Advent Sermon Series Week 2

Gloom to Glory

Introduction

The idea of Time travellers has been on the rise, a picture of a guy with a smart phone at an old boxing match

Do you remember the movie series Back to The Future, the theme of coming back from the past and save the future

that spawned such movies as the Terminator series with a common thread of coming from the future to change the outcome

But imagine if the future was absolutely fixed without any change, imagine someone came to tell you that Apple shares are what they are today and there was no chance of change and you were able to buy them at $1 you would sink all your money and resources and fully invest.

This idea of kingdom fulfilment is written as if it has already happened, and it is fixed no time traveller, no Marty McFly or Arnie Swazzeneger could come back and change the outcome. Why did the people reading this fully commit to it and invest everytinh into it, better yet if you are in Christ why don’t you fully invest in it?

This is true hope presented here

Isaiah 9:1-5 “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.”

Background of Text

Assyria was quickly becoming the world’s superpower. The growing power of Assyria, however, was not the result of political skill, military dominance, or economic strength. God raised up Assyria to execute judgment on his unrepentant people. Resin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel sought to establish a treaty with Judah’s king, Ahaz, hoping their coalition of nations would stave off the armies of Assyria. Ahaz refused. So Pekah and Resin turned against Ahaz.

Think about Israel’s long wait for the promised Savior to come. How do you think God’s people fought against doubt, discouragement, and the temptation to believe God forgot them?

Galilee any invading army needed to march through kills steals and destroyed. It was almost like a cursed part of town, and it was insignificant we see this when we read about that “can anything good come out of Nazareth” and “Isn’t he a Galliean”. This is the reason why the Jews couldn’t accept Jesus as he was from a small insignificant part of town. I mean why would the Messiah come from the backwater blocks. Its like he has come from Armadale.

Micah 5:2 ““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.””

Ever felt small, insignificant, forgotten about? Or that your situation is so far removed that nobody cares. We also have this belief because the primeminister isn’t going to call you up to see how your bad day went, or Mark Mcgowan is not going to check in on how your ongoing suffering is. Even our closest friends and family don’t do that. But Jesus who knows suffering. He would be a Man of Sorrows—crushed, despised, and rejected—justifying many through what He suffered in Isaiah 53. The promised Deliverer would be a light overcoming darkness.

Gen 49:10 “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”

Let me paint a picture of intentionallity at its best!

Where Jesus came from, the fact that God showed favour to a small seemingly insignificant nation and they became his people, the fact that Jesus was born in a small rural town called Bethlehem, the fact that he was born in a filthy stable in a feeding trough. These are all intentional so that all nations can have access to him (even those hostile to him - Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”) represented in hostile nations coming through Galilee. In a feeding trough on purpose so Kings and Queens through to shepherd boys could have access to him.

What about if I am not sensing his presence, or feeling his help? God often gives us seasons of waiting to sift and strengthen our faith. If you are in a season of waiting, what might the Lord be teaching you? Even if this is true or not, God is always with you. Just trust that he is, its called faith for a reason. So this passage speaks to a people who feel accursed, feel shamed feel unheard, and it speaks to us, and is ‘Ground Zero’ for hope. The hope that says that the future is already achieved and cannot be changed.

(Collie town small makes God big as they can’t get the glory)

In the midst of this political intrigue, God’s faithfulness to his chosen people, to his covenant promises, and to his redemptive plans did not change. But it would be put on display by the most unlikely means:

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Think of a time when you were in trouble and needed to be rescued. How did you feel in that situation? Whom did you look to for help?

ADVENT IN THE BEGINNING

Many of us grew up with the story of Advent beginning in a stable. But, the story begins in a Garden. When God created the world, all things were just as they should be. Creation functioned in perfect order according to God’s beautiful design. Man walked in unbroken relationship with God, fully known and unafraid. But in an instant, all that changed as Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s good instruction. They took of the fruit and ate, and sin entered the world. Fellowship broken. Peace shattered. Creation thrown into chaos. Darkness, depravity, fear, shame, and selfishness flooded the human heart, separating man from God. The situation was dire.

But right then, amid the darkness, God spoke a word of hope: a Savior would come, born of a woman, to defeat the enemy and deliver God’s people. Scholars refer to Genesis 3:15 as the proto euangelion or the “first gospel.” From the first moment of our need for rescue, God’s promise was there. Before He addressed Adam and Eve, God turned to the serpent and announced that sin would not have the final say and that the schemes of the enemy would not prevail.

This passage about the future, is in the past tense. Meaning that the future has already happened, this is why our hope is secured by God’s loving decree. In other words Isaiah is saying look forward to what is already done.

SHADOWS, HINTS, AND WHISPERS OF HIS COMING

Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to His people about this promise and gave them things to watch for in order to recognize the Savior’s coming. God revealed that the Messiah would be born in the line of David. What preceded that was Abraham line, what preceded that was the serpent crusher and what preceded that is the second person of the Trinity.

Gen 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.””

Gen 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

Isaiah 7:14-15 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,”

Isa. 9:6–7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” of the tribe of Judah

Isa. 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

a Preacher of Good News to the poor Isa. 61and One walking in the power of the Spirit

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This new name doesn’t mean the child is what the name says. Rather he is a sign and guarantee of it. It’s as if he goes around bearing a billboard with that message and with the reminder that God commissioned the billboard. The name makes some declarations about God. The warrior God is an extraordinary counselor or planner. That is, Yahweh is expert at determining what the future should hold. The child’s birth is a sign that God will restore his people. As David exercised government with faithfulness, so will this child (unlike his father).

God also reminded His people not to lose heart as they waited for the Savior to come. It’s important to remember that God did not fulfill His promise right away. His people waited a long time. They spoke of the promised Rescuer from generation to generation, enduring cycles of war, rebellion, captivity, and restoration. They watched and waited—anxiously, expectantly—for God’s faithfulness. We can all identify with feeling hopeless, helpless, and in desperate need of rescue, especially when it comes to the weight of sin. Heavy and inescapable, we know its effects with every breath—both our own sin and that of others. Our world is full of evidence that something is wrong and needs to be made right. The reason we celebrate Advent is because the story of the Garden doesn’t end with man’s rebellion—but instead his redemption. The fulfilled prhophecy of 9:6 is found in this passage!

Luke 1:31-33 “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.””

REFLECTION

Consider the way God used Moses to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt (Ex. 12–14). There was no other way for the Israelites to escape their slavery apart from God’s provision and power? Tyranny and slavery is what sin brings, it devoids us of having any resposibility - Our modern world is so shaped by this, and by keeping us in sin we are kept under tyrananical evil leaders, but above all ruled by the evil one himself.

You see Sin was and is even harsher, more oppressive master than Pharaoh could ever be! What is our only hope of deliverance? It is found in the one titled - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.Kings were given royal names to honor their majesty. The prophet Isaiah ascribes four names to Christ. But these names are not honorific. They reflect the total sufficiency of Christ to meet every need in our lives. Jesus alone is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Conclusion

Christmas is not finally about a baby in a manger. It is about the incarnation of the Son of God himself, who came to save his people from their sins. The born-King was nailed to the cross, rose from the dead, and reigns forever! Orientate christmas for our church help them to know that tinsel, trees, presents, food, family, Christmas movies are all good. But the rush to get them, the pain of exhaustion expressed in anxiety and anger that comes with that is not. Slow down, enjoy the real meaning, promises, hope and Joy that being part of this Kingdom that lasts for ever. This season reminds us of these truths marinate in that as you prepare for Christmas.