Sermon Central
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Preparation For Jesus Coming (Advent)
Contributed by William Akehurst on Dec 3, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: We say that we are ready, but Are we Truly Ready? Have we done everything possible within our abilities to DO what GOD has commanded of us? HE is faithful as HE has promised, to help us. Let us examine what it is to prepare.
2022.12.04. Stewards of the Mysteries
Prepare for THE WAY
William Akehurst, HSWC
Advent: Hope, Preparation, Joy, Love
2nd Sunday: Preparation
We as servants of Christ, are stewards of the Mysteries of GOD. We must prepare and be prepared.
ADVENT Preparation is turning to GOD in Trust, placing our Focus on GOD, and sharing the message of MESSIAH the SAVIOR of the WORLD.
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Messianic Prophecy was fulfilled in Christ JESUS, yet there’s still one more. JESUS is coming again, and soon.
This is our Hope, and we are Light because of HIM.
We say that we are ready, but Are we Truly Ready?
Have we done everything possible within our abilities to DO what GOD has commanded of us? HE is faithful as HE has promised, to help us.
Let us examine what it is to prepare.
SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS. SANCTIFY, SET APART, BE HOLY, OUR FOCUS ON GOD.
BE READY TO GIVE THE REASON OF THE HOPE IN YOU.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
HANDEL’S MESSIAH BEGINS WITH THE SONG “COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE”.
GOD IS OUR COMFORT AND OUR PEACE.
Isaiah 40:1-11 (KJV)
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
WORDS OF COMFORT - TESTIFY: SPEAK AND CRY OUT TO JERUSALEM THAT SIN IS FORGIVEN.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
PREPARE THE WAY – EVERYTHING IS ON THE SAME LEVEL. WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS BEEN REVEALED THROUGH JESUS
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
GOD’S WORD STANDS FOREVER – GOOD NEWS OF PRAISE
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
THE GREAT SHEPHERD IS COME
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FATHER GOD
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
WITH SO MANY OTHERS, WE ARE TO CONTINUE, TO RUN WITH ENDURANCE.
OUR FOCUS ON JESUS, AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. WHO SUFFERED WITH JOY FOR WHAT WAS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND RECONCILIATION TO GOD
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
GOD’S LOVE IS GREAT. HE ONLY ASKS THAT WE BELIEVE
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
