Last week we started a series looking at the life and calling of John the Baptist and what we can learn from it. We see a unique and specific call upon John the Baptist and each one of us has a unique and specific call upon our own life as well. We looked at how miraculous even the conception of John the Baptist was and touched on the prophecy in Isaiah. We took a deeper dive this week into what this prophecy was saying and how God was going to use John the Baptist as a forerunner, a road builder, really helping people find and follow Jesus. Let’s take a moment to read it now:
Isaiah 40:3-5 (NIV) says, “3) A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; 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 Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
In the time of Jesus and John the Baptist, it was very common for someone to go before a dignitary to not only check out the path ahead - but also to repair it or make it passable, whatever that took. John the Baptist was a “spiritual forerunner” for Jesus. How does this apply to you and me? We too are forerunners, spiritually speaking, for Jesus. Each and every day we have opportunities to point people to Jesus by our words and deeds. We have the opportunity to set a positive example for others. This week we will look at Isaiah 40:4 and how we can apply this to our own lives today. Ask the Lord to open your eyes and heart to all He wants to show you this week.
Monday:
Let’s start off by reading Isaiah 40:4 (NIV) “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” Here in Isaiah, we see a physical description to help paint a spiritual picture of road building. We read this and wonder what it means for us personally. How can we prepare the way, helping people find and follow Jesus? The first point was “A valley that must be lifted up” (“Every valley shall be raised up,”) In driving daily through construction zones or just through your neighborhood or around town, there are low points and even potholes along the way. Sometimes they are very hazardous, regardless, these low places need to be raised up or filled in. How does this apply spiritually? Not seeing yourself the way God does or thinking too lowly of yourself, will hold us back and prevent us from helping others find and follow Jesus. These valleys, if not raised up by God and what He says, can be deadly. The enemy loves to keep us from becoming what God wants.
Reflection/Action:
Take some time to assess your path and any low points along the way. Have you been believing the lies of the enemy and thinking too lowly of yourself, not seeing yourself as Jesus does? Read Psalm 40:2 “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Ask God to come and help you, to lift the valley up, so that you can help others along the way.
Tuesday:
Another tactic of the enemy is to use shame and guilt (condemnation) to obstruct our path, it makes us want to hide and not commune with our Heavenly Father. Conviction and condemnation are completely different. We should listen and follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Read Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Jesus took our penalty of sin so we can be free from the valley of sin and shame-He lifts the valleys! Oh that we see God does not want us to stay in the valley of shame and guilt. He not only longs for us to be free, but to also help others along the way to find and follow Him!
Reflection/Action:
Read Romans 8:1 again and rejoice! Jan Hassler, one of our elders, read a beautiful responsive prayer during the service that speaks to this as well. Read it, re-read it, meditate upon it.
Thanksgiving For God’s Love and Goodness
The risen Christ meets us at the tomb, and turns our tears to joy.
For your love and goodness
We give you thanks, O God.
Christ comes through our locked doors,
And turns our fear to courage.
For your love and goodness
We give you thanks, O God.
Christ comes to daily life and work,
And turns our failure to new vision.
For your love and goodness
We give you thanks, O God.
Christ breaks the bread,
And turns our despair to hope. For your love and goodness
We give you thanks, O God.
-Bosco Peters (New Zealand/Contemporary)
Wednesday:
Today we move on to point two, “Mountains that must be brought low” (“Every mountain and hill made low;”). There is another way that we may not see ourselves as God does that involves pride and arrogance. Our own pride and arrogance can prevent us from helping others find and follow Jesus. Pride can sneak its way in and suddenly we find ourselves dismissing sin as okay and trying to put ourselves in a place we don’t ultimately belong. It’s this sin of pride that snuck its way into the Garden of Eden. Satan knew exactly what to say to disarm and dismiss the clear instructions of God Himself. Herod and all the religious elites did not like the message of John the Baptist. It challenged their pride. Pride is a mountain that needs to be excavated by the loving hands of Jesus.
Reflection/Action:
Do you find that pride has built what seems to be an impassable mountain? Is it holding you back from a relationship with Christ and also from helping others find and follow Jesus? Take some time to read and reflect on this verse: Proverbs 16:18 ”Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Don’t fall into condemnation, rather allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit to work in you and bring this mountain down.
Thursday:
One area we especially need to guard our hearts concerning this mountain of pride and arrogance is spiritual pride. We know all the verses and all the sayings and all the “things” and that somehow makes us better than others. That is dangerous terrain. Pastor Adam likened it to that sneaky speed bump that catches us off guard, this pride issue in our life can really wreak havoc if not dealt with. We can also have collective or tribal pride. This can be denominational or political. (1 Corinthians 1:11-12) This pride is divisive and destructive not only to us but to others as well. One thing is certain, prayer is a pride killer. It is us recognizing that we need God and His help. The Gospel is also a pride killer. Jesus took our place and bore our sin penalty as His own. Our boast should only be in Christ!
Reflection/Action:
As we reflect on this aspect of spiritual and collective pride, ask the Lord to show you any areas where you need His help making the mountain low. I Corinthians 8:1 says, “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” Are we placing knowledge of spiritual things in place of letting love build the road? God’s love to us, our love towards others. Jan shared another prayer at this point in the sermon. As you read you may choose a prayerful posture as you ask the Lord to do in you as He sees fit.
Prayer for Spiritual Revival
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
-Sir Francis Drake (England/1540-1596)
Friday:
The last point to look at in Isaiah 40:4 “the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places plain.” Sin makes the path rough and rugged. Over time the road can become impassable. In Isaiah’s prophecy he is declaring what John the Baptist would do, spiritually speaking. John was to be the forerunner of Jesus, using his life and ministry to declare the coming of Jesus and the need for repentance. What does making the rough places smooth mean for us today? It means dealing with the sin in our lives head-on. The Word of God is clear in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” RC Sproul said, “The Bible takes sin seriously because it takes God seriously, and it takes human beings seriously. When we sin against God, we show violence toward His holiness. When we sin against our neighbor, we violate his or her humanity.”
Reflection/Action:
God wants us to face the sin in our life. He comes alongside, He does not condemn. He forgives and he sets us free. He longs for us to be free so that we can help others find and follow Him. Prayerfully read Matthew 6:9-13: 9) “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Saturday:
Isaiah 40:4 (NIV) “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” May you be encouraged today, knowing that God is with you and desires the best for you. The upside of the construction is that it means growth. It also means the work is never fully finished until the day we meet Jesus face to face. May you continue to invite Him to help you be a road builder.
Reflection/Action:
Prayer: God lift the valleys, free us from shame and guilt. May we not have a low view of God or ourselves.
Prayer: God, bring the mountains of pride down in our lives - let us not think too highly of ourselves, our accomplishments, our knowledge, or our connections.
Prayer: God, make the rough places smooth. Lord, deal with the sin in our lives.