Advent 2011 – Week 4 – December 18th

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Eleven

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.  1 Peter 4:12 & 13 (New Living Translation)

The Christmas story has a recurring theme that we sometimes miss.
Fiery Trials and a Call to Surrender to the plans of the Father.
I Know Surrender is another one of those words we don’t like very much,  but we should!

Zachariah Surrendered – To have a Son and Name him John
Mary Surrendered – To give birth to the Messiah
Joseph Surrendered – To go against the culture and be wed to Mary
Joseph & Mary Surrendered – To Go to Bethlehem and Stay in the Barn
Mary Surrendered – To giving birth in a that barn without her Mother or family to support her
The Magi Surrendered – To seek the Messiah and bring him kingly gifts
Joseph & Mary Surrendered – To flee to Egypt

And what did they receive for surrendering  to God the Father.
Fiery Trials Yes, But Grace, The Beautiful Grace of God that makes life unfair with blessings it brings, which leads to Wonderful Joy that reveals a glimpse of the glory of God.

Luke 1: 57-80

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[g]
from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
76 “And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[h]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

“ the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us”

we have one week left in our walk to Bethlehem.
What is our Lord asking you to Surrender to?
Your plans, your desires your hopes, your dreams
Will you surrender them to Him and let him make life unfair to your advantage by pouring out Grace on you?
Will you surrender them to Him and let Him flood your heart with Joy?
Will you surrender them to Him and let him provide you with the kingly provisions you need?

In Luke Chapter 1 Verse 45, Elizabeth Says to Mary:
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Surrender to Jesus and Believe! He will do what he has said for you!

Advent 2011 – Week 1 – November 27

Well here we are again, the wreath is hung, the candle is lit and Bill is softly playing Christmas Carols and your expecting Barb to come up and share some scripture and reflections.  It’s tradition!  It’s our tradition!  Some of you love this tradition and some of you not so much.  This is a tradition that connects us with other believers and with the history of the church.  But if that’s all Advent is a tradition then it is of little value.

Advent is about preparing your heart and mind and sole for the Coming King, Jesus Christ  the Messiah, Born in a manger in Bethlehem.

Advent is about keeping the right attitude about our journey, our daily walk of faith with Christ and about keeping Christmas sacred.  We tend to shy away from words like sacred but Paul says in

2 Timothy 3:1-3 (New Living Translation)

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

“They will consider nothing sacred.”

Sacred is defined as
sacred: considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers.

What is sacred to you . . . This Book, the very word of God
Or what about a baby born to die to save your life?

Luke 1:5-25 (New Living Translation)

5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[b] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[c] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Advent is about seeking him, about a journey
Verse 6 says “Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes”
Yet Zechariah was not prepared for the message that was given.
He was not able to immediately accept Gods plans for him, So he went on a journey of silence so that his heart and mind could be prepared for the gift he was about to receive.

the candles on the advent wreath are but road markers, mile stones on our walk to Bethlehem.
A journey to seek Jesus and prepare our hearts to receive the gifts he has for us.

And so will you walk to Bethlehem with me . . .
Will you consider Christmas sacred

Will you leave behind  your expectations of what he can or can’t do and walk to Bethlehem

Will you  seek Jesus, Our Savior and King and receive the gift he has for you.

For He wants to Heal You Physically
He wants to heal your broken heart
He wants to comfort you in your loneleness
He wants to provide for you
He wants to free you
He wants to forgive you
He wants to save you and call you his own