Watching and Waiting

Advent Candle Lighting

ALL: WE ARE PRISONERS OF HOPE.

Reader(s): God’s people do not put their hope in possessions, in rulers, or in systems and structures.

ALL: OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD.

Reader(s): God’s people learn to be patient in suffering because they know that suffering produces endurance and

that endurance produces character.

ALL: AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE, AND HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT US.

Reader(s): Give thanks to God always because of the grace that has been given to us in Christ Jesus.

ALL: THROUGH HIM WE HAVE BECOME RICH IN HOPE.

Reader(s): We are not missing any spiritual gift while we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

ALL: OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD. LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING.

Scripture

Mark 13:23–37 CEB

But you, watch out! I’ve told you everything ahead of time. “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”

Intro: Watch and Wait

WAW medical abbreviation..

Move 1: Advent

Watching and Waiting

Move 2: The Watch

4 night watches

1st watch 6-9

2nd watch 9-12

3rd watch 12-3

4th watch 3-6

3. The 4th watch is the most strategical

4. Biblically, stategic things happened on the 4th watch

1-Jacob wrestled with the angel

2- Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea

3- Peter an Jesus walk on water

4- Angels annouce the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds

5. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead..

Transition: There is something special about this 4th watch… Ever wake about between 3 and 6 in the morning and feel something...

This 4th watch is a sacred watch.

Move 3: The Watchman.

Tools… Stick /Spear, Lantern

Protect, Secure, Call out the time and the weather every hour

Problem… They would often fall asleep...

Transition: These wathman were common in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. However, the earlier form of the wtachman was different and this has huge implications for our text today.

Move 4: Euangelizo

In Jesus’ day a watchman had a little different role

If your village was engaged in a battle the rule was “To the victor belongs the spoils”

It was all or nothing....If you won you got all.. including your opponent… Men were killed, Children were made slaves, women were raped and forced into servitude

So there was a watchmen appointed to report to the village the status of the battle.

If your village was losing the idea was the watchman might be able to give a heads up so that those in the vilage might be able to escape..

These watchman would run from the battle field back to the village to give there report.

They would yell out at the top of their lungs this word…Euangelion!! Euangelion!!

Which translated is.... Good News…Good News… We are Saved...

Move 5: Significance

Luke 4:18 CEB

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed,

Jesus is our Watchman!!!

Isaiah 52:7 CEB

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of a messenger who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God rules!”

Thomas Aquinas:

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.

Conclusion:

So as we begin this Advent season of Wathcing and Waiting may we decalre to the world…Euangelion!! Euangelion!! We are saved!! Because our Hope is that all the Earth wiil receive her King!!!