"I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
Over the next several weeks we will consider our role in calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord." Our discipleship process has five parts (say it with me now, "Attend, Belong, Connect, Care, Call"). We are going to focus this fall on the last part of that process, which is our responsibility to call others to Christ. That responsibility begins in Berlin, and then among all the nations. Our work for Christ must reach people locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I hope you are ready for CALL 123, as we call others to Christ, making straight the way of the Lord.
"Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land." (Psalm 85:9)
Salvation is near those who fear him, but how can people fear (awe, reverence, respect) the Lord and believe on His name when they do not know Him? Or, as Paul writes in Romans 10:14, "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" We are the ones who are challenged by the Lord to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us; to be the preacher who makes straight the way of the Lord. That is a heavy task and for many of us a scary one. And yet we are called. WE are called. As we look at that calling over the next few weeks, I hope you are encouraged to be that voice, to be that preacher, in whatever way the Spirit might lead so that those who do not yet know Him will fear Him, believe in Him, to His glory and our edification.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:1-3
This prophecy was quoted by Jesus as an oracle of Himself; it explained to God's people, long before Jesus would appear, who He would be and what He would accomplish for His people. Our broken hearts have been bound. We have been set free from sin and darkness. We have been experienced the Lord's favor and found comfort. As those things were proclaimed to us, so too are we called to proclaim them to others. Those around you with broken hearts, stumbling in the darkness, desperate to know God's favor and to find comfort, are waiting for a messenger. You are that messenger. Today is a good day to help someone turn their despair to joy through the good news of Jesus Christ.
FYI: Jesus quoted this prophecy in the fourth chapter of Luke (verses 18 and 19, although the full passage is Luke 4:14-30): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+4%3A14-30&version=NIV
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:11)
Here is the ultimate result of having been called by God: righteousness and praise. We who were not righteous, who had no righteousness of our own, are declared righteous through the sovereign power of the Father, made righteous by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, and then become righteous by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. The result of having been made righteous is rejoicing. As we call others to Christ, those who respond are also made righteous and led to rejoice. With whom shall you share your joy today?
John 1:19-28: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’[a] as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Psalm 85:8- 13 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints . 10 Mercy and truth Righteousness and peace
Isaiah 61:1-4: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
John did it – a voice crying in the wilderness for repentance;
The Psalmist did it – confirming a God Who brings us the Gospel of Peace, Mercy, and Righteousness;
Jesus did it – overview of His Mission on earth;
Paul did it – his own effective ministry and his wise and powerful challenges to us;
So we are called to do it -- to witness with a spirit of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
It can be a little bit scary being a voice calling out in the wilderness. Those who have answered God's call in that regard have not always prospered, at least regarding their physical (and sometimes mental) well-being. They received a rich reward for their obedience, of course, but often there was much pain on the road to that reward. But the one who calls us is faithful, and it is He that accomplishes the work, who produces the fruit. If I am worried about the results of calling out in the wilderness, I need not be. Whether my efforts are "successful" or "unsuccessful," the Lord promises to accomplish His will. Our only responsibility is to call out and allow the Lord, who is faithful, to finish and perfect our effort. Call out today, and leave the results to the Lord.
Good morning and good Sabbath! As we prepare our hearts and minds for worship today, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."
"I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
ReplyDeleteOver the next several weeks we will consider our role in calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord." Our discipleship process has five parts (say it with me now, "Attend, Belong, Connect, Care, Call"). We are going to focus this fall on the last part of that process, which is our responsibility to call others to Christ. That responsibility begins in Berlin, and then among all the nations. Our work for Christ must reach people locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I hope you are ready for CALL 123, as we call others to Christ, making straight the way of the Lord.
"Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
ReplyDeletethat his glory may dwell in our land." (Psalm 85:9)
Salvation is near those who fear him, but how can people fear (awe, reverence, respect) the Lord and believe on His name when they do not know Him? Or, as Paul writes in Romans 10:14, "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" We are the ones who are challenged by the Lord to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us; to be the preacher who makes straight the way of the Lord. That is a heavy task and for many of us a scary one. And yet we are called. WE are called. As we look at that calling over the next few weeks, I hope you are encouraged to be that voice, to be that preacher, in whatever way the Spirit might lead so that those who do not yet know Him will fear Him, believe in Him, to His glory and our edification.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
ReplyDeletebecause the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:1-3
This prophecy was quoted by Jesus as an oracle of Himself; it explained to God's people, long before Jesus would appear, who He would be and what He would accomplish for His people. Our broken hearts have been bound. We have been set free from sin and darkness. We have been experienced the Lord's favor and found comfort. As those things were proclaimed to us, so too are we called to proclaim them to others. Those around you with broken hearts, stumbling in the darkness, desperate to know God's favor and to find comfort, are waiting for a messenger. You are that messenger. Today is a good day to help someone turn their despair to joy through the good news of Jesus Christ.
FYI: Jesus quoted this prophecy in the fourth chapter of Luke (verses 18 and 19, although the full passage is Luke 4:14-30): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+4%3A14-30&version=NIV
DeleteFor as the soil makes the sprout come up
ReplyDeleteand a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
(Isaiah 61:11)
Here is the ultimate result of having been called by God: righteousness and praise. We who were not righteous, who had no righteousness of our own, are declared righteous through the sovereign power of the Father, made righteous by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, and then become righteous by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. The result of having been made righteous is rejoicing. As we call others to Christ, those who respond are also made righteous and led to rejoice. With whom shall you share your joy today?
John 1:19-28: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’[a] as the prophet Isaiah said.”
ReplyDeletePsalm 85:8- 13 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace
To His people and to His saints . 10 Mercy and truth Righteousness and peace
Isaiah 61:1-4: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
John did it – a voice crying in the wilderness for repentance;
The Psalmist did it – confirming a God Who brings us the Gospel of Peace, Mercy, and Righteousness;
Jesus did it – overview of His Mission on earth;
Paul did it – his own effective ministry and his wise and powerful challenges to us;
So we are called to do it -- to witness with a spirit of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
ReplyDeleteIt can be a little bit scary being a voice calling out in the wilderness. Those who have answered God's call in that regard have not always prospered, at least regarding their physical (and sometimes mental) well-being. They received a rich reward for their obedience, of course, but often there was much pain on the road to that reward. But the one who calls us is faithful, and it is He that accomplishes the work, who produces the fruit. If I am worried about the results of calling out in the wilderness, I need not be. Whether my efforts are "successful" or "unsuccessful," the Lord promises to accomplish His will. Our only responsibility is to call out and allow the Lord, who is faithful, to finish and perfect our effort. Call out today, and leave the results to the Lord.
Good morning and good Sabbath! As we prepare our hearts and minds for worship today, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."
ReplyDelete