Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent ~
1) On the FIRST SUNDAY we ENCOUNTERED THE POWER OF THE LION and saw that the Lion of Judah who was PREDICTED in the OT is also Lamb of God who was slain for our sins!
As we light the PROMISE CANDLE we are reminded that Jesus is NOT SAFE – BUT HE IS GOOD – AND HE IS WORTHY of OUR WORSHIP!
2) On the SECOND SUNDAY we ENCOUNTERED THE POWER OF THE WITCH and saw that the best way to be prepared for the Coming of Christ is by living a pure life – one that knows how to resist the temptation of “Turkish Delight”! We saw why sin is so tempting and why God allows us to be tempted – even though He Himself tempts no one!
As we light the PREPARATION CANDLE we are reminded that GOD’S GRACE IS GREATER THAN OUR SIN and HIS GRACE ENABLES US to say NO to sin EVEN WHEN WE FEEL like saying YES!
3) Today is the THIRD SUNDAY and we will ENCOUNTER THE POWER OF THE WARDROBE
Later we will light the PROCLAMATION CANDLE!
This morning I want us to see WHAT the WARDROBE represents and HOW to open the door to our own spiritual journey!
I. The Wardrobe Is a Picture of Our SPIRITUAL JOURNEY to Knowing Jesus Christ – the True Lion King!
At first I thought that the wardrobe was a picture of salvation, but the more I thought about it, I realized that it is really a picture of a entering into a spiritual journey
– a journey into a world where one comes face-to-face with evil – both around them and inside of them
– a journey where everyone eventually meets Aslan the true King
– a journey where one is meant to discover that Aslan is not safe but He is good and, therefore, He is worthy of our worship!
– a journey where each one must choose whether to follow Him or the White Witch!
In a very real sense the Wardrobe is a picture of the spiritual journey that C. S. Lewis himself took in real life!
ILLUST> When Lewis was 8/9 years old his mother died though they had prayed for her (The Magician’s Nephew)
• Both he and his brother, Warnie, were estranged from their father and his Anglican religion
• Hardened by the brutality he witnessed firsthand in WW1 . . .
• Lewis became an avowed Atheist, then a Naturalist, then an Idealistic Philosopher
On October 12, 1916, Lewis penned his position in a letter to Arthur Greeves: "I think that I believe in no religion. There is absolutely no proof for any of them, and from a philosophical standpoint Christianity is not even the best. All religions, i.e., all mythologies…are merely man’s own invention-Christ as much as Loki. In every age the educated and thinking [people] have stood outside [religion]."
• But along the way he was always “surprised by joy” on the journey - a joy that stirred a deep longing in his heart and opened the door of his heart to consider whether God really did exist!
• Lewis slowly came to realize that his closest friends were all Christians and the books that had most impacted his soul were all written by Christians!
• On December 21, 1929, Lewis-upon reading John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding- wrote: "I…am still finding more and more the element of truth in the old beliefs [that] I feel I cannot dismiss… There must be something in it; only what?" In this pre-conversion period Lewis wrote: "I FELT AS IF I WERE A MAN OF SNOW AT LONG LAST BEGINNING TO MELT."
• Finally, in that same year Lewis was converted to THEISM. He journaled of that experience: "I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed; perhaps, that night the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England," but this conversion "was only to Theism. I knew nothing about the Incarnation."
• It was not long before he accepted Christ and became a born again Christian!
The critical change came in September of 1931. The night of September 19, Lewis walked and talked (until around 4 a.m.) with J. R. R. Tolkien (and Hugo Dyson about myth and Christianity. Hugo Dyson’s "main point was that Christianity works for the believer. The believer is put at peace and freed from his sins." )
• J. R. R. Tolkien one of closest friends who was a believer explained to his friend that the “death/resurrection” motif in all the myths of literature were so popular because they point to the historical truth of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection!
On September 28, 1931, at age thirty-two, Lewis was "riding to the Whipsnade zoo in the sidecar of Warren’s motorcycle. ‘When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did.’" According to 1 John 5:1,5 all those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are "born of God."
To Arthur Greeves on October 1, 1931, Lewis wrote: "I have just passed from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ-in Christianity."
C. S. LEWIS WAS ON SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THAT LED HIM TO DISCOVER THAT JESUS WAS NOT SAFE BUT GOOD AND WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED!
As a result he wanted to write children’s books to lead them on this same journey to discover who God really was and how to be set free from the power of the White Witch!
ILLUST> Lewis’ own words of how to learn about Aslan by His own name in their world!
ILLUST> C. S. LEWIS’ LAST LETTER ABOUT NARNIA
Less than one month before he died in 1963, C. S. Lewis wrote the following letter to a young girl who wanted to know if any other Narnia books were going to be produced. It turned out to be a fond and fitting farewell to all of his devoted readers.
Dear Ruth,
Many thanks for your kind letter, and it was very good of you to write and tell me that you like my books; and what a very good letter you write for your age!
If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope that you may always do so. I’m so thankful that you realized the "hidden story" in the Narnia books. It is odd, children nearly always do, grown-ups…hardly ever.
I’m afraid the Narnia series has come to an end, and am sorry to tell you that you can expect no more.
God bless you.
Your sincerely, C.S. Lewis
TRANS> SO WHAT? THE WARDROBE REMINDS US THAT . . . .
II. Our Spiritual Journey Begins When We OPEN the Door and MOVE Further Up and Further In!
Just like C. S. Lewis did in real life and Lucy does in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - two special groups of people saw the light of Christmas, opened the door of their hearts, and moved further up and further in on their spiritual journey to knowing Christ!
The wisemen and shepherds both opened the door to their spiritual journey after experiencing the light of Christmas!
From these TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE we can learn 5 STEPS TO STARTING OUR JOURNEY AND STAYING ON TRACK!
Open the Door to Your Spiritual Journey:
1. Admit You Are SEARCHING! Matthew 2:1-12
THE WISE MEN WERE DEFINITELY SEARCHING:
(v. 2) “where”
(v. 4) “where”
(v. 8) “Go and search diligently”, “found Him”
(v. 9) “where the young Child was”
(v. 11) the search was not over until they had “saw the young Child”!
These were some of the most educated men of their day, but they knew enough to know they didn’t know enough. They willing to admit they were SEARCHING!
In real life Lewis was an intellectual who was willing to admit he was searching!
In the books and in the movie the children are searching!
1. The first thing we learn from the wise men is this: SEEKERS ARE TO COMMENDED – Those who search for the one true God are wise and should encouraged in their search!
A searching heart is a longing heart – we realize there is something to find – we admit that something is missing from our lives! Something or Someone that will take us where we want to be and help us be the kind of person we have always wanted!
Jeremiah 29:13 You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!”
GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THEY ARE SEARCHING!
2. If you and I are going to discover Christ this Christmas – WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR HIM!
This is NOT just for those who are LOST BUT also those who are SAVED – the scribes and the religious people of Jerusalem were NOT searching, not looking, not longing for the coming of the Christ AND they missed it!
God wants us to continue in our growth by admitting our need of Him on a daily basis! The call of Narnia is always “Further up, further in!”
Q: WHAT IS HINDERING YOUR SEARCH FOR CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS?
Is it work? Is it family? Is it religion? Is it busyness? Is it selfishness? Is it boredom? Is it pride? Is it perfectionism? Is it worry? Is it money?
The Wise Men OPENED THE DOOR to their spiritual journey by SEARCHING!
TRANS> But it is never enough to just be seeker – the second step on the journey is to . . .
2. Be Willing to LISTEN! Luke 2:8-20
We see this in the Wise Men in that their searching led them to Jerusalem – where they had to listen King Herod who had listened to the Scribes share from the Bible where the true King could be found!
Matthew 2:8-9 “when they heard . . . they departed; and behold . . . .”
But this is even more clearly seen in the spiritual journey of the Shepherds: THE SHEPHERDS OPENED THE DOOR by LISTENING!
Luke 2:8-16
(v. 10) “Then the angel said to them”
(v. 13) “praising God and saying”
(v. 15) “Let us NOW go . . . and see this thing . . . which the Lord has made known to us”
(v. 17) “the saying which was told them concerning this Child”
(v. 20) Then incase we missed it the whole passage ends with ”as it was told to them”
It’s interesting that they don’t credit the angels with the announcement of Christ’s birth. In v. 15 they say: “LET US NOW GO . . . AND SEE THIS THING . . . WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US!”
These were uneducated, lower class (even the lowest class), but they knew enough to know where the message came from. They LISTENED!
It’s easy at Christmas, and the rest of the year for that matter, to not really hear! We are going to have our ears and eyes filled with so much noise about holidays that it will be easy to get numb to the real message!
ILLUST> Take some time to turn off the TV, turn off the radio, put down the newspaper, shut down the computer, unplug the iPod and just listen to God, listen to your kids, listen to your spouse, listen to your own heart!
ILLUST> THIS IS THE GREAT VALUE OF USING AN ADVENT CANDLE FOR FAMILY WORSHIP! This is a great way to slow down and really listen to God and His word!
ILLUST> DOES YOUR QUIET TIME INCLUDE LISTENING? Are you hearing God speak to you through His Word? Are you listening to Him as you speak to Him in prayer?
TRANS> Now I know some of you might be all ready tuning me out – already not listening – because this sounds so impossible in “real time” – “real life”! Hold on for Step 3 . . .
3. Expect to Be INTERRUPTED!
You will never be successful in your searching or your listening on your spiritual journey, UNTIL YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT DAILY INTERRUPTIONS AS DIVINE APPOINTMENTS!
1) The Wise Men’s lives were completely interrupted by the appearance of the star and they had to make travel plans for a long journey, which we all know is never convenient or easy or pressure free!
The Wise Men’s response to their unexpected interruption was to SEARCH:
Where is God in this? Where can I find Christ in this? What does His Word tell me about this?
2) The Shepherds daily work routine was interrupted by the appearance of the angels, but chose to accept it as a divine appointment and they listened!
The Shepherd’s response to their unexpected interruption was to LISTEN!
What is God trying to tell me in this? What is he trying tell me that has nothing to do with what I think is so important? What in His Word am I not listening to, but He wants me to?
3) Zacharias was interrupted in his special time of prayer with a divine answer, but he was so unprepared for such an interruption that he questioned it and was disciplined by God!
See Luke 1:5-25
Zacharias was so unprepared for his interruption that he questioned God’s ability to fulfill His promises and was disciplined!
God help me not to forget that you often answer my deepest prayers and longings in the most unexpected ways – prepare me for your divine interruptions in answer to my prayers!
4) Mary’s plans for a dream-come-true engagement and a quiet wedding to her one true love was interrupted by God’s plan for her to be the mother of Jesus by a supernatural virgin conception.
What was Mary’s response on her spiritual journey? Luke 1:38
Mary accepted her interruption as a divine appointment and said: “BEHOLD the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Your Word!”
5) Joseph’s plans to have a godly reputation and do all things right regarding his future family were interrupted with the news that that his firstborn son would not physically be his! His honeymoon would have to wait until after Mary had already given birth to a Son! He did not even get any say in what the boy would be named!
Joseph’s response was to obey! Matthew 1:24-25
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
ALL THE KEY PLAYERS WHO TRULY ENCOUNTERED THE POWER OF GOD THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS WERE RECEPTIVE TO GOD STEPPING INTO THEIR LIVES AND TURNING EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN – even to the point of being misunderstood, disciplined, and inconvenienced!
They didn’t fight it like Herod! They didn’t fear it like the people of Jerusalem, they were not complacent about it like the scribes!
Revelation 3:19-21
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Those who are open to stepping through the Wardrobe and discovering God’s best for their lives, must be ready and willing to accept interruptions as divine appointments!
Learn to Accept Daily Interruptions as Divine Appointments!
TRANS> WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN FOURTH STEP IN OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IN THE RESPONSES OF MARY AND JOSEPH AND IT IS THIS . . .
4. Always Take the Next Step by OBEYING!
What’s God’s will for your life?
• Don’t wait for a supernatural star to appear!
• Don’t wait for an angelic announcement from heaven!
SIMPLY DO THE NEXT THING THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW TO DO – THE NEXT THING GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU!
• The Wise men did not wait to know where – they just knew the King of the Jews should be at the capitol – only AFTER they took that next step did they find out He was born in Bethlehem!
• Shepherds did not wait to find out how their lives would change or whether they should stop being shepherds and start being evangelists – they just took the next step of obedience right where they were!
IF the wise men had waited for MORE INFORMATION – they would have ended up just like the scribes in Jerusalem and never went to Bethlehem!
IF the shepherds had waited for MORE CONFIRMATION – they would have missed out on the indescribable joy of participating in the very first Christmas!
How do you know you are really searching and listening? OBEDIENCE to His Word!
What is always the best response when God interrupts your life? OBEDIENCE to His Word!
What’s the Next Step on Your Spiritual Journey? Be Obedient and Take It!
TRANS> ONE FINAL STEP IN OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IS . . .
5. Keep Moving “Further UP and Further IN”!
The upward call of God is always “FURTHER UP AND FURTHER IN”!
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The journey never ends even after Christ returns all of eternity will not be enough time to learn all there is on this journey!
There Are Many Doors, But Only One Leads to a Whole New World!
Only One Door Leads to a Relationship with the One True God:
Receive Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior Today!
Jesus Christ says to us “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!” John 10:9-11
Jesus Christ says to us: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Jesus Christ warns us: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ Luke 13:24-25
Once You Accept Jesus Christ the Real Journey Has Just Begun: Move Further Up and Further In . . .
Give Jesus Christ Your Best and Keep on Sharing the Joy of Your Spiritual Journey!
1. Give Him your best like the Wise men – Give your all to Jesus Christ this Christmas and the coming New Year!
2. Share the story of your spiritual journey like the Shepherds – Help your children to do the same!
Before Christ: Always Winter but never Christmas!
Trusting Christ: Opening the Door, Seeing the Light, and Meeting Aslan
With Christ: Relationships to mend! Gifts to receive! Battles to fight! Rewards to enjoy! Always further up and further in
