4th Sunday of Advent 12/19/10 Text: Isaiah 60:1-4 Part 4 of 4 Advent sermon series
4th Sunday of Advent
12/19/10
Text: Isaiah 60:1-4
Title: “Awake, Watch, Hear, Our Savior Draws Near.”
I love Christmas time. If I have the time in the evening I enjoy a drive through the neighborhoods that decorate for Christmas. The lights and displays are wonderful and every once in awhile you will find a house that has a nativity scene out front. I really like those, not just because the people are making a statement of their faith, but because when I was growing up in Texas, there was a family who had a pond close to the road. They would put up a really nice nativity scene on the far side of the pond, so that it reflected on the water at night. Every night they would play a recording of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ. It was a family ritual for many people to go by, get out of the car and sit on the side of the road listening to the story of Christ’s birth. It was wonderful; something I will never forget.
I am sure that in many of your home’s the tree is decorated, probably with some presents under it, cookies have been baked or bought, and plans are being made for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Our church is not any different. Thanks to Dewey we have our Nativity scene up, as a witness to the town that we are celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. Our Christmas trees have been put up, ablaze with lights, the sanctuary beautifully decorated with garland and poinsettias along with banners behind the altar announcing the coming of Emanuel which means “God with us”. And every week our Advent wreath has had another candle lit. All of this to signal an important event.
Everywhere you look there are Christmas lights, and candles, but even if you put all the lights and candles together in the whole world they would not be as bright as the light described in our Old Testament reading for today. Please listen to Isaiah 60, verses 1-4 again."Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip."
The lights of Christmas, as magnificent as they are, even if they were all combined into one huge light would not even come close to the light of Jesus, for his light covers all darkness. The lights of Christmas can only point to us to Christ. They, just like the music, the placing of gifts under the tree, and other Christian preparations like the putting out of the nativity scene in your home, can only tell us that Christmas is drawing near. They are not Christmas, for the Christian.
Just as those things are signs that tell us Christmas is coming, there are signs which tell us Christ is drawing near. As we prepare for Christ to come again, we also need to be vividly aware of the fact that He is already here Emmanuel (God with us). Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
We read in Matthew 24:4-14 where Jesus is talking, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
I don’t think I have to elaborate much on Jesus words, for everything he is talking about is taking place. There are wars and rumors of wars, famines, terrible earthquakes, wickedness beyond description. There is according to the best information I could find more people in the world living in slavery than at any other time in history.
Closer to home there is dishonesty, road rage, abuse, disrespect of life both for the unborn, the young, and aged, divorce and child abuse. All of these signs show how desperately Christ is needed in people’s lives. We, as Lutherans know that Christ is here with us right now. He is here in the Word of God, for we are told in John that Jesus is the Word. He is with us when we receive the absolution on Sunday morning, for it is not my forgiveness that I proclaim, but Christ’s forgiveness. He is with us when we celebrate Baptism and receive His Supper. And for that we give him all praise and thanks.
He is here now and since we know what so few people know we have an obligation to share that knowledge with others. For after all he is the only one who can give peace to those who are suffering from all the wickedness and destruction that has enveloped them. We, as Luther taught, are to be little Christs speaking and living Christ’s words which bring order to a world of chaos, sin, and pain. Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
Now there are those who say these end times signs have happened to every generation since Jesus ascended to heaven and I would have to agree with them. Does that mean that he is not coming? Of course it doesn’t. Don’t be tempted to believe that there is still time before Christ comes. If anything, every generation must be more prepared because with each year and moment of time Christ’s return draws closer.
Besides don’t people need Christ today, to help them through the struggles, the chaos of life. We can’t wait because we need to make sure all people know God is with us today. Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
Through Christ, we will receive his peace, joy, love and all of God’s blessings, as we live on this earth. God is with us. And, we will live with Him in paradise. In our Epistle we read:"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”. But, at the same time, or until that time, Christ strengthens us through the power of His Holy Spirit to make it through life on earth. He gives us peace which surpasses all human understanding which brings God’s order to our lives of chaos and sin. Knowing Christ both saves eternally and is able to help all people, now, on earth.
We pray, “Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, so that we will share God is with us now and until Christ comes again.” And all of God’s people said, “Amen.”
12/19/10
Text: Isaiah 60:1-4
Title: “Awake, Watch, Hear, Our Savior Draws Near.”
I love Christmas time. If I have the time in the evening I enjoy a drive through the neighborhoods that decorate for Christmas. The lights and displays are wonderful and every once in awhile you will find a house that has a nativity scene out front. I really like those, not just because the people are making a statement of their faith, but because when I was growing up in Texas, there was a family who had a pond close to the road. They would put up a really nice nativity scene on the far side of the pond, so that it reflected on the water at night. Every night they would play a recording of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ. It was a family ritual for many people to go by, get out of the car and sit on the side of the road listening to the story of Christ’s birth. It was wonderful; something I will never forget.
I am sure that in many of your home’s the tree is decorated, probably with some presents under it, cookies have been baked or bought, and plans are being made for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Our church is not any different. Thanks to Dewey we have our Nativity scene up, as a witness to the town that we are celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. Our Christmas trees have been put up, ablaze with lights, the sanctuary beautifully decorated with garland and poinsettias along with banners behind the altar announcing the coming of Emanuel which means “God with us”. And every week our Advent wreath has had another candle lit. All of this to signal an important event.
Everywhere you look there are Christmas lights, and candles, but even if you put all the lights and candles together in the whole world they would not be as bright as the light described in our Old Testament reading for today. Please listen to Isaiah 60, verses 1-4 again."Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip."
The lights of Christmas, as magnificent as they are, even if they were all combined into one huge light would not even come close to the light of Jesus, for his light covers all darkness. The lights of Christmas can only point to us to Christ. They, just like the music, the placing of gifts under the tree, and other Christian preparations like the putting out of the nativity scene in your home, can only tell us that Christmas is drawing near. They are not Christmas, for the Christian.
Just as those things are signs that tell us Christmas is coming, there are signs which tell us Christ is drawing near. As we prepare for Christ to come again, we also need to be vividly aware of the fact that He is already here Emmanuel (God with us). Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
We read in Matthew 24:4-14 where Jesus is talking, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
I don’t think I have to elaborate much on Jesus words, for everything he is talking about is taking place. There are wars and rumors of wars, famines, terrible earthquakes, wickedness beyond description. There is according to the best information I could find more people in the world living in slavery than at any other time in history.
Closer to home there is dishonesty, road rage, abuse, disrespect of life both for the unborn, the young, and aged, divorce and child abuse. All of these signs show how desperately Christ is needed in people’s lives. We, as Lutherans know that Christ is here with us right now. He is here in the Word of God, for we are told in John that Jesus is the Word. He is with us when we receive the absolution on Sunday morning, for it is not my forgiveness that I proclaim, but Christ’s forgiveness. He is with us when we celebrate Baptism and receive His Supper. And for that we give him all praise and thanks.
He is here now and since we know what so few people know we have an obligation to share that knowledge with others. For after all he is the only one who can give peace to those who are suffering from all the wickedness and destruction that has enveloped them. We, as Luther taught, are to be little Christs speaking and living Christ’s words which bring order to a world of chaos, sin, and pain. Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
Now there are those who say these end times signs have happened to every generation since Jesus ascended to heaven and I would have to agree with them. Does that mean that he is not coming? Of course it doesn’t. Don’t be tempted to believe that there is still time before Christ comes. If anything, every generation must be more prepared because with each year and moment of time Christ’s return draws closer.
Besides don’t people need Christ today, to help them through the struggles, the chaos of life. We can’t wait because we need to make sure all people know God is with us today. Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, for our god is with us.
Through Christ, we will receive his peace, joy, love and all of God’s blessings, as we live on this earth. God is with us. And, we will live with Him in paradise. In our Epistle we read:"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”. But, at the same time, or until that time, Christ strengthens us through the power of His Holy Spirit to make it through life on earth. He gives us peace which surpasses all human understanding which brings God’s order to our lives of chaos and sin. Knowing Christ both saves eternally and is able to help all people, now, on earth.
We pray, “Lord help us to be awake, to watch, to hear, to know Christ draws near, so that we will share God is with us now and until Christ comes again.” And all of God’s people said, “Amen.”
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 4:48 PM
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