Dressing and Eating for Success

“Now John Himself had a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt about his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey…. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Matthew 3:4; Luke 1:15-17)

John was the only son of a priest. His lifestyle of simplicity, starkness and poverty was likely a self-imposed choice. He was dedicated as a Nazirite forbidden to drink any alcohol. He was the first disciple of Jesus to be filled with the Spirit while in the womb of Elizabeth.
As you read today, Ask yourself the question, “What am I willing to change about myself to remove obstacles to prepare a clear straight path so others can know JESUS, the wonderful Lord and Savior?”

Read Matthew 3:1-17

John was a prophet. He was the cousin of Jesus. Mary went to visit Aunt Elizabeth when John was in the 3rd Trimester of development. The Scripture reveals that John “leaped for joy” in the womb of Elizabeth when she heard the greeting of Mary. Perhaps this was the last time John was happy. He was the son of priest who grew up in the deserts of Judea rather than the courts of the temple. In that parched cold and hot wilderness John grew in his capacity to listen to the heart of God, growing in grace and wisdom. In the wilderness, unplugged from common society John became the Baptist, the Way Maker. How much wiser and gracious might we be if we would but unplug from our smartphones, laptops and SmartTV’s?

Silence is the home of the Word. In Solitude we can receive the Spirit to then bear to the community (Isaiah 30:15).

John was such an enigma. Jesus said there was no one greater born of a woman than His cousin. He was highly esteemed by the Lord Himself. “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (ESV,Matt.11:11)

John the Baptist lived with one purpose only…TO POINT OTHERS TO JESUS CHRIST. The main two points of John’s message was…

1) Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
2) Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt.3:11).
John was the epitome of having a laser focus and free from distractions.

From the moment “he leaped with joy” in the womb of Elizabeth, baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and was finally beheaded by Herod…John did not get out of his lane. John stayed his course until it cost him his life. His lifestyle was a rugged individual choice to not be softened by the plush culture of religion and Hellenization. His lifestyle was a preparation for the opposition and persecution he would attract.

We are entering into a New Year. Resolutions are being made to present a better version of ourselves to the world. Let’s think about John the Baptist for a moment. John’s resolute character was based on REVELATION he received from God. His outward dress and diet simply reflected his inward devotion to a higher purpose and cause of Jehovah.

Personally, I enjoy fine dining and occasional fast food. I have become much more careful with what I eat the older I have become and for health reasons. My wife is a phenomenal scratch cook. In the morning, give me a couple of fried eggs with a slice of whole grain Dave’s bread and cup of tea and I’m good until late into the afternoon. I was raised with a very simple taste in clothes. I never recall my father or mother shopping much for clothes. We got our clothes for each year at Christmas and before school began….that’s it. I had a pretty simple upbringing when it came to food and clothing. My parents never openly drank and certainly never saw them intoxicated. Thank God! However, compared to John, I lived in the lap of luxury. I did love to wander the prairies of Pueblo during the summer months. I would spend hours often by myself pursuing snakes, tarantulas, lizards and birds, basically, anything that moved may be caught and or killed.

John knew who he was…he was a prophet…no apologies, no excuses…John was going to bring the word of the Lord unapologetically to whoever would listen. Judgement is coming you better repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

The wardrobe and diet of John I believe speaks to our lifestyle as followers of Jesus. Personally, I believe to some degree Jesus was more pleasant to be around than John. Jesus hung out at parties; John hung out in the desert. Hygiene and Cuisine are important. I went through a phase where once a year I would go to Macy’s or Nordstrom and search for the SCENT of the year for me. After much ado about nothing, I would find MY SCENT and those around me would suffer the lingering effects. We should be more eager to manifest the “sweet aroma” and “the fragrance” of Jesus’ victory everywhere we go. Jesus addressed “food and clothing” as essential but a potential distraction from awareness of God the Father’s presence and provision in our life. How many Instagram’s, snapchats and Facebook posts about our greasy or grainy lunch does this world need to behold. Jesus challenges the Jew to not behave like the Gentiles.

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ( Matthew 6:31-33)

The Greek verb for “SEEK First” is “ zētéō – properly, to seek by inquiring; to investigate to reach a binding (terminal) resolution; to search, “getting to the bottom of a matter” (HELP Word Studies).

Interestingly, Jesus refers to the Gentiles disposition toward hydration, food and clothing as those who “EAGERLY SEEK”. The word is an intensive verb form of ‘zeteo’ by adding the preposition ‘epi’ or ‘epi-zeteo’. Jesus is saying the Gentiles sole craving and all consuming appetite focuses on what or when they will drink next, wear next and eat next….hmmmm sounds familiar doesn’t it?!

John the Baptist’s appetite or intense craving is for the word of God, the presence of God and the things of the Holy Spirit. Contrary to the Gentiles, John was fixated on where, when and how God would appear to His beloved creation. Jesus during His fast in the wilderness battled the Devil with the understanding that the word of God is more nourishing than bread. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt.4:4). Jesus compared obeying the will of the Father to eating a good meal, ““My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work (John 4:34)… For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink (John 6:35). Communion and Union with the Father and Son marked with loving trust and obedience is the TRUE FOOD that feeds the muscles of our souls. As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat.” There is urgency in these days to be careful what we DRINK. Jesus warns against ‘drunkenness’ in the last days, advocating SOBRIETY and PRAYERFULNESS and being DRESSED IN READINESS. Paul tells the Ephesians to not pursue drinking too much, but on the contrary “be filled with the Holy Spirit”. There were some seasons in my walk where I was more focused on drinking ‘spirits’ than being immersed in the Holy Spirit. The net result was a lot of wasted time. By God’s grace He has drawn me out Babylon into the wilderness and back into the flow of His Spirit and Word!

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (Ephesians 5:16-21)

WE NEED TO GO ON A BIBLICAL DIET…THE WORD, THE SPIRIT AND WILL OF THE FATHER!

The time is NOW to “put off” the old man and “put on” the new man. Wake up and Rise up and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts”. John clothed himself with an abrasive coat of camels long hair to remind himself that “he must decrease” and Jesus must increase. John lived in a spirit of repentance knowing the judgement of God was coming. John’s sparse diet reminded him to commit fully to doing the will of God according the word of God.

REPENTANCE IS ALWAS IN VOGUE!

Meditate on the following Scriptures in the spirit and power of John of the Baptist. These Scriptures will help us BECOME FOREUNNERS PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST:

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:14: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

1 Corinthians 15:53: For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

2 Corinthians 5:2-4: For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

Ephesians 4:24: and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Ephesians 6:11: Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Colossians 3:12: So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Colossians 3:14: Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

1 Thessalonians 5:8: But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 3:3: Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

Father, we humbly come to you in the name Jesus. We repent of our softness in such critical days of your activity. Transform our appetites so we will eagerly seek You with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. May we draw by Your Spirit the most essential qualities of your servant John who prepared the way to behold Your Son Jesus as the Lamb of God who saves us from our sins. Toughen our skin and tenderize our hearts with the salt of your grace, mercy and peace. Invigorate our minds with the silence and solitude of the wilderness as we disconnect from World Wide Web of deception. May you teach us humility and simplicity in the lonely places, so we can be strong and helpful to those who are crushed in the market place, bruised in households of abuse and broken in spirit by constant failure. Father give us A VOICE that weeps in the wilderness and rejoices when one sinner repents and enters the kingdom of heaven. AMEN