Sunday, December 29, 2019

WHAT WAS JOHN UPTO?


WHAT WAS JOHN UPTO?  (Matthew 3:1-12)

            Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.

            Visio Divina invites the viewer into "Divine Seeing." Visio Divina shares roots with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Visio Divina invites one to encounter the divine through images. For our time together, we are invited to see what God is doing and saying in the scripture. What should be our response?

To start. Close your Bibles.  Open your eyes. Open your ears. Open your hearts. See and hear the word of the Lord.

3 Questions

1.  Ask:  What do you see?                             (One line at a time)

2.  Ask:  What do you hear?                           (Words & Tones)

3.  Ask:  Guess what happens next?               (No peeking ahead!)

Vs. 1. “In those days, John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,

We don’t know much about what happened from the time Jesus’ family went and lived in a town called Nazareth and to the days of John the Baptist’s ministry. What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

John the Baptist was preaching in the Judean wilderness. What was his message?

2. “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

He was appealing to people to repent from their sins and turn to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

What is repentance? What does sin do? What does it mean the Kingdom of Heaven is near? 

3. The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, Isaiah 40:3

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!”


Who was the prophet Isaiah speaking about? What was the mission of John?



4. John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey.


Who John the Baptist was compared to in the OT? Malachi 4:5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.”

            Elijah's work was to reveal the true God to Israel in a time of growing national crisis. Elijah prepared the way for Elisha, who had a double portion of Elijah's spirit and did many more miracles. In this regard, Elijah was a type of John the Baptist and Elisha, a type of Christ.    God's pattern is being established. He sends someone long before the real crisis reaches its peak, while it is building.  Elijah said disturbing things, so did John the Baptist.  Elijah’s life was threatened by one woman named Jezebel.  John the Baptist was killed by the wishes of a woman named Herodias.



5. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

People came to see John and hear his message of repentance from in and all-around Judean region



6. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

            What kinds of sins people were confessing? Where did John Baptized people? What is the significance of the Jordan River?

Joshua led people through Jordan River before they entered the promised land. (Joshua 3,4)

Jesus laid a pathway to our eternal promised land through His baptism in the Jordan River

People were to purify themselves before they crossed the Jordan River.

            As soon as the “Ark of the Covenant, (the Tabernacle) came up out of the riverbed, the parted waters returned, and the river began to flow as usual.  Similarly, as soon as Jesus, the living tabernacle, came up out of the waters after his baptism, the heavens were opened, and the communication between heaven and earth has been restored. (Matthew 3:14-16)



7.  But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next? The tone of John was harsh. Why did he condemn the Pharisees and Sadducees?

What does the brood of snakes (vipers) mean?

Brood of vipers: Many people in antiquity thought that vipers were born by hatching inside their mother, then gnawing their way through their mothers’ wombs — killing their mothers in the process. Comparing people to a “brood of vipers,” then, was analogous to calling them “parent-murderers” — one of the most reprehensible offenses conceivable.

Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees? The Pharisees were a legalistic and separatist group that strictly kept the law of Moses and the unwritten “tradition of the elders.”

The Sadducees were more politically minded and had theological differences with the Pharisees, including denial of the resurrection, angels, and spirits. Etc



8. Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

How were the Pharisees and Sadducees to live after their Baptism?  

How can we prove that we have repented of our sins, and we have turned to God?



9. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

What is the meaning of “Stones”?

            Abraham as our ancestor. Because God chose Israel in Abraham, many Jewish people believed that Israel as a whole would be saved. Prophets, however, sometimes challenged Israel’s dependence on their chosenness (Am 3.2; 9.7).

Stones. Sometimes in the OT stones were used to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel (Ex 28.21; Josh 4.8; 1 Kings 18.31). In Hebrew and Aramaic, “children” and “stones” sound very similar; prophets often made wordplays

Romans 2:28-29, “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God.

And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; instead, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.”

 Gal 3:7 “The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”



10. Even now, the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

What does the Ax represent here?

            An ax is lying at the root of the trees. Cutting down or burning a tree could symbolize a nation’s judgment. Jer 11.16, “I, the Lord, once called them a thriving olive tree, beautiful to see and full of good fruit. But now I have sent the fury of their enemies to burn them with fire, leaving them charred and broken.”

            Ezekiel 31:12, God’s judgment on Egypt, “A foreign army—the terror of the nations—has cut it down and left it fallen on the ground. Its branches are scattered across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived in its shadow have gone away and left it lying there.”



11. “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

What was the significance of the Baptism of Water in the OT?

            Many people, including Jewish people, had ritual washings; some Jewish sects required ritual immersion to purify those entering their group, and Gentiles converting to Judaism were immersed in water to cleanse them of idolatry.

What does “carrying Jesus’ sandals imply here?

            Handling sandals was the sort of a menial task that only a servant would typically perform; the prophets often recognized themselves as “servants of God” (2Ki 9:7; Jer 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4), but John considers himself unworthy even for this role. John envisions himself as preparing for the coming of God himself (see notes on vv. 3,4).

Who can Baptize people with the Holy Spirit and Fire? Biblically only God could pour out his own Spirit, as he promised to do at the time of the subsequent restoration (Joel 2:28).

In contrast to the Spirit, the “fire” here presumably signals end-time judgment (see notes on vv. 10,12).



12. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

What do you see? What do you hear? (words & tones) Guess what happens next?

            What does the chaff represent here? How is God going to deal with the chaff?

Gathering of wheat and burning up the chaff is a “harvest” imagery.  In ancient times, after harvest, farmers used to separate the good wheat from the inedible chaff. They would toss the grain into the air so that the wind could blow out the chaff, which was lighter and used as firewood. In the scriptures, “chaff” is often used as an image for the disobedient and the worthless that God would destroy in the end time.

Mal 4:1,5, The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day, the arrogant and the wicked will, be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. 5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.

            John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah, was challenging the Pharisees, Sadducees and all those who happened to be baptized about the final judgment, and how God is going to throw all the unbelieving and disobedient into the lake of fire where the fire can never be quenched.



What can we glean from this passage?

Repent of our sins, and be baptized, and turn to God.

Recognize that salvation doesn’t come by association but by receiving Christ by faith

Live life following our repentance, to prove that His Grace indeed saves us

Take up the position of a servant in the Kingdom of God and serve God with humility.

Like John the Baptist, we too must warn people about the impending Judgment of God. We must not shy away and not afraid when it comes to confronting people who act unjustly.








Sunday, December 22, 2019

THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT


THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

Introduction: This time of the year, many are going around crazy and frustrated, not knowing what to buy for their loved ones. What would make him happy and valued? What makes her feel loved? Hmm!! There are no easy answers to these questions. Parents crack their heads as to what to get to their kids who never seems to be grateful for anything, and never give a word of appreciation no matter what. To make gift buying more stressful, companies come up with lists of “The top Ten or Top 21 best gifts in 2019.”

            One such gift caught my attention, “Glow Bowl.” “GlowBowl is transforming dark & dangerous, or bright & blinding, bathrooms worldwide into safe, dimly lit welcoming bathrooms.” That’s what they say! We don’t want to miss out on anything when it comes to comfort, including our toilet bowl. Right?

            In our search for the best and most memorable Christmas Gift ever easier, accessible, and cost-effective, I want us to come back to the prophetic trial which we began three weeks ago and take a journey to the manger. We started by lighting the candles in the Advent wreath.

            The first purple candle represented Hope; the second purple candle encouraged us to get ready for the second advent of our Lord. The third candle signaled the excellent news that will bring great joy to all people. The fourth candle is called the candle of love.

            What does it say about the character of God that He would give His only Son for us? So often, we spend Christmas focused on what it is like to receive this gift, but in this video, you are about to watch we shift our perspective to imagine instead what it was like for God to give us the best gift of Christmas. This video made me think about the true spirit of Christmas. It is not just about presents, celebrations, and the festivities. The true spirit of Christmas is all the above and even much more, it is the worship of the Christ our Lord.



I. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

            Last week we looked at the good news of great joy that the angel proclaimed and the response of the innocent shepherds.  Today we will look at the reaction of the wise men when their search for the newborn king led them into the presence of an innocent child. The wise men in the story are popularly referred to as “Three kings of the Orient.”

            Matthew 2:1-2, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

            What do we know about these Magi? It was common for dignitaries to come and congratulate a new ruler. The Magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They belonged to a famous class of astrologers and dream-interpreters who served the Persian king. Astrology, as a form of divination, was forbidden in Scripture. Yet these Magi came to worship the newborn king.

            When they could not find him in the palace, they continued their journey directed by the star that appeared to them in the east. The Magi were filled with Joy when they saw the star. The star stopped over the place where the child was. Unlike popular portrayals of the nativity, the Magi did not come to the manger but rather to a house.

            Vs. 11, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” I often wondered how much those gifts costed them? In the time of Christ, gold frankincense and myrrh were precious and costly items. We don’t know how much gold or spices the wise men gave Jesus, but those gifts may have helped Mary and Joseph care for their newborn King, and their eventual escape to Egypt.

            When we think about the wise men worshipping Jesus with gifts, it was rather unusual in those days. Matthew, in his gospel, often emphasizes, God calls followers from unexpected places (Matthew,3:9; 8:10-12; 12:41-42; 21:31). Has God changed his mind today, in regards to his call of worship? No! God is still calling people from unexpected places to follow Him and worship Him. Are you sensing the call of God to worship Him in Spirit and Truth?



II THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

            How could we even begin to worship God with all our hearts without understanding his great love for us?  Let me talk about how much God loved us and how he expressed His love towards us.  Let me read John 3:16-18 from “The Message.” “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

            God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” (The Message.)

            These two verses give us the essence and scope of the Gospel. I have no answer when it comes to explaining why this almighty, all-knowing, all-sufficient God loves a sinner like me? All I can say in return is thank you, Lord, for loving me unconditionally.

            Is there anyone here who can adequately explain how much God loves this world? God’s love for this world is unexplainable, incomparable, immeasurable, and complete. At best John the beloved disciple of Christ could come up with is, “This is how much God loved this world.”

            The depth and the width of God’s love are measured not in words but in what he was willing to let go. He was ready to give up His one and only Son Jesus Christ on our behalf. Can you imagine how heart-wrenching of a decision that might be for a father or a mother to give up their only one son or daughter, so that others may have a better life?

            Precisely that was what God did. He sent His son into the world as a helpless, vulnerable baby whose life was threatened from the time he was born. Remember how King Herod tried to kill Jesus when he was two years old? Fast forward from the manger to the ministry of Jesus.

            On numerous occasions, people tried to kill Jesus but he walked through those attempts unharmed until his final hours on the cross. While He was being persecuted by the hands of those he came to heal and save, he offered up a prayer of forgiveness saying, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” In the end, he offered up His life saying, “It is Finished.”

            That was the ultimate sacrifice of love. In a world where some people have no regard for human life, who would die for on behalf of others, let alone dying on behalf of thieves, murderers, cheaters, and liars? The scripture tells us, we all have sinned and have fallen short.

            Romans 5: 6-8, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

            The Greatest Christmas Gift that God wants to give to us is His love. He showed His love by sending His only Son into this sin-sick world.  Jesus came into this world expressing his love by caring, healing, and forgiving sinners, by paying their penalty of sin through his blood and receiving the punishment of our sin which is death, by dying on the cross. That is the good news of the gospel, which can bring Joy to the world.

            If God were to give you a Christmas gift wrapped in a box when you open it what will you find inside? John 3:16. “Because I love you so much, I gave up my Son for you."  The Best Christmas Gift that God desires to give us is His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus in return gives us eternal life, the gift of salvation. Why do we call salvation the gift? 

            We call it the gift because we cannot earn it; it is given freely by God.  Ephesians 2:8-9, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Is this gift of salvation only for a few privileged people or all people?

            It is for everyone who believes, and best of all, it is a “Free Gift.” It can be yours today, by faith if you can reach out to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart. Then you, too, will become the child of God, enter into His family and enjoy all the privileges.

            The wise men sought after the King; when they found him, they worshipped him by giving precious gifts. Jesus is the King, and he doesn’t need anything from you. All he is seeking is a place in a heart that is broken and contrite. Would you be the one who will give Jesus a place? If you do so, you can receive the best Christmas gift ever that is Jesus himself.

            I have a word of encouragement for those who have accepted Jesus as their savior a while back but have lost the joy of their salvation. For those who are struggling, whether God still loves them and cares for them. Some of you are perhaps going through the motions of being a Christian but lost the first love you used to have for God.

            Some are barely holding on to their faith, wondering whether they will ever get through this challenging situation. No, matter where you are in your walk with God, the good news is God loves you very much and He wants to bless you. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Amen!




Sunday, December 15, 2019

JOURNEY TO THE MANGER -III (Cultivating Joy)


JOURNEY TO THE MANGER-III: JOY

Introduction: People have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where we cannot find joy:

Not in Unbelief -- Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."

Not in Pleasure -- Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."

Not in Money -- Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."

Not in Position and Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."

Not in Military Glory -- Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent before he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."[1]

            Where then is real joy found? Two weeks ago, we entered on a prophetic trail with an attempt to understand and retrace our historical heritage. That has put us on a journey to the manger.  We began the Church tradition of Advent by lighting the candles in the Advent wreath.

            The first purple candle represented Hope; the second purple candle encouraged us to get ready for the second advent of our Lord. How about the third pink candle? Why the pink color, and what does it represent? The reason for a Pink Candle: “The third Sunday in Advent is called in Latin Guadete (or Rejoice). Additionally, one of the four purple candles in the Advent wreath was changed from purple to pink on the third Sunday in Advent.

            Even today, the third candle in the Advent wreath is commonly referred to as the joy candle. Amid solemnity, the church recognized that Christians are never people without joy. When true repentance occurs, joyful obedience is the result; thus, there is a joy to be celebrated even in the most penitential times.”[2] Moreover, joy is not only a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of an individual believer but also a characteristic common in God’s Kingdom.

            It would be helpful to retrace the prophetic trail and see where it will lead us to this time. In 737 B.C, a minor prophet named Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come from this otherwise insignificant community. Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”

            Our Journey to the Manger leads us to a small town called Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. In the passage we read, we will meet some heavenly hosts and ordinary shepherds. Let’s pay attention to the message the angels spoke about, and how the shepherds proclaimed it.


I. THE PECULIAR MESSENGERS

            Vs.8, “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.” Imagine you were living in the capital of the USA. You have received an important message that would impact not only our nation but the whole world, where or to who you would deliver the news first? Would you try to take it to the Whitehouse or a homeless shelter nearby? When God wanted to give a message that would impact the whole earth, He bypassed the wise and the mighty in the palace and chose a group of ordinary and innocent shepherds. 

            You may be wondering why the shepherds? It is not uncommon for God to do things strangely. That is how God often works; he hides his secrets from those who are wise in their own eyes and reveals them to the innocent. The Bethlehem shepherds became the first recipients of God’s divine revelation.  Recently I studied a bit about shepherds.

            The desert is featured in many biblical narratives. Shepherds learn to endure and survive in the desert. In the wilderness, God called His people to do extraordinary things. It is where, while managing the sheep, Moses got his mission to lead the Israelites out of slavery. The Israelites have learned valuable lessons of what it is to trust and obey God for forty years.  

            After spending 40 days in fasting, praying, and being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus began His ministry. Wilderness does something to a person’s soul. “It is a place of death. Deserts bring people quickly to the end of their self-sufficiency and independence.”[3] The shepherds in our story were ready to be trusted with the divine message. 


II THE OBEDIENT ANGELS

            Bethlehem was nearby Jerusalem, and many of the sheep used in the temple sacrifices came from there. The surrounding hills were prime grazing land, and shepherds worked in the area day and night, all year round tending their flocks.  That night was different from other nights. Luke observes the angelic activity by saying, “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.”

            History tells us that for about four hundred years, there was absolute silence from heaven. There was no prophecy or direct word from God as if the heavens were shut down. All of a sudden, we see the sky is engaging with the earth once again. The heavenly agents, the obedient angels, became super active; they were moving back and forth, delivering messages from God.

            Vs. 10-12, “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

            In the passage we read, an angel on that starry night delivered mega news to a group of innocent shepherds. The angel said, “I bring good news of great joy to all people.” What is this good news all about? How can a baby that was lying in a manger possibly bring great joy to all people? The good news was the birth of the future Messiah.

            Three ancient prophecies (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, and Micah 5:2), of hundreds of years before, were fulfilled in those two verses. Mary gave birth to a son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. As the angel was delivering the good news, Vs. 13-14, “suddenly, the angel was joined by a multitude of other angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

            These past few days, whatever TV or Radio channel you turned on, “you may have heard the news of the impeachment of the president.” For some, it is terrible news, and for others, it is good news.” On the contrary, the story of the baby in a manger is good news for all people.

            Once the obedient angels went back to heaven, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and saw the baby lying in the manger. After seeing the baby, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

            All those who heard the story of the first witnesses were amazed. Mary kept all those facts in her heart and pondered on them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as the angel had told them.

            Do you think that the story was buried with the shepherds only? No, the shepherds may have passed it on to their children and children’s children. The story of the Messiah continued.

The birth of our savior is indeed good news that will bring great joy to all people. How?
  

III CULTIVATING JOY

            In the beginning, I raised a question, where then can we find real joy? First, let’s address what Joy is and how is it different from happiness?  Happiness comes from outside, while joy from within, that keeps the person in a state of grace. Happiness is caused by luck, whereas soul-satisfying incidents cause joy. Happiness is more momentary, while joy is long-lasting.[4]

            In the Bible, the Greek word Chara means joy and rejoicing. It is a feeling of inner gladness or delight. Chara comes from another root word Charis, which means grace as if Joy is a direct result of God’s grace. This was what said of Jesus in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

            So, where can we then find real joy? This joy is not the same as the joy found in this world. The real joy that Jesus came to provide us with is full and everlasting. How do we cultivate this lasting joy? Firstly, we recognize that joy doesn’t come from material things, but by knowing and believing in God who created all things.

            Secondly, Joy comes by accepting the finished work of Jesus on the cross to forgive our sins and receive His grace. Thirdly, by asking the Holy Spirit to produce this deep-seated joy within us. Fourthly, remember joy is one of the signs of the Kingdom of God.  “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17. Fifthly, we will be joyful when we serve others.

            Christmas is not all about Santa Clause, Rein Deer, Christmas Tree, Decorations, and gifts. It is about the greatest gift that God sent to bring joy to the world that is living in despair and darkness. Some of us received that gift. If you haven’t received it, you can receive it today.

            Ask Jesus to come into your heart, and you will be saved. This joy of salvation is not meant for us alone but to share it with others. Let’s be the messengers of hope, peace, and joy. Let the joy of our Lord become contagious. Let’s look for ways to bring comfort to those who are lonely, depressed, struggling and hurting “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:16.



































[1] The Bible Friend, Turning Point, May, 1993. http://www.eSermons.com
[2] https://www.seedbed.com/pink-candle-advent-wreath/
[3] Timothy S. Laniak, “While Shepherds watched their flock.” Page 24
[4] http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-joy-and-happiness/#ixzz680ZJbIuU

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Journey To The Manger-II (Get Ready)


JOURNEY TO THE MANGER-II

Second Sunday of Advent: GET READY!

Illustration:  During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives:   On May 19th, 1780 the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought." Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we're to be lights as we watch and wait.[1]        
              Last Sunday, we began the Church tradition of Advent by lighting the first candle in the Advent wreath. As we lit the purple Candle of Hope, we entered on a prophetic trail with an attempt to understand and retrace our historical heritage. That has put us on a journey to the manger. From the reading of today’s scripture, we gather, when the initial excitement of returning to their homeland was worn off, the Israelites were disillusioned and started to give up Hope on the promised deliverance from exile.

            Towards the end of their exile, Isaiah brings this prophecy of getting ready for their imminent return to their homeland and also their ultimate homecoming at the arrival of the Messiah. As we travel on this prophetic road we will look at what was involved for the ancient as exiles as they waited for the prophesied Messiah to come and redeem them from their exile, and also what it means for us the believers, the modern day exiles as we watch and wait for the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Journey to The Manger: GET READY

I. COMFORT FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

            Vs. 1-2, “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”  What comforting and tender words of God were these to His people!

            To know the significance of this prophecy, we need to consider Isaiah’s Ministry Time-Line. In chapters 1-35, Isaiah prophesied about the Assyrian threat against Judah and Jerusalem. In chapters 36-39, he warned about the future rise of Babylon, and in chs 40-66, he wrote as if the Babylonian exile of Judah was almost over.

            Up until that time, the people of Israel were living in the land of darkness and despair. Now they can take a deep sigh knowing that their night will turn to a day, their mourning into dancing, their sorrow into Joy. Israel had experienced double sufferings, of losing their homeland, and being taken as exiles into the heathen land of Babylon.

            God sends Isaiah with a comforting prophecy to a troubled nation.  Vs.  1, “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” Let’s pause for a moment and look at the word “Comfort,” which is repeated twice for emphasis. The Hebrew word used for comfort appears over sixty-five times in the O.T. The essence is to show how God comforts his people just the way people comfort those who are hurting, broken, and repentant.

            Consider these scriptures:  Isa 66:13, “I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.”  “For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Isa 49:13. In Isa 61:1-2, Isaiah prophecies what the future Messiah would do.

            “He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” It is fulfilled in Luke 4:16-19.

            I could go on, but you get the point. The Israelites in exile were looking forward to the Messiah, who would comfort them. God was assuring them by not adding more insult to the injury or salt to their wounds but instead with comforting words of tender loving care and compassion. How could these words apply to us today? As I shared last week, there is so much brokenness in this world.  A lot of people are going through the pain of loneliness, isolation, depression, and struggling with thoughts of suicide.

            What hope would they have during this Christmas season?  More on an individual level, are you being overwhelmed with trouble and grief? Are you having a broken heart due to a failed promise?  Are you struggling with addictions and unable to quit? If you do, may the words of these Psalms console you.       Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalm 56: 8 “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 119:50 “Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.”

            Isaiah not only encouraged them to get ready for their imminent deliverance from exile and repatriation back into their homeland but also urged them to prepare themselves for their ultimate redemption. We read about this vital prophecy in the following verses.

II PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE LORD. (3-4)

            Vs. 3-4, “Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.” The language of vs. 3-4 has in view the ancient Near Eastern custom of sending representatives ahead to prepare the way for the visit of a monarch. It is much more like now the secret services going to a place to make the way clear and safe for a presidential visit.

            Making a highway through the wilderness in the ancient days was an arduous process. It took a lot of time, energy, and people tirelessly working perhaps round the clock in rugged mountain terrain so that the king's chariots and wagons can pass through smoothly. This prophecy has more to do with the future Messiah’s first advent than Israel’s imminent return.

            Nearly five hundred years later, we pick this up in the gospel of Luke as referring to John the Baptist. Here is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Luke 3:4, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! John, the Baptist, became the forerunner for the Messiah’s first coming, by preaching the message of repentance.

            John the Baptist lifted his voice against social injustices of his time such as: oppression of the poor, accumulation of wealth and resources by the rich, extortion of money from the weak, unjust tax system, the moral folly of the royalty by publicly criticizing Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias his brother’s wife and for many other wrongs he had done.

            Listening to his convicting message, many have turned to God by repenting of their sins, and John Baptized them in the Jordan River. Everyone in that region was eagerly expecting the Messiah to come soon.  When people came to John thinking that he was the Messiah, he humbly said, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

            What a selfless, fearless and yet humble servant, John the Baptist has been in his service of preparing the way for the Messiah? The same call of John the Baptist, which was getting people ready for the Lord, has now been placed upon the Church of Jesus Christ in the 21st century. So how are we then as the people who are living in between the first coming and the second coming of Christ, to live and prepare others for the Lord’s return?

III. GET READY & GET PEOPLE READY! 
             The exiled Israel in the 8th century, BC, eagerly looked forward to returning to their beloved homeland, I wonder how many people in the 21st century are eagerly looking forward to go to heaven their ultimate promised land? If not, why this lethargy and indifference?  The Apostle, Peter explains the reasons why.

            You may even wonder why bother going through this tradition of Advent. It is important that we do not stay away from the ancient path living in a land full of scoffers and skeptics. Don’t let the business and the commercialization of Christmas distract us from knowing and holding on to the truth about our Lord’s first coming and even more so about his second coming.

            In order for us to be firm in our belief let us turn to what the Apostle Peter has to say about the Lord’s second advent. 2 Peter 3 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.” In the last days, scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?

            From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” Really? Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along.”

            The only way we keep that future vision of Jesus’ coming back to earth again for the second time alive is by following his very words. “So, you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:42.

            Keep watching means to get ready by living Holy and Christ-honoring lives, and encouraging others to do the same. Getting Ready is not a Passive waiting, but like John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus actively engaging in our society. As we look around and observe the signs of war, earthquakes, famines and increased crime and violence, sooner than later Jesus will return to the earth as He has promised. If the Lord’s return is so certain and imminent, how are we to live our lives today? On His return will Jesus catch us doing nothing, or working hard in preparing the way for Him? May the Lord help us all to be ready, and help others get ready during this Advent. Amen!









           

           

           

           



           









Sunday, December 1, 2019

Journey To The Manger: HOPE


JOURNEY TO THE MANGER 
First Sunday of Advent: HOPE

Illustration: Way back A. J. Gordon was the great Baptist pastor of the Clarendon Church in Boston. One day he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I'm going to play with them, and then I guess I'll just feed them to an old cat we have at home."             When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don't want them, they're just little old wild birds and can't sing very well." Gordon replied, "I'll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it's a deal, but you're making a bad bargain." The exchange was made, and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. 
            Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday, he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost -- paying for them with His precious blood. "That boy told me the birds were not songsters," said Gordon, "but when I released them, and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, 'Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!'"
            In 701 B.C, a nation of broken and displaced people of Israel, longed, hoped and looked expectantly for a Messiah who would come and redeem them from the tyranny of their oppressors and restore them to their homeland again.
             Advent is a beautiful season of contemplation and preparation. The message of the First Sunday of Advent is the song of those wild birds and the cry of every broken heart. It is the song of HOPE for a Redeemer, sung in every carol around the world this season. That is what makes advent so meaningful. Let us take time to pause and reflect and prepare ourselves for Advent.
            During the next few Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve, we will be following a wonderful tradition of lighting the candles in the Advent Wreath and reflecting on scriptures. This is an attempt to understand our historical heritage by retracing the prophetic trial that would lead us to the Messiah. I call these series: “Journey To The Manger: HOPE” 

I A LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS
            Isaiah 9:1-2, Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness,[c] a light will shine.”
            In eighth century, BC during the reign of Pekah, King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria attacked Israel again. The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali lay in the area of Galilee astride a major highway through Israel from the north. They, therefore, were among the first people to be attacked from the north. We read about it in (2 Kings 15:29.)
            He also conquered the regions of Gilead and Galilee, plunging the nation of Israel into a deep gloom of darkness. It was one of the darkest and the most depressive times in the History of Israel. In such a hopeless condition, God raises a prophet named Isaiah to bring forth a message of hope and redemption. He encourages them to put their confidence and trust in God. 
            There will come a day wherein the land of deep darkness, a light will shine. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. God’s glory will fill the land of deep darkness. That was the advent of ancient Israel. In the 21st century, like in days of the people of Israel, we too experience pervasive darkness of sin and brokenness in our world. Many people are walking, living, and dying in darkness without ever coming into the pure Light of Hope.
III. HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD
            Let’s look at Hope. Why is Hope necessary for humanity?  What is hopelessness? Hopelessness is a feeling of despair. It is an emotional state in which a person sees no hope in his or her life and feels that life is not worth living anymore. The person feels as if things will never improve and he will never achieve what he wants in life. He considers himself a failure. The feeling of hopelessness is present in every patient suffering from depression and certain other mental disorders.” That brings us to the question, what is depression? 
            Depression is a clinical entity in which the patient is perpetually in a state of low mood. He has an aversion to performing any activity or task that he may have liked previously. The condition affects the patient’s thoughts and social behavior. Depressed people feel sad, anxious, helpless, hopeless, worthless and restless.”1
            Whether we know it or not, there is so much of hopelessness in this world, and it is only increasing. Here is an excerpt from the talk on global warming by activist Greta Thunberg’s speech at the recent UN gathering. “You have stolen my dreams, and my childhood with your empty words, and yet I am one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, and people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing.  We are at the beginning of a mass extension, and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?[2] 
            Greta is a feisty Swedish young lady.  When I first heard her speech, I sensed her frustration, anger, and blame over growing hopelessness in the world. I began to wonder, is there a hopeful future? Who can genuinely fix the failing ecosystems in our society? Who can keep us safe? Hopelessness is one of the leading symptoms of depression.  Here are other alarming statistics of depression, which are affecting so many people around the world. 
            In the year 2000, according to the World Health Organization’s project The Global burden of Disease, major depression is the fourth leading cause of disability for persons aged fifteen to forty-four.  The same study predicted that by 2020, depression would be the second-leading cause of disability in the world, second only to heart disease.” [3]
            There is much to be learned about depression.  I hope to address this topic in the future, for now, let’s understand what hope is and what does the Bible say about Hope? Hope is a feeling or state of expectation and a desire for things to improve. It is a belief in the future occurrence of something good to happen.” In this world, hope has to do with the future based on certain uncertainties and unknowns.  Whereas Biblical hope has to do with Jesus Christ, what he has done, and promised. Jesus knows our future better than anyone else as He alone is our Hope. 
            I understand it is hard to hold on to hope when you are chronically ill when finances continue to be a struggle; when your children take different directions in life than you had hoped, and when you have marital conflicts. Are you living in a land of deep darkness? If you do, wait! Don’t give up! Don’t Quit; There is Hope, help is on the Way. Coming back to our story.

II HOPE IN THE MESSIAH. (6-7)

            The Prophet Isaiah prophesied to the nation of Israel about a future Davidic king who would rule the world in righteousness and establish his eternal kingdom of peace on the earth. Isaiah 9: 6-7, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.  He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen.”
            This ancient prophecy must have given broken and desolate Israel, hope to look forward to the Messiah, the deliverer King, who would set them free from their enemies. Isaiah prophecies how the future Messiah would come into this world as an innocent child, grow to be a son, and eventually would become their ruler and king. 
            The prophet envisions certain distinct aspects of this future Messiah. He would counsel with wisdom. He would be the Mighty God himself; he would be our everlasting Father, who would give us His endless peace as he would rule with fairness and justice from David’s throne.
            Around the same time, another prophet by name Micah prophesied where exactly this future Messiah would be born. Micah 5:3, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 
            The Jews had been waiting and looking intently for thousands of years for that prophesy to be fulfilled, including their most powerful king David. King David envisioned who and what this Messiah would bring forth to all the people in the world. Psalm 65: 5, “You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.”
            The whole essence of the first advent was the fulfillment of those two age-old prophecies. Who was this God, Savior and the Hope of everyone on earth that king David was talking about? We will find answers in the coming weeks. For now, if you are struggling with hopelessness and depression, like King David, say to your soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:11. Amen!













[1] http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-hopelessness-and-depression/
[2] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-climate-activist-greta-thunbergs-speech-to-the-un
[3] David B. Biebel & Harold G Koenig, “New Light on Depression.” Page 20