Are you looking forward to Christmas?

Sermons Archive - Greenview Church

Inside, when we see that first Christmas tune on the radio, or the advert on TV, nowadays it’s much made of, the John Lewis advert, we all wait to see what that’s got to do, or hear Driving Home for Christmas. All of these things create some notion in our heads, don’t they? Our towns and villages make a big deal of switching on the Christmas lights, don’t they? Clarkston had it in the middle of November, but that’s a sign of the times, isn’t it? Our cities have Christmas markets, our shops are lined with lights, and you might even hear the Salvation Army band apear playing well-known Christmas carols. Yet it’s also the one time of the year, isn’t it, that draws the vast majority of people together.

(0:40 – 0:52)

All families meet, share gifts, play together, fall out. Christmas is certainly unique, isn’t it? There’s no other time of year like it. It’s set apart from all the other events.

(0:52 – 0:57)

We know it’s coming. The anticipation is building. Children are getting more and more excited.

(0:58 – 1:12)

Yet maybe you, on the other hand, are thinking, oh no, not again. Well, a couple of weeks in Sunday school, we thought about that question. What was it that made Christmas truly amazing? And you can imagine the answers that the children gave.

(1:13 – 1:32)

Yet we also just looked at the other angle, where Christmas can just become part of the tradition, part of the routine. And the thought of, let’s forget it this year, might even be a real consideration for some. Certainly the idea of our house becoming more full of stuff, when we’ve still got the stuff from last Christmas and the stuff from Christmas before.

(1:33 – 1:45)

Busy shops, queuing at the till, the pressure to make it perfect. Perhaps then there is the risk that the anticipation of Christmas isn’t as palpable as it once was. Or simply it’s just not what it used to be.

(1:45 – 1:56)

It evokes bad memories, hard memories. It’d be better if it just came and gone. Yet, wherever we stand, whatever our thoughts, there is a truth about it we cannot forget.

(1:57 – 2:10)

A truth that when all is said and done, is truly amazing. And my hope is that by the time we finish tonight, this question might have a different perspective in your head. If it is that, oh no, not again.

(2:11 – 2:27)

When we strip all away, what it means to the world, the tradition, the presents, the lights, the food, the memories, at the centre of it all is a person. And we know that in our heads. But the truth is, this person is God incarnate.

(2:28 – 2:41)

One who was born into the world with a specific purpose. A purpose that defines the very essence of human history. And in our Sunday school class, we looked at what other events could match the birth of Christ.

(2:42 – 3:12)

We thought about the man on the moon, the world wars, the rise and fall of empires and civilisations, the greatest inventions, whatever it may be, but well, the birth of Jesus was just unlike any other. And for those around at the time, it was met with anticipation and wonder for some, and surprise and denial in terms of who Jesus was for many others. Now, as we approach another Christmas, the world may give the birth of Christ a cursory mention, if at all.

(3:13 – 3:41)

But if you’re here tonight and you’re a Bible believing, born again Christian who has your eternal hope, dependent on his divine nature and redeeming purpose, being all that the Bible has taught it to be, then it needs to be more than mere tradition. Now, tonight we’re going to look at a few different passages. So it’d be good if you’ve got your Bibles there to remind ourselves of the magnificence of the timing and wonder of Christ coming into the world.

(3:42 – 4:06)

Yeah, I also want to take this up a level and then think about the timing and wonder and anticipation that that wasn’t just a one-time event. He is coming back again. And so we too today, as we sit here, are actually anticipating what you could call a second Christmas, but is Christ coming again for us? And as Christians, that’s where our gaze ultimately must land.

(4:07 – 4:36)

In the middle of all that might take place, I hope tonight we can just take our eyes above the today and think about the fact that we are approaching and anticipating the day Christ returns once more. Our first passage we’re going to look at to just remind ourselves of how amazing the timing of God’s, of Christ’s first incarnation was is Galatians chapter four and verse four. Galatians chapter four and verse four.

(4:41 – 5:06)

So it reads as this. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out, Abba, Father.

(5:06 – 5:27)

So you no longer are a slave, but God’s child. And since you are his child, God has also made you an heir. Now ever since the fall and the first promise of a redeemer back in Genesis three, the coming of Christ has been on a countdown through the generations of the Old Testament.

(5:28 – 5:57)

We can go to familiar passages we know in our heads in the prophets that remind us of this, chapters seven and nine of Isaiah and Micah five. But this verse in Galatians captures pretty much everything of what we need to know about the birth of Christ, the timing, the how, the why, the outcome, and our response. When you look at it, it begins with an unambiguous statement when the set time had fully come or when the fullness of time had come.

(5:59 – 6:07)

You really need to think about this. There is no day early or day late about the birth of Christ. It was planned to the minute from eternity past.

(6:08 – 6:36)

And I’m sure there’s times in your life that despite your best efforts to be on time, and Elizabeth would testify, I thought I was going to be late tonight and I was pretty anxious to get here on time and it wouldn’t have gone well for this topic, it just doesn’t happen. Especially if you’ve been a family trying to go to the door on a Sunday morning, especially. And we can all think of course of key events in our lives that have required much planning, a wedding perhaps, a special birthday, a holiday.

(6:37 – 7:02)

But all of this can’t compare to the reality of trying to plan an event as unpredictable as the birth of a baby. Of course, nowadays, just in our level, elective surgery can help with that, of course, but in the natural scheme of things, it’s impossible. Despite the best guess of the medical world, there is still even today in the 21st century part of the process that can’t be planned.

(7:03 – 7:41)

Yet to take this up a level, to plan the birth of a baby at the right time in history, in the right circumstances, in the right town, to the right mother, together with all the other dependencies such as the right people around who will unknowingly become part of this wider narrative, it’s very much our inability or capacity to comprehend. But the next word in our verse explains why this is entirely possible, because of the one who orchestrates it all, God. Now, we know from elsewhere in the Bible that nothing is impossible with God.

(7:42 – 8:06)

We also know of his sovereign hand over time. Psalm 113 reminds us that the Lord is high above the heavens, all the glory above. Who is like the Lord our God who is seated on high, who looks far down from the heavens and the earth? Isaiah 40 verse 28 says, have you not known, have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator from the ends of the earth.

(8:07 – 8:23)

He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. The birth of Christ into humanity and all the dependencies that went with it was divinely ordered by the one who holds the whole universe in his hands.

(8:24 – 9:17)

Now, as we have started to consider in our morning services, the genealogy of Christ highlights this to us, that with every generation that passed leading to the birth of Christ, if it was left to human wisdom, it could easily have gone astray. And we saw this, didn’t we, in Genesis 16, when Abraham took matters into his own hands in an attempt to fulfil the promise of God to have a son, an act that has caused much division even to this day. Yet let’s think of even the movement of people needed throughout those generations to ensure that the perfect combination of people of family units to give rise to each next generation after that, and even to provide the means by which a young girl and her betrothed would journey to the town of Bethlehem through the means of a government census, all working together to fulfil the word of the prophets from ages past as directed by God.

(9:18 – 9:49)

Of all the miraculous events in the Bible, the order and timing of the birth of Christ has to be one, if not the most meticulous, undeniable, and wonderful events in all of human history. Yet as Paul records here, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. There was always a purpose to the incarnation of Christ.

(9:50 – 10:18)

The great plan of salvation since time began to provide a way that sinful humanity could be reconciled to God, and not just reconciled as a friend, but brought into his family as adopted sons and daughters. Christmas does not have its origins in a random event of will, of human will, or planning. Humanity was merely the means by which God was going to fulfil his purposes in Christ.

(10:19 – 10:56)

But every aspect, from the birth to death to the resurrection of the Lord, and the whole story of history to get there, was under the sovereign ordaining and timing of God Almighty and it was all for our blessing. Given we’ve thought about the timing of the God of Christ’s incarnation, what about the anticipation of it? We mentioned it or heard about it a little bit this morning, didn’t we? There was great anticipation surrounding the birth of Christ. The dictionary says anticipation is a state of expectation or hope.

(10:57 – 11:17)

And Christmas, as we know it today, is anticipated by millions of people across the world. When else do children or even adults peel back a cardboard door, pierce through some foil to reveal a chocolate, which they then eat and do for 24 days in a row? It seems crazy, but there’s a reason behind it. We love a countdown.

(11:18 – 11:41)

Our theme of our morning services is a countdown. Whether it’s counting from 10, the launch of a rocket into space, scoring off the days of the calendar to our birthday, or if you’re into football, watching every second that’s left of a football match to see if a final goal can be slipped in. Sometimes the buildup can be better than the event itself, but not so here.

(11:43 – 12:00)

To remind ourselves, let’s turn to Luke chapter two. And in Luke chapter two, I’m going to read of two moments where there was real anticipation surrounding the birth of the Lord. And again, the best way is just trying to put yourself in these people’s shoes.

(12:01 – 12:17)

Luke chapter two, verse eight. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

(12:18 – 12:30)

But the angel said to them, do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.

(12:31 – 12:48)

This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favour rests.

(12:49 – 13:10)

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what they had been told about this child.

(13:10 – 13:27)

And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(13:29 – 13:48)

The shepherds were the first witnesses to the birth of Christ. And they were informed of what had taken place in the most spectacular way. There was no innkeeper running up the hill to find a group of men with which to celebrate the birth of a baby to a young mom who wasn’t married, who had appeared from nowhere and were camped out at the back of his building.

(13:49 – 14:06)

No, there wasn’t another human being involved in telling the shepherds about the birth of Christ. Rather, the message came straight from God himself. An angel of the Lord appeared on a hill where they were working, out of the darkness, surrounded by an unimaginable light.

(14:07 – 14:33)

I think you have to try and place yourself in their shoes. And the only example I can think of was when back in May, as some of us did at the time as well, I stood on top of Eagleshore Moor, peering into the darkness, and all of a sudden I turned round with the help of a phone, shining down from the heavens were colours of purple, blue, pink, and green, as if God had peeled back the door of glory to let the light shine down. But for the shepherds, it was even more startling than that.

(14:33 – 14:50)

So much so, they were filled with fear. A heavenly being in the glory of God was before them. And the message that the angel pronounced to these chosen men was the culmination of hundreds of years of anticipation and prophecy, wondering if the day would ever come.

(14:51 – 15:05)

The angel declares, good news of great joy will be for all people. Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, Christ the Lord. There was no greater news that these men could have heard that day.

(15:05 – 15:30)

We’re not even sure, we’re not sure if they followed Jewish tradition and were expecting the Messiah, but nevertheless, the message he received was unlike any other. And not only that, as if one angel wasn’t enough, a multitude of angels appeared to echo the message that the fullness of time had come. A whole of history was at this moment, had reached this point, and the angels wanted the shepherds to know about it.

(15:30 – 15:47)

The peace of God that the world needed since the moment it was interrupted in the garden was going to be possible. Its reality had arrived. Filled with anticipation, the shepherds immediately made the decision to go to Bethlehem and see this thing that had happened.

(15:49 – 16:09)

They had been chosen by God to witness that the whole of time was building up to. They didn’t wait, nor discuss if it had been a dream, but went with haste where the baby lay. When they saw the Lord, they explained to Mary and Joseph what had happened on the hill, replaying all that the angels had said and sang.

(16:09 – 16:15)

The word spread. Everyone was wondering what on earth the shepherds were talking about. It was just a baby, surely.

(16:15 – 16:32)

But no, Mary knew what they were talking about. She remembered the angel that met with her nine months earlier, that she would have a child who would be the Son of God. Mary knew the shepherds like her had been chosen to be part of a narrative that was the incarnation of Christ.

(16:34 – 16:49)

The outcome for the shepherds was to praise and glorify God for all they had heard and seen. Everything they had been told by the angels was true, and they’re able to see it with their own eyes. The world is anticipating Christmas.

(16:49 – 17:05)

The countdown has begun. But when it arrives, many will miss the point. Families may enjoy each other’s companies, gifts may be shared, but in reality, it may be for most like the shepherds heeding that a Redeemer has come, and then just getting back to feed the sheep.

(17:06 – 17:31)

Are you like the shepherds tonight, looking forward to Christmas, anticipating it? Not because of the view of the world that’s got on it, but because of the reality that without it, we would have no Saviour and no hope in the world. Let’s look secondly at somebody else who was anticipating Christmas, but in a different way. Let’s look at verse 25 of chapter two.

(17:32 – 17:46)

Verse 25. There was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

(17:46 – 18:19)

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

(18:20 – 18:35)

The child’s father and mother marvelled at what he said about them. Now we don’t know much about Simeon, except that he was a Jew. He believed in God, and he believed that one day he would send a Redeemer to rescue and comfort his people.

(18:36 – 19:03)

He was waiting patiently, these verses speak of, anticipating it, eagerly, as we read in verse 25. And like Mary and the shepherds before him, he had a special revelation from God that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah with his own eyes. And 40 days after his birth, Mary and Joseph brought their baby into the temple to be consecrated by God, or to God, as the firstborn of Mary.

(19:04 – 19:23)

And this was following the law of Moses as a reminder of the redemption that the Lord provided the people of Israel by rescuing them from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. Yet this moment was significant for Simeon, as the Holy Spirit powerfully came upon him. And in lifting up the child, it was revealed to Simeon that this was the Christ.

(19:24 – 19:39)

The child that was being dedicated to God was, in fact, the Redeemer himself, not just for Jews, but for Gentile, too. There was no ambiguity. His eyes were beholding the salvation that God had prepared since eternity past.

(19:40 – 20:00)

Yet this moment was one that Simeon was anticipating for many years. He knew it would happen at some point, but didn’t know when. What a joy for him to go one day into the temple, and it was on that day that a whole of time was gearing up to that he would meet Christ, a fulfilment of all that God had promised him.

(20:01 – 20:31)

Whether it was the shepherds on the hillside, Simeon in the temple, even the wise men following the star towards Bethlehem, or Mary rejoicing at being chosen for such a blessed duty, the birth of Christ was surrounded by anticipation at what was taking place. And for each, their involvement in the incarnation didn’t come out of the blue. Their involvement was predestined, orchestrated by God for the moment they would play their part in the greatest event in all of human history.

(20:32 – 20:58)

From the moment they were aware of the coming of the Lord, they were filled with anticipation. Now, are you looking forward to Christmas? Well, for you and I, whilst we are thousands of years on from this moment, Christmas gives us a time to once again reflect on the majesty of the incarnation, the timing, the anticipation that surrounded it. And that’s an important thing to remember.

(20:58 – 21:08)

But there’s more to it than that. The Bible teaches that the Lord’s coming again. That was not a one-off event in those days we read about.

(21:08 – 21:15)

He is coming again. Let’s turn to John chapter 14. John chapter 14, verse one.

(21:20 – 21:30)

John chapter 14, verse one. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

(21:31 – 21:49)

My father’s house has many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. Now, these are familiar verses to us.

(21:50 – 22:09)

The Lord is about to fulfil his ultimate purpose by going to the cross. And his words of comfort to his disciples set out not that only he’ll be departing from them, but he’ll be coming back again. They didn’t really understand what the Lord was saying, but he was stating clearly that his leaving was not the end, nor would it be for them.

(22:10 – 22:20)

His return to glory would lead to a day when they too would also join him there. Let’s turn to Matthew chapter 24. Matthew 24.

(22:23 – 22:37)

Matthew 24, verse 29. Having promised these things, this is what we read of the timing of the Lord’s second coming. Verse 29 of Matthew chapter 24.

(22:38 – 22:51)

Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the son of man in heaven.

(22:52 – 23:10)

Then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of the heavens to the other. Verse 36.

(23:11 – 23:26)

But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the son, but only the father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the coming of the son of man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.

(23:27 – 23:39)

Up to the day Noah entered the ark and they knew nothing about it, what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man. Two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other left.

(23:40 – 24:00)

Two women will be grinding of the hand mill, one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Now you’ll be glad maybe that I’m not going to get into the intricacies of the end times tonight, but suffice to say, these verses are quite clear in what they describe.

(24:01 – 24:21)

There will be a day, a day that is not known to any, but God himself when the Lord will return again. This time not to die, but to conclude in the final act of salvation by bringing together all of his people who have been redeemed by his blood on the cross. It will be sudden as we read.

(24:21 – 24:36)

People will be unaware, going about their daily jobs and in a moment the Lord will return and take his beloved. The timing of the incarnation as we read was unknown, yet known to God. It had been planned since eternity past.

(24:37 – 24:48)

The sovereign God had ordained the exact moment when Christ would enter time and space. Prophets had prepared for his coming for hundreds of years. It was promised long ago and the day did come.

(24:49 – 25:01)

God had ordained it. There was no doubt it would happen, but for you and I here today, we’re in the exact same position and we need to understand this. The timing of the Lord’s return is also unknown, yet known to God.

(25:02 – 25:22)

It has been planned since eternity past. The sovereign God ordained the exact moment when Christ will enter time once more. We have the prophecy of God in our hands telling us of this fact and just like the fulfilment of the incarnation came to be, so too will the fulfilment of the Lord’s coming again come to pass.

(25:23 – 25:50)

We like those who were told of the Messiah all those years ago are in the same position now in 2024. We are part of his story, part of the revelation of God. When we reflect on how the birth of Christ came about, angels visiting Joseph, Mary and the shepherds, all to prepare them to meet the Son of God, the angels will visit once again, this time to bring you if you have trusted in Christ to meet the same Son of God.

(25:51 – 26:07)

A place has already been prepared for you, the Lord has told us this, it’s there in glory. The time that you will enter it has already been decided. It may be when the Lord comes or before, but these truths have a solid foundation in the promise of God, just like the first incarnation.

(26:08 – 26:54)

Over the course of the next couple of weeks as we read the account of the Lord’s birth once again, and the preparation of God throughout the ages to bring his creation to that point, reflect on the wonder of how you are part of the leads up to his coming again. But this time, unlike the shepherds, the wise men and others who witnessed these events and returned to their lives, changed of course, when the Lord comes again, not only will you witness it firsthand, but as sons and daughters of God, you will forever be part of the kingdom of God, changed from glory into glory, taking your place in his presence. See, the Christmas narrative is more than replaying the birth of Christ to us, but a reminder that he is coming again.

(26:56 – 27:23)

But the title of this talk was, are you looking forward to Christmas? And the reason was because it’s easy to get sidetracked by the hustle and bustle of what it means to the world and get lost in the true significance of it. Yet as Christians, we need to take a step back and remind ourselves of what it truly points to, the birth of the son of God into time for the sole purposes of redeeming his people. And if you have trusted in Christ as your saviour, that means you.

(27:24 – 28:09)

We looked at the anticipation that surrounded the birth of the Lord, how the shepherds ran to the manger where he lay, how Simeon, who had waited patiently for years for the moment he would meet the Messiah, to do so finally one day out of the blue when a young couple brought their baby into the temple to be dedicated, the timing of the Lord’s birth was perfect, predestined, forever planned. And we’ve just reminded ourself that the Lord will come and that timing is also perfect, predestined, forever planned. But I want us to end not with the question, are you looking forward to Christmas? But are you looking forward to the day when the Lord comes again for you? It’s all so easy, and we all do it to forget that we are in a moment of time.

(28:10 – 28:47)

Yet just like the people we read about in the Bible, you being alive here on this day, in this moment, you’re part of the story that is building up to the day when Christ comes again, back into time, not to die, but to take you home. Are you looking forward to that day? Are you anticipating it, just like those we read of were anticipating the birth of the Lord? Well, let’s read a few verses, starting where we finished earlier, Matthew 24, verse 43. But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch, and would not let his house be broken into.

(28:47 – 29:09)

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. The message here is to be ready, be prepared to look for it, anticipate it. If we turn to James chapter five and verse seven, James chapter five and verse seven says these things.

(29:10 – 29:28)

Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

(29:29 – 29:49)

Simeon waited patiently for the day he would see the Lord. And the message of God to you tonight is to be of the same mind, to wait patiently for the coming of Christ once more. And how do we do that? Well, we’ll have a look at 2 Peter chapter three, if you want to, verse eight, 2 Peter three, verse eight.

(29:49 – 30:01)

But do not forget this, this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowless.

(30:02 – 30:18)

Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

(30:19 – 30:43)

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God, and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in heat. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.

(30:44 – 31:16)

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. Sometimes it’s hard for us to be patient about the small things in life, but these verses solemnly remind us about the promise, absolute promise of God, is that these things will come to pass, and when they do, they will kick off the most dramatic events that will take you to be with your Lord, God, and Saviour. It’s not Christmas we’re ultimately looking forward to.

(31:16 – 31:35)

No, it’s so much more. We’re looking forward to his coming again, but yet we have to do it with patience. Yet the challenge here is the very fact that these verses ask us to be patient would signify that we are, in fact, anticipating it, that we can’t wait for it, that we’re counting down the days when it will be here.

(31:36 – 32:06)

Whether it’s 24 days, 240 days, or years, there’s an expectation here that we are looking forward to it. But are we? Is this world our be-all and end-all? If it is, lift your eyes to the heavens for as just as we have read, this world is passing away. But according to the promise of God, as sure as the promise since creation that a Redeemer would come, the promise today is that these events will come to pass.

(32:07 – 32:23)

There will be a new heaven, a new earth, not one where sin and death reign, but no where righteousness will dwell forever. And we can take great comfort from the fact that the Lord has everything ordered and planned. Even your life and your part in history.

(32:24 – 32:49)

It really struck me as I read these, about those people who were part of the incarnation, and the fact that the whole of history, even the families had to be born, was ordained by God Almighty to take place exactly as it did. And for me, this means my life, your life, is also ordained by God. That whilst you’re not part of the incarnation, you’re very much part of the build-up to the day that He will return in glory.

(32:50 – 33:21)

But be assured, one day you will truly witness with angels descending, Jesus Christ in all His glory. The ask of God is therefore, since you’re waiting for these things, to be diligent to be found by Him, without spot or blemish, and that be at peace. Let the Holy Spirit work in you, to do His will, to purify you from sin, but significantly in a world of turmoil and much uncertainty, even in our own lives, to be at peace.

(33:22 – 33:42)

The peace of God is already your portion by the blood of the cross. You have nothing to fear of those last days, but just as the Lord reminded His disciples, let not your hearts be troubled, for He has gone to prepare a place for you. But even today, as we navigate through life, God asks us to be at peace.

(33:42 – 33:54)

He has you in the palm of His hand. He will uphold you. Second Thessalonians, sorry, First Thessalonians chapter five, verse 23, says these things.

(33:57 – 34:11)

Chapter five, verse 23. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(34:12 – 34:32)

The one who calls you is faithful, He will do it. He will do it. Are you looking forward to it? Let’s pray. Father God, we come before you, and we thank you for just reminding us of the timing of the birth of Christ, the anticipation that surrounded it.

(34:33 – 34:57)

And yet, Lord, we reflect on the timing of the Lord’s coming again, and the anticipation that should fill our hearts, Lord, for that day. We can get so caught up in everything that’s going on in this world, so caught up in preparing for Christmas. And whilst these things are good in themselves, Lord, we pray that each of our hearts will take a moment to reflect on the fact that we are anticipating.

(34:58 – 35:13)

Like Simeon, we are waiting patiently for you coming again. Father, we thank you so much that our lives are divinely ordained, just like those people we’ve read of. Every moment, every second, you know about.

(35:14 – 35:43)

It’s all leading up to the day, Lord, that we will see you again in glory. Father God, thank you for these things, for reminding us of these things. And Father, in some way, just let your spirit fill our hearts with this so that we go from here with a renewed sense of our purpose in this world, to tell others of Christ so that they too can be part of this family of God, anticipating, waiting patiently, looking for, eagerly, the coming again of Christ.

(35:44 – 35:48)

So Father, we thank you for these things in Jesus’ precious name, amen.

The post Are you looking forward to Christmas? appeared first on Greenview Church.