Sermon Central
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Prepare The Way
Contributed by Greg Mclarty on Mar 9, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Preparing the way for God’s visitation...
Prepare the Way
A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God!
God wants to move in and amongst His people. To see lost saved, deaf hear, blind to see. He wants to reveal His glory to us, but we first need to prepare these earthly vessels for the day of the Lords visitation.
Remove the Obstacles
Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]
So what are the obstacles?
1. Fear
a. Fear of the unknown – We are used to having things this way and its been like this for as long as we can remember
b. God might ask me to do something I might not be comfortable with
c. What will my family and friends think?
Whose opinion of you is more important? God’s or theirs?
For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Do our fears have validity in comparison to the word of God? I would say not.
*Fear is faith in the devil*
A German Proverb – Fear makes the Wolfe seem bigger than He is.
Fear is debilitating to all of us and that’s why it is one of Satan’s top choices for keeping Gods children bound.
How can we break free from fear and remove this obstacle?
We carry the weapon to kill fear. USE IT!!!
Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light? Author: Maurice Freehill.
2. Doubt
a. We won’t see a powerful move of God like that here. Why not? Are you not just as important in Gods kingdom as the people were at Azusa Street or Pensacola Florida, or place in Africa now that are seeing people raised from the dead on a daily basis. YOU ARE!!!
And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [ divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom]. And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor.
Jer 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God wants to bless you in all that He has. Speak the truth of Gods word and speak the truth of Gods word and speak the truth of Gods word…You’ll start to believe it and expect those things you read about to become a reality in your own life. You want to see God move, you want to see Revival? Do you know what revival is?
b. The word revival has become a part of our Christian language, but you won’t find the word in the Bible as it is commonly used today. The concept is there, and we can see its effect in both Old and New Testaments, but you will not find the word revival laying on the surface of scripture. If we look at Psalm 119, David seemed to tap into New Testaments grace long before it was available to the rest of us. Numerous times He calls out to God to revive Him
Psalm 119:25 - My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive and stimulate me according to your word
v154 - Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Yyour word
v159 - Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness
