John T. Baptist vs. Least in the Kingdom

Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet. VS.
He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (John T./Matt 11:11)

What is the difference between John the Baptist and the lest in the Kingdom of God? Being "born of the flesh" vs. "Born of the Spirit and partakers of the Holy Ghost", different. Being under the "Law" vs. "Grace", different. Needing a "man, a priest and blood sacrifice for sin" vs. direct forgiveness and access to God the Father by the Holy Spirit and to the "the Mind of Christ", the promise of the Father, different. It's a whole new level of fellowship with the Father, even the prophets desired to know (John T. is a perfect example). The covenant that we are offered, "Life in the Spirit" doesn't have hundreds of laws or a top heavy hierarchy, we only have to please God. We are instructed to work out our own salvation (with fear and trembling) to the exclusion of other men, because we are provided our own personal trainer (the Holy Spirit). But we must, and that is a big must, be transformed by the renewing of out minds to Gods ways, by God's instruction. This is not that we don't appreciate those who worship God in Spirit and in truth, it is that we must be able to tell who is, and who does, so our faith is not perverted, or our path does not lead to a pit.


Interesting that when John baptised Jesus, he said these things; (John 1) Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me (knowing scripture and speaking by faith), he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him (Jesus), he (God) that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost, I have need to be baptized of you (Matt 3), and you come to me?


After that time John said and did these things; (Luke 7)John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you, he that should come? or (should) we look for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John (T.) Baptist has sent us to you, asking, Are you he that should come? or look we for another? Obviously, John did not receive understanding of who Jesus was, even though he (John T.) had previously made statements of faith, knowing prophecy. John T. himself, is quoted as saying, (John 3)A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. This is in comparison to what Jesus said to Peter after He posed this question; whom say you that I (Jesus)am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. While John T. had spoke and known this truth, he had not received the confirmation from God (Holy Spirit), while he thought Jesus was the Christ God had not given it to him. Jesus response to John T. (through the two disciples) was this; And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. Upon hearing this John T. Is quoted as saying; (John 3) A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom (John), which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled, he must increase, but I must decrease. John T. had to understand and believe by recognizing fulfillment of prophecy written in the old testament, rather than having ears to hear what the Holy Spirit was saying. That is why John T. was lower than the least, "it is the difference". We have the more sure word of prophecy, the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, John T. was killed before Jesus died on the cross, before the Holy Spirit was given, thus keeping his spiritual status as old testament, under the "Law". When John died his spirit went to the place of waiting, Abraham's Bosom. It wasn't until Jesus took captivity (Abraham's Bosom or Paradise) captive that John T. had access to what we have available to us everyday, the presents of God. After captivity was taken by Jesus and removed it from its proximity to hell, John T. saw with his own eyes the end of his faith. Only after the fulfillment of the Old Testament could we partake of the New, only now are those absent from the body present with the Lord. We by the love of God, can receive the assurance, the seal, the earnest, the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, if we believe, today, by that same faith. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the proof in this life of what awaits us in heaven. It is actually a portion of God's Spirit that lives in us, if we ask. Giving us wisdom unattainable any other way, because it is the way, the format, the program, the prescribed system that God ordained. We who have received the end of our faith, the Promise of the Father, the Seal of God are seated in Heavenly places.

In Biblical symbolism, if we use the vessel type analogy, the "New Wine" in "New Wine Skins" or "Oil" in the "Lamps" are simple illustrations of how God described His portion of Holy Spirit within us. Many prefer to think of it as salvation, because we do become "born again" (new wine skins or lamps), but they err, not taking the whole word of God, totally denying what John T. realized was a necessity, as he had need of it (the Baptism of the Holy Spirit). This to his own understanding, relegated him to be the least, as Jesus confirmed. So great is the offering of this gift of God beyond salvation, that it is hidden in plain sight, just as Jesus spoke in parables. It is hidden from the wise in their own eyes. It is hidden from the foolish virgins of Matthew 25, condemning them to being rejected of God. So great is this Gift of God, beyond salvation, that those without will be under the power of the beast of Revelation 13. (Sorry, no pre or mid trib flights available, other than death.) So great is this "Promise of the Father", God has devised a way to keep it from the undeserving, the unbelieving and fearful.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (So many times I hear people say that we are commanded to do this or that incorrectly, but here a definite commandment was made. John was dead,whats your excuse? He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.)

Hebrews 3: 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (Wake up Christian, that is God talking. Want to be on the outside looking in? Want to be part of the great falling away, or be under the authority of Satan? Humble yourself, Jesus told us the way, that includes receiving the Holy Spirit.)

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit. 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (The people who this letter was written to had been taught truth. The letter was meant to clarify other issues, but again reveals what should be expected in a Godly life. A life having access to God.)

In the light of what is written above do these scriptures take on another understanding?

Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Born again, filled with the Holy Spirit)

Joel 1:5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. (Holy Spirit cut off, foolish virgins can not buy)

Isaiah 24:3The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. 4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. 7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

Isaiah 65:7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. 8Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger (Jonh T.), and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger (Holy Spirit) of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

L,J,P&HG
Dave