John the Baptist was the fore-runner for Christ. His only assignment was to announce the coming of the Messiah and to prepare the way for Him.

The nature of his ministry and his anointing made everyone to gravitate towards him. Not long after, the people thought he was the Messiah.

Quickly, he sensed the people were thinking of him too highly than he was. He quickly corrected that notion and set their hearts in expectation for the Messiah.

And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire: ( Luke 3:15-16 ASV).

John the Baptist could have rode on the back of that expectation people had about him to project himself in a way that will make men glorifying and esteem him beyond measure and obscure the messiah.

If some ministers of today were in the shoes of John the Baptist, we may hear titles like: "the special apostle John the baptist, aka messiah revealer" or he may open a ministry and call it "John the baptist Ministries".

However, John stayed where God put him and didn't esteem himself higher than God esteemed him. When the Messiah appeared on the scene, he said: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (ASV).

What a man! He was simply John the baptist. A very simple man with a great anointing of national relevance. Though he was a prophet, yet he didn't demand to be called prophet. It was  Jesus who revealed him to the Jews as a prophet.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet ( John 1:21, 23 ASV).

We lose alot when we refuse to be simple and unassuming. Recently, I was invited to minister in a  prayer program. The pastor-in-charge did a lengthy introduction.

In his introduction, he called me apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor and evangelist. He spoke glowingly about me in an unrealistic manner. I became very uncomfortable on my seat.

Now, I've been around for a while and I know some persons love such. They demand for it because they want to appear important to the people. These days, people project themselves more than God.

Some easily forget that behind the impact and greatness of any man of God is the God that created the man. Once he is removed from the equation, the man becomes empty.

We must be careful not to relegate the Holy Spirit the way we introduce men of God. Sometimes, we silence the Spirit of God as we glorify men.

I've ministered more powerfully in programs where I was introduced as a "brother" than in those places with special accolade and applause.

I was in a church event years back when a preacher was introduced without his titles. He refused to walk to the high table. It was someone else who quickly notified the MC  the man has a prefix of "Rev and prof" before his name.

There's no entitlement in title but in fulfilling the plan and purpose of God for our lives. God care less about what you call yourself or what the people call you.

Nothing moves God to use us than when we yield ourselves to Him. That's all. He is looking for yielded vessels like John the baptist not men who care about their status before men.

Can we learn from brother John the baptist?