December 21

Hi everyone... since I'm not preaching this Sunday, I thought I would upload an old sermon.  It is called "Why Pray?"  Check it out!

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The Ultimate Christmas

Isaiah 12

The Ultimate Christmas

Introduction: Christmas is a time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is a time we wish others peace. It is a time of hope for peace. In Isaiah 11 the time of the rule of the Messiah is described in verses 6 – 9 (read). Isaiah 12 is a psalm describing what would be said at that time. It starts with “In that day.”

 

I.         God’s relationship to us will change (12:1 – 3)

 

            A.        There will be an end of separation (v1).

 

                        1.         All are separated from God. (Romans 3:23)

 

                                    a.         It stared in the Garden of Eden. This separation is also between people. (Tell Garden of Eden story of shame and blame.)

 

                                    b.         Tossed out of the Garden and the way is guarded by a flaming sword (implied death)

 

                        2.         All are under God’s wrath. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (Romans 1:18 NIV)

 

                                    a.         God’s anger is gives way to comfort (on going effect)

 

                                    b.         (ill.) the child that is disciplined by a loving parent is also comforted by that parent.

 

            B.        There will be an end of fear (v2).

 

                        1.         The fear of God will be gone. There will be no need to fear others. Our other fears will melt (like fear of failure/ “deferred success.”)

 

                        2.         It will be replaced with trust. (The opposite of fear is not courage, it is trust.)

 

                        3.         It will be because of salvation.

 

                        4.         There is an extremely rare expression used to inspire absolute perfect, unwavering confidence: “The LORD, the LORD.”

 

            C.        There will be an end of want (v3).

 

                        1.         Image of a well in a hot, dry country.

 

                        2.         Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water... [14] but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."” John 4:10, 14 (NIV)

On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews would bring water in a golden picture from the fountain of Siloam. They would pour this out on the alter as a thank offering with great rejoicing.

Image of our most basic necessity becomes the image of God’s provision of salvation through Jesus.

 

II.       God will be plainly known (12:4 – 5)

 

            A.        God’s name will be known (v4).

 

                        1.         There is confusion over who is God.

 

                                    a.         Modernists seem to think that Man is God... We are not!

 

                                    b.         Postmodernists seem to think that Man is God... We are not!.

 

                                    c.         Other religions have invented God in their own image. (BTW, there is a false “Christianity” that does the same thing.)

 

                        2.         Who God is, what God has done will be proclaimed clearly.

 

                                    a.         A celebration, like a memorial.

 

                                    b.         (ill.) TV show “This is your life.”

 

            B.        God’s work will be known (v5).

 

                        1.         Jesus entered the world as a baby. (We call this Christmas.)

 

                        2.         Jesus walked through this life facing everything we face to save us. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil.... [17] For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14, 17 – 18 (NIV) (We call this Easter.)

 

III.      God’s presence will cause a reaction (12:6)

 

            A.        Joy will be a reaction.

 

                        1.         There will be shouting (like when our favorite sports team is doing will).

 

                        2.         There will be singing (like when we are happy and excited).

 

            B.        God will be among us!

 

                        1.         There is coming a time when God will “physically” live with us and we with God. Or as it says in Revelation 21:3 – 4, “[3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (We call this Heaven!)

 

                        2.         Right now we have a small piece, a down payment, on that time. God has given us the Holy Spirit.

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Words for Living part 3 (published Dec. 26 in "The Community Voice.")

Christmas is over; our northern neighbors are celebrating “Boxing day,” toys lay broken on the floor, and children are making their list for next Christmas. Broken dreams of not getting what you wanted, the disappointment that doll only says a dozen things, the indigestion of all that fudge has started to haunt you. Maybe you stepped on the scale, uttered an oath, and promised yourself that next year you would be able to see the scales. Pigs fly and the Soo will go dry.

“Next year,” you tell yourself. Next year is another year. The optimistic dream of “another” anything lightens our hearts. How many of us want another chance to prove ourselves? Anyone want another chance with that special someone? Trouble is when we find the mythical “another” we find more of the same broken dreams, disappointments, and indigestion.

A friend took me on a tour of his home. It was one of my childhood homes. The dungeon was fixed up with bright lighting, carpet, and sheetrock. Something, other than the mold, seemed to be missing from the tour. I asked about the old coal room. The house had been heated with a massive coal furnace. The coal room was just a few feet way from the long forgotten furnace. Apparently only I knew the secret. Never wanting to miss an adventure, he pulled out a hammer and attacked the wall.

Ever been so wrong about something you were embarrassed? Happens to me lots of times, but this wasn’t one of them. The hammer made a hole which revealed an old wooden door. The door opened into the old coal room. Would it surprise you to learn it was full of valuable antiques, piles of money, and a skeleton? It would me. You see, besides the dust in the long abandon room there was only more dust.

Still, I got to tell him the story of the time a man in our church moved an old wardrobe that had been bolted to the wall and found a tunnel. The tunnel was made by a moon shiner during the days of Prohibition. For the young ones, that’s when alcohol was illegal. Would it surprise you to learn it was full of valuable antiques, piles of money, and a skeleton? It did.

Sometimes what we are looking for surprises us. “And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” [Matthew 2:11] They came looking for an ordinary King but found the extraordinary Creator of the universe. They were ready to give treasures fit for a King but I think they gave much more, their lives.

Did you know you are on the same quest? Until you go to Jesus you will only have “another.” Ultimately “another” will leave you empty, broken, and exhausted. Jesus, on the other hand is the real thing.

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