This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. A time of waiting – waiting for our Lord Jesus. You may be in a time of waiting in your life.
Waiting for what is happening next. The doctor has given you a series of tests – wait for the results; My kids will be out of the house next year – what then; The divorce went through– now what; Something’s got to happen in my life…..
Sometimes the worst time is waiting for something to happen. Waitng, waiting, waiting. And it seems like…..nothing happens. What is going to happen next? What do I do in this time of waiting?
Our Scriptures have an insight into this: Worship.Yes worship. This involves: Understanding that we have been called; Understanding who is really in control; Knowing who has the final say, who is going to make it happen in your life.
Where do you turn to next? Let’s see…..
In our Jeremiah passage we see this image of sheep. The sheep Scattered; Those who believe in God; Those who will believe in God -God knows this – he is all knowing.
Shepherds = leaders. In this case, leading the people away
The Sheep Gathered = Israel and us.
Inheritance.
Verse 12: giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Those in the kingdom of God are not in it by physical birth, but by spiritual birth. Who Makes This Possible? - Jesus of Course. We see a Hymn – in our colossians passage. Verses 15-20.
Like a creed:
Descriptive - yes.
Informative - yes.
Worshipful - absolutely.
We all have favorite songs from the radio. As a Teen – A New Radio Station opened - The Quake, it played all our favorite songs and that’s all it played - over and over and over.
Maybe you have a favorite song from church and it may not even be you type of music - but you love it anyway. Chances are, it is a song of Worship, like Amazing Grace - a song praising God for his mercy.
Let’s see what this hymn tells us – about Jesus. Unpacking the Hymn - tells us about the person who makes it all possible. The Image of the invisible God. Not a copy - or a photo, This is a Title of majesty that mphasis Jesus’ relation to God.
Firstborn over all creation.
Yes, he had brothers and sisters - but it means more than that. It referes to Jesus being an Heir, Owner, and Possessor. It denotes one who has a special place in the father’s love.
Esau & Jacob. The firstborn was transferred from Esau to Jacob - yet God honored it. Jacob - Joseph brought him his sons-Manasseh - older
and Ephraim - younger. He crossed hands at the time of blessing reversing the order to showe his favor.
Summarize.
Jesus is full of majesty and takes Possession of all . He eserves our Worship. By him all things were created. Jesus possesses, because he created. Yes Jesus was at creation, “let us....” The word creation is in the perfect tense meaning original creation and ongoing creation. The act of creation takes place in Christ - not apart from him.
The Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant.
We loved this place back in San Francisco - packed all the time. There was always a line out front. At one point the cook asked for more money the owner said no. Good Bye - Cook. Good bye customers. The act of creation could not take place without the cook. Soon the cook was back – with a lot more money in his pocket.
Both spiritual and material - Verse 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.
Both spiritual and material things were created by Jesus.
verse 17 -18 sums it all up
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.
He is Preexistent. God before anything existed and he holds all thing together. When things falling apart in life, who do you turn to? The one who holds all things together.
He is supreme:
Nothing is above him,
No problem,
No relationship,
No impossibility,
Nothing, nada, nixe above’
Getting to the Money Man.
I used to have my own business: Aquariums for offices . Why waste time convincing the powerless, those who could not write the check? - "that sounds great....I’ll have to talk with my boss.
Dealing with the Clerks
A Certain Airline Messed up on My Flight. Sorry sir, I can’t make an exception - Let me talk to someone who can.
In our life things get messed up; Let me talk to someone who can.
17
First born of the dead.
Sounds like the title of a B movie. Jesus – died, rose again, First born of the dead. What it means to us is that wer can be Spiritually born. Before I am born again, my spirit is for all purposes ---Dead. When we become Christians we are in league with Christ.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
Jesus brought us from one dominion to another. We were living in the dominion of darkness. Now we live in the dominion of the light.
Summarize.
Everything we see, feel, hear, experience exists because Jesus Christ
he can make it happen.
God was pleased to dwell in him. This is used to designate divine election - permanent and fully God. Does not mean - a guy who God possessed? NO. It means all is reconciled in him. 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things.... the powers are there, they are pacified in the sense that they can no longer resist, we now need not fear supernatural powers.
Summarize.
Jesus can make it happen.
Why Is This Possible? Jesus Who is Completely Divine makes it all possible. Through Christ’s death - We are reconciled, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection we are tied into relationship with him. We now have his power to do his will because of this. We are now Free from accusation, whatever happens - he’s our man.
What do we do?
How Can We Make This Happen?
Worship = Focus. Worship is how we focus. Makes sense - sounds impossible. We think of:
Worship Service,
Prayer,
Singing,
Being in the mountains,
But those are small bits of time set aside, only a partial focus - not good enough.
Personal Time Of Worship.
How do I interact with God outside of church?
We are always in communication with God through, meditation, praises personally, taking time out - to worship secretly. This is better, but that is still small bits of time set aside. We have focus when we worship, & better focus worship & personal time of worship, but what we are looking for is complete focus.
Sounds impossible - how could I worship more?
But God is practical.
In chapter 3 of collosians Paul tells us to set your heart on things above, It is a condition - A total way of life.
I tis like looking for items on sale. Notice how you never pay attention to car ads, until you are looking for a car?
Paul goes further in the book of Romans – saying we are a living sacrifice:
A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God
— this is your spiritual act of worship.
We offer ourselves, In other words how I live my life --is an act of worship. My day to day activities can be an offering to Christ. How is that? Not, I’m driving this car for God or I’m grocery shopping for God or I’m mowing the lawn for God or even that I’m on vacation for God. It is: How can I deal with my neighbor, in a way which glorifies God.
Sandy the busy busy busy dog.
In San Antonio we had a dog on our street –Sandy. Sandy wasn’t a bad dog – but the owner was. Every morning Sandy would open every newspaper on the street. Thank you Sandy.Every trash day, Sandy would make sure every trash can was turned over, Sandy, what a help you are! If you left you front door open, or garage door open for too long, Sandy would come in to remind you. Thanks Sandy! The dog catcher was on every neighbor’s speed dial – no kidding. How should I deal with this neighbor who refused to deal with his dog?
How can I deal with my neighbor in a way which glorifies God?
When we say focus on Christ, keep your eye on Jesus, pay attention to Jesus Christ. What do I do? How do I make it through these times where I am waiting trying to hear from God?
It all comes back to worship. Place what is happening in you life in his hands and give your daily acts over as an offering to God.
We have the most supreme and holy person, who has created all, who is in power and dominion over all...Everything we see, feel, hear, experience exists because Jesus Christ, who can make it happen in your life. That person is Jesus.
