Sunday Wk 49: Wk 1

Candle #1:

(LIGHT the Hope Candle)

ADVENT IS OUR SPIRITUAL RESET FROM THE HOLLY TO THE HOLY!

We lean into Jesus and that is where we find true Hope, for He has defeated the enemy.

Where there is no Victor there is no HOPE.

Jesus is our Victor and there is Hope for Today.

Psalm 103.1-5

Psalm 103:1–5 NLT

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Candle #2:

(Lite the candle)

PREPARATION Wk 2

God’s Promised Peace (Shalom):

You likely already know the Hebrew word for peace: shalom.

The word shalom occurs over 250 times in the Old Testament and over the centuries religious scholars have used plenty of ink trying to reflect on its complex meaning and use.

Today, the term shalom has become so commonplace that people often use it interchangeably with the English word peace:

We see it on protest signs, in sitcom series, and even in home decor (e.g., “Shalom y’all!”).

However, the English word “peace” tends to mean something like “the lack of war or conflict.”

peace \ˈpēs\ noun

1: a state of tranquillity or quiet: asa: freedom from civil disturbance

b: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) (Peace)

While the biblical concept of shalom encompasses this sort of peace, it is only a part of what God promised his people in the days before the first advent of Jesus Christ.

As noted in the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, shalom includes peace, but also “wholeness, and well-being.”

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Peace

Peace. Total well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people.

Shalom is the ideal—for our individual lives and for that of God’s creation at large; it’s a return to God’s original creation, before it was marred by humanity’s sin.

Throughout the Old Testament, God unfolds his plan for re-establishing his shalom on Earth. Through the line of Abraham, God tells his people that they will bless all of humanity.

ezekiel 34.25

Ezekiel 34:25 NLT

“I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear.

He made “a covenant of peace” with them (Ezekiel 34: 24-25a) and promised to restore all things by sending a Savior.

This promised Messiah would be

Is. 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 (NLT)

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace

will never end.

Micah says, “He himself would be our peace” (Micah 5:5).

Fullness of Peace to Come

Many of us are familiar with the words of Luke 2 from Christmas plays past. Let me read starting in verse 10.

“...the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:10-14).

We know that Christ came to usher in a new era, and that by dying in our place, we can by faith “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Today, we take refuge in Jesus Christ’s words:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Through God’s Holy Spirit we experience this peace, which transcends all understanding and guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).

But God does not mean for us to just sit back and indulge in this peace.

He calls us to work along with the Spirit to restore God’s shalom here on Earth — to be Peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9).

Matt 5.9

Matthew 5:9 The Message

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

And so, as we reflect on God’s peace this Advent season, may we be reminded of our role:

to actively make peace as we await the fullness of God’s shalom through the second Advent of Jesus Christ.

How can you help usher in God’s peace this Christmas season?

Some ideas might be...

To set aside extra time for personal devotions,

To help a busy or overburdened friend,

To provide a meal for a family facing the anxiety of hunger.

Advent is the perfect time to commit to pursuing peace in your life and that of the greater world as we look ahead to the time of shalom:

Rev. 21.3-4

Revelation 21:3–4 NLT

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

LESSON: Do you see what I see?

How Do You See Yourself?

(https://www.pammorrisonministries.com/blog/god-see-me/)

In the story of Gideon, in chapter 6 of the Book of Judges, the angel of the Lord comes to meet him and says,

Judges 6.12

Judges 6:12 NLT

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

Judges 6.13

Judges 6:13 NLT

“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

Judges 6.14

Judges 6:14 NLT

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Judges 6.15

Judges 6:15 NLT

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

judges 6.16

Judges 6:16 NLT

The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

Do you think about yourself like Gideon did?

Sometimes, because of rejection, criticism, failures, and other forms of pain and hurt, we can come to think of ourselves as being not much.

We even operate under the view that God does not care for us much. We may think we have to strive and perform to try and get God to like us.

But, much of what we believe in our minds about God and ourselves may be fed by lies. When we begin to understand God’s heart towards us and His plans for us everything changes.

THIS SEASON WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS on

“Seeing How Father Sees Us” and

“What Father Says about us”

Rather than calling us inept, unloveable, or hopeless, God has very different view of us.

He has a totally different set of vocabulary in describing you and me.

For those who have come to faith in God through Christ, He says that we are both His children and a chosen race…a holy nation:

1 John 1.12

John 1:12 NLT

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

1 peter 2.9

1 Peter 2:9 NLT

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

These verses do not speak of our being unwanted or our being seen as nothing. Yes, we have a lot of growing up to do even after we become believers, but there is much good news about how God sees us.

He loves us deeply. What’s more:

1. He calls what is not into being.

Matt. 16.18

Matthew 16:18 NLT

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Peter had done nothing yet to earn that title or that much trust. In fact, he was known for being impulsive and lacking understanding of the mission of Jesus.

Romans 4.17

Romans 4:17 NET

(as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed—the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.

God brings good out in us. He brings out what He meant for us to be when He created us.

2. He looks at the heart not at the outside.

Furthermore, He looks at our hearts, not judging us from the outside as people tend to do. In the story about the prophet Samuel going to David’s family in 1 Samuel 16, Samuel arrives to anoint the next king. Eliab is the first brother he sees and Samuel thinks, “This one looks great! Surely he’s the next king.”

1 Sam 16.7

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

It’s such good news to know that God does not size us up the way the world does or even look at us in the harsh, critical way in which we often look at ourselves. He has a much kinder measuring system.

3. God treasures intentions more than results.

How does God see you?

God treasures what’s in your heart more than your performance.

This is very different from the way people size us up and from the way we compare ourselves to others.

In Luke 21:1-4, there is a beautiful story of a poor widow who comes to the Temple and stops to give her offering. Jesus is watching. She only puts in two small coins. So many others pass by and also put offering in the box, theirs being much more than hers but also what they could easily spare. Jesus’ praise for the woman was generous.

Luke 21.3-4

Luke 21:3–4 NLT

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

We must learn to See Ourselves As God Sees Us

In a book called Freedom From Addiction by Dr. Neil T. Anderson, there is a chart in the back of the book (Appendix A) with the title, Who I Am in Christ. What is written underneath this title can also be found on bookmarks sold by Dr. Anderson’s ministry, Freedom in Christ, at www.ficm.org.

Underneath “Who I Am in Christ,” are these three subheadings, I am Accepted, I am Secure, I am Significant. 

Beneath each of the subheadings are some statements for reading out loud – declaring about one’s self with an associated Bible verse.

Here are a few samples:

Col. 1.14

Colossians 1:14 The Message

the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

Rom. 8.1-2

Romans 8:1–2 NLT

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Eph 3.12

Ephesians 3:12 NLT

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Make it personal

I R E N O U N C E T H E L I E T H AT I A M R E J E C T E D , U N L O V E D , O R S H A M E F U L . IN CHRIST I AM ACCEPTED. GOD SAYS:

• I am God’s child (see John 1:12)

• I am Christ’s friend (see John 15:15)

• I have been justified (see Romans 5:1)

• I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:17)

• I have been bought with a price: I belong to God. (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

• I am a member of Christ’s Body (see 1 Corinthians 12:27)

• I am a saint, a holy one (see Ephesians 1:1)

• I have been adopted as God’s child (see Ephesians 1:5)

• I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 2:18)

• I have been forgiven of all my sins (see Colossians 1:14)

• I am complete in Christ (see Colossians 2:10)

I R E N O U N C E T H E L I E T H AT I A M G U I LT Y, U N P ROT E C T E D , A L O N E , OR ABANDONED. IN CHRIST I AM SECURE. GOD SAYS:

• I am free from condemnation (see Romans 8:1-2)

• I am assured that all things work together for good (see Romans 8:28)

• I am free from all condemning charges against me (see Romans 8:31-34)

• I cannot be separated from the love of God (see Romans 8:35-39)

• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

• I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (see Philippians 1:6)

• I am a citizen of heaven (see Philippians 3:20)

• I am hidden with Christ in God (see Colossians 3:3) • I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control (see 2 Timothy 1:7)

• I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16)

• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (see 1 John 5:18)

WHO I AM IN CHRIST

I R E N O U N C E T H E L I E T H AT I A M W O RT H L E S S , I N A D E Q U AT E , H E L P L E S S , OR HOPELESS. IN CHRIST I AM SIGNIFICANT. GOD SAYS:

• I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (see Matthew 5:13-14)

• I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus, a channel of His life (see John 15:1-5)

• I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit (see John 15:16)

• I am a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ (see Acts 1:8)

• I am a temple of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16)

• I am a minister of reconciliation for God (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

• I am a fellow worker with God (see 2 Corinthians 6:1)

• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (see Ephesians 2:6)

• I am God’s workmanship, created for good works (see Ephesians 2:10)

• I may approach God with freedom and confidence (see Ephesians 3:12)

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (see Philippians 4:13)

I AM NOT THE GREAT “I AM”, BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM

(see Exodus 3:14; John 8:24, 28, 58; 1 Corinthians 15:10)Romans 6:13; 12:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:9, 10.)

https://www.ficm.org/ministry-materials/free-downloads/

Closing

prayer- Thank you Father for preparing a way of escape from this turmoil through Jesus Christ. Your Peace leads us, heals us, and moves us forward in this walk with you....