Advent 2021 - Hope

Advent - Latin, adventus “coming”

(READ PSALM 112)

David is excited to worship with Israel in the tabernacle of Jerusalem.

12 tribes were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem at the annual festival.

David vows to pursue Jerusalem’s prosperity and security of that city and its people.

This is not how everything turned out. Several generations later, Israel would fall into obscurity and bondage.

“Oh how the mighty have fallen…”

(READ Isaiah 9:2;6-7)

“darkness” - obscurity

“great” - important

Darkness Will Be Reversed.

Israel and Judah were in bondage. Unable to live their life the way they want to.

“Darkness” = Death-like shadow over their life.

It had been this way for a long time.

Humiliated existence.

A “great light” would shine. Hope in the midst of the darkness.

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. From then on Jesus began to preach, ‘repent, because the kingdom of Heaven has come near.” - Matthew 4:16-17

The tragedy this pandemic has had on the elderly is very dark and demonic.

The Christmas story is our reminder that God will reverse all pain and misfortune for His people.

All sin will be removed. God sent Immanuel to be with us.

WE have the joy of anticipating the 2nd Advent.

“We celebrate the 1st Advent to whet our appetites for the 2nd. We long for the next coming.” - Mac Lucado

As we celebrate the coming of Jesus into Bethlehem, we long for His coming to bring His children into Heaven.

The Promise of Fulfillment is the Birth of a King.

Born of human advantage. Given by the Lord.

His peoples shoulders will find rest when the Messiah accepts the burden of rule.

“Wonderful Counselor” - “a Wonder of a Counselor”.

(Pele) Nearest word in the Hebrew language to supernatural.

“Mighty God” - “God-like Hero”

(1 Sam 8) When the people requested a King they wished to replace the episodic rule of the Judges with the permanency of monarchy.

The King to come is ultimate fulfillment of this longing.

“Everlasting Father” - Concern and Discipline

“Prince of Peace” - (administrator) His rule provides a benefit of peace. Political ramifications.

Verse 7 talks about the multifaceted aspects of God’s kingdom.

The churches mission is to point people to the Kingdom.

“Many Christians misunderstand these aspects of the kingdom, thereby marginalizing its authority and influence in their lives and in the land. Some have so spiritualized the kingdom, that there was a sad reduction of the vast socioethical implications of the church, creating an organism that offers little power to transforming society.” - Tony Evans

How does the kingdom of God impact our community?

Christians serve together.

The poor and marginalized experience the kingdom early and often.

Battles are waged against sin instead of people.

The gospel is proclaimed to others and ourselves.

We make disciples.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”