Christmas 2018 Prepare the Way
Hello this is Eric again. A friend asked me, “How can I know that the Bible is true?” So, I am taking some time to answer my friends question and to do this I am looking at one of the evidences the Bible gives to answer this question, Prophecy.
(Read the previous blogs here)
Malachi 3:1 says,
“‘Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Someone is coming. When that person comes, you will know that the time is near. God said so.
Do you like playing ‘Hide-and-Seek?’ What is it that you like about the game? Do you like counting with your eyes closed and listening to people run and whisper, or do you like to hide, and try not to giggle when you look at your friends hiding spot? Do you like to search, and see if you can find someone, and try and make them laugh and give up their hiding spots, or do you like realizing that they are right by you, but cannot find you? There is something thrilling about knowing that someone is going to show up, and something you have been waiting for is going to happen. This is where Israel was.
For 400 years there was a famine in Israel—a famine of God’s word. Why? Amos 8:11-14 says,
“‘The time is surely coming,’ says the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the Lord’s word. And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba—they will all fall down, never to rise again.’”
The people of Israel wanted to be god of their own worlds, and had chosen substitute idols instead of God Himself. Why? Because they wanted to have a god that they could control and use on their own terms. So, for 400 years, since they didn’t want God, God gave them a famine of hearing His word. The problem was that they didn't see a problem in what they were doing.
Malachi 3 tells us that one day God would send a messenger to get the people ready for the coming of the Lord. God was going to come to His temple—and meet His people. This is what they were waiting for, but there’s more. God was sending a messenger ahead of His coming to prepare the people for His coming. Malachi 3:2-3a says,
“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver,…”
God is going to send a messenger to come and use this messenger to convict them of their sin, and call them to repentance and holiness—getting right with God—but why? Malachi 3:3b-4 says,
“…[S]o that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.”
To restore right relationship with God. Consider this; How much do you like to be called out on your sin? No one does. But, this is a starting place for the Gospel. The prophecy about how God will bring about the Gospel tells us that God will speak truth. God wants right relationship with us, and we need to recognize that we have broken relationship with God. But, what if we don’t want to make things right with God? Malachi 3:5 says,
“‘At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’”
The Gospel means that God will come and deal with evil. One way or the other—and here is the beauty—we can have a way of right relationship with God. Why? So that we might be able to worship Him again—through the Gospel work of God—or we will face the judgement of God as He does justice and makes things right. If we refuse to humble ourselves, agree with God's assessment, and repent (turn and live in a new direction), we will be held accountable.
Here is the sobering truth. If we are honest, we know that we can get stuck in bad habits, bad thinking, sinful living, and not even realize it. We need someone to love us enough to tell us the truth, and seek our blessing. We need help to see our blindspots, and God is going to help us. In Luke 3:3-6 we see God sending this messenger and beginning the ministry of the Gospel,
Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
Just like God had prophesied, John came and began to call people out on their sins so that they could see the truth, and lean in with God and get right with God--through the work of the Gospel. This is good news. God loves us enough to speak the truth into our lives, and make a way for us to be right with Him. We deserve punishment, but now through Jesus Christ we can come to God knowing that He loves us, wants to forgive us, and wants justice to be done, in and through our lives.
John 8:31-32 says,
"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
Today, would you allow God to speak truth to you—to show you your sin? Today, will you allow God's word--truth--to convict you? Today would you agree that you have sinned, and then come to Jesus for forgiveness! Come and believe that God loves you—and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—by faith (trusting God) be forgiven. Allow God to come and lead your life and help you to live the way He wants you to live—the way you were made to live.
I pray that today, you will meet with Jesus, and that you will trust Him and let Him set you free.
Here is a link to walk you through the Gospel message
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
(Read the previous blogs here)
Malachi 3:1 says,
“‘Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Someone is coming. When that person comes, you will know that the time is near. God said so.
Do you like playing ‘Hide-and-Seek?’ What is it that you like about the game? Do you like counting with your eyes closed and listening to people run and whisper, or do you like to hide, and try not to giggle when you look at your friends hiding spot? Do you like to search, and see if you can find someone, and try and make them laugh and give up their hiding spots, or do you like realizing that they are right by you, but cannot find you? There is something thrilling about knowing that someone is going to show up, and something you have been waiting for is going to happen. This is where Israel was.
For 400 years there was a famine in Israel—a famine of God’s word. Why? Amos 8:11-14 says,
“‘The time is surely coming,’ says the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the Lord’s word. And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba—they will all fall down, never to rise again.’”
The people of Israel wanted to be god of their own worlds, and had chosen substitute idols instead of God Himself. Why? Because they wanted to have a god that they could control and use on their own terms. So, for 400 years, since they didn’t want God, God gave them a famine of hearing His word. The problem was that they didn't see a problem in what they were doing.
Malachi 3 tells us that one day God would send a messenger to get the people ready for the coming of the Lord. God was going to come to His temple—and meet His people. This is what they were waiting for, but there’s more. God was sending a messenger ahead of His coming to prepare the people for His coming. Malachi 3:2-3a says,
“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver,…”
God is going to send a messenger to come and use this messenger to convict them of their sin, and call them to repentance and holiness—getting right with God—but why? Malachi 3:3b-4 says,
“…[S]o that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.”
To restore right relationship with God. Consider this; How much do you like to be called out on your sin? No one does. But, this is a starting place for the Gospel. The prophecy about how God will bring about the Gospel tells us that God will speak truth. God wants right relationship with us, and we need to recognize that we have broken relationship with God. But, what if we don’t want to make things right with God? Malachi 3:5 says,
“‘At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’”
The Gospel means that God will come and deal with evil. One way or the other—and here is the beauty—we can have a way of right relationship with God. Why? So that we might be able to worship Him again—through the Gospel work of God—or we will face the judgement of God as He does justice and makes things right. If we refuse to humble ourselves, agree with God's assessment, and repent (turn and live in a new direction), we will be held accountable.
Here is the sobering truth. If we are honest, we know that we can get stuck in bad habits, bad thinking, sinful living, and not even realize it. We need someone to love us enough to tell us the truth, and seek our blessing. We need help to see our blindspots, and God is going to help us. In Luke 3:3-6 we see God sending this messenger and beginning the ministry of the Gospel,
Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
Just like God had prophesied, John came and began to call people out on their sins so that they could see the truth, and lean in with God and get right with God--through the work of the Gospel. This is good news. God loves us enough to speak the truth into our lives, and make a way for us to be right with Him. We deserve punishment, but now through Jesus Christ we can come to God knowing that He loves us, wants to forgive us, and wants justice to be done, in and through our lives.
John 8:31-32 says,
"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
Today, would you allow God to speak truth to you—to show you your sin? Today, will you allow God's word--truth--to convict you? Today would you agree that you have sinned, and then come to Jesus for forgiveness! Come and believe that God loves you—and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—by faith (trusting God) be forgiven. Allow God to come and lead your life and help you to live the way He wants you to live—the way you were made to live.
I pray that today, you will meet with Jesus, and that you will trust Him and let Him set you free.
Here is a link to walk you through the Gospel message
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
Comments
Post a Comment