The Hope And Promise Of Advent Series

“The Hope & Promise of Advent”

Isaiah 9:

9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Subject; what kind of king (kingdom) does Christmas celebrate?

Complement: an everlasting kingdom of justice.

Idea; Christmas is even bigger than we thought!!!

concise preaching idea -- Christmas - Santa or Saviour ?

Introduction: Christmas is a season of opposites and extremes – great joy and great despair

It's a time when we can be jealous of the blessings of another and simultaneously feel worse about ourselves.

Part of the problem in this conflict is how we view Christmas – we know it's the birthday of Jesus our messiah – but we tend to get drawn into the commercial and economic momentum too.

Christmas is a holy and sacred time on the calendar – but the sacred and the secular have come to share this season in an awkward and at times embarrassing way.

So as followers of Christ, let us hear the words of scripture that give shape and meaning to Christmas.

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Situation; Gloom… Exile…Scattered…Oppressed... The Historical situation: 750 BC…

Israel’s best days are behind her …. King David ruled 250 earlier….followed by Solomon…then the kingdom is divided and a series of mostly weak and compromising kings followed.

The book of Isaiah begins this way…

1: 8 your country is desolate…like a city under siege

1:13 “stop bringing meaningless offerings”

1:15 I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood…seek justice…plead the case of the widow.

1:21 see how the faithful city has become a harlot…

1:25 I will purge away your dross

1:26 afterward you will be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

2:12 The lord almighty has a day in store for all the proud…

3:1 the lord is about to take from Jerusalem both supply and support

3:4 I will make boys their officials… children will govern them

3:13 the lord takes his place in court…

ELDERS AND LEADERS; it is you who have ruined my vineyard.

3:18 the lord will snatch away their finery…bangles, headbands, necklaces…

5:13 …exile. ( 200 years later…)

6:13 “holy seed will be cut down to a stump…” … the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

Modern situation – terror… poverty… economic disparity…

Here in Isaiah 9, God talks about people sitting around in darkness.

They’re uncomfortable.

They’re more than just a little confused.

And they are seriously afraid for their future.

the Jews had long considered this section of Isaiah to be Messianic.

So for over 500 yrs, the Jewish people KNEW this section of Isaiah spoke of the coming Christ.

Isaiah fore-told Israel where the child would minister.

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan” Isaiah 9:1

Notice Isaiah says “the land of Zebulun and Naphtali”.

… but they were relatively insignificant tribes. They were rarely mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament and were never spoken of as having any important role in anything. That is until God mentioned them here in Isaiah 9.

Nazareth was in the region of Galilee.

Guess which tribes once inhabited the land of Galilee? That’s right – Zebulun and Naphtali.

Matthew tells us that early in His ministry, Jesus left His home town of Nazareth… and