Are You Prepared?

We have entered my favorite time of year. Christmas. What are some of the images that come to mind when you think about Christmas? I think about lists, shopping for deals. I think about hot chocolate, comfy pj’s, and a well decorated Christmas tree with presents under it. Truth is, Christmas isn’t about presents under the tree, it’s about God’s presence on the tree; God’s presence on the cross.

Over the years, Christian tradition has celebrated this season. We call it Advent. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent means coming or arrival. For centuries, Jewish community was waiting, longing for the arrival of the Messiah. The was an expectation, craving, yearning for the presence of God. In fact, there are over 300 Messianic prophecies. These prophecies were meant to inspire hope and establish anticipation.

Christian tradition views this as a time to reflect on Christ through the lens of the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.

This is truly a sacred time for all of us and some of the things you can do to demonstrate your anticipation and preparation for the return of Christ is fasting, praying, scripture engagement, sabbath along with other Christmas traditions. It’s the way we experience this season together. Our faith is meant to be demonstrated and experienced.

Context/Background

Hebrews 1:1 tells that God spoke through prophets. These individuals had a responsibility to communicate the mind, will, and heart of God. These messages were meant to provide correction, direction, and encouragement. Isaiah was a prolific prophet that served under 4 different kings.

His faithfulness to God and his calling allowed him to be the author to some of the most prolific prophecies in scripture. When given a glimpse of the Messiah, he also saw a forerunner. A person that would come before Him to set the atmosphere.

Scripture

Isaiah 40:3–5 (CSB)

3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.

5 And the glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Luke 1:15–17 (CSB)

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

Prayer

The Gospels reveal that this voice is John the Baptist. This man that had a responsibility to set the atmosphere and live a life pointed people to Jesus. We have the same assignment…to live a life and set the atmosphere so that people can experience Jesus. My message title today is, Are You Prepared?

Lord, we have an expectation that we will experience your presence. I ask that you speak to us. Give us open eyes, ears, and hearts. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Illustration

I have learned that I really love to host people at our home. We had 16 people over our house for Thanksgiving. Cooking was a team effort. Maegan, De’Nira and I had several things we were trying to pull off so and it took a lot of preparation. We had to coordinate time, space, ingredients, the oven, etc. There were a lot of moving parts.

Can you imagine if I just put the turkey in when the guests arrived? There is no way we would be successful.

Preparation is proof of expectation

Transition

I am a believer in this statement, preparation paves the way for success. It is hard to be successful in anything without preparation. (preaching, presentation, tests, buying a home, wedding)

Where there is an abundance of preparation there is an abundance of success.

Where there is the lack of preparation there is an abundance of failure.

Preparation sets the atmosphere for impact.

Preparation is proof of expectation

Definition

Prepare means make ready; to turn towards; to clear the way.

Maegan and I would take long walks in the area we lived in. Eventually a sign was put up that said single family homes coming soon. At the time it was just woods there but the sign gave a picture of what was to come. Then one day, trucks came and began to clear the woods out. then they made the roads, then started building the homes. The only way homes could be built was there had to be a plan/blueprint and preparation. They had to clear the way.

John Context

John had to clear the way so that people could experience Jesus. We are coming from an era referred to as the inter-testmental period, which is the time between the OT and NT. This span was about 400 years so John’s birth was a much needed answer to a problem where the voice of God was silent.

Maybe you have been in a period where you feel like there has been silence, prepare yourself because God is about to speak

They are told that John is the forerunner. The one Isaiah wrote about. Their son was chosen to bring the prophetic voice of God back and prepare people for the king.

Whenever a king would enter a new environment, they would have a spokesperson go before them to announce him.

Points/Observations

John was the bulldozer who was called to prepare the way and set the atmosphere for Jesus. The disciples and early church laid the foundation. We have an assignment, to live a life that points to Jesus. We have an assignment to let everyone know there is an open house and everyone is welcome! To live a life of preparation. Live a life preparing with an expectation God is going to do in our lives and through our lives.

Boundaries

John didn’t blend in. First, he was raised with Nazarite traditions. He didn’t drink alcohol. He didn’t get haircuts. He didn’t come in contact with dead things. His dress code was abstract and he had a unique diet. There was nothing common about him. He was called to be set apart.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to think we can make an impact through impersonation. Daniel and his friends lived in Babylon. There was a lot of temptation but they resolved that they would not eat the kings meat.

Boundaries keep the wrong things out and the right things in.

Hedge of protection.

Boundaries ensure we don’t end up in bondage.

John lived a life with clear boundaries. He lived a life set apart. We are not called to blend in, we stand out. We are a city on a hill, we are a light in the dark.

A life lived with expectation is a life lived with boundaries.

Conviction

John was a man of passion. A man of conviction. His assignment was to turn peoples hearts back to God. He preached, “repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. While everyone was looking for a politically driven leader, John spoke about the kingdom. He didn’t shy away from his message. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t to people please, but it was from God.

When I began to learn more about how to “do church”. I began to see research on the types of messages that needed to be preached. There was a calendar. It was nothing wrong with it. I just knew I didn’t want to lose the prophetic voice in the church. I didn’t want to preach messages that will grow the church, but not challenge and grow the people. I would get constant advise on what to do, when to do it. It is a good thing to have a variety of voices, but not when it silences the voice of God. We have to be unshakeable; unmoveable.

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Paul said he didn’t preach to impress, he preach to leave an impression.

Moses had an assignment and didn’t waver from completing it even when Pharoah offered compelling compromises.

Conviction keeps us from compromise

We are called to leave in impression on the world, not be impressed by it

John was a man of conviction who left an impression.

A life lived with expectation is a life lived with conviction.

Humility

As his popularity grew, John amassed crowds and followers. However, he kept his message clear, I am not the light! He said my job is simply to point at the light. I am the opening act. I am the previews before the feature film. In a world where everyone wants followers and influence, John used his influence to point people to Jesus. John wanted to make sure that it was clear that he was a servant.

The moon has no light of its own. It reflects the light from the sun. Don’t let pride and ego cause an eclipse on the favor of God on your life.

Matthew 23:12 CSB

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

How are you using the platform that God has given you? Many of John’s followers followed Jesus when He came on the scene. When we live a life that is all about Jesus, we are not offended when they don’t worship us. We must decrease, He must increase.

A life lived with expectation is a life lived with humility.

Closing

John wasn’t perfect. Even he had disappointments. His life led him to prison and he was naturally wondering why Jesus hasn’t gotten him out yet. He poses the question, are you the one or should I find another.

When our preparation isn’t met with immediate results, it can cause us to wonder if we are in the right place.

Jesus reminds him that the lame are walking, the blind are seeing. In other words, I am do the exact thing that you prepared the way for me to do.

Sometimes we have to be reminded of the big picture. We live lives of preparation and should be expectant that God is going to move in our lives and in others.

Preparation is proof of expectation

Altar

The life we live sets the atmosphere for miracles. We are called to live a life with boundaries, conviction, and humility. This ushers a move of God in your life and others.

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