Prepare the Way

Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God!

I just wanted to let our church family know that of the 9 Affinity Groups six of the nine have been committed to. There are only three left: Central Asian Peoples, Sub-Saharan African Peoples, and Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples. If God is leading you to commit to one of these areas please let me know.

Yesterday’s message we were challenged to prepare the Way of the Lord through prayer and fasting. Prepare the Way through clearing away the confusion. Prepare the way through clearing things that stand in the Way – Jesus being the Way. Prepare the Way by putting your house in order. Lastly we were challenged to prepare the Way through making a way – for the Way! This is done through choosing the fast: media, Daniel Fast (fruits, vegetables, nuts), or sleep, or all food and liquids. But remember its fasting and prayer. Your goal is not to go without food, or the media. You goal should be to turn or return to God, seeking His Presence.

Making a way – for the Way is done through Position yourself to meet with King Jesus. Daniel had a dedicated time of prayer 3x a day – morning, noon, and night. Do you have a dedicated time of prayer? Do you begin your day with time in the Word and prayer? Making a way – for the Way is done through Entering through God’s Gate(s): (Isa. 62:10 Go through, go through the gates!) Before entering the gates you address them. Psalm 24:

Ps. 24:6-10 This is the generation [description] of those who seek Him [who inquire of and for Him and of necessity require Him], who seek Your face, [O God of] Jacob. Selah [pause, and think of that]! Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; yes, lift them up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is [He then] this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

The generation of those who seek God’s face address the gates, and enter through them. We enter God’s Presence through the Holy Spirit. John 10:3-7 The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out. When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.  So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.

The Watchman in Jesus’ parable is the Holy Spirit Who leads us to know Jesus, and Jesus is the Door He take us to and through. It is through and by the Spirit that we know Jesus: Jn. 15:26 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. In other words the Holy Spirit gives us testimony regarding Who Jesus is so that we can know Jesus.

We make a way -for the Way through Writing God’s Word Upon Your Gates: The Gates of your mind, emotions, soul, spirit, and your body. Your body alone had several gates: eye gate, ear gate, mouth gate, gate of touch. God’s Word of God of necessity has to be central to your life. It must be written over everything you do! Written over everything you are: mind, emotion, soul, spirit, body = eyes, ears, mouth, and touch. (See Deut. 6:6-10)

We make a way – for the Way through entering His gates with the giving of thanks. Ps. 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

The Hebrew word for Thanksgiving is Todaw = which means “to extend the hand; to give thanks; to be giving. (See Eph. 5:18-20; Php. 4:6; Col. 2:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:18)/  and though being “thankful to Him,” Yadah = which means to “lift up your hands to Him.” Lastly we are to Enter His courts with Praise  or Tehillah  which is “singing a song of praise – especially spontaneously; standing in honor or respect (note: it can be the person or thing the person glories in); and shouting. NOTE: halal, as in Hallelu-JAH, is praise that is seen. But tehillah is praise that is heard! Praise is not only heard, but the idea is that we are louder for our God than we would be for ourselves.)