{"id":679,"date":"2015-12-18T20:30:20","date_gmt":"2015-12-18T20:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=679"},"modified":"2015-12-18T20:30:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-18T20:30:20","slug":"679","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2015\/12\/18\/679\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By: Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-682\" src=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/12\/image-3-300x225.jpeg\" alt=\"Nativity ornament\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/12\/image-3-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/12\/image-3-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/12\/image-3.jpeg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>In this final week before Christmas millions of people are making last minute preparations for celebrations with family and friends. There are gifts to be bought and wrapped; gifts to be mailed (you had better hurry up!); parties to attend and parties to prepare. Among the many things Christmas is, it is definitely a time to prepare!<br \/>\nThe preparation theme of Isaiah 40:3 is echoed in Luke 3:4. This prophetic voice continues to cry aloud in humanity\u2019s modern wilderness. It rings off the concrete, the architecture, and the man-made valleys in between. On this fourth Sunday in Advent it rings in our hearts: \u201cPrepare ye the way of the Lord.\u201d<br \/>\nThe biblical story of Christmas is a story of preparation. The preparation actually began in the halls of eternity when the eternal Son of God willingly submitted to be \u201cslain from the foundation of the world\u201d (Revelation 13:8). It is significant that this preparation is remembered in Revelation 13. That chapter describes human government acting without reference to God. It is Babel, Babylon, gone mad in its own self-sufficiency, self-adoration, and self-worship (Genesis 11). It is the manifestation of what Revelation terms \u201cthe beast.\u201d It is a self-absorbed beast who requires humanity to bow before it in order to live. This \u201cbeast\u201d has appeared numerous times in human history. In our present era it has appeared as fascism, communism, and even in democracies dominated by the spirit of man. But it is not the last word of human history. The \u201cright side of history\u201d is the side of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world.<br \/>\nThe preparation continued throughout Israel\u2019s history, in spite of the disobedience, the failures, the betrayals. The preparation is reflected in the last book of the Old Testament in words that remind us of Isaiah, \u201cBehold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me, . . . Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.\u201d<br \/>\nFour hundred years later the preparation began in earnest with the story of the birth of Malachi\u2019s messenger, John. Later tagged \u201cthe Baptist,\u201d John\u2019s parents discovered that God\u2019s preparation plans are not restricted to the normal course of human experience. An older woman Elizabeth, barren throughout marriage, becomes a first century Sarah with a promise awaiting a willing womb (Genesis 17; Luke 1). Unable to believe the promise, her priestly husband Zacharias is struck speechless until the prophetic speech of God, John, is born (Luke 1:5-25, 57-80).<br \/>\nThe preparation continued with the other extreme of the feminine spectrum. The angel of the Lord announced to a young unmarried virgin girl that \u201cthe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you\u201d (Luke 2:35). From old age to young age, the plans of God operate in dimensions of grace that continually surprise us. We are usually ill-prepared, if not unprepared, for how God\u2019s grace is manifested in our midst.<br \/>\nMatthew 1:18-25 tells us how Mary\u2019s fianc\u00e9, Joseph, was prepared to accept the unthinkable and socially unacceptable. When I reflect on both Mary and Joseph, I am constantly amazed at the courage it took for them to believe the unbelievable. One was visited by the angel Gabriel, the other visited through dreams. But in both instances, messages from another realm had the ring of truth. Gabriel declared, \u201cWith God nothing will be impossible.\u201d Mary responded, \u201cLet it be to me according to your word\u201d (Luke 1:37, 38).<br \/>\nThe preparation continues through the apostles and down to our time. The preparation has a promise that is being fulfilled and will be fulfilled. A hint of this is given in the eleven times the Apostle Paul spoke of preparation (counting five times in Hebrews). The preparation ranges from:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">\u2022 \u201cThat (God) might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory\u201d (Romans 9:23)<br \/>\n\u2022 \u201cEye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him\u201d (1 Corinthians 2:9)<br \/>\n\u2022 \u201cHe who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:5)b<br \/>\n\u2022 \u201cFor we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them\u201d (Ephesians 2:10)<br \/>\n\u2022 \u201cBut now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them\u201d (Hebrews 11:16).<\/p>\n<p>In this final week before Christmas Day, let us prepare ourselves for the second advent of the Baby born in Bethlehem. This time He will come as the strong Son of God, full of glory and power, to establish righteousness, justice, and the Father\u2019s dominion forever and ever. Merry Christmas everyone!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[40,226,108,216],"class_list":{"0":"post-679","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bishops-blog","7":"tag-40","8":"tag-advent","9":"tag-bishop-doug-beacham","10":"tag-christmas","11":"entry"},"title_es":"Pensamientos para el cuarto domingo de Adviento: Preparad el camino del Se\u00f1or","content_es":"<strong>Por: Doug Beacham<\/strong> <img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-682\" src=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/12\/image-3-300x225.jpeg\" alt=\"ornamento Natividad\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/> En esta \u00faltima semana antes de que millones de personas de Navidad est\u00e1n haciendo preparativos de \u00faltimo minuto para celebraciones con amigos y familiares. Hay regalos que se compran y envueltos; regalos a ser enviadas por correo (ser\u00e1 mejor que darse prisa!); y partes asistan a las partes a prepararse. Entre las muchas cosas que la Navidad es, es sin duda un tiempo para prepararse! El tema de la preparaci\u00f3n de Isa\u00edas 40: 3 se repite en Lucas 3: 4. Esta voz prof\u00e9tica sigue llorando en voz alta moderna desierto de la humanidad. Suena el concreto, la arquitectura y los valles por el hombre en el medio. En este cuarto domingo de Adviento que suena en nuestros corazones: &quot;Preparad el camino del Se\u00f1or.&quot; La historia b\u00edblica de la Navidad es una historia de la preparaci\u00f3n. La preparaci\u00f3n comenz\u00f3 realmente en los pasillos de la eternidad, cuando el Hijo eterno de Dios present\u00f3 voluntariamente para ser &quot;sacrificado desde la fundaci\u00f3n del mundo&quot; (Apocalipsis 13: 8). Es significativo que esta preparaci\u00f3n es recordado en Apocalipsis 13. Ese cap\u00edtulo se describe la actuaci\u00f3n del gobierno humano sin referencia a Dios. Es Babel, Babilonia, se ha vuelto loco en su propia autosuficiencia, auto-adoraci\u00f3n y la egolatr\u00eda (G\u00e9nesis 11). Es la manifestaci\u00f3n de lo t\u00e9rminos revelaci\u00f3n &quot;la bestia&quot;. Es una bestia de auto-absorci\u00f3n que requiere la humanidad a inclinarse ante ella con el fin de vivir. Esta &quot;bestia&quot; ha aparecido en numerosas ocasiones en la historia humana. En la \u00e9poca actual se ha presentado como el fascismo, el comunismo, e incluso en las democracias dominadas por el esp\u00edritu del hombre. Pero no es la \u00faltima palabra de la historia humana. El &quot;lado correcto de la historia&quot; es el lado del Cordero, que fue inmolado desde la fundaci\u00f3n del mundo. La preparaci\u00f3n continu\u00f3 durante toda la historia de Israel, a pesar de la desobediencia, los fracasos, las traiciones. La preparaci\u00f3n se refleja en el \u00faltimo libro del Antiguo Testamento con palabras que nos recuerdan a Isa\u00edas: &quot;He aqu\u00ed, yo env\u00edo mi mensajero, el cual preparar\u00e1 el camino delante de m\u00ed,. . . He aqu\u00ed que viene, dice el Se\u00f1or de los ej\u00e9rcitos. &quot;Cuatrocientos a\u00f1os despu\u00e9s de la preparaci\u00f3n comenz\u00f3 en serio con la historia del nacimiento de mensajero de Malaqu\u00edas, Juan. M\u00e1s tarde etiquetado como &quot;el Bautista&quot;, los padres de Juan descubrieron que los planes de preparaci\u00f3n de Dios no se restringen al curso normal de la experiencia humana. Una mujer mayor Isabel, est\u00e9ril durante todo el matrimonio, se convierte en un primer Sarah siglo con una promesa a la espera de un \u00fatero dispuesto (G\u00e9nesis 17; Lucas 1). Incapaz de creer la promesa, su marido sacerdotal Zacar\u00edas se qued\u00f3 sin habla hasta que el discurso prof\u00e9tico de Dios, Juan, es nacido (Lucas 1: 5-25, 57-80). La preparaci\u00f3n continu\u00f3 con el otro extremo del espectro femenino. El \u00e1ngel del Se\u00f1or anunci\u00f3 a una joven soltera virgen que &quot;el Esp\u00edritu Santo vendr\u00e1 sobre ti y el poder del Alt\u00edsimo te cubrir\u00e1 con su sombra&quot; (Lucas 2:35). A partir de la vejez a edad temprana, los planes de Dios operan en las dimensiones de gracia que continuamente nos sorprenden. Estamos por lo general mal preparados, si no preparados, por c\u00f3mo la gracia de Dios se manifiesta en medio de nosotros. Mateo 1: 18-25 nos dice c\u00f3mo el prometido de Mar\u00eda, Jos\u00e9, estaba dispuesto a aceptar lo impensable y socialmente inaceptable. Cuando pienso en tanto Mar\u00eda y Jos\u00e9, estoy constantemente sorprendido por el valor que tuvo para ellos creer lo incre\u00edble. Uno fue visitada por el \u00e1ngel Gabriel, el otro visitaron trav\u00e9s de los sue\u00f1os. Pero en ambos casos, los mensajes de otro reino ten\u00edan el anillo de la verdad. Gabriel declar\u00f3: &quot;Para Dios no hay nada imposible.&quot; Mar\u00eda respondi\u00f3: &quot;H\u00e1gase en m\u00ed seg\u00fan tu palabra&quot; (Lucas 1:37, 38). La preparaci\u00f3n contin\u00faa a trav\u00e9s de los ap\u00f3stoles y hasta nuestros d\u00edas. La preparaci\u00f3n tiene una promesa que se ha cumplido y se cumplir\u00e1. Un indicio de esto se da en los once veces el ap\u00f3stol Pablo habl\u00f3 de la preparaci\u00f3n (contando cinco veces en Hebreos). La preparaci\u00f3n var\u00eda de: <p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"> \u2022 &quot;Que (Dios) para hacer notorias las riquezas de su gloria sobre los vasos de misericordia que \u00e9l prepar\u00f3 de antemano para gloria&quot; (Romanos 9:23) \u2022 &quot;Ni el ojo vio, ni el o\u00eddo oy\u00f3, ni han subido en coraz\u00f3n de hombre, son las que Dios ha preparado para los que le aman &quot;(1 Corintios 2: 9) \u2022&quot; Y el que nos hizo para esto mismo es Dios, que tambi\u00e9n nos ha dado el Esp\u00edritu como garant\u00eda &quot;(2 Corintios 5: 5) b \u2022 &quot;Porque somos hechura suya, creados en Cristo Jes\u00fas para buenas obras, las cuales Dios prepar\u00f3 de antemano para que anduvi\u00e9semos en ellas&quot; (Efesios 2:10) \u2022 &quot;Pero anhelaban una mejor, esto es, un pa\u00eds celestial. Por lo cual Dios no se averg\u00fcenza de llamarse Dios de ellos, porque les ha preparado una ciudad para ellos &quot;(Hebreos 11:16). <\/p> En esta \u00faltima semana antes de Navidad, prepar\u00e9monos para el segundo advenimiento del beb\u00e9 nacido en Bel\u00e9n. Esta vez vendr\u00e1 como la fuerte Hijo de Dios, lleno de gloria y el poder, para establecer la justicia, la justicia, y el dominio del Padre para siempre jam\u00e1s. \u00a1Feliz Navidad a todos!","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/sb62Bx-679","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}