ADVENT WEEK 3 - LOVE - BETHLEHEM'S CANDLE

LOVE

Advent should be time when we prepare for the coming of the Savior – celebrating both when He came but also coming again – it’s a time to pause and to refocus our thinking

It's the perfect time to recalculate our priorities and make Him not a priority but our main priority

The symbolism of the Advent Wreath –

Evergreens – symbolizes everlasting life even in the midst of winter and death.

Circle Wreath – like a wedding band – the never ending of God’s love for us – symbol for infinity – eternal

Pinecones – new life that Jesus brings to thru His resurrection

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.”

The first week we discussed Hope –

What a Prophet was – being chosen by God, Speaking Divine Revelation and not own message – how we should have Hope for Today and Hope for Tomorrow and the Hope of Christmas and how the different titles of Christ in Isaiah 9:6 give us the hope we should live on – without Hope it is almost if not impossible to live

Last week we discussed Peace – the message of the Angel.

The Lord, God of peace to give us Peace

We should seek His Peace and Pursue it

So we need to be still, be silent and allow Him to Speak – allow God talk time in our prayer time and our reading time

Advent Week 3 – Faith and Love – Bethlehem’s Candle –

Micah 5:2-5 – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;

Psalm 46:10-11 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

I have asked Terry and Julia to open us in prayer as the light the Bethlehem Candle – the Love and Faith Candle.

Heavenly Father, as we refocus our attention this season to the real meaning of Christmas, we ask You to prepare our hearts, we give You permission to prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ birth joyfully! We thank You for faithfully doing what You promised long ago through Your love for us when You sent your Son to earth so that we might have the chance to become part of your family. Let the promise of your second coming inspire us to live with hope and purpose, focusing on Your agape love for us.

As we wait for your plan to unfold, give us the patience we need. Remind us of the peace we can access when we take time to still ourselves before you and remember that you are God. We thank you that you are both sovereign and gracious; both loving and forgiving. Amen

1. God’s Love Has a Plan –

Psalm 119:41 – Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;

v76 – Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.

v88 – In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2. God’s Love is abiding

John 15:9–11 – As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Philippians 1:9-11 – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

James 1:22 – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

1 John 4:16 – So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

3. God’s Love Must be Extended –

1 John 4:8 – Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

v19-20 – We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

4. God’s Love Through Christmas

Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Romans 8:38-39 – For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

v18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Psalm 136:26 – Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Isaiah 54:10 – For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

The Song Emmanuel by Brandon Heath has this chorus -

Love, come down Sing with the angels now Just like the first Noel We need Emmanuel

How does Love Coming Down impact how you prepare your heart for Christmas?

Casting Crowns in their Christmas album ask you, ask me - Is there room in your heart For God to write His story?

You can come as you are But it may set you apart When you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory Make room in your heart