Waiting for the Promise of God
The prelude to Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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Today we begin preparing our hearts for Christmas. In traditional or more orthodox churches people celebrate advent, it is a season with candles and scripture. It is a very beautiful time. And while we do not celebrate advent traditionally, I want you to consider the meaning of Advent… Advent refers to His coming into the world.
God loved us… He sent His Son… I pray that through this Christmas season your hearts will be ready, prepared for worshipping, celebrating the time of His coming.
Now think of this.....
If there is anything that has been difficult for man, I think I could name perhaps one point in particular that we find it difficult to wait on God.
Would you agree with me?
I think there is a reason for this…
We have forgot what it is like to wait on God, we have forgot patience and dependence.
We live in a microwave world and we expect everything to be fine - quickly....
We cannot see the whole picture, we cannot see everything like God sees and understands all that is happening....
Consider the wait that took place as God prepared the world for the advent of His Son. Many wondered when God would redeem Israel...
We cannot see the whole picture, we cannot see everything like God sees and understands all that is happening....
Waiting is difficult....
Consider this with me.... Have you ever found it difficult to wait on God?
I think I know the answer to that question…
Yes… and honestly we all do.... We all have a hard time waiting… we don’t like it but at times it is necessary.
But think back with me… What about Adam and Eve, Abraham, or Moses… do you think they found it difficult, ....you know to wait on God?
Honestly, the world has found it difficult, they waited and wondered when the promise of God would come...
Listen to the first promise....
The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.”
The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
That is the first promise God made concerning redemption and restoration. God said a day was coming when the Devil will know just how powerless he really is in front of an Almighty God.
One day, all the deception of the devil would be dealt with, Sin would no longer render the world guilty, one day sin and death would be no more.
And Satan would be dealt with forever and forever.....
The day was coming.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and with it the old hymn, that we still sing today began to be used in 1710.. Veni, Veni Emmanuel .....translated O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Listen to this first verse that is used in worship at Christmas in many churches...
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
Chorus. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.”....
The world was waiting on the promise of God....
Now with this in mind, lets look at the first thought today.... The promise foretold by the prophets...
1. The Promise Foretold by the Prophets....
1. The Promise Foretold by the Prophets....
Think back to the Book of Genesis with me...
When Adam and Eve sinned, that day when those two pure, un-corruptable lives fell to Satan’s schemes, sin came into the world and everything changed.
When I look back and consider all that God said to them in response to sin, to their sin and disobedience. I see two things, thoughts that God communicates to them…
I think it is good for us to pay attention to these two thoughts as well.
Perhaps you can think what they might be..... the first I think perhaps is a given, but it is a truth the world needs to hear today.
A. You messed up and have sinned.... That was the basis for everything else God the Father was about to say to Adam and Eve, to Satan and yes to us, those of us who would have access to the written record of God’s word in the future.
This event
Sin was a new concept for for Adam and Eve, oh they understood it for sure (remember they have eaten the from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), but they had never dealt with anything like sin before.
In the swiftness of an act, Adam and Eve went from proudly walking in fellowship with God to being ashamed to face God after the fact.
They needed to hear about their sin and what it had done to them and all mankind.
Sin had brought death into the world.
Then there is a second thought....
B. I (God) will deal with this problem.... One day there is one who is coming who will crush the head of the serpent.....
The Off-spring of Woman would deal harshly with the evil one… the Serpent.
These two things are the two essential thoughts that Adam and eve needed to hear that day…
And we are still talking about both of those today......
Now, roll forward with me just a little over 2 centuries, and you come to the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah is the prophet of the Lord (God’s man) to the nation of Israel after the the nation divided into a Southern and Northern Kingdom.
In the midst of a nation and people who are understanding very rapidly that God punishes sin, Isaiah would be allowed to remind the people once again, God says “Don’t forget!” a Promise is coming....
Let me share a verse from Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah would be allowed to remind the people once again, God says “Don’t forget!” a Promise is coming....
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
One
A beautiful prophecy, lets look at it....
And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Lord has sent a word against Jacob,
and it will fall on Israel;
and all the people will know,
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:
“The bricks have fallen,
but we will build with dressed stones;
the sycamores have been cut down,
but we will put cedars in their place.”
The word “therefore” is that transition word again for you… remember it is an important word. Therefore says because of that.. this is happening...
The word “therefore” is that transition word again for you… remember it is an important word.
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” thus says the Lord God:
“ ‘It shall not stand,
and it shall not come to pass.
For the head of Syria is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
And within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.
And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you are not firm in faith,
you will not be firm at all.’ ”
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
:1-13
1-13
God is sending Isaiah with a message…
Isaiah has been sent to Ahaz, and Isaiah is not alone, God has told him to take his son, Shear-Jashub whose name means “A remnant will return”, with him to meet Ahaz by the upper pool, a reservoir that held water for the city.
And with the threat of war, perhaps Ahaz was looking to make sure the city’s water supply was intact, that it would be safe. So here is Isaiah and his son, and the Son’s name bears witness to what God promises to do in the future.
But here is what is interesting, Isaiah’s and his son are there, they are giving the Word of the Lord to Ahaz that in spite of the upcoming invasion there was hope.
Israel would be gone before you know it… and Jerusalem will follow, but there was hope.
The Lord himself is telling of the sign through the prophet.
The miraculous would happen… a virgin would conceive and bear a son.
Now let me tell you what.... The Lord makes it real clear…
A Virgin… a young maiden who has never known a man, she will be found with child and she will deliver that child, and not just any child. A Son!
The virgin will have a Son! Did you hear… A Son!
And listen my friends, his name will be called Immanuel… (God with Us).
You see as Isaiah delivered that prophecy, there was his son with him, and remember his name. A remnant will return....
And with the remnant, there is a Son who will do great things…
Isaiah will go on a tell them
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Lord has sent a word against Jacob,
and it will fall on Israel;
Isaiah 9:6-8
Hope was coming ......
Regardless of what is happening right now, understand this is not the end.
It wasn’t to late for Israel, even in captivity they could return to the Lord with their whole person and the Lord would receive them.
Daniel walked with God, the three Hebrew children walked with God, many did… even when walking in a foreign land so far from Home.
Was was sending His Son into the world soon....
There is hope in that prophecy!!!!
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Lord has sent a word against Jacob,
and it will fall on Israel;
and all the people will know,
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:
“The bricks have fallen,
but we will build with dressed stones;
the sycamores have been cut down,
but we will put cedars in their place.”
There is hope in that prophecy!!!!
Hope that was promised a long time ago is the hope that is renewed....
Transition....
Now God would continue to share words through the Old Testament prophets, even telling the place, the city of His birth. All they had to do was be faithful, watch and pray and wait on God..
There is that word “wait”.... such a difficult little word.... but I remind you, walk with God and all things, even waiting are possible.
Wait on Him....
Now lets move forward, just one more thought..
Lets move to Luke chapter 1..... Here is your thought.....
Here is your thought.....
2. God is at Work, While We are Waiting....
2. God is at Work, While We are Waiting....
While we are serving, while we are living life, doing our thing if you will… you might feel alone, you might feel like the status quo might be it… don’t believe it.
God is always at work, even when we do not understand it....
Zechariah and the prochecy of John
Do you believe that?
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
:
Now lets look at ....
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Now I have started with this one section just to point out some things for you to consider.
A. God works through His people.... that truth is not a new one for you to consider is it.... Now it is not, But understand God has been working for thousands of years to speak to this one faithful man and his wife whom God has chosen for greatness.
Two people are mentioned here… Zechariah and Elizabeth, both have priestly bloodlines in their family tree. This truth God is using for his purpose…
Their qualification before God was simple.... “…they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord.
What a testimony my friends, they were righteous and blameless in all their ways before the Lord. My gracious let it be said of us---- lets that be our qualities for all time...
To be righteous means we are “right” before God. Blameless referring to the fact that the person is upright, no corruption is found in their lives before God.
And one last trait is set before us…not a spiritual one, but physical.
They were barren, they had no children.
They had lived their entire life for God, they had served well and even now in old age the time has come from Zechariah to serve in the Tempe in front of God.
Now look at verses 8-17
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
So under stand what is happening… Zechariah is serving in the temple. and he is tending to the Altar of Incense that sat right in front of the curtain that divided the holy place from the holy of holies...
One large room that is divided into two areas by a large, heaven curtain. The front half held the Giant Menorah, the table of show bread and the large altar of incense. Behind the curtain was the area known as the Holy of Holies and it was there that the ark of the covenant lay…
Zechariah is serving the Lord and God is at work in His life and that if his wife, while they have waited all these years.
But this is Herod’s Tenple...... we are not 100
B. God Reveals to Them His plan......
While they (Zechariah and Elizabeth) were waiting, serving and honestly I am sure they had probably uncertain if a child would ever come their way. God shows up...
Here is a wonderful truth… God will always Speak after the wait...
Verses 11-14
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
God send an angel that day, Gabriel who stands in the presence of God. and Gabriel speak to Zechariah.
Now Zechariah is a little freaked out.... but the angel tells him not to be afraid.... and here is the best part … Your prayer has been heard.
They had waiting and continued serving God, they had prayed and yes at times of uncertainly they kept on keeping on..
And God was a work through them all through the way.....
You wife, who is old will bear a son....
What would some of you ladies think if the Lord told you… you are going back to diapers, and they are not for you … you will have a son.
You might be… dear God no..... at this point in your life.
But if God did do such a thing.... know that He was a work in you.
I know God desires to be a work in our life, but at times we do not know the way or the hows because we have not waited on God.
They waited while God was a work.... they didn’t know the answers but they did know all things were possible with God.
They were waiting personally, but also living in a occupied land with Rome as the opprepsser… they were looking, waiting for a deliver.
If you look back at the text, we see John, this son would not be just any man… He would be God’s man.
As I have told you before, John is a man out of time… He stood between two covenants. The last of the Old Testament prophets calling make way....
Prepare and get ready… For the promise is about to come.....
God is at work.
John the Baptist is the first portion of God’s promise being revealed to the nation… and yes to the world.
The world was waiting on God and God was at work and was speaking to His people leading them, revealing the promise that He made so long ago....
But now… what about you?
But now… what about you?
Are you waiting on God.... Are you bending your heart and soul in prayer asking God, seeking His will and purpose for your life?
Are you calling out to Him for help?
Are you reaching and searching for answers...
Wait on Him… and you will find Him.
We are like them, we are waiting on the promise, the promise of His second coming… Are you waiting, watching, praying for God to reveal His Son a second time to the world.
We better be looking up as we celebrate Christmas, the advent of His coming into the world… for he is coming again.
to tell him of the things to come, (1.) one is that Israel is getting ready to fall… and Judah will not be far behind, now that we are talking about it.
But here is the truth… Isaiah prophecy that they are are about ot fall, but that you son with you as a visual aido Shear-Jashub