The term precursor refers to a forerunner or harbinger - someone or something that comes in advance of another. Thousands of years prior to the arrival of Jesus Christ, men and women foretold of His coming. This continued until John the Baptist who stood in the wilderness, called people to repent, and announced that God was sending someone more powerful than him (Matthew 3:11). Each of these individuals prepared the people around them for what God was doing and what was to come.
Today's believers are the inheritors of this great Biblical tradition. Just as the prophets spoke of a savior who would come to the world to redeem people, so are Christians to make the same proclamation. The prophets of old spoke of Jesus in faith, believing the God who filled their mouths would fulfill His word. We, however, have the evidence that Jesus indeed came and was crucified on a cross, God's Holy Spirit, and our faith in the Bible that indeed, the Son of God will come back to do what is prophesied.
However, many of us modern Christians ignore our unique calling to be like John the Baptist and others who served as precursors to Jesus. John prepared the people of his time for a Messiah who came and performed great signs and wonders by the power of God. A Savior who continued to do great things through His disciples, the men and women who preached to those who would listen that He was coming back one day. Through His name, they healed people's minds and bodies, sometimes just by teaching them to repent of their sins and be reconciled with the Lord.
We think the precursor role ended with John the Baptist or maybe with the great generals of the faith who carried the gospel to strange lands and peoples. But, we - the people who bear the name of Christ and are marked with the Holy Spirit - are equally called to serve as precursors of Jesus. We too are charged to declare that the kingdom of God is coming and call others to confess their sins, repent, and be reconciled to God through Christ before He returns to claim those who belong to Him. We are to walk in the miracles, signs, and wonders that open hearts and minds to the reality of our God.
Jesus told His disciples, and in turn all who would believe in Him through them (meaning you and I), "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). We are to be vessels through which God's salvation may reach to the ends of the earth because He has revealed to us that a day is coming when His grace will no longer be available. On that day - Judgment Day - we will be called to account for every action, every thought, even our idle words. God will judge whether we can reside with Him in heaven or remain with satan for eternity in the fiery pit.
God cannot lie, and since He has alerted us to this eventuality, it becomes even more pressing to stand as a precursor to Jesus in this day and age. We need to know His word so we can use it to soothe the pains of those around us. We need to walk in the Spirit so we can be at the right place at the right time to display God's light and speak it into the spirit of a person overrun by darkness.
The Lord will help us as we step out in faith that we - the children He paid a blood price to save - will serve as today's precursors to Jesus and His glorious return. IJN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST when we will gather to worship the Lord who sacrificed His Son for us. Then, we will pray for our loved ones as well as strangers, calling on God to meet their needs. In our last 10 minutes of fellowship, we will pray for ourselves, calling on God to strengthen our spirit man, and physical body so we stand in Godfidence, and not in fear, as the announcers of Christ's triumphant return. I hope to see you then!
To learn more, please read:
I want to thank God for something special that He did for me. This might seem like a small thing to make noise about but please let me thank my God. Besides, my fellow handbag lovers may understand.
So there's a bag I've watched (and wanted) for years! I'd prayed about it and was assured by the Lord that I could have it (yes, I submit my purchases to God, lol).
Well, the bag came up on the preloved market and my delays caused me to miss it. To say I was sad is an understatement. But the Lord reassured me that I'd have another opportunity and that's what happened. The same bag in another color was available so I scooped it up.
I've enjoyed the bag the last few months and recently went out with some good friends. I took the bag to meet them (because we do these silly things sometimes) and all went fine.
I'd loaned someone my hand sanitizer while at the restaurant and when they were done, I picked it up from the table and stashed it in my makeup bag which was in my purse.
The next day, I switched bags and opted for an older leather bag that I've had for at least a decade. Why did I discover that my hand sanitizer somehow leaked out of the makeup bag and stained my bag?
Somehow, I was calm and simply thanked the Lord that it didn't happen with my newer purchase. So I want to use this opportunity to thank my great King for sparing me the sadness I would have felt if I'd destroyed my new bag. I believe He's either going to replace my old bag or give me something new, either way, He'll give me a new bag and that'll make me happy.
Praise the Lord!!
PS: Just realized that I wrote this post last week Tuesday (April 7, 2025) and since then, He made sure to hook me up with a new bag. Wow. God is great!
CLOSING PRAYER
Glory be to God Almighty who reigns over the earth. Lord, thank You for another opportunity to fellowship at Your feet. Take all the glory and praise my great King.
Over those who participated today and those who will do so at a later time, I pray Romans 15:5-6 - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Help us, Almighty God. Help us as we move through this world to serve as precursors who share the reality of Your Son and His return. Guide us and fill us with Your Spirit that we may move in alignment with Your will at all times.
IJMN, Amen.
From ND89 - Lord I pray for those who oppose us. You said in your word that you would make our enemy our foot stole. And ye thou we walk through the valley of the shadow of death daily, we will fear no evil. As we are being spiritually and physically attacked daily by family, friends and strangers I pray that you give us the fruits of the spirit so that we may withstand the darts of the enemy. The enemy opposes you, dear father, and since we all aspire to grow closer to you daily he will attack us. Lord, give us the strength and courage to stand firm for you and I pray that no weapon formed against us will prosper. I pray that you give us your Holy Spirit in the time of need. In your most holy name.
LAST 10 MINUTES
I asked some questions upthread:
How you can intentionally serve as a precursor to Jesus? How are you uniquely placed to introduce people to Christ?
I want to turn our attention back to these questions, because as those called to announce Jesus to those around us, we are not in a position to ignore any of this.
If you already have answers to these questions, please use this time to thank God. If you don't know yet, then give Him thanks too. Yes, tell God thank You because He will lead You into something wonderful for His glory.
Now let's pray together -
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us from dust and filling us with Your breath. Thank You that through Your loving kindness, You sent Jesus to die and He did so to set us free. And His blood flows through us by Your grace and to Your glory.
God, we understand that we were uniquely created to serve You. We have been called to share why we serve You. Why we chose Your Son as the source of our salvation. We are in a position, no matter how small to share the good news.
Now, God, we ask You to help us. We repeat the words of Apostle Paul and say whenever we open our mouths, give us words so that we will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). May the eyes of our hearts be ever opened to know the hope of Your calling, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of Your power to us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19). As You worked with the disciples who went forth sharing Your word, do the same with us. Confirm our calling and bless all whom we encounter for You, IJMN, Amen.
Glory be to the Lord!!! Hallelujah!
From JIR - I pray for those who are oppressed and afflicted. Lord, please bless them with the love, peace, comfort, strength and protection they need to get out of their situation. Please protect them to withstand their surroundings. Please place Your arms underneath them Lord and pull them out of what they may be facing. Please place them on stable ground, Lord, so that they are able to recover and bounce back from their troubles. IJMN. Amen.
Father, You are Helper, Provider, Covenant Keeper, Oath Maker, Healer.
Good God, You know the needs of Peppers, their secret prayers, their spoken desires.
Lord, move for Your children. Hear my prayer contained in Psalm 27:5-6 - For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Answer this prayer for Your children, sweet Father. IJMN, Amen.
Permit me to share a prayer from @theultimaterush from 2022
Father, I ask that You free people from the shackles of generational curses and that You heal them of generational trauma. I ask that You cast away the dark clouds that have appeared over people’s familial relationships. I ask for those whose homes are a source of pain that You heal that pain and that those responsible for that pain, whether human or spirit, are made accountable for their wrongdoing. In Jesus name, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for world leaders and potential world leaders to humble themselves to You, God. I pray that You open their hearts to genuinely seek You and call on You in all that they do. I pray that they turn away from their wicked ways and come to the realization that they need You. Please expose them to a supernatural experience in where they cannot deny You, Lord. Please call them to You so that they may repent, be baptized and be saved. Please use them to carry out Your will Lord. Your will be done no matter what. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, I want to lift up all those waiting on a change in their work situation. Those who are looking to enter into a new career stage and a new job opportunity.
Father, the word tells us that our fruitfulness comes from You and so it is to You we must go to receive anything good, long lasting and worthwhile. Praise to Your Holy Name. Amen.
God, You have promised to open doors and hold back the devourer, for You created the destroyer for Your own purpose and therefore keep it away from Your beloved.
I pray this for Your children waiting on You for new jobs and business opportunities. I pray they will seek Your face and keep their eyes on You as they wait for Your perfect purpose and plan for them. I pray they will give You glory in their Waiting Room and rejoice with abandon when You complete Your good works in their lives.
May You receive all the glory, IJMN, Amen.
Lord, I praise Your Holy Name. I thank You for Your word states those who call on the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32). You also tell me I can ask to receive (Matthew 7:7-8). And when I ask in Your name and with right motives, my joy will be complete.
Father, I therefore call on You to cover my family, my loved ones, and prayer subjects. Lord, You alone know the full extent of the devil's schemes against us, and You alone can bring each and every one of those plans to a halt.
My Defender, stand for us, hear and answer my cry. Contend with those who contend with those I cover in prayer. Be a wall of fire and the pillar of cloud overhead. I plead the blood of Jesus over those I am concerned with and thank You for Your faithfulness to keep all of us safe, IJMN, Amen.
From ND89 - As we come now to join in praise. I would like to share Number 27: 15-17
Bible Gateway passage: Numbers 27:15-17 - 21st Century King James Version
15 And Moses spoke unto the Lord, saying,
16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17 who may go out before them and who may go in before them and who may lead them out and who may bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.”
I know we are in Easter and our hearts and minds are on Jesus' death and resurrection. And I don't want to take away from that, but I've always considered this text in all things.
This is when Moses was in God's council choosing a leader to lead the people to the Promise Land. In looking for a leader among us to lead there needs to be someone who can be all things to all men. They must go among the people, in the world and minister to others, leading them towards Christ. Especially during this season. He must also be willing to be lead by God and recognize that he or she is also a sheep in need for a sherperd. Moreover, the leader will also fill the role as a sherperd leading God's sheep to greener pasture. And what I think many of our leaders, including ourselves forget is that we are also sheep. So we too have to answer to God for our sins and must humble ourselves before him.
This was just something I wanted to share during this hour of communion and worship.
From JIR - I pray for the Body of Christ to be successful in touching the hearts of many through the Holy Spirit. I pray that we bear plentiful good fruit - 30 fold, 60 fold or even 100 fold. I pray that we remain rooted in You and endure to the end, Lord. IJMN. Amen.
PRAYER TIME
And God, I want to come back and thank You for the testimony You gave our sister Mandaazi. She shared in the Testimony thread what You did for her.
Thank You, great Father and Provider. The God who never fails. When Your people cry out, You are on it.
The giver of good things. The giver of every perfect gift.
Thank You for what You did for her. Thank You for putting a praise in her mouth.
Take all the glory, Lord!!!
God, I want to thank You for the access I have to You. Thank You for being the Lord who lends me His ear. Thank You for being so gracious and kind. Thank You for all Your mercy. Thank You for Your constant provision in the physical and spiritual. Thank You for open doors and the capacity to walk through them.
Thank You that I can always expect more and not less from You. Thank You that You are just that good. My Shepherd. My Provider. Girls are looking for sugar daddies but I have the God who showers me with everything I could ever need. Who never deprives me but surrounds me at all times so I lack absolutely nothing. And even when there's something that is yet to come to me, You assure me that Your hands will provide.
My God of excellence. My God of everlasting steeze. My Papa wey no dey dull at all. I thank You. Ever reliable. Ever compassionate. Ever loving. Thank You for all You do. I know I don't acknowledge it all, but how could I? You do so much for me and mine.
Thank You, Father God. Thank You forever!
Great and Mighty God!
Who is like You?
In all the earth and beyond? Is there anyone like You?
My answer is a certain no, Father. Thank You for being the one and only God. He who speaks and does as He wills. Who is always doing good for His own. Thank You for Your grace and mercy and Your loving kindness. You are even gracious to the wicked and those who don't know You. All of this is because You are patiently giving us all time to come to know You and turn to You.
Thank You for this grace and mercy.
You are great my Redeemer!
From JIR -
From JIR - You are my Rock. You are my fortress. Your perfect love surrounds me. When I feel my back is to the wall You are always there to pull me out and comfort me. I can’t imagine life without You Lord. Thank You for giving me hope and for the healing and transformation You have done and are still doing within me. Your grace is more than sufficient. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”
Psalms 103:1-5 NLT
Give me a heart like yours
...
I just want to please you
Psalm 124:6 - Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
Thank You so much, Father God! You protect and keep us in all manner of situations. We don't even know the many things You protect us from.
Hallowed be Your holy name!
From JIR -
From JIR - Lord I bow at Your feet and I thank You for Your tender mercies. I thank You for forgiving me for my sins and blotting them out once I ask for forgiveness. I thank You for guiding me, teaching me, correcting me. I thank You for caring for me more than I care for myself and opening my eyes to the truth on so many things and helping me to face them in the natural and spiritual. Lord, what is life without You? You are my lover and my defender. I don’t understand why You are invested in little ol’ me, a mere mortal, a sinner, dust, but I thank You Lord. I thank You for never leaving or forsaking me and keeping me and loving me the way You do. It is utterly amazing. I bow my King. I bow. IJMN. Amen.
PRAISE TIME
Have you taken the time to think about today's message? Have you asked yourself how you can intentionally serve as a precursor to Jesus?
Not everyone wants to hear about Jesus. In fact, it is shocking how many people react violently when His name is mentioned. But, that is not something we should be offended by because He experienced worse when He walked the earth. Plus, we understand that there is a battle for souls with satan doing everything it can to keep people from ever experiencing Christ.
In essence, don't be mad that folks don't want to know about Him. It truly isn't their fault to some extent.
Notwithstanding, focus on your life and think about the ways you are uniquely placed to introduce people to Christ? Are you at a job where your performance can highlight God's grace? Do you frequent a place where you can show and share the love of Christ to someone? Can you make changes so you reflect God's goodness to those who need to see His light?
All of us are called to make God known. We were created to glorify the Lord and spread the good news of His grace and mercy through Jesus.
If you aren't sure what you can do, please pray. Ask the Lord to reveal the ways you are uniquely created to herald the return of Christ and display godly, righteous living to those who think it is impossible.
The good Lord, His loving Son, and helpful Holy Spirit will surely guide us all. And we will pray together during the last 10 minutes of fellowship today. God bless you.
Jesus, yes You are
All that I need
From JIR - Thank You Lord for another beautiful day. Thank You for Your grace and mercies. You are too good to us. We thank You and worship You. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s word sis @FFJ. Another important message to kick off Holy week. This reminds me of how important it is for us to bear plentiful good fruit and as the Lord’s vessels how we all have the responsibility to spread the Gospel and prepare the way for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray we become bold and forceful in prepping the way for our King’s return to those in need of salvation. Jesus is going to return soon and this message reminds me that time is of the essence especially the mention of His grace no longer being available on judgement day. Thank you sis for putting things into perspective. We must prepare and be ready. IJMN.
From ND89 - Good morning. And thank you for the invitation.
We thank God for waking us up this monring of this new day during the start of this new week. As we press on we need remember his mercies and grace towards us. In this season let us remember the selfless act he took by shedding his blood so that we may all have a chance at the tree of life. As we go throughout this day, may God honor our steps and open our hearts. Let us remember to put on the full armor of God as we go throughout the day. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
From M22 - Happy Fellowship day Fam!!! We bless God for another fruitful day.
Today's word is powerful. I am glad we are all precursors and Joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our purpose on earth is to Know God and make him known wherever we set foot. I also pray God helps us to be crusaders for his Kingdom here on earth. IjMN Amen
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
Sis JIR shared this with us almost a year ago
My soul look back and wonder
Well, just soon as I see king Jesus
The man that died for me
Well, the man who bled and suffered (Oh, yes)
You know he hung on Calvary (Oh, yes)
I'm gon' thank him for how he brought me
Well, I'm gon' thank him for how he taught me
Oh, thank him for how he kept me
I'm gon' thank him 'cause he never left me
I'm gonna thank him for heart felt religion
I'm gonna thank him for a vision
I'm gonna sing hallelujah
Oh, shout all my trouble over
I'm gon' thank him (Thank him for)
All he's done for me
Well, I'm gonna wear a diadem (Oh, yes)
In the new Jerusalem (Oh, yes)
Gonna walk the streets of gold (Oh, yes)
It's the homeland of the soul (Oh, yes)
I'm gonna view the host in white (Oh, yes)
They've been traveling day and night (Oh, yes)
Coming up from every nation (Oh, yes)
Oh, on their way to the great Coronation (Oh, yes)
Coming from the north, south, east and west (Oh, yes)
On their way to a land of rest (Oh, yes)
I'm gonna join the heavenly choir (Oh, yes)
I'm gonna sing and never get tired (Oh, yes)
Child, I'm gonna sing hallelujah
Yes, I'm gonna shout trouble over
Thank God, I'm gonna thank him
Thank him for all he's done for me
Well, I'm gonna thank him (Thank him)
Thank him (Thank him)
Thank him (Thank him)
Thank him (Thank him)
Thank him (Thank him)
Thank him (Thank him)
Thank him for all he's done (He's done)
For me
ALTAR CALL
Jesus said that nobody will get to God His Father except through Him in John 14:6. He also said that no one will see the Kingdom of God (i.e. Heaven) if they have not been born again (John 3:3). To qualify to see God in heaven, a person need only repent and believe the good news that Jesus is God's Son who died for the sins of mankind.
If you want to understand what I'm talking about, please watch the short video below. It's from a guy who speaks with a British accent, but please don't hold that against him. What he says is important and can change the entire trajectory of your life for the better.
If you watched the video to the end and said that prayer, then welcome to being a child of God! I pray you receive the Holy Spirit and are led in the ways of the Lord so you experience the fullness of life that is the inheritance of those who give their lives to Christ. Be sure to let me know you said the prayer and I'll send you more materials so you can grow as a new creature! Congrats and God bless you!