The Heart Prepared

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So now we are here and ready to dive into the Scriptures…Amen? Alright, last week we saw some pretty interesting information and kind of set the stage for Advent. Specifically last week we saw that there was a promised Messiah and a people that were waiting in the midst of dark times. A basic story that every single one of us deals with at some level. Maybe you are here this morning and you are dealing with those dark times this advent season, and you are searching for how to come out of those times. It is my hope that over the course of this series you will see that there was both an Unexpected Arrival 2000 years ago, and there is an unexpected arrival of hope in your heart. That was we saw ultimatly last week. We saw that there was hope in waiting, there was hope in God’s promises and finally there was hope in Jesus as the fulfillment of those promises.

You know sometimes it can be hard to just jump into where you need to be because it feels drastic or it feels hard. Like, you say you want to hear from the Lord, but at the same time, you have little walls built up to protect you because it’s actually a little hard to follow Jesus, isn’t it. Thankfully, sometimes God guides us to the point of being able to actually surrender. God takes us down a path and puts people in our lives that bring us to the point to be able to listen and rely on him.

You guys know I like to tell stories…well, here we go. Back in 2018 our family knew that our time was limited in Lafayette, so I began to put out resumes in various places to see what the Lord was leading to. Well, I began talking to this church in Washington, IL pretty heavily. We got to the point of driving over for an in person interview with the Elders, and staff of the church there. Let me tell you…that was an INTENSE interview. That day was a 7 hour interview process. I mean, you would have thought I was being considered for some Federal position or something. This was after the multiple video interviews we had and multiple theological papers they had me write for them to make sure we would be a good fit. Anyway, we were there and during that interview the ladies took Beth on a little tour of the town. They were excited about a brand new Walmart, or something that had just been built, so they wanted to show that to Beth. It was a very nice community. However, after we got back to the hotel, Beth tells me that she was panicked driving around because the town was so small and there is simply no possible way she can live in a town like that. Now, Washington has a population of around 15K, and it’s connected to Morton, and Peoria with a population of 110K. So…that was too small for her. That’s OK, I get it…We were coming from Lafayette/West Lafayette which has a population of around 175K.

Well, the Lord closed that door for us and we didn’t move to Peoria, clearly. Next there was a church inFrontenac, Kansas Now Frontenac has a population of around 3K, but it’s connected to Pittsburg, KS with a population of around 20K. Beth was a bit apprehensive of this town, but was not panicked like she was about Washington. God had been working on her heart. Well, clearly the Lord closed that door for us and we didn’t go that route. Finally, we were connected to LRBC. Clearly, Leaf River is far smaller than any of the other locations we had looked at. We live in Byron which is smaller than any of the locations that we had looked at. So…what happened to make Beth not only OK, with this area, but actually fall in love with this area? Well, the Lord had been working in her heart and preparing not only her, but our whole family for a move from a larger city to a smaller community. If we would have come straight to LRBC, we would have had a very difficult time accepting the idea of being in a small community, but the Lord, in his providence, prepared our hearts for what he was planning to do.

Just as God prepared our hearts for His plans in our lives, He used John the Baptist to prepare hearts for the coming of the Messiah. Let’s dive into how John’s message points us toward preparing our hearts for Jesus, both then and now. Let’s go ahead and read our main passage together…

Luke 3:1–6 ESV

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

As we read about this man called John, standing in the wilderness and calling people to repentance, we see a pivotal figure in God’s redemptive plan. John wasn’t just announcing the arrival of someone important; God was using him to prepare the way for the Messiah Himself. His message wasn’t about rituals or traditions—it was about hearts being made ready for the greatest gift ever given: the unexpected arrival of Jesus Christ.

This is a perfect connection to the Advent. You see, just as John prepared people for the first coming of Christ, we are called to prepare our hearts to celebrate His birth and anticipate His return. Advent isn’t just about looking back at the manger; it’s about looking inward and forward, asking: Is my heart ready to fully receive Jesus? This is why John’s message of repentance and heart readiness matters deeply for us today. Repentance is what clears the way for our hearts to be able to fully welcome Christ in our lives. A heart of repentance is also what clears the way for our full surrender to Christ and the transformation He brings to our lives today. All of that starts with preparation though. So, let’s take a look at…

The Call to Prepare (Luke 3:1-3)

First of all, we see when this is happening. It is important that Luke, the author wrote the context of when this man John began preaching. Luke’s precision reminds us that the Gospel is not a fairy tale—it’s rooted in real history, with real people, in a real time. This reminds us today that the call to repentance isn’t abstract—it’s for real people, in real lives, right now. Now, not only does this allow for us to see the political and religious leaders in this time, but it also reflects similarities with introductions to Old Testament prophets. This emphasizes that God choose to speak through John as a wilderness prophet, instead of a powerful political or religious leader.

John’s ministry was all about a call to repentance. He preached the need for both the Jew and Gentile to repent of their sin. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was bold concept to prepare hearts for the coming of the Lord, the long waited Messiah. John's message also pointed towards Jesus fulfilling prophecies. John’s sole focus was telling others about Jesus and preparing the way for Him. Jesus makes crooked paths straight through repentance of sin. But repentance isn’t just about confession, it is a transformative turning to God. Repentance begins when we see our hearts clearly before the holiness of God—when we admit the need for Him to make us whole. Have you seen your heart before the holiness of God? It’s that heart that allows Jesus to transform you into the person he has made you to be. It’s…

The Heart of Repentance (Luke 3:4-6)

This is really interesting here. You see, what John quotes is Isaiah, and Isaiah uses a picture that people would have known well. When a king traveled through the desert, workmen would go ahead of him, clearing debris and smoothing the roads to make the journey easier. It wasn’t just about convenience—it was a way of showing honor and ensuring the king’s arrival was unhindered.

In the same way, Isaiah’s picture of leveling the land becomes a powerful metaphor. John wasn’t clearing physical roads; he was preparing hearts to receive the King of Kings. John’s preaching was about smoothing out the spiritual paths. What are the obstacles in your heart that need to be cleared? Is it pride, resentment, or fear? Just as the workers made way for the king, we’re called to clear the path for Jesus to reign fully in our lives.

We see this idea captured beautifully in Luke 1:17: "…to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”Luke 1:17 (ESV)

God used John to turn the hearts of people toward Jesus, calling them to repentance. But here’s the challenge: repentance is a matter of the heart. It isn’t just a surface-level acknowledgment of sin; it’s a deep, transformational turning away from pride and self-reliance and turning toward God in humility and trust.

Repentance isn’t just saying you’re sorry—it’s actively removing what hinders your relationship with God, like pride, bitterness, and self-reliance, and surrendering your heart for God to shape.

This isn’t just a call for the new believer—it’s for every follower of Jesus, no matter how long you’ve walked with Him. Repentance keeps our hearts ready and our faith alive.

A heart of repentance doesn’t just acknowledge sin—it grieves it, rejects it, and turns to God for help. It’s the opposite of a prideful heart that clings to self-assurance and refuses to change. This is why John later says, 'Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.' Repentance isn’t just inward; it’s meant to be visible in our actions.

During Advent, we’re not just looking back to the first coming of Christ; we’re also preparing for His return. Repentance clears away the spiritual clutter that keeps us from fully embracing the joy and hope of His presence. It’s how we make room for the King to dwell in our hearts. So, What obstacles are in the way of the King…today

You know repentance is only the first step—it clears the way for something far greater: a heart ready to receive the Messiah. This is why John didn’t just call people to repentance; he pointed them to Jesus, the One who brings true cleansing and renewal.

The Promised Messiah (Luke 3:15-17)

John points to Jesus, the One who brings ultimate cleansing and renewal. Remember earlier I said that this Advent is about more than looking backward—it’s about looking forward to His return. Am I ready for His return? This is the question we should all be asking.

The question on the mind of the Jewish person from 400 BC until today has been some version of: Am I ready for the Messiah? John’s answer was clear—he wasn’t the Messiah but the one preparing the way. He told the people, 'I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' John humbled himself before Jesus, pointing to the One who would baptize not with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus comes not only to save but also to judge—to separate what is fruitful from what is worthless. That’s why John’s call to repentance is so urgent. It’s not just about avoiding judgment; it’s about making room for the King to reign in your heart.

Many heard John’s call and repented, preparing their hearts for the Lord. But here’s the question: have you? Repentance, on its own, is meaningless, incomplete, and hopeless without saving faith in Christ—the only One who can empower true and lasting transformation. Let me say it again: Repentance is meaningless without Christ.

This Advent season, how will you welcome Christ? Will it be with superficial actions, like you’ve done so many times before, or with true surrender? Whether you’ve never trusted Him or have followed Him for decades, the call is the same: prepare your heart for the Messiah today. There is coming a day when you will not have another opportunity. Listen, this is so important, A heart set right before Jesus doesn’t just make room for Him—it becomes His dwelling place, filled with His peace and purpose. So, are you truly ready to receive the Messiah?

Closing

Listen…maybe it’s time to reflect on your heart this morning. Is your heart prepared? Have you truly repented—not just of the sins everyone sees, but of the ones you try to hide? The ones you don’t want to admit, but that the Holy Spirit is already bringing to your mind right now. That heart attitude, that motive that’s been keeping you from fully experiencing life with Christ.

Let me speak to those who’ve followed Jesus for years. Just because you’ve walked with Christ for decades doesn’t mean there’s no clutter on the path to Him. What’s weighing you down? What sin, what pride, what sense of self-reliance is keeping you from full surrender? The King is coming, and He’s not asking for part of your heart—He’s asking for all of it.

Listen, Christ is coming back, and with Him will be hope, peace, and the promise of all things new. But the question is this: will you be ready for His return? Will He find a heart prepared? Or one still clinging to sin, still distracted by the things of this world?

This Advent season, don’t miss the chance to clear the way for the King. Don’t wait for another day or another opportunity. Don’t let another Christmas pass by with a heart distracted by sin or pride. The King is coming—make room for Him.

Let’s pray: pray that God will make clear any clutter in our hearts that is in the way of our relationship with him