Advent Week Three—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Awesomeness, Our Awe | Windborn Church Blog

 

Advent Week Three—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Awesomeness, Our Awe | Windborn Church Blog

Loving Jesus in the busy Christmas season

As a child we have a love hate relationship with the anticipation of Christmas' arrival. We love the decorations and getting ready to throw the best birthday party we can for the birth the baby Jesus. Ah but it is so hard to wait, we hate buying presents for others while we have to wait to see what Santa is going to bring us.

When we become adults all of this simply turns into tasks to cross off a list during the busiest time of year. That is why it is always good to receive the corrective of a simple Jesus focus. In the midst of being Martha's will we find time to be Mary's? It is good to have parties but do we remember we are throwing them to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. It is good to buy presents but do we remember we give gifts because the Father gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son.

The Mosaic Study Bible lists a compilation of verses, from the three year church liturgy cycle, to focus us during this season on actively anticipating Jesus' coming. I love the flow of the readings from those in exile waiting for God's blessings to our current day sufferings and waiting for God to take us home! May these Scriptural readings bless you in your relationship with Jesus.

• Zephaniah 3.14-20
  
• Psalm 126
  
• 1 Thessalonians 6.12-24
  
• Luke 3.7-22
  
• John 16.5-15
  
• Romans 8.18-30
  

You might want to consider the following application questions as you meditate on God's word:

• Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?
  
• Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?
  
• Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?
  

Advent Week Two—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Grace, our Gratefulness

Theme's from Sunday:

• Jesus' grace enables us to walk in the Spirit and to be grateful.
  
• The nature of this child, the Son of God, being pre-existing God!
  
• The nature of Jesus' work: as lead by the Spirit, Jesus brings His justice among the nations.
  
• He calls us to Himself to provide rest through grace, we in turn call on Him (calling Him the wonderful names in Isaiah 9.6).
  
• Jesus as our High Priest listens to the Father and speaks to us, allowing us to walk/live by the Holy Spirit.
  

Corresponding passages to look up and study through the week:

• John 1.1-18—vs. 1 Jesus is eternal, He has always been; vs. 14, 16, & 17 Jesus came full of grace and truth.
  
• John 1.26-34—Jesus' baptism and anointing in the Holy Spirit.
  
• Isaiah 11.1-3a, 10—Spirit of the Lord on Jesus as He calls us to Himself.
  
• Isaiah 61.1-3 & Luke 4.14-21—Jesus' ministry bringing rest and healing.
  
• Exodus 29.42,43 & Hebrews 10.21—Jesus as our High Priest.
  

Remember, as you pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine your time in the Word:

• Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?
  
• Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?
  
• Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?
  

Prayer and Absolution

"You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy."

"God, the Father of mercies, has reconciled the world to himself through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, not counting our trespasses against us, but sending his Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love among us. By the ministry of reconciliation entrusted by Christ to his Church, receive his pardon and peace to stand before him in his strength alone, this day and evermore. Amen."

from Book of Common Prayer

Advent Week One—Isaiah 9.1-7 His Sovereignty, our Surrender

Theme’s from Sunday:

· In the midst of war and economic collapse: return to the Lord.

· Our God is a God of provision, stepping into our humanity to bring salvation and healing.

· He moves us from the darkness of our sins into His grace and light.

· With His sovereign military might, He can be trusted to handle our issues.

Corresponding passages to look up and study through the week:

· Isaiah 1—setting up the nature of Judah’s judgment.

· Isaiah 6—Isaiah’s calling.

· Isaiah 7—the sign of Immanuel, note that King Ahaz will not trust the Lord so Immanuel is actually a sign of judgment.

· John 12.37-50—Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and the context of Jesus’ ministry.

· Matthew 4.12-17—Jesus’ calling into His light with repentance.

Remember, as you pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine your time in the Word:

· Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?

· Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?

· Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?