The Word is Prepare

December 5, 1993

Psalm 80
Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-18
Mark 1:1-8

  1. Prepare yourself for the coming of God.
  2. Prepare a way for God to get to others; the voice said "Cry!"

    What is the message we are to cry? That all flesh is grass? Is that supposed to be good news?

  3. How does anyone "prepare" for God to come?

    -the word is repent -to agree with God in all things, even those pertaining to myself

  1. The Psalm says "Turn us (repent) and we shall be saved; I will hear what the Lord will say; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints."

    The Psalmist has heard the stories of what God has done for His people in the past. He is longing for that blessing again. Then he asks a strange thing: He asks God to turn him around! "Turn us again, O Lord, and cause your face to shine on us!" is the way he expressed it in Psalm 80. Here he says, "Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward us to cease."

    Why doesn't the Psalmist merely say, "Lord, WE are turning around! Look at us! We are repenting!"?

    There is an admission of helplessness here; even our repenting is of grace! Unless the Lord turns us, we shall not be turned! If we are willing to be turned, then we can pray for the Lord to turn us, and cooperate with Him in seeking His face.

    Part of this "turning" process is LISTENING! (8) I will hear what God the Lord will speak; AND WHAT DOES GOD SPEAK? GOD SPEAKS "PEACE!"

  2. Isaiah 40 says Comfort my people! The grass withers and the flower fades but the word of our God shall stand forever.

    Picking up where the Psalmist leaves off, Isaiah quotes God directly. He hears God say: "COMFORT MY PEOPLE! SPEAK TO THEM OF PEACE ... THE WAR IS OVER AND WON!

    Isaiah hears God speaking "Peace" but he also hears God saying TO HIS PEOPLE "CRY!" GOD SAYS YOU BE MY MESSENGERS!

    And, again, what are God's messengers supposed to be saying?

    There is an outline, here, of our message:

    1. All flesh is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades. Is THIS supposed to be good news? You are going to grow old and die! That is news?
    2. But the word of our God shall stand forever! There is something that will never fade! There is a country where there may be seasons, but there are no seasons of death!

      This world that in so many ways is fatigued and frightened needs to hear God saying, "I am standing right here waiting to bring you comfort and peace and forgiveness for your sins and the fellowship of my Body the Church." And guess who God is asking to tell this good news? Do you have a pocket mirror? If you don't, then when you get home, go look in the bathroom mirror— take a good long look— because the person you see there has been asked to tell the message. And what is more, that person is asked to tell the message by being a part of the message! Don't be incongruent!

  3. Mark says: John the Baptist echoed Isaiah: Prepare the way of the Lord but also A PROMISE OF A MIGHTIER BAPTISM. John the Baptist was a messenger, one who was making a way for the coming of Immanuel.
  4. Peter says: the elements shall melt with fervent heat. What manner of persons should we be? God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, according to the promise. We look for a new heaven and a new earth. Be diligent that ye be found IN PEACE.

    The greatest tragedy we can think about is the melting down of this material world, with all our securities and hard-earned retirement benefits. But I get a different slant when I read Peter. Isaiah said the grass would fade; Peter puts it a little more dramatically when he says this whole entire visible created universe is going to disappear, to melt down, to change or pass away.

    But Peter also has confidence in one thing: God has made a promise! The promise of God is good enough to make Peter rejoice in the prospect of losing everything!

    God has made a great promise. We, according to his promise, are looking for a new heaven and a new earth 2 Peter 3:13

    Our message, then, is "Where you are standing may seem like rock, but it is less than an ice floe— it is going to melt away; come on over and stand on solid rock! Test the promise of a God who speaks to those who will listen.

Prayer