Clear the way foir the Lord's coming

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Are You Ready

John 1:19–26 NLT
This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’ ” Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.
Before the ministry of Jesus began, God sent a messenger to prepare the way!
John, the cousin of Jesus was sent as a forerunner to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God!
His message to the people was to repent and be baptized
It was the message of Jesus as He began His ministry
Matthew 4:17 NKJV
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Peter preached the same message after the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven
Acts 2:38 NLT
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
You see, Satan has blind the world to the truth that man is a sinner in need of a Savior!
2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
From the beginning God warned us of the fact that sin was wanting to destroy our lives
When God rejected Cain’s sacrificed the work of his hands, God told him,
Genesis 4:6–7 (NLT)
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Do you see it?
“Sin is waiting at the door and its desire is for you!”
You see sin isn’t something that you do, your actions are proof that sin is working in you
Sin is a powerful enemy that wants to destroy your life but Jesus wants to restore your life!
John 10:10 (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Sin has been ruling man since the days of Adam and Eve’s mistake
Because they had children after they sinned, their children and their children’s children also have that “sin nature”
Psalm 143:2 NKJV
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
Romans 3:23 NKJV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
It is not God’s fault for the current situation!
man has chosen to walk away
Isaiah 59:2 NKJV
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
But tonight, You have a chance to return home to God!
Isaiah 9:2–7 NLT
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
John 3:16 NLT
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The issue is that while God is forgiving He is al Just and demands that justice by served
Here is the problem, no one can say that they are without sin
1 John 1:8–9 NLT
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
In essence if we deny that we are sinners then we are calling God a lier and that is an unforgivable sin!
John 3:16 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
You see because no man could live a righteous life, Jesus Himself can and took on the form of a man to live the perfecr life thereby becoming able to pay the price for our sin
Hebrews 2:14–15 NKJV
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:17 NKJV
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
There is only one man that ever lived the perfect life, Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Apart from His righteousness you have no hope.
Tonight God is stretching forth His hand to welcome you home
Tonight you have a chance to have eternal life with God
John 6:47 NKJV
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
The process is simply yet will take everything you have to do it!
agree with God - you are a sinner
agree with God that you need a Savior - Jesus Christ
accept the terms of your forgiveness - the shedding of Christ’s blood and His death in place of you
accept the new life God has for you - believe He was raised from the dead just as you will be raised for the death of your current life
Romans 10:9–10 NLT
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Alter Call
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