“The Way of the Lord”
The preaching of John the Baptist:
Luke 3:2-6 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
What is “the way of the Lord”? The word “way” means road, highway or turnpike. The way of the Lord is the pathway to God!
Everyone is searching for God. Of course, the religious people have Him in a box (sadly, the box is often closed and they cannot see inside…). The agnostics have either never seriously looked, or have given it up until later. The atheist claim He doesn’t exist, but search for any evidence that He is here and try to destroy it (crosses, Bibles, prayers, etc…). The indifferent only look for Him when they are in trouble.
Jesus tells us that few people are actually going to find the way of God:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Fortunately, John the Baptist explains how to do it!
First, John explains why we have a road and the advantages of using it:
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low…
We’re ALL the same before God. The high people and the low people; the rich, poor, famous, unknown, beautiful, homely and plain, clever and simple-minded, strong, weak, politically popular and the rejects of society…
Luke 3:5 …the crooked shall be made straight…
The confusing will be made simple; How can anyone know which religion is correct? Which denomination? Which Bible? So many different opinions, baptisms, tongues, communions, saints, candles, rosaries, holy water, holy oil, holy communion (wafers)… Even the cleverest people find it hard to figure out.
Luke 3:5 …the rough ways shall be made smooth…
The difficult will be made easy; Being sorry for every sin, making promises to God and man, going to church, reading the Bible, prayer meetings, tithing… Oh, and you better quit: drinking, cussing, smoking, porno, laziness, lying, grumpiness, fornication…
BUT, doesn’t Jesus say His yoke is easy, His burden light? (Matthew 11:29-30)
He says you will find REST for your soul…
Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Every man, woman and child can use this road!
Even kids can do it? How? How, how, how?
The answer is: Repentance!!
The path to God is called Repentance!
Definition: Repentance = to reconsider, change your mind, turn around…
Why reconsider?
-You have been thinking about God wrong!
-You have been thinking about repentance wrong!
-You have been thinking about Jesus, faith, prayer and righteousness wrong!
Repentance is reconsidering your life.
It is deciding NOT to be selfish anymore.
It is deciding to seek God – seriously and sincerely.
It is deciding to care for others.
It is deciding (before hand) to always do what is right and just and fair and kind and helpful…
It is deciding to please God when you can!
To repent is to start a whole new life!
If you think about it: You can’t repent a little bit (or half-way).
Examples:
-If you decide not to be selfish, you are deciding to care for others, to be generous, to be fair, etc…
-If you decide to care for others (over yourself); you will have to be right and just and kind, etc…
Deciding to repent is like jumping into a deep pool: once you start going under the water, all of you will get wet!
Definition: Baptism = immersion in liquid
John says you must be BAPTIZED in Repentance. (Luke 3:3)
Luke3:7-9 Then said he (John) to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Apparently, not everyone that came to John to be baptized actually got baptized.
v.8 There must be fruit.
v.9 You are judged by your roots, not your leaves.
Luke3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
They ask “what shall we do…” They should ask: “What kind of person shall I be?”
Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
If you have extra clothing and food, but you don’t give to the poor… You have not yet repented.
-Are you a “soft touch” for the needy?
Luke3:12-13 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
If you have a business or a service, and you charge more than is fair… You have not yet repented.
-Do you give them charges and fees that you don’t have to?
Luke3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
If you work for a governmental organization: (soldier, fireman, police, teacher, manager, supervisor, etc…)
-Do you make people afraid of you?
-Do you threaten your workers (it’s hard to find another job in this economy…)?
-Do you accuse them of wrong doing (falsely)?
-Do you complain how little they pay you?
Then you have not yet repented.
Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not…
Just as the people were confused as to whether or not John was Jesus, some people confuse repentance with Salvation!
Luke3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire…
John says that if you repent, Jesus will come to you!!It seems that “the way of the Lord” is how God comes to you!
Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
When Jesus comes, He will save forever (into His garner) those that accept Him and surrender to Him. Those that reject Christ will be rejected by Him and burned.
Why should we repent?
-Because the Kingdom of God is at hand.
-Because it makes finding Christ simple.
-Because it makes finding salvation easy!!
We all want to be born again and receive His Holy Spirit (but that’s another message)!
Thank you, John the Baptist!
The preaching of John the Baptist:
Luke 3:2-6 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
What is “the way of the Lord”? The word “way” means road, highway or turnpike. The way of the Lord is the pathway to God!
Everyone is searching for God. Of course, the religious people have Him in a box (sadly, the box is often closed and they cannot see inside…). The agnostics have either never seriously looked, or have given it up until later. The atheist claim He doesn’t exist, but search for any evidence that He is here and try to destroy it (crosses, Bibles, prayers, etc…). The indifferent only look for Him when they are in trouble.
Jesus tells us that few people are actually going to find the way of God:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Fortunately, John the Baptist explains how to do it!
First, John explains why we have a road and the advantages of using it:
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low…
We’re ALL the same before God. The high people and the low people; the rich, poor, famous, unknown, beautiful, homely and plain, clever and simple-minded, strong, weak, politically popular and the rejects of society…
Luke 3:5 …the crooked shall be made straight…
The confusing will be made simple; How can anyone know which religion is correct? Which denomination? Which Bible? So many different opinions, baptisms, tongues, communions, saints, candles, rosaries, holy water, holy oil, holy communion (wafers)… Even the cleverest people find it hard to figure out.
Luke 3:5 …the rough ways shall be made smooth…
The difficult will be made easy; Being sorry for every sin, making promises to God and man, going to church, reading the Bible, prayer meetings, tithing… Oh, and you better quit: drinking, cussing, smoking, porno, laziness, lying, grumpiness, fornication…
BUT, doesn’t Jesus say His yoke is easy, His burden light? (Matthew 11:29-30)
He says you will find REST for your soul…
Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Every man, woman and child can use this road!
Even kids can do it? How? How, how, how?
The answer is: Repentance!!
The path to God is called Repentance!
Definition: Repentance = to reconsider, change your mind, turn around…
Why reconsider?
-You have been thinking about God wrong!
-You have been thinking about repentance wrong!
-You have been thinking about Jesus, faith, prayer and righteousness wrong!
Repentance is reconsidering your life.
It is deciding NOT to be selfish anymore.
It is deciding to seek God – seriously and sincerely.
It is deciding to care for others.
It is deciding (before hand) to always do what is right and just and fair and kind and helpful…
It is deciding to please God when you can!
To repent is to start a whole new life!
If you think about it: You can’t repent a little bit (or half-way).
Examples:
-If you decide not to be selfish, you are deciding to care for others, to be generous, to be fair, etc…
-If you decide to care for others (over yourself); you will have to be right and just and kind, etc…
Deciding to repent is like jumping into a deep pool: once you start going under the water, all of you will get wet!
Definition: Baptism = immersion in liquid
John says you must be BAPTIZED in Repentance. (Luke 3:3)
Luke3:7-9 Then said he (John) to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Apparently, not everyone that came to John to be baptized actually got baptized.
v.8 There must be fruit.
v.9 You are judged by your roots, not your leaves.
Luke3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
They ask “what shall we do…” They should ask: “What kind of person shall I be?”
Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
If you have extra clothing and food, but you don’t give to the poor… You have not yet repented.
-Are you a “soft touch” for the needy?
Luke3:12-13 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
If you have a business or a service, and you charge more than is fair… You have not yet repented.
-Do you give them charges and fees that you don’t have to?
Luke3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
If you work for a governmental organization: (soldier, fireman, police, teacher, manager, supervisor, etc…)
-Do you make people afraid of you?
-Do you threaten your workers (it’s hard to find another job in this economy…)?
-Do you accuse them of wrong doing (falsely)?
-Do you complain how little they pay you?
Then you have not yet repented.
Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not…
Just as the people were confused as to whether or not John was Jesus, some people confuse repentance with Salvation!
Luke3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire…
John says that if you repent, Jesus will come to you!!It seems that “the way of the Lord” is how God comes to you!
Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
When Jesus comes, He will save forever (into His garner) those that accept Him and surrender to Him. Those that reject Christ will be rejected by Him and burned.
Why should we repent?
-Because the Kingdom of God is at hand.
-Because it makes finding Christ simple.
-Because it makes finding salvation easy!!
We all want to be born again and receive His Holy Spirit (but that’s another message)!
Thank you, John the Baptist!
