Prepare the Way
Bluegum Pilgrim Values • Sermon • Submitted
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Thank you for last week. Settling in, Answer to prayer on short term accommodation, New sermon series new Sermon Software.
A Call from the Wilderness
A Call from the Wilderness
My love for the outdoors
The word bluegum pilgrim (coming together of my theology and wilderness training) Ranger Dan
16-year-old reading about The Festival of Booths/tents, a week in a tent to remember Israel's time in the wilderness.
I had a dream of removing all barriers and distractions from peoples minds and hearts so that they can follow Jesus fully in the places and occupations He had called them into.
As I focused on how to step into this calling I spent time seeking the next step. 3 words and a passage came from that time.
Connection, Transformation and Discipline.
Isaiah 40:3–5 (NIV)
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This passage is proclaimed in a time when the people of Isreal were facing a decline in influence and an increase in pressure and conflict from surrounding nations. The chapter is an encouragement to Isreal that God is with them and will provide a path forward for them and the surrounding nations.
Isreal felt like they were in the wilderness, uncertain of the future, forced to live out of home and comfort.
Yet to the faithful Isaiah is calling them to continue to prepare a way to God, to Trust God. Like a king parade coming out of the wilderness
The Chainsaw (Warren and John)
They prepared the way, they practically removed the barriers
Reread Isaiah 40
As Jesus started his ministry All 4 of the gospels record John the Baptist proclamation Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4-6; Jn 1:23
Luke quotes in full and John who is filling in the missing pieces also includes it
Jesus Did show that he could make a straight path, walking on water, calming the storm, healing people to actually walk.
But my sense is that again and again, me can miss the point that God is actually after a connection with peoples hearts
Connection
Connection
The word actually doesn’t turn up in the bible but it is clear that God wants a connection with us
Another couple of Prophets guiding Isreal to true worship of God
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
instead of false praise
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
The Isreal law was being abused, people were turning up, paying what they needed and going home to continue life without God.
Jesus summaries the law in what they are trying to achieve
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
When I go Bushwalking there are three layers of connection I feel
A connection with God - I am reminded by being out in nature how much God loves us by the detail he has gone to in His Creation
Love is an emotion as a bloke it took me a while to fully understand
Being a father has helped
listening to the book of john Challenged me
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Connection with people - Everyone is made in the image of God and are to be reconciled to him. We are to prepare the way (like the chainsaw)
ABC interview with people looking for connection
Andrew leigh - disconnect - the benefits of Church community, to be in a network that cares for you and calls you to care for others
Love your neighbours as yourself
Connection to place & those that have gone before us - When I bushwalk I like to think about who else has had this experience, been to this place. I have appreciated notes on how to get to places that are off the usual path.
Mentors - father in law teaching to paint.
Doug Snare - lived history as opposed to reading in a book.
Hearing the stories
To prepare the way for the Lord we need to connect to God, connect to others and connect to the experiences and wisdom of others.
Sometimes we are distracted by the barriers, the branches in the way, the mountains or valleys in the way, mentally more than phiscial.
Disctractions - when writing this sermon
Jesus knew that we would get distracted and set up this regular reminder through Communion.
Understanding how communion is done here.
The sacrifice of Jesus, his love for us
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Prayer
God, thank you for taking on all of our sins. And thank you for paying the penalty for our mistakes on our behalf. We don't deserve that kind of Love - but we are so grateful for it. Thank you for daily showing us what it means to be loved by you. May we love you with all our heart, mind and strength. May we love others sacrificially as you showed us on the cross. May we never loose the wisdom you pass on from generation to generation. You are worthy to be praised. You are good to me! In Jesus' name. Amen.