The call of God is going throughout the whole earth for message bearers of the highest spiritual quality to arise and shine among all ethnic peoples.
2 Chronicles 16:9 describes it this way, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
He is searching for and raising messengers whose devotion is to Him, who carry the desires of His heart, who love the King and His Kingdom, who experientially know God, passing that knowledge to others.
These are His mouthpieces, living the Gospel and walking by the Spirit according to its standards. They are a part of an unstoppable, uncontrollable move of the Holy Spirit propelling His body outward toward global harvest.
Through these message bearers God is “preparing the way of the Lord!” Over 2,500 years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke words of prophecy through Isaiah that apply to us and our core purpose as the body of Christ globally. In fact they need our diligent attention and emphasis now more than ever.
In Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah prophesies, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill be brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah was laying a foundational call before the people of God throughout history. John the Baptist took on this calling as He preceded the coming of Jesus in the first century.
John’s preaching of practical repentance “prepared” multitudes of Jews to see, hear and follow Jesus as the true Messiah. John’s was a ministry entirely focused on laying groundwork so Jesus’ ministry and purpose could be accomplished.
John says of Himself in John 1:23, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.” With solitude, simplicity, vision, courage and humility, John became a “voice” of God in his generation, preparing for Jesus’ first coming.
John’s was one of millions of “voices” God intends to use. John’s voice alone was never meant to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. The Holy Spirit is searching for similar voices today to possess and “prepare the way of the Lord” in these end times.
The apostle John in the book of Revelation (different from John the Baptist) had been exiled to the island of Patmos for standing on His faith in Jesus. He is in his 90’s at this point.
He had been one of the “sons of thunder” in the Gospels (Mark 3:17) sixty year’s prior. Through John’s life the thunder of God was known outwardly, as he experienced His thunder in his heart inwardly.
He went deep with God, seeking Him boldly, believing and applying the words and promises He gave. John experienced the thunder of God, releasing it to others.
John was called the “beloved” disciple, more intimate with Jesus than any of the twelve. Jesus knew the future He possessed for John. He knew the Father was preparing John to live from the place of intimate fellowship with Jesus all His days.
This was the foundation necessary for John to be entrusted to communicate the end-time message of the book of Revelation to the body of Christ for all generations. God gave the message of Revelation through one He enjoyed deep intimacy with.
To be entrusted as message bearers of God’s end-time redemptive message means pursuing the highest levels of intimacy, abandonment and devotion to the Lord. John was not a random pick the exalted Christ chose to unveil His plans.
Amos 3:7 declares, “Surely, the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” He is looking for intimacy, moving in partnership with His beloved Bride as we show ourselves trustworthy with the secrets of His heart. John had proven His devotion, loyalty and burning heart for the Lord over and over throughout his lifetime.
God is calling end-time message bearers of the Gospel of the Kingdom who purposefully cultivate a spirit like John’s, sons and daughters of thunder, experiencing the thunder of God in our hearts by going deep with Him, releasing His thunder for others to receive for themselves.
