Over the past few weeks we have been talking about the first family in the New Testament that was filled with the Holy Spirit: John the Baptist and his mother and father, Elizabeth and Zacharias. What we have seen is that since the Holy Spirit is a person He desires to live in relationship with us, since He is God He does not change, the work He does in us is the same as the work He did in the first church, in the apostles and even in John and his parents, and since He is another helper just like Jesus in every way, everything He does in and through us reflects and reveals Jesus’ character. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would remind us of His words, bring Him glory and make Him known (which is the true work of conviction, sin exposed without love being revealed is condemnation not conviction). The same thing that Jesus came to do for the Father the Spirit has come to do for Jesus, He listens to Jesus’ voice, speaks Jesus words and intercedes for Jesus’ bride. The Holy Spirit is working in us but He is working for Jesus, as we have talked about often He is bringing glory to Jesus, redemption to men and unity to the church and He is doing it in and through our lives. Vessels of the Holy Spirit are reflections of Jesus, men and women and children that have been adopted by the Father to be conformed to the image of His Son. The question we have to regularly ask ourselves and ask our Father is: “Am I being made more like Jesus?” In everything I do and everywhere I go the Father’s desire is that I become more like Jesus, Jesus’ desire is that I follow Him more fully so I can see the Father more clearly and the Holy Spirit’s desire is that I see Jesus’ glory so that I can then show Jesus’ glory. This morning we are going to talk about the life and work of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. John’s work on Jesus’ behalf was so that Jesus could work on the Father’s behalf and the Spirit could then work on Jesus’ behalf. John went first, but he did not go last, he obeyed the one who sent him and then he hid his life in the One he came to reveal. John began as a voice crying in the wilderness and he finished as a friend filled with joy. His fulfillment was not found when the crowds were large and the river was full of people repenting and being baptized. John entered into contentment and into fulfillment when everyone that had been following him left, when Jesus stood up and when he got to sit down. John teaches us the reality that true joy is found in living for the glory of another, for the redemption of many and for unity within those being redeemed. This morning I pray that we will see that friendship with God is a divine and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit that fills us with joy and empties us of everything else.