Message Manuscript

If you were unable to attend on Sunday or would like to revisit the message, you can find the full manuscript here. 

Preparing the Way for the Lord

Luke 3:3-6, Malachi 3:1-4 (December 8, 2024. Second Sunday of Advent)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, we are going to explore the crucial theme of preparing for the coming of the Lord. We’ve talked about this topic last Sunday based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36, but today, we’ll focus on insights from Luke 3:3-6 and Malachi 3:1-4.

Repentance as a Foundation for Preparation

The Gospel of Luke tells us about John the Baptist. His message emphasizes that we need to change our hearts and minds, and turn away from the things that hurt us and others. This change is called “repentance,” which is “Metanoia” in Greek, and it’s not just feeling sorry, but actually making a big change in our lives to follow God’s way, in order to welcome the Lord, who is our King.

By the way, Luke 3:5 tells us about getting ready for God’s coming this practical way: “Every valley will be filled, every mountain will be lowered, and every rough path will be made smooth.” Just like a king needs a clear path to travel, God needs us to remove the things that get in the way of our relationship with Him. These obstacles can be things like pride, pretending to be someone we’re not, unhealed hurts, or habits that we can’t seem to break.

Each of these things slows down our spiritual growth and creates distance between us and God. Therefore, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that when we keep doing wrong without turning around, it creates barrier between us and God. The prophet says, “God’s power is not too weak to save us, and His ears are not too deaf to hear us. But our wrongdoings have come between us and God, and He can’t hear us because of our sins” (Isa 59:1-2). 

As we prepare for God’s coming into our hearts in the season of Advent, let us seriously ask ourselves: what are the things that need to change in our hearts and minds? What are the obstacles in our lives that need to be removed? What are the things that we need to let go of, in order to make room for God?

Saying sorry and turning our lives around is the first step in breaking down this barrier and opening ourselves to God’s love and forgiveness. Let us remember this: Repentance is not just a feeling, but a hard choice that requires effort and commitment to follow.

In Malachi 3:1-4, the prophet reminds us that God is like a fire that refines and purifies us, making us better and more like gold and silver. He says, “God will sit like a refiner, purifying His people, making them like gold and silver, so they can offer Him a pure and right offering” (Malachi 3:3). To us, this process of being refined by God can be tough and painful, but it helps us become the people we need to be to have a deeper relationship with Him. Let us remember that God’s refining process is not meant to hurt us, but to transform us into the best version of ourselves.

The Importance of Inner Transformation

Preparing for God’s coming into our lives is not just about changing how we act on the outside. It’s about making a deep change on the inside. This change goes beyond just trying to be better; it’s about becoming a new person. As the prophet Ezekiel says, “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit; I will take away your hard heart and give you a heart that feels and cares” (Ezekiel 36:26). This inner change is what makes us special to God and sets us apart for His purposes.

Therefore, the apostle Peter reminds us that we are chosen by God to be His special people, a group of priests who serve Him, and a nation that is holy and set apart for Him. He says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, so you can tell others about the great things He has done for you, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). What an honor and privilege God has given to His chosen ones, to us.

The Holy Spirit’s Role in Preparing the Way

By the way, here is one important fact for our faith journey. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in getting us ready for welcoming God into our lives. The prophet Isaiah says that the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, understanding, guidance, and strength, and helps us to know and respect God (Isaiah 11:2). He helps us to see our mistakes, turns us towards saying sorry and changing our ways, and gives us the power to live in a way that pleases God. So, we need to allow for the Holy Spirit to actively work in us and for us during our faith journey.

The apostle Paul confirms us that when we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, we are truly God’s children. He says, “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are God’s children” (Romans 8:14). Indeed, the Holy Spirit is our guide and helper, and when we listen to Him, we can live the life that God wants us to live.

John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”

John Bunyan’s classic book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” has inspired many people for centuries. Written in 1678, the story follows a man named Christian, who goes on a journey from a place called the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, which represents heaven. This journey is a symbol of the path to salvation (Here are more cities he travelled in the book).

The story starts with Christian, who feels overwhelmed by his mistakes and wants to escape the City of Destruction, which represents the world. A wise man named Evangelist tells him to leave the city and start his journey to the Celestial City. As Christian travels, he meets different people who represent different parts of the Christian journey. He faces challenges and doubts, symbolized by the Slough of Despond, and is tempted to turn back to the world by a man named Mr. Worldly Wiseman. But Christian keeps going, showing the importance of perseverance and repentance.

Along the way, Christian meets Faithful, who represents the importance of having faith in God. One of the most important moments in the story is when Christian comes to the Cross, where he is forgiven for his mistakes and feels a weight lifted off his shoulders. This moment marks a turning point in Christian’s journey, as he is now free to continue on his path with a newfound sense of purpose and direction.

Christian worked hard to follow his faith journey and get closer to heaven. But it wasn’t until he met Jesus on the cross that he was able to let go of the heavy weight that was holding him back. After that, he was able to continue his journey with a heart that was light and full of joy. This story teaches us that meeting Jesus is a crucial part of our own journey to heaven. We need to encounter Jesus in order to truly experience joy during our way to heaven. I hope that this Advent season will be a special time for all of us to get prepared to greet Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Advent is a time to prepare for our Lord to come into our lives. Amen.

Good News for All

Here is another lesson from today’s texts that we need to pay attention to. The coming of Jesus brings salvation not just for a few people, but for all humanity. The Bible says, “All people will see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6). This means that God’s salvation is for everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.

As followers of Jesus, therefore, we are called to share this good news with others. We are like voices calling out in the wilderness just like John the Baptist, guiding others away from things that distract them and towards Jesus, the Savior. Just like Christmas decorations are supposed to point to the true light of Jesus, our lives should shine with the light of God’s salvation, bringing hope to a world that desperately needs it. Yes. We should be voices to invite people to the true Light.

Personally, I want to thank everyone who worked hard to decorate the church last week (Five Picture slides). The decorations look wonderful. But let’s not forget the most important thing: the decorations are not the main focus. Instead, they are meant to point us to the true light, the one who shines brightly in our world. The decorations are a way to draw our attention to the One who brings light and hope to our lives.

Embracing Transformation in Our Lives

In conclusion, let’sconsider how we can integrate today’s lessons into our daily lives:

* Embrace Repentance: To welcome the coming Lord into our hearts, we must genuinely turn away from our sins and towards God. This involves a transformation of our minds and perspectives – a transformation that requires effort and commitment.

* Confront Obstacles: We must courageously face and overcome the things that hinder our spiritual growth. This may require seeking forgiveness, pursuing healing, or seeking God’s guidance, especially seeking the Holy Spirit’s active transforming work in us.

* Share God’s Salvation: Our faith is not solely for personal salvation, but also for sharing the light of God’s love with others. We are called to be beacons of hope, inviting all to the transformative power of God’s grace.

As the year comes to a close, let’s help our loved ones focus on Jesus, the One who saves us. The Bible says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40). Salvation is found only in Jesus. It’s not something we can earn or achieve on our own, but rather a gift we receive from the Savior. That’s why we need to get prepared at our best and be able to greet our Lord Jesus in this season of Advent. Amen?

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You, acknowledging our need for repentance and spiritual preparation. Guide us away from our sins and towards Your loving embrace. Grant us the courage to confront the obstacles that hinder our spiritual growth and the willingness to be refined and purified by Your grace. May our lives radiate the light of Your salvation, and may we boldly share this light with a world in need. Prepare our hearts and minds for Your coming, and empower us to be voices calling others to turn away from distractions and towards You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.