Its Christmas Time!
Isaiah 9.1-7
I was coming out of a restaurant on Main Street last weekend with my granddaughter, Emma. The Christmas decorations were all up. She said to me, “Look at this Poppa! The Christmas decorations are all up and it isn’t even Christmas yet!”
Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is the shopping season “officially”. I went by Best Buys and Toys R Us Thanksgiving evening and saw the huge lines. These next four Sundays are what has become known in the church as Advent, the time of commemorating the waiting for Jesus to come the first time. On this first Sunday of Advent we see in Isaiah’s prophecy that:
1. Christmas Time is a Time of Light v.2
The world when Jesus was born was very dark.
There hadn’t been a Word uttered by God for 400 years. Four centuries of waiting from the last words of the Old Testament until Jesus was born.
There was widespread sin and the oppression.
There was a sense of hope but it was dim.
We see two people in Luke’s account who were waiting. Luke 2.25-38 Simeon and Anna. We wait for Jesus to come while we watch Him work.
Christmas is a time of Light And Life.
Paramedic Jane who brought the baby back from death two weeks ago.
2. Christmas Time is A Time of Joy v.3
Joy to the world!
Listen to these words of the prophet. They were given to people who had seen a lot of pain and suffering. Northern Galilee had seen its share of war and the ravages of it.
This is a time of great depression today.
People who lost loved ones feel deep pain
People separated from family hurt.
People facing financial problems feel bad.
All these and more were part of the lives Isaiah was speaking this originally to. Yet when times are tough, God speaks of the hope of joy coming.
3. Christmas Time is a Time of Peace v.4-5
We are told He is the Prince of Peace. He is our peace. It is not an absence of war as horrible as war is and it is horrible! My friend Rudy is involved with an organization which assists families who have lost loved ones in battle and those who have loved ones who are severely injured. He spoke of some of them to me this week. God bless them.
Jesus is speaking about a peace within. Peace in our hearts and mind that as we spoke of last week transcends all understanding.
Jesus came so He could become our Peace!
4. Christmas Time is a Time to Celebrate Christ Jesus’ Birth v.6-7
Its sad many don’t know what it means but we do! Let’s celebrate! Put up the decorations, write Christmas Cards - do something outrageous! Give, love worship! The Magi traveled many miles to worship Him. When they found Him it was a celebration! This where we get our gift giving idea and it is a good one. Warm the hearts of loved ones and people you care about by doing something wonderful for them! It doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. It can be though!
5. Christmas Time is a Wonderful Time to think about Who He is! v.6b
He is the Wonderful Counselor! Sometimes He can help us with a one word answer like “Wait”
He is the Mighty God! He can do anything and nothing is too difficult for Him!
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He is the Everlasting Father. We all need fathers and the LORD is our Forever Father.
He is the Prince of Peace.
Basic things this morning. Things we know but how we need to have our minds refreshed and our hearts stirred over these truths of Christmas. We need to keep these truths close to our hearts. The enemy is very subtle when it comes to these things and stealing them from our lives. People feel overwhelmed at this time of the year. Most miss the true meaning of the season. Don’t let this happen to you. Christmas is a celebration for us!
LORD, may this Christmas our hearts be focused on You. May we remember that You came and why You came. May we worship You!
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