The Waiting Room
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Anticipation is Building!
Anticipation is Building!
Christmas is upon us! Do you remember this exact reaction to Santa when you were a kid? Remember the anticipation of waiting for Christmas morning?
Christmas is upon us! Do you remember this exact reaction to Santa when you were a kid? Remember the anticipation of waiting for Christmas morning?
We waited day after day after day for what seemed like years because we knew that Santa was going to come. We waited knowing that on Christmas Day Santa would leave us presents under the tree and that we would be able to add to the collection of toys that we had in our rooms!
We waited day after day after day for what seemed like years because we knew that Santa was going to come. We waited knowing that on Christmas Day Santa would leave us presents under the tree and that we would be able to add to the collection of toys that we had in our rooms!
I vividly remember this one time I wrote to Santa and the only thing I wanted was a drum set! Why I wanted a drum set I’m not sure because I can’t even clap my hands on a beat!
I vividly remember this one time I wrote to Santa and the only thing I wanted was a drum set! Why I wanted a drum set I’m not sure because I can’t even clap my hands on a beat!
But I anticipated waking up on Christmas morning to a drum set in hopes to be a rockstar! So that entire night I barely slept and as I stayed awake I kept listening for reindeer on the roof because the moment I heard them I was going to run downstairs and wake up the whole house with my awesome drum solo! Needless to say Santa is an expert at silence and I never heard him and fell asleep!
But I anticipated waking up on Christmas morning to a drum set in hopes to be a rockstar! So that entire night I barely slept and as I stayed awake I kept listening for reindeer on the roof because the moment I heard them I was going to run downstairs and wake up the whole house with my awesome drum solo! Needless to say Santa is an expert at silence and I never heard him and fell asleep!
Christmas Morning I woke up and JUMPED down all the stairs and my anticipation of the drum set had become a reality! There by the tree was a Maroon drum set that only got played for around a month!
Christmas Morning I woke up and JUMPED down all the stairs and my anticipation of the drum set had become a reality! There by the tree was a Maroon drum set that only got played for around a month!
The anticipation for Christmas Morning is unlike any other!
The anticipation for Christmas Morning is unlike any other!
We waited patiently because we were certain that Santa was coming. Just like we waited knowing Santa was coming advent is the waiting for the coming of Christ and we can be assured that Jesus will come back as he promised! We have read and heard the Birth of Christ and now we are anticipating the second coming. The bonus of us waiting though is that unlike Elf where Buddy realizes that the Santa at the mall was an imposter. We know that the real Jesus that was God in the Flesh is coming back for us!
We waited patiently because we were certain that Santa was coming. Just like we waited knowing Santa was coming advent is the waiting for the coming of Christ and we can be assured that Jesus will come back as he promised! We have read and heard the Birth of Christ and now we are anticipating the second coming. The bonus of us waiting though is that unlike Elf where Buddy realizes that the Santa at the mall was an imposter. We know that the real Jesus that was God in the Flesh is coming back for us!
This morning we are going to be in the familiar Christmas passage Isaiah 9 as we read we should be eagerly waiting for Christ to return again.
This morning we are going to be in the familiar Christmas passage Isaiah 9 as we read we should be eagerly waiting for Christ to return again.
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 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.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah is looking towards the First Advent and is looking with:
Isaiah is looking towards the First Advent and is looking with:
1. Eager Anticipation
1. Eager Anticipation
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
Isaiah was written close to 700 years before the birth of Christ! Think about the waiting anticipation that Isaiah was going through!
Isaiah was written close to 700 years before the birth of Christ! Think about the waiting anticipation that Isaiah was going through!
His ministry was a ministry in which he would scream for people to repent and listen to the prophesies but NO ONE would ever listen or pay any attention to him!
His entire ministry was built on screaming and proclaiming the coming of Christ and everyone ignoring him!
If anyone was waiting for Christ to come so that he could prove people that he was in fact correct it was Isaiah!
If anyone was waiting for Christ to come so that he could prove people that he was in fact correct it was Isaiah!
But Isaiah in the first couples of verses in this chapter is prophesying Jesus’s earthly ministry. He is prophesying the moment in which a whole new aspect of people are able to enter into glory.
A group of people who were in hopeless despair had the opportunity to experience the Glory of God through the birth of the savior! This group of people who are in the darkness and will see a light are the Gentiles!
A group of people who were in hopeless despair had the opportunity to experience the Glory of God through the birth of the savior! This group of people who are in the darkness and will see a light are the Gentiles!
Remember last week when Danny was preaching of Paul going on his missionary journeys? Who was he going to preach too? THE GENTILES!!
Remember last week when Danny was preaching of Paul going on his missionary journeys? Who was he going to preach too? THE GENTILES!!
The group of people in which Peter and Paul shared is the group of people Isaiah is prophesying about being reached. The gentiles who lived in darkness will see the light. God is revealed to them through the the birth of his Son.
We are the Gentiles that are reached through the first advent!
We are the group of people who are blessed through the:
We are the group of people who are blessed through the:
2. Miraculous Victory
2. Miraculous Victory
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
The anticipation increases drastically for the Prophet Isaiah as he is now proclaiming the future glory that will be presented to the people that are ignoring him!
Isaiah is prophesying the Joy that the people will be able to experience through the coming of Christ. Through the coming of his sacrifice. Through the coming of his ministry.
Isaiah is prophesying the Joy that the people will be able to experience through the coming of Christ. Through the coming of his sacrifice. Through the coming of his ministry.
Isaiah is waiting for the day in which the people he is urging to listen will be accepted as God’s children.
They will rejoice and have joy as in the harvest.
People will be rejoicing because they know there is enough to last.
As farmers who make it to the harvest are relieved and filled with Joy knowing that they have enough to provide for their families both financially and physically for their families.
As farmers who make it to the harvest are relieved and filled with Joy knowing that they have enough to provide for their families both financially and physically for their families.
The other comparison for rejoicing is the warriors dividing the plunder. Imagine being in a life or death battle and winning then dividing the treasures among the others. What joy must be experienced in the moment. The moment know that you don’t have to fight anymore. The moment knowing there is a reward sitting in front of you. The moment knowing there is no more work to be done to enjoy the treasures.
The other comparison for rejoicing is the warriors dividing the plunder. Imagine being in a life or death battle and winning then dividing the treasures among the others. What joy must be experienced in the moment. The moment know that you don’t have to fight anymore. The moment knowing there is a reward sitting in front of you. The moment knowing there is no more work to be done to enjoy the treasures.
This joy that is happening though is only possible through a miracle from God. Isaiah then goes back to the days of Midian. In which Gideon lead an army of 300 against thousands of Midianites. This battle seemed hopeless from the beginning and then Gideon only armed the 300 with a trumpet and jar with a candle in it. These men are now charged with fighting with a trumpet and jar. But God works a miracle and Gideon’s army won the fight.
This joy that is happening though is only possible through a miracle from God. Isaiah then goes back to the days of Midian. In which Gideon lead an army of 300 against thousands of Midianites. This battle seemed hopeless from the beginning and then Gideon only armed the 300 with a trumpet and jar with a candle in it. These men are now charged with fighting with a trumpet and jar. But God works a miracle and Gideon’s army won the fight.
We rejoice in the birth of Christ because it is the only way that We can be made righteous.
We rejoice in the anticipation of what is to come because we know that God does not fail on his promises.
We rejoice in the anticipation of what is to come because we know that God does not fail on his promises.
We also see in these verses where God use what was once meant for destruction and evil to be used for a purpose. The blood soaked garments and boots are now used as fuel for the fire!
What was originally meant for evil through Christ is made useful.
The most special thing about Advent though is that this savior is not a powerful dictator but rather a child is the:
The most special thing about Advent though is that this savior is not a powerful dictator but rather a child is the:
3. Unique Conquerer
3. Unique Conquerer
6 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.
The answer to the war that was talked about and the glory that is to come is not an event that happens but rather a person who is to come.
The surprising conqueror who allows for us to be made righteous is not this superhero in appearance but rather comes to earth as a child.
The surprising conqueror who allows for us to be made righteous is not this superhero in appearance but rather comes to earth as a child.
Jesus is to be born and the entire world changes from that moment on.
This child will take bear the weight of the government on his shoulders and will not crumble under this burden.
Whenever you look at the governments that have been set up throughout the civilization there has never been a perfect government. Even the democracy that we live in today is still far from perfect! Winston Churchhill explains democracy as this:
Whenever you look at the governments that have been set up throughout the civilization there has never been a perfect government. Even the democracy that we live in today is still far from perfect! Winston Churchhill explains democracy as this:
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those others forms that have been tried from time to time.”
So for their to be a perfect government then that must be based around one person and that person is named:
So for their to be a perfect government then that must be based around one person and that person is named:
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Let’s briefly break down these names:
Wonderful Counselor: Perfectly wise… Jesus came to do signs and miracles and did so by giving wisdom through his teaching!
Mighty God: This is the definition of Jesus Christ! He came to this earth as a baby but don’t let that fool you! He is God in the flesh! Jesus Christ is a divine warrior and there is no one like Him. Jesus came to Conquer sin and death and did so through his life. Christmas is a time to look at the birth but also remember who what Jesus did for us all.
Everlasting Father: Jesus is eternal! Jesus always was and always will be and the name everlasting father implies the love and care Jesus has for us and those who were around him.
Prince of Peace: Jesus ushers in peace with God! Most if not all national leaders lead with destruction and war. Jesus leads with peace in the victory. The overarching hope for the world is Peace and Jesus brings that on a grander scale than we could ever imagine. Jesus allows for us to have peace with the Creator of the universe!
Jesus Christ is perfectly Wise, divine warrior, eternal caretaker, and provider of peace!
Jesus Christ is perfectly Wise, divine warrior, eternal caretaker, and provider of peace!
The waiting for a savior has ended but the waiting for perfection has just begun.
When Jesus returns again he is going to fulfill what the world has been longing for!
Jesus is the:
Jesus is the:
4. Future Fulfillment
4. Future Fulfillment
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Advent is us looking towards the future fulfillment of God’s promises. We have seen the advent from Isaiah’s perspective of the birth of Christ.
Our waiting is for Christ to return and us be united with him for ever! The bonus to our waiting unlike the scene in Elf where Buddy realizes that Santa is a fake our hope rest in a true reality.
Isaiah prophesied the birth and it came to pass. Isaiah is also prophesying the future and it will happen as well!
Now this Isaiah’s perspective of future reign.
The increase of his government and of peace will never end!
Through multiple sources the increase means that there will be nothing out of the reign of Christ. Others also include that the knowledge that we will increase infinitely and our love for God will increase daily and never end!
Heaven will be a place in which we love Christ more and more daily. What a surprise! Heaven is a place we fall in love with the person that made us righteous!
Jesus also upholds the promise of David where his heir will be on the throne forever and ever.
Throughout all of the unrest in this nation they have all chanted for justice. But if we are honest that is what everyone wants but the justice that we see is never truly just.
However, when Jesus returns he will bring complete justice and rule continuously with it! There will be no more injustice and no more false accusation because the world will be as it was meant to be.
As we eagerly wait for the future fulfillment of Christ we can know that it is not a false waiting or a false hope but that Christ will return and make the world as it was meant to be.
While we are in the waiting room we need to continually look to Christ and serve Christ. We need to worship Christ as he deserves. We need to be hopefully waiting and proclaiming his coming.
This morning as we enter into our advent series let us look towards the second coming with Eager Anticipation.
That Anticipation is built around following what God is calling each of us to do… Whether that is salvaiton, Missions, joining a church, or whatever! We will be in the foyer ready to talk and listen to however God is calling you to respond!
That Anticipation is built around following what God is calling each of us to do… Whether that is salvaiton, Missions, joining a church, or whatever! We will be in the foyer ready to talk and listen to however God is calling you to respond!