Christmas Eve 2010

“Let us go and see.” Could there have been wiser words spoken by shepherds? Like all of Israel, they were waiting for their Messiah to come and fulfill the prophecies found in Isaiah 9. Like all of Israel, they were praying for the Messiah who could judge all people with equity as in Psalm 96:10.

They spent a lifetime of looking and praying, and then one day, angels announced to them “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the lord!” They wisely encourage each other, “Let us go and see.”

Fast-forward 30 years, and wonder with me: Were they wise enough to “go and see” John the Baptist as he called for repentance?

Did they go and see Jesus announce the beginning of his ministry? Did their eyes see the lame healed, the blind receive their sight, and the captives set free?

Did their ears hear his great sermons, filled with hope for the poor and scolding for the rich?

Did they go and see his triumphal entry to Jerusalem? Did they see him clear the Temple, confound the authorities, and teach his disciples to serve one another—the greater gladly serving the least of all?

Did they see Jesus falsely accused, whipped, condemned and crucified? Did they know he was dying for them? For their sins? For their hopeless despair and broken relationships?

Did they see him raised from the dead and ascending into heaven?

Did they find a savior who is worth obeying? Worth living for? (Titus 2:11‑14)

What journey they begin that night? “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They began well. But how did they end? Did they also end well?

I pray we have the courage to follow them as we “Go and see.” I hope we will walk throught the seasons to Easter with a careful and joyous gaze. Let us see Jesus!

And may our final reckoning of all we see and hear bring us to our knees in joyful wonder: “O Come let us adore him for he is Christ, the Lord!”

Here is my challenge to you this evening: Sing this chorus at least once every morning. Begin your day by adoring your Lord. And let us see what he will do in us and through us. Amen.

4 Advent

The Lord is Able

Throughout the month of December, I have been thinking alot about the lights of this season. The winter solstice brings longer days of light. Homes are decorated with Christmas lights, lawn ornaments, and Christmas trees. But, I have also noticed the increased activity of police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks responding to emergencies.

Where do you turn in a situation of trouble or adversity? The lessons for this 4th Sunday of Advent speak of a God who is willing and able to deliver his people.

Isaiah 7:10-6

The year is 735 BC. The Assyrian empire is expanding westward. Syria (King Rezin) and Israel (King Pekah) form an alliance against Assyria with intention to force Judah (King Ahaz) into the alliance, which King Ahaz refuses.

Ahaz is heir to God’s covenant with David his forefather (2 Sam 7:8-17; Psalm 89:3-4, 19-34) and has clear warrant for confidence in God’s protective care, but he is scared. Isaiah calls for Ahaz and all of Jerusalem to put their firm faith in the Lord himself (a far more reliable ally) who requests of Ahaz to ask Him for a sign to strengthen his faith. Ahaz, however, places his hope for salvation in human power rather than in the Lord.

Suffering attacks on all sides for refusing to join the alliance against Assyria, Ahaz calls upon Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) the King of Assyria for help, who requires Ahaz to pay tribute (large amount of gold from temple) and that Judah becomes a vassal kingdom of the empire. Assyria conquers Syria in 733 BC and then Israel in 722 BC.

This was like making a "pact with the devil." Ahaz in essence was spiritually blind and forsook “the king, the Lord of Hosts” for a dreaded earthly king, unable to discern between his true ally and this true enemy. This doomed the Davidic Dynasty to loss of sovereignty under foreign domination. Israel would be conquered in 586 BC by the Babylonians. Now only by divine intervention (by God) would the throne of David be restored and the world saved.

Text (7:10-17)

The Lord, through Isaiah, has a simple message for Ahaz: do not fear, ask me for deliverance. I will give it to you. Ask me for a sign.

The sign is this: "The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel."

Some scholars say this prophecy is only fulfilled in the Messiah (i.e., Jesus). In order to bring Israel’s mission to fulfillment, God uses miraculous means to accomplish 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-10 (virgin birth). Thus, this is a rebuke to the faithless and secular outlook of King Ahaz. Other scholars say this prophecy has double fulfillment. Prophecy is partially fulfilled in Hezekiahd (Isaiah’s wife, the prophetess – 8:3 – bears the sign-child, “Maher-shalalhash-baz”. Before he grows of age to discern right from wrong (see below), Syria and Israel will be conquered.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Background:

This is a community lament. The people (or a part of them) have received harsh treatment from the Gentile nations (e.g., breakup of northern kingdom?). The whole congregation owns the distress of the part (e.g., Rom. 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”).

Note the refrain (v. 3) “restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (“Restore” also means “turn”).

Israel is in trouble. As a tender vine out of Egypt (story of the Exodus), Israel is now a broken down, burned, and ravaged nation by her neighboring nations (verses 8-16). The people appeal to the Shepherd of Israel (God): Stir up your might and come and save us! Restore (turn) us; let your face shine upon us that we might be saved (Aaronic Blessings, Nu 6:25).

The people have not been faithful. As a result of their tears have been their food and drink all day long and they have become the mockery and derision of other nations. But even in the midst of such sorrow and hardship, the people cry out to the Lord.

The end of the psalm appeals to the Son of Man, Israel's Messiah, who is mighty in authority and power, chosen of God and set apart to accomplish the Lord's purposes for the world. He will give life and exercize true faithfulness and worship unto the Lord.

This psalm found its fulfilment in Jesus is the true Son of Man: the fulfillment of a faithful Israel, and the true Son of God: the embodiment and revelation of God himself.

Matthew 1:18-25

In this text, we find out the identity of Israel's (and the world's Messiah/Savior). His name is Jesus. He is of the house and lineage of David, but his conception is of the Holy Spirit and not by natural means. His mother is a young virgin, betrothed to Joseph, who upon discovering Mary's pregnancy is about to divorce (he was not the father of the child), but is convinced by an angelic vision in a dream that Mary is telling the truth about the child. She has not been unfaithful or committed the sin of adultery.

The angel tells Joseph the name of the child is Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew, i.e., "The Lord saves!"). This child is the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. He is "Immanuel, God with us."

Romans 1:1-7

Paul is called to be an apostle (sent one) for the gospel (good news) of God, a servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), by grace. He formerly persecuted the early church and opposed the advancement of the gospel, even approving of the killing of the early followers of Christ.

Now, he affirms that the Messianic prophecies have indeed found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the Savior, the Messiah of God. He is both Son of God and the Son of Man -- both are honorific titles of the Messiah and consummate worshipper of God.

He is descended from David, full of the Spirit of holiness in power, raised from the dead. Now his followers are called to spread the good news to all the world, even among the Gentile nations. This news belongs for all people.

- Pastor Jeff

Advent 2

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Isaiah 11:1-10

This text foretells the coming of God's Messiah who will establish his kingdom of righteousness and justic upon the earth. He will come from the lineage of Jesse (i.e., the lineage of King David, cf. 1 Samuel 16) and will be uniquely anointed and qualified by the Holy Spirit to rule the nations. He will truly worship and reverence God Almighty in spirit and truth. He will discern rightly the motivations of people's hearts and judge correctly. His kingdom will be marked by peace and harmony. All the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

All nations and peoples will live together in peace and harmony with all of creation (even with the animal kingdom). All relationships will be marked by peace.

Psalm 72

Many psalms have double significance speaking of the "here and now" and also the "yet to come." Placed at the end of second book (or collection) of psalms and attributed to King Solomon, this is a prayer to God Almighty to establish the Lord's King with justice and righteousness. The Lord's royal son (king) will have complete dominion over the earth and will receive the homage and worship of all peoples and nations. His rule will be marked by compassion and redemption. The earth and the people will be blessed and prosper under his kingship.

Romans 15:4-13

The apostle Paul applies the hope, promises, and instruction offered from the Scriptures also to the encouragement and faith of the Gentiles -- not just to the Jews. This means that the hope of a coming Messiah who will deliver the people from their sins and establish his rule and justice and righteousness upon the earth is also for the Gentiles. These promises are for them, too. All who believe in the Lord's anointed (the Christ) will be blessed. Paul encourages his readers, both Jew and Gentile, to welcome one another and to live in harmony with one another, so that they might with one voice glorify God together to the praise and glory of God.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist is the last in the line of the great prophets. He is the immediate forerunner to the coming of the Lord's Messiah. His message is to prepare the people for the Messiah's coming, whose kingdom is near. His message calls people to prepare by repentance and confessing of sins. In this way, they are acknowledging their need for their Savior who will deliver them from their sins.

Summary

None of these texts directly mention the Messiah by name. They only speak of the nature of his rule and kingdom: peace, truth, justice, and righteousness. We know, however, that the Messiah's name is Jesus. He is the Christ -- the Lord's anointed. In Jesus we have forgiveness of sins and the promise of life everlasting because of his victory over sin, death, and the power of the Evil One through his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. He came once, born in Bethlehem, but he ascended into heaven, promising to come again, soon.

The Lord Jesus has already established his kingdom in the hearts of his followers, yet, the day is also coming of his physical return and kingly reign. O, Lord Jesus, the Spirit and the your Bride, say: "come!"

Pastor Jeff

1st Sunday of Advent 2010

After a couple of more intense weeks dealing with judgment, it was nice this morning to take a more relaxed approach. We took a nickel tour of the coming church year and had a brief introduction to Matthew’s Gospel.

Our big focus was on being “clothed in Christ” (Romans 13:14). I asked people to imagine standing before Jesus. He is smiling and welcoming them to run into his arms. As we run into his arms, he wraps his robe around us and we are safe and loved by our Lord. Can we believe we are this loved? A number of thoughts follow from this:

Who do we need to compete with if we are this loved by God? No one!

Who do we need to cut down or hate? No one!

Who wants to plan on sinning if we are this loved by God? No one!

Who wants to share this good news? I hope we all do!

Our challenge this week is to live in anticipation of God’s loving embrace. Amen!

The Good News of Judgement (part 2)

The Good News of Judgment, Part II

Jeremiah 23:1-6 • Psalm 88:1-12 • Luke 21:20-36 • Rev 21:1-5, 22:1-5

So many people have asked for the full text of this sermon, it seems best to post it here. Please continue to send us your comments and questions!

This is our second sermon on the good news of judgment. It is my hope that you spent this past week examining your motives and talking to our Lord about some of your false ideas about the end times. I want to ask: What does it mean for you to face judgment? But I want to ask this in context with God’s love.

God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit create the universe out of love. Their intent for us is seen in the early chapters of the Bible. Humans enjoy the friendship of God. They have good work to do as they image God to the rest of creation as they name other creatures and care for God’s garden. When humanity decides to try and become like God, they lose their place of privilege and are driven from the garden. It is not long before humanity is well practiced in every possible human sin. The rest of the Bible can be read as a love story in which God attempts to win us back into relationship with himself. God finally comes as a human and suffers our judgment and condemnation as Jesus dies on the cross for us (John 3:16). Our heavenly Father raises Jesus from the dead to demonstrate his justice, power, and love. As our living Savior—Jesus—gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we might be transformed into those who can love him and learn to live in his love.

What will it be like to live with the great characters of God’s story? Ask the question another way: What would it be like to live in the presence of a holy and loving God if we are not made ready? Could it be that God’s judgment will be good for you?

I. How do we fit in to God’s story? God forgives us and transforms us for his name’s sake!

Jeremiah 23:1-2: Could our human wickedness be more evident than when God’s pastors, priests, and shepherds are charged with destroying and scattering God’s flock?

Jeremiah 23:3-6: The promise of salvation comes as God himself gathers his flock.

Why does God do this? For his name’s sake (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 14:7 and 21; Ezekiel 20:44).

How does God do this? God comes as the good shepherd, incarnate in Jesus the righteous king. In Jesus, God submits to all the torments of this life, and he dies on a cross for us (Mark 10:45). Psalm 23:3 informs us that our Good Shepherd wants to restore our souls. He wants to lead us in the paths of righteousness – right relationships – for his name’s sake.

This is the big idea this morning: God forgives us and transforms us for his name’s sake! Listen to the witness of the psalms:

Psalm 25:11: For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Psalm 79:9: Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.

Psalm 109:21: But you, Sovereign LORD, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

Psalm 143:11: For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

We are forgiven and fit in to God’s plan for all creation for his name’s sake! Why should this matter to God? Remember, he made us in his image and he has work for us to do!

II. How are we made ready to be fit in? Get ready, because we will see that God judges us to help make us ready!

Psalm 88:1-12 show us the depths of our despair if God does not act for us and in us. We do not want to live here! IS there a away out? Yes, but we must go through GOd’s judgment! Isaiah 48:9‑11 brings two big ideas together:

⁹For my own name's sake I delay my wrath;

for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,

so as not to cut you off.

¹⁰See, I have refined you, though not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

¹¹For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.

How can I let myself be defamed?

I will not yield my glory to another.

God forgives us for his name’s sake and God refines us for his names sake.

The Apostle Paul picks up these ideas in I Corinthians 3:11-15 and applies them to church leaders. This is the text behind the fearsome place known as purgatory. We don’t believe in purgatory, but the idea of a refining fire in personal judgment can apply to all of us.

¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

I am not suggesting this is a place of suffering or punishment, because I believe Jesus died for our sins. But imagine with me what it would be like to live in his presence and still remember our rebellion and awfulness. I believe this refiner’s fire either removes or transforms all of our evil and selfishness. My entire life will pass through this fire, and in those few places where I responded with God’s love, I will find I am rewarded.

We have to think carefully about heavenly rewards, because most of our human reward systems are based on either greed or competition. Can we discover a reward that will help us keep our motives pure?

Money and wealth will be worth nothing – the streets are paved with gold (Revelation 21:21). We certainly won’t be tempted to boast about our success in the presence of the one who died for us!

I believe the only reward worth having will be an increased capacity to love: to experience God’s love and to respond with God’s love. Do you get it? The two great commands (to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves) are still with us! Only now they become an anticipation of our destiny! We will have the joy of loving God with our whole heart, with our whole mind, and with all of our strength. And it will be our joy to love our neighbors as ourselves.

III. How does it all end? The Apostles John & Paul give us complimentary pictures:

The Apostle John gives us an elaborate verbal picture of life with God after the creation of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21-22. I wish we had time to discuss both chapters. But here are the opening lines:

Revelation 21:1-5: ¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." ⁵He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 22:1-5: ¹Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

I want to emphasize just a couple of things. In 21:3-5 we be with God. God will wipe away our tears and renew all things. Our past—our mangled and broken past histories—will be transformed and made new! We will be free from it all and we will be free to love as we are loved in God’s new creation. In 22:3 and 5 we encounter another huge idea. The saints of God—that’s us!—we will serve God and reign with him for ever and ever.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t give us the same kind of verbal descriptions in his letters. But his thinking is just as profound and it compliments John’s ideas. Let me help you start to meditiate on this:

Ephesians1:7-10: ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-7: ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

We were dead, and God made us alive! He did it for his sake—as an expression of his great love! In Christ, we will experience the riches of his grace. Romans 8 tells us we are destined for glory!

Romans 8:18-23: ¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:29-30: ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

In Christ, we will participate in God’s nature (II Peter 1:4). We are made like him, conformed to his likeness (Romans 8:29) and even glorified (Romans 8:30). Because God will be all in all (I Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23), all creation will be glorified with us (Romans 8:21). And so the rocks will be alive and the Wasatch Mountians will sing bass even as the aspen trees sing soprano and clap their hands for joy! What will our role be? We will lead all creation in worship “for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12, 14; and Romans 1:5).

The Apostle John shows us the ethical call in such anticipations:

²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (I John 3:2-3)

Our Response: Returning to our Gospel text, we draw three imperatives for Luke 21:34-36:

Be careful so your hearts are not weighed down by the daily weight of life lived badly (34-35).

Watch so you will not be surprised. Live in expectation and ready (36).

Pray not to escape persecution, but to escape a loss of faith and apostasy (36).

Even so, let us be bold to pray “Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

In the name of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — Amen.

Luke 21: 20-36 • Rev 21:1-5 & 22:1-5