ADVENT THROUGH THE EYES OF A PROPHET PT. II: PREPARE THE WAY
ISAIAH 40:1-11
2ND SUNDAY IN ADVENT DECEMBER 7, 2003
INTRODUCTION: Twas’ the night Jesus came
Twas’ the night Jesus came and all through the house, not a person was praying, not one in the house. The Bible was left on the shelf without care, for no one thought Jesus would come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing their head. And Mom in the rocking chair with babe on her lap, was watching the Late Show as I took a nap.
When out of the east there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and lifted the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. The light of His face made me cover my head, was Jesus returning just like He’d said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life, which he held in his hand, was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as he searched for my name, when He said "it’s not here" My head hung in shame. The people whose names had been written with love, He gathered to take to his Father above. With those who were ready, He rose without sound, while all of the others were left standing around. I fell to my knees but it was too late, I’d waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight, Oh, if only I’d known that this was the night. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear the coming of Jesus is now drawing near. There’s only one life and when comes the last call, We’ll find out that the Bible was true after all.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Advent is the time of year to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Yes, Advent is always focused on the coming of Jesus as a babe in a manger, but this has all past. When Jesus returns this time it will be to take HIS children home. Our text again this week speaks of the coming of our Lord. This coming focuses on the reality that we must prepare.
THESIS SENTENCE: WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR OUR LORD WILL RETURN TO THIS EARTH SOME SWEET DAY!
SO HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD?
I. PREPARING THE WAY IS THE COMFORT WE OFFER VV. 1-2
A. OFFERING COMFORT IS OUR WORK VV. 1
1. Our text starts with a command, but to whom is it written?
2. Is Isaiah the prophet to comfort those in exile?
3. The language is the answer and the imperative is in the plural.
4. YOU ALL in exile comfort God’s people.
5. God comforts HIS people through HIS people! IT is our Work!
6. Are you at WORK??
B. OFFERING COMFORT IS OUR WORDS VV. 2
1. BUT how are we to comfort one another? How do we pick one another up when we are all in the dumps? HOW do we encourage others when we ourselves are discouraged? How do we overcome the exile into which we have been placed? 2. We must have a change of mindset!
3. We must see our reality, not through our own eyes, but through the eyes of our God!
4. We must learn to speak HIS language for it is truth.
5. We must speak Tenderly!
6. We must say that the Battle is over! The time of war is complete.
7. We must speak words of forgiveness, for our God forgives sin!
8. We must speak the truth of the Atonement; the RANSOM has been paid!
ILLUSTRATION: A little girl was pushing the limits of her mother’s very last nerve. Mom was nearing the end of a hectic season of cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping and church stuff. She was also nearing the breaking point with her little pre-schooler. Finally, the little girl was bathed and ready for bed. As she knelt to say her prayers, Mom listened as her sweet three year old theologian "customized" her evening prayer, ...And forgive us our Christmases, as we forgive those who Christmas against us! Contributed by: Russell Brownworth
TRUTH: OUR GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO SPEAK COMFORT TO ONE ANOTHER!
QUESTION: HOW DO WE USE OUR WORDS?
II. PREPARING THE WAY IS THE PREPARATIONS WE MAKE VV. 3-5
A. PREPARATION IS NOT FOR OUR JOURNEY V. 3
1. The children of Israel are in exile and longing for their home. We might think that THE EXODUS is about to take place again. Could it be that once more that God would lead HIS people to the Promised Land?
2. This may happen, but our text has nothing to do with the children of Israel moving. You see the issue is not the coming and going of the children of Israel, but the COMING OF OUR LORD!
3. He is the one on the move! He comes not from Egypt or Babylon, but from the desert! Sin had driven Him away, but the atonement of sin is bringing Him back! Compassion wins out!
B. PREPARATION IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT V. 3-4
1. “Make straight in the wildness a highway for our God.”
2. Just like with the Language of Comforting the People, we are called upon to prepare for the coming of the Lord. This language is not about Landscaping or an Engineering effort. This is the language of Royal Preparation. The People are called to prepare the City for a Royal Affair. The Royal Affair is the coming of Her King! 3. The Whole community is called to prepare the city! It is like us decorating for Christmas. It is a community affair!
C. PREPARATION IS FOR HIS PRESENCE V. 5
1. The real issue of preparation is the reality that the King of Glory is about to appear in their midst.
2. The very presence of God is about to appear. No longer will God be absent from Jerusalem and from His people the Children of Israel.
3. “The Glory of the lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it (v.5).”
ILLUSTRATION: A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. "I’ve been good for six months now," he wrote. But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three". After a pause that was crossed out and he put "two weeks". There was another pause and that was crossed out too. He got up from the table and went over to the little crib scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph. He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his writing and started again: "Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again…!" Contributed by: Owen Bourgaize
TRUTH: THE LORD IS COMING AND WE MUST BE PREPARED!
QUESTION: DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS COMING? ARE YOU PREPARED?
SO AGAIN THE QUESTION COMES, HOW DO WE PREPARE?
III. PREPARING THE WAY IS THE MESSAGE WE HEAR
A. THE MESSAGE WE HEAR IS OUR REALITY
1. Our reality is that we are no better than grass.
2. The truth of the wild flowers is that you cannot count on them.
3. Grass withers and flowers fall. We have no consistency.
B. THE MESSAGE WE HEAR IS GOD’S WORD
1. Our inability to stand is not only our character, but also our propensity to sin. And when we sin, “The breath of the Lord blows on US (them).”
2. But if humankind is inconsistent and unable to stand because of the reality of sin and the just punishment of God, what is consistent, what will stand?
3. “THE WORD OF OUR GOD STANDS FOREVER.”
4. The issue here is in whom do we trust. Do we trust in our own ability or in the words of man? OR do we trust in the word of God which states that our God is coming?
ILLUSTRATION: How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep holidays than commandments. — Benjamin Franklin Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO
TRUTH: WE ARE HELPLESS IN OUR OWN STRENGTH AND ABILITY! GOD’S WORD IS OUR ONLY HOPE!
QUESTION: DO WE HEAR THE MESSAGE OF GOD’S WORD?
IV. PREPARING THE WAY IS THE MESSAGE WE SHARE
A. THE MESSAGE WE SHARE IS THE GOOD NEWS
1. The message we are to share is the message we are to believe!
2. The message we are to believe is though we have not a leg to stand on, our God offers us hope.
3. Do you remember verse 2? Our sins are forgiven!
4. Do you remember verse 5? “The Glory of the Lord will be revealed!” 5. The truth has been stated! Our God is coming!
B. THE MESSAGE WE SHARE IS “HERE IS YOUR GOD!”
1. Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere; God tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
2. Did Isaiah know how our God would come? Yes, I think He did. Here chapter 7 verse 14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
3. The power of what is being stated however is not how God would come, but that God would come! In that coming would be a powerful understanding, God would no longer be absent, rather, “HERE IS YOUR GOD,” would be the reality the people would experience!
ILLUSTRATION: HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown! SOURCE: Daily Bread, December 23, 1991. Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO
TRUTH: ONE DAY OUR EYES WILL OPEN AND OUR GOD WILL BE PRESENT!
QUESTION: IS THIS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE WE SHARE?
CONCLUSION: ADVENT IS A TIME OF PREPARATION. IT IS A TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO RANSOM HIS CHURCH! WHEN HE RETURNS WILL YOU BE READY? IF YOU ARE READY, ARE YOU SHARING THE MESSAGE OF HOPE? IN THIS SEASON OF ADVENT, WILL YOU PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD?
BENEDICTION: REVELATION 1: 5-6
