LightHouse of Prayer Baptism of the Bride January 20, 2017 I.

John the Baptist, the Spirit of Elijah, Came to Prepare the Earth to Accept Jesus: A. John was sent as a WITNESS to the light of mankind:

John 1:1-8 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (7) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. (8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. B. John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sin

Baptizo: to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.

Metanoia (Repentance): compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): - repentance

Afesis (Remission): freedom; (figuratively) pardon: - deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.

C. John was forerunning something that only Jesus could fully make possible. John was preaching the Sermon on the Mount BEFORE doing the Sermon on the Mount would be fully possible, by the Holy Spirit. This was about the turning of the heart:

Malachi 4:1-6 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. (2) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. (3) You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts. (4) "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. (5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (6) And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

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LightHouse of Prayer Baptism of the Bride January 20, 2017 D. John’s baptism marked a reversal of direction and a wholehearted commitment to fundamentally change who the person was and where they were heading for SAFETY from the coming of the messiah (in the end times, or time of wrath)!!

Luke 3:3-22 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, (4) as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. (5) EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND THE ROUGH WAYS SMOOTH; (6) AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.' " (7) Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (9) And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (10) So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?" (11) He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." (12) Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" (13) And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you." (14) Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." (15) Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, (16) John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (17) His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." (18) And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. (19) But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, (20) also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

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LightHouse of Prayer Baptism of the Bride January 20, 2017

(21) When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." II.

Dual fulfillment of Prophecy A. The messiah comes TWICE. Once for us, and once for HIMSELF. Jesus came first to show us the way into SANCTIFICATION. Jesus will come again for GLORIFICATION:

Daniel 9:26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. John 17:18-22 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (20) "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (21) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, (4) so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, (5) which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; (6) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (10) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (11) Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, (12) that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. B. Many of the prophetic promises fulfilled the first time Jesus came will be fulfilled EVEN MORE in the second coming..positive and negative. C. Just as John labored (gave birth) to something in advance of Jesus’ flesh-birth, to prepare the earth to be able to recognize His humility, the Bride, or the end time

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LightHouse of Prayer Baptism of the Bride January 20, 2017 pure and spotless one (the Bride), will give birth to something in advance of Jesus’ GLORIFIED coming to the earth. We will give birth to the GOVERNMENT of Jesus on earth…the tabernacle…in labor (2 Thes 3-5, above) D. John was a forerunner to Jesus’ marriage. It is in the consummation of the marriage that the family of God is conceived. The marriage of the lamb to the Bride takes place over a week (7 years). Jesus and his disciples walked through the first 3.5 years. The end time generation of Jacob will walk through the last 3.5 years, and see heaven open (glorification):

Psalms 24:1-10 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (2) For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. (3) Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? (4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. (5) He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (6) This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah (7) Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. (8) Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. (9) Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. (10) Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah E. In Israel, for Jews, ascending the hill of the Lord, or the temple mount, begins with a “Mikvah”…or baptism.

Jeremiah 17:12-13 A glorious high throne from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary. (13) O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the LORD, The fountain of living waters." III.

The Fallen Away Church

2 Timothy 4:1-8 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (4) and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (5) But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,

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and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. A. This is not a warning to “other people”…this is a warning to us. We are in the generation that will not endure sound doctrine. Sound doctrine sounds NEW to us!!

Hebrews 6:1-8 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (7) For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; (8) but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. B. Anything alive is either GROWING or DYING. Here the writer of Hebrews is making this point. A vision of PERFECTION (complete holiness UNTO Glorification) is what keeps us from going backwards.

1 Corinthians 15:40-58 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (41) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. (42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. (43) It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. (44) It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (45) And so it is written, "THE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING BEING." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (46) However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. (47) The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. (48) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. (49) And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY." (55) "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"

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(56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. C. This vision comes with distinct parameters. It builds on what John was forerunning. There is no NEW baptism, but a renewing of our understanding. A repentance from a lesser vision, and a commitment to go forward into glorification. D. John was baptizing people into DECREASE so Jesus could INCREASE.

John 3:22-36 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. (23) Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. (24) For John had not yet been thrown into prison. (25) Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. (26) And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" (27) John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' (29) He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. (30) He must increase, but I must decrease. (31) He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. (32) And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. (33) He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. (34) For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (35) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (36) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

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