The First Advent: A Light Has Dawned
Notes
Transcript
Turn to Matthew 4:12 (page ### in Pew bibles)
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Read Text
Read Text
Matthew 4:12–17 (ESV)
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
OPEN in PRAYER
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Intro:
Intro:
(Q) HOW MANY of YOU in LIFE have NOTICED that at times IT SEEMS THINGS KEEP MOVING ON and ON WITHOUT CHANGE?
LIFE FEELS MUNDANE
SAME ROUTINES OVER & OVER
HAMSTER on WHEEL— POINTLESS
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SIMILAR THOUGHT COMES FROM O.T.: ECCLESIASTES… “VANITY,, VANITY...” “MEANINGLESSNESS,, MEANINGLESSNESS”
LIFE CAN SEEM POINTLESS,, CYCLICAL,, NOTHING NEW UNDER the SUN...
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ENCOURAGE: THINGS BEING the SAME FOR LONG PERIODS DOESN’T MEAN INDEFINITELY...
AFTER BORING/CONSISTENT TIMES,,, INCREDIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN...
CONSIDER: GOD MAKES ALL the DIFFERENCE in THIS VIEW...
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O.T.: ISRAEL = SLAVES in EGYPT FOR HUNDREDS of YEARS...
ONE DAY: IT CHANGED
AFTER O.T. CLOSED,, NO PROPHETIC MINISTRY— HUNDREDS of YEARS...
THEN JOHN the BAPTIST COMES & JESUS the CHRIST is INCARNATE.
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AS WE CONSIDER LIFE’S CONSISTENCY....ALSO CONSIDER @ VARIOUS TIMES,, GOD HAS BROKEN INTO HISTORY in HUGE WAYS.
>>> THE INCARNATION SHOWS US: THAT GOD WON’T STAY SILENT FOREVER. <<<
GOD ISN’T INDIFFERENT ABOUT CREATION
GOD CARES
GOD = MORE INVOLVED THAN WE’D REALIZE
DAYS WILL ALWAYS COME WHEN GOD’S PLANS = FULFILLED
&&& AT the FULLNESS of TIME, CHRIST CAME…ACCORDING to PLAN.
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THIS TIME of YEAR: WE CELEBRATE the 1ST ADVENT of CHRIST...
CHRIST MAY or MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BORN in DECEMBER,,
BUT FEB. 14th = JUST a DAY,, BUT if YOU FORGET FLOWERS,, YOU’RE in TROUBLE...
PERSONALLY: THANKFUL WE CELEBRATE CHRIST’S COMING DURING DARKEST PART of THE YEAR...
CAN SEEM DEPRESSING
WAKE UP & IT’S DARK
FINISH WORK & IT’S DARK
&& AT THIS TIME WE CELEBRATE the COMING of JESUS CHRIST,, THE LIGHT of THE WORLD...
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IN BEGINNING: IT WAS DARK & GOD SAID “LET THERE BE LIGHT”
THROUGHOUT HISTORY: IT WAS DARK (BECAUSE of SIN)
&& CHRIST STEPPED INTO HISTORY —GOD W/ US....TO BRING ABOUT a GREAT LIGHT...
1ST ADVENT,, BEGINNING W/ INCARNATION,, WAS for PURPOSE
INAUGURATING the KINGDOM of GOD ON EARTH
BRINGING LIGHT to DARKNESS
HOPE to HOPELESS
MAKING a WAY FOR SINFUL HUMANITY to BE FORGIVEN...
**ALL BEGAN @ MANGER in BETHLEHEM...
(T) TODAY,, WE’RE GOING to FOCUS in ON—BEGINNING of CHRIST’S MINISTRY
**HE CAME W/ a MISSION,, & THIS = BEGINNING of ITS FULFILLMENT
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Main text: Matthew 4:12-17 ESV
Main text: Matthew 4:12-17 ESV
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
JOHN the BAPTIST = FORERUNNER to MESSIAH
MESSAGE— PREPARING the WAY,, JESUS = GREATER THAN JOHN
>>> WHEN JOHN’S MINISTRY ENDED,, IT WAS TIME FOR CHRIST to BEGIN HIS. <<<
PASSAGE TODAY PICKS UP on HEELS of JESUS’ BAPTISM & OVERCOMING TEMPTATION in WILDERNESS
TEXT TODAY SHOWS US WHAT HE BEGAN to DO & TEACH
(T) And TEXT GOES on TO SAY:
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
JESUS GOES to LIVE @ CAPERNAUM (CITY)
ROMAN REGION of GALILEE
ORIGINALLY: ISRAEL TRIBAL TERRITORY—ZEBULUN & NAPHTALI
JESUS RELOCATES,, SETS UP MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS @ CAPERNAUM
CAPERNAUM = SMALLER CITY on COAST of SEA of GALILEE
BUT FOUND WITHIN SIGNIFICANT REGION
MAJOR TRADE ROUTE from NORTH to SOUTH...
TRAVELING?? YOU’D BE GOING THROUGH GALILEE
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GALILEE BACKGROUND:
BECAUSE AREA HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY SO MANY PEOPLE’S OVER TIME,, IT BECAME a GREAT CULTURAL MELTING POT,, MANY RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGIES/BELIEFS...
WHEN ISRAEL HELD the LAND,, IT GAVE THEM AWESOME OPPORTUNITY to BE a LIGHT to REST of WORLD...
BUT INSTEAD ISRAEL TOOK on FALSE GODS...
>>> INSTEAD of INFLUENCING OTHERS FOR GOOD,, THEY WERE INFLUENCED FOR EVIL <<<
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AND AFTER MANY CONQUERINGS,, 1ST CENTURY A.D.,, = ROMAN RULE.
INCREDIBLY DARK PLACE SPIRITUALLY
LOTS of WICKED PRACTICES
VARIETY of IDEOLOGIES in OPPOSITION to TRUE GOD.
THIS = WHERE CHRIST SETS UP HIS MINISTRY
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WORLD TODAY = DARK
HOSTILITY TOWARDS ABSOLUTE TRUTH & CHRISTIAN FAITH.
STANDARDS of MORALITY = GOING OUT the DOOR...
>>> DARKNESS DOESN’T INTIMIDATE JESUS CHRIST <<<
IN 1ST CENTURY, JESUS DIDN’T AVOID DARKNESS...
HE DIDN’T GO to BELT-BUCKLE of THE BIBLE BELT...
HE DIDN’T EVEN GO to MOST JEWISH PLACE...
HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO the DARK PLACES & SET UP HIS MINISTRY THERE.
BECAUSE JESUS = LIGHT,, DARKNESS ISN’T INTIMIDATING.
John 1:5 (ESV)
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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& SO in ORDER to FULFILL O.T. PROPHECY
TO BRING HOPE to HOPELESS...
TO SHINE LIGHT INTO DARKNESS
**JESUS GOES to GALILEE of the GENTILES...
JESUS CAME to CONQUER DARKNESS THROUGH HIS SINLESS LIFE, MINISTRY, DEATH & ULTIMATELY RESURRECTION.
&& JESUS CAME to MAKE a WAY FOR SINFUL HUMANITY to BE RECONCILED to GOD!!
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JESUS DIDN’T COME FOR the RELIGIOUS, the UPRIGHT.... BUT FOR SINNERS.
>>> HE CAME to BRING the SPIRITUALLY DEAD to NEW LIFE. <<<
JESUS WENT to THOSE in DARKNESS…
***THE “DARKNESS DWELLERS”...
THOSE “DWELLING UNDER the SHADOW of DEATH”
DAVID---PSALM 23:4
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...
IN JESUS CHRIST,, THIS BECOMES LITERAL...
>>> HERE in FLESH,, NOT JUST in SPIRIT… <<<
HE CAME FOR THOSE DWELLING in DARKNESS...
THOSE WITHOUT HOPE...
THOSE STEEPED in SIN...
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&& WITH CHRIST’S 1ST ADVENT a GREAT LIGHT HAD SHONE, A LIGHT HAD DAWNED UPON the DARKNESS-DWELLERS...
>>> HOPE HAD COME <<<
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(T) Now, look with me at verse 17 this morning. The text says,
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS CHARACTERIZED BY MIRACLES & PREACHING...
JESUS PREACHED: “REPENT”
REMORSE FOR SIN
COME INTO AGREEMENT W/ WHAT GOD SAYS CONCERNING RIGHT & WRONG,, SIN & RIGHTEOUSNESS...
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REPENTANCE OFTEN GETS a BAD RAP
PEOPLE DON’T LIKE the CONCEPT of “ABSOLUTE TRUTH”
BUT WE MUST SEE THAT BECAUSE GOD = CREATOR,, HE DETERMINES RIGHT FROM WRONG...
REPENTANCE REQUIRES US to SEE OUR NEED,, BECAUSE WE’VE ALL SINNED...
&& REPENTANCE = AN INVITATION,, SEEING SIN FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE,, & ACKNOWLEDGING NEED FOR FORGIVENESS...
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(Q) AND WHY SHOULD PEOPLE REPENT??
JESUS SAID: KINGDOM of HEAVEN is AT HAND
“ HAS COME NEAR”
>>> IT’S the BEGINNING of A BRAND NEW DAY <<<
THE CREATION is NOW EN ROUTE to THE CULMINATION of THAT KINGDOM & NEW CREATION
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INCARNATION = ALL ABOUT the COMING KINGDOM of GOD...
CHRIST CAME to INAUGURATE the KINGDOM
CHRIST CAME to ESTABLISH RIGHTEOUSNESS
CHRIST CAME to REACH THOSE in DARKNESS,,
TO ESTABLISH a WAY FOR FORGIVENESS FROM SIN...
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1ST ADVENT = GREAT LIGHT DAWNING
>>> HOPE FOR AN OTHERWISE HOPELESS CREATION <<<
HOPE THAT GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN US!!
&& OUR HOPE is THAT CHRIST WILL ONE DAY RETURN to CONSUMMATE THIS KINGDOM AS KING of KINGS & LORD of LORDS!!
**NOT as A BABY in A MANGER…NOT HUMBLY…BUT COMING BACK to BRING ABOUT JUSTICE UPON the UNGODLY & SALVATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED in HIM.
HE IS FAITHFUL,, THOUGH HIS PROMISE TARRIES, IT WILL COME...
THEOLOGIAN MICHAEL BIRD DESCRIBES CHRISTMAS: “The annual celebration of the birth of the Savior that Christians around the world commemorate year after year is a bold profession that the despots of this age, political or spiritual, are living on borrowed time.”[2]
YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, “YEAH RIGHT…2,000 YEARS & NOTHING…HE’S NOT COMING BACK”
**THIS THINKING ISN’T NEW.
APOSTLE PETER WROTE (2,000 YEARS AGO)
Remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.
PETER’S ARGUMENT (FOLLOWING): THE VARIOUS TIMES GOD HAS BROKEN INTO HISTORY PROVE GOD ISN’T ABSENT…DESPITE WHAT it LOOKS LIKE...
1ST COMING = GREAT PROOF
GOD ISN’T INDIFFERENT or ABSENT...
BEST GUARANTEE of 2ND COMING = 1ST COMING in INCARNATION...
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THIS MORNING: AS WE CONSIDER PRESENT DARKNESS....
**BRINGING MESSAGE of HOPE...
>>> DARKNESS WILL NOT TRIUMPH <<<
CHRIST the LIGHT of THE WORLD CAME INTO the WORLD
to DISPEL DARKNESS
&
MAKE a WAY FOR US to BE RECONCILED to GOD DESPITE OUR SIN...
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Gospel
Gospel
YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
JESUS CAME ULTIMATELY to DIE
HE CAME to BE the SINLESS SACRIFICE FOR the SINS of EVERY MAN
HE LIVED the LIFE GOD DESIRED of US
& THEN HE TOOK the PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SIN
& WE CAN RECEIVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVEN to US,, THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
HE TOOK the BLAME
SO WE COULD RECEIVE the CREDIT.
IF YOU BELIEVE in HIM,, THAT HE DIED FOR YOUR SIN & WAS RAISED...
IF YOU TRUST in HIM AS PERSONAL SAVIOR,, RELYING on HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,, NOT YOUR GOOD WORKS
YOU PROFESS HIM to BE LORD
YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY.
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&& ALL of US NEED the GIFT of SALVATION...
NO ONE is BORN RIGHTEOUS
ALL WERE DARKNESS-DWELLERS
WITHOUT HOPE
WITHOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS
WHEN NONE of US COULD MAKE IT…CHRIST MADE a WAY
HE CAME to SAVE SINNERS LIKE ME & SINNERS LIKE YOU....
CHRIST CAME to BRING the LIGHT & HOPE of SALVATION to US..
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END of THE STORY = BEST PART
IF YOU’VE BEEN SAVED,, THERE’S a HOPE of A NEW CREATION WHERE RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS!
WE’LL INHABIT AN ETERNAL ABODE WITH GOD,, && THE LORD HIMSELF WILL BE the LIGHT THERE
NO SUN
NO MOON
NO STARS
NO LAMPS/LIGHTS NECESSARY
THE GLORY of GOD WILL ILLUMINATE ALL CREATION FOR ALL ETERNITY
DARKNESS WILL BE NO MORE
THERE WILL BE NO MORE TEARS or SORROW...
THIS is THE HOPE of THE CHRISTIAN,, BECAUSE of JESUS’ WORK...
ALL THOSE WHO WERE in DARKNESS WILL FOREVER EXPERIENCE the LIGHT THAT DAWNED WITH the PRESENCE of JESUS CHRIST...
&& IF YOU DON’T HAVE THIS HOPE TODAY,, WE’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE
(T) And now, as we close this morning I want to SHARE a FEW TAKEAWAYS WITH YOU ALL TODAY...
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Takeaways and App.
Takeaways and App.
INCARNATION & 1ST ADVENT SHOW THAT GOD WILL STOP @ NOTHING to REDEEM THOSE WHOM HE LOVES...
CHRIST CAME DOWN FOR US, TO INAUGURATE GOD’S REIGN on EARTH & ESTABLISH the WAY of SALVATION (HIMSELF)
CHRIST CAME DOWN to THOSE DWELLING in DARKNESS
THOSE WITHOUT HOPE
THOSE STEEPED in SIN
THOSE WITHOUT GOD’S PROMISE...
CHRIST MADE a WAY FOR US to BE SAVED BY GRACE...
CHRIST ESTABLISHED HOPE FOR US...
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CLOSING: ENCOURAGEMENT...
IF LIFE FEELS DARK,,
IF WORLD FEELS DARK,,
IF IT SEEMS THAT GOD is ABSENT,,
IF the HAMSTER WHEEL FEELING of LIFE & CREATION is KILLING YOU...
THE KINGDOM HAS COME & IS COMING
IT’S ALREADY HERE BUT NOT YET IN IT’S FULLNESS
CHRIST HAS COME & MADE a WAY FOR US...
HE’S SHINED LIGHT INTO the DARKNESS
&& HE MADE a WAY FOR the DARKNESS-DWELLER to BE RECONCILED to A HOLY GOD,,
DESPITE SIN,,
THROUGH HIS PERFECT LIFE,, SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH,, & RESURRECTION FROM the DEAD.
AND in HIM WE CAN HOPE THIS MORNING, NO MATTER HOW DARK the WORLD MAY BE...
Close in prayer.