When God Draws Near: It Will Be Just Like He Said
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Just Like He Said
Peace Among Those With Whom He is Pleased
Marked by Jesus
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
-Luke 2:1-21
Just Like He Said
God drawing near will be just as he said it would be.
In the first advent, the Messiah would be:
Born of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6,7)
Of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:9-12)
In the town of Bethlehem
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
-Micah 5:2
It will be the same for us as for the shepherds. As we follow the instructions of the Lord, we will find Jesus in his second advent just as the messengers of Scripture have spoken about him - the resurrected King who makes his return to save those who are waiting for him in the world.
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “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. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
-Matthew 24:3-14,21-31
“Bible teaching about the Second Coming of Christ was thought of as “doomsday” preaching. But not anymore. It is the only ray of hope that shines as an ever brightening beam in a darkening world.”
-Billy Graham, Billy Graham in Quotes
Peace Among Those With Whom He is Pleased
Since this is our hope, we make it our ambition to please him in every way. We want God’s peace to be upon us as we are those with whom he is pleased. Faith is how we please him, demonstrated in obedience to his commands in all areas of life.
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
-John 14:21-24
Marked by Jesus
Your life needs to be marked by Jesus To live this way, you must make what is said about Jesus the treasure and meditation of your heart, just as it was Mary’s. Why don’t I have a heart to worship? I don’t need to procrastinate. I need to in haste, make moves towards God, lest my heart be hardened and dull. Can you imagine if the shepherd’s got this news and then stayed put where they were simply discussing Jesus’ birth?
True worship will be the result when you not only hear the good news about Christ, but in haste do everything in your power to meet with him, see him as he is. The shepherds had to make an effort to leave their daily affairs and go to the place where they could meet with Christ. Then you will go your way rejoicing like the shepherds did because you will experience that everything that was said about Jesus is true.
The Shepherds Became Marked by the Life of Jesus
There’s no getting around this reality - just as in any other relationship, the more you share this good news as the shepherds did, the more real in your life Christ becomes because you invite his life to define yours.
In many traditions, the fourth Sunday of Advent celebrates LOVE. In no greater way was this expressed in the fact that Jesus in his first Advent was literally born to die for the sins of the world - yours and mine.
“If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus' fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.”
-A.W. Tozer, Preparing for Jesus' Return: Daily Live the Blessed Hope
This Advent Season, let us take great confidence in the fact that the Second Coming of Christ will be just as the first was, as he said it would be. Therefore come to the cross in repentance and faith that you might live a life pleasing to him. Receive the great joy of his salvation that is for all the people. Let the worship of Jesus, this risen King, be upon your lips and mark your life forevermore.
Second City Church -When God Draws Near - Pastor Rollan Fisher 2019