A Crucified Life - - Prepares The Way

 

    Mark 1:3

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight'."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Prepare: make ready

From the Greek word 'hetoimazó' (pronounced het-oy-mad'-zo): I make ready.

    Yes, Christ Jesus came to die for all of us. His once-and-for-all decision impacts each and everyone who hears of such wonderful news. Yet, it is the each that disturbs people. 

    For each one of us must prepare our hearts and our minds to receive Jesus Christ into it. Believing on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is paramount to entering into God's kingdom. It is the most important decision any of us will ever have to make. 

    Though this verse in Mark refers to the prophetic conclusion referred to in Isaiah 40:3, the many of us who have believed in the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation have been proclaiming to the not yet believing that Christ is returning soon. 'Soon' is just a not-yet-determined time that lies in the near future. Don't be discouraged if it hasn't happened yet. Everything happens in God's timing, for God is over all, even time. 

    Matthew 24:36-51 tells us to be ready for His return. Isaiah 40:3 tells us to prepare His way. As roads were made passable for visiting kings, so, too must we prepare ourselves to receive our King. 

    We prepare our hearts to receive Christ when we acknowledge we are sinners and repent of our sins against God. 

    We prepare His way when we believe that He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. The Way of salvation and righteousness. The Truth in every aspect of God's Word. The Life Eternal, having resurrected from the dead and walking into newness of life.

    We prepare the Way of the Lord by living holy, blameless lives under the direction of and in the empowerment of The Holy Spirit. Seek His direction now. I seek His direction at every step of my life, especially when preparing these studies. For I have no desire to lead you astray: I don't want to make any mistakes when sharing, proclaiming, God's Word with you.

    We call you now, all around the globe, in every corner of this earth, to prepare your hearts to believe on the Name of The LORD Jesus Christ, that you may receive His salvation through repentance of sins and be baptized. Baptized in water as a public confession of your faith in Christ. Be baptized in God's Holy Spirit that you may receive power to live your newly birthed faith and spread the Good News of God's saving grace with all of God's people. 

    Isaiah 43:1

But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine."

    Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it. 

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Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - He Is Called Jesus

Luke 2:21

And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4059

Circumcise: to cut around, I cut around

From the Greek word 'peritemnó' (pronounced per-ee-tem'-no). 

Figuratively speaking, this means "Cutting off the "old life," in favor of the new which is in Christ (the Seed). This starts with being born again into God's family (personally entering His covenant)."

THE CIRCUMCISED FLESH

Genesis 17:12

Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner--even those who are not your offspring.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4135

Circumcise: to cut off (the foreskin)

From the Hebrew word 'mul' (pronounced mool)

Being born of  woman, Christ is born under the Law. The Law requires all males to be circumcised on the eighth day. This is both a mandatory requirement to fulfill The Law of Circumcision and a shadow of things to come under The Grace of Christ. 

At the time of Abraham, when circumcision is first introduced, it is covenant between God and Abraham, Abraham's household, Abraham's seed. 

THE CIRCUMCISED HEART

However, there is another circumcision which takes place in our hearts, a circumcision which can only be done by God. A clean, pure heart from God leads to an eternity spent in His presence.

Deuteronomy 30:6

The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

Jeremiah 24:7

I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

Ezekiel 36:26, 27

36. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

37. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

THE NEW HEART

John 3:3, 5

3. Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

5. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Psalm 24:3-5

3. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? 

4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.

5. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation. 

NEW HEART, NEW NAME

With a new heart comes a new name. Though the male infants were given their new names on the day of circumcision, the born again believer receives their new name from God. While we do not yet know our new name, God has one prepared for us. In addition to that name, His Name will be written on us.

Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.

Revelation 3:12

The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.

 

As the psalmist has written, millenia before us, let this be our prayer today, as well, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

HE IS CALLED JESUS by Todd Agnew (Do You See What I See? album)

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART by Keith Green

REFINER'S FIRE by Jeremy Riddle

HE LIVES classic hymn