1. [At this time of year there is a clamor of people wanting out attention – advertisers; children and presents; adults and presents;
2. In the midst of all of the noise around us, God is also seeking to be heard
[In Wizard of Oz – Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow journey to Oz to meet the Wizard to get help with their needs; the Bible reminds us that GOD has come to us offering his help in the midst of our needs – Adam and Eve in the Garden; Mount Sinai; a manger in Bethlehem
3. Isaiah 40.1-9
4. A Prophetic Message of Comfort
a. In regards to foreign captivity – Assyria and Babylon
b. Coming of Messiah and his forerunner
5. Essene at Qumran and other places
a. Went into desert places as a place for preparation and service to God
b. Studious – “round the clock” studies of Torah and writings
c. Opposed to corruption of Sadducees in temple; priesthood; ungodly gain of wealth; ungodly compromise with pagans (Romans appointed High Priests – bribery)
6. Hear the Voices:
I. The Voice of Comfort (1-2)
A former police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department - Bob Vernon - tells of how the Department would demonstrate to rookie officers the value of the bullet-proof vests they’d be issued. The vests were placed on mannequins and then officers would fire round after round into the vests. The rookies were asked to check to see if any of the rounds had penetrated the vests.
Invariably the vests would pass the test with flying colors. Vernon would turn to the rookie officers and ask, “So who wants to wear a vest and let us test how it works on you? No one ever volunteered.”
Why? Because it’s one thing to “say” I have faith. It’s quite another to actually act on that faith.
Yet God tells us to trust him in the midst of the dangerous world.
A. The Message of God Dealing with Sin
1. Sin is missing the mark
2. Isaiah reminds us of consequences – “DOUBLE”
B. The Message of the Forgiveness of Sin
1. Illustrated in Yom Kippur
a. Two goats – one sacrificed in the temple after laying on of hands and confession of sins
b. Scapegoat sent into wilderness with scarlet cloth tied to it; flagged with white flags as it journeyed to the wilderness (Isaiah 1.18)
c. Sent into wilderness towards Mount of Olives
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103.11-13
2. Yeshua (Jesus) – one time sacrifice – Hebrews 9.11-14
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
II. The Voice of Compliance/Preparation (3-8)
The movie “Cool Runnings” was loosely based on a true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
In the movie practically everyone looked down on their team. Their coach was a disgraced bobsledder who’d been kicked out of the sport for cheating. Their team was a sloppy group of black men from a country which had never seen snow, let alone a bob-sled. And the sled they used was a rebuilt and repainted reject that failed them in the final run.
By all reasonable expectations, they shouldn’t have been able to compete that year. But, because...
• they didn’t cheat
• they didn’t complain
• they didn’t give up…
…because of HOW they ran their race, they gained the one thing that mattered most to them: admiration and respect. (Make note of their battle-cry of “Respect”).
One of the underlying messages from the movie was: there is a right way… and a wrong way to get what you want in life.
A. Prepare for the Coming of the LORD (3)
1. Essenes went to the wilderness for this as “Sons of Light”
2. Purpose of the coming of John the Baptist
the word of God came to John the son of Zechari′ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare 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.”
7 He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Luke 3.2b-7
24 When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
who shall prepare thy way before thee.’ Luke 7.24-27
3. Freedom from literal and spiritual captivity
B. Prediction of the Coming Messiah
1. LORD = God (parallel) – implies Yeshua (Jesus) is God – Matthew 16.18
2. Forerunner “Elijah” – and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1.17 (spirit of Elijah)
a. Used in Passover – Elijah to precede Messiah – 5 “Behold, I will send you Eli′jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Malachi 4.5
b. Yeshua (Jesus) – Elijah has come (Matthew 17.10-12)
III. The Voice of Concern (for our condition) (6-8)
A. Human Conditions are Temporary – 1 Peter 1.6-8
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.
B. God’s Actions are Permanent – 1 Peter 1.23-25
23 You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord abides forever.”
That word is the good news which was preached to you.
One of the great movies of all time was the 1959 Biblical epic Ben Hur. One of the movie’s most riveting scenes where Charlton Heston (Ben Hur) defeated his arch enemy in an extremely realistic chariot race. The scene required 5 weeks of filming, 15,000 extras, and 18 chariots.
To add to the spirit of authenticity Charlton Heston actually learned to drive the chariots he’d be using in the race. But after weeks of practice, Heston was worried about the shoot. He confided in the stunt coordinator: “I can drive the chariot, but I’m not sure I can win.”
The stunt man smiled and replied: “Chuck, you just make sure you stay in the chariot, and I’ll make sure you win the race.”
You see, Heston had made the mistake of thinking that HE actually had to win the race by his own power and skill.
He had forgotten that this was a movie. The outcome had already been decided.
He COULDN’T LOSE!!!
IV. The Voice of Courage (9-11)
Someone once asked a paratrooper how many times he had jumped out of the plane while he was in the military. He said, “None.” His friend said, “What do you mean, ‘none,’ I thought you were a paratrooper?” He said, “I was, but I never jumped. I was pushed several times... but I never jumped.” That is what the military calls encouragement. Sometimes we need a little shove. But along with the shove, God gives us renewed courage and strength to do what he is calling us to do. In the end, it becomes something we want to do.
A. It Is a Message of Good News
1. To His people
2. From His People
3. “Immanuel” is God with us – is that good or bad?
B. It Is a Message of God’s Might
1. ARM = Messiah?
2. Release from Assyria and Babylon
3. Release from Sin
C. It is a Message of God’s Mission
1. Shepherd – Luke 19.10; Ezekiel 34.16
2. Rule and Reward
Conclusion
1. The Essenes and John the Baptist went to the desert to prepare for the coming of the Messiah
2. We are in preparation for the second coming
3. Be in the center of God’s will note the middle verse of the English Bible:
– It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118.8
4. Hear the Voices of: Comfort; Compliance; Condition; Courage
