Advent/ Be it Unto Me

Christmas time- Kelly Reed.

What is Advent? (Know: Truth)

Advent means “coming.” It is a time of expectancy and anticipation of a great event- the birth of Jesus.

(Explain why)

Candle- 1. Prophecy 2. Bethlehem, 3. Shepherd, 4. Angel

Read: Luke 2:8-21

-Good news of great joy- What made this news so good?

For 400 years, God had been silent.

Because there had been no prophetic voices, the people had become burdened under the law.

Pharisees/ Add to the law

The people were crying out for a Savior-

God came to redeem them from the Tyranny of the law, of religion, of the lens

Advent is the unfolding of scripture. The calling forth of the redeemer.

Incarnation. God becoming a man. (Emmanuel, God with us.)- The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.

It's about a Father saying, “I will do anything to restore my kids back to me!”

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7

Prophecies- Isaiah 700 years before

“The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” Is 9:2

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Is 9:6-7

Bethlehem/Shepherd:

Luke 2:8-16 tells us the story of angels visiting some shepherds in a country field and announcing, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

After the heavenly hosts left, the Shepherds seemed to know exactly where to find this Babe, “Let us go to Bethlehem…” How did they know exactly where to go?

Because of the prophecies in scripture, they knew where to find Him.

“And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, Even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8

“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

The “tower of the flock” was known as Migdal Eadar (mentioned in Gen 35:21), a military tower at the edge of Bethlehem used to protect the city from enemies. It was also where ewes from a very special flock were brought to give birth- the lambs which would be used for temple sacrifices.

These particular shepherds were no ordinary shepherds. They were the shepherds specially trained to care for these newborn lambs. Because the lambs would one day be used for sacrifices in the temple, they knew these lambs could have no blemish, no injury or defect. The shepherds would care for them, wrap them in swaddling cloths and lay them in cribs called yatnh phatne- or “mangers".”

Because of Micah’s prophecy, the shepherds understood that the Messiah would be announced from Migdal Eder. Although the angels only announced that the Babe would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, there was no other explanation needed for the shepherds.

Jesus, the “Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world,” was born as the final sacrificial lamb in the very place where He must be born. Just as Peter declared that our redemption was paid for by the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot… Christ, our Passover lamb is sacrificed for us!”

Jesus was the perfect spotless sacrificial lamb for us. He had no sin, committed no sin and knew no sin. He was the only human born to die and the only human qualified to die our death.

Angel’s- Isaiah 11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

2 Samuel 7:8-13 and Psalm 89 contain four promises:

When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sam,

Luke also shows us in his genealogy, “the son of David, the son of Jesse” (Luke 3:31, 32).

He will be great. (“Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.” 2 Samuel 7:9, “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you” 2 Samuel 7:11)

He will be called the Son of the Most High. (I will be his father, and he will be my son. 2 Samuel 7:14)

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David. (“Your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16)

His kingdom will never end. (“He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:13)

Jesus is the prophesied and promised son of David. Read Luke 1:26-36

In Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel visits Mary, he references the Davidic covenant and shows us how Jesus fulfilled each of those four promises, “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 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.”

Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. Even from the beginning of time, God predestined us in him from the foundation of the world.

Mary’s Response

At first, Mary was troubled. I wouldn’t say it was disbelief so much as sheer incomprehension. “How can this be?”

Did you know that only two people in the Bible were regarded as highly favored? One of them is Mary, and the other one is you.

Eph 1:6: “He made us accepted (literally, highly favored) in the Beloved”

To the degree that Mary was favored, so are you. It’s perfectly fine to put Mary on a favor pedestal, as long as you put yourself right up there, too.

In Christ, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3).

Favor: The scandal of an illegitimate son doesn’t feel like favor.

We have been invited into relationship to know God as Father and Friend.

Forerunner vision.

There are examples in which people caught the attention of God.

Centurion, the syrophoenician woman, the woman sho touched the hem of Jesus garment.

God was in awe of them!

Mary/ David’s son.

Something in them was stirred with hope.

Hope is the precursor to faith. Hope says, “It’s possible.” Faith says, “It is done.”

There is in each of us a innate desire for the impossible to become possible. Some of us have (Elpis- Joyful expectation) things we are believing for. If not, why not? Fear?

Families, hope for a future, healing,

The Lord is looking for those who will come into agreement with what He has said. The earth groans for the sons of God tp be manifest.

Gabriel: vs 37: “With God, nothing will be impossible ”-

No- thing: No- pas- individual, rema-that which is or has been freshly uttered by God. “ No one word that God speaks will be impossible.”

Impossible - without power

No freshly spoken word from God will ever vome to you that does not contain it’s own ability to perform itself.

James 1- in humility, receive the word implanted which is able to save your soul.

Oak Tree- the power is in the seed. It’s in the word you received. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

The soil is the agreement.

Mary: “May it be to me as you have said.” Amen

Right there is faith. Favor now begins to flow from heaven to Mary.

Gideon

It was her yieldeness so that when the word was spoken, her agreement caused the seed to work through her.

The soil of Mary’s heart was positioned- her Magnificat

Jesus- John/

Jesus came to reveal the Father

The Father is only revealed through the children.

God can be revealed- but it won’t be as Father. (Judge, Almighty, Creator)

Father can only be revealed by children.

One thing: We have a privilege to reveal the Father by being a son or daughter-

My measure as a Mother is based on how I treat my kids. - if my kids

Your relationship with God is based on your understanding of Him as Father.

Jesus illustrated it perfectly by doing only what He saw His Father doing.

Eternity is written on our heart- Ecc/ Each person is born with a cry within them to know God as Father.

When there is a unity between a son and a Father, (understanding the rejection of a parent/ you will understand the cry of a heart that longs for purpose)- the purpose of your life will be fulfilled.

It is significant that the angel did not leave right after he made his announcement. He waited until Mary had responded in faith.

God’s favor was on her, but she needed to believe it to receive it. - Be it unto me according to your word.

So do you.

We need to cultivate the habit of seeing ourselves as God sees us – highly favored and deeply loved.