Mark 1:1-4 "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"- 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." NIV
In the seasons of God it is clear throughout both biblical history and church history that when God intends to introduce significant change into a church, a region or a nation or even the earth He prepares the way for the waves of His divine activity by raising up a voice amongst the people. God uses people to be His mouthpiece, to declare truth, to confront hypocrisy, to expose lies and to turn the hearts of men towards the heart of God. In the bible it was such men as Moses who met with God face to face, David, the man after God’s own heart and the singer of songs that brought a restoration of intimacy with God. There were prophets like Samuel, Elijah, Elisha and others who restored and revealed God’s standards and power and restored the fear of God amongst the people. There were men like Isaiah and Jeremiah who announced the coming of judgment amongst the people of God and sought to bring the nation to repentance even though the people hardened their hearts.
In the gospels and New Testament the outpouring of the Holy Spirit caused this pattern of raising up mouthpieces to be accelerated as God called all believers through Peter to consider themselves God’s voice. In 1 Peter 4:10-11Peter writes: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” It is the way of God to initiate change through anointed messengers who prepare the way for the coming of God’s work into a situation or generation. John the Baptist spoke a message that called the people to turn their hearts back to sincere obedience to God that they might be forgiven. His ministry prepared the way for the Lord to bring the message of God’s kingdom to the people. Even so today God commissions us to be that same voice of preparation.
After the gospel times men and women throughout history became the voice of God calling to their generation; people of passion, living a life of radical abandonment to God who allowed God’s Spirit to speak through them and turn the hearts many to a new experience with God. Men like Patrick of Ireland who transformed the culture of a nation. Men like Luther who called for a restoration of faith that has impacted the church for hundreds of years. Women like mother Theresa who called the attention of the world to a heart of compassion and the needs of the poor and afflicted. God moves a heart and then turns that heart into message of change.
In Isaiah’s day the Lord was looking for a man and declared in Isaiah’s presence in Isa 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah said yes! Will you? His message called Israel to change and warned them of coming judgment. He took a stand and confronted a complacent and backslidden generation. Will you? God is still looking for a man or a woman upon whom He can place the power of His Spirit, someone who will be a voice and prepare the way for a fresh visitation of His presence in this generation.
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