December 10, 2023 | Pastor Seth Drewry
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. —Isaiah 40.1-11
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. —John 1.6-8
The Forerunner’s Mission
The Bible describes Jesus’ older cousin, John the Baptist as Jesus’
And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. —Luke 1.16-17
Forerunner: a person who goes or is sent in advance to announce the upcoming arrival of an important leader, ruler, or dignitary
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ —John 1.22-23
2000 years ago, John the Baptist’s mission was to announce to the world the arrival of Jesus. Today, our mission as believers is to announce to the world that Jesus has come and has promised to
The Forerunner’s Mission:
the People
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. —Isaiah 40.1-2
The Forerunner’s Mission: Proclaim
of Sin
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. —Mark 1:4-5
Too often the church is known as a place where sinners are
The Forerunner’s Mission: Remove
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” —Isaiah 40.3-5
We are called to remove obstacles and barriers that
And we are called to remove obstacles that
“We will do anything short of sin to reach people who do not know Christ. To reach people no one is reaching, we will do things no one is doing.” —Pastor Craig Groeschel; Life Church
The Forerunner’s Mission: Testify the
Truth of God’s Word
A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. —Isaiah 40.6-8
The Forerunner’s
: It’s All About Jesus
I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him… He must become greater; I must become less.” —John 3.28,30
What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through today’s message?
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