![\"Preparing](\"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/lambleft.jpg\")
<\/a>A Sermon Delivered to
\nThe Compassion Internet Church<\/p>\n
7 December 2014<\/p>\n
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor<\/p>\n
Scripture References:<\/p>\n
Psalm 85:1\u201313
\nIsaiah 40:1\u201311
\nMark 1:1\u20138
\n2 Peter 3:8\u201312<\/p>\n
Preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming is something that every professing Christian should be doing every day of their life.<\/p>\n
And most importantly, we need to remember that we cannot be preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming, if we are still contributing to the corruption of the world in any way, such as consuming the products that lead to the massive suffering, bloodshed, and death that is so prevalent in the world around us.<\/p>\n
Those who are truly preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming are those who are the loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God for whom the whole of creation anxiously awaits to free it from its present corruption (Romans 8:19).<\/p>\n
With these things in mind, let\u2019s take a look at Psalm 85:1-13\u2026<\/p>\n
1. O LORD, Thou didst show favor to Thy land;
\nThou didst restore the captivity of Jacob.<\/p>\n
We need to understand that this means we also have to be helping to end all the warring madness in the world, which includes ending the captivity of both humans and animals.<\/p>\n
To us the most important factor is ending the suffering of the animals, for from early childhood it contributes to the hardening of the human heart, which in turn leads to all the other corruption and suffering in the world.<\/p>\n
This is why we need to be the peacemaking children of God.<\/p>\n
2. Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people;
\nThou didst cover all their sin.
\nSelah.<\/p>\n
Yes, the Lord does this for every repentant person, but if they return to their former ways of contributing to the corruption of the world, the Bible teaches us that God will no longer forgive.<\/p>\n
3. Thou didst withdraw all Thy fury;
\nThou didst turn away from Thy burning anger.<\/p>\n
4. Restore us, O God of our salvation,
\nAnd cause Thine indignation toward us to cease.<\/p>\n
This happens when in our repentant state of being, we continually entreat the Lord to help us to stay on His pathway of righteousness, and not return to our former worldly way of living.<\/p>\n
5. Wilt Thou be angry with us forever?
\nWilt Thou prolong Thine anger to all generations?<\/p>\n
6. Wilt Thou not Thyself revive us again,
\nThat Thy people may rejoice in Thee?<\/p>\n
7. Show us Thy lovingkindness, O LORD,
\nAnd grant us Thy salvation.<\/p>\n
God has been offering this constantly throughout history to all who are willing to live in His heavenly will.<\/p>\n
Then all who do this can say\u2026<\/p>\n
8. I will hear what God the LORD will say;
\nFor He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
\nBut let them not turn back to folly.<\/p>\n
This is the help we are to ask of the Holy Spirit every day of our lives.<\/p>\n
9. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
\nThat glory may dwell in our land.<\/p>\n
Salvation has always been near to everyone who has a repentant nature and is willing to live in God\u2019s heavenly will.<\/p>\n
10. Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
\nRighteousness and peace have kissed each other.<\/p>\n
11. Truth springs from the earth;
\nAnd righteousness looks down from heaven.<\/p>\n
12. Indeed, the LORD will give what is good;
\nAnd our land will yield its produce.<\/p>\n
13. Righteousness will go before Him,
\nAnd will make His footsteps into a way.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
Since the Lord works through His people, this righteousness is carried before Him by the peacemaking children of God.<\/p>\n
These are the ones who are preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming and the restoration of all of creation.<\/p>\n
We have always found it interesting that Isaiah 40:1-11 is often included as a part of a service of death and resurrection (funeral service), for it doesn\u2019t really help the one who has died, but hopefully it will be of help and encouragement to the family and friends who have gathered together to pay their respects.<\/p>\n
So, as part of our preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming, let\u2019s look at these verses together.<\/p>\n
1. “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.<\/p>\n
2. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem;
\nAnd call out to her, that her warfare has ended,
\nThat her iniquity has been removed,
\nThat she has received of the Lord’s hand
\nDouble for all her sins.”<\/p>\n
This is our hope and prayer for the whole world: that all would come to repentance, particularly when it comes to the horrible suffering and exploitation of animals, and people\u2019s indifference to their plight.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t want harm to come upon them as they have inflicted it upon animals, as many have said they wish for, but that we would end all harm to every other living being, just as Isaiah is writing about.<\/p>\n
Together, we are to be the loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God who are preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
3. A voice is calling,
\n“Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness;
\nMake smooth in the desert a highway for our God.<\/p>\n
4. “Let every valley be lifted up,
\nAnd every mountain and hill be made low;
\nAnd let the rough ground become a plain,
\nAnd the rugged terrain a broad valley;<\/p>\n
We are to be the ones helping to end every obstruction to true peace.<\/p>\n
We are to be the ones helping to end all forms of violence that cause so much suffering and death to millions of our fellow human beings and billions of animals every year.<\/p>\n
We are to be the ones helping to smooth out the way for the Lord.<\/p>\n
We are to be the ones preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
5. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
\nAnd all flesh will see it together;
\nFor the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd all flesh will see it together.\u201d<\/p>\n
All flesh includes the animals who have suffered so long at the exploitive hands of human beings, for the animals will also see the glory of the Lord being revealed.<\/p>\n
6. A voice says,
\n“Call out.
\n“Then he answered,
\n“What shall I call out?”
\nAll flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.<\/p>\n
And again, all flesh includes the animals, about whom the Lord says that they, too, possess the loveliness of the wild flowers.<\/p>\n
7. The grass withers, the flower fades,
\nWhen the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
\nSurely the people are grass.<\/p>\n
8. The grass withers, the flower fades,
\nBut the word of our God stands forever.<\/p>\n
When this time comes, no human or other animal will harm any other living being, for we will all rest in the everlasting arms of the Lord our God.<\/p>\n
9. Get yourself up on a high mountain,
\nO Zion, bearer of good news,
\nLift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;
\nLift it up, do not fear.
\nSay to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”<\/p>\n
This all will happen as a part of our preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
10. Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might,
\nWith His arm ruling for Him.
\nBehold, His reward is with Him,
\nAnd His recompense before Him.<\/p>\n
11. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
\nIn His arm He will gather the lambs,
\nAnd carry them in His bosom;
\nHe will gently lead the nursing ewes.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
Surely all true Christians want this to happen.<\/p>\n
So, if this is what we really want, then we have to stop following the corrupt and ungodly ways of the world around us and begin preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
In Mark 1:1-8 we are told of the beginning of Jesus Christ\u2019s ministry some 2,000 years ago; but today, as we look at these verses together, we need to very seriously consider what our role is supposed to be.<\/p>\n
1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.<\/p>\n
2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
\n“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
\nWho will prepare Your way;<\/p>\n
3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
\n‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
\nMake His paths straight.’ ”<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t have to be a prophet like Elijah, or a John the Baptist in order to be preparing a way for Jesus\u2019 second coming; for every one of us is capable of helping to prepare the way.<\/p>\n
4. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t necessarily have to be calling people to repentance in the manner of John the Baptist, but we can surely speak to others about turning away from the horrible way animals are being exploited and suffering.<\/p>\n
We can explain to people how returning to a whole plant food diet, as God originally created for us to eat, would stop the suffering of the animals, improve our own health, help clean up the environment, and help feed the hungry of the world; all of which God commanded us to do.<\/p>\n
This is all part of preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
5. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.<\/p>\n
6. And John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.<\/p>\n
Many scholars believe that this reference to locusts does not mean the insect, but the locust bean or carob, which is the reason that bread made from it was called Saint John\u2019s bread.<\/p>\n
7. And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.<\/p>\n
8. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
\nNASB<\/p>\n
John was speaking of Jesus Christ, just as we should be doing, for we are charged with being His followers, which means that we should be living examples of His compassionate teachings, and the heavenly will of God.<\/p>\n
We all should be preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, let\u2019s take a look at 1 Peter 3:8-12\u2026<\/p>\n
8. To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;<\/p>\n
9. not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.<\/p>\n
Peter is telling us to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, and kindhearted; none of which can exist in us if we can\u2019t feel the suffering of the whole of creation, and particularly for the animals who cannot speak for themselves.<\/p>\n
So, if any of us are still contributing to the corruption of creation by eating and wearing the tortured remains of animals, then this Bible message is not for us, for we are not only returning evil for evil, but we are returning evil for good, particularly the good that God has giving us.<\/p>\n
10. For,
\n“Let him who means to love life and see good days
\nRefrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.<\/p>\n
11. “And let him turn away from evil and do good;
\nLet him seek peace and pursue it.<\/p>\n
We do not do good or seek and pursue peace if we are part of the warring madness which is going on all over the world.<\/p>\n
We do not do good or seek and pursue peace if we are taking part in the exploitation of animals by eating and wearing them, for we are causing their pain and suffering, either directly, or with our money.<\/p>\n
12. “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
\nAnd His ears attend to their prayer,
\nBut the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”<\/p>\n
Are we among the righteous whom the Lord blesses, or are we part of the evil ways of this world which the Lord is against?<\/p>\n
Are we part of the problem or are we preparing the way for Jesus\u2019 second coming?<\/p>\n
We pray that we all have decided to be part of the solution.<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
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