WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.459 Is your guest room ready? That's the question I asked myself when I read these verses from 00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:15.179 Luke last week. And I asked that question of us this morning. Are we getting our guest room ready 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:22.780 this Advent? If we've no specific guest room, then are we making space to put up a camp bed? 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:29.620 Are we getting ready to welcome Jesus over the threshold and into our lives again this 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:36.100 Christmas? I believe John is calling us to do just that rather than reject Jesus as a cold 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:44.359 caller or simply keeping him talking at the doorstep. Are we prepared to open the door wide 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:49.260 and say, come in, come in, it's nice to see you. Won't you stay a while? 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:57.980 We may dread the maze and melee of December, yet would not be without Christmas. We may be 00:00:57.979 --> 00:01:03.119 overwhelmed by the questions and choices that Christmas preparations and celebrations create. 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:13.299 It can all just seem too much. So much so that we can be put off with the wilderness of advertising 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:19.039 and world expectations. And somehow this year they seem to be more full on than ever. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:28.560 What are we preparing for? Are we ready to challenge the wilderness of the world at the moment? 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:33.719 There's certainly, there's surely a yearning for something more, something better. 00:01:36.820 --> 00:01:44.240 But into the desert time of Pontius Pilate's governorship of Judea, Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:51.899 and the high priests Annas and Caiaphas. John hears the word of God. John who brings the advert, 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:58.459 the trailer for Jesus. John who preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:09.659 John the baptizer. John, a voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:13.939 Prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:20.579 It was a time of oppression and misery for the people and it was escalating. 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:25.639 The different political and religious powers vying for position and authority. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:32.099 There were the ruling Romans with the local governor and the emperor who was worshipped by some as a kind 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:37.000 of God in parts of the empire. Then there were the two Herods. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:42.560 Herod the Great, sorry, there were the two Herod the Great's sons who ruled part of the country 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:50.060 with the Romans' permission. The Jews didn't rate them and these rulers caused much fear and oppression. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:55.000 Remember Herod who later on had all the baby boys killed? 00:02:55.000 --> 00:03:01.139 And not to be, oh sorry, it was before that, wasn't it? It was before, yes, it was before, not after. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:06.819 And not to be left out with a high, high priests who were not seen as very much better than the other lot. 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:10.020 Oh dear, and oh dear. 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:14.259 For we can sense some of this sort of thing in our own day, can't we? 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:22.199 In many parts of the world there is very definitely oppression and fear, injustice and suffering, 00:03:22.959 --> 00:03:25.919 poverty and lack of basic needs. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:33.219 We can bring to mind places like Afghanistan, South Sudan, North Korea, Syria and many others. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:40.039 And closer to home, there's much concern or much to concern us. 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:49.019 The increasing incidence of stabbings and killings, of domestic violence, of poverty and many other injustices. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:57.620 In Galilee, there was a groundswell of resistance and desire for change. 00:03:58.359 --> 00:03:59.979 It was a volatile situation. 00:04:01.299 --> 00:04:04.139 The Jews were also still waiting for their promised Messiah 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:08.739 and they'd been waiting a long time to hear God's prophetic word fulfilled. 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:13.080 A time for renewal and for God to reveal himself. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:20.519 And in our own day, in our own country, there's a sense in many that God is about to act. 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:23.699 That revival and renewal are imminent. 00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:28.480 Do we believe that God can do such a thing today? 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:30.420 Are we prepared? 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:30.519 Are we prepared? 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:37.939 Into the hotbed of power, posturing and struggle, the word of God came to John. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:42.819 And also quite literally in the wilderness as Isaiah had prophesied. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:45.019 The time had come. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.139 The time had come to get ready, to prepare. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.699 It was time to seriously prepare for the coming of the Lord. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:52.759 It was clean up time. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:58.680 John had been called to prepare a way for the Lord through all of that. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.620 He calls for the people of Israel to turn back to God. 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:09.959 To clean up their lives by getting rid of the things that prevented them from knowing the fullness of God's love. 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:14.579 The things that kept them from enjoying the knowledge of him. 00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:16.099 But not just the knowledge of him. 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:19.079 But the reality of him in their lives. 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:24.039 The wilderness where he was preaching and baptizing was a physical place. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:28.139 But he was speaking into the wilderness areas of their lives too. 00:05:28.219 --> 00:05:29.859 The despair of their situation. 00:05:30.479 --> 00:05:31.679 Their lack of trust. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:35.079 And the getting bogged down in the problems they faced. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:40.899 They were living in the darkness of fear and oppression. 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:44.879 And doesn't that ring bells for us now? 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:49.659 We know of people who feel that sense of being bogged down. 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:50.639 Of being fearful. 00:05:51.979 --> 00:05:56.439 We see it and hear it in our news bulletins. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:04.120 John is preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:06.759 He is preaching about straightening things out. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:08.740 Filling in the potholes. 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:09.840 Leveling things up. 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:13.420 It sounded impossible to change. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:21.680 Just as it can seem impossible to live with losing or getting rid of what seems necessary to live our lives. 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.060 Going back to the guest room, spare room analogy. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:34.980 The potential for filling a spare room when it's not in use can make it into a bit of a wilderness, can't it? 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:44.579 Just as the clutter of national life with Brexit, COVID, climate emergency and all manner of other issues can seem like a wilderness out there. 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:50.000 But the clutter can also accumulate in our spiritual lives. 00:06:50.719 --> 00:06:57.519 We can lose our focus on Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel, if we're not careful. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:04.939 And it's all that clutter that we're being urged by John to lose in the baptism of repentance. 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:11.659 To be prepared to lose everything in order to be prepared for the way of the Lord. 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:16.379 Some of our young people are being baptised next week. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.579 A special time for them and for us. 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:26.899 A losing of the old self, a washing of the old and a rising to a new life in Christ. 00:07:28.139 --> 00:07:32.399 Be sure to pray for them as they prepare during this coming week. 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:37.319 Advent is a time of preparation. 00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:38.839 A time of tidying up. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:41.180 A time to prepare the guest room again. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:48.680 It's a time to get rid of the unnecessary bits and pieces and focus again firmly on Jesus. 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:55.560 How do we answer the call to prepare ourselves to encounter Jesus? 00:07:55.899 --> 00:08:02.539 Not only this Christmas, but when he comes again to bring heaven and earth together as one. 00:08:02.979 --> 00:08:06.199 To judge the living and the dead. 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:11.740 Laying ourselves open in honest repentance. 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:15.019 Willingly surrendering all to Jesus. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.560 Believing in him completely is surely what is asked of us. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:21.879 And that requires discipline. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:26.479 Of which we heard more in an earlier teaching series this year. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:30.019 And last week Clive spoke of encouragement. 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:34.860 So let's encourage each other as we prepare in this time. 00:08:37.319 --> 00:08:40.779 But we're also called to help others to be prepared. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.779 To be prepared themselves to encounter Jesus. 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:49.179 And I think there are some clues in John's quote from Isaiah chapter 40. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:52.139 Every valley shall be filled in. 00:08:52.459 --> 00:08:54.139 Every mountain and hill made low. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.539 The crooked roads shall become straight. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.519 The rough ways smooth. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:03.079 For then all people will see God's salvation. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:11.740 We're being urged to go into those wilderness places and start paving the way for Jesus. 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:13.920 Is that just talk? 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:15.699 No. 00:09:16.199 --> 00:09:20.860 It's about recognizing places and people that we can engage with in some way. 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:23.979 And being willing to take a step of faith. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.759 Sometimes a leap of faith. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:28.279 Perhaps. 00:09:28.959 --> 00:09:35.620 And to engage with people in a way that builds relationships of mutual trust and respect. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:43.139 That to me is something of what it is to fill in the valleys and lower the hills. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.879 Of smoothing the rough places and straightening out crooked roads. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:50.620 It's not about taking a hammer to crack a nut. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:55.340 But taking sandpaper to smooth the rough edges. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:10:00.500 Sometimes that will mean taking a stand on something we believe to be wrong. 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:04.360 Sometimes it will be a gentle nudge of conscience. 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:09.259 It is always being who Jesus calls us to be. 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:11.440 Faithful and true. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.500 But loving and kind first. 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:16.600 It can be tough. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:21.019 We can get it wrong by keeping our mouths firmly shut just as much as we can. 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:24.080 We can get it wrong by leaping in with a barbed comment. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.899 But we are nevertheless called to prepare the way for the Lord. 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:33.039 Preparing people's hearts and minds through good relationships. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.219 That prepares them for the bigger questions. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:44.060 It's what's been happening with so much of what we are about out of Christchurch. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:49.180 I say out of because it's not just about what happens in here. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.740 But what happens outside. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.360 Where we are living each and every day. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:04.500 We do hear stories of people in workplaces and other groups who gently but firmly take a stand for their faith. 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.300 Although they may be goaded or made the butt of jokes. 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:12.800 They are often surprised to find they are the point of contact or reference. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:17.459 When a colleague or friend encounters a difficulty in their lives. 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:20.779 Is that not preparing the way for the Lord? 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:26.599 Preparing the ground for the timely and right opportunity to offer God's love to another? 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:34.159 But we can make those confident stands only if we are prepared ourselves. 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:37.279 This Advent. 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:41.200 Let's be intentional in our preparations of waiting. 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:42.960 Of getting ready. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:49.399 Getting ready to welcome Jesus and offer him a permanent guest room in our lives. 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:52.840 We may feel we are past doing. 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:54.379 Able to do anything. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.899 But we are never too old. 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:57.100 Or too young. 00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:59.399 To prepare the way for change. 00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:03.279 When we are asked. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.959 Are you ready for Christmas? 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:07.819 What will you reply? 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:12.100 We should always be ready for Christmas. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:18.399 We can always have our guest room prepared and ready to welcome Jesus in. 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:24.759 So let's encourage each other in our preparations this Advent. 00:12:27.079 --> 00:12:28.559 Let's pray together. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:36.159 Come Lord Jesus. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:41.980 As we stop to look and listen in preparation this Advent. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.939 Open our hearts to the light of your presence with us. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:54.020 Open our eyes to see where you need us to be your guiding presence for others. 00:12:56.020 --> 00:12:58.100 May we encourage each other. 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:02.240 As we seek to follow you ever more closely. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:05.460 Come Lord Jesus. 00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:07.960 Amen. 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.820 Amen. 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:08.920 Amen. 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:08.940 Amen. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:09.139 Amen. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:09.240 Amen. 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:09.440 God bless you. 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:09.879 Amen. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.100 Amen. 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:11.280 Amen. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.160 Amen. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.680 Amen. 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:30.780 Amen. 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:31.519 Amen. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:31.720 Amen. 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.379 Amen. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.740 Amen. 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.040 Amen. 00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:34.120 Amen. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:34.160 Amen. 00:13:34.160 --> 00:13:34.639 Amen. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:34.660 Amen. 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:35.200 Amen. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.379 Amen. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:35.960 Amen. 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.680 Amen.