“The Word of Glory is With Us”

  Scripture:   John1:1-14

Last night (Christmas Eve), we considered the Hope that became fulfilled at the birth of Jesus.  Today, we look to the Glory that was revealed at His birth, and we take that glimpse through the Gospel of John.  This Gospel is quite unique in one sense, when compared to the other 3 – Matthew, Mark and Luke tend to be more chronological, while John’s work seems to be more spiritually contextual. 

 The other major difference, at least for me, is that John makes an obvious and intentional connection between the eternal aspects of Godly presence, and the worldly proclamation of divine intervention, through John the Baptist, and to a much greater degree, through the humanity of Jesus.  The point is that God not only created the universe and all that exists within it, but He never sits back to ponder what He has put into motion and is willing to just let it play out in whatever way it happens.  He becomes actively involved in letting humanity know, in no uncertain terms, what it is that He intended, and continues to desire, for our lives. 

 The story of God’s presence in our lives begins in Genesis, and continues through the law and the prophets, into the gospels with God in the Flesh, proclaimed in Acts and the letters of Paul and the other evangelists, and into the last days of this existence.  But instead of trying to cover all time in 1 short message, today we consider God’s arriving presence in this world through the eyes of John.

 Read John 1:1-5

 There has been a lot of discussion centered on the concept behind “Word”.  But for our purposes, let’s consider what a “word” is for our lives.  Remember that in Genesis 1:1-2:2, God “spoke” creation into being.  Later in the Exodus, the Lord called Moses to ascend the mountain, and He, again, spoke the commandments into being (Exodus19:20:21).  God spoke to humanity through the prophets, and over and over, He speaks to the nations to let us know that our lives are being lived in direct contrast to divine will.  Basically, God uses His Word as a means of expressing Himself, and explaining His actions, His thoughts, His desires, and so on, that we might know His divine will for our own lives.

 For Jesus to be known as the “Word”, He has become God’s presence in this place and in this life, to become the means for us to know that God has only good at heart for us.  But in this introduction to John’s gospel, we read that Jesus, the “Word”, is not only the expression of God, but He is the very Light that exposes the work of darkness in this world, that His Truth is the Light that guides us and sustains us in Godly ways, the Word of God is both consistent and the power of unification for all, and He is truly Emmanuel - “God With Us”.  Jesus was the Voice of creation, He is the Voice of the Holy Spirit, He is the Voice of both the Law of God and of our Salvation (Matthew 5:17-18). 

 Jesus is not just a part of God’s work, He is God’s work and will for our lives.  So to deny the teachings of the Lord Jesus is to deny God and all that He has done.

 Read John 1: 6-8

 This “John”, known in the other gospels as the Baptist, came not, primarily, as a preacher or prophet, but as a witness to the Light of the Word.  His birth was a miracle, but not on the order of Jesus’ birth.  He was sent by God’s divine will, to point the way to Jesus, the Word of God.  Why was this important?  In Luke 7:18-28, we read that Jesus described John as more than a prophet, that he was a messenger, sent by God.  In Malachi 3:1-3, the prophet refers to the future John as a messenger who will come before the Lord, and will be “preparing the way” for faith to lead us into His truth and glory. 

 The point that is being made is that John is more than a prophet, more than a preacher, and actually more than a simple messenger – he is a witness who testifies to the truth of God in this One who is to be revealed to them.  Does this sound familiar to the opportunities that we have during each Sunday’s time of Worship?  When the Lord works His way through us or for us, we can also be the one who points the way to Jesus for someone else!  Sunday mornings is a time to prepare ourselves to do that very thing for others.

 Why is this important for us to understand?  As John the evangelist wrote in verse 7, we are to witness to the work of God so that others will hear and believe that Jesus is the One who came for their, and our, salvation.  We are certainly not in the same category as John the witness, but we can step out and testify to the grace and mercy and love of God that will come to all through faith in Christ.

 Read John 1:9-13

 An important thought that we should consider is how John uses the words “light” and “life” to describe and explain the work of the Word.  Light is that which exposes the work that is going on within the darkness of this world.  The darkness creates obstacles and other hazards that trip us up, and causes us to accept falsehood instead of the truth.  Light, which is important in God’s truth, reveals the lies that those who live in “darkness” believe and profess.  These are the same people who were spoken into existence by the Word, and who have benefitted from God’s creative order, and still, they have yet to recognize and acknowledge the One who has given them life. 

 When the writer refers to the world, and says that even though God came to His own – not referring to only Israel, but to all of humanity – that they rejected Him without even giving the Lord a chance to reveal Himself to them.  We all are given the opportunity to discover what God has already done for us, and what He still has in store for us during this lifetime and beyond.  But why is there such a difference between the heart of believers and those who reject God outright?

 The truth is that they need a witness, and maybe more than one, to encourage them to unbundle the grace and glory that can come to them by faith in Jesus!  Remember that a witness doesn't condemn those who live in darkness, they don’t tell others how wrong they are in the life they live, they don’t take the position that “I know better than you do, so you better listen to me!”  They simply relate their own experience with Jesus, the Word of God, and what He has come to mean in their own walk of faith,  And then, we live by that old saying “Be a friend, make a friend, bring your friend to Christ”, and let the other person discover the Lord’s love and glory and make their own decision regarding God’s “light and life” for themselves.

 Read John 1:14

 You would think that with the power and authority that God has within Him, that this would be the means that He uses to take all people into His presence.  But the truth is that folks seem to listen more closely to others who are like them – specifically with those who look and act like they do.  So God takes all things into account, and gives the Word of God flesh, to make Him look like us, so that we might listen to what He has to say.  Remember the Lord’s words later in this gospel – that the Word has come into this place out of love for the people of this world - not for their condemnation, but for their salvation! (John 3:16-17)

 This is why we have also been called to testify to who Jesus has become for each of us and how He touches our life and changes it for the better.  We are also of the “flesh”, and when we reach out to a friend in faith, they just might step into the light of Christ, and suddenly realize that this Word is truly and fully for them, too!  And when someone comes to Christ seeking divine goodness, they will come to know His grace and His glory, and the true Word just might become theirs before too long!

 Are you willing to be a witness for God?  Are you prepared to see His glory at work through you?  It’s a joy that will always be worth it in faith!

“The Birth of Hope”

 Scripture:  Luke 2:1-20

 Christmas is a time to truly believe and trust in Godly Hope.  And we have Jesus’ word on that.  In Matthew 12:3-8, we read of Jesus’ teaching the Pharisees regarding what keeping the Sabbath holy truly means.   And immediately following that lesson, he heals a man who had a crippled hand, and quotes the prophet Isaiah 42:1-4 regarding Himself – “¹⁸ “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.  ¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.  ²⁰ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.  ²¹ In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew12:18-21)

 And in Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes  ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:24-25)  Throughout the New Testament, there are many references to the Hope that believers will find through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 But what kind of Hope is it that we will discover in the birth of Jesus?  It is actually the very hope that many people have, even before they come to the realization of  God in Christ.  It is hope for peace; it is a hope for life; it is hope that never disappoints us; it is hope that fulfills the promises of God.  Certainly, it is unlike anything that the world will ever be able to offer as a substitute, but God’s hope is the hope that Paul writes about in Romans – that it is a hope that is yet to be seen or experienced, and yet, it is affirmed perfectly through the birth of God’s Son Jesus Christ.

 Tonight, we celebrate the birth that occurred in a way that we all are familiar with, even though it began in a way that no one had ever known, and will continue until God’s desire for our lives will finally be made complete.  We had no part in preparing that hope, but it is given completely for all who will celebrate it tonight.

 Read Luke 2:1-7

 The hope that God sent into the world that night would not bring an obvious peace throughout the world, nor would it be recognized and rejoiced in by all of the world’s people.  But it would complete the prophecies and promises that the Lord has put in place throughout the centuries, and yet, we have to confess, that even as Paul wrote of this unseen hope nearly 2,000 years ago, it has been claimed, and celebrated, and patiently waited for by countless of the faithful.

 It was a humble birth for this Child of glorious Hope.  This birth, as John’s gospel tells us, was the Word and Promise of God fulfilled.  But if this baby was truly God Incarnate, why didn’t He come in power and majesty and beauty so everyone would come to His truth?  Isaiah 53 gives us a clue when we read that God’s “Servant” would have no attractiveness whatsoever, and actually that many would despise and reject Him and would see no value at all in this precious Gift of God!  He would take on our sin and burden Himself with our struggles to the point that many would claim that He was being punished by Jehovah God!

 The demeaning descriptions of this Child continue to the end of that chapter, and yet, in other prophecies such as Isaiah 9, we read that He will be the Light of God that dispels the “darkness”, (referring to our sinful ways), and that He will overcome the curse of eternal death.  He will have absolute authority over the kingdoms of earth, and He will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

 The promise of God will not be the choice that most people will make, and yet, this One who is despised by the world will be the Eternal Hope for all who will choose Him as Savior.  Not because He is desirable, but because He is our One and Only heavenly Hope.

 Read Luke 2:8-14

 And who are the ones who receive the birth announcement?  Shepherds!  These would be the most unlikely, from a worldly perspective, to hear anything regarding Messiah’s arrival!  Shepherds were filthy, blood stained, unable to enter or make sacrifices at Temple, and they smelled to, well, “high heaven”.  Everything about them spelled “sinner; unworthy; the rejected ones of God”, and yet, these would be the only ones who would hear the angelic message of hope and glory on that Godly night.  Why?

 New Testament scripture seems to imply that God identifies better with the ones whom the world rejects, than with the ones whom we are drawn to.  In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus teaches us that when we care for “the least of those” on the face of the earth, that we are, in essence, caring for Him.  And that when we look to those who are more desirable, that we will never be able to have anything to do with Jesus.  Why would God choose those who could never do anything for Him, over those who have prominence and position?  It seems that God desires a relationship with those who understand that they want and need Him far more than they need the things of earth!

 God’s favor “rests” on all who will honor Him, and trust Him, and glorify Him, even though they have little else to give.  Godly Hope comes to those who give the Lord all that they can, regardless of how much, or how little, that may be!  Consider the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.  The blessings that they proclaim have nothing to do with joyful, comfortable, acceptable lives – but rather with the heart-felt faith that brings us the hope and promise of our Almighty God, and which turns us directly toward the One True Savior and all that He has taught us. 

 The Hope of Christ is for those who look to Him as being far more desirable than all of the “things” that impress others.

 Read Luke 2:15-20

 For just a moment, put yourself in the place of the shepherds that night – how would you have responded to the arrival of such an unexpected group of visitors, as well as the message that would normally be provided to only the most elite of people on earth!  These men of the field were, to say the least, overwhelmed, and I have no doubt that our reaction would be very similar.  Think about it – scripture tells us that they didn’t say a single word until the heavenly host had left them – they were speechless!  We aren’t told how long it was until they began discussing what they were going to do next, but I believe that the significance of what they had just heard was slowly beginning to seep into their hearts and souls, and they all agreed, that while the message was incredible, they just had to go and see this miracle for themselves.

 Of course, any educated person would have questioned the message – after all, a baby?  It can’t be Messiah!  He will arrive as a mighty and victorious warrior – that just doesn’t fit with some insignificant infant!  But these shepherds weren’t about to be limited by the apparent facts of this arrival – they had been waiting for Messiah all of their lives, just as all of Israel had, and the messengers were enough to give then the first sense of hope they had ever known.

 And they weren’t willing to wait one more minute if it meant that they just might get to meet the Anointed One of God.  They hurry to the town, and find the Christ right where the angels said He would be.  And do they hang around, awe-struck over this gift of God?  Not for very long – they begin to tell everyone what they saw, what they had just experienced, and whom they had just met!  Were they nervous and apprehensive when they began sharing their experience with others?  Not on your life!  They told the people everything, and there was no objection, no doubt, no question as to the validity of the shepherd’s words – there would only be amazement!

 That’s what the discovery of God’s Hope can do for us!  We want to tell our story to as many people as will listen to us, and it doesn’t matter whether they will believe us or not – we just want them to hear what we now know for certain – that the Hope of Eternity has just come to us, and that it can also come to them by faith.

 The Child of Bethlehem was never meant to be mighty in body – He was mighty in Spirit.  He was never meant to be celebrated as someone we want to be like – He is to be celebrated as One who came to be who we need!  He was never meant to be admired – He is to be honored and praised and glorified!  He was never meant to make this life easier – He came to make eternal life possible! 

 In that most unusual way, at that most unexpected time, to accept that most horrid task, and as that most glorious Gift of God, Jesus came to us as a Baby, so that we might receive the Hope of Life that God Himself has offered.

 May we all rejoice for all that the Lord has done, and for how He has made us His own, on that day, and on this day – the day we celebrate the birth that He is for all who will come to Him by faith.

 “Glory to God in the Highest”, now and always.

“All Things are Possible in God”

Scripture:  Luke 1:26-38

4^th Sunday of Advent

When God begins to work within the human heart and life, it is nearly impossible to comprehend, to say the least!  But the Lord never fails to have a purpose for all that He does, and we should always see our inclusion in His works as a divine opportunity and a phenomenal blessing!

 Sometimes those works are as a result of our prayers and desires; sometimes they are a total surprise and mystery; sometimes they have little to do with us and everything to do with other people!  But the reasoning behind God’s allowing us to experience His work has a greater purpose than we may ever know.

 As the time gets closer and closer to our celebration of the birth of Jesus, we are given vison upon vision of the power that the Lord brings to bear in order that His desire for our salvation might not only become our truth, but that it will become certainty for all who will accept His invitation to spend eternity with Him.

 Read Luke 1: 26-28

 We all know the story of Zechariah’s learning from the angel Gabriel that his wife was going to give birth to an evangelist by the name of John.  Zechariah didn’t believe the angel, since both he and his wife were “well along in years”, which means that they both were beyond their own ability to conceive a child. (Luke 1:11-25) But it seems that God has no such limitation when it comes to His precious will.  This child would be a harbinger of Christ’s coming, and nothing would prevent him from doing so – not doubt, and definitely not human limitations.

 The pregnancy that this elderly woman would be blessed with would precede another that was just as unexpected and unbelievable as her own.  Zechariah found the news astounding, just as Mary did when the angel visited her 6 months later. 

 And why was this so hard to accept?  Because it just wasn’t possible in a worldly sense!  Zechariah was a priest, and he should have understood that God‘s ways and abilities had nothing to do with how humanity thinks and lives.  Mary was a young girl when she was chosen by the Lord God Jehovah to be his handmaiden, and even though she was young, she knew what it would take to give birth.

 But old or young, able of not, God apparently decided that neither of these women were limited to the extent that He should rethink the divine plan that was being put into motion.  They both knew their God, trusted in Him, and showed Him their love, and this was enough for the Lord to work His ways through their lives. (Isaiah 55:6-11)

 Have we given the Lord enough reasons to “highly favor” each one of us?  If so, His word and work “will not return to Him empty”, regardless of who we are and what we are capable of.  And that is what was working on behalf of Elizabeth and Zechariah, as well as with Mary and Joseph.

 Read Luke 1:29-33

 We read that Mary was “troubled” at the news of her impending pregnancy, but not in the same way that Zechariah was.  Zechariah didn’t think that his wife could possibly conceive, while Mary was only concerned about the birth.  She had a pretty good idea as to who the angel was talking about – this one was to be the “Son of the Most High”, who would one day ascend to the throne of David.  This had to be Messiah, but she had no royal title, no personal prestige, no social position – she was just a young, common girl from an almost insignificant town.  Who was she to give birth to a king?

 Messiah would be a mighty warrior – how would He ever be able to fulfill the many prophecies of His victories, His glory, His redemption of Israel?  Her concerns and questions were certainly valid ones for a young girl.  But notice that the angel never hesitates, and continues with His message of truth and comfort for her peace.

 The first thing he tells the girl is that she shouldn’t be afraid of what she is about to hear – because she has found favor with her God.  And God’s favor must be seen as a promise that she has been chosen for this huge responsibility because 1) the Lord knows that she will be prepared to do all that is necessary for this Child’s life; and 2) that she is able to be open to whatever her Lord requires of her.

 This is a prime example of what can come from living out the relationship that God desires for all of us!  And when we say yes to Him, God will always be honored to show us the best that is within Him.

 Read Luke 1: 34-38

 Mary seems to be questioning the angel’s message, much as Zechariah did.  But the difference is in the questioning – Zechariah’s question seemed to center on his doubt that the event could ever happen.  Mary’s was a simple “how can this happen”.  There doesn’t seem to be any doubt in her question – just a request to know “how”, since the “normal means” had not yet happened!  She may have been young, but she knew what caused babies!

 But this Child wasn’t to be any typical baby.  He would be known as the “Son of the Most High”, He would ascend to the throne of King David, and the kingdom under His authority would be without end.  This Child would be the “Son of God”, and conception would be by the very Spirit and Will of Almighty God Himself!  While this announcement may seem crazy and totally impossible to the human ear, the angel’s last word to Mary is one of assurance and conviction -  “For no word from God will ever fail.”

 This concept of Godly perfection is, to a great degree, foreign and inexplicable to humanity.  In the parable of the Rich Young Man who asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life, Jesus first tells him that he must follow all of the commandments.  The man has already done this, but feels that there must be something more than just that.  And Jesus tells him that indeed, there is more, that he must surrender his dependency on the things of earth, and rely solely on the things of God.

 And even though the Lord assures him, as well as the disciples who are with Him, that even though something may be impossible for them, there is nothing that God can’t accomplish. (Matthew 19:16-30)

 In this time of Christmas, may we all come to the realization that whenever we try to impose human limitations upon our Eternal and All Mighty God, He just might let us be the limitation that keeps Him from working His Power within us, and prevent Him from bestowing all of His Best on our life.  

 Salvation is for those who may not understand the process, but who believe that through the promise and way of the Son of God, all things will succeed.  We can never find our own way to God,  but the Hope of Christmas is so simple – it is God coming near to us, waiting to hear our “Yes” - that we will follow Him faithfully, and will let Him work His way within us – this day and forever.

 

“Rebuilding Sinful Lives”

 Scripture:  Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

As we move deeper into the season of Advent, we also move deeper into the arrival of God for the salvation of His created people.  For many, the Hebrew texts are only about God the Father, and that God the Son is still only a theological concept that has yet to be proven.  But the truth is that whenever we speak, or even consider, the divine gift of cleansing and restoration, the Christ, the Anointed One of God, must be at the forefront of all our considerations.  After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

 And the prophesies of Isaiah intentionally put the promise of Messiah firmly in the path of salvation – first of all for Israel, but always as the hope for people of all nations.  And whenever there is a mention of Godly hope for eternity, there is also, even if only implied, a reaffirmation of the divine covenant with humanity for a renewed relationship - one that is offered by our Creator God.  It also brings a time of preparation through the cleansing of sinful hearts and minds, and the need for our own repentance (i.e. rejection) of the ways of sinfulness that exist within this life of ours.

 In today’s passage from Isaiah 61, we discover that the authority of his prophesy is fully from God, and that it holds the fullness of divine desire, that all would come to Him by faith. 

 Read Isaiah 61:1-4

 In general terms, this call that appears to be placed solely on the prophet is also the call that is, for the most part, the responsibility that all who come to Christ by faith are expected to accept in their own spiritual walk.  But more specifically, our call is but a reflection of the plan that God would carry out through the coming of Jesus.  In Luke 4:14-30, we read that after being tempted in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus visited His hometown of Nazareth, and, on Sabbath, began teaching in the synagogue.  The leader of the synagogue handed Him a scroll that contained these very words as prophesized by Isaiah, and after reading them, the Lord told the people  “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:21)

 And what do these words reveal about both the prophet and Jesus?

First – that they have been charged with carrying the word of God to all, but “especially to the poor”.  The implication is that the “poor” are the very ones who are in desperate need of some good news!  And just who are these folks?  They are the oppressed, the disadvantaged, the ones who have no worth in society.  The “poor” are the ones who have no hope whatsoever – not in this life, and especially not in the next! 

Second – the prophets, and all of the faithful of God, are being called to reach out to the crushed and despondent of our world, and to share the hope of heavenly freedom with all who have been denied any word, any truth, any blessing, any guidance for their life, other than a word of condemnation from the leadership and authorities of this world.  The Lord is saying that it is about time for the Word of God to be set straight and in line with divine truth, instead of in the lies of worldly dominance and prestige!

Third – the people must understand that it is God’s way and word that judges and determines worthiness, and not some legalistic interpretation that humanity has prepared and set down to become a burden on others.  The Lord’s “favor” will rest upon those who love Him, and His wrath will fall upon those whose hearts have never looked into the Light of God for His truth!

Fourth – that all who look to the Lord for consolation and restoration will come to know the perfect and timeless blessing of God’s love for their lives.  In Revelation 7:16-17, we read that on the Day of Christ, He will wipe away every tear from the eyes and hearts of the downtrodden.  No more mourning, no more lamenting, no more fear, no more anguish in the lives of those who will then know the “favor” of God, and everyone else will wonder why those tears are now filling their own eyes!

Fifth – it is the truth of God that will become evident through the righteous mercy of Jesus when it is bestowed upon the faithful.  They will be strong, and mighty, and obvious, and all will finally understand what the prophets and evangelists have been revealing from the scriptures for the past several thousands of years.

 All will be set right on the Day of Christ’s return, and all will finally know the truth and hope that have always been in the loving word of God, and that it has always been missing in the arrogance of this world’s belief that they know a way that is better than the one that Jesus has prepared for us.

 Read Isaiah 61:8-9

 Why is it so difficult to accept the fulfilled word that the Lord has given to us through both the prophets and the teaching of Jesus?  Christ has affirmed and clarified God’s desire for our lives, and we still don’t get it!  In Leviticus 20:26, the Lord God Almighty tells the people that they have been set apart from other ways so that they can become the Lord’s own!  It has become apparent that if we refuse to be different than the rest of humanity, we can never be considered as members of God’s own flock.

 And why can’t people ever accept the fact that the terms “sinfulness” and “righteousness” are defined by God’s will and word, and not by our own?  Those two words stand in direct and obvious contrast to each other, with each reflecting the true heart of God through the relationship that He has created, in covenant, for all who will claim and honor His word and way.

 Verse 8 tells us that God “hates robbery and wrongdoing”, and when we decide that God has no right to tell us what is right and what is wrong, we become nothing less than thieves and abusers of Godly truth.

 Read Isaiah 61:10-11

 Along with the previous 2 verses, the addition of these words of praise emphasizes the relationship that God desires most for His people – and that is a relationship of mutual admiration and love.  When we commit our life to Him, He joyfully begins pouring a myriad of blessings upon us.  And as we grow closer and closer to the One who created, and honors, and provides for our needs, we begin to understand and truly appreciate who this Almighty King is for our lives.

 And our joyful response to His holy presence grows stronger with the passing of each and every day, and as we begin to experience what Christ has endured to make our salvation complete, our very spirit will begin to throb with excitement and an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving and glory.  And as our great and Precious Lord begins to reveal ministry and mission within and through the life we live in Him, our eyes and heart open wider as we grow in the knowledge of all that He is and loves in this world.

 And as the love of Christ continues to grow within us during this season, we truly are like the seed that is planted in the rich soil of perfection – nourishing and strengthening and cleansing and perfecting and beautifying and enabling us to be faithful in all that the Lord calls us to do in His Name.

 This holy and righteous relationship, the one that was never our idea in the first place, can become the greatest opportunity that we will ever know in this lifetime, and far beyond.  And all we have to do to gain the blessings of our Mighty and Loving God is to faithfully believe and follow Him wherever His path might take us.  And that will be the reason for the praise and joy that will spring up within the newness of our soul, when we ask the Lord God of Creation to recreate us in His glorious image, the image that we had once rejected outright!

 Be renewed, rebuilt and reformed today – surrender the life you have lived, and choose the life that the Lord has created just for you.  And you will be eternally grateful in Him.

“Good Tidings of Great Joy”

 Scripture:  Isaiah 40:1-11

What other holiday season could ever match the hope, the joy, the promise that Advent holds for all who trust and love the Christ of Christmas?  It’s a season of smiles, and greetings, and welcomes unlike anything else we might know.  Oh yes, I know about the stress and congestion that Black Friday and several other special shopping days bring to our lives, as well as the self-centeredness and the “me first” attitude that all too many folks exhibit in this life.

 But at the core of Christmas, or at least for Christians, is the celebration of God’s coming to earth as a new born infant, destined to become the means of our own new birth.  After all, isn’t a new and glorious life a wonderful reason to celebrate and rejoice in – especially in the new life that God made for Jesus, as well as the new life that can be ours in Jesus?

 As we decorate our homes for Christmas, may each and every ornament, and candle, and tree, and figurine remind us of the joy and promise that the Child of Bethlehem uses to decorate our hearts and lives.

 Read Isaiah 40:1-2

 As Isaiah shares God’s word with the people of Israel, he tells them that the Lord feels that they have suffered enough for the way they have denied His authoritative word for far too many years.  In that day, it was the passage of time, much like our own penalties of prison time, that justified the people and allowed them to return to God’s good graces. 

 The problem with this approach was that after the penalty time was over, the lesson had still not been learned, and the commitment to follow was hollow, at best!  And a return to the old days of sin were never far behind.

 The good news is, though, that God’s blessings will always be there for everyone, if we just reach out to receive them!  And in the world of today, the time of penalty has graciously been put in our own hands!  It can, and will, be ended in the moment when we confess the evil that has been welcome in our lives for much too long, and when we have the utmost desire to know the new birth that Jesus has promised to all who come to Him by faith.  (John 3:1-8)

 Now there is a real reason for joy and celebration!

Read Isaiah 40:3-5

 This passage may create several questions, and then leaves them unanswered, and the answers may be both interesting as well as important for this time known as Advent.  The first question to consider is this – whose voice is it that is calling out, and just who is the one being called?  In Matthew’s gospel, we read that Isaiah was speaking about John the Baptist! (Matthew 3:1-3)  Some might ask if the Baptist should be the only one calling?  Can’t there be more?  Or is that one voice enough for the entire world?

 If John was the only “voice”, how far could it reach?  If we really think about it, it reached throughout the known world of that day, and has continued to be heard for the last 2,000 years!  It was God’s desire that John would be the first one to proclaim, and that his words would relentlessly call to the people of this world, that they might know what Almighty God has done for us all!

 And what about that reference to a “wilderness”?  There is no desert existing around here!  The truth is that the wasteland that Isaiah was speaking about are the empty lives that we live - empty of God’s grace, empty of God’s goodness, empty of eternal hope, empty of the fulfilling joy that Jesus Christ will bring into the life who gives Him a chance!

 OK, so what about the valleys and mountains and rough places – what are they all about?  These are the obstacles that we encounter as we travel the Road that leads from condemnation to glory.  They are those things that are thrown into our path to confuse us, to lead us astray, to force us to seek out a detour that just might take us far away from the true direction that leads us to the Lord.  And who is it that will be smoothing out those valleys and mountains and rough spots in that road?  It’s the Holy Spirit and Jesus who will ruin those attempts to waylay us.  In Philippians 2:9-11 we read that, in essence, those obstacles will be destroyed when we cry out to the name of Jesus and proclaim Him faithfully.

 And when that Holy Name is declared throughout the earth, whether everyone will accept it or not, glory will be revealed, Christ will be honored and trusted, and the promise that our Holy God has made to all who believe will be fulfilled.  And how do we know? Because “the mouth of the Lord has spoken”, and nothing can ever make it cease.

 Read Isaiah 40:6-8

 “And what shall [we] cry?”  Now, that singular voice has become plural, and not just many during that much earlier age.  That plurality is now crying out throughout the ages and throughout the world, that Jesus Christ is born, and that He came to die on our behalf, and has risen to live and reign once again, and to be the Way to the Father for all who will follow Him (John 14:5-7).  Perfection has come to be Savior for the worthless, simply because God loves those who have no chance whatsoever if left to their own inadequate abilities and severely limited understanding.  No chance at all.

 We’re like grass and flowers that simply can not stand up against the dark and cold winters of wickedness.  Matthew 6:29-31 tells us that even though we are all worthless and slated to be thrown into the fires of destruction, God has prepared a way for us to be saved for His eternal glory, and the name of that way is Jesus.

 Read Isaiah 40:9-11

 Later in Isaiah 52:7 we read “⁷ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

 And what are we to cry out loudly with a shout?  Only this, that “Jesus Christ is born, and His new temple is the heart who loves Him!”  This simple phrase is the message that all believers are to carry with them, wherever and whenever they may go throughout their life, in order that when the opportunity opens, we will be ready to share the Good News of Christ with those who have yet to hear and claim it.

 It isn’t for us to decide who we are to tell; it isn’t for us to determine who will listen and who will not; it isn’t for us to give up when the way gets rough and difficult to follow; and it isn’t for us to expect honors and glory for doing what we are asked to do.  As a matter of fact, we will have a much better chance of being slammed and ridiculed than we ever will in being appreciated!

 In Matthew 10:22-23, Jesus tells that “we will be hated by everyone because of Him, but that anyone who stands firm in the faith will be saved.”  That is where our true joy will always be – in the word, the way, and the name of Jesus.  If we share the good tidings of God, His joy will overflow in our life.  

And that will always be enough!

 

“Remold Us and Make us in You”

 Scripture:   Isaiah 64:1-9

As Advent 2022 begins, so does the celebration that this season so richly deserves.  The unfortunate thing though, is that many people throughout the earth have no idea as to what they should truly be rejoicing over!  As our Advent reading this morning reminds us, the world has chosen to ignore the coming of Jesus throughout all of their grand preparations.  And ostensibly, in forgetting to prepare to celebrate the first coming of the Christ, they also forget to celebrate the very reason that He came to us in the first place – and that is to prepare us to rejoice in Him when He comes to this world the next time.

 And that preparation involves change – a change that allows worthiness and righteousness to fill our lives.  But what change is it that has to occur?  It all hinges on how we see God in Jesus.  It will no longer be a vision of choice.  It will no longer be a vision based in human understanding.  It can no longer be a mind-based faith – it must now become a heart-felt, spirit-filled, soul-changing, life-empowering discovery of what divine purpose and Godly passion should truly mean for us.

 During the next several weeks, as successive candles are lit at the beginning of worship, think of them as reminders of the growth that each of us experiences in faith – that faith can never be seen as being stoic, but that it is a never-ending purification, an ongoing strengthening, a focusing that brings us ever closer to the truth of Jesus Christ in our lives. 

 It is, if you will, a cleansing of our soul, especially through the rejection of worldly ways, so that we might draw closer to Jesus in true faith, a faith that will only come from God Himself. 

 Read Isaiah 64:1-5

 Throughout the Old Testament, we see God at work on Israel’s behalf.  In 1Samuel 1:15-22, we read of Hannah’s faith and commitment to Jehovah God, that if she could just once give birth to a child, she would dedicate that child to service for her Lord.  That child would become the prophet, Samuel.

When the people needed a new source of nourishment during their wilderness years, God would send them manna and quail every day. (Exodus 16:6-12) 

When they came up against enemies who were more powerful than they were, God became their victory. 

When a plot developed against the people while they were in captivity, the Lord exposed the danger through the only person who could be trusted by the King – his Queen Esther – and the people were saved (Esther 7).

And the examples continue throughout scripture, with each and every time occurring when God opened the way to join them, and in every time, the very foundation of the earth was shaken.  And when the Lord God Jehovah came to earth in the form of a Human Man, nothing would ever be the same again. 

When Jesus gave His life for all who would believe in Him, the curtain in the temple, the separation that divided God from the people, would be torn from top to bottom, opening the way to the Lord for all who would come to Him in faith. (Matthew 27:50-54).

 Whenever the heavens open, and God comes down to our lives, the incredible will always happen, and nothing within the power of humanity will ever be able to hold it back.  But the one problem that everyone will have to be aware of is the issue of sin.  Sin is the dividing line that separates goodness from wickedness, and anyone who has not followed Jesus across that line will discover that there is nothing that they can do on their own to know the goodness of the one and perfect God.

 On that day, will you know the gladness of our Lord?  Or will you know His divine anger?  This is the one decision in faith that we all have control over!

 Read Isaiah 64:6-7

 These two verses show the effect that sin will always have on our life.  It makes us unclean in God’s sight; it makes us shrivel up and shrink before Almighty God, and remove all hope of life in Him; sin sweeps us away from the presence of God, which only goes to further our journey into the ways of death.  Without the Lord’s mercy, there is no hope, and mercy comes by faith in Christ, which restores our ability to call on His holy name once again.

 Jesus is the manna that nourishes us and strengthens us in faith.  Jesus is the Guide for our existence in this life and place.  Jesus is the life that will be our eternal blessing.  Jesus is the gate that allows those who believe to enter into the divine presence of God, and keeps those who have not followed Him outside of that glory.  Jesus is the light that exposes the difference between the truth of God and the lies of earth.

 Could it get any easier?  God has done it all, and by faith, the gates of heaven will open in glory.  And it is Jesus who will make all the difference in our lives.

 John 6:35, John 8:12, John10:9, John 10:11, John 11:25-26, John 14:6, John 15:5

 Read Isaiah 64:8-9

 My cousin’s husband is a potter, and he is one of the most creative people I have ever known.  He not only makes dinnerware as well as distinctive single pieces, he is also known for the chess sets that he creates, with each piece contributing to a story that comes together through observing the entire set.  He is an artist, a musician, and is, as far as I’m concerned, a creative genius.

 But an interesting thing about a potter, is that each piece that comes from his hands seems to reflect the heart and inspiration of the creator who formed them.  And the point that is most evident in a potter’s life is that He may spend many precious hours making, and remaking a piece until it perfectly represents the vision that he had for it when he began.  And the final image will never resemble the original piece of clay that began to take on “life” in his hands.

 So why all of this discussion regarding Bill Kirner?  In no way am I suggesting that he is just like our Creator God, but it is true that the heart of a potter works in similar ways, no matter who he may be.  In this passage, we read that we are like clay in the hands of our Creative God, who shapes us and reshapes us, and we will never have any say in the shaping, except to be malleable in the Hands who works us into the perfect image that reflects His desire for our life.  And it will always be that unique reforming that allows each of us to be the Lord’s Church together.

 Unfortunately, the difference between a hunk of clay, and the person who we are right now, is that we have the will to either allow God to remake and remold us into His precious Image, or to refuse His remolding to change us from a “sinful hunk” into a forgiven and eternal life who honors and rejoices in the One who is reforming us into a worthy life in Christ.

 That is what faith in Jesus is all about, and how confession, obedience, and forgiveness can bring about a total change our lives.  Are you willing to let God work His way in you today?  Will this Advent season become a season of remaking and refocusing your life in Jesus?

 May it be so for us all.