The WHY of Christmas: Enlist in His Majesty's SERVICE
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Christ,
It is hard to imagine that the British Empire of which were apart though now a looser commonwealth, in 1909 it held sway over 458 million people, 1/4 of the world population at the time, and between 10-25% of earth’s land. Vast network that required an army of administrators, postal workers, just imagine the job of Exchequer General - the guy in charge of writing all the checks, headache of the pay roll. Of course required a an army of soldiers, but no internet back then, no airplanes jetting from continent to continent. Most important travel not steam train - but what - the Queen’s navy. And do you remember what they called their huge naval ships: HMS ______. Toronto CNE HMS Haida - saw action in WWII destroying U-boats. Her Majesty’s Service. Growing up in Royal City, grade school did Gilbert Sullivan musicals - like This Hour has22 minutes, no TV to poke fun at the foibles of their government - Still sing the songs - Saw at Stratford - like Roman Empire some thing snobby and something going wrong in most prestigious type of service - My Song “when I was a lad i served a, now I am a Ruler of the Queens Navy.” Made such fun - that when the Queen saw it - with queenly face origin of her “we’re not amused”
Now the radical good news of the coming of Jesus, of Christmas is that in the Christ-child - God was setting up a kingdom more glorious than Britain - and imagine in it by faith you can receive that kingdom:
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Always perplexed me about Christmas - warm thoughts of baby Jesus, even noble thoughts of cradle leading to Cross - personal salvation he would bring, but what do we make of the prophesy of
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.
Why a government on his shoulders? remember prophesy about the keys of the kingdom? Why in the midst of all the salvation and forgiveness talk the main thing that is announced in Jesus - is The Coming of the Kingdom. Now you receive this kingdom and this salvation - in Christmas we have seen Why he is coming: To Visit Us and to Redeem Us - live blessing God. We have also seen the How of Christmas - this child is going to be a Horn of salvation - power of spiritual David conquer our spiritual enemies and He is also Going to be the SEED, the promised seed of Abraham - remember possess the gates of the enemy - but work what their a covenant of MERCY! But next we have got to ask what is his goals and purpose - what’s the end results God is working through visiting us in Jesus Christ, giving us salvation. What is salvation for?
And here we need to return to Gilbert and Sullivan - empires of this world - use power, wealth for themselves indulgent corrupted. What about the salvation, deliverance Jesus has worked for you - what’s it doing in you, in us here? Look at our prophesy by which we must understand and then receive Jesus this morning:
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,
We have been granted salvation in Jesus - that we might serve - Back in Empire days, do you know what that would mean - ie John Newton, just young teenager cruising the docks - forced into service - miserable - but would be asked to sign. Now for most in our land, never go through boot camp, life of traveling, in municipal elections we have never had as many acclamations, people don’t want too stand for civil service. With police, firefighter and our military still understand a noble thing, but on the whole we have become a society that has freedom as it goals, all our individuals rights, do whatever we want - but we have no real goal beyond that. Freedom as an absolute, will destroy and lose that freedom. But Freedom a gift form Xn worldview - never the end, only gift for responsibility! And people have predicted - but this morning we need to understand the end game fo Christmas - the desired result God wants from sending Jesus - is that you and I would not refuse to take an oath back, to sign on the dotted line and enlist in His Majesty’s Service! Think about what Christmas means to you, about Christ salvation, you have liberty freed, but how are you \using that freedom, that salvation. using it to live how ever you want - not true freedom, true freedom leads to the highest most fulfilling and God-glorifying service. His Majesty’s Service, The Messiah-God’s Service. that how the rest of goes:
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. Election is unto service. Christ gives us salvation from, in order that we might be able to present to God our reasonable service, that’s the purpose of our salvation! Let’s see what that would mean!
Let’s see what that would mean!
A. Salvation in unto Service
The prophesy begins with the assumption of the end of the OT that people, didn’t have this promised freedom and salvation, and that they therefore were not living all their days in His Majesty’s Service. Is this true of our world, of our lives without Christ?
Why don’t people live for service? Well look at instead of service all our days, those words are used saying
For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
When you haven’t experienced deliverance from yous ins, when you live in fear of not measuring up, when you experience the wrath of God punishments in this life already and fear them in the world to come. When you wake up and its just sigh - no bigger purpose, just fend for my self, sigh - it’s no wonder we don’t enlist in God’s service! Israel knew that this is where they were but shouldn’t be:
The whole reason God rescued Israel in the OT picture of salvation. The whole conflict between Moses and Pharaoh hinges on the demand: Let my people go:
And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed.
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
Not the normal word for serving, servant, but unique word that is used always in reference to serving God, particularly in worship, and with sacrifice. Whole purpose of the Exodus is that they might go out and becoming the worshiping, serving community of God in the world! Pharaoh wants to let them go out - but no sacrifices , or just half the community - no all and for worship service! They get into the promised land where they are all to be servants worshippers of God, but they lose their God by following others gods, they lose their king, they lose their temple, they lose their land. And God says you need another Exodus a real one. You can’t really serve unless - you have been set free by the coming King, unless you live with Him - This is Zechariah’s point, surveying all the prophesies linking them he sees the connection between being delivered from all our enemies, the tyranny of the devil, sin and death , our sinful condition - when David’s Horn, Abraham seed sets us free - no longer deceived living for self, deceived by devil, no longer slave enslaved to our sins - but this new In His Service Life! Think of the salvation from sin and the devil, and teh works of the devil Christ has given us, but look again at the NT purpose
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Now we must ask how do I get that kind of service into my life, what would it look like, if Jesus didn’t just save me from my sin, devil, fallen nature, hell and death, but if he also came to save FOR a new life in His service?
B) Enlist in the Messiah’s Service by 1) Taking the Grant of Certain Protection & Provision without Fear
A) Granted Certain Protection & Provision with no Fear!
Now why couldn’t God’s people minister/worship;serve God while in Egypt, its the same reason those in our world today can’t be servants of the LORD, while enslaved, in bondage to work, to their stuff, to false gods. Those slaves in Egypt they didn’t have time, they didn’t talk about , enthralled with fertility of Egypt longed for those luxuries and pleasures - forgotten about the Living God. Like our nation today - another generation possible that the God of the Exodus, Flood, the God of the Virign Birht, Emmanuel -God with us, of the Cross and the Empty Tomb - He and his word forgotten or a fairy tale. But not just that they don't have time for God, it is also that they are trapped in their fears!
What do I mean: anyone scared of heights - Imagine I tell you must walk tightrope across this auditorium. Be hear to catch you. Until conquer that fear unable. Bible tells us that people at the bottom of it - uneasy about death- trapped by devil in bondage to fear of death; Why? Fear of losing what’s around us, but underneath, know that it isn’t just death = God has appointed a day we must die and after that the judgment - Face to face - full Light of God - what do we fear = punishment, Fear unaccepted. Not enough! And in the same way won’t get up and walk that tight rope, let alone dance on it - until conquer that fear ; you can’t really serve and worship God as he needs to be for His kingdom to grow and you to be fruitful unless you deal with your fear that’s the first half and the grounding of our text:
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,
There is a fear of the LORD that is no good, fear of punishment, worry about sin that leads to despair and not repentance and life. And this King who wants you in His service, says, I got to deal with that fear first. Saw that God’s promise to Abraham was that those of his kingdom in faith would occupy the enemies gates, go into the nations infiltrate with gospel of mercy, and become a source of blessing to the world, but only if get into the enemy gates and defeat them not by force or stealing their land - but mercy. Zechariah says, the oath sworn to Abraham that we need to take hold of - that your sins forgiven, that God provided the Lamb, punishment meted out - and you are accepted not because of anything n your self - not because a righteousness by works , perform, pretend - left uncertain.
God in gave another picture - covenant - oath two kings - I’ll protect and provided keep my end of the bargain - count on me, enemy attacks, How can I know - swear an oath - cut up animal. Walk through - even if you fail I’ll keep your end of the bargain! Pur grace. Do you know that you’ve been granted salvation that securely from sin, punishment hell Never really get to serving, until realize God’s oath His covenant His blood - give you absolute certainty and confidence I’m accepted by God. Promised protection and provision no matter what.
Would you go in behind enemy lines as a slave - if doubted their plan B - things go south - rush in get you out. God says I have plan A to Z - you are covered, now get with this King I’m sending and serve with Him in the enemy gates!
It is interesting there were faithful Jews did’t want to live as slaves when Jesus was born, They gather in Qmran - like a ghetto they have retreated from the enemy gates, get people to join by performing works righteousness like them,. But God says through his prophets, deep mercy - rids all fear and sends you into he enemy gates!
But what is that going to look like - what kind of service will this be to God in the gates of our daily lives?
B) Enlist in the Messiah’s Service by 1) Taking the Grant of Certain Protection & Provision without Fear 2) Serving the LORD in holiness & in righteousness
It is interesting the focus of Jesus and of his forerunner John is not about the land, or the temple, but it is all about two parties - the King and His people. And John whole job in v.76-77 is to get a people prepared for the LORD. Is that you. John said this job was to be like a matchmaker - the best man’s responsibility - get the Bride and Bridegroom together provide every they need for the wedding to take place, Friend of the Bridegroom. Here Zechariah explains what it means for you and i to be the prepared people of God who can get on with the serving!
And its not about political power, or religious ritual, - two ways the Jews though could do it. But kind of like the Children’s Crusade - not weapons of this world - imagine it .. that is like the messiah’s kingdom -
What is your holiness and your righteousness going to do to take the enemy gates in this world?
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
You want be of service to God in this world, want to worship him in truth - here are the qualification you must get - holy and righteous.
Are you qualified? Holiness is not about holier-than-thou attitude outward showy - Jesus said reward is praise from people showing off to. Holy is totally in referrence to God. Nothing you can do - our worthiness like rags. But how can you and i serve in holiness:
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
All our holiness is from being in Christ, this first term is about piety - living close to God and that is only through being remade in image of Christ. But now you can worship him without fear, No small thing that you gather for worship with God’s people - expect a nearness, privilege of prayer heard, opening up His Word and comes not just words on paper, but with the Holy Spirit! This is in Christ keeping the whole first table of the law - as Christ said it - how we can now love God … says: Not through ritual or mortality - but by living in faith, union, abiding in Christ!
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
But this holiness in reflecting God in piety is only half of the transformation; salvation also begins to transform the way you reflect God in how you treat others. That’s the righteousness. And when these two parts of living with God are paired it is not speaking of righteousness like justification, but of serving God. As Christ becomes your wisdom from God, you start to live by God’s wisdom with others. When John announced Jesus - and when Jesus announced his program to the world. Faith and repentance. He spelled out for a solider what that would look like, for a tax-collector, farmer. Jesus himself said not only seek first my kingdom, but what else
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
But this holiness in reflecting God in piety is only half of the transformation; salvation also begins to transform the way you reflect God in how you treat others. That’s the righteousness. And when these two parts of living with God are paired it is not speaking of righteousnesslike justification, but of serving God
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Jesus came to restore right-living in your home, work, in public sphere. Can you say it not living with just a sigh and for yourself - but living differently for jesus. Obeying His teaching of righteousness. That was his goal in visiting and redeeming us. Jesus came with righteousness of the OT, the fulfilling of the Torah, the living instruction the Jews called the law . You want to receive the Christ, not only as the horn of power and seed of mercy - but must receive this king as Your teacher - gie you the law the direction, the example of how to live with others . And like that Children's Crusade idea - what impact can this have. Like the impact at Tienanmen Square - remember that man in front of the tank. Tank backed down. Remember peace children - flower in guns . Like fall of Iron Curtain - prayer meetings - soldier would fire on the faith-filled grand mother.
We are to have that kind of impact - jesus says - as start to live for me in how you treat other s- see your righteousness deeds and glorify your father in heaven!
Understand goal of Christmas - not just chocolate presents and warm feeling God like us he visits us. But that he came to enlist you in His kingdom - and if you are living untied to Christ, he also resources, you on the inside to gives you the strategy and the love - for his kingdom to grow in the brokenness of this world, your word, your home.
And that brings us to the last instruction on the Why of Christmas. How are little weak fickle you and me - going to live with all seriousness and strength as servants of the kingdom of God, because of Christmas? Even That those last five words in our text. Before Him all our days. this is such good news!
And that brings us to the last instruction on the Why of Christmas. How are little weak fickle you andme - going to live with all seriousness and strength as servants of the kgindom of God, becauseo f Christmas? That those last five words in our text. Before Him all our days.
3. Living Day by Day Coram Deo (Before God’s Face)
Such a powerful image of the power of a
Friend of Brandon’s TED TALK - Start with Why - but thought longer - Start with who - To Whom Do I belong. Who do you live before - Like wicked sister in snow white - Mirror mirror on the wall - just live with yourself. met many people live in the shadow of successful sibling. Or demanding parent never give acceptance or approval crushing weight. Other people live with God being tiny in their lives and people are huge - they live for approval of others, or popularity, out of fear what people think … But look at this powerful prophesy:
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
Remember what Israel did when God appeared at Sinai - he wanted them all to be kingdom of priests, Moses wished they’d all be prophets. But they threw Moses in front of them - you talk to God for us, you mediate - too great too powerful too holy, too righteous. Do you remember how it went Moses asked to see the glory of God - physical manifestation, only see the back of my glory - remember His whole countenance lit up with the glory of God - had to put a veil. just temporary. But when Messiah comes -full of God’s glroy - when he dies on the Cross for us, the veil the curtain ripped open, God says, no longer dwell in temple but in my people, new worldwide portable temple. And tehy won’t just see the backside of my glory. Listen to how Scripture put it:
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
This word before God, used of the angel Gabriel earlier int eh chapter:
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.
It was used of what John the Baptist would do for Jesus his half cousin,
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Do you live with God and his Christ behind your back, busy doing life and then serve him once in awhile in worship service, once in awhile unusual act of charity. Incompleteness of the OT worshipping a God at a distance, just shadows, reality comes in Christ, and says now by my Spirit not just with each one of you, but in each on e of you. You can live before God. remember what that word visit means, like a general to army, a shepherd loving inspection and provision to help a sheep. Christ the Son of God to you - didn’t just come to size you p or drop off a ticket to heaven. He came in Christ with every grace to live new life in joy and peace and power in His presence. Like that general stuck around sat by campfire with you. He practices new techniques and teachers, He sat up through the night and comforted, He picked you up and got you to do things never dreamed could do, lead and guided you -each step of the way. that’s christ by His Spirit like Pillar of fire and cloud leading his people through the desert. That’s the Holy Spirit delivering ea\very grace each day through the Christian Life!
That’s Coram Deo. You saying, i live before God, sincerely by his love his power, his righteousness and holiness. Do you expect him in our worship present, Do you expect him in our discipleship and discipline. Do you expect Him as read the Word and as pray with each other. That’s what it means that receive the Christ - live before Him, live in his presence before his face -
And look at the promise of those last words - serve in His presence not just a few days, when feel spiritual, not just for now when I feel strong, but in Christ all our days. This is the promise of
I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.
One heart and one way of righteousness foervere all our days literally. It is tehe only other use of theat phraise in tehOT
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Big question of the NT Christ has done all this, set u his Church, gates of hell will not prevail, but will we persevere - how can we not grow weary and give up living for Christ and his kingdom. Jesus says, God will answer everyone of our prayers, but then he asks when He returns will he find faith on the earth? How is it that the world won’t look at this church and write a satire - His Majesty’s Service pff what a \joke just living for themselves, no wonder, treasure, no majesty in that service. It is because Christ Himself by His Spirit and Word is a fountain and ocean depth of fulness - well supply of grace upon grace, as we live before Him in union with Him! How the gospel ends: Go out there in the enemies gates in this wide world - make disciples - and surely I am with you always to the end of the age!
You know David's horn of salvation, you know Abraham seed of mercy - he has made an oath to you, how can it be that we don’t return our oath of allegiance to Him to His Majesties service. I will live for service to you in my worship week to week - like our call to worship -
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
That’s our reasonable service to God and living in the presence of the Risen Christ before Him we will press on to serve Him until He returns!