John 3:22-36 – After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.” 31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) Jesus went to Judean countryside and baptized people. John was nearby and also baptizing people. John was at Aenon because there was plenty of water there as the name states, as the verse states and because people were coming there in response to his ministry. People can often over analyze everything. They want to make symbols and types out of everything and look for hidden meanings. Now, of course the Bible is filled with such yet not everything needs a cryptic meaning to be found out. For example what does “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) mean? Best understanding is that “Jesus wept.”
Pastor John Courson in his Application Commentary tells the story of how Chuck Smith determined that the church (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa) would be in Costa Mesa. “In the early 1970’s, Calvary Chapel was located in the middle of nowhere – smack in the center of huge bean field. In the ensuing years, not only did the church explode numerically, but the Costa Mesa area grew to the point that Calvary Chapel is now sitting on some very valuable real estate. Chuck has often been asked if he had received a vision, a word of prophecy, or a special sign to pastor the little church in the sticks. And he just laughed as he replied, “I took the church in Costa Mesa because I like to surf and it was the closest available church to the beach!”
Family and Friends, sometimes we need to wait for a special sign, but not usually. We know the Word of God and we have the Spirit of God within. If God brings us to it, God will see us through it. Trust the written Word of God and trust the Spirit of God within. We trust that God is fully sovereign and fully powerful enough to give us our path and guide us to it and through it. Unless there is a definite stop from the Lord, do what God has placed in your heart and has given you the ability to do. God will and does guide our steps. Trust you Maker and your Guide.
Do you have confidence in God who keeps you to keep you? (Jude 1:24) Do you believe God who said that He will place Himself within you to teach and guide that He will do what He has promised. (John 14:15-21, 26, 16:13) Be convinced that the Holy Spirit is within and teaching and leading. He will convict us if we set on a wayward path. (John 16:8) So we should know this, God has not destined us to be reformed, but reborn. Not to stop doing evil by our own effort but by having yielded to God and become a new creation in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our transformation involves our will but it is by His calling and His will. It is by His plan and power that we have become reborn and that power is by His will through Jesus. (1 John 5:11-12) So, having the Spirit of God within, by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, by having Him as the treasure of our lives, we trust the Lord who first loved us. (Mark 12:30) He changes our hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26, Psalm 51:10) So we trust the work God has done and continues to do in us. We trust the power of God upon our lives that God has ordained. And in trusting God, we know that lovers of God can do anything they desire to do because God is the one who has made our hearts new. How is that? When we truly love God we want to obey God and so we are free to walk out our freedom in Christ. (Philippians 2:12, John 8:36) If we should err, isn’t the blood of Jesus powerful enough to cover our sincere errors? Won’t He forgive us? (1 John 1:9) We do not sin on purpose to test the grace of God. (Matthew 4:7, Romans 6:1-2) Instead, we desire to never sin, but to always please our beloved God. (John 14:15) We seek to raise His name that all may look upon it and be healed. (Psalm 86:11-13) So dear Brothers and Sisters, love God with all that we are, with a heart to please Him and know that, with that in mind, with that our sincere intent, we can do what our heart’s desire. When we err in such a way, God will forgive. We are free, free indeed. (John 8:36) Enjoy what Jesus died to give to us. We eternally have the freedom He gave by the love of God. Be free. Don’t fear. God is faithful. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.