From Beginning to End
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: From beginning to end, Jesus is the Savior and King who deserves all that we have to give.
An Epic Beginning
The Coming of the King
How it All Ends
An Epic Beginning
Jesus came to fulfill God’s promise of covenant nearness with supernatural origins.
In authoring salvation, Jesus came so that God could be near and present with us.
He is the everlasting God whose love never dies and our relationship with whom will have to know no end.
“Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose. If love is to be a blessing, not a misery, it must be for the only Beloved who will never pass away.”
-C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
In the gospel according to Matthew, the apostle gives us seven prophecies fulfilled in the first advent of Jesus - seven reasons to worship and praise the Lord.
God always has a plan - he is powerful to complete it.
Matthew 1:22-23 ESV
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).”
God chose to introduce Jesus through a preordained virgin birth - meaning he always has a plan that he is working to fulfill supernaturally.
Christ’s life, miracles, death on the cross, burial and resurrection paved the way for the Holy Spirit to forever be in us and to come on us in power.
God has unlimited resources from unexpected places to bring about that plan.
Matthew 2:5-6 ESV
“They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"”
Jesus drew near through humble beginnings and continues to give his grace to the humble today.
God knows what he is doing - even in the detours.
Matthew 2:14-15 ESV
“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."”
God’s plan of redemption comes with detours - you may have deviated from your plan but are not off of God’s path.
The Coming of the King
The prophetic fulfillment of Jesus’ birth meant there would be a new ruler in town who would need to be king of our hearts.
God allows trials to bring us to the end of ourselves and into the strength of Jesus.
Matthew 2:16-18 ESV
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."”
God means for trials to point us to Jesus that we might be comforted in our pain and given an eternal hope.
In what ways have you encountered challenging times but are reminded through the first advent of Jesus that God is in control?
God expects his word to us to be honored that we might fulfill his plan.
Matthew 2:22-23 ESV
“But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.”
When we look to God, he directs our steps to fulfill his plan in Jesus Christ, even down to the place we will live and the things we will do there.
God’s plan is for you to glorify Jesus with your life - pointing the way to him.
Matthew 3:1-3 ESV
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"”
God divinely arranges the right relationships for you to fulfill his will in Jesus.
God brings us into his blessed life through repentance and faith.
Matthew 4:13-17 ESV
“And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."”
God’s promise of hope was fulfilled in Jesus who would lead people through their repentance and faith into his kingdom.
“Addiction is giving up everything for one thing. Recovery is giving up one thing for everything.”
-Unknown
How it All Ends
In the end, when we realize all that Jesus is and all that he has done, the only proper response is to give him our all.
Revelation 5:9-12 ESV
“And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"”
To Jesus belongs:
Power
Wealth
Wisdom
Might
Honor
Glory
Blessing
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher