4th Advent

4th Advent - Sunday

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2 Samuel 7:(1-7) 8-11, 16,     Eternal Kingdom;
Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18,      God's Covenant with David;
Romans 16:25-27,       Benediction;
Luke 1:26-38,       Announcement;

Samuel:

After David had become king of all Israel, he built a palace, in Jerusalem, on the hill of Zion, the site of a Jebusite fortress, and it became known as the "City of David." Since he was settled into his house, and had peace from his enemies, David told his prophet, Nathan, that David wanted to build a house for the Lord, a temple, instead of the tabernacle, which was a tent, a portable temple. Nathan told David to do what David desired, because God (God's favor) was with David.

But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him God's Word to David. God said that he had not lived in a house, but in a tent, since he had led Israel out of Egypt. Why would David want to build God a house to dwell in? God had never asked Israel to build God a house.

God told Nathan to tell David that God had taken David from tending sheep to be a prince over God's people. God had been with David wherever David went, and had given David victory over all his enemies. God declared that he would make David's name great throughout the world. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent place where they could dwell securely, where they would no longer be disturbed by violent people. God declared that he would make David a house. And David's house, his kingdom and his throne would endure forever.

Psalm:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; I will proclaim his faithfulness to all generations. His steadfast love will endure forever; his faithfulness is as unchanging as the heavens.

God has said: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your descendants for ever and build your throne for all generations.

That eternal throne is founded on God's righteousness and justice, and is characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness. "Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, who exalt in thy name all the day, and and extol thy righteousness" (Psalm 89:15-16). We glory in the strength of the Lord; we are strengthened by God's favor. Our allegiance belongs to our king, the Holy One of Israel.

Romans:

At the end of the letter to the Roman Church, Paul invoked a blessing on them, that the Lord would strengthen them by Paul's preaching of the Gospel and his proclamation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which was unknown from the beginning of Creation until Christ's advent (coming). "But now [it] is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings (the Bible) is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Glory be to the only eternal and wise God through Jesus Christ. Amen!

Luke:

In the sixth month (Elul: August-September) God sent an angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David (the great shepherd-king of Israel). The angel greeted Mary saying that she was favored by God, and that the Lord was with her. Mary was worried about the sort of greeting it might be, but the angel told her not to be afraid, because she had God's approval. The angel told Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son whom she was to call Jesus.

The angel said, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High (God); and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father (ancestor) David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

Mary asked the angel how this could be, since she was unmarried. The angel told her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Thus the child she bore would be called holy, the Son of God.

The angel told her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was barren and past the age of childbearing, was six months pregnant with a son, and that nothing would be impossible for God. Mary acknowledged that she was God's servant, and accepted God's Word and will for her. Then the angel left her.

Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth in Galilee, when the angel announced to Mary the impending birth of Jesus, but Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the "City of David" (David's birthplace), because the Roman government required the Jews to return to their city of birth, to register, for tax purposes, and Joseph was a descendant of David.

After David had become king of all the tribes of Israel, he built a house for himself in the former Jebusite fortress on Zion, a high place in Jerusalem, surrounded on three sides by valleys, and that became known as the City of David. Since David had a permanent house, he thought he should build a permanent house (temple) for God also, instead of the portable tent called the tabernacle.

When David told Nathan, the prophet, his plan, Nathan at first told him to do as his heart desired, because God's favor was with David. But that night God spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that God did not need David to build him a house, and did not need to dwell in a house.

God had raised up a humble shepherd boy to be the prince over the tribes of Israel. God had given David success and victory over his enemies. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent dwelling where they would be safe and undisturbed by violent people. God promised that he would make David a house (dynasty), and David's house, kingdom and throne would endure forever.

The psalmist recalls the promise of God to David to establish his descendants and his throne for ever. That eternal throne of David is founded on God's righteousness and justice and characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant, his promise, to David. Jesus is the son of David and heir to the eternal throne of David. Through Jesus, God has established a permanent place for his people where we can dwell securely where we will not fear our enemies or violent people. That permanent place is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are the spiritual descendants of David.

Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which has been unknown to us since the beginning of Creation, until Jesus' coming (advent).
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey Jesus. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14)

God has designed creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, and so we can learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our best interest (Romans 12:2).   But God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, and not at all in his heavenly kingdom or it wouldn't be heaven. This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.

The reason and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, and know God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to us in human flesh. Jesus is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Genesis 1:3; Mark 4:41). Those who have "seen" and "know" Jesus have "seen" and "known" God (John 14:9). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God to us individually and personally.

We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to true, eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit within us which gives us spiritual life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, through which God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation. David is the forerunner and illustration of the Christ. David was the shepherd boy whom God exalted to prince (earthly king; only the Lord is the eternal heavenly king) of Israel. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is God's "anointed" eternal heavenly King of God's kingdom of God's people.

God promised to make David's name great and he fulfilled that promise. David's name is mentioned as the ancestor of Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament and throughout the Church year, notably at Christmas and on Palm Sunday.

The Bible scripture and the earthly advent of Jesus have been revealed to all nations, so that all can come to obedient trust in God's Word.

Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary had been barren and had passed the time of childbearing. Her barrenness was a source of shame in her society because it was understood as God's disfavor. When she became pregnant she was exalted because it was a sign of God's favor.

Pregnancy of a unmarried, betrothed, girl was a mark of shame in the society, but Mary believed the Word of God told to her by the angel Gabriel and accepted God's will. The name of this obscure young girl became famous throughout the world as the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:48).

There is a lesson for us to learn in the comparison of God's favor on David, and on Mary. David had God's favor because David trusted and obeyed God's Word. David thought he would be doing God a favor by building a fancy house for God. It is tempting to think that since we're member's of God's family we can and should do what seems right to us, because we have God's favor.

What we perceive as God's favor or disfavor is not necessarily so. Barrenness is not necessarily a sign of God's disfavor, nor is fertility necessarily a sign of God's favor. Neither is wealth and success necessarily a sign of God's favor, nor poverty a sign of God's disfavor.

Until Jesus' advent only a few select individuals had personal fellowship with the Lord by his Holy Spirit. David was a prophet, but perhaps didn't have the same relationship with God which we can through Jesus. Nathan served as a spiritual mediator to David. Nathan's first response was for David to do what seemed right to David, since God's favor was with David.

But that wasn't the right answer. That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and revealed his will for David, which Nathan was to convey. We don't need a "Nathan" if we are "born-again" and filled with the Holy Spirit, but we do need to have a "quiet time" with the Lord, perhaps at bedtime, when we can listen to the Lord and hear what he's really saying, along with scripture reading and prayer.

Note, though, that if we are not yet "reborn," seeking God's will through a spiritual adviser is only acceptable as one is "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, only until they have been "born-again. God wants us to seek him personally, and he wants to reveal his will for us personally, only as we are committed to do it.

In contrast to Elizabeth, God revealed his will to Mary and she accepted God's Word and saw God's blessing for her, even though it was not her heart's desire to be pregnant out-of-wedlock.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

4th Advent- Monday

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Psalm 97 The Lord Reigns

Let the earth rejoice, for the Lord reigns! Rejoice all coastlands! The Lord conceals himself as in thick clouds and darkness. His throne is founded upon righteousness and justice. Fire precedes him and burns up his adversaries. His lightening bolts light the whole sky and the earth trembles. "The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the Lord of all the earth" (Psalm 97:5).

The universe proclaims his righteousness, and his glory is revealed to all people. Those who worship and trust worthless idols will be put to shame. All other "gods" bow before the Lord. Zion (the people of God) rejoice in the Lord's judgments. The Lord is high above all earthly rulers, and exalted far above all other "gods."

Those who love the Lord hate evil. The Lord preserves the lives of his saints (those consecrated to God's service) and delivers them from the wicked.

"Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name" (Psalm 97:11-12)!
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The Lord is King of Creation, whether we acknowledge and accept him or not. The Lord reigns in the hearts of his people. His kingdom begins now in this world, and his people rejoice in his reign. Those who have trusted and obeyed the Lord know from experience that the Lord is righteous, just, faithful and loving in all his ways.

The Lord's manifestation is described in terms of the Lord's manifestation to Israel at the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Psalm 97:2-5; compare Exodus 19:16-22). The Lord is near at hand, but he conceals himself as in thick cloud and darkness (obscurity). Those who need to "see" in order to believe can't "see" him; but he reveals himself to those who trust and obey his Word (John 14:21, 23).

The Lord has been progressively revealing himself to the world, first in the goodness, orderliness, and intricacy of Creation. Then he called Abraham (Abram) to trust and obey God's Word, and the record of God's dealing with Abraham and his descendants is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world, in human form, in a non-threatening way. Jesus is the only way to come to know and have fellowship with God, the only way to know divine eternal truth, and the only way to have true spiritual eternal life (John 14:6).

Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we receive the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us individually and personally. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The gift of the Holy Spirit is the dawn of the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; John 8:12).

The Lord doesn't force his reign upon anyone. We have the freedom to accept or reject his reign, but if we are not ruled by the Lord we will be ruled by Satan, and will be slaves of sin and spiritual death (Luke 16:13).

There is a day coming, the Day of Jesus' Second Coming (advent), the Day of Judgment. In that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his people will rejoice, and his enemies will be destroyed by fire in Hell with all evil.

Jesus is the eternal King and Righteous Judge whom God has "anointed" to judge Creation. Jesus is the standard by which everyone who has ever lived will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord will have been spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and spiritual eternal death in fire in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

4th Advent - Tuesday

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Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful are the steps of those who cross mountains to bring good tidings, who publish peace and salvation, who declare to Zion (God's people; the Church) that their God reigns (compare Romans 10:15). Listen! The watchmen cry out with joy; they see eye-to-eye the return of the Lord to Zion. The waste places of Jerusalem sing together because the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem and comforted his people. The Lord has revealed his holy arm to all nations, and the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Jesus is the mighty arm of God whom God has revealed to the whole world. Jesus is God's "anointed" Savior, the Messiah (Christ; both words mean God's "anointed"), whom God has revealed to the world. Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12) from sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus has redeemed his people, he has paid the price for our sin. He has comforted us. We need no longer fear physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He has given our lives meaning and purpose. Life isn't just a "rat-race;" not just a contest to accumulate the most "things" or indulge our senses.

Jesus came physically as a baby, to grow up and die on the cross, as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins. His resurrection from death to eternal life demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Every truly "born-again" Christian testifies that Jesus is eternally alive.

Jesus came to give us true, spiritual, eternal life. Jesus declares that we must be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually, now, in this lifetime, in order to see God's eternal kingdom all around us now, and ultimately to enter it in eternity. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus has come once in human flesh. He comes to each believer spiritually and reveals himself to them personally and individually by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21; Romans 3:20). He has promised to come again, on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5), in both the physical and spiritual senses.

In a sense the Church and all "born-again" Christians are the watchmen who behold the coming of the Lord and cry out in joy, to alert the world of his coming. "Born-again" Christians have experienced the Lord's coming personally and individually. Our God reigns within us now.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

4th Advent - Wednesday

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Hebrews 1:1-9

4th Advent - Thursday

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John 1:1-14

4th Advent - Friday

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Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14

4th Advent - Saturday

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or 1 John 4:7-16
Luke 2:-1-14