Yesterday marked a day in my life that will never be forgotten. It was the culmination of three years of ministry along with a lifetime of things spoken over me. Throughout my life, I have taken several personality tests for various jobs or ministries. Each one was a little different, but the one that spoke to the core of who I am was one that directed me to biblical personalities that matched mine. People like John the Baptist and Peter…the forerunners.
On my first World Race, I had several people prophesy that I was a forerunner. People who I love and adore, my teammates, Seth Barnes, and several others all had same or similar words for me. I wondered, what does that even look like? Does that mean that I am just the “set-up guy” or that I won’t see much fruit? I got pretty frustrated. I wanted to see great things and I wanted to be used by God to see people healed and every other sort of miraculous thing you could imagine. I thought to myself that as a “forerunner” I would somehow not get to take part in these things. I was dead wrong.
I have seen God do amazing things in my lifetime, being the one that comes before does not mean that I won’t see those things happen. Rather, it means that those who come after will extend it that much further! How cool is that?!
I sat in the locker room of the Jordan River baptism site as I pondered these last three years. It finally sunk in and hit me the magnitude of what was going on that day. At training camp for the J-squad back in late May of this year, God spoke to me so clearly as I was filled with his Spirit. Three men came to my mind in visions that night, three men that I would minister to specifically. After being filled with His Spirit, I walked around the room in search for Matt Patch, Austin Anglea, and Dan Snyder. At this point in time, I had barely known any of them yet I had heard so clearly that I was to walk up to them and speak things over their lives. I didn’t know them, but God did. Each one heard from the Lord that night in his own way and we left amazed at what God was doing. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized the answer to the question why?
Throughout the summer months I kept receiving dreams about these mighty men of God and what possibilities lie ahead for them. They were just on the cusp of it but I could already sense God moving and developing a partnership among them. Dreams that spoke of mighty things being done in the Kingdom came to my mind afresh. Little did I know that they had been having visions and dreams themselves. God was definitely moving. So I sat in the locker room and as always, there is no mistake in how God coordinates things. He is the author. We did not plan it but there we sat, Austin, Patch, Dan, and me. I was baffled that in a few short moments I would have the blessing and honor of baptizing these empowered men of God and in the Jordan River of all places. I opened up the word to Matthew chapter 3. I read about John the Baptist and how he prepared the way for the one to come, Jesus of Nazareth. Striking how these parallels manifest themselves. It clicked. Over the last few months I have been honored to serve alongside the J-squad that is full of this generation’s leaders. I have seen growth and I have poured my heart and soul into them. It has been a privilege to do these things. I read as John said that he was not fit to even carry the sandals of Jesus. I empathized with his words as I made eye contact with each of these three men. John also said that he needed to be baptized by Jesus because he recognized who he was. After seeing these men and realizing who they are in Christ, I shared the same sentiment. What an honor it was to baptize these men in water!
Austin the Evangelist
Matthew the Discerning Exhorter
Daniel the Prophet
As each one emerged from the water, the implications exceeded the symbolism of the event. There was something going on in the spiritual realm and I knew that great things in the Kingdom were coming in Jesus name!
I could not have imagined any of this years ago. I never believed that I would be a part of God’s amazing story in this way. But here I am, humbled once again that God chooses to use the ones least likely. He uses the foolish things to shame the wise. I have realized who I am and what I’ve been called to do. I exist to raise others to go further and deeper than what I could ever dream. Will I see and be a part of great things in the Kingdom? Of course, but I realize that the greatest thing that I could do is to impact those who come after me. As confirmation, and in God’s sense of humor, upon leaving the baptism pit I saw Patch’s tattoo of a dove on his shoulder showing through his gown as if to say that “he is also my son and that I love him and have great purpose for him”. Father, you blow my mind. To be loved by you and chosen by you, there is no greater thing! May these men as well as the entire J-squad continue to bring your Kingdom to earth in every nation they touch. May they be the ones in this generation to see all nations come to know you in your fullness. I speak a blessing over these men as leaders. They walk in freedom and newness in you. I thank you Lord for who you’ve created me to be. A forerunner.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'”
Matthew 3:16-17
