Advent 2003 - 3 Here is Your God!

Reading: Isaiah 40:9-11
You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)

I.   Shout the Good News!

     A.  Get to a very Visible place

           1.  Not a hidden/private activity!

                 a.  Cr’ty not meant to be a private thing

                 b.  Not just for inside closed doors

                 c.  Our obligation is to live/tell publicly

           2.  Not an indoor activity!

                 a.  Church, Cr’ty just indoors is neither!

                 b.  There is a time to close the doors

                 c.  Most of the time we’re out there

           3.  Go tell it on the Mountain!

                 a.  Or at least a soap box!

                 b.  Who do you/I/we need to tell?

                 c.  Where is your/my/our mountain?

     B.  Speak out Fearlessly

           1.  Do not be afraid! . . . to speak up!

                 a.  Don’t be afraid that it won’t be true!

                 b.  Don’t be afraid that the Good News isn’t

                 c.  Don’t be afraid of the response.

           2.  Raise your voice, shout it out!

                 a.  Be heard, make sure they hear!

                 b.  Nothing subtle about this command

                 c.  Are we being heard here? Can we be?

     C.  Announce: “Behold your God!”

           1.  Not a call to correct doctrine!

                 a.  What is it we’re supposed to shout?

                 b.  Not “Behold, your theology!”

                 c.  Not “Behold, your church!”

           2.  A call to direct experience

                 a.  Look, God is here! Do you see Him?

                 b.  Is God here? Shouldn’t they know?!

                 c.  We call people to God (not us/ideas).

           3.  Have you had any God-sightings recently?

                 a.  Where have you seen Him at work?

                 b.  Don’t be bashful, tell each other!

                 c.  Don’t be ashamed, tell your neighbors!

II.  Look, God is Here!

     A.  He comes in Power

           1.  He doesn’t need anyone else’s strength

                 a.  Certainly not yours

                 b.  He doesn’t come to rob power

           2.  But He comes as a baby?!

                 a.  What kind of power is that?!

                 b.  The kind of power to change the world!

           3.  Power for what?

                 a.  Not power for its own sake

                 b.  Power for governing & for loving

     B.  He comes with an arm for Ruling

           1.  He comes as King

                 a.  Not to become King, but as King

                 b.  He comes as Sovereign Lord

                 c.  He comes as the covenant King (Lord)

           2.  He rules with his arm

                 a.  Extended to bless those who serve Him

                 b.  To crush those who rebel against Him

           3.  Of the increase of His government . . . (9:7a)

                 a.  His Kingdom will grow forever.

                 b.  As King of an everlasting Kingdom He is our Everlasting Father (but ~ the Father)

     C.  He comes with a Reward

           1.  He comes in power with blessings

                 a.  He doesn’t rule to bless Himself!

                 b.  He comes to enhance our lives

                 c.  He comes to increase our joy

           2.  Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (Rev 22:12)

                 a.  He rewards us for our obedience

                 b.  For our expression of love to others

                 c.  “Well done good and faithful servant”

III. He is our Gentle Shepherd

     A.  He comes to tend His Sheep

           1.  Not to luxuriate in the privileges of power.

                 a.  Not to make mutton out of sheep

                 b.  Not to fleece His flock

                 c.  Not to be served but to serve

           2.  He tends His sheep, not wild beasts

We must therefore lay aside our fierceness, and permit ourselves to be tamed, if we wish to be gathered into the fold of which God promises that he will be the guardian. (Calvin’s Commentary)

                 a.  Sheep: tame, meek, vulnerable, needy

                 b.  Wild b’s: unruly, violent, self-sufficient

                 c.  Which are we?

           3.  He comes to tend to our needs (“feed” us)

                 a.  Like a father tends his children

                 b.  Tend = feed, care for, (lit. (v.) pasture)

                 c.  The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing

     B.  He comes with an arm for Caring

           1.  1 arm for ruling for us, 1 for caring for us

                 a.  Both arms are for us: protection/nurture

                 b.  “Arm” represents His strength/power

                 c.  His arms surround us.

           2.  With His powerful arm He gathers us

                 a.  1st act of caring is gathering! (?)

                 b.  Opposite of scattered & alone

                 c.  His arm sweeps the globe to gather us

           3.  He carries the little ones close to His heart

                 a.  He carries the lambs who can’t keep up

                 b.  He slows for the pregnant (burdened)

                 c.  Like a father he cares for all His sheep

     C.  He comes to bring us Home

           1.  He gathers, leads, carries to where?

                 a.  We must be going somewhere. Where?

                 b.  Gathers us to Himself!

                 c.  Leads/carries us to His pastures

           2.  Isaiah prophesied about Israel’s return

                 a.  From captivity in Babylon

                 b.  They would return to the promised land

                 c.  We too, prisoners of our sin will be gathered home

           3.  We have a home Jesus is preparing for us

                 a.  I go to prepare a place for you (Jn 14:2)

                 b.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

                 c.  Jesus comes calling His sheep. Do you hear and recognize His voice?

The Bottom Line:

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