“I INDEED… BUT HE”

“I indeed baptize you with water... but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” — Matthew 3:11

There comes a point in our Christian life when we must be able to say:

“I indeed… but HE.”

In other words:

“I have reached the end of myself, but Jesus begins where I end.”

There are things we cannot change or accomplish by our own strength. We may try harder, make promises, or depend on our own goodness, but eventually we must recognize:

“I cannot do this by myself. I need Jesus.”

That is where Jesus begins to work.

Am I truly ready for Jesus?

Jesus cannot fully work in us while we are hiding things from Him.

When He comes into our lives, He brings things into the light. He may show us attitudes, habits, pride, wrong desires, unforgiveness, or things we thought were acceptable.

Where we know something is wrong, Jesus wants to deal with it.

But sometimes we think we are already good enough. We defend ourselves and say:

“I'm not that bad.”
“At least I'm better than others.”
“God understands me.”

That attitude can prevent us from experiencing God's deeper work in our lives.

True repentance

Repentance is more than simply saying, “I have sinned.”

It is recognizing:

“Lord, I cannot save myself. I cannot make myself holy. I desperately need You.”

It means giving up our excuses and our attempts to defend ourselves.

We come before God with humility and say:

“Jesus, I need You completely.”

“He shall baptize you”

John the Baptist said:

> “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.”



The focus is not on what we can accomplish. The focus is on what Jesus does.

I indeed—but HE.

I am weak—but He is strong.
I cannot change myself—but He can change me.
I cannot make myself holy—but He sanctifies me.
I cannot do it—but He can.

Stop trying to do God's work through your own strength.

Come to the point where you can honestly say:

> “I indeed am at the end of myself—but He begins there.”

Get to the place where Jesus does everything.