Matthew 3:11–12
11“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Focused Thinking:
What is the phase “as for me” in reference to?
“As for Me,” I baptize you with water for repentance.
I am the one “preaching in the wilderness.”
I am the one preaching “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
I am “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”
I am the voice crying out “Make ready the way of the LORD.”
I am the voice crying out “Make His path straight.”
I am the one “baptizing people as they confessed their sins.”
I am the one warning the Pharisees and Sadducees.
I am the one warning them to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
“But He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
I am not fit to remove his sandals;
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Winnowing fork is in His hand,
And He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor;
And He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
John the Baptist was great in the eyes of God.
Look at the list above. What does John the Baptist say about Jesus?
Who is Jesus?
“Jesus is mightier than John the Baptist.”
“I am not fit to remove his sandals.”
What does Jesus do?
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
“Winnowing fork is in His hands, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
What does “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” mean?
I need to research the phase Holy Spirit and fire.
Does fire describe some of the functions of the Holy Spirit?
Is fire enlightening?
Is fire warming?
Is fire consuming?
Is fire purifying?
Winnowing fork is in His hands,
I need to research this illustration to gain full understanding.
There is a day coming when the floor shall be purged, and the wheat and chaff shall be separated.
The day of the last judgment will be the great winnowing, distinguishing day, which will infallibly determine concerning doctrines and works (1 Co. 3:13), and concerning persons (Matt 25:32, 33), when saints and sinners shall be parted forever.
Personal Application:
I must know my place.
- I am also a forerunner of Christ.
- I am also a prophet for Christ.
- I am also a teacher for Christ.
- I am nothing compared to Christ.
- Jesus is mightier than I am.
- I am not to remove his sandals.
- He must increase; I must decrease.
- He doesn’t increase when I just focus on my efforts.
- He doesn’t increase when I just prioritize more spiritual disciplines.
- When He increases; I automatically decrease.
- I must allow Him to judge as He sees fit.
- Winnowing fork in is His hand.
- I must not soften God’s hand.
- I must allow God to be God.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, help me and the staff of Highpoint Church to have the heart and mission of John the Baptist. Make our heart-cry be “He must increase, I must decrease.” Give us the solitary focus to be the forerunner for Christ’s second coming. Give us the courage and boldness of John the Baptist to preach repentance. Give us the favor and privilege of seeing fruit in keeping with repentance.
Cause our hearts to break over religious hypocrisy and protect us from ever being religious hypocrites. Give us the ability to bring authenticity back to the pastorate. Give us the ability to be leaders to those in our church and in our city. Give us the privilege of bringing revival to our city through our church. Give us the ability to partner with other churches to help them return to holiness and to bring revival to the church and spiritual awakening to our city and beyond.
Father, give us a platform to teach churches and Christian organizations about grace. Give us the ability to truly be the church for the prodigals. Give us the love to be compassionate as the Father is compassionate. Give us the privilege of teaching the “Friend of Sinners” message to our churches and to help all churches and Christian organizations embrace the truth of compassion without compromise.
Father, this passage concludes with images of hell. Give us the ability to pray as if people really die and go to hell. Give us the ability to live our lives as if people really die and go to the hell. Give us the passion to teach Your Word and love Your people as if people really die and go to hell. Father, I don’t want people living hell on earth and I don’t want people living in eternal separation from You. I know this is such a small number, but please give us the opportunity to see at least 200 people baptized this year. I pray for so many more, but give us the opportunity to be good stewards. Bless our new response time process. I pray that the “Understanding Salvation” and “Going Public” videos will help people understand their decisions and take steps through the process. Father, bless our work with students this summer and use this camps to bring unlimited numbers of students to camp. Give us the opportunity to be used by You to see people saved, baptized and mature in Christ.
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