As I was about to get out of the Jordan meeting where John was doing his crusade among the people, the Lord caught me up to show me where He had trained this man. “Lord, you have anointed your great prophet with such power that few sinners could even resist.” “You had heard John’s fiery sermons but do not look at his fire, look above where his fire comes from. Come and I will show you some things.” Then the Lord took me in the desert wilderness of Judea where only the fox or vulture could live.

As I examined the place where John abode most of the time, it was not even a decent place or a house that you can stay. I remembered the shack which I saw in our province, a nipa hut produced by the weaving of reeds and weeds placed over a bamboo house skeleton. It does not seem to be a house compared to modern apartments and houses. Then the Lord, knowing my thoughts spoke and said, “John may not have lived in kings palaces, he may not have been to any of the modern and convenient homes which I allowed you to see in Germany but he has made these rocky walls and carpet sands as My walls of praise in the wilderness.”

“He seems a Wildman by your standards but God doesn’t choose His vessels according to his appearance or look but always sees his heart. In John you can see the fiery fire of the prophet Elijah but more than fire that destroys, his words are true and they bear life that waters the soul of many who are dead. Because he was obedient and faithful in seeking Me daily at My gates, I could trust John with the power that not only stirs a crowd but awakens them to choose life instead of death. Here in the desert he learned to hear My Words and read the prophets whom he is called to represent and bear as the last harbinger of the Old Covenant.”

“Lord, I haven’t heard John could read.” I interjected. But now it is much more clear why he is the one called as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” John’s parents were old already when he was born but he learned how to live by himself because Zachariah also taught well his son what to do in case he will leave him. He knew that the angel Gabriel who taped his tongue for his unbelief is real and that God is much more real than simply the One he worships in the Temple. Because he asked for a son, I gave him John whom I knew he could train well to prepare the way of the Messiah.

I look past next to the Lord who was still standing next to the walls of praise which He had mentioned. It was a mere cave, hewn out of the solid rock that stood as a fortress in the desert. Against the ruinous cold at night, and the chilling morning, John would have used coals and firewood to make it a little convenient but His Word tells us that there was no food for him except honey and grasshopper. There was blank stare in my eyes as I continued to scan the walls which Jesus showed.

Could it be that the Lord can still be found in the low places such as in deserts, among the peasants and shepherds, among the lowly hills or had He left these desolate places and chosen the convenient lecture halls of great universities and big cathedrals? The sun started to sink, the dark clouds have gathered over the area but we were covered by His radiant light that shone like the stars of the night. His face was brilliant as the sun, His eyes fiery like the Baptist but His heart and countenance was steady, firm like a flint.

My thoughts seem to have a current of their own that He read; Then He begun to speak again, “I can be found in the high and low places, you can find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. It can be during your dry and low times or even during your high times. I am found by those who seek Me sincerely whether they are Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals or Charismatics, I distinguish none of their exteriors because I look at the heart. Men tend to build on institutions and traditions but I find men whom I build to change institutions.”

“I have not change; I still dwell in humble hearts and seek those who worship Me in sincerity and passion of their hearts. Truth can only be found by those who come in bended knees, whose minds and hearts are knit together by My Spirit. When you come and worship Me, do not come with an evil heart, this is why James wrote that when you draw near to Me, you must “cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, do not doubt and repent of your evil and wicked deeds.” “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Not many will try to invite John even if he appears today. My church is asleep, like in the days of the Baptist, few are stirring up the heavens with their prayers. She needs to be awakened before I will come and judge the world for its deeds. “

“There are many who cried out for judgment but it has to begin among my people. If the church is not purified, then judgment of the world cannot begin. It must start among my people because they have been called to be the light of the world. If lights, then they must shine but if they hide this under their beds, then we can expect no difference in this world. Darkness has mobilized its forces and are just waiting the signal from the prince of darkness before the great war begins.”

The pointman and representative

“I sent John to do the special work of preparing the mass of people and to point them at Me. He is there to show them the Lamb of God, their Brother who can reconcile them to their only Father. As I have said in the Scriptures you did not come to see a reed shaken by the wind or a man dressed in soft and splendid garments. You find those who wear these apparels in royal palaces, but you came here to see a prophet, and I tell you again, more than a prophet, “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:27-28).

But even so, those who choose Me right now lives in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken and they live lives greater than John’s. It is not because they are greater or more honorable than John but it is because they live in a different age, the age of grace and truth. Though John did great and mighty things, he could only prepare My Way but did not really live in this age. My son, when you live in the Kingdom right now, you are greater than he because I am the One in your midst doing things for you.”

The voice of the Lord doesn’t seem rushed or irritated. It was like gentle nudging through my mind, then into my heart. I felt like my whole being is being washed by the river of life that emanated from His words. His words were life; though I have read and knew about them, He is repeating them for my sake. How many times have I felt this way? They seem to have more in common with anointed sermons and preachings in the planet. Since being allowed by the Lord to see other preachers in different parts of the world, I stopped being amazed or mesmerized by anyone who seem to speak the boldest and insist on their truth and revelation.

Whether one speaks to a crowd or to a single individual, God does not judge our works based on the number of crowds who attended our meetings. Neither does He weigh our impact based on these numbers. He is looking for the fruit that remains. His main concern is whether you bear His likeness or not. Until now, the Son of God is not looking after the gifted, the noble minded or those that live in luxurious homes seeking to find them with cusped hands begging them to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. He still turns the stones not by begging or being forced to do tricks and wonders to gain the crowd but a simple faith, as simple as the grain of a mustard seed.

Tiny little faith

Once I found myself wondering about this mustard seed that Jesus mentioned many times, I planted the tiny seeds I bought from the store in my pint-sized garden. The seeds were so small that even my breath could actually sweep it away. I waited for a few days until I saw some new green spurts started coming out of the ground. Almost all plants look similar the first time they come out of the ground, they have cotyledons, then a pair or two of leaves start uncurling. They bear two leaves then it multiplies in the succeeding days. I kept watch on my garden until later about two months passed and I saw that it started blooming.

What I noticed with the flowers is that they were also yellow and tiny. But each of these flowers were connected to a stalk and arranged in a whorl. In a larger garden, once they bloom altogether, it seems that you might find it surprisingly beautiful and amusing. Then you start to wonder that even a seed this tiny can actually grow into a million times more the size of its original seed. All seed carry the potential of their plant life.

Seeds are essentially the enclosed phase of a plant, covered by thick casing that protects it from danger such as being devoured, destroyed or trampled by animals; or being ground by the elements of nature such as rocks, grit, thorns and the scorching heat of the sun. It only sheds its thick casing once the environment for its nurturance is good for its survival. Likewise the faith that we have starts through little deposits, spoken or written words that encourage us to walk in faith and live well. Some seek the truth in living right but are drawn back to failure because they seek knowledge without the courage and wisdom to apply it.

Fellowship in His Word

I turned to the direction of the Lord, and then He started writing on the sand. “There are many messengers that I will be sending during your time, some of these are young and do not have experience but they will have My Wisdom. Others are old and imbued with wisdom and experience; some are stationed in remote areas and the world may not hear of them but we know everything that happens. Do not be anxious to do the right thing even when this may cause you to lose your life. To stand for what is right has a greater truth in it than to live one’s life in shame and betray the Lord. Judas was one of My disciples.”

“He lived with us, He has heard the truth and knew what it is to be with Me but He presumed on my mercy not holding on to the right. He knew my purpose that I have to go to the cross as I have spoken it clearly to all of them. But because he deliberately kept his heart away from Me, I could not do anything else. When you keep your heart away from Me, My Word which shines its light cannot penetrate it. It is My Word that keeps you in the light and empowers you to walk with Me. There is no darkness in My Word because I am light.”

“To the degree that you keep My Word, that is to the degree that we can walk together. The great divide between God and man started when man tried moving away from my Word. Because Eve did not perceive the degree of her negligence, she tried adding her own words to My Word. The statement she gave was incorrect when she mentioned that “God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die’” (see Genesis 3:3). My command was for them to eat freely from any tree in the garden but not from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, “for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Since that time, man has been partaking from that fruit. Knowledge is not evil by itself because I have ordained it. But knowledge apart from Me can become a grueling agony to the soul. It is a clean conscience and a virtuous life that I prefer.”

True greatness and learning

“Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well. If men would care as much to remove their vices and plant virtues instead, rather than only discussing the problems, this world will be a lot different from where it is now. On the Day of Judgment I will not be asking you how many books you have read or institutions you have put up or how well you have preached. But one thing, did you live it well? It is my joy to see you grow and fulfill your destiny; you have grown in wisdom and knowledge, add to it courage and faith. Study not to be noticed by men but to live well and do the tasks I have given you, this is your assignment.”

“In this life you can be great and revered, famous masters have dotted history but tell Me now where are they? Others have indeed quickly replaced them, some even trampling their names and accomplishments. They were something in their life but are now seldom remembered. Men have built monuments to honor and remember them but time and again there are generations that arise who don’t even consider them. The way in this life is not to be lofty in your eyes but to be nothing. Some perish in their pursuit for wealth, others in knowledge and seldom to return in the path of life.”

“How many err because of vain knowledge and too little to care for serving God. They became vain in their own imaginations because they chose to be great rather than humble. As I have said, greatness lies in service not in seeking mere names. When your service to Me is true, you will shine like the stars whether your neighbor knows this or not. We care for you and every labor you put for the Lord will not be forgotten. Love is the true measure of greatness because love seeks to serve others first. You are truly great when you value seeking God first in everything.”

A person is truly wise whose eyes is fixed on the Lord and seeking nothing in return. Seek to be obedient to My Will because you love Me and not because you simply want to obey. In the armies of this world, they learn how to obey early but they do so out of rigor and principles. The highest principle is love. When you love, you will find obedience as a means to the fulfillment your tasks. Anyone who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly great. Seek love and seek service first then I will give you the power to serve Me with all your heart and do My will.”