May 3, 2015 – Pastor Matt James – “Ready or Not”
I was ready for anything in my Bronco. I used it to help people stuck on the side of the road. And used it to pick up hitchhikers for the Lord. I always had the right tools for the job.
Text: Matthew 3:11-17
Matt. 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Preparation is always important.
We prepare for battles, for building structures, for education, for our families and for any endeavor we wish to take. Since the first day we are born we have been preparing for the next step of our lives. We continually look ahead and prepare ourselves for what lies in our future.
Jesus had been preparing for this moment his whole life, even before creation. When Jesus said, “now, it is proper for us to do this” he was fulfilling what the scriptures said about him. He was taking his place as our High Priest.
John was also preparing for the Lord. In Matthew 3:3 there is a description of John’s ministry, “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
But John also came baptizing for repentance of sins but Jesus had no sins, so why did Jesus need to be baptized? Even John thought it was strange.
Exodus 29:1-4 Consecration of the Priests
- The priest was washed with water – it is the act of wiping away any guilt of sin from their lives. They needed to be sinless, only Christ was actually sinless.
- They put on the garments – this signifies the wisdom, guidance and intersession authority of the priest. It is the righteousness of Christ that makes the scripture possible, “by his wounds we are healed.”
- They were anointed with oil – this signified consecrating them for a holy use. The Holy Spirit was God’s anointing on Jesus for ministry.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
- They offered a sacrifice – there needed to be a blood sacrifice to atone for sins. These sacrifices represented Christ. Jesus was the sacrifice on the cross that takes away all of our sins.
Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law to become our Great High Priest.
Matt. 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
I am grateful that Jesus has my salvation securely completed in his hands.
He did not cut corners or miss a thing; he was absolutely thorough in observing the Law.
We don’t have to worry about the house falling down around us. He is the carpenter of our salvation and prepares the way for us to eternity.
Jesus completed these things so we could follow him in this world on our way to Heaven.
It would be wise for us to follow the example Christ gave us; since we call ourselves Christians.
On our way to Heaven there are going to be many troubles but take heart! Jesus had overcome the world.
Jesus joyfully gives us his Spirit because he is able to qualify us to receive.
Psalm 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
And all of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12 – eagerly seek the greater gifts.
Don’t forget the fruit of the Spirit: which can be just as powerful and life changing as a miracle.
Is there a fire in our hearts to seek out God?
God’s voice is his final approval.
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