Preaching in the Desert

I guess I've always wondered why John the Baptist ate, slept, lived and worked in the Desert.

The desert is a place that (in my mind at least) represents death. The environment would be harsh and unforgiving. Signs of life, as we've come to understand them, would be extremely rare. Surely when you dwell in a place like that, it would begin to condition your mind to that being the norm. But that there was my answer, exactly that is today's revelation. As i began to read Matthew 3 this morning i found myself thinking, 'thank you Lord for John the baptist'.


Before the people of Israel could accept the gift of life, they needed their eyes to be opened to what lay before them, to what they were walking into, or even currently living in the destiny of - death!


John the baptist was a prophet. He lived his life 3 steps ahead of the flock. He was living in what they were walking into. His life was shouting at their current destination.

Thank you Lord that in the place of death, you place a prophet who speaks life.

Today's revelation again highlights the importance of whom it is that you listen to. When your in the Desert, it would be easy to listen to the voice of death, but the Lord desires life, His purpose is fruit, fruit that is produced in keeping with repentance (v8)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)

When you hear the voice of life (in this case John the Baptist), a repentant and obedient response brings not only a destination of life, but a light that shines the way - the way out of the desert - the way to life.