The Lent season; the Easter season is a time of renewal, restoration, rebirth, and growth, so, it is fitting that as Christians we aim to partake in this marvelous, and wondrous process. *GOD* GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR REBIRTH, thus, the PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION INTO our REALITY which IS as SPIRITUAL beings, and NOT beings of the flesh; THEREFORE, we ever learn, utilize, and grow according TO HIS WILL, and HOLINESS, for in doing so, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FREE TO WORK in us, and through us...
Preparing THE WAY OF THE LORD IS opening the heart unto HIM, and HIS ways, THAT HE might LIVE IN US; we ARE HIS TEMPLE; it is becoming more LIKE HIM, and taking on the nature of HIS HOLINESS, albeit a PROCESS of time! The point is that we shed the old ways we were reared in, and take on THE TRUTH of our existence AS HIS CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL SERVANTS, AS DID CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, and SAVIOUR! NOT an easy aspiration, yet VERY WORTHY, and that which sets us apart from the world...
In these times when Christians are being challenged, ridiculed, and worse, it is especially important to SHINE OF HIM, TO DO, and BE GOOD, and to, well WALK THE WALK! Many talk the talk, but they haven't walked the walk, which lends to the opposition against us, and why not? since we MUST reveal HIM in MORE than word!!!
KNOWING CHRIST JESUS IS NOT instant, nor, is it easy, yet, DEEP WITHIN, as we increase our relationship with HIM, we begin to understand more, and then, can take on HIS nature, at least to a degree which separates us from the carnal, and LIFTS us into the spirit, which IS OUR TRUTH! We are NOT citizens of the Earth, though we reside here for a time, we ARE citizens of HEAVEN, and therefore, DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, and INVOLVED IN what is HEAVENLY! I am amazed that more do NOT understand the idea of BEING CO-PARTNERS TO HIS WILL, and COVENANT; WE ARE, and DO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES, and DUTIES therein, NOT for show, or anything such, instead TO REVEAL HIM IN US, FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others!!!
Going to Church is NOT enough; we have work to be done; which involves taking care of the downtrodden, the lonely, the orphaned, the widowed, the hungry, and EVERYONE who is oppressed, and this MORE than just donations, or volunteering; instead, it is ACTUALLY, and CONTINUOUSLY CARING, SHARING, ENCOURAGING, and AIDING in ANY way feasible! ALSO, our work involves INSPIRING others to KNOW *GOD*, and TO TURN TO HIM; this is achieved in various ways, YET, THE MOST IMPORTANT way IS to BE as much LIKE HIM as is possible, THAT others SEE HOW HE HAS WORKED IN US, and HAS PRODUCED IN US FRUITS WORTHY!!!
No, it isn't easy, and yah, we sometimes get weary, falter, and worse, BUT IF we ARE OF HIM, we plug on, and KEEP improving! Some of the ways of our past are harder than heck to get rid of, and they challenge us constantly, YET, we PRAY, and we ACTIVELY work through such areas! ONLY WITH HIM CAN we be perfect, and if we don't participate in the process of HIS WORK in us, then we have hindered the progress ourselves, and so the need for lessons ensues...
Hard to shake is the belief that we can 'fix' things, people, places, and ourselves; this is self-reliance, and NOT relying on HIM! Of course, we are one WITH what HE 'fixes', but mostly, that IS surrendering our self-dependency TO HIM! We IMAGINE that we are SO independent, but this gets shut down time, and time again, while we STRUGGLE in this realm! BUT WHEN we ALLOW HIM TO DO HIS THING, the struggle lessens, and our lessons are learned...
LUKE 3: 4-17...
4+++as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord;
make straight paths for Him.
5+++Every valley shall be filled in,
and every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked ways shall be made straight,
and the rough ways smooth.
6+++And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
7+++Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8+++Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9+++The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10+++The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11+++John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
12+++Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13+++“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14+++Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
“Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
15+++The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
16+++John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17+++His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn. But He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins, and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and renewal of heart, which attend, or are the effects of true repentance, as well as a profession of it. Here is the fulfilling of the Scriptures, Isa 40:3, in the ministry of John.
When way is made for the gospel into the heart, by taking down high thoughts, and bringing them into obedience to Christ, by leveling the soul, and removing all that hinders us in the way of Christ and his grace, then preparation is made to welcome the salvation of God.
Here are general warnings and exhortations which John gave. The guilty, corrupted race of mankind is become a generation of vipers; hateful to God, and hating one another. There is no way of fleeing from the wrath to come, but by repentance; and by the change of our way the change of our mind must be shown. If we are not really holy, both in heart and life, our profession of religion and relation to God and his church, will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our destruction be, if we do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
John the Baptist gave instructions to several sorts of persons. Those that profess and promise repentance, must show it by reformation, according to their places and conditions. The gospel requires mercy, not sacrifice; and its design is, to engage us to do all the good we can, and to be just to all men. And the same principle which leads men to forego unjust gain, leads to restore that which is gained by wrong. John tells the soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned against the temptations of their employments. These answers declared the present duty of the inquirers, and at once formed a test of their sincerity. As none can or will accept Christ's salvation without true repentance, so the evidence and effects of this repentance are here marked out.
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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