“Advent ‘07!”
December 2, 2007
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2
“Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" John 7:40-42
Julie has been teaching us a little bit about advent. By now you know that advent means “coming”. This Christmas season you will see and hear that word many times. Now you know what it means. Julie also told you that the first candle in advent is the prophecy candle. This morning I want to talk about that a little bit about prophecy then go into the angel candle.
In our Scripture in Micah, Micah prophecies that the Christ, or the Messiah, would come out of Bethlehem. Ephrathah is just the ancient name for Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the least likely place that the King of kings would come. Bethlehem was small and old and not very significant. But I think that is the first lesson we can learn from this Scripture. God delights in using the least likely! If you are too small or too large; too young or too old, too uneducated or from the wrong side of the tracks – you are just the one Jesus is looking for. The Bible says,
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God wants to use YOU to carry out His work. The weaker or least likely you are – the more He wants to use you. Why? So people will realize that it is God working THROUGH you that is accomplishing the great things you will do. God just needs you to love Him and believe in Him and be available to Him. God delights in taking the castaways of the world and using them to do great things. The Bible says,
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.” Psalm 113:7-8
What the world considers worthless and useless and of no value, God considers as prime material for accomplishing His Work. Are you available to Him this Christmas season? He wants to use you. Will you let Him?
When Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come, God’s people had been through a lot. Because of their sin and rebellion, they had been enslaved and abused and misused. It seems like they swallowed every lie that came down the pike. Every false god appealed to them. They sinned greatly. They forgot about God and did their own thing and went their own way. And God let them. God doesn’t force anyone to live the way He wants them to. We have to be willing. When we do our own thing and go our own way slavery always results. Israel was enslaved by Egypt, then Babylon, and then Rome. Self rule will always lead to slavery. Forgetting God will always lead to slavery.
Today we are not enslaved by another people, or another country, but by our own willing addictions. We become slaves of things like: alcohol, drugs, porn, entertainment, wealth, a life of ease, food, and many more things. There are so many things that hold us captive today. The Bible says,
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
Romans 6:16
“... count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness”
Romans 6:11-13
Israel turned from God and their desire for self pleasure and self-rule resulted in them doing horrible things, from deviate sexual activity, to sacrificing their own children. But are we any different. Look at the news just about any day and you will find news of homosexuality, we used to call them perverts, now in some places that life style is being promoted in grade schools. I was reading about the exploding sex trade in Israel when I was researching for this message. A mother, this week, killed her little daughter because she was in the way. How many millions of innocent babies have we killed through abortion? When we turn from God we become a sick people. We become sinners. If God were to turn the spotlight on each one of us and some of the horrible things we have done as sinners – it wouldn’t be very pretty.
But I have some good news for you. God doesn’t give up on people. The Bible says,
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Even though Israel did some horrible things, God did not give up on them. He promised them that the Messiah was coming. Why? They knew why. He was coming to save them from their sins. Not IN their sins – but FROM their sins.
You may have done some horrible things as a sinner –things you hope no one ever knows about. But, guess what? God already knows about those things. And He loves you anyway. He hasn’t given up on you. He has promised that a Savior is coming to pay the price for your sins. He has promised that a redeemer is coming to free you from your bondage and slavery. Are you willing to be free? When God freed the Children of Israel from Egypt, a couple of times they wanted to go back. They didn’t have enough trust in God to believe He would lead them to the promised land that flowed with milk and honey. And sometimes we may lack faith and be tempted to return to what has enslaved us. Don’t do it! Pray for more faith. Pray for strength and wisdom. Determine that you will make it all the way through to the Promised Land.
The Prophecy Candle at advent reminds us that the Savior was foretold. He came just as the prophets said. Jesus said that He was going to return a second time. He said,
“Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3
God revealed, through His prophets, that He was going to send the Savior to be born in Bethlehem, hundreds of years before it happened. It happened. Jesus said He was going to come again for us believers. Are you ready? He will come just as He promised.
The second Advent Candle is called the angel candle. There were all kinds of angels around, that first Christmas season, preparing God’s people for this fantastic event in history. The first angel came to Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father.
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.” Luke 1:11
The first angel prepared Zechariah for the birth of John the Baptist, who was to precede the Messiah. The second angel came to Mary to prepare her to give birth to the Messiah. The bible says,
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:26-27
The angels not only prepared people for the coming of Christ – but they celebrated His birth as well. The Scripture says,
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:8-14
Why do you think God sent the angels that first Christmas? Do you think that maybe we needed some supernatural verification of the truth of this great event? Also, I think it was just in the way the angels are that they had to praise God for the Savior of the world. They had to break out in song. Just like when the Savior saves one soul – they dance and sing and celebrate. Did you know that happened, or will happen, when you invite Jesus into your heart? Jesus was the only one that could know that – and He said:
“I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10
Just as the heavenly multitude broke into song, when delivering the news that Jesus was born, I think they break into celebration when you come to Christ.
Christmas is the greatest time of year. Heaven celebrates. The world is celebrating even though many of them don’t really know why. But I want you to know what all the hoopla is about. It’s all about love. The great love God has for you. He said it was going to happen. The prophets of old said the Messiah would come – and He did. Jesus said He is coming back – and He will. The question is “will you be ready?” As you are getting ready for Christmas, be sure you are ready for His SECOND advent. How do you do that? You do that by having the right relationship with Jesus. You are either living in rebellion with Him or you are living in obedience with Him. Jesus said that on that finial great day that the people will be divided into two groups – the sheep and the goats. The sheep are obedient and submissive to Him. The goats are rebellious and unsubmissive. To cross over from death to life – all you have to do is confess your rebellion, and turn to Christ. If you choose to follow Him – He will lead you to eternal life and eternal joy. Imagine if every day were Christmas day! Eternal life with Jesus is going to be even better than that. And all it takes is to pray a prayer like this.
Dear Jesus,
Forgive me for ignoring you and rebelling against you and doing my own thing. I confess my sin right now. Please forgive me for every sin I have ever done. Help me to live for You from now on. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank You for cleansing my heart and preparing a place for me in heaven.
In Jesus’ name,
