Practiced For God’s Visitation-1

PRACTICED For GOD’s VISITATION-I—Luke 3:10-14

Attention:

We lived in a ‘cookie cutter’ neighborhood in Wesley Chapel, FL/We needed our stuccoed house spray-painted (nobody brush-paints a house there) shortly after we moved there but there were no painters in the church I served.

Having no contacts, I went to the internet, spelled out my needs & soon got a call/We hired them for the job.

The owner & his crew arrived & immediately began wrapping in brown paper the soffit vents, windows, screens, & anything that might get back-spray.

They tied the bushes back away from the walls.

The next day the paint was finished—No watered-down slack job(which many of my neighbors seemed to have)

It was perfect!

Why? Because they were practiced at their job. They had done this before & were thus prepared to take care of our house.

Need:

If God were to come in absolute power, I don’t know that I’m ready for His arrival. I am unprepared for His perfect judgment. I am fearful of His chastisement.

I feel like I’m in the wrong business.

or

I feel like the business I’m in is just not run/handled in a way that is satisfactory to God. I don’t feel that I am honoring God with my work.

God wants to visit you. His desire is that His work in you gives Him glory! That His power becomes manifest in& thru what you put your hand to.

John’s audience sought & received practical application in preparing for God’s visitation.

We need practical instruction in preparing for God’s visitation.

What are some practical aspects of adequate preparation for God’s visitation?

5 practical aspects of practicing for God’s visit.

1— Practicing for God’s visit requires...

A ‘PERSONAL’ INVENTORY(:10, 12, 14)

Explanation:(:10, 12, 14) Evaluation

:10—“So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?””

:12—“Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, & said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?””

:14—“Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”....”

This question holds occupational &/or political(tax-collectors & soldiers would have been there under the auspices of Rome) ramifications.

The multitudes(private citizens only or including those mentioned specifically below?) whom John addressed questioned John upon hearing his charges(:7-9).

First of all, their question is a recognition that some action can be done.

Secondly, it is a recognition that ‘the action to be done’ involves their personal attention to its fulfillment.

They were so concerned that they had failed God that they asked John, ‘“What” can we do to alleviate our situation?’ They recognized that they were in a quandary & wanted to know what was required to please God.

“The people” had no ability to see God’s will clearly. Show us....We need instruction—not necessarily a 3-week course— but practical instruction—ideas, examples, etc.

?What can I put my hands to to make an appreciable difference in my life before Almighty God?

*New baby Christians are the same way. Their church life, devotional life, prayer life, family life.... all must be re-established.

Fortunately, honestly asking this question is the way everyone must approach their individual standards of living. Our personal settled set of beliefs & values must be weighed & molded in the crucible of God’s truth.

The unrepentant person does not find comfort & support in God’s truth. They critically ask the same question but if the answer opposes or frustrates their pre-existent belief system & limited human ability, it is passed off as stupid.

*Something isn’t right about the way I’m living. I’m sure I’m saved.

I can’t put my finger on it, but I know I’m not right with God.

*By serving the Lord God in Christ are you threatened?.....

I’m frightened by the possibility of losing, my career, my job, my living, my wife, my children, my home, my education, my respect, my reputation, my friends, my health, etc.

:12— “Teacher”—We need to be taught Christian doctrine, living, sacrifice, surrender, love, appetites, etc.

We all need someone to ‘show us the ropes’ as it were. We need experienced teachers.

Try to remember what it was like for you at your first day on the job.

Argumentation:

2Cor. 13:5—“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.”

Does “what” you are doing or not doing align with God’s will?

Acts 2:36-41—““Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord & Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, & said to Peter & the rest of the apostles, “Men & brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, & let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is to you & to your children, & to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified & exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; & that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”