard to the old life of sin, and the rising up as representing new life with an earnest endeavor toward that inherit in the freedom thereof (Romans 8:1-2). However, ignition of the kingdom life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would become a free-will decision of acceptance for all mankind approximately three years later when the sinless lifeblood of the only begotten Son of God – YESHUA/JESUS was sowed via His own death and resurrection (Galatians 3:13-14; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 9:11-28; Ephesians 1:19-23). This was the mystery of God’s plan to reconcile mankind unto Himself through the sent One born as man sans sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 1:9 & 3:6):

  • to intercede on behalf of all mankind (Isaiah 53:12; Galatians 2:20)
  • to preach the precepts of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23; Luke 16:16)
  • to teach us how to speak and do as initially created, in the way of God the Father (John 5:10 & 8:26b,28,38 & 12:49-50 & 14:10)
  • to bare the sins of the transgressors (John 1:29; 1Co 15:3; Romans 3:23)
  • to bring quality of life in abundance (John 10:10b)
  • to take back the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18)

We too are the seed of Abraham – the father of faith, for by faith we were instantly changed from the inside out. Nevertheless, the grace of God the Father didn’t rescue us out of the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom through Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:13) just to stand singing at the foot of the cross. As John the Baptist stated, this new life is to BE a kingdom life – a real action life – the kind that moves from comprehension to application or from hearing to doing (James 1:22). That is the Great Commission, the Ministry-of-Authority to bind and loose in the Name above all names, to stand in the gap, to set the captives free, to bring in the harvest of the lost, that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Isaiah 61:1-3; John 10;10a).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet