Prepare the Way of the Lord A voice of one calling

I want to break out in a new way amongst you God is saying

Isaiah 40  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the L ORD ’s hand double for all her sins.  3 A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the L ORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the L ORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.’  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the L ORD ’s hand double for all her sins.  3 A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the L ORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the L ORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.’

6 A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the L ORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’ 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, [c] lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ 10 See, the Sovereign L ORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.c

Prepare the way for the Lord in your own life

Build a road Make space in your life for God ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the L ORD ;’

Prepare the path of your heart Mark 4:1-19 Plough up your fallow ground ‘make straight in the desert a highway for our God’

How is your heart?  G OD, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children’s hearts, freeing you to love G OD, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live. (The Message) Deuteronomy 30:6

Remove the mountains and the stones! What is getting in the way of God moving in your life? What are your pitfalls? 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low…’

Open your life to His Word  7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the L ORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever. (Isaiah 40)

Wait on Lord to renew your strength Be filled with the Spirit

Let the Shepherd lead You in the Wilderness Spend time with God ‘He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young’.

Allow the Shepherd to do His work Keep Going Allow God to work in whatever situation you are in the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain

Obey the Shepherd and Keep Glowing 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ 10 See, the Sovereign L ORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

How do we prepare the Way of the Lord in our World?  Keep Growing  Keep Going  Keep Glowing  Keep Growing  Keep Going  Keep Glowing

Prayer- we need a sovereign move of God Seek God 5 And the glory of the L ORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.’

Romans By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him— we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. 3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling short changed. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!