Crave More Presence
Confront the Empty Presence
Isaish 9:2, 6-7
11/29
There is a new gag gift that has become very popular. It preys on people desire for quick riches and the idea that a sudden windfall is the key to happiness. So people buy as presents fake lottery tickets. Ones that reveal that you have just wone $10,000 or $25,000 dollars. You give one to your friend your brother our your sister and video tape their expressions as first they celebrate and then their anger, and frustration when the truth is revealed.
In a Challenging year people sometimes feels that is what has happened to them. Life gave them a lottery ticket that looked promising, but the promise is empty.
IN A CHALLENGING YEAR, THE VOICE OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH CONFRONTS THE EMPTY PRESENCE OF HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH THE PROMISE OF THE GREAT GIFT.
Isa 9:2, 6-7
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
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 increase 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.
NIV
I. The Gift is more profound than we can ever imagine.
It is mean to fill us with inexpressibly joy and satisfaction. Watch this video of a boy discovering his favorite present under the tree.
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
A. The Gift is given in our worst moment.
From God’s perspective the world is at it’s worst moment. Darkness
ƒÀ There is the Failure in the Garden when obedience was all that was required.
ƒÀ There is the Failure in Desert when the law proved to difficult, to weighty to heavy.
ƒÀ There is the failure in the land when one god isn’t enough.
ƒÀ There is the failure in the kingdom when a theocracy isn’t enough
ƒÀ There is the failure of the prophets when god’s voice wasn’t enough.
When it has come to restoring a right relationship between fallen man and God, every plan that depended upon us has ended in misery. Isaiah describes us as those walking in darkness (no discernable path, way, answer) living under the shadow of death (the dark specter of eternal death).
B. The Gift given is about to change everything.
ƒÀ A light has dawned
Everything about our existence changes because of the event unfolding before us. God becomes man to save humankind. Where there was once only darkness and despair, there is now hope.
John 3:17-19
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world,
II. The gift is more personal than we can fully understand.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The more personal a gift is the more it is treasured.
Illustration: Bob and Becky Braffhart are missionaries to Mali. She is teacher. He is a builder and projects manager. He has helped construct the Mali woman’s hospital where Allie Cornoyer will be this Christmas. Their first son was conceived with a congenital defect. They were told he would not live beyond a week. I remember at his funeral, their friend Gina Allison had placed on his little body a quilt she had made for the son of her best friend. I said I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In tears she had made the quilt. In tears it was received. It’s value was that it was so personal.
A. In his gift to us God withholds nothing.
He gives himself.
B. His gift is exactly what we need
The more valued it is the more it is treasured. Sometimes a gift may be personal but it might not be valued.
Remember Ralphie’s pink bunny suit in ’’The Christmas Story’’?
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
III. The gift is more powerful than we have yet experienced.
and the government will be on his shoulders.
7 Of the increase 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.
A. Everything is subject to him.
Including the circumstances of a challenging year.
Every issue we face is subject to him.
Col 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
B. He will accomplish what he began in us.
Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Mom was out of the house and the father was assigned the impossible task of watching his two children while studying for his college classes. Desperate to somehow find an hour of peace to study, the father devised a plan. He took a page from the National Geographic magazine where there was a full page map printed. He tore the map into pieces and told the children he had a game for them. Taking them into another room, he told them to put the pieces of the map-puzzle together. Satisfied that this project would take at least an hour, he began his studies. Ten minutes later, both children came out with the map perfectly restored. Flabbergasted, the father asked his children how they had done this. To this his daughter replied, "Well, you see Dad, there was this picture of a woman on the other side of the map and we just put her face back together." Isn’t that the same for so many of us who struggle to put the map of life together?
If we would only look at the other side of the map and see the picture of Jesus in our life, and put that picture together, then the map of life would come together so much more easily.
C. No matter what the circumstance he will work for our good.
Isaiah 9:7 And the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this.
Rom 8:28-33
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
NIV
I may not understand how. It may be longer than I desire. It may not look the way I hoped, but here is the promise from he who over everything.
Jesus says, Trust me. I will work it out.
Summary
IN A CHALLENGING YEAR, THE VOICE OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH CONFRONTS THE EMPTY PRESENCE OF HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH THE PROMISE OF THE GREAT GIFT.
It is a gift that is more profound, more personal and more powerful than we have yet understood.
Challenge
Okay so let’s say that you are having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season. You are struggling to celebrate. You are carrying a lot of worries and concerns. I am challenging you to confront the empty presence with the promise of the prophet.
Ideas for making it real.
ƒÀ This week I challenge you to memorize three verses of Scripture.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
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 increase 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.
ƒÀ Write it out and read it once a day stressing the promises.
ƒÀ Share it with someone else.
