“Rejoice in What God Brings” Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11
It’s tough to be sad a Christmas time. Lots of people are.
The children told me that getting presents makes them happy. It’s part of the “joy” of Christmas.
The children were sad to learn that many children get no presents for Christmas; many children haven’t even heard about Christmas. They don’t know that Jesus came. That makes me sad.
Elizabeth and John the Baptist visited us on Sunday morning. (Thanks Gwen and Doug.) Elizabeth reminded us that John had the joy of announcing good news to the people – that Christmas (the Messiah) was coming. It’s feels good to make others happy.
John the Baptist proclaimed that the people needed to repent and get ready for Jesus’ coming into the world and into their lives. The Old Testament predicted that John would do that (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Jesus and the New Testament writers often quoted from the Old Testament. There are two books they quote more than any other.
Deuteronomy – calls us to understand God’s liberation from the things that bind us, and teach that the law shows our obedience after our salvation.
Isaiah – shows God’s interaction in the lives of people living the Kingdom of God, and a hope for the future – the coming Christ, the Savior, the one who will change everything – for the good, it will be better. God is going to bring a time when all our problems and difficulties will be over; and God is going to give us hope to keep going while we wait.
After the prophets, there was a long silence from God … more than 400 years … before God sent the messiah.
That’s a lot of waiting; I imagine that people were at the end of hope, near giving up.
And then it started … God’s presence and message was heard again.
It started with two pregnant women – probably cousins – a young girl and an old woman get pregnant … and all of the sudden, everything is different – the world is about to change.
The first pregnancy leads to the birth of John to Elizabeth and Zechariah.
His dad is so happy that he breaks into song (the Adult Sunday School classes studied his singing). John grows up to be a wild man (I imagine he looks kind of like what a guy looks like after he’s been hunting for a week or two).
His message: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” “Get Ready!” “Christmas is coming!”
And what does all his faithfulness to God get him? What is his earthly reward for following God? He’s thrown in prison, caught up in a political struggle and a struggle with the family of Herod, the so-called ‘king of the Jews.”
You see …, Herod the Great had 6 children by 4 women (he’s the one who had the children of the Bethlehem area killed). Herod Antipas was his 4th child and Herod Philip I was his 5th child. Herod Antipas married Philip’s wife Herodias. Philip was Herod’s half brother (Herod the Great was father of both, but Malthace was Herod Antippas’ mother and Cleopatra was Philips mother). John the Baptist criticized Herod for marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias, who stayed married to Philip even though she married Herod. Salome was Herod Antipas’ neice (and step-daughter), daughter of Philip and Herodias; Salome danced for him at Herod’s birthday party and Herod granted her one wish.
John the Baptist lost his head, because of a birthday wish (see Matthew 14:1-12). Being faithful to God got him killed. The Christmas story is full of sadness; it’s tough to be sad at Christmas time.
The second pregnancy leads to the birth of Jesus, son of Mary (and Joseph is what most of the world thought, but God is really the father). That makes Jesus the Son of God. Remember when he was baptized by John? God said, “This is my Son, who makes me happy.”
Well, our Scripture passage (Matthew 11:2-11) takes place when Jesus is starting his ministry and John is in jail. John starts doubting if Jesus is really the one he told everyone was coming. John doubted Christmas. Sad.
John send his people to ask, “Jesus, are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
So here we are … The Christmas story starts with two pregnant women.
We live in a world of pregnant expectation: Here I go with another analogy. As Christians, each of us is like a pregnant woman.
The Christ is here. But he’s in our lives, filling us with hope and joy; we have the glow of an expectant mom (after the time of morning sickness).
The Christ is coming again (and we anxiously wait for the day to arrive).
In the meantime – we live our lives in pregnant expectation.
Do you have that joyful glow?
Joyful in what God has done / joyful in what God has promised.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
What’s going to make you happy for Christmas? Are you waiting for the advertisement to come in the mail? To be shown on TV?
We get junk mail, see billboards, hear TV & Radio adds, infomercials; everything promises that this thing, or program, or whatever will make you happy. You’ll get what you want … if only you buy.
It’s easy to get caught up in it – a coupon comes in the mail (50% off any item), “Biggest Sale of the Season,” “Nothing says I love you like Jewelry.” Etc. Consumerism drives the USA economy – retail sales is the biggest sector of our economy – Economists tell us if people stop buying, the economy is going to tank. Sad.
In the attack on the twin towers – more than 2000 people, from many countries died.
Part of the response of our government was to encourage the US population to go shopping, make purchases, don’t let this thing stop our economy – buy, buy, buy. Sad.
At Christmas time a boy decided to go over Santa’s head and write to God.
He wrote to explain to God why he should receive a bicycle for Christmas.
He wrote several drafts, explaining why his behavior and attitude merited a bicycle; each ended up in the trash. He just wasn’t good enough or special enough to merit the bike.
Finally he walks to the manger scene in front of a local church and steals the baby Jesus out of the manger.
He writes, “Dear God, if you ever want to see your son again, send me a bicycle.”
Some people think that you can hold the true meaning of Christmas hostage for some presents. It won’t work. Sad.
WHAT’S THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS?
For many, Christmas means giving and receiving gifts. You might say, in jest of course, “I enjoy your presents (not presence) at Christmas, so if you don’t bring any, don’t bother coming.”
For many Christmas is gifts and shopping … January can bring – broken toys and credit card payments.
In the midst of rampant consumerism (our culture) … the Church in 20th century America celebrates the arrival of a baby into a poor family, who flees political persecution, grows up in a poor town, has a following of a few thousand at best, is framed in a corrupt legal system, and condemned to capital punishment as a common criminal. He rises from the dead, and promises to return.
Here we are, the church in the world. It’s material goods vs. Jesus again.
We celebrate the arrival of Jesus … in the midst of rampant consumerism. It’s a tough message to bring.
So … the question remains: What makes you happy? What brings you joy?
For the world, the answer is: “Things.”
For God and his Church: “Jesus brings true joy.”
John the Baptist asks Jesus, “Are you the one?” “Is this what we’ve all been waiting for?”
Jesus replies – indirectly, “here’s what’s happening, you figure it out.”
It’s what Isaiah said would happen when the messiah appears: blind receive sight, lame walk, disease is cured, deaf hear, dead receive life, the poor get good news.
Things are changing; lives are changing. The messiah is beginning to change the old order of things.
GOD BRINGS TRUE JOY TO US
We live in a world of blindness, lameness, disease, deafness, poverty, even death itself – these are not part of God’s eternal plan for us. They’re not what God wants. They’re not part of God’s will.
They exist because we live in a world of darkness – but the message of Christmas is that “a light has come in the darkness.” God is starting to change things.
What better news do you want?
With Jesus in our lives – things change: our lives … and ultimately, the lives of those we come into contact with.
The world we know wants material things for Christmas – these will bring happiness for a short time.
God brings Jesus to the world for Christmas – Jesus brings true happiness and eternal joy.
Has Christmas come for you? Has Jesus come into your life?
What is the evidence of Jesus in your life?
A changed life brings real joy. Do you have the Joy of the Lord in your life?
GOD BRINGS JOY TO OTHERS THROUGH US
Jesus in us bringing change to a world that needs faith, hope and love.
As a church we are involved in all sorts of ministries. Why? God’s joy is gushing out of our life.
The dead are raised – every life you help bring to Christ, is saved from eternal death. The dead are raised to eternal life.
I was reading through some of our old missionary letters. I was reminded of the story of Alfonzo. My wife, Francesca, helped start a ministry in Bolivia that is now known as “Casa de la Amistad” (Friendship House). They ministered to children who lived in prison with their mothers (That’s a long story for another time).
Alfonzo’s Mother was a rough woman, in for drug trafficking among other charges.
Every year “La Casa” holds a Christmas part for the kids (they could come out of the jail). That year, it was a great party. The kids were so excited; they were jumping around, and singing and shouting – pure chaos … pure joy.
Alfonzo (about 13) was especially happy - he’d never had a Christmas gift before. If that wasn’t enough to make him truly happy, he told us that he received the true meaning of Christmas – he accepted Jesus into his heart. It was a happiness (joy) that could never be taken from him.
God wants to bring true joy into your lives this Christmas.
God wants you to bring his message of joy to others this Christmas.
When you have the Joy of Christmas in your life, it bubbles over into the lives of others.
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
True joy, true happiness is found in relationship with Jesus.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Sermon Synopsis for December 09, 2007
“Take Heart in God” Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13
Do you ever give up? Did you ever “write-off” someone or something as hopeless?
We had a visit from Isaiah. Isaiah reminds me of the time, when I was in high school, I asked a girl to go out with me. She said, “In your dreams!”
I gave up; it was hopeless. That was a dream that was probably not going to happen.
Isaiah had a dream; God gave it to him. It was about a coming time when God was going to set things straight. The world of Isaiah’s day told him (sarcasm noted), “In your dreams.”
Was it really possible that a beaten down people of God would rise again? Is a world of true peace possible? Isaiah thought so.
About 800 years later, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. They were a mixed bunch of Jews and non-Jews. The thing they had in common was their faith in Jesus. The world around them was a mess; Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to have hope.
Where do we find hope? Where do we look for hope?
God wants us to be people of endurance and encouragement: The OT message was written so that we might have endurance and encouragement.
Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
WE LIVE IN A WORLD FULL OF TROUBLES
There’s plenty of war & conflict – Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Wazirstan (Pakistan), Thailand, Somalia, Palestine/ Israel – just to name a few.
There are natural disasters: earthquakes, tidal waves, fires, hurricanes, etc.
How about Hunger, poverty, sickness (AIDS, Cancer, etc.)
There are Families breaking up; divorce is up; illegitimate child bearing and teenage pregnancy is up this year – first time in 14 years we’re told.
Even Churches have fights, divisions, splits, etc.
Are you depressed yet?
BUT WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE
Isaiah told the people that a day was coming when:
11:1 – There will be a return of God’s Kingdom (A shoot will return out of the stump of Jesse)
A stump is nothing more than the remains of a tree that has been cut down. It’s usually been cut down because you want to get rid of the tree. You need to get the roots out, to keep them from growing.
Once we tried to remove a stump with a quarter stick of dynamite. We had a pretty good hole to fill in. (Kids: don’t try this at home.) The next spring a shoot grew up from a root we missed.
Israel, time and time again, was cut down, but God gave new growth.
Isaiah tells us, that it will not only grow new shoots, but it will grow into a mighty tree, a tree that will bear fruit. Isaiah tells God’s people, “Don’t give up. Take heart! Have hope.” God’s people are a people of hope.
Hope comes through endurance and encouragement.
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF ENDURANCE
For all that the world does to get rid of God and his people, to get rid of Christ and the church, it will never go away.
There is a crèche on the Courthouse lawn in West Chester. It reminds me of the legal battles going on in many communities. In many ways we live in a culture that seeks to rid itself of its Christian heritage.
I don’t care so much about nativity scenes, 10 commandment plaques or even prayer in public meeting. These issues are symptoms of a much deeper crisis that the American culture is experiencing.
I do care about a living and breathing faith in a people who will take Christianity seriously in all aspects of their lives.
We shouldn’t be content to have a crèche scene on the courthouse lawn – we should seek to change this world for Christ. How can we do that?
1. Pray. Real prayer centers on God and God’s will. I had to learn not to think about myself when I prayed. Prayer isn’t self-centered; it’s to be Christ-centered. Maybe I can’t change things, but I can take them to the one who can.
2. Live our lives according to God’s will.
I’ve had a number of interesting counseling situations when I worked for Contact Clinic on Wilshire Blvd in LA. People expected me to change things for them.
I can’t change your life. I can’t make decisions for you. I can’t make you live according to God’s plan for humanity.
I can suggest, I can encourage, I can help. But in the end – you are responsible for your own life, your own decisions.
But I can do something – I can live my life according to God’s will. I can’t change your life – God has to do that, but I can change my own life.
Even if our culture wants to take Christ out of Christmas – I don’t have to, my family doesn’t have to, my church doesn’t have to.
Sometimes we care more about having a nativity scene in the town square, than we do about having our neighbors know that the living Christ has been born into our lives.
Isaiah’s message was that you can cut Christianity down (Jesse Tree), but it will keep going: we are a people of endurance.
Apostle Paul says that this is something the church needs.
Colossians 1:11 “Be strengthened with all power according to His (God’s) glorious might, so that you might have great endurance and patience.”
This old world may seem hopeless, but Take Heart! God is in control. I know this, because he’s in control of my life.
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Paul said that our attitude should be that of Christ.
How’s that? It’s not condemning, but encouraging.
John 3:17 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Too often we think that it’s our Christian duty to condemn the world. WWJD.
I don’t think you can change the world by force – the history of the world is full of dictators and regimes that have sought to impose a political ideology.
Bolivia is notable in the history books. It’s had more governments than it has had years of existence as a country. One day there were six government changes, a series of coups, and just as one president established himself and started to set up his government, another group came in and conquered them.
Don’t forget our violent Mennonite History (I talked about this before). Jan van Battenburg tried to establish the Kingdom of God in Münster (The Münster Rebellion of 1535) … by force (It was Liberation Theology at its worst). It didn’t last long.
We can bring change in our culture simply by living our faith, by encouragement not by force.
We are a people of endurance, a people of encouragement.
OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD
Isaiah was either right or part of the lunatic fringe.
Isaiah had a vision, a dream: God will bring a leader that will lead with justice and fairness.
The World told Isaiah, “Get real Isaiah. Welcome to the real world.”
Isaiah had a vision that dangerous animals will live together with defenseless animals (reminiscent of Noah’s Ark – Remember our visit from Mrs. Noah last week!)
Wolfs and lambs mixing together, leopards and goats, lions and calves, cows and bears.
The world responds, “Isaiah, you are out of touch with reality. The world doesn’t function that way.”
Isaiah said that a baby will play where snakes live.
The world responds, “Isaiah, don’t you know about child safety laws?” Nobody is going to send their kids to Isaiah’s preschool!
Isaiah tells us (11:9) that it will be that kind of world because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (as the waters cover the sea).”
In the face of the world – Isaiah is a crazy man.
Why? Because of his faith in the Lord; because of the message that the Lord has given to him.
How about the Christmas story: Mary – pregnant out of wedlock, with a wild story about God making her pregnant …God tells her this will be the savior of the world.
The world responds … “you’re nuts” Christmas is a lot easier when it’s about trees, snow, presents, and Santa.
Near the end of his time on earth, Jesus was gathered with his closest disciples, in an upper room in Jerusalem. There was a lot of political tension; there was a lot of religious tension. He had told them he was going away – he would be killed – they would scatter – they were about to face the worst situation of their lives.
Then he said (John 16:33), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But Take Heart! I have overcome the world.”
It starts with us – a group of disciples in a world of trouble.
We are a people of endurance in a world of trouble.
We are a people of encouragement in a world of trouble.
We are a people filled with the Spirit of the living God, the one who has overcome the world.
Take Heart! Our Lord Jesus has overcome the world.
We don’t need to try to overcome the world by ourselves; we need to have our lives firmly grounded in the one who has overcome the world.
My wish for you today is the same one that the Apostle Paul had for the church in Rome.
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Do you ever give up? Did you ever “write-off” someone or something as hopeless?
We had a visit from Isaiah. Isaiah reminds me of the time, when I was in high school, I asked a girl to go out with me. She said, “In your dreams!”
I gave up; it was hopeless. That was a dream that was probably not going to happen.
Isaiah had a dream; God gave it to him. It was about a coming time when God was going to set things straight. The world of Isaiah’s day told him (sarcasm noted), “In your dreams.”
Was it really possible that a beaten down people of God would rise again? Is a world of true peace possible? Isaiah thought so.
About 800 years later, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. They were a mixed bunch of Jews and non-Jews. The thing they had in common was their faith in Jesus. The world around them was a mess; Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to have hope.
Where do we find hope? Where do we look for hope?
God wants us to be people of endurance and encouragement: The OT message was written so that we might have endurance and encouragement.
Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
WE LIVE IN A WORLD FULL OF TROUBLES
There’s plenty of war & conflict – Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Wazirstan (Pakistan), Thailand, Somalia, Palestine/ Israel – just to name a few.
There are natural disasters: earthquakes, tidal waves, fires, hurricanes, etc.
How about Hunger, poverty, sickness (AIDS, Cancer, etc.)
There are Families breaking up; divorce is up; illegitimate child bearing and teenage pregnancy is up this year – first time in 14 years we’re told.
Even Churches have fights, divisions, splits, etc.
Are you depressed yet?
BUT WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE
Isaiah told the people that a day was coming when:
11:1 – There will be a return of God’s Kingdom (A shoot will return out of the stump of Jesse)
A stump is nothing more than the remains of a tree that has been cut down. It’s usually been cut down because you want to get rid of the tree. You need to get the roots out, to keep them from growing.
Once we tried to remove a stump with a quarter stick of dynamite. We had a pretty good hole to fill in. (Kids: don’t try this at home.) The next spring a shoot grew up from a root we missed.
Israel, time and time again, was cut down, but God gave new growth.
Isaiah tells us, that it will not only grow new shoots, but it will grow into a mighty tree, a tree that will bear fruit. Isaiah tells God’s people, “Don’t give up. Take heart! Have hope.” God’s people are a people of hope.
Hope comes through endurance and encouragement.
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF ENDURANCE
For all that the world does to get rid of God and his people, to get rid of Christ and the church, it will never go away.
There is a crèche on the Courthouse lawn in West Chester. It reminds me of the legal battles going on in many communities. In many ways we live in a culture that seeks to rid itself of its Christian heritage.
I don’t care so much about nativity scenes, 10 commandment plaques or even prayer in public meeting. These issues are symptoms of a much deeper crisis that the American culture is experiencing.
I do care about a living and breathing faith in a people who will take Christianity seriously in all aspects of their lives.
We shouldn’t be content to have a crèche scene on the courthouse lawn – we should seek to change this world for Christ. How can we do that?
1. Pray. Real prayer centers on God and God’s will. I had to learn not to think about myself when I prayed. Prayer isn’t self-centered; it’s to be Christ-centered. Maybe I can’t change things, but I can take them to the one who can.
2. Live our lives according to God’s will.
I’ve had a number of interesting counseling situations when I worked for Contact Clinic on Wilshire Blvd in LA. People expected me to change things for them.
I can’t change your life. I can’t make decisions for you. I can’t make you live according to God’s plan for humanity.
I can suggest, I can encourage, I can help. But in the end – you are responsible for your own life, your own decisions.
But I can do something – I can live my life according to God’s will. I can’t change your life – God has to do that, but I can change my own life.
Even if our culture wants to take Christ out of Christmas – I don’t have to, my family doesn’t have to, my church doesn’t have to.
Sometimes we care more about having a nativity scene in the town square, than we do about having our neighbors know that the living Christ has been born into our lives.
Isaiah’s message was that you can cut Christianity down (Jesse Tree), but it will keep going: we are a people of endurance.
Apostle Paul says that this is something the church needs.
Colossians 1:11 “Be strengthened with all power according to His (God’s) glorious might, so that you might have great endurance and patience.”
This old world may seem hopeless, but Take Heart! God is in control. I know this, because he’s in control of my life.
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Paul said that our attitude should be that of Christ.
How’s that? It’s not condemning, but encouraging.
John 3:17 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Too often we think that it’s our Christian duty to condemn the world. WWJD.
I don’t think you can change the world by force – the history of the world is full of dictators and regimes that have sought to impose a political ideology.
Bolivia is notable in the history books. It’s had more governments than it has had years of existence as a country. One day there were six government changes, a series of coups, and just as one president established himself and started to set up his government, another group came in and conquered them.
Don’t forget our violent Mennonite History (I talked about this before). Jan van Battenburg tried to establish the Kingdom of God in Münster (The Münster Rebellion of 1535) … by force (It was Liberation Theology at its worst). It didn’t last long.
We can bring change in our culture simply by living our faith, by encouragement not by force.
We are a people of endurance, a people of encouragement.
OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD
Isaiah was either right or part of the lunatic fringe.
Isaiah had a vision, a dream: God will bring a leader that will lead with justice and fairness.
The World told Isaiah, “Get real Isaiah. Welcome to the real world.”
Isaiah had a vision that dangerous animals will live together with defenseless animals (reminiscent of Noah’s Ark – Remember our visit from Mrs. Noah last week!)
Wolfs and lambs mixing together, leopards and goats, lions and calves, cows and bears.
The world responds, “Isaiah, you are out of touch with reality. The world doesn’t function that way.”
Isaiah said that a baby will play where snakes live.
The world responds, “Isaiah, don’t you know about child safety laws?” Nobody is going to send their kids to Isaiah’s preschool!
Isaiah tells us (11:9) that it will be that kind of world because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (as the waters cover the sea).”
In the face of the world – Isaiah is a crazy man.
Why? Because of his faith in the Lord; because of the message that the Lord has given to him.
How about the Christmas story: Mary – pregnant out of wedlock, with a wild story about God making her pregnant …God tells her this will be the savior of the world.
The world responds … “you’re nuts” Christmas is a lot easier when it’s about trees, snow, presents, and Santa.
Near the end of his time on earth, Jesus was gathered with his closest disciples, in an upper room in Jerusalem. There was a lot of political tension; there was a lot of religious tension. He had told them he was going away – he would be killed – they would scatter – they were about to face the worst situation of their lives.
Then he said (John 16:33), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But Take Heart! I have overcome the world.”
It starts with us – a group of disciples in a world of trouble.
We are a people of endurance in a world of trouble.
We are a people of encouragement in a world of trouble.
We are a people filled with the Spirit of the living God, the one who has overcome the world.
Take Heart! Our Lord Jesus has overcome the world.
We don’t need to try to overcome the world by ourselves; we need to have our lives firmly grounded in the one who has overcome the world.
My wish for you today is the same one that the Apostle Paul had for the church in Rome.
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Monday, December 3, 2007
Sermon Synopsis for December 02, 2007
“Getting Ready for Christmas” Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44
“Do not open until Christmas” reads the tag for the wrapped gift I had for the children. They wanted to open it, but were willing (with my insistence) that we should wait. I asked them what they wanted to receive for Christmas. There were plenty of responses that included things I had no idea about what they were.
Sometimes we receive things we really don’t want, but we find that we enjoy them. Just the same, it’s hard to wait.
Mrs. Noah came for a visit. She talked about how God asked them to build an ark, but she wasn’t convinced at first. When everything was over, she was glad that God asked them to do this, but it wasn’t what they wanted at the time.
What do you want for Christmas? Certainly not a flood.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story …
A flood was on its way, forcing everyone to evacuate. The police rowed up to the most pious woman in town and said, "Ma'am, you have to leave this house! People are dying out here!"
The woman replied, "No, I'm not leaving. God has always helped me before, and He will do it again."
So as the water started to rise, she went to the second story of her house. Another boat came by, and the captain yelled, "Ma'am, you have to get on this boat or you're going to drown!"
The woman replied again, "No, God helped me before, and He will do it again."
The water rose even higher. This time she went to the top of the roof, where a helicopter came and hovered overhead. The pilot called into his loudspeaker, "Please climb aboard, ma'am. You are going to drown!"
The women sniffed and again replied, "God is going to save me!"
But the water rose higher, and soon she drowned to death. She went to Heaven, and there she asked God, "Why didn't you save me, O Lord?"
And God replied, "I did help--I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"
Mrs. Noah told us ….
Be ready and wait for God’s word and be listening when God speaks
Jesus told the disciples (Matthew 24:37) “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man …
People were eating, drinking and having weddings – life as normal, but they were (are) caught off guard – they were (are) not ready. Maybe it’s because we are expecting something different?
It’s not always a miraculous thing:
-not a king coming in power to liberate his people
-not headline news
-not a liberating army of angels
Maybe it’s just:
-a troubled pregnancy
-among the working class poor
-from a remote part of the world
-a baby born in a barn in an obscure town
-a grass roots movement with a few thousand followers at best
-an innocent man given the death penalty
-a small group of untrustworthy people who saw a man risen from the dead
It’s not what we expect; it’s not always what we want.
If my plan was to save the world, I’d do it very differently.
But I’ve learned that it’s not my way, but thy way, Oh Lord.
(“Thy way or the highway?”)
God’s ways are often mysteries to us.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Basically the Scriptures asks us:
Do I want to do things … my way … or … God’s way.
Isaiah had a vision of “the last days.”
It counteracts many of Israel’s ideas about what God wanted to do.
Isaiah 2:2 “all the nations will stream to it.” That is, the Lord’s Temple, which the Apostle Paul tells us is us, the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Salvation is not just for the Jews, everyone is invited to come to the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4 “he will settle disputes for many peoples (nations)” This implies that they will be a people and place that seeks peace for all.
Isaiah 2:4 “they will beat their swords into plowshares … Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Israel tried to be a tremendous war machine. They learned that God doesn’t win by might or power, but by God’s Spirit.
This was a very different vision than the people had. In Isaiah’s day, the godly king Hezekiah heeded God’s word, he had a vision of God’s eternal future, and he was able to defend Judah against the mighty King Sennacherib of Assyria – not with implements of war, but with wisdom from the Lord and trust in the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 29 to 32)
Hezekiah had a decision to make – believe in God’s word or trust the political advisors of his day.
Do we follow Jesus no matter what others say?
Let me tell you a story … a very personal story, and one of the worst times of my life.
12 years ago (November 1995), I was Director of a Seminary in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I was director because of internal strife of different ethnic groups; we had few students. Each year we send the students to “obra práctica” (field education) for 3 months. That year Bolivian missionary Santiago Flores took some of the students to the isolated countryside beyond the mountains south of Cochabamba. They were going up the mountain road from Quillacollo to Morochata in an old short-cabin land cruiser; it was burdened down with people, literature and luggage. In the early afternoon it went over a cliff (more than 500 feet – about a 40 story building). Two of the survivors climbed up the cliff, a truck stopped and took them to Quillacollo where they called me.
We organized a rescue team and went up the mountain. The motor was the largest piece of the vehicle. We recovered the bodies and began the terrible job of notifying the families. The survivors spent a long time in the hospital. I was the one who accepted responsibility for the well being of the students.
The Seminary was in a crisis, and then this happened.
I asked, “God, where are you? Why are you allowing this to happen?”
After the funerals we were faced with a grim future for the seminary. What could we do? No one would want their children or family member to study for ministry; they were a bit superstitious.
Our plan? Pray. (Not very creative)
We prayed; we encouraged other Christians to pray; we visited churches and regions throughout Bolivia to ask them to pray.
Each year we never know how many students will show-up (communication is not always the best). The first week of classes, in mid-February, over 70 new students (much more than we could handle), God responded.
Things didn’t work out like I wanted them to. I was going to turn that Seminary around but I learned that God had to do it.
ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS
How do you prepare for the Christmas holiday?
Cards? Decorations? Cookies?
Yesterday I took boxes of decorations and wrapping paper out of closet and we began our joyous journey into our annual Christmas celebration.
Matthew 24:42 tell us, “Therefore keep watch;” 24:44 “be ready.”
When God sent Jesus into the world, few were ready, few believed the message, few accepted what God had done.
How about you?
BEING READY FOR CHRISTMAS HAS TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIP
Jesus taught about the last days:
Matthew 24:40-41 “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
Whether you go with Jesus or stay behind depends on your relationship with God.
We need to accept Jesus into our lives; just as God came into the world, he keeps coming into the lives of many people – it’s Christmas all over again.
It also has to do with your relationship with others.
This is the tragic part of the story to me – these aren’t just strangers, these are people we know and love.
Two men in the field – co-workers
Do your co-workers know Jesus?
Two women grinding with a hand mill – probably family, sisters or mother – daughter
Does your family know Jesus?
Are you ready for Christmas?
CONCLUSION
What are we going to choose?
What I want for Christmas? Or
What God wants for me for Christmas?
Jesus said, “Keep watch, be ready.”
We need to humble ourselves
Writer of Chronicles wrote (2 Ch 7:14), “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
We need to trust that God knows better than us.
We can get ready for Christmas by
-being humble as we approach our salvation
-Seeking God and God’s will
-being open to what God wants to say to us
“Do not open until Christmas” reads the tag for the wrapped gift I had for the children. They wanted to open it, but were willing (with my insistence) that we should wait. I asked them what they wanted to receive for Christmas. There were plenty of responses that included things I had no idea about what they were.
Sometimes we receive things we really don’t want, but we find that we enjoy them. Just the same, it’s hard to wait.
Mrs. Noah came for a visit. She talked about how God asked them to build an ark, but she wasn’t convinced at first. When everything was over, she was glad that God asked them to do this, but it wasn’t what they wanted at the time.
What do you want for Christmas? Certainly not a flood.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story …
A flood was on its way, forcing everyone to evacuate. The police rowed up to the most pious woman in town and said, "Ma'am, you have to leave this house! People are dying out here!"
The woman replied, "No, I'm not leaving. God has always helped me before, and He will do it again."
So as the water started to rise, she went to the second story of her house. Another boat came by, and the captain yelled, "Ma'am, you have to get on this boat or you're going to drown!"
The woman replied again, "No, God helped me before, and He will do it again."
The water rose even higher. This time she went to the top of the roof, where a helicopter came and hovered overhead. The pilot called into his loudspeaker, "Please climb aboard, ma'am. You are going to drown!"
The women sniffed and again replied, "God is going to save me!"
But the water rose higher, and soon she drowned to death. She went to Heaven, and there she asked God, "Why didn't you save me, O Lord?"
And God replied, "I did help--I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"
Mrs. Noah told us ….
Be ready and wait for God’s word and be listening when God speaks
Jesus told the disciples (Matthew 24:37) “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man …
People were eating, drinking and having weddings – life as normal, but they were (are) caught off guard – they were (are) not ready. Maybe it’s because we are expecting something different?
It’s not always a miraculous thing:
-not a king coming in power to liberate his people
-not headline news
-not a liberating army of angels
Maybe it’s just:
-a troubled pregnancy
-among the working class poor
-from a remote part of the world
-a baby born in a barn in an obscure town
-a grass roots movement with a few thousand followers at best
-an innocent man given the death penalty
-a small group of untrustworthy people who saw a man risen from the dead
It’s not what we expect; it’s not always what we want.
If my plan was to save the world, I’d do it very differently.
But I’ve learned that it’s not my way, but thy way, Oh Lord.
(“Thy way or the highway?”)
God’s ways are often mysteries to us.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Basically the Scriptures asks us:
Do I want to do things … my way … or … God’s way.
Isaiah had a vision of “the last days.”
It counteracts many of Israel’s ideas about what God wanted to do.
Isaiah 2:2 “all the nations will stream to it.” That is, the Lord’s Temple, which the Apostle Paul tells us is us, the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Salvation is not just for the Jews, everyone is invited to come to the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4 “he will settle disputes for many peoples (nations)” This implies that they will be a people and place that seeks peace for all.
Isaiah 2:4 “they will beat their swords into plowshares … Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Israel tried to be a tremendous war machine. They learned that God doesn’t win by might or power, but by God’s Spirit.
This was a very different vision than the people had. In Isaiah’s day, the godly king Hezekiah heeded God’s word, he had a vision of God’s eternal future, and he was able to defend Judah against the mighty King Sennacherib of Assyria – not with implements of war, but with wisdom from the Lord and trust in the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 29 to 32)
Hezekiah had a decision to make – believe in God’s word or trust the political advisors of his day.
Do we follow Jesus no matter what others say?
Let me tell you a story … a very personal story, and one of the worst times of my life.
12 years ago (November 1995), I was Director of a Seminary in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I was director because of internal strife of different ethnic groups; we had few students. Each year we send the students to “obra práctica” (field education) for 3 months. That year Bolivian missionary Santiago Flores took some of the students to the isolated countryside beyond the mountains south of Cochabamba. They were going up the mountain road from Quillacollo to Morochata in an old short-cabin land cruiser; it was burdened down with people, literature and luggage. In the early afternoon it went over a cliff (more than 500 feet – about a 40 story building). Two of the survivors climbed up the cliff, a truck stopped and took them to Quillacollo where they called me.
We organized a rescue team and went up the mountain. The motor was the largest piece of the vehicle. We recovered the bodies and began the terrible job of notifying the families. The survivors spent a long time in the hospital. I was the one who accepted responsibility for the well being of the students.
The Seminary was in a crisis, and then this happened.
I asked, “God, where are you? Why are you allowing this to happen?”
After the funerals we were faced with a grim future for the seminary. What could we do? No one would want their children or family member to study for ministry; they were a bit superstitious.
Our plan? Pray. (Not very creative)
We prayed; we encouraged other Christians to pray; we visited churches and regions throughout Bolivia to ask them to pray.
Each year we never know how many students will show-up (communication is not always the best). The first week of classes, in mid-February, over 70 new students (much more than we could handle), God responded.
Things didn’t work out like I wanted them to. I was going to turn that Seminary around but I learned that God had to do it.
ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS
How do you prepare for the Christmas holiday?
Cards? Decorations? Cookies?
Yesterday I took boxes of decorations and wrapping paper out of closet and we began our joyous journey into our annual Christmas celebration.
Matthew 24:42 tell us, “Therefore keep watch;” 24:44 “be ready.”
When God sent Jesus into the world, few were ready, few believed the message, few accepted what God had done.
How about you?
BEING READY FOR CHRISTMAS HAS TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIP
Jesus taught about the last days:
Matthew 24:40-41 “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
Whether you go with Jesus or stay behind depends on your relationship with God.
We need to accept Jesus into our lives; just as God came into the world, he keeps coming into the lives of many people – it’s Christmas all over again.
It also has to do with your relationship with others.
This is the tragic part of the story to me – these aren’t just strangers, these are people we know and love.
Two men in the field – co-workers
Do your co-workers know Jesus?
Two women grinding with a hand mill – probably family, sisters or mother – daughter
Does your family know Jesus?
Are you ready for Christmas?
CONCLUSION
What are we going to choose?
What I want for Christmas? Or
What God wants for me for Christmas?
Jesus said, “Keep watch, be ready.”
We need to humble ourselves
Writer of Chronicles wrote (2 Ch 7:14), “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
We need to trust that God knows better than us.
We can get ready for Christmas by
-being humble as we approach our salvation
-Seeking God and God’s will
-being open to what God wants to say to us
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