Advent Promises

Who do we have in the room?

Decorates early before Thanksgiving

Waits until after Thanksgiving

Wants to decorate Early but didn’t get it done

Can’t wait till this month is done?

Advent: To Come

The British website Unilad got us all thinking about trimming the tree a few weeks early. In 2017, it reported that people who decorate earlier are simply tapping into the excitement of the holidays before the rest of us — which makes them happier.

“For a lot of us, Christmas is a magical time, it’s a time of innocence, it’s a time of joy,” Serani said.

There's another possible benefit to decorating early, though: The neighbors might think you're friendlier! Research has shown that people interpret Christmas decorations on a home as a cue that the people inside are sociable.

If you decorated for Christmas early, consider yourself a happy and friendly person.

Psychologists say Christmas decorations are nostalgic and bring people back to simpler and happier times.

They say it also helps boost dopamine.

Nostalgia

I remember one specific moment in my child hood where my Aunt and Uncle wanted to do something special at Christmas time. My mother was one of six children. We had a large family. I had a lot of cousins and we all got together for Christmas.

This year my aunt convinced my uncle to dress up as Santa Clause. I was not a big Santa Clause fan. So he came in to “surprise” all the children and thats where I took over.

I cried and screamed and cried and screamed. I successfully ruined what they had worked so hard to carry out.

What happens to those early decorators after the big day(Christmas) is over?

Some Call it Post Holiday Syndrome

It’s not that unusual. Some studies show as many as 25 percent of Americans suffer from low-grade to full-blown depression after the holidays. The hype and excitement and, yes, expectation, and jolliness in the buildup to the Big Day. But then expectations hit reality. Relatives aren’t always kind. Gifts aren’t given and received in the spirit intended. The fantasy that maybe this year will be different is dashed yet again. It’s hard for even the most resilient not to feel a letdown. For those who are prone to depression anyway, the weeks after a holiday can feel like the emotional rug has been pulled out from them.

If you don’t decorate early you get the term that you are a grinch but if you do decorate early and get sad after it’s gone you have a syndrome.

Advent: To come

There is this intentional build up before Christmas.

700 years before Jesus comes the Prophet Isaiah tells of Jesus coming.

One of the key pieces of Advent: the coming of our Lord that I have overlooked is that it is not just a celebration of what had taken place but it is also a celebration of what is to come.

Zephaniah 3

We celebrate what has happened, that is, Jesus came. Jesus was born of a virgin, He was Immanuel (God with us), He died on the cross and Jesus rose again. All of this is in the past. We build up to Christmas to celebrate what has happened.

We are not waiting for Jesus be born again. We are celebrating that he has been born.

We however longing for Advent. That is we are longing for Jesus to come again. So a part of this advent season is not only celebrating what has already happened but it is also a looking forward to Jesus coming again.

Promises

Ephesians 3:4–6 HCSB

4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We who are Gentiles through Jesus Christ have become coheirs of the promise. We who are not Jews have inherited the promises of the Jews through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So

We can read the promises of the Old Testament and know that those promises are for us who are not Gentiles.

Zephaniah 3:9–12 HCSB

9 For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with a single purpose. 10 From beyond the rivers of Cush My supplicants, My dispersed people, will bring an offering to Me. 11 On that day you will not be put to shame because of everything you have done in rebelling against Me. For then I will remove your proud, arrogant people from among you, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. 12 I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.

Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary ii. The Remnant Preserved (3:11–13)

Poverty is thus seen here not as a judgment from God, but rather as an indicator of Yahweh’s special covenant love and care for the impoverished ones.

Zephaniah 3:13–20 HCSB

13 The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or tell lies; a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. But they will pasture and lie down, with nothing to make them afraid. 14 Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has removed your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you; you need no longer fear harm. 16 On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak. 17 Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” 18 I will gather those who have been driven from the appointed festivals; they will be a tribute from you and a reproach on her. 19 Yes, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; I will make those who were disgraced throughout the earth receive praise and fame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, yes, at the time I will gather you. I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. Yahweh has spoken.

Conclusion:

Whatever the cause, Christmas never seems to live up to the build up. Why is that?

I am convinced that the enemy wants us to only look back at the events of Christmas past and not look ahead to Christ coming again.

The enemy wants us to stay in a Genesis 3 world where death is present, pain is evident, and suffering happens.

Christ is refining us today through his death and resurrection in the here and now but we long for the second advent. We long for Christ to come again. We long that there is no temple there in Revelation because The Lord is present with His people and no temple is needed.

We long for no shame, punishment is dealt with through the blood shed of Jesus Christ.

Yes. No more oppression. Oppression is losing its power. The lame rescued. Disease losing its power. The exiles will be gathered. Brothers and sisters, we are aliens, strangers, exiles in this world. Yet Christ, the great rescuer, the great redeemer, gathers. We have been brought home now.

We sit in that, and we rejoice in that while looking for the second coming, pleading for the second advent.

This is why John ends the book of Revelation with “Come, Lord Jesus. Maranatha.”