Preparing The Way For Jesus.

What shall we do?

Preparing the way for Jesus

Luke 1:13-20 (NKJ)

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus.

How was John the Baptist able to prepare the way for Jesus?

Luke 1:15 b He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. (NKJ)

When we receive Christ as savior, we become born again and the Holy Sprit is put in us and we have the power to be witnesses and to prepare the way for Jesus.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (NKJ)

We see John the Baptist was being a witness.

John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (NKJ)

How can we be a witness for Jesus today and prepare the way for others to see Him?

Luke 3:10-14 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

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

13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

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

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” (NKJ)

1) John says start by giving.

James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? (NKJ)

1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (NKJ)

Real love is an action, not a feeling. It produces selfless, sacrificial giving.

The greatest act of love is giving oneself for others.

How can we lay down our lives?

• By serving others with no thought of receiving anything in return.

• Are you as generous as you should be with your money, possessions, and time?

When you give you are being a witness for Christ.

2) John says do what the Lord requires of you.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJ)

• Are you fair in your dealings with people?

• Do you show mercy to those who wrong you?

• Are you learning humility?

Are you treating others the way you want to be treated?

Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (NKJ)

This is commonly known as the Golden Rule.

The Golden Rule as Jesus formulated it is the foundation of active goodness and mercy- the kind of love God shows to us every day.

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (NKJ)

When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults.

Have you talked behind someone’s back?

Have you focused on other’s shortcomings instead of their strengths.

Remind yourself of Jesus command to love others as you love yourself.