Prepare for the Coming King
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Point: We are called to holiness, to sanctification and salvation in preperation for Jesus’ return, the second advent. Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem to prepare for the coming of Jesus, unknowingly, in fulfillment of God’s prophesy.
Why was Mary chosen to bear the Son of God? Was it because she was righteous? Worked hard? Or because she was prepared?
The Thessalonians were ready for Jesus’ return, or so they thought. They believed the Word of God, as the Word of God, shared with them by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. Being convinced, so much so, that their faith became well-known region wide, and Paul did not have to speak about the Thessalonians faith, it was already known.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.
Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing —do so even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, so that each of you knows how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.
For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification. Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.
About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,
to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.
A couple of issues needed to be addressed though, as the Thessalonians waited for Jesus’ return, as we do today. Being in a sexualized culture, like we have today, some were caught up in sexual immorality…religious temple sex cults and adulterous affairs (v.3-5). Affairs were happinging in the church, and fellow brothers were lying about it (v.6). Some were caught up in being ‘busy bodies’, sticking their nose in other peoples business and being gossips (v.11). Some were just plain lazy, and not doing work with their own hands, being dependent on others to provide for their needs (v.11-12). Taking advantage of the grace of God, by taking advantage of the fellowship to bear one another’s burdens.
In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
Paul emphasizes, “Love one another” (v.9) as they have, and has become known region wide. To take advantage of a brother of sister with their partner, being a busy body, and taking advantage of the grace of the church to provide for one’s needs, when one is able to do so is not love, nor being loving. You desire, and wait for Jesus’ return, but you are not yet ready. You are not yet walking properly as expected by God (v.12).
The question is, are we ready for Jesus’ return? Are we prepared for His second advent?
Read Luke 2:1-7; Mt 1:19-24
See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Are you ready for Christmas? Our family has been ready for two weeks now. The tree has been set up and decorated. The gnomes and santas are out, not to mention bannisters are lite and decorated. The outside light are on and gifts have been purchased. The stockings are even hung by the chimney with care. But is my heart prepared for “God being with us”, Immanuel?
We enjoy Christmas and the traditions, but we know that true meaning is preparing for God to be with us.
Every Israelite knew the prophecy that the Messiah was going to come, they just did not know when. They were pretty sure that they would recognize Him, and know how He would come, but as Scripture says, they did not. So no one would take notice of a man and pregnant woman, travelling to Bethlehem, to be counted in a census. A man and woman not yet married, but pregnant.
When they came to the inn for a room, the keep did not recognize them, he had no room for them, except for a stable in the back, with the smelly animals. Is this the kind of reception you prepare for a king you are prepared to receive? The world was unprepared for who was to come, how he was going to come, and when he was going to come, not to mention why He would come, to save the world from their sin, and reconcile man to God.
Joseph and Mary were not prepared. Their courtship and engagment would be most strange. Mary, a righteous woman, bethrothed toJoseph, a quiet man, became pregnant. Joseph prepares to divorce Mary silently, to not bring shame or dishonor. But then the angel Gabriel appears to both Mary and Joseph and says, “Rejoice and prepare, for you have found favor with God and that which is will be concieved will be the Son of God!”
“Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). What greater words could have been spoken. What scarier words could have been uttered. If an angel showed up on your doorstep and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, you have found favor with God!’ How would you react. I would have some fear, worry, and questions after I got back up off the floor: what’s the but? What is this in regard to? I am glad to hear this, but where is this going? My number one question though, would be: Why me?
What would make me so special, compared to everyone else, to be choosen? Why should I be favored in this way? Why was Mary chosen, by God, to bear Jesus, the Son of God?
Why did Mary find the favor with God? The simple answer God determined Mary would do so. His will, His grace. The word ‘found’ (2147) ‘keurisko’ means to find grace; or obtain favor with God. The word ‘favor’ (5485) charis means grace. It is a favor done without expectation of return; unearned and unmerited grace; the opposite of ‘works’. It is the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding it’s only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver.
What this means is that Mary did not find God’s grace because of her works, but because of His choice and love. Salvation is found in the choice (election) and love of God; we are loved therefore we are chosen. This word ‘found favor’ is the difference between believers and non-believers.
Now, ‘favor’ (5487) chritoo is slightly different, it means ‘to grace’ or to highly honor or greatly favor. This word is only used in two places in the NT. Here with Mary spoken of as being ‘divine favor’ or highly favored fo God. Paul speaks of believers as being “accepted in the beloved” meaning objects of grace and adoption in Christ.
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Mary was the only one to be “highly favored” or honored by God in this way. Therefore, God graced Mary with this high honor because He wanted to and choose to; not because she earned it.
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
Mary’s favor was not for salvation, so how then can one prepare for God’s favor, His unexpected benevolence?
Was Mary’s favor not for unto salvation, our salvation, even her salvation?
I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Sanctification is about living a life of holiness, righteousness that leads to the grace of God, to be graced or favored by Him. Can one be favored more by God, than by what He has already favored us? Can I be graced with more of His grace?
What does it mean to be ‘wholly sanctified’ or ‘wholly satisfied’? It is to be blessed (3106) makarizo meaning to be indwelt by God and thereby to be fully satisfied.
Are you blessed? Are you fully satisfied? Does God indwell within you? Paul teaches the believers in Corinth that they are by the Holy Spirit of God.
Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
So, the question is, are we living in that blessedness? Are we walking with the Spirit of Satisfaction?
For I am Yahweh your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
To be favored by God is to be blessed by the power of the living God and be wholly satisfied.
To be holy is a call to walk satisfied and imitate Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
To be Wholly Satisfied is to Trust and be Favored by God
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
“Childlike trust is the basis of salvation and sanctification. A willingness to leave everything behind is merely a test to determine whether we have such trust.” - Christian Theology, Erickson, p. 1014
Mary had a childlike trust in God to accomplish waht He said He would. Do we? Because of that trust Mary was favored by God. Like Abraham, he trusted God and was favored by God. His faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.
Works are the fulfillment or completion of faith, not salvation. Erickson says, “Genuine faith will be evidenced by the works that it produces.” (Ibid, p.1014)
So we can say...
Mary was/had a childlike faith and trust in God which resulted in the favor of God, and being chosen to bear the Son of God. God knew that Mary and Joseph would trust Him and go to Bethlehem. Will we trust God and go to Bethlehem?
Our work in life is to be a reflecttion, a result of our trust in God, our faith in God, and our love for God.
We love because He first loved us.
The favor of God is a result of God’s love, God’s choice. Salvation is the result of God’s grace of election, because He loved me, He chose me, but will I trust in Him? Am I prepared for His coming, His return? My works should flow from a trust, belief, and love for Christ, because He first loved me. Amen.