2022.12.04. Stewards of the Mysteries
Prepare for THE WAY
William Akehurst, HSWC
Advent: Hope, Preparation, Joy, Love
2nd Sunday: Preparation
We as servants of Christ, are stewards of the Mysteries of GOD. We must prepare and be prepared.
ADVENT Preparation is turning to GOD in Trust, placing our Focus on GOD, and sharing the message of MESSIAH the SAVIOR of the WORLD.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Messianic Prophecy was fulfilled in Christ JESUS, yet there’s still one more. JESUS is coming again, and soon.
This is our Hope, and we are Light because of HIM.
We say that we are ready, but Are we Truly Ready?
Have we done everything possible within our abilities to DO what GOD has commanded of us? HE is faithful as HE has promised, to help us.
Let us examine what it is to prepare.
SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS. SANCTIFY, SET APART, BE HOLY, OUR FOCUS ON GOD.
BE READY TO GIVE THE REASON OF THE HOPE IN YOU.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
HANDEL’S MESSIAH BEGINS WITH THE SONG “COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE”.
GOD IS OUR COMFORT AND OUR PEACE.
Isaiah 40:1-11 (KJV)
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
WORDS OF COMFORT - TESTIFY: SPEAK AND CRY OUT TO JERUSALEM THAT SIN IS FORGIVEN.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
PREPARE THE WAY – EVERYTHING IS ON THE SAME LEVEL. WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS BEEN REVEALED THROUGH JESUS
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
GOD’S WORD STANDS FOREVER – GOOD NEWS OF PRAISE
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
THE GREAT SHEPHERD IS COME
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FATHER GOD
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
WITH SO MANY OTHERS, WE ARE TO CONTINUE, TO RUN WITH ENDURANCE.
OUR FOCUS ON JESUS, AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. WHO SUFFERED WITH JOY FOR WHAT WAS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND RECONCILIATION TO GOD
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
GOD’S LOVE IS GREAT. HE ONLY ASKS THAT WE BELIEVE
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
PRAY
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
GET INTO THE WORD
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
CONTINUE TO GATHER AND SHARE WHAT CHRIST IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE. (GO TO CHURCH, FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY)
Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
PREACH, EVANGELIZE, TELL THE WHOLE WORLD ABOUT JESUS.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
KEEP WATCH. KEEP LOOKING FOR HIS RETURN. IT WILL HAPPEN IN A MOMENT.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU PREPARED?
