Preparing the Way of the Lord
This morning our men studied the prophecy of Zacharias at the end of Luke 1, which is often called the "Benedictus." Many of our men were working or out of town, but we still had 10 men there to discuss this passage of God's Word, and we had a great study.
Much of this passage applies to the coming of Jesus as the Redeemer, and we talked about the possibility that some of it refers to the Tribulation time and the Millennial Kingdom, when the Jewish people will trust in Christ and win the victory over all of their enemies. They will live in holiness and righteousness with no fear of their enemies. Jesus came to save us. His coming was even a part of the covenant God made with Abraham. His Second Coming is a part of God's plan, too, and when that happens the Jewish people will play a key role, because of that same covenant.
However, this evening I want to focus in on John, the Baptist. He was a prophet. Jesus said he was more than a prophet. He was the one who came to prepare the way of the Lord. He was the one crying in the wilderness. He was the one who came to shine the light of the truth into a dark world and to show people they needed their sins to be forgiven by the Christ who was coming after him. John carried out his mission with zeal, and the hearts of the people were ready to trust Jesus. We have much the same mission. We are in a dark world where people do not think they need to be saved from sin. We must share the truth. We must stand for what is right, and we must show them that Jesus is the Only Way to salvation. If we do not do it, no one will. If our lights are dim, there will not be enough light for our world. Millions will go to Hell, if we fail to prepare the way of the Lord. I pray that we will seize the day and live for Him, even if it means being as different as John, the Baptist.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 11-12 and Luke 6:1-26.
Much of this passage applies to the coming of Jesus as the Redeemer, and we talked about the possibility that some of it refers to the Tribulation time and the Millennial Kingdom, when the Jewish people will trust in Christ and win the victory over all of their enemies. They will live in holiness and righteousness with no fear of their enemies. Jesus came to save us. His coming was even a part of the covenant God made with Abraham. His Second Coming is a part of God's plan, too, and when that happens the Jewish people will play a key role, because of that same covenant.
However, this evening I want to focus in on John, the Baptist. He was a prophet. Jesus said he was more than a prophet. He was the one who came to prepare the way of the Lord. He was the one crying in the wilderness. He was the one who came to shine the light of the truth into a dark world and to show people they needed their sins to be forgiven by the Christ who was coming after him. John carried out his mission with zeal, and the hearts of the people were ready to trust Jesus. We have much the same mission. We are in a dark world where people do not think they need to be saved from sin. We must share the truth. We must stand for what is right, and we must show them that Jesus is the Only Way to salvation. If we do not do it, no one will. If our lights are dim, there will not be enough light for our world. Millions will go to Hell, if we fail to prepare the way of the Lord. I pray that we will seize the day and live for Him, even if it means being as different as John, the Baptist.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 11-12 and Luke 6:1-26.