Three other facts ought to be noted here also: (1) three of the four Gospel writers, when speaking of John Baptist, made no reference to the statement by him [mentioned on the previous page]; (2) they did not in any other way, at that time, refer to the Lord's death on the cross; (3) all four of them published the fact that the Baptist proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Baptizer in the Spirit. There must be some special reason for this; seeing that the Holy Ghost is the inspirer of these great truths of scripture, this ratio of three to one points a lesson that we do ill to neglect.
Pursuing our examination further, it emerges that although John commanded his hearers to come to himself and his baptism for forgiveness, he never once gave anyone directions to go to Christ for it. It seemed natural common sense to him that Jesus was going to do a far vaster thing than forgive people. He had come to take away the sin of the world; to remove it utterly. Jesus, John said, was going to thoroughly purge His floor and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. That is a most challenging and important fact which should be of great significance to us all. Coupled with that, he never once spoke directly of the cross, or mentioned the blood, or salvation or justification, or the many other similar connected doctrines, but referred almost exclusively to the baptism that Jesus Would administer to men.
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G.W. North (1913 - 2003)
G. W. North was born in London England in 1913. As a young man he became aware that the Lord was calling him into the work of the ministry. At timely stages the Lord placed folk in his path who were able to direct him into the truth of heart purity and a more expansive understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He held pastorates in Kent and Bradford. By the late 1960s, following a significant period of ministry in Liverpool, he began a more itinerant ministry. This led him to many parts of the world, and occupied him until well into his eighties. His powerful preaching and the unique sense of the Lord's presence, which seemed to brood over his meetings, were always intensely challenging.The true secret of his remarkable ministry stemmed from his personal communion with the Lord Jesus. To him, 'entering the holiest' was not merely a theological concept; it was a distinct spiritual reality - and the central feature of his spiritual life. It was here, in the place of worship, that his revelatory ministry found its source. He preached from understanding and conviction. He was never the echo of another, nor did he take on board the ebb and flow of various contemporary emphases. He was not a man of 'books'; he soaked himself in Scripture and allowed it to saturate his heart and mind. Truly, this is a man who has lifted up a standard for the people. Mr North went to be with the Lord on 29th April 2003, shortly after his ninetieth birthday.