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A SEASON OF EXPECTATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John the Baptist told his followers to, "Prepare your hearts and get your lives in order because the Messiah is coming." This message is saying the same thing to us. We must prepare our heart and life for the presence of Jesus, so that he can fill you with His Spirit, with fire, passion, purpose, joy, life abundant, and life everlasting.

 

A SEASON OF EXPECTATION
Series: Mending Our Approach to Christmas
Luke 3:7-16

 

 Prophets had proclaimed the coming of God’s Chosen One, and all of Israel waited in expectation for his arrival.

 

John the Baptist preached –

 

·        Expectation the Messiah is coming

 

·        Preparation - get ready for his arrival.

 

Keys to prepare you for a dynamic relationship with Jesus.

 

1. GENEROSITY

 

“What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:10-11 NIV

 

"If you can't feed a hundred people, just feed one." Mother Teresa

 

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10 NIV

 

2. INTEGRITY

 

Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely? be content with your pay." Luke 3:12 -14 NIV

 

"It's not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity." Francis Bacon

 

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking."

 

3. CONSISTENCY

 

"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 3 7-9

 

Prepare for God's blessing by practicing consistency.

 

·        Live by your commitments.

 

·        When you hear from God, you follow it.

 

·        When the Spirit convicts turn from your sin.

 

·        When you have opportunity to do good, do it.

 

Jesus wants to enter your existence and baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

 

He came into a world that needed Him 2000 years ago, He is ready to enter your world, today.