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		<title>Advent 2019 | Hope Fellowship of Hillsboro - Advent 2019</title>
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		<description>Beholding Christ, The Hope of Glory</description>
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					<itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
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					<title>Christmas Eve: The Spoken Word</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-spoken-word</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/the-spoken-word#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2019 00:12:03 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[Every year we gather to sing the same songs, the same way, and remind ourselves of the day the Christ-child was born. In true routine, we rehearse the story of God become flesh, but do we every stop to grasp the why, or what it means that the Lord of Glory would need to condescend?

Why did he have to become like us? And why as a baby, not as a man? Wouldn’t it be a better plan to send the Savior of the World in His adult form, on a cloud of glory, in all power and might, dispelling demons and villains by the sword of his tongue? Then they would have known where he was from, and cowered in trembling fear, frightened to come near the One who reigns in power and strength.

Instead, his entry to our atmosphere was fragile, and subtle. And instead of fear he pronounced joy and peace, and invited the weak to draw near. And when water broke and flesh was torn, the Son of God was born. Life birthed the Light of the world, enveloped in a child who was laid in a manger, a trough dug in the dirt; a whole in the ground… not the hay-filled framework we see in front of a church. And in striking fashion, the One whom created Adam, stooped down again, scooped dirt in his hand, and set out to make a new man. He was the second Adam, and we are his brothers and sisters, who are born again.

But really— no crying he made? Gimme a break! That’s not consistent— not for God, whom to his people, depraved and resistant, showed steadfast love with anguished soul. He came crying for us, decrying our case, sweat blood and wept, interceded, that we would see God’s face. He was a man of sorrows. 

Why would he not cry at his birth? He left unapproachable glory and took on 8 lb 6 oz of human frailty… to be born in the dirt… I’d cry too!

The story for us is that God sent a heavenly chorus to praise his Son when He emptied himself into the likeness of man. Like taking a Porsche through a mud-rink, crusted earth covered the God-Man child-ling, and veiled His deity with skin. This emptying, scholars call it subtraction by addition; now God, who is Spirit, lives in a fleshly condition. 

But it seemed the glory of the Lord to the world was infrared, and like the dead, no one noticed the heavenly parade that night, save a few shepherds in the field, whom God chose to spite the wisdom of the world. 

Why shepherds? Called the uneducated, thieves and cheats, they were mocked and teased, the lowest of Israel’s cast. It seems even at His birth, Jesus was identifying with the worst the world would have. Jesus too was later mocked.

Circumcised on day 8, the first born to consecrate to the Lord; two turtle doves was the offering of the poor— a rich sacrifice for a pair of travelers taxed by the Roman empire. “Thus, he fulfilled all righteousness,” for righteousness is required for salvation he brings. 

Then, the Lord’s servant, Simeon— a man of age, with diminishing eyes, gazed upon the glory the world was blind to. Rejoicing, he held the child high, and exclaimed in the temple, “Now you are letting your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation! A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.” He gave the child back to the couple, but offered them words mixed with joy and sorrow, like wine and myrr. “Behold, the child is appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel, for a sign that is opposed, for hearts and minds will be exposed. And the sword will pierce your soul, too! 

Mary listened and drew her baby to her chest, and pondered.

It was two years later when the Magi arrived, looking for the Bethlehem-born King. They testified to the star they’d seen rise in the East, crossed terrain and sea, and traced it to the child. With gold, incense, and myrrh, bearing gifts they worshiped a toddler— not the way we see some parents worship their toddler, “Oh, Johnny this,” and “Oh, Bonny that—!” No, this was the kind that one would raise the eyebrow at! 

Grown men, prostrate, fall, flat on their face; rejoicing in the grace of Israel’s two year-old poverty-stricken king. And they worshiped him.

Foreigners were noticed around Bethlehem. Herod’s guards followed and observed when they heard the men ask for the One born King of the Jews. To be king was to fill Herod’s shoes, and no deified baby was to grow to threaten his throne. He was Herod the Great, let his name be known, and he did not have a star, or 3 wise men to hail his ascent, he was a ruthless and self-made man; if three wise men crossed him, we’ll see how they run! “When you find him, bring me word, for I, too, want to worship the child,” he said with a crooked smile. The magi, warned by and angel in a dream, did not to return to the evil king. A few short weeks revealed his intention; Herod had prepared a bloodbath for all boys, two or less in Bethlehem. In the name of political preservation, we hear Israel, through, Rachel weeping for her children. 

Joseph, warned in same manner, took flight by night with Mary and baby and escaped the king’s rage. Through desert brush and sage, they fled to Egypt where God had once before preserved his people to save. As the prophet declared, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son.” The Christ child had already begun to trace the steps of Israel, but as the obedient, God-dependent, and righteous One. 

We know He didn’t stay a child. Herod died, and by angelic spurring, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned, with siblings wrapped in tote on Mary’s hip. The family veered north to Nazareth and put distance between the son of Herod, and the Son of God.

Think about this birth story: Angels singing in cosmic glory, a guiding star led mystic men to a toddler, and an earthly king was put on notice! How is a mother or father to prove this? 

How does that tale get spun around the dinner table? No wonder his brothers dissented— he was the golden child— literally God’s gift to man, if you were in that family, wouldn’t you resent him? If Joseph’s brothers wouldn’t believe they’d bow before selling him to slavery, why would the siblings of the Son of God not feel their older brother was a little out of wack?

And by the way, mom conceived him by the Spirit —the Son of David, not necessarily the son of Joseph. I mean he is, but he isn’t… not really (?) … and some how this is a good thing! 

Talk about a confusing!

But was it true? Mary seemed to think so. She treasured each moment, memorizing by heart, writing word and deed of God on her soul, a scroll to record the revealed Arm of the Lord. He came as a child, but no amount of boding could keep him swaddled her arms.

Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and man. It was then one might have perceived, Jesus comprehended far more than one would believe the age-appropriate yeshiva taught. He was twelve when he was found on the Mount, at His Father’s house, doing His Father’s lot. He had abandoned the train of travelers who had left for Nazareth. Let Mary and Joseph and reader understand; he was on a mission.

From baby, to toddler, to child, teen to man. Birth, 2, 13, to 30. Why did Jesus come as a baby? Because we are not only saved by his death, but by His life. He fulfilled the law perfectly, taking on humanity, and he now knows by experience every thought and feeling, every temptation and situation you and I contrive. 

It was Satan who took the Nazarite to mountain height, and promised a world of riches, power, and pleasures of sin. He grew up poor, do you think that tempted him? All Jesus had to do was bow down. Who here wouldn’t give in? Who here hasn’t dove in? He was tempted in every way. So every temptation we face, every power, drug, lust, or pleasure we can taste, was paraded before him. This after 40 days of fasting. He felt the drunk’en stupor when you’re flesh is weak, and sin calls you by name, like a siren from the sea, only he didn’t hit the reef. He lived perfectly; he navigated those waters in righteousness, and paved the way for you and I to be free. But He did it as a man… instead of turning to his divine power to prevail, he resisted by the word of God, and over the devil he assailed. And when baptized, the Majestic Glory broke from the skies and spoke these words:“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

He knew from Eternity past the world would lash at him every day of his 33 year life, and a righteous response is what the Father required to save this world, gone astray. Therefore, He was made like his brothers in every way, and in every respect, tempted and able to save us when we defect, able to sympathize and reconcile as our merciful high priest; only He can offer to God what is required of me! 

He was born, suffered, and was perfected in the flesh, able to represent all humanity. Only God can pay back to God the honor of God that mankind rejected. Therefore, because Jesus, the only God-man, stood before the Father, and made an offering of His life, having suffered every trial, having prevailed over every temptation and strife, he has made peace with God for us. And because by faith, I believe, His obedience has become mine, and the Father speaks those same words over me, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”

It was his salvation plan that God would not conceal His glory forever, but reveal to us glory, fused in flesh, and freely give the gift of His Son. This is why the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the eternal gift of Christmas; it is Jesus, for He was and is, and is to come.

May all God’s people pray this Christmas— Come Lord Jesus.

Amen.]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Every year we gather to sing the same songs, the same way, and remind ourselves of the day the Christ-child was born. In true routine, we rehearse the story of God become flesh, but do we every stop to grasp the why, or what it means that the Lord of Glory would need to condescend?

Why did he have to become like us? And why as a baby, not as a man? Wouldn’t it be a better plan to send the Savior of the World in His adult form, on a cloud of glory, in all power and might, dispelling demons and villains by the sword of his tongue? Then they would have known where he was from, and cowered in trembling fear, frightened to come near the One who reigns in power and strength.

Instead, his entry to our atmosphere was fragile, and subtle. And instead of fear he pronounced joy and peace, and invited the weak to draw near. And when water broke and flesh was torn, the Son of God was born. Life birthed the Light of the world, enveloped in a child who was laid in a manger, a trough dug in the dirt; a whole in the ground… not the hay-filled framework we see in front of a church. And in striking fashion, the One whom created Adam, stooped down again, scooped dirt in his hand, and set out to make a new man. He was the second Adam, and we are his brothers and sisters, who are born again.

But really— no crying he made? Gimme a break! That’s not consistent— not for God, whom to his people, depraved and resistant, showed steadfast love with anguished soul. He came crying for us, decrying our case, sweat blood and wept, interceded, that we would see God’s face. He was a man of sorrows. 

Why would he not cry at his birth? He left unapproachable glory and took on 8 lb 6 oz of human frailty… to be born in the dirt… I’d cry too!

The story for us is that God sent a heavenly chorus to praise his Son when He emptied himself into the likeness of man. Like taking a Porsche through a mud-rink, crusted earth covered the God-Man child-ling, and veiled His deity with skin. This emptying, scholars call it subtraction by addition; now God, who is Spirit, lives in a fleshly condition. 

But it seemed the glory of the Lord to the world was infrared, and like the dead, no one noticed the heavenly parade that night, save a few shepherds in the field, whom God chose to spite the wisdom of the world. 

Why shepherds? Called the uneducated, thieves and cheats, they were mocked and teased, the lowest of Israel’s cast. It seems even at His birth, Jesus was identifying with the worst the world would have. Jesus too was later mocked.

Circumcised on day 8, the first born to consecrate to the Lord; two turtle doves was the offering of the poor— a rich sacrifice for a pair of travelers taxed by the Roman empire. “Thus, he fulfilled all righteousness,” for righteousness is required for salvation he brings. 

Then, the Lord’s servant, Simeon— a man of age, with diminishing eyes, gazed upon the glory the world was blind to. Rejoicing, he held the child high, and exclaimed in the temple, “Now you are letting your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation! A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.” He gave the child back to the couple, but offered them words mixed with joy and sorrow, like wine and myrr. “Behold, the child is appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel, for a sign that is opposed, for hearts and minds will be exposed. And the sword will pierce your soul, too! 

Mary listened and drew her baby to her chest, and pondered.

It was two years later when the Magi arrived, looking for the Bethlehem-born King. They testified to the star they’d seen rise in the East, crossed terrain and sea, and traced it to the child. With gold, incense, and myrrh, bearing gifts they worshiped a toddler— not the way we see some parents worship their toddler, “Oh, Johnny this,” and “Oh, Bonny that—!” No, this was the kind that one would raise the eyebrow at! 

Grown men, prostrate, fall, flat on their face; rejoicing in the grace of Israel’s two year-old poverty-stricken king. And they worshiped him.

Foreigners were noticed around Bethlehem. Herod’s guards followed and observed when they heard the men ask for the One born King of the Jews. To be king was to fill Herod’s shoes, and no deified baby was to grow to threaten his throne. He was Herod the Great, let his name be known, and he did not have a star, or 3 wise men to hail his ascent, he was a ruthless and self-made man; if three wise men crossed him, we’ll see how they run! “When you find him, bring me word, for I, too, want to worship the child,” he said with a crooked smile. The magi, warned by and angel in a dream, did not to return to the evil king. A few short weeks revealed his intention; Herod had prepared a bloodbath for all boys, two or less in Bethlehem. In the name of political preservation, we hear Israel, through, Rachel weeping for her children. 

Joseph, warned in same manner, took flight by night with Mary and baby and escaped the king’s rage. Through desert brush and sage, they fled to Egypt where God had once before preserved his people to save. As the prophet declared, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son.” The Christ child had already begun to trace the steps of Israel, but as the obedient, God-dependent, and righteous One. 

We know He didn’t stay a child. Herod died, and by angelic spurring, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned, with siblings wrapped in tote on Mary’s hip. The family veered north to Nazareth and put distance between the son of Herod, and the Son of God.

Think about this birth story: Angels singing in cosmic glory, a guiding star led mystic men to a toddler, and an earthly king was put on notice! How is a mother or father to prove this? 

How does that tale get spun around the dinner table? No wonder his brothers dissented— he was the golden child— literally God’s gift to man, if you were in that family, wouldn’t you resent him? If Joseph’s brothers wouldn’t believe they’d bow before selling him to slavery, why would the siblings of the Son of God not feel their older brother was a little out of wack?

And by the way, mom conceived him by the Spirit —the Son of David, not necessarily the son of Joseph. I mean he is, but he isn’t… not really (?) … and some how this is a good thing! 

Talk about a confusing!

But was it true? Mary seemed to think so. She treasured each moment, memorizing by heart, writing word and deed of God on her soul, a scroll to record the revealed Arm of the Lord. He came as a child, but no amount of boding could keep him swaddled her arms.

Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and man. It was then one might have perceived, Jesus comprehended far more than one would believe the age-appropriate yeshiva taught. He was twelve when he was found on the Mount, at His Father’s house, doing His Father’s lot. He had abandoned the train of travelers who had left for Nazareth. Let Mary and Joseph and reader understand; he was on a mission.

From baby, to toddler, to child, teen to man. Birth, 2, 13, to 30. Why did Jesus come as a baby? Because we are not only saved by his death, but by His life. He fulfilled the law perfectly, taking on humanity, and he now knows by experience every thought and feeling, every temptation and situation you and I contrive. 

It was Satan who took the Nazarite to mountain height, and promised a world of riches, power, and pleasures of sin. He grew up poor, do you think that tempted him? All Jesus had to do was bow down. Who here wouldn’t give in? Who here hasn’t dove in? He was tempted in every way. So every temptation we face, every power, drug, lust, or pleasure we can taste, was paraded before him. This after 40 days of fasting. He felt the drunk’en stupor when you’re flesh is weak, and sin calls you by name, like a siren from the sea, only he didn’t hit the reef. He lived perfectly; he navigated those waters in righteousness, and paved the way for you and I to be free. But He did it as a man… instead of turning to his divine power to prevail, he resisted by the word of God, and over the devil he assailed. And when baptized, the Majestic Glory broke from the skies and spoke these words:“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

He knew from Eternity past the world would lash at him every day of his 33 year life, and a righteous response is what the Father required to save this world, gone astray. Therefore, He was made like his brothers in every way, and in every respect, tempted and able to save us when we defect, able to sympathize and reconcile as our merciful high priest; only He can offer to God what is required of me! 

He was born, suffered, and was perfected in the flesh, able to represent all humanity. Only God can pay back to God the honor of God that mankind rejected. Therefore, because Jesus, the only God-man, stood before the Father, and made an offering of His life, having suffered every trial, having prevailed over every temptation and strife, he has made peace with God for us. And because by faith, I believe, His obedience has become mine, and the Father speaks those same words over me, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”

It was his salvation plan that God would not conceal His glory forever, but reveal to us glory, fused in flesh, and freely give the gift of His Son. This is why the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the eternal gift of Christmas; it is Jesus, for He was and is, and is to come.

May all God’s people pray this Christmas— Come Lord Jesus.

Amen.]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Every year we gather to sing the same songs, the same way, and remind ourselves of the day the Christ-child was born. In true routine, we rehearse the story of God become flesh, but do we every stop to grasp the why, or what it means that the Lord of Glory would need to condescend?

Why did he have to become like us? And why as a baby, not as a man? Wouldn’t it be a better plan to send the Savior of the World in His adult form, on a cloud of glory, in all power and might, dispelling demons and villains by the sword of his tongue? Then they would have known where he was from, and cowered in trembling fear, frightened to come near the One who reigns in power and strength.

Instead, his entry to our atmosphere was fragile, and subtle. And instead of fear he pronounced joy and peace, and invited the weak to draw near. And when water broke and flesh was torn, the Son of God was born. Life birthed the Light of the world, enveloped in a child who was laid in a manger, a trough dug in the dirt; a whole in the ground… not the hay-filled framework we see in front of a church. And in striking fashion, the One whom created Adam, stooped down again, scooped dirt in his hand, and set out to make a new man. He was the second Adam, and we are his brothers and sisters, who are born again.

But really— no crying he made? Gimme a break! That’s not consistent— not for God, whom to his people, depraved and resistant, showed steadfast love with anguished soul. He came crying for us, decrying our case, sweat blood and wept, interceded, that we would see God’s face. He was a man of sorrows. 

Why would he not cry at his birth? He left unapproachable glory and took on 8 lb 6 oz of human frailty… to be born in the dirt… I’d cry too!

The story for us is that God sent a heavenly chorus to praise his Son when He emptied himself into the likeness of man. Like taking a Porsche through a mud-rink, crusted earth covered the God-Man child-ling, and veiled His deity with skin. This emptying, scholars call it subtraction by addition; now God, who is Spirit, lives in a fleshly condition. 

But it seemed the glory of the Lord to the world was infrared, and like the dead, no one noticed the heavenly parade that night, save a few shepherds in the field, whom God chose to spite the wisdom of the world. 

Why shepherds? Called the uneducated, thieves and cheats, they were mocked and teased, the lowest of Israel’s cast. It seems even at His birth, Jesus was identifying with the worst the world would have. Jesus too was later mocked.

Circumcised on day 8, the first born to consecrate to the Lord; two turtle doves was the offering of the poor— a rich sacrifice for a pair of travelers taxed by the Roman empire. “Thus, he fulfilled all righteousness,” for righteousness is required for salvation he brings. 

Then, the Lord’s servant, Simeon— a man of age, with diminishing eyes, gazed upon the glory the world was blind to. Rejoicing, he held the child high, and exclaimed in the temple, “Now you are letting your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation! A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.” He gave the child back to the couple, but offered them words mixed with joy and sorrow, like wine and myrr. “Behold, the child is appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel, for a sign that is opposed, for hearts and minds will be exposed. And the sword will pierce your soul, too! 

Mary listened and drew her baby to her chest, and pondered.

It was two years later when the Magi arrived, looking for the Bethlehem-born King. They testified to the star they’d seen rise in the East, crossed terrain and sea, and traced it to the child. With gold, incense, and myrrh, bearing gifts they worshiped a toddler— not the way we see some parents worship their toddler, “Oh, Johnny this,” and “Oh, Bonny that—!” No, this was the kind that one would raise the eyebrow at! 

Grown men, prostrate, fall, flat on their face; rejoicing in the grace of Israel’s two year-old poverty-stricken king. And they worshiped him.

Foreigners were noticed around Bethlehem. Herod’s guards followed and observed when they heard the men ask for the One born King of the Jews. To be king was to fill Herod’s shoes, and no deified baby was to grow to threaten his throne. He was Herod the Great, let his name be known, and he did not have a star, or 3 wise men to hail his ascent, he was a ruthless and self-made man; if three wise men crossed him, we’ll see how they run! “When you find him, bring me word, for I, too, want to worship the child,” he said with a crooked smile. The magi, warned by and angel in a dream, did not to return to the evil king. A few short weeks revealed his intention; Herod had prepared a bloodbath for all boys, two or less in Bethlehem. In the name of political preservation, we hear Israel, through, Rachel weeping for her children. 

Joseph, warned in same manner, took flight by night with Mary and baby and escaped the king’s rage. Through desert brush and sage, they fled to Egypt where God had once before preserved his people to save. As the prophet declared, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son.” The Christ child had already begun to trace the steps of Israel, but as the obedient, God-dependent, and righteous One. 

We know He didn’t stay a child. Herod died, and by angelic spurring, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned, with siblings wrapped in tote on Mary’s hip. The family veered north to Nazareth and put distance between the son of Herod, and the Son of God.

Think about this birth story: Angels singing in cosmic glory, a guiding star led mystic men to a toddler, and an earthly king was put on notice! How is a mother or father to prove this? 

How does that tale get spun around the dinner table? No wonder his brothers dissented— he was the golden child— literally God’s gift to man, if you were in that family, wouldn’t you resent him? If Joseph’s brothers wouldn’t believe they’d bow before selling him to slavery, why would the siblings of the Son of God not feel their older brother was a little out of wack?

And by the way, mom conceived him by the Spirit —the Son of David, not necessarily the son of Joseph. I mean he is, but he isn’t… not really (?) … and some how this is a good thing! 

Talk about a confusing!

But was it true? Mary seemed to think so. She treasured each moment, memorizing by heart, writing word and deed of God on her soul, a scroll to record the revealed Arm of the Lord. He came as a child, but no amount of boding could keep him swaddled her arms.

Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and man. It was then one might have perceived, Jesus comprehended far more than one would believe the age-appropriate yeshiva taught. He was twelve when he was found on the Mount, at His Father’s house, doing His Father’s lot. He had abandoned the train of travelers who had left for Nazareth. Let Mary and Joseph and reader understand; he was on a mission.

From baby, to toddler, to child, teen to man. Birth, 2, 13, to 30. Why did Jesus come as a baby? Because we are not only saved by his death, but by His life. He fulfilled the law perfectly, taking on humanity, and he now knows by experience every thought and feeling, every temptation and situation you and I contrive. 

It was Satan who took the Nazarite to mountain height, and promised a world of riches, power, and pleasures of sin. He grew up poor, do you think that tempted him? All Jesus had to do was bow down. Who here wouldn’t give in? Who here hasn’t dove in? He was tempted in every way. So every temptation we face, every power, drug, lust, or pleasure we can taste, was paraded before him. This after 40 days of fasting. He felt the drunk’en stupor when you’re flesh is weak, and sin calls you by name, like a siren from the sea, only he didn’t hit the reef. He lived perfectly; he navigated those waters in righteousness, and paved the way for you and I to be free. But He did it as a man… instead of turning to his divine power to prevail, he resisted by the word of God, and over the devil he assailed. And when baptized, the Majestic Glory broke from the skies and spoke these words:“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

He knew from Eternity past the world would lash at him every day of his 33 year life, and a righteous response is what the Father required to save this world, gone astray. Therefore, He was made like his brothers in every way, and in every respect, tempted and able to save us when we defect, able to sympathize and reconcile as our merciful high priest; only He can offer to God what is required of me! 

He was born, suffered, and was perfected in the flesh, able to represent all humanity. Only God can pay back to God the honor of God that mankind rejected. Therefore, because Jesus, the only God-man, stood before the Father, and made an offering of His life, having suffered every trial, having prevailed over every temptation and strife, he has made peace with God for us. And because by faith, I believe, His obedience has become mine, and the Father speaks those same words over me, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”

It was his salvation plan that God would not conceal His glory forever, but reveal to us glory, fused in flesh, and freely give the gift of His Son. This is why the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the eternal gift of Christmas; it is Jesus, for He was and is, and is to come.

May all God’s people pray this Christmas— Come Lord Jesus.

Amen.]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Every year we gather to sing the same songs, the same way, and remind ourselves of the day the Christ-child was born. In true routine, we rehearse the story of God become flesh, but do we every stop to grasp the why, or what it means that the Lord of Glor...</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<title>Advent 2019: The Proclamation of Peace</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/advent-2019-the-proclamation-of-peace</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/advent-2019-the-proclamation-of-peace#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 22 Dec 2019 18:05:37 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
					<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hopefellowship.life/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&#038;p=1016</guid>
					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 2:13-14, Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-22 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent 2019 | Have you had the sense, as I have, that something is not quite right? A deep sense that something is ‘off’ within yourselves? Maybe you might have trouble drawing out why. Have you found yourselves, as I have, running around, creating more activity, or buying more items, and say, “If I can just get such-n-such, or do-such-n-such, then everything will be good!” Have you said that to yourself? 

Maybe something is off, and you know why. Maybe there was a wrong committed against us, and we are holding it over someone. Or, maybe we are the one who has committed the wrong, and we must acknowledge, and apologize for it. And could it be that we have apologized for it, but that apology hasn’t fully ‘atoned’ for the sin?— this can be especially true for a spouse or close friend. You’ve said sorry, forgiveness has been granted, but there’s still an unspoken wall between you two. There’s no longer a visble barrier, but maybe a reef below the waters; there is not true harmony, or peace, things are not “whole” or as they should be.

Last week, I made the assertion that all people seek after joy. I want to make a second assertion this morning, similar, but not the same. Here it is: 

“All people yearn for a true sense of peace.” 

Let me describe to you what I mean by that. In the Scriptures, the primary idea of the word “peace” is completeness, soundness, or wholeness. The Hebrew word is shalom. Adam and Eve were created and put in a garden where everything was good — of perfect shalom. It’s the way things should have been; it was complete, and whole. That sense of wholeness — with the created order as it was meant to be, was our native environment. Animals paired by kind, fertile land that produced vegetation without much work, a perfect garden to live in— where legos and moji-mo’s were not left on the floor but put away in the box and stored neatly on the shelf, books were organized by title and author in their proper section, and socks were folded right side out, stacked neatly with topside up, and — with the appropriate pair! Everything is where it should be, as it should be! SHALOM! The OCD folks of our congregation would have been— literally and metaphorically speaking, in heaven!Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent here at Hope. We lit the PEACE Candle. So, what does the peace of God have to do with Advent? 

At the proclaiming of the birth of Christ, the angels declared “peace” to the people. Today, we look at that proclamation in the Luke passage. The main question we are answering is this: What did the angels mean in their proclamation? How does the Bible answer that question? And what is peace— shalom, on the earth?

So we will look at what the proclamation of Peace under the following headings:

The Kingdom of Peace

The God of Peace, 

The People of Peace, 

Jesus, our peace!

Let’s read:

Luke 2:8–14

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

[14] “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

[Pray]

The Kingdom of Peace

Have you paused to consider the historical time frame in which Jesus, the Son of God, was born? Historians make an educated guess and date his birth between 4-6 BC. Herod the first, later dubbed, Herod the Great, ruled Judea. Octavian, who was given the name Caesar Augustus, was the emperor of Rome. And Rome, as an empire, was at the beginning of the height of the empire, with its greatest territorial extent, and largest populous — remember the census which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem? Historians called this period of time the Pax Romana, which is Latin for “Roman Peace.” It was dubbed a time of peace, but that peace was established by ruthless oppression. Though civil laws existed, it was a time of debauchery, and ruthless death by crucifixion and gladiator games. The people would go to arenas and watch men kill each other, like a sporting event. It was a kingdom of peace for the strong, where they ruled by might and oppression, and unrighteousness. It was not shalom.

It seems to be a pattern for God to save his people, a poor and needy people, when the rulers of earth are at the height of their power. This was the case with Ramses the Great— when Yahweh delivered Israel from Egypt. And what we see of Rome and the people of Israel not only mirrors the height of power of the foreign nation, but it is amplified. Rome reached peace through oppression and war. And notice, it was Roman peace, not peace on earth! It was peace for Roman citizens, but not for subjugated people. 

So consider the context: God sent a chorus of angels to announce the coming of His Savior, the Son of David, the King— to a subjugated people under the rule of the largest and most powerful empire history had known. And make no mistake, the angels proclaimed a Kingdom, as was read during our advent candle. The proclamation in Luke eluded to Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder…” The angels declared to the shepherds, the needy and poor of Israel, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Ramses was called the “Great Ancestor.” Herod was later called “Herod the Great.” Octavian was given the name Caesar Augustus, or “The Illustrious One”

Jesus— the name above all names, the King above all kings, is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Names were given based on what the rulers have done, and His name was Prince of Peace. His Kingdom is a Kingdom of Peace. 

I want to show you a few Scriptures that speak to this, and warn you now that the people of Israel were, in large part, blind the glory of this kingdom. They were looking for a Prince of war, and they were the victors, parading their power over other peoples. They were looking to be like the nations, to raise up and rule the earth by their own might, and yet Jesus came preaching a Kingdom of peace, one that arrived through different means. 

Jesus, recorded in Matthew 5, spoke to this kingdom:

[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemaker, persecuted— what kind of kingdom is that!? The kingdoms of the world rule by power and might, force and subjugation. These are the honored ones. The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed arrived in humility, and it honors those in spiritual poverty, in mourning, in meekness, righteousness, in mercy, in purity, in peacemaking, and in persecution. 

Friends, this is how the gospel of the Kingdom of God will spread. We cannot use the weapons of the world to spread the Kingdom of God! We renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word! 

Instead, we walk in the law of the Kingdom:

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

As the Christmas song declares, “His law is love, and his gospel is peace!” 

His is a Kingdom of Shalom, of peace. And that peace is established by God, between God and man, for He is the God of Peace.

So we move from the Kingdom of Peace, to…

The God of Peace

The pronouncement of peace implied there existed enmity, or war, between two parties. In our studies in John and in Genesis, we have seen firsthand the enmity between God and man. This enmity was the result of man’s rebellion. We are the guilty ones who broke covenant with our Creator! And as we’ve seen on John and Genesis, mankind loves the darkness. Thus, we see a propagation of evil, a continuation of sin.

In a conversation with one of our own here at Hope, it was said, “Why does God even bother?” In other words, if we are as sinful as we are, and He has known before time that this would be our direction, why did God even create us? Why does he strive with us, and have patience for us? The answer, in part, is that our rebellion gave opportunity for God to show His grace. If man had not sinned, if there was not enmity between God and his image bearers, God would not have had the opportunity to show what was true of Him: that He is The God of Peace. And this is what the angels praised him for!

The pronouncement is one of peace on behalf of God to His people. Listen to the proclamation again with me: First, Verse 10 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. then, [14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

God is being praised in the heavens— that is the meaning of “glory to God in the highest.” The angelic hosts look down and see the beauty, the majesty, the wonder of what God was doing in sending his glorious Son to the earth, and they praise him for it! Why? Because this amazing redemption originated in the heavens, and streamed down to the earth in a declaration of peace. Peace was initiated by God.

Isn’t this a strange way for peace to come to the earth? When two parties come to terms of peace, is it because one nation has triumphed our the other, and thus, the defeated nation recognizes their defeat and submits themself to the prevailing kingdom. Isn’t it the losing side that would declare a cease fire, and ask for peace?  And yet, that is not what we see. Instead, God took initiative, and he declared peace to the people who were blind to His glory. 

They were blind to the means of peace. Jesus echoed this sentiment in Luke 19 when he wept over Jerusalem: 

‘“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!” Peace is declared and achieved by God. He is the God of Peace. And His peace was granted to His people. And we who believe are…

The People of Peace

The peace the angel declared was a specific peace to a specific people. Look at verse 10: I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

There is an article in the greek after the word all, and before the word people. This means it was designated for all of a specific people; not all people of the world. This is consistent with Scripture: there will be peace for the people of God, for those who are the poor and needy of the earth, as we learned last week. But for those who remain in rebellion against God, there is no peace. The peace terms have been offered, but there are stipulations to this peace. Look at verse 14

“and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

Where is this peace found? Among those with whom He is pleased. What might that mean? For there is no one righteous, no not one! We all have turned away from God! This is the path of the entirety of humanity! In and of our own selves it is impossible to please God. So, with whom is God pleased?

Hebrews 11 gives us the answer. Christian Scholars call Hebrews 11 The Hall of Faith. Turn your Bibles to Hebrews 11:5-6

[5] By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

So, we know it is our faith that pleases God. But faith in what? Faith in whom? How does faith, or trusting in God, please him and save us? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 5. Turn there with me:  Romans 5:1–2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Peace with God was declared at the birth of Jesus. Why? Because the birth of Jesus was the beginning of His perfect earthly life, in which he always pleased God. It was proclaimed at his baptism in Matthew 3:17: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was asked:“What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (ESV) What is the work of God? BELIEVE in the One whom He had sent! And we who have faith in his perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection are the People of Peace.

We have peace with God. Why? Because we have been justified by faith. How? Through the life and death of Jesus. This is the gospel: that God has declared peace to us through His Son. That which stood between us, that rift, that unbreakable barrier because of our sin and His holiness, has now been torn down through the death of His Son. Our relationship is restored! We are no longer under His wrath, but His grace! That overwhelming feeling of unsettledness, of something being “off” with God, that there is some wrong committed that I have to work off, atone for, has now been removed for those who trust in Jesus. And we now have peace with God… Shalom. For we have been justified. 

What does it mean to be justified? It means things have been made right! Complete! Whole! Shalom in our relating to God! It is as it should be!

Justified to what? We have been justified into His grace, and our access through Jesus, our justification by his atoning death, is so sure that Paul says we STAND in this grace! 

Friends, when you come into the presence of a King, especially one you have wronged, whom you have fought against and by whom you have been defeated,

it is expected that you kneel, for you are there at His bequest, and you can be banished in a moment. Paul says we STAND in grace with peace in the presence of God! And this based on the work of Jesus— it is so sure, God is so pleased with us, that we STAND in His presence!

The People of God are a People of Peace because the Son of God has signed the peace treaty with his own blood, and secured it for a people who would please God by trusting in His Son! 

This brings us to our last heading this morning:

Jesus Is Our Peace!

This peace afforded us through Jesus extends to every aspect of our life! And all this is from Him and to Him and through Him!

Would you turn to Ephesians 2:13.

[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 

So, because of Jesus, we have peace with God. Paul boldly states that Jesus, himself, is our peace! God is love. God is peace! He is the source, and the one whom provided peace for us! Also notice he spoke in the plural form— he might reconcile us both… 

[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

He was speaking to Gentiles who had been excluded from the people of God, the people of Israel. He was saying God had torn down the walls that divided them, and has created in Himself one new man— one new people of God, composed of all nations, composed of those who believe God, who abide in Christ, and please Him by faith.

[19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 

We, a people of God, are being built into His temple, the dwelling place of His Spirit. And we have peace, shalom with God. We have peace, shalom with our neighbors. And we have peace, shalom, in ourselves because we have the peace of Christ.

When the sermon began, my aim was to stir up in you your desire for personal peace. Our spirits search for it. Our hearts know when it is lacking. Shalom has been broken, and we know it. And moreso, we need it!

We need peace when we are at war with our spouse, or our co-worker, or ourself. We need peace when we are parenting, and our frustration rises, we are embarrassed, and our pride is attacked. We need peace when our soul is lost in busyness, and it seems life is moving at a frantic pace. We need peace when we are distraught, at our wits end, not knowing what is right and wrong. We need peace when our circumstances are beyond our control, and we are afraid for our well-being. We need peace when death is knocking at the door, and has pushed its way in. We need peace in our heart and mind, for we we were created in such a way that shalom would be our dwelling place. And this peace is only found in Jesus.

I want to leave you with this: John 14 and 15 records Jesus’ last teachings to His disciples. In John 14 Jesus promised the Spirit of God would come to His disciples. In that context, he said, [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)

Jesus is our peace. And he calls us into His peace. We experience this peace, this shalom, only when we abide in Him. We will have no peace unless we abide in Him.

 [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)

The peace of God, the shalom of God, is for the people of God who have placed all their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and abide— make their dwelling place, with God. Jesus is their righteousness, and they, by the power and Spirit of God, live out the Kingdom of God’s peace — shalom. If you’re having trouble experiencing the peace of God, might it be that you are not living in peace of God, trusting in His provision for your sin, and your life, and abiding in His presence? Peace is for the one who believes and trust Jesus, and walk in His ways. God will not give a false sense of peace to His children. In fact, the sense of being unsettled may be the way He is calling you into His peace. We please God when we repent of our sin, turn away from it, and trust wholly in the means of Jesus — for every aspect of our life, for He is our peace.]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 2:13-14, Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-22 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent 2019 | Have you had the sense, as I have, that something is not quite right? A deep sense that something is ‘off’ within yourselves? Maybe you might have trouble drawing out why. Have you found yourselves, as I have, running around, creating more activity, or buying more items, and say, “If I can just get such-n-such, or do-such-n-such, then everything will be good!” Have you said that to yourself? 

Maybe something is off, and you know why. Maybe there was a wrong committed against us, and we are holding it over someone. Or, maybe we are the one who has committed the wrong, and we must acknowledge, and apologize for it. And could it be that we have apologized for it, but that apology hasn’t fully ‘atoned’ for the sin?— this can be especially true for a spouse or close friend. You’ve said sorry, forgiveness has been granted, but there’s still an unspoken wall between you two. There’s no longer a visble barrier, but maybe a reef below the waters; there is not true harmony, or peace, things are not “whole” or as they should be.

Last week, I made the assertion that all people seek after joy. I want to make a second assertion this morning, similar, but not the same. Here it is: 

“All people yearn for a true sense of peace.” 

Let me describe to you what I mean by that. In the Scriptures, the primary idea of the word “peace” is completeness, soundness, or wholeness. The Hebrew word is shalom. Adam and Eve were created and put in a garden where everything was good — of perfect shalom. It’s the way things should have been; it was complete, and whole. That sense of wholeness — with the created order as it was meant to be, was our native environment. Animals paired by kind, fertile land that produced vegetation without much work, a perfect garden to live in— where legos and moji-mo’s were not left on the floor but put away in the box and stored neatly on the shelf, books were organized by title and author in their proper section, and socks were folded right side out, stacked neatly with topside up, and — with the appropriate pair! Everything is where it should be, as it should be! SHALOM! The OCD folks of our congregation would have been— literally and metaphorically speaking, in heaven!Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent here at Hope. We lit the PEACE Candle. So, what does the peace of God have to do with Advent? 

At the proclaiming of the birth of Christ, the angels declared “peace” to the people. Today, we look at that proclamation in the Luke passage. The main question we are answering is this: What did the angels mean in their proclamation? How does the Bible answer that question? And what is peace— shalom, on the earth?

So we will look at what the proclamation of Peace under the following headings:

The Kingdom of Peace

The God of Peace, 

The People of Peace, 

Jesus, our peace!

Let’s read:

Luke 2:8–14

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

[14] “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

[Pray]

The Kingdom of Peace

Have you paused to consider the historical time frame in which Jesus, the Son of God, was born? Historians make an educated guess and date his birth between 4-6 BC. Herod the first, later dubbed, Herod the Great, ruled Judea. Octavian, who was given the name Caesar Augustus, was the emperor of Rome. And Rome, as an empire, was at the beginning of the height of the empire, with its greatest territorial extent, and largest populous — remember the census which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem? Historians called this period of time the Pax Romana, which is Latin for “Roman Peace.” It was dubbed a time of peace, but that peace was established by ruthless oppression. Though civil laws existed, it was a time of debauchery, and ruthless death by crucifixion and gladiator games. The people would go to arenas and watch men kill each other, like a sporting event. It was a kingdom of peace for the strong, where they ruled by might and oppression, and unrighteousness. It was not shalom.

It seems to be a pattern for God to save his people, a poor and needy people, when the rulers of earth are at the height of their power. This was the case with Ramses the Great— when Yahweh delivered Israel from Egypt. And what we see of Rome and the people of Israel not only mirrors the height of power of the foreign nation, but it is amplified. Rome reached peace through oppression and war. And notice, it was Roman peace, not peace on earth! It was peace for Roman citizens, but not for subjugated people. 

So consider the context: God sent a chorus of angels to announce the coming of His Savior, the Son of David, the King— to a subjugated people under the rule of the largest and most powerful empire history had known. And make no mistake, the angels proclaimed a Kingdom, as was read during our advent candle. The proclamation in Luke eluded to Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder…” The angels declared to the shepherds, the needy and poor of Israel, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Ramses was called the “Great Ancestor.” Herod was later called “Herod the Great.” Octavian was given the name Caesar Augustus, or “The Illustrious One”

Jesus— the name above all names, the King above all kings, is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Names were given based on what the rulers have done, and His name was Prince of Peace. His Kingdom is a Kingdom of Peace. 

I want to show you a few Scriptures that speak to this, and warn you now that the people of Israel were, in large part, blind the glory of this kingdom. They were looking for a Prince of war, and they were the victors, parading their power over other peoples. They were looking to be like the nations, to raise up and rule the earth by their own might, and yet Jesus came preaching a Kingdom of peace, one that arrived through different means. 

Jesus, recorded in Matthew 5, spoke to this kingdom:

[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemaker, persecuted— what kind of kingdom is that!? The kingdoms of the world rule by power and might, force and subjugation. These are the honored ones. The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed arrived in humility, and it honors those in spiritual poverty, in mourning, in meekness, righteousness, in mercy, in purity, in peacemaking, and in persecution. 

Friends, this is how the gospel of the Kingdom of God will spread. We cannot use the weapons of the world to spread the Kingdom of God! We renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word! 

Instead, we walk in the law of the Kingdom:

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

As the Christmas song declares, “His law is love, and his gospel is peace!” 

His is a Kingdom of Shalom, of peace. And that peace is established by God, between God and man, for He is the God of Peace.

So we move from the Kingdom of Peace, to…

The God of Peace

The pronouncement of peace implied there existed enmity, or war, between two parties. In our studies in John and in Genesis, we have seen firsthand the enmity between God and man. This enmity was the result of man’s rebellion. We are the guilty ones who broke covenant with our Creator! And as we’ve seen on John and Genesis, mankind loves the darkness. Thus, we see a propagation of evil, a continuation of sin.

In a conversation with one of our own here at Hope, it was said, “Why does God even bother?” In other words, if we are as sinful as we are, and He has known before time that this would be our direction, why did God even create us? Why does he strive with us, and have patience for us? The answer, in part, is that our rebellion gave opportunity for God to show His grace. If man had not sinned, if there was not enmity between God and his image bearers, God would not have had the opportunity to show what was true of Him: that He is The God of Peace. And this is what the angels praised him for!

The pronouncement is one of peace on behalf of God to His people. Listen to the proclamation again with me: First, Verse 10 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. then, [14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

God is being praised in the heavens— that is the meaning of “glory to God in the highest.” The angelic hosts look down and see the beauty, the majesty, the wonder of what God was doing in sending his glorious Son to the earth, and they praise him for it! Why? Because this amazing redemption originated in the heavens, and streamed down to the earth in a declaration of peace. Peace was initiated by God.

Isn’t this a strange way for peace to come to the earth? When two parties come to terms of peace, is it because one nation has triumphed our the other, and thus, the defeated nation recognizes their defeat and submits themself to the prevailing kingdom. Isn’t it the losing side that would declare a cease fire, and ask for peace?  And yet, that is not what we see. Instead, God took initiative, and he declared peace to the people who were blind to His glory. 

They were blind to the means of peace. Jesus echoed this sentiment in Luke 19 when he wept over Jerusalem: 

‘“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!” Peace is declared and achieved by God. He is the God of Peace. And His peace was granted to His people. And we who believe are…

The People of Peace

The peace the angel declared was a specific peace to a specific people. Look at verse 10: I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

There is an article in the greek after the word all, and before the word people. This means it was designated for all of a specific people; not all people of the world. This is consistent with Scripture: there will be peace for the people of God, for those who are the poor and needy of the earth, as we learned last week. But for those who remain in rebellion against God, there is no peace. The peace terms have been offered, but there are stipulations to this peace. Look at verse 14

“and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

Where is this peace found? Among those with whom He is pleased. What might that mean? For there is no one righteous, no not one! We all have turned away from God! This is the path of the entirety of humanity! In and of our own selves it is impossible to please God. So, with whom is God pleased?

Hebrews 11 gives us the answer. Christian Scholars call Hebrews 11 The Hall of Faith. Turn your Bibles to Hebrews 11:5-6

[5] By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

So, we know it is our faith that pleases God. But faith in what? Faith in whom? How does faith, or trusting in God, please him and save us? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 5. Turn there with me:  Romans 5:1–2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Peace with God was declared at the birth of Jesus. Why? Because the birth of Jesus was the beginning of His perfect earthly life, in which he always pleased God. It was proclaimed at his baptism in Matthew 3:17: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was asked:“What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (ESV) What is the work of God? BELIEVE in the One whom He had sent! And we who have faith in his perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection are the People of Peace.

We have peace with God. Why? Because we have been justified by faith. How? Through the life and death of Jesus. This is the gospel: that God has declared peace to us through His Son. That which stood between us, that rift, that unbreakable barrier because of our sin and His holiness, has now been torn down through the death of His Son. Our relationship is restored! We are no longer under His wrath, but His grace! That overwhelming feeling of unsettledness, of something being “off” with God, that there is some wrong committed that I have to work off, atone for, has now been removed for those who trust in Jesus. And we now have peace with God… Shalom. For we have been justified. 

What does it mean to be justified? It means things have been made right! Complete! Whole! Shalom in our relating to God! It is as it should be!

Justified to what? We have been justified into His grace, and our access through Jesus, our justification by his atoning death, is so sure that Paul says we STAND in this grace! 

Friends, when you come into the presence of a King, especially one you have wronged, whom you have fought against and by whom you have been defeated,

it is expected that you kneel, for you are there at His bequest, and you can be banished in a moment. Paul says we STAND in grace with peace in the presence of God! And this based on the work of Jesus— it is so sure, God is so pleased with us, that we STAND in His presence!

The People of God are a People of Peace because the Son of God has signed the peace treaty with his own blood, and secured it for a people who would please God by trusting in His Son! 

This brings us to our last heading this morning:

Jesus Is Our Peace!

This peace afforded us through Jesus extends to every aspect of our life! And all this is from Him and to Him and through Him!

Would you turn to Ephesians 2:13.

[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 

So, because of Jesus, we have peace with God. Paul boldly states that Jesus, himself, is our peace! God is love. God is peace! He is the source, and the one whom provided peace for us! Also notice he spoke in the plural form— he might reconcile us both… 

[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

He was speaking to Gentiles who had been excluded from the people of God, the people of Israel. He was saying God had torn down the walls that divided them, and has created in Himself one new man— one new people of God, composed of all nations, composed of those who believe God, who abide in Christ, and please Him by faith.

[19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 

We, a people of God, are being built into His temple, the dwelling place of His Spirit. And we have peace, shalom with God. We have peace, shalom with our neighbors. And we have peace, shalom, in ourselves because we have the peace of Christ.

When the sermon began, my aim was to stir up in you your desire for personal peace. Our spirits search for it. Our hearts know when it is lacking. Shalom has been broken, and we know it. And moreso, we need it!

We need peace when we are at war with our spouse, or our co-worker, or ourself. We need peace when we are parenting, and our frustration rises, we are embarrassed, and our pride is attacked. We need peace when our soul is lost in busyness, and it seems life is moving at a frantic pace. We need peace when we are distraught, at our wits end, not knowing what is right and wrong. We need peace when our circumstances are beyond our control, and we are afraid for our well-being. We need peace when death is knocking at the door, and has pushed its way in. We need peace in our heart and mind, for we we were created in such a way that shalom would be our dwelling place. And this peace is only found in Jesus.

I want to leave you with this: John 14 and 15 records Jesus’ last teachings to His disciples. In John 14 Jesus promised the Spirit of God would come to His disciples. In that context, he said, [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)

Jesus is our peace. And he calls us into His peace. We experience this peace, this shalom, only when we abide in Him. We will have no peace unless we abide in Him.

 [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)

The peace of God, the shalom of God, is for the people of God who have placed all their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and abide— make their dwelling place, with God. Jesus is their righteousness, and they, by the power and Spirit of God, live out the Kingdom of God’s peace — shalom. If you’re having trouble experiencing the peace of God, might it be that you are not living in peace of God, trusting in His provision for your sin, and your life, and abiding in His presence? Peace is for the one who believes and trust Jesus, and walk in His ways. God will not give a false sense of peace to His children. In fact, the sense of being unsettled may be the way He is calling you into His peace. We please God when we repent of our sin, turn away from it, and trust wholly in the means of Jesus — for every aspect of our life, for He is our peace.]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Luke 2:13-14, Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-22 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent 2019 | Have you had the sense, as I have, that something is not quite right? A deep sense that something is ‘off’ within yourselves? Maybe you might have trouble drawing out why. Have you found yourselves, as I have, running around, creating more activity, or buying more items, and say, “If I can just get such-n-such, or do-such-n-such, then everything will be good!” Have you said that to yourself? 

Maybe something is off, and you know why. Maybe there was a wrong committed against us, and we are holding it over someone. Or, maybe we are the one who has committed the wrong, and we must acknowledge, and apologize for it. And could it be that we have apologized for it, but that apology hasn’t fully ‘atoned’ for the sin?— this can be especially true for a spouse or close friend. You’ve said sorry, forgiveness has been granted, but there’s still an unspoken wall between you two. There’s no longer a visble barrier, but maybe a reef below the waters; there is not true harmony, or peace, things are not “whole” or as they should be.

Last week, I made the assertion that all people seek after joy. I want to make a second assertion this morning, similar, but not the same. Here it is: 

“All people yearn for a true sense of peace.” 

Let me describe to you what I mean by that. In the Scriptures, the primary idea of the word “peace” is completeness, soundness, or wholeness. The Hebrew word is shalom. Adam and Eve were created and put in a garden where everything was good — of perfect shalom. It’s the way things should have been; it was complete, and whole. That sense of wholeness — with the created order as it was meant to be, was our native environment. Animals paired by kind, fertile land that produced vegetation without much work, a perfect garden to live in— where legos and moji-mo’s were not left on the floor but put away in the box and stored neatly on the shelf, books were organized by title and author in their proper section, and socks were folded right side out, stacked neatly with topside up, and — with the appropriate pair! Everything is where it should be, as it should be! SHALOM! The OCD folks of our congregation would have been— literally and metaphorically speaking, in heaven!Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent here at Hope. We lit the PEACE Candle. So, what does the peace of God have to do with Advent? 

At the proclaiming of the birth of Christ, the angels declared “peace” to the people. Today, we look at that proclamation in the Luke passage. The main question we are answering is this: What did the angels mean in their proclamation? How does the Bible answer that question? And what is peace— shalom, on the earth?

So we will look at what the proclamation of Peace under the following headings:

The Kingdom of Peace

The God of Peace, 

The People of Peace, 

Jesus, our peace!

Let’s read:

Luke 2:8–14

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

[14] “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

[Pray]

The Kingdom of Peace

Have you paused to consider the historical time frame in which Jesus, the Son of God, was born? Historians make an educated guess and date his birth between 4-6 BC. Herod the first, later dubbed, Herod the Great, ruled Judea. Octavian, who was given the name Caesar Augustus, was the emperor of Rome. And Rome, as an empire, was at the beginning of the height of the empire, with its greatest territorial extent, and largest populous — remember the census which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem? Historians called this period of time the Pax Romana, which is Latin for “Roman Peace.” It was dubbed a time of peace, but that peace was established by ruthless oppression. Though civil laws existed, it was a time of debauchery, and ruthless death by crucifixion and gladiator games. The people would go to arenas and watch men kill each other, like a sporting event. It was a kingdom of peace for the strong, where they ruled by might and oppression, and unrighteousness. It was not shalom.

It seems to be a pattern for God to save his people, a poor and needy people, when the rulers of earth are at the height of their power. This was the case with Ramses the Great— when Yahweh delivered Israel from Egypt. And what we see of Rome and the people of Israel not only mirrors the height of power of the foreign nation, but it is amplified. Rome reached peace through oppression and war. And notice, it was Roman peace, not peace on earth! It was peace for Roman citizens, but not for subjugated people. 

So consider the context: God sent a chorus of angels to announce the coming of His Savior, the Son of David, the King— to a subjugated people under the rule of the largest and most powerful empire history had known. And make no mistake, the angels proclaimed a Kingdom, as was read during our advent candle. The proclamation in Luke eluded to Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder…” The angels declared to the shepherds, the needy and poor of Israel, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Ramses was called the “Great Ancestor.” Herod was later called “Herod the Great.” Octavian was given the name Caesar Augustus, or “The Illustrious One”

Jesus— the name above all names, the King above all kings, is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Names were given based on what the rulers have done, and His name was Prince of Peace. His Kingdom is a Kingdom of Peace. 

I want to show you a few Scriptures that speak to this, and warn you now that the people of Israel were, in large part, blind the glory of this kingdom. They were looking for a Prince of war, and they were the victors, parading their power over other peoples. They were looking to be like the nations, to raise up and rule the earth by their own might, and yet Jesus came preaching a Kingdom of peace, one that arrived through different means. 

Jesus, recorded in Matthew 5, spoke to this kingdom:

[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemaker, persecuted— what kind of kingdom is that!? The kingdoms of the world rule by power and might, force and subjugation. These are the honored ones. The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed arrived in humility, and it honors those in spiritual poverty, in mourning, in meekness, righteousness, in mercy, in purity, in peacemaking, and in persecution. 

Friends, this is how the gospel of the Kingdom of God will spread. We cannot use the weapons of the world to spread the Kingdom of God! We renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word! 

Instead, we walk in the law of the Kingdom:

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

As the Christmas song declares, “His law is love, and his gospel is peace!” 

His is a Kingdom of Shalom, of peace. And that peace is established by God, between God and man, for He is the God of Peace.

So we move from the Kingdom of Peace, to…

The God of Peace

The pronouncement of peace implied there existed enmity, or war, between two parties. In our studies in John and in Genesis, we have seen firsthand the enmity between God and man. This enmity was the result of man’s rebellion. We are the guilty ones who broke covenant with our Creator! And as we’ve seen on John and Genesis, mankind loves the darkness. Thus, we see a propagation of evil, a continuation of sin.

In a conversation with one of our own here at Hope, it was said, “Why does God even bother?” In other words, if we are as sinful as we are, and He has known before time that this would be our direction, why did God even create us? Why does he strive with us, and have patience for us? The answer, in part, is that our rebellion gave opportunity for God to show His grace. If man had not sinned, if there was not enmity between God and his image bearers, God would not have had the opportunity to show what was true of Him: that He is The God of Peace. And this is what the angels praised him for!

The pronouncement is one of peace on behalf of God to His people. Listen to the proclamation again with me: First, Verse 10 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. then, [14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

God is being praised in the heavens— that is the meaning of “glory to God in the highest.” The angelic hosts look down and see the beauty, the majesty, the wonder of what God was doing in sending his glorious Son to the earth, and they praise him for it! Why? Because this amazing redemption originated in the heavens, and streamed down to the earth in a declaration of peace. Peace was initiated by God.

Isn’t this a strange way for peace to come to the earth? When two parties come to terms of peace, is it because one nation has triumphed our the other, and thus, the defeated nation recognizes their defeat and submits themself to the prevailing kingdom. Isn’t it the losing side that would declare a cease fire, and ask for peace?  And yet, that is not what we see. Instead, God took initiative, and he declared peace to the people who were blind to His glory. 

They were blind to the means of peace. Jesus echoed this sentiment in Luke 19 when he wept over Jerusalem: 

‘“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!” Peace is declared and achieved by God. He is the God of Peace. And His peace was granted to His people. And we who believe are…

The People of Peace

The peace the angel declared was a specific peace to a specific people. Look at verse 10: I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

There is an article in the greek after the word all, and before the word people. This means it was designated for all of a specific people; not all people of the world. This is consistent with Scripture: there will be peace for the people of God, for those who are the poor and needy of the earth, as we learned last week. But for those who remain in rebellion against God, there is no peace. The peace terms have been offered, but there are stipulations to this peace. Look at verse 14

“and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV)

Where is this peace found? Among those with whom He is pleased. What might that mean? For there is no one righteous, no not one! We all have turned away from God! This is the path of the entirety of humanity! In and of our own selves it is impossible to please God. So, with whom is God pleased?

Hebrews 11 gives us the answer. Christian Scholars call Hebrews 11 The Hall of Faith. Turn your Bibles to Hebrews 11:5-6

[5] By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

So, we know it is our faith that pleases God. But faith in what? Faith in whom? How does faith, or trusting in God, please him and save us? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 5. Turn there with me:  Romans 5:1–2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Peace with God was declared at the birth of Jesus. Why? Because the birth of Jesus was the beginning of His perfect earthly life, in which he always pleased God. It was proclaimed at his baptism in Matthew 3:17: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was asked:“What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (ESV) What is the work of God? BELIEVE in the One whom He had sent! And we who have faith in his perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection are the People of Peace.

We have peace with God. Why? Because we have been justified by faith. How? Through the life and death of Jesus. This is the gospel: that God has declared peace to us through His Son. That which stood between us, that rift, that unbreakable barrier because of our sin and His holiness, has now been torn down through the death of His Son. Our relationship is restored! We are no longer under His wrath, but His grace! That overwhelming feeling of unsettledness, of something being “off” with God, that there is some wrong committed that I have to work off, atone for, has now been removed for those who trust in Jesus. And we now have peace with God… Shalom. For we have been justified. 

What does it mean to be justified? It means things have been made right! Complete! Whole! Shalom in our relating to God! It is as it should be!

Justified to what? We have been justified into His grace, and our access through Jesus, our justification by his atoning death, is so sure that Paul says we STAND in this grace! 

Friends, when you come into the presence of a King, especially one you have wronged, whom you have fought against and by whom you have been defeated,

it is expected that you kneel, for you are there at His bequest, and you can be banished in a moment. Paul says we STAND in grace with peace in the presence of God! And this based on the work of Jesus— it is so sure, God is so pleased with us, that we STAND in His presence!

The People of God are a People of Peace because the Son of God has signed the peace treaty with his own blood, and secured it for a people who would please God by trusting in His Son! 

This brings us to our last heading this morning:

Jesus Is Our Peace!

This peace afforded us through Jesus extends to every aspect of our life! And all this is from Him and to Him and through Him!

Would you turn to Ephesians 2:13.

[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 

So, because of Jesus, we have peace with God. Paul boldly states that Jesus, himself, is our peace! God is love. God is peace! He is the source, and the one whom provided peace for us! Also notice he spoke in the plural form— he might reconcile us both… 

[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

He was speaking to Gentiles who had been excluded from the people of God, the people of Israel. He was saying God had torn down the walls that divided them, and has created in Himself one new man— one new people of God, composed of all nations, composed of those who believe God, who abide in Christ, and please Him by faith.

[19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 

We, a people of God, are being built into His temple, the dwelling place of His Spirit. And we have peace, shalom with God. We have peace, shalom with our neighbors. And we have peace, shalom, in ourselves because we have the peace of Christ.

When the sermon began, my aim was to stir up in you your desire for personal peace. Our spirits search for it. Our hearts know when it is lacking. Shalom has been broken, and we know it. And moreso, we need it!

We need peace when we are at war with our spouse, or our co-worker, or ourself. We need peace when we are parenting, and our frustration rises, we are embarrassed, and our pride is attacked. We need peace when our soul is lost in busyness, and it seems life is moving at a frantic pace. We need peace when we are distraught, at our wits end, not knowing what is right and wrong. We need peace when our circumstances are beyond our control, and we are afraid for our well-being. We need peace when death is knocking at the door, and has pushed its way in. We need peace in our heart and mind, for we we were created in such a way that shalom would be our dwelling place. And this peace is only found in Jesus.

I want to leave you with this: John 14 and 15 records Jesus’ last teachings to His disciples. In John 14 Jesus promised the Spirit of God would come to His disciples. In that context, he said, [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)

Jesus is our peace. And he calls us into His peace. We experience this peace, this shalom, only when we abide in Him. We will have no peace unless we abide in Him.

 [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)

The peace of God, the shalom of God, is for the people of God who have placed all their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and abide— make their dwelling place, with God. Jesus is their righteousness, and they, by the power and Spirit of God, live out the Kingdom of God’s peace — shalom. If you’re having trouble experiencing the peace of God, might it be that you are not living in peace of God, trusting in His provision for your sin, and your life, and abiding in His presence? Peace is for the one who believes and trust Jesus, and walk in His ways. God will not give a false sense of peace to His children. In fact, the sense of being unsettled may be the way He is calling you into His peace. We please God when we repent of our sin, turn away from it, and trust wholly in the means of Jesus — for every aspect of our life, for He is our peace.]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Luke 2:13-14, Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-22 | Speaker: Bobby Gaither | Series: Advent 2019 | Have you had the sense, as I have, that something is not quite right? A deep sense that something is ‘off’ within yourselves? Maybe you might ha...</itunes:subtitle>
					
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											<itunes:keywords>Peace</itunes:keywords>
					
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					<title>Joy: Covenant of Joy</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/joy-covenant-of-joy</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/joy-covenant-of-joy#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:58:18 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bobby Gaither]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[I want to begin this morning with an assertion you’ve already heard from me:

Everybody believes in a gospel. 

What I mean is this: everybody, without exception, believes a narrative that explains creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. In the creation narrative, we identity our truth, purpose, and significance. In the fall narrative, we identify what and who is wrong with the world. In the redemption narrative, we identify who and how we fix what’s wrong, and who is going to pay for it. And in the new creation narrative, we identify what we believe utopia is— what life ought to look like.

Have you ever stopped to consider why we seek the new creation? Why do we strive for a utopia? Why do you strive for your utopia? What is the reason behind your striving? What are you seeking that a new creation, a utopia, would give you?

I want to posit what I believe is the answer to this question— for you, for me, and for all people. Ultimately, what we seek in a utopia is our greatest joy. In fact, may I be so bold as to say that everything you do is in pursuit of joy… you may use different words, like fulfillment, or purpose, or significance, or honor or love— and if you’re ultra-spiritual, you may say, “I do everything for the glory of God!”  To which I would respond: “Wonderful! But WHY is that important to you? What do you receive in pursuing the glory of God?”

You see, there’s a reason beneath the reason! We, as morally astute people—especially Christians, have been trained that seeking our own self-interest is wrong, that it is sin. This has played out — in my estimation, to the detriment of Christianity. If I enjoy something, it must be sinful! Therefore, I have to watch my levels of satisfaction; if my “joy-mometer” gets too high, God’s gonna take this away from me! Serving God is supposed to invoke misery, not joy! 

Did you know…The word joy is found in the Bible 193 times. A different word, rejoice, 220. If your paradigm is one that believes too much joy is sin, I want to shatter it this morning. I want to submit to you that it is not how much joy you take in that makes it sinful, it is whom and what you take your joy in that determines whether it is righteous or not. And, I want to submit to you that you are called, that it is thoroughly Biblical, for you to seek your joy, to the fullest. But that joy you seek, the fullness of joy, is only found one place: in the presence of God himself. And He delights to give you this joy, because it was His joy to bring you into His presence.

This morning, we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, and we lit the Joy candle. Our passage this morning is Isaiah 25:1-12. Isaiah had written to a divided kingdom that was warring with each other. The house of Israel was a mess! And he prophesied of the Babylonian Captivity over a hundred years before it had happened. In these prophesies, by which God told Israel what was going to happen, Isaiah also promised hope in the coming of the Messiah. We’ve read this hope in our advent readings, both in Isaiah 9, and 11. We read also of this hope in chapter 25. 

We are looking at our passage under the following headings:

True and False Gospels

Covenant Joy

Behold Our God

The Joy and the Judgement of the True King

Would you stand in honor of God’s word, and let’s read our passage today: Isaiah 25:1–12 [1] O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

[2] For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the foreigners' palace is a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

[3] Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

[4] For you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a stronghold to the needy in his distress,

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;

for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

[5] like heat in a dry place.

You subdue the noise of the foreigners;

as heat by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is put down.

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,

as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV)

[pray - sermon and Bethany Baptist]True and False Gospels (1-5)

We find evidence of two gospel narratives in this passage, the gospel of the wicked, and the gospel of the redeemed. There are two groups of people represented, both vying for their utopia, their new creation. If you’re a good Bible scholar, you ought to ask yourself— and ask of me, “Where do you see that?” 

It is the nature of our world for the strong to overpower the weak. The very creation narrative of a non-theistic society that submits to evolution theory confirms this with this tenant: only the strong survive. Survival of the fittest; this is why the weak perish and the strong rule. This was the undergirding theology of the Jewish holocaust, and is the gospel employed by governments and people groups around the world who persecute other nationalities, even to the point of genocide. This is NOT the gospel of the Bible. This is a false gospel, the gospel of the world, and we see it in this passage. 

Look at verse 3: “Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” Isaiah is depicting these so-called strong nations, whose cities have been made a heap. They were cities of a ruthless nation, because might makes right! To be ruthless is to indicate an “unsparing use of strength against others.” In verse 4, Isaiah likens the breath of the ruthless to a storm against the wall, and to heat in a dry place. 

Have you been under the thumb of a ruthless person? Have you had a ruthless person in your face, and as they breath out threats to you, you feel the heat of their breath on your face, or down you neck. The sound of their voice and the clump of their feat is a reminder of the violence threatened if you cross them. Escaping them is like trying to escape the heat in a dry place. It is impossible in your own strength.

What is the gospel of the ruthless? Here is their gospel: Their creation narrative is this: they were born to rule and have power over others. Their fall narrative is this: everyone else should obey and bow to them, serve them and give them what they want. Their redemption narrative is this: they are their own savior, and they have the power and skill or craft to get what they want. They are destined to pursue their utopia through their own strength, and thus will overpower, oppress, and subdue all others to bend to their will. Their new creation is this: a utopia where everything goes according to their version of right and wrong, for they are god. That is the gospel of the wicked. Do you see how it is present in this passage? It is implied in their actions.

But there is also a true gospel— a gospel of the redeemed! What is that gospel? Where is it? Look with me at verse 1: 

[1] O LORD, you are my God;

 I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

 for you have done wonderful things,

 plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel of the redeemed begins with God— that his their Creation narrative. It is a recognition of a Creator who determines truth, purpose, and significance. You are my God. It also recognizes God’s sovereign power and His plan to bring all things to His ultimate end: You have done wonderful things, plans from of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel understand the Fall: there is evil in the world, that they themselves have sinned against God, and are poor and needy. Evil is implied not just in the foreign and ruthless nations, for which Moab represents. But, the Fall is rightly understood in the true gospel as affecting all peoples. Look at verse 8c: and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth…

Reproach is the expression of disapproval. Romans 3:23 informs us that “there is no one righteous, no not one…” The true gospel recognizes oneself as poor and needy. Verse 4 expresses this point: For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress… We are sinful, and we lack the resources to pay our debt. We are needy, and in danger of perishing. We need saving from outside ourselves, for we cannot do it on our own strength. 

It is a true, though misconstrued saying: “Religion is for the weak…” Did you hear what I said? It is true! That is who God saves! We are called to recognize this, and if we don’t, we are not part of the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” The Kingdom does not belong to the powerful, the strong, the clever, but the weak, the poor, the needy.

The redemption narrative of the true gospel is this: GOD himself is our refuge, and our salvation, and He has planned from of old, faithful and sure, to redeem us! He preserves us now, and he will preserve us for eternity: [4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, [5] like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.

Have you ever wondered how you’ve managed to be in the good position you are in now? Maybe you look back to your family of origin and wonder: how in the world am I still alive! 

Or maybe you look to a time when the ruthless oppressor was breathing down your neck. How did you make it out? How did you make it here? Do you know that God is a stronghold? Do you know that He is and has been your refuge? Do you know that He is your shelter from the storm and the shade from the heat? He is the one who will put down the song of the wicked, their joyful boasting of oppression.

We forget the gospel, Christians… We forget whom saved us, don’t we— and what He has saved us from?! Even more so, we forget what and whom He has saved us to. 

The next three points of this sermon outline the New Creation narrative of the gospel which we see in this passage. 

Covenant Joy (6-10a)

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

Isaiah is harkening back to Ex 24, where God made a covenant with Israel and came down and celebrated with a meal the elders of Israel. Exodus 24:8–11

[8] And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

[9] Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, [10] and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. [11] And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. (ESV)

This is recognized as a theophany. A theophany is an appearance of God or his presence on earth. I, personally, believe this is a Christophany. A Christophany is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Christophanies are seen with the announcement of “The Angel of the LORD.” Angel simply means messenger. That doesn’t mean Jesus was an angel; Hebrews tells us He was and is the eternal Son of God. Why do I believe this to be a Christophany? Because it points to a future fulfillment found only in Christ. It points to the covenant meal in the gospels, and the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb in revelation. Who is the bride but the people of God, represented in Israel? Who is the groom but the Son of God, Jesus the Christ? The God of Israel is seen as a man, with feet. And He prepared a table, a covenant feast for the elders of Israel, but did not lay his hand on the chief men. Why? Pretty sure they would die if he touched them, for the blood of goats and bulls only represented the true atonement that would come by the Son of God himself.

So, last week you learned about demon-spawn, and this week the appearance of God in Exodus, possibly the pre-incarnate Jesus, who made a feast at the ratification of the covenant with His people, Israel. 

Isaiah says some pretty important things here that we can’t miss:

Mountain of the Lord: God’s chosen high place is Jerusalem. Revelation promises a New Jerusalem. A new city, whose gates will not one shut, because there is no threat to it!

All People: not just Israel. The lesser always points to the greater. He is the God of All! Rich food / well aged refined wine: He is for our joy! Rich food! We go from being poor and needy to eating the richest of foods, full of fat and marrow! The GOOD STUFF! And the wine— oh people the wine! It’s well aged, meaning it ferments— and well refined, meaning it is tasty! Its the best wine— the stuff Jesus made in John chapter 2! It makes the heart glad, and it is the symbol of joy! God is for your JOY! And we find this joy in His Covenant with His people!

And this joy is eternal!

John Piper, in his talk at google, said this: “If you could give me a greater, longer lasting joy than what I have in Jesus, I’d cease to be a Christian! I’d stop right now and chase after that! But you can’t…” Friends, there’s no joy greater, and there’s nothing more eternal than the eternal Son of God. And the joy we enter into with him lasts forever, for He has swallowed up death!

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

Isn’t it interesting that it was in Jerusalem that Jesus was crucified. It was by the bidding of the very people he made a covenant with, the very people he sought to save. And it was on the mountain of the Lord that death was defeated through death. How did he save us? How is our joy eternal? 

Hebrews 2:14–18 [14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

What is our greatest threat to joy? DEATH. And it is the veil that is cast over all people. It is like a darkness spread over all nations, and it will be swallowed up forever! That veil that he swallows, yes it refers to death, but I also believe it refers to darkness. In 2 Cor 4:3–6 [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

What does our God accomplish by swallowing the veil? He removes the blinders from the eyes of our hearts and minds, and we are able to see and know our God! Our God is a personal God, and seeks to be known as a person. We see this in our passage and it is our next heading:

Behold Our God (9)

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

In the true gospel, the New Creation narrative is this: we get to know and behold God! To see His face! And no longer does he withhold touching and knowing his people, but he wipes away every tear from our face! Parents, what is it like when you wipe away the tears from your children eyes? What are you saying to them? Everything’s fine now. There’s no longer a reason to cry. I’m here. I love you. You’re safe with me.

He knows all people groups, all nations, and all individuals in His Kingdom! And his hand is upon His mountain. What does that mean?

Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”

There is a warm welcoming, a sense of belonging, when someone lays their hand upon you. It’s as if God is saying this: you’re home now. All your former longing, your former waiting, has come to an end. We might experience this in part, in the here and now, but I don’t think many do, and not much of it. 

We are called to wait for this salvation, and rely not on our own strength, for we are a weak and needy people, but to wait upon Him. That means we trust His judgements, not our own. His timing, not our own. His justice, not our own. This is the final point of the passage:

The Judgement of True and Just King (10b-12)

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV

The New Creation we look unto is eternal, and all wickedness will be banished, and evil punished. The doctrine of Hell has become an increasingly debated doctrine. If you struggle with this, let me point to this one thing: God is the only perfect judge. As Creator, only He can define what justice is and what it isn’t. What the Bible says about the wicked is that their self-reliance and pride, their arrogance and self-promotion to the place of God is what brings his judgement upon them. There is no point at which, after Christ’ return, the proud cry mercy and come to submission of Jesus, the Son of God. We see this in the book of revelation, and we see it in Isaiah. Isaiah, and the people of Israel viewed God’s just judgements upon the earth as something to rejoice in. I pray you and I do the same. It means an end to death, an end to murder, and end to suicide, an end to genocide, an end to starvation and oppression, an end to child sex-trafficking, an end to abortion, an end to anger and hatred, an end to malice and envy and spite, an end to injustice. And it means a beginning to true peace, and harmony, and love, and joy, and graciousness. It means a physical appearance of God in the flesh that fills the earth with the knowledge of His glory that has radiated to earth in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

This coming of God in human flesh, the beholding of God, was recorded in Luke 2:8–11

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Behold, the wisdom of God, in sending His all-powerful and glorious Son in the likeness of weak human flesh— born as a baby in a manger, to save a poor and needy people from perishing, and saving them to Himself, to bring them in His presence, where He will give them life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forever more!

So let us wait for Him, joyfully, as we celebrate Advent. We look back to His birth, but we look forward to His appearing! And this is what we celebrate in communion: we look back, as our Savior, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame so that the many will be accounted as righteous! 

Jesus, on the cross, shed his blood, the blood of the New Covenant, so we could enter into covenant with Him, and sit and dine with Him for eternity.

Let me read to you Luke 22:14–20 before we pray and take communion together:

[14] And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. [15] And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” [17] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. [18] For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” [19] And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (ESV)]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[I want to begin this morning with an assertion you’ve already heard from me:

Everybody believes in a gospel. 

What I mean is this: everybody, without exception, believes a narrative that explains creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. In the creation narrative, we identity our truth, purpose, and significance. In the fall narrative, we identify what and who is wrong with the world. In the redemption narrative, we identify who and how we fix what’s wrong, and who is going to pay for it. And in the new creation narrative, we identify what we believe utopia is— what life ought to look like.

Have you ever stopped to consider why we seek the new creation? Why do we strive for a utopia? Why do you strive for your utopia? What is the reason behind your striving? What are you seeking that a new creation, a utopia, would give you?

I want to posit what I believe is the answer to this question— for you, for me, and for all people. Ultimately, what we seek in a utopia is our greatest joy. In fact, may I be so bold as to say that everything you do is in pursuit of joy… you may use different words, like fulfillment, or purpose, or significance, or honor or love— and if you’re ultra-spiritual, you may say, “I do everything for the glory of God!”  To which I would respond: “Wonderful! But WHY is that important to you? What do you receive in pursuing the glory of God?”

You see, there’s a reason beneath the reason! We, as morally astute people—especially Christians, have been trained that seeking our own self-interest is wrong, that it is sin. This has played out — in my estimation, to the detriment of Christianity. If I enjoy something, it must be sinful! Therefore, I have to watch my levels of satisfaction; if my “joy-mometer” gets too high, God’s gonna take this away from me! Serving God is supposed to invoke misery, not joy! 

Did you know…The word joy is found in the Bible 193 times. A different word, rejoice, 220. If your paradigm is one that believes too much joy is sin, I want to shatter it this morning. I want to submit to you that it is not how much joy you take in that makes it sinful, it is whom and what you take your joy in that determines whether it is righteous or not. And, I want to submit to you that you are called, that it is thoroughly Biblical, for you to seek your joy, to the fullest. But that joy you seek, the fullness of joy, is only found one place: in the presence of God himself. And He delights to give you this joy, because it was His joy to bring you into His presence.

This morning, we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, and we lit the Joy candle. Our passage this morning is Isaiah 25:1-12. Isaiah had written to a divided kingdom that was warring with each other. The house of Israel was a mess! And he prophesied of the Babylonian Captivity over a hundred years before it had happened. In these prophesies, by which God told Israel what was going to happen, Isaiah also promised hope in the coming of the Messiah. We’ve read this hope in our advent readings, both in Isaiah 9, and 11. We read also of this hope in chapter 25. 

We are looking at our passage under the following headings:

True and False Gospels

Covenant Joy

Behold Our God

The Joy and the Judgement of the True King

Would you stand in honor of God’s word, and let’s read our passage today: Isaiah 25:1–12 [1] O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

[2] For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the foreigners' palace is a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

[3] Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

[4] For you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a stronghold to the needy in his distress,

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;

for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

[5] like heat in a dry place.

You subdue the noise of the foreigners;

as heat by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is put down.

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,

as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV)

[pray - sermon and Bethany Baptist]True and False Gospels (1-5)

We find evidence of two gospel narratives in this passage, the gospel of the wicked, and the gospel of the redeemed. There are two groups of people represented, both vying for their utopia, their new creation. If you’re a good Bible scholar, you ought to ask yourself— and ask of me, “Where do you see that?” 

It is the nature of our world for the strong to overpower the weak. The very creation narrative of a non-theistic society that submits to evolution theory confirms this with this tenant: only the strong survive. Survival of the fittest; this is why the weak perish and the strong rule. This was the undergirding theology of the Jewish holocaust, and is the gospel employed by governments and people groups around the world who persecute other nationalities, even to the point of genocide. This is NOT the gospel of the Bible. This is a false gospel, the gospel of the world, and we see it in this passage. 

Look at verse 3: “Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” Isaiah is depicting these so-called strong nations, whose cities have been made a heap. They were cities of a ruthless nation, because might makes right! To be ruthless is to indicate an “unsparing use of strength against others.” In verse 4, Isaiah likens the breath of the ruthless to a storm against the wall, and to heat in a dry place. 

Have you been under the thumb of a ruthless person? Have you had a ruthless person in your face, and as they breath out threats to you, you feel the heat of their breath on your face, or down you neck. The sound of their voice and the clump of their feat is a reminder of the violence threatened if you cross them. Escaping them is like trying to escape the heat in a dry place. It is impossible in your own strength.

What is the gospel of the ruthless? Here is their gospel: Their creation narrative is this: they were born to rule and have power over others. Their fall narrative is this: everyone else should obey and bow to them, serve them and give them what they want. Their redemption narrative is this: they are their own savior, and they have the power and skill or craft to get what they want. They are destined to pursue their utopia through their own strength, and thus will overpower, oppress, and subdue all others to bend to their will. Their new creation is this: a utopia where everything goes according to their version of right and wrong, for they are god. That is the gospel of the wicked. Do you see how it is present in this passage? It is implied in their actions.

But there is also a true gospel— a gospel of the redeemed! What is that gospel? Where is it? Look with me at verse 1: 

[1] O LORD, you are my God;

 I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

 for you have done wonderful things,

 plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel of the redeemed begins with God— that his their Creation narrative. It is a recognition of a Creator who determines truth, purpose, and significance. You are my God. It also recognizes God’s sovereign power and His plan to bring all things to His ultimate end: You have done wonderful things, plans from of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel understand the Fall: there is evil in the world, that they themselves have sinned against God, and are poor and needy. Evil is implied not just in the foreign and ruthless nations, for which Moab represents. But, the Fall is rightly understood in the true gospel as affecting all peoples. Look at verse 8c: and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth…

Reproach is the expression of disapproval. Romans 3:23 informs us that “there is no one righteous, no not one…” The true gospel recognizes oneself as poor and needy. Verse 4 expresses this point: For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress… We are sinful, and we lack the resources to pay our debt. We are needy, and in danger of perishing. We need saving from outside ourselves, for we cannot do it on our own strength. 

It is a true, though misconstrued saying: “Religion is for the weak…” Did you hear what I said? It is true! That is who God saves! We are called to recognize this, and if we don’t, we are not part of the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” The Kingdom does not belong to the powerful, the strong, the clever, but the weak, the poor, the needy.

The redemption narrative of the true gospel is this: GOD himself is our refuge, and our salvation, and He has planned from of old, faithful and sure, to redeem us! He preserves us now, and he will preserve us for eternity: [4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, [5] like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.

Have you ever wondered how you’ve managed to be in the good position you are in now? Maybe you look back to your family of origin and wonder: how in the world am I still alive! 

Or maybe you look to a time when the ruthless oppressor was breathing down your neck. How did you make it out? How did you make it here? Do you know that God is a stronghold? Do you know that He is and has been your refuge? Do you know that He is your shelter from the storm and the shade from the heat? He is the one who will put down the song of the wicked, their joyful boasting of oppression.

We forget the gospel, Christians… We forget whom saved us, don’t we— and what He has saved us from?! Even more so, we forget what and whom He has saved us to. 

The next three points of this sermon outline the New Creation narrative of the gospel which we see in this passage. 

Covenant Joy (6-10a)

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

Isaiah is harkening back to Ex 24, where God made a covenant with Israel and came down and celebrated with a meal the elders of Israel. Exodus 24:8–11

[8] And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

[9] Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, [10] and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. [11] And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. (ESV)

This is recognized as a theophany. A theophany is an appearance of God or his presence on earth. I, personally, believe this is a Christophany. A Christophany is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Christophanies are seen with the announcement of “The Angel of the LORD.” Angel simply means messenger. That doesn’t mean Jesus was an angel; Hebrews tells us He was and is the eternal Son of God. Why do I believe this to be a Christophany? Because it points to a future fulfillment found only in Christ. It points to the covenant meal in the gospels, and the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb in revelation. Who is the bride but the people of God, represented in Israel? Who is the groom but the Son of God, Jesus the Christ? The God of Israel is seen as a man, with feet. And He prepared a table, a covenant feast for the elders of Israel, but did not lay his hand on the chief men. Why? Pretty sure they would die if he touched them, for the blood of goats and bulls only represented the true atonement that would come by the Son of God himself.

So, last week you learned about demon-spawn, and this week the appearance of God in Exodus, possibly the pre-incarnate Jesus, who made a feast at the ratification of the covenant with His people, Israel. 

Isaiah says some pretty important things here that we can’t miss:

Mountain of the Lord: God’s chosen high place is Jerusalem. Revelation promises a New Jerusalem. A new city, whose gates will not one shut, because there is no threat to it!

All People: not just Israel. The lesser always points to the greater. He is the God of All! Rich food / well aged refined wine: He is for our joy! Rich food! We go from being poor and needy to eating the richest of foods, full of fat and marrow! The GOOD STUFF! And the wine— oh people the wine! It’s well aged, meaning it ferments— and well refined, meaning it is tasty! Its the best wine— the stuff Jesus made in John chapter 2! It makes the heart glad, and it is the symbol of joy! God is for your JOY! And we find this joy in His Covenant with His people!

And this joy is eternal!

John Piper, in his talk at google, said this: “If you could give me a greater, longer lasting joy than what I have in Jesus, I’d cease to be a Christian! I’d stop right now and chase after that! But you can’t…” Friends, there’s no joy greater, and there’s nothing more eternal than the eternal Son of God. And the joy we enter into with him lasts forever, for He has swallowed up death!

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

Isn’t it interesting that it was in Jerusalem that Jesus was crucified. It was by the bidding of the very people he made a covenant with, the very people he sought to save. And it was on the mountain of the Lord that death was defeated through death. How did he save us? How is our joy eternal? 

Hebrews 2:14–18 [14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

What is our greatest threat to joy? DEATH. And it is the veil that is cast over all people. It is like a darkness spread over all nations, and it will be swallowed up forever! That veil that he swallows, yes it refers to death, but I also believe it refers to darkness. In 2 Cor 4:3–6 [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

What does our God accomplish by swallowing the veil? He removes the blinders from the eyes of our hearts and minds, and we are able to see and know our God! Our God is a personal God, and seeks to be known as a person. We see this in our passage and it is our next heading:

Behold Our God (9)

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

In the true gospel, the New Creation narrative is this: we get to know and behold God! To see His face! And no longer does he withhold touching and knowing his people, but he wipes away every tear from our face! Parents, what is it like when you wipe away the tears from your children eyes? What are you saying to them? Everything’s fine now. There’s no longer a reason to cry. I’m here. I love you. You’re safe with me.

He knows all people groups, all nations, and all individuals in His Kingdom! And his hand is upon His mountain. What does that mean?

Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”

There is a warm welcoming, a sense of belonging, when someone lays their hand upon you. It’s as if God is saying this: you’re home now. All your former longing, your former waiting, has come to an end. We might experience this in part, in the here and now, but I don’t think many do, and not much of it. 

We are called to wait for this salvation, and rely not on our own strength, for we are a weak and needy people, but to wait upon Him. That means we trust His judgements, not our own. His timing, not our own. His justice, not our own. This is the final point of the passage:

The Judgement of True and Just King (10b-12)

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV

The New Creation we look unto is eternal, and all wickedness will be banished, and evil punished. The doctrine of Hell has become an increasingly debated doctrine. If you struggle with this, let me point to this one thing: God is the only perfect judge. As Creator, only He can define what justice is and what it isn’t. What the Bible says about the wicked is that their self-reliance and pride, their arrogance and self-promotion to the place of God is what brings his judgement upon them. There is no point at which, after Christ’ return, the proud cry mercy and come to submission of Jesus, the Son of God. We see this in the book of revelation, and we see it in Isaiah. Isaiah, and the people of Israel viewed God’s just judgements upon the earth as something to rejoice in. I pray you and I do the same. It means an end to death, an end to murder, and end to suicide, an end to genocide, an end to starvation and oppression, an end to child sex-trafficking, an end to abortion, an end to anger and hatred, an end to malice and envy and spite, an end to injustice. And it means a beginning to true peace, and harmony, and love, and joy, and graciousness. It means a physical appearance of God in the flesh that fills the earth with the knowledge of His glory that has radiated to earth in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

This coming of God in human flesh, the beholding of God, was recorded in Luke 2:8–11

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Behold, the wisdom of God, in sending His all-powerful and glorious Son in the likeness of weak human flesh— born as a baby in a manger, to save a poor and needy people from perishing, and saving them to Himself, to bring them in His presence, where He will give them life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forever more!

So let us wait for Him, joyfully, as we celebrate Advent. We look back to His birth, but we look forward to His appearing! And this is what we celebrate in communion: we look back, as our Savior, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame so that the many will be accounted as righteous! 

Jesus, on the cross, shed his blood, the blood of the New Covenant, so we could enter into covenant with Him, and sit and dine with Him for eternity.

Let me read to you Luke 22:14–20 before we pray and take communion together:

[14] And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. [15] And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” [17] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. [18] For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” [19] And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (ESV)]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[I want to begin this morning with an assertion you’ve already heard from me:

Everybody believes in a gospel. 

What I mean is this: everybody, without exception, believes a narrative that explains creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. In the creation narrative, we identity our truth, purpose, and significance. In the fall narrative, we identify what and who is wrong with the world. In the redemption narrative, we identify who and how we fix what’s wrong, and who is going to pay for it. And in the new creation narrative, we identify what we believe utopia is— what life ought to look like.

Have you ever stopped to consider why we seek the new creation? Why do we strive for a utopia? Why do you strive for your utopia? What is the reason behind your striving? What are you seeking that a new creation, a utopia, would give you?

I want to posit what I believe is the answer to this question— for you, for me, and for all people. Ultimately, what we seek in a utopia is our greatest joy. In fact, may I be so bold as to say that everything you do is in pursuit of joy… you may use different words, like fulfillment, or purpose, or significance, or honor or love— and if you’re ultra-spiritual, you may say, “I do everything for the glory of God!”  To which I would respond: “Wonderful! But WHY is that important to you? What do you receive in pursuing the glory of God?”

You see, there’s a reason beneath the reason! We, as morally astute people—especially Christians, have been trained that seeking our own self-interest is wrong, that it is sin. This has played out — in my estimation, to the detriment of Christianity. If I enjoy something, it must be sinful! Therefore, I have to watch my levels of satisfaction; if my “joy-mometer” gets too high, God’s gonna take this away from me! Serving God is supposed to invoke misery, not joy! 

Did you know…The word joy is found in the Bible 193 times. A different word, rejoice, 220. If your paradigm is one that believes too much joy is sin, I want to shatter it this morning. I want to submit to you that it is not how much joy you take in that makes it sinful, it is whom and what you take your joy in that determines whether it is righteous or not. And, I want to submit to you that you are called, that it is thoroughly Biblical, for you to seek your joy, to the fullest. But that joy you seek, the fullness of joy, is only found one place: in the presence of God himself. And He delights to give you this joy, because it was His joy to bring you into His presence.

This morning, we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, and we lit the Joy candle. Our passage this morning is Isaiah 25:1-12. Isaiah had written to a divided kingdom that was warring with each other. The house of Israel was a mess! And he prophesied of the Babylonian Captivity over a hundred years before it had happened. In these prophesies, by which God told Israel what was going to happen, Isaiah also promised hope in the coming of the Messiah. We’ve read this hope in our advent readings, both in Isaiah 9, and 11. We read also of this hope in chapter 25. 

We are looking at our passage under the following headings:

True and False Gospels

Covenant Joy

Behold Our God

The Joy and the Judgement of the True King

Would you stand in honor of God’s word, and let’s read our passage today: Isaiah 25:1–12 [1] O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

[2] For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the foreigners' palace is a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

[3] Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

[4] For you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a stronghold to the needy in his distress,

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;

for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

[5] like heat in a dry place.

You subdue the noise of the foreigners;

as heat by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is put down.

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,

as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV)

[pray - sermon and Bethany Baptist]True and False Gospels (1-5)

We find evidence of two gospel narratives in this passage, the gospel of the wicked, and the gospel of the redeemed. There are two groups of people represented, both vying for their utopia, their new creation. If you’re a good Bible scholar, you ought to ask yourself— and ask of me, “Where do you see that?” 

It is the nature of our world for the strong to overpower the weak. The very creation narrative of a non-theistic society that submits to evolution theory confirms this with this tenant: only the strong survive. Survival of the fittest; this is why the weak perish and the strong rule. This was the undergirding theology of the Jewish holocaust, and is the gospel employed by governments and people groups around the world who persecute other nationalities, even to the point of genocide. This is NOT the gospel of the Bible. This is a false gospel, the gospel of the world, and we see it in this passage. 

Look at verse 3: “Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” Isaiah is depicting these so-called strong nations, whose cities have been made a heap. They were cities of a ruthless nation, because might makes right! To be ruthless is to indicate an “unsparing use of strength against others.” In verse 4, Isaiah likens the breath of the ruthless to a storm against the wall, and to heat in a dry place. 

Have you been under the thumb of a ruthless person? Have you had a ruthless person in your face, and as they breath out threats to you, you feel the heat of their breath on your face, or down you neck. The sound of their voice and the clump of their feat is a reminder of the violence threatened if you cross them. Escaping them is like trying to escape the heat in a dry place. It is impossible in your own strength.

What is the gospel of the ruthless? Here is their gospel: Their creation narrative is this: they were born to rule and have power over others. Their fall narrative is this: everyone else should obey and bow to them, serve them and give them what they want. Their redemption narrative is this: they are their own savior, and they have the power and skill or craft to get what they want. They are destined to pursue their utopia through their own strength, and thus will overpower, oppress, and subdue all others to bend to their will. Their new creation is this: a utopia where everything goes according to their version of right and wrong, for they are god. That is the gospel of the wicked. Do you see how it is present in this passage? It is implied in their actions.

But there is also a true gospel— a gospel of the redeemed! What is that gospel? Where is it? Look with me at verse 1: 

[1] O LORD, you are my God;

 I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

 for you have done wonderful things,

 plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel of the redeemed begins with God— that his their Creation narrative. It is a recognition of a Creator who determines truth, purpose, and significance. You are my God. It also recognizes God’s sovereign power and His plan to bring all things to His ultimate end: You have done wonderful things, plans from of old, faithful and sure.

The true gospel understand the Fall: there is evil in the world, that they themselves have sinned against God, and are poor and needy. Evil is implied not just in the foreign and ruthless nations, for which Moab represents. But, the Fall is rightly understood in the true gospel as affecting all peoples. Look at verse 8c: and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth…

Reproach is the expression of disapproval. Romans 3:23 informs us that “there is no one righteous, no not one…” The true gospel recognizes oneself as poor and needy. Verse 4 expresses this point: For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress… We are sinful, and we lack the resources to pay our debt. We are needy, and in danger of perishing. We need saving from outside ourselves, for we cannot do it on our own strength. 

It is a true, though misconstrued saying: “Religion is for the weak…” Did you hear what I said? It is true! That is who God saves! We are called to recognize this, and if we don’t, we are not part of the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” The Kingdom does not belong to the powerful, the strong, the clever, but the weak, the poor, the needy.

The redemption narrative of the true gospel is this: GOD himself is our refuge, and our salvation, and He has planned from of old, faithful and sure, to redeem us! He preserves us now, and he will preserve us for eternity: [4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, [5] like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.

Have you ever wondered how you’ve managed to be in the good position you are in now? Maybe you look back to your family of origin and wonder: how in the world am I still alive! 

Or maybe you look to a time when the ruthless oppressor was breathing down your neck. How did you make it out? How did you make it here? Do you know that God is a stronghold? Do you know that He is and has been your refuge? Do you know that He is your shelter from the storm and the shade from the heat? He is the one who will put down the song of the wicked, their joyful boasting of oppression.

We forget the gospel, Christians… We forget whom saved us, don’t we— and what He has saved us from?! Even more so, we forget what and whom He has saved us to. 

The next three points of this sermon outline the New Creation narrative of the gospel which we see in this passage. 

Covenant Joy (6-10a)

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

Isaiah is harkening back to Ex 24, where God made a covenant with Israel and came down and celebrated with a meal the elders of Israel. Exodus 24:8–11

[8] And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

[9] Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, [10] and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. [11] And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. (ESV)

This is recognized as a theophany. A theophany is an appearance of God or his presence on earth. I, personally, believe this is a Christophany. A Christophany is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Christophanies are seen with the announcement of “The Angel of the LORD.” Angel simply means messenger. That doesn’t mean Jesus was an angel; Hebrews tells us He was and is the eternal Son of God. Why do I believe this to be a Christophany? Because it points to a future fulfillment found only in Christ. It points to the covenant meal in the gospels, and the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb in revelation. Who is the bride but the people of God, represented in Israel? Who is the groom but the Son of God, Jesus the Christ? The God of Israel is seen as a man, with feet. And He prepared a table, a covenant feast for the elders of Israel, but did not lay his hand on the chief men. Why? Pretty sure they would die if he touched them, for the blood of goats and bulls only represented the true atonement that would come by the Son of God himself.

So, last week you learned about demon-spawn, and this week the appearance of God in Exodus, possibly the pre-incarnate Jesus, who made a feast at the ratification of the covenant with His people, Israel. 

Isaiah says some pretty important things here that we can’t miss:

Mountain of the Lord: God’s chosen high place is Jerusalem. Revelation promises a New Jerusalem. A new city, whose gates will not one shut, because there is no threat to it!

All People: not just Israel. The lesser always points to the greater. He is the God of All! Rich food / well aged refined wine: He is for our joy! Rich food! We go from being poor and needy to eating the richest of foods, full of fat and marrow! The GOOD STUFF! And the wine— oh people the wine! It’s well aged, meaning it ferments— and well refined, meaning it is tasty! Its the best wine— the stuff Jesus made in John chapter 2! It makes the heart glad, and it is the symbol of joy! God is for your JOY! And we find this joy in His Covenant with His people!

And this joy is eternal!

John Piper, in his talk at google, said this: “If you could give me a greater, longer lasting joy than what I have in Jesus, I’d cease to be a Christian! I’d stop right now and chase after that! But you can’t…” Friends, there’s no joy greater, and there’s nothing more eternal than the eternal Son of God. And the joy we enter into with him lasts forever, for He has swallowed up death!

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken. 

Isn’t it interesting that it was in Jerusalem that Jesus was crucified. It was by the bidding of the very people he made a covenant with, the very people he sought to save. And it was on the mountain of the Lord that death was defeated through death. How did he save us? How is our joy eternal? 

Hebrews 2:14–18 [14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

What is our greatest threat to joy? DEATH. And it is the veil that is cast over all people. It is like a darkness spread over all nations, and it will be swallowed up forever! That veil that he swallows, yes it refers to death, but I also believe it refers to darkness. In 2 Cor 4:3–6 [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

What does our God accomplish by swallowing the veil? He removes the blinders from the eyes of our hearts and minds, and we are able to see and know our God! Our God is a personal God, and seeks to be known as a person. We see this in our passage and it is our next heading:

Behold Our God (9)

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

In the true gospel, the New Creation narrative is this: we get to know and behold God! To see His face! And no longer does he withhold touching and knowing his people, but he wipes away every tear from our face! Parents, what is it like when you wipe away the tears from your children eyes? What are you saying to them? Everything’s fine now. There’s no longer a reason to cry. I’m here. I love you. You’re safe with me.

He knows all people groups, all nations, and all individuals in His Kingdom! And his hand is upon His mountain. What does that mean?

Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”

There is a warm welcoming, a sense of belonging, when someone lays their hand upon you. It’s as if God is saying this: you’re home now. All your former longing, your former waiting, has come to an end. We might experience this in part, in the here and now, but I don’t think many do, and not much of it. 

We are called to wait for this salvation, and rely not on our own strength, for we are a weak and needy people, but to wait upon Him. That means we trust His judgements, not our own. His timing, not our own. His justice, not our own. This is the final point of the passage:

The Judgement of True and Just King (10b-12)

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. (ESV

The New Creation we look unto is eternal, and all wickedness will be banished, and evil punished. The doctrine of Hell has become an increasingly debated doctrine. If you struggle with this, let me point to this one thing: God is the only perfect judge. As Creator, only He can define what justice is and what it isn’t. What the Bible says about the wicked is that their self-reliance and pride, their arrogance and self-promotion to the place of God is what brings his judgement upon them. There is no point at which, after Christ’ return, the proud cry mercy and come to submission of Jesus, the Son of God. We see this in the book of revelation, and we see it in Isaiah. Isaiah, and the people of Israel viewed God’s just judgements upon the earth as something to rejoice in. I pray you and I do the same. It means an end to death, an end to murder, and end to suicide, an end to genocide, an end to starvation and oppression, an end to child sex-trafficking, an end to abortion, an end to anger and hatred, an end to malice and envy and spite, an end to injustice. And it means a beginning to true peace, and harmony, and love, and joy, and graciousness. It means a physical appearance of God in the flesh that fills the earth with the knowledge of His glory that has radiated to earth in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

This coming of God in human flesh, the beholding of God, was recorded in Luke 2:8–11

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Behold, the wisdom of God, in sending His all-powerful and glorious Son in the likeness of weak human flesh— born as a baby in a manger, to save a poor and needy people from perishing, and saving them to Himself, to bring them in His presence, where He will give them life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forever more!

So let us wait for Him, joyfully, as we celebrate Advent. We look back to His birth, but we look forward to His appearing! And this is what we celebrate in communion: we look back, as our Savior, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame so that the many will be accounted as righteous! 

Jesus, on the cross, shed his blood, the blood of the New Covenant, so we could enter into covenant with Him, and sit and dine with Him for eternity.

Let me read to you Luke 22:14–20 before we pray and take communion together:

[14] And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. [15] And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” [17] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. [18] For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” [19] And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (ESV)]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Bobby Gaither</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>I want to begin this morning with an assertion you’ve already heard from me: Everybody believes in a gospel.  What I mean is this: everybody, without exception, believes a narrative that explains creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. In the cre...</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>00:49:46</itunes:duration>
					
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					<title>HOPE: The Downward Spiral</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/hope-the-downward-spiral</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/hope-the-downward-spiral#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 08 Dec 2019 19:04:05 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeremy Jones]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Genesis 6:1-8 | Speaker: Jeremy Jones | Series: Advent 2019]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Genesis 6:1-8 | Speaker: Jeremy Jones | Series: Advent 2019]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Genesis 6:1-8 | Speaker: Jeremy Jones | Series: Advent 2019]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author>Jeremy Jones</itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Genesis 6:1-8 | Speaker: Jeremy Jones | Series: Advent 2019</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>00:42:48</itunes:duration>
					
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					<title>Love In The Flesh</title>
					<link>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/love-in-the-flesh</link>
											<comments>https://hopefellowship.life/sermons/love-in-the-flesh#respond</comments>
					
					<pubDate>Sun, 01 Dec 2019 14:57:07 +0000</pubDate>
					<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
					
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					<description><![CDATA[Bible Text: Titus 3:1-7 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent 2019]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[Bible Text: Titus 3:1-7 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent 2019]]></content:encoded>
					<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bible Text: Titus 3:1-7 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent 2019]]></itunes:summary>

					<itunes:author></itunes:author>
					<itunes:subtitle>Bible Text: Titus 3:1-7 | Speaker: Cris Comp | Series: Advent 2019</itunes:subtitle>
					
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					<itunes:duration>00:43:46</itunes:duration>
											<itunes:keywords>Love</itunes:keywords>
					
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