Advent 2018: Preparation

Introduction

I remember the 1st time I drove to Jayton. Chicago > 98th > Slide> 130th > Hwy. 84 > 380 > Hwy. 70 > Travis St.

That may seem like a boring way to explain my first journey but I shared it with you to prove a point.

We get to enjoy our journey smoothly because other people prepared the way. Someone did the work. Someone paid the price.

Advent reminds us of the same concept.

Latin word for “coming”. 4th century. Let but with less strictness.

Today, we want to understand the path for Jesus to be born and fulfill His earthly ministry was prepared by people living under Gods will.

(Have children come forward to read ) This story wasn’t the beginning. Great amounts of preparation went into the birth of Jesus.

Is grace sufficient for everyone?

What about people who lived before Jesus Christ?

Yes!

Isaiah 40:3 NASB95

3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

1. Salvation is found in the desert.

In the OT, God often used the desert to show people His redemption for them.

Moses, Israel, Elijah. John the Baptist spent most of his life in the desert.

When Pagan gods were moved from city to city, people were employed to go before and make the pathway clear for the journey.

Many scholars claim this verse to mean purely mean John the Baptist.

The cousin of Jesus. His father was the priest Zachariah. His mother Elizabeth.

Preached a message of repentance to Jews.

Personal friend of Jesus.

There were MANY prophets/people that prepared the way for Jesus.

Remember rom last week. Things were dark for God’s people. At this point, they are being held captive by the great and mighty nation of Babylon.

God would lead the remnant through the desert like He did in Exodus.

Why isn’t the path easy already?

Daniel lived and suffered through many kingdoms.

Isaiah would never see the fruits of labor.

Jeremiah lived his whole ministry through Israels defeat.

God called and still places people in the wilderness/desert.

I love sports because of the highs and lows. Watching Kaden Awe has been fun because he has seen both sides.

We want to be led through the desert by people who have already been there.

God’s purpose for people is in the desert is powerful.

He will call His people to clear the way for the gospel.

His foreknowledge will show us paths we didn’t know were there.

Don’t be afraid to seek God in the empty and desolate places.

It’s where it all begins.

Isaiah 40:4 NASB95

4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

2. God removes the obstacles without adjusting His plan.

It made physical sense to clear away small obstacles, make causeways over valleys, and level the hills.

What wouldn’t make sense is lifting a valley, knocking mountains and hills out of the way, and changing a lands topography.

Isaiah wrote that the natural world trembles when God appears.

God would reshape the wilderness and make a level highway fit to lead God’s people across.

John the Baptist would preach for people to come back in repentance to the law of God.

He preached for people to remove all self-confidence, pride, hypocrisy, and irreligion, so that they could be ready for His coming.

Guadelupe Peak - one entrance/one exit.

We are limited to the paths determined to us.

God has a path too. The difference is that He’s not limited to what the land offers Him.

He tells the land where to go.

This is why we need to understand that God will choose to send His people down a path that has never been traveled down before.

We see a wall — God sees and opportunity.

We think it’s all all — God is just beginning.

We think we can’t make it across the ocean — God walks on it.

We think salvation is impossible — God is one second away.

Don’t you see it?

The mountain that stands between God and His people is unable to keep them apart.

He’s not telling you to go around it and find a better way. He wants your faith in Him to grow enough to move it.

Matthew 17:20 NASB95

20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

His plan doesn’t bypass the mountains, hills, and valleys. God’s plan involves the mountain. Just look at God.

He will show you what’s extraordinary.

Isaiah 40:5 NASB95

5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah

3. Preparation eventually reveals God’s purpose.

The work done by God through the prophets would be revealed in the flesh through Jesus Christ.

God = Yahweh

When the way of Jehovah is prepared for the Coming One, the glory of God would reveal itself.

For the good of Israel, but also for mankind.

Man because he is flesh cannot see God without dying, but the future would fill up this gulf of separation.

Before John the Baptist was born to cry out from the desert, God Himself was crying out His purpose to Israel.

Granny Marlene dressing me compared to me dressing myself. (Show pictures)

When we look back on any type of history, we often see one disaster after another.

When man prepares anything, the result only reveals our imperfections.

You are unable to get your life where you want it on your own.

God’s plan didn’t come about in thin air.

In His grace for mankind, He allowed people to join Him in His plan.

Thats where you come in.

How do we join God in His plan?

Salvation - You’ve got to die to your own desires. Your life can’t be your own anymore. Sin can’t define you.

Discipleship - Your purpose is to lead by following. Evangelize and make disciples.

Remember, when you’re working in God’s plan, you cant mess it up!