Anticipating Christ: Hope, Prophecy, and Salvation

 

Summary

Advent is a season of anticipation and hope, as we reflect on the coming of Christ and look forward to His return. This time of year reminds us of the profound truth that Jesus came to earth to be our Savior, Redeemer, and the Ancient of Days. As we celebrate Christmas, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, whether they have heard it many times or are hearing it for the first time. This season is an opportunity to express the splendor and majesty of Christ's name and to live out the joy and hope that His coming brings.

The story of Jesus' birth is a testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant town, yet it was the birthplace of King David and ultimately, Jesus. This prophecy, along with others, highlights the miraculous nature of Christ's coming and the divine orchestration of events that led to His birth. The improbability of these prophecies being fulfilled should inspire awe and belief in the hearts of both skeptics and believers.

As we navigate the challenges and problems of life, we are reminded that Jesus is the answer to our deepest needs. He is our Shepherd, guiding us with strength and majesty. His name is above all names, and He offers us security and peace that surpasses worldly understanding. In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, Jesus provides eternal security and the promise of His presence with us.

This Christmas, let us reflect on who Jesus is to us personally. He is the fulfillment of God's promises, the embodiment of peace, and the hope of salvation. As we celebrate His birth, may we be inspired to share His love and message with others, extending the greatness of His name to the ends of the earth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Advent as a Season of Anticipation: Advent is a time to reflect on the coming of Christ and anticipate His return. It is a season of hope and joy, reminding us of the profound truth that Jesus came to be our Savior and Redeemer. As we celebrate, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with those around us. [38:09]

2. The Fulfillment of Prophecy: The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem fulfills ancient prophecies, demonstrating God's faithfulness and divine orchestration. The improbability of these prophecies being fulfilled should inspire awe and belief, encouraging both skeptics and believers to trust in God's promises. [52:31]

3. Jesus as Our Shepherd and Savior: Jesus is our Shepherd, guiding us with strength and majesty. He offers us security and peace that surpasses worldly understanding. In a world filled with turmoil, Jesus provides eternal security and the promise of His presence with us. [01:13:20]

4. The Significance of Bethlehem: Bethlehem, though seemingly insignificant, is the birthplace of both King David and Jesus. This highlights the miraculous nature of Christ's coming and the fulfillment of God's promises. The story of Jesus' birth is a testament to God's faithfulness. [01:03:38]

5. Embracing Jesus' Job Description: Jesus fulfills His messianic job description perfectly. He is our Shepherd, our strength, our majestic Savior, and our peace. As we reflect on who Jesus is to us, we are inspired to share His love and message with others, extending the greatness of His name. [01:19:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [16:01] - Recognizing Volunteers
- [38:09] - Advent Reflection
- [47:14] - Waiting for the Messiah
- [52:31] - Prophecy of Micah
- [53:48] - The Promise of Bethlehem
- [55:40] - Understanding Our Problems
- [57:46] - Cultural Practices and Faith
- [59:22] - Seeking God in Our Struggles
- [01:00:43] - The Promise of a Savior
- [01:03:38] - Significance of Bethlehem
- [01:06:11] - Prophecy Fulfilled
- [01:13:20] - Jesus' Job Description
- [01:19:37] - Jesus as Our Peace
- [01:24:04] - Invitation to Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Advent and the Coming of Christ

Bible Reading:
- Micah 5:1-5a

Observation Questions:
1. What does the prophecy in Micah 5:1-5a reveal about the origins and role of the Messiah? How does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on Jesus as our Shepherd and Savior? [53:48]
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of Bethlehem in the context of Jesus' birth and the fulfillment of prophecy? [01:03:38]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the challenges and problems that people face, and how is Jesus presented as the solution? [55:40]
4. What are the key elements of Jesus' "job description" as outlined in the sermon, and how do they relate to His role as the Messiah? [01:13:20]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' birth in Bethlehem challenge both skeptics and believers, according to the sermon? [52:31]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus provides security and peace that surpasses worldly understanding? How does this relate to the concept of Jesus as our Shepherd? [01:13:20]
3. How does the sermon interpret the significance of Jesus' name being above all names, and what implications does this have for believers today? [01:15:18]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of sharing the good news of Jesus during the Advent season, and how can this be practically applied in our lives? [38:09]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea of Advent as a season of anticipation and hope. How can you personally prepare your heart for the coming of Christ this season? [38:09]
2. The sermon highlights the improbability of the prophecies being fulfilled. How does this impact your faith, and how can you use this understanding to engage with skeptics in your life? [52:31]
3. Consider the challenges you are currently facing. How can you turn to Jesus as your Shepherd and Savior to find peace and security amidst these challenges? [55:40]
4. The sermon emphasizes the significance of Bethlehem. How can you find meaning in seemingly insignificant aspects of your life, knowing that God can use them for His purposes? [01:03:38]
5. Jesus' job description includes being our peace. Identify an area in your life where you need His peace. What steps can you take to invite His presence into that situation? [01:19:37]
6. How can you actively share the message of Jesus' birth and His role as Savior with those around you this Christmas season? What specific actions can you take to extend the greatness of His name? [38:09]
7. Reflect on who Jesus is to you personally. How does this understanding inspire you to live out your faith and share His love with others? [01:13:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Advent as a Time of Hopeful Anticipation
Advent is a season that invites believers to reflect on the coming of Christ and to anticipate His return with hope and joy. This period is not just about looking back at the historical event of Jesus' birth but also about looking forward to His promised return. It is a time to remember that Jesus came to be our Savior and Redeemer, bringing profound truth and transformation into our lives. As we celebrate this season, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, whether they are hearing it for the first time or have heard it many times before. This sharing is an expression of the joy and hope that His coming brings, encouraging us to live out the splendor and majesty of Christ's name. [38:09]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus this Advent season, and how can you share it with them in a meaningful way?


Day 2: The Miraculous Fulfillment of Prophecy
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, a town that seemed insignificant at the time. Yet, it was the birthplace of King David and ultimately, Jesus. This prophecy, along with others, highlights the miraculous nature of Christ's coming and the divine orchestration of events that led to His birth. The improbability of these prophecies being fulfilled should inspire awe and belief in the hearts of both skeptics and believers, encouraging them to trust in God's promises and His divine plan. [52:31]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to believe, and how can the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' birth encourage you to trust in that promise today?


Day 3: Jesus as Our Shepherd and Savior
In the midst of life's challenges and uncertainties, Jesus stands as our Shepherd, guiding us with strength and majesty. His name is above all names, offering us security and peace that surpasses worldly understanding. In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, Jesus provides eternal security and the promise of His presence with us. He is the answer to our deepest needs, offering a peace that the world cannot give. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are reminded that Jesus is our Shepherd and Savior, leading us with love and grace. [01:13:20]

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them." (John 10:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust Jesus as your Shepherd, and how can you actively seek His guidance and peace today?


Day 4: The Significance of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, though seemingly insignificant, holds great significance as the birthplace of both King David and Jesus. This highlights the miraculous nature of Christ's coming and the fulfillment of God's promises. The story of Jesus' birth is a testament to God's faithfulness and His ability to bring about His divine plan through unexpected means. Bethlehem serves as a reminder that God often works through the humble and the overlooked, bringing about His purposes in ways that defy human expectations. [01:03:38]

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can the story of Bethlehem encourage you to see God's hand at work in the seemingly insignificant areas of your life?


Day 5: Embracing Jesus' Job Description
Jesus perfectly fulfills His messianic job description as our Shepherd, our strength, our majestic Savior, and our peace. As we reflect on who Jesus is to us personally, we are inspired to share His love and message with others, extending the greatness of His name to the ends of the earth. This Christmas, let us reflect on the fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus and the hope of salvation He brings. May we be inspired to live out the joy and hope of His coming, sharing His love and message with those around us. [01:19:37]

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

Reflection: What aspect of Jesus' character do you need to embrace more fully in your life, and how can you share that aspect of His love with someone else today?

Quotes



Advent is an awesome time of year. It's a time where we issue in the coming of Christ. And as Christians, we're actually still in this Advent season, desiring Christ to come back. Everybody with me on that? You know, sometimes I'm ready for him to come. So I can pray, Maranatha, come, Lord, come quickly, and hope that he does come. [00:14:32]

Lord, through the cradle to the cross, you came to this earth to be our Savior, to be the Redeemer. To be the Ancient of Days, to be the one that would come to set your people free. Lord, may we celebrate. May we celebrate that this Christmas season as a church. May we express that to people that we know and we love, that may have heard it a thousand times, or may never have heard it. [00:15:16]

We adore you and we do love you. Lord, may we exalt you high in our lives this season. And may we call upon your name. And may we share the name of Jesus, the name above all names. Lord, we are so grateful that we have the privilege to live as New Testament believers. We know that Christ has come. We get to experience that salvation. [00:38:14]

The second appearing, that glorious day, then you will come back for us. And Lord, until then, may we be faithful to your cause. May we be faithful to the gospel. May we learn this season from the shepherds. May we learn from the prophets of old. May we learn from the witness of Mary and Joseph. May we learn from the angels that Christ has come. [00:38:55]

The fulfillment of this text let alone if I was to predict that a messiah would come in the one place called Bethlehem the smallest of all the clans of Judah insignificant the most insignificant thing you could ever think of that the messiah would come from this place called Bethlehem and that I would talk about I would create a messianic job description and this one named Jesus would fulfill all of those things. [00:47:14]

In this text in Micah 5, we're going to read 1 through 5a today. That's the first part of the text in 5. I'll explain why in a little bit. But this Messiah would come. He would rise up. He is the ancient of days. He would come from antiquity. He would come from the ancient of times. This would be a prophecy that would come long before where he would talk about, Micah will, about a Messiah that would come that would shepherd his people. [00:51:45]

Now, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah, but one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from the ancient times. Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. Then the rest of the rulers brothers will return to the people of Israel. [00:54:13]

He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God, they will live securely. For then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth, and he will be their peace. May God add a blessing to his holy word. As we look at this, I have four points today. The first one is everybody's got a problem. They had a problem. [00:54:35]

The promise was of Bethlehem. Now, Bethlehem, it says, the smallest of clans in Judah, but yet one will come to rule over Israel. Now, someone that heard this from Micah would have said, wait a minute, we already have a king. They would have already thought, wait a minute, we already have a ruler. But God, through Micah, is talking about something bigger. [01:00:58]

The Messiah's mother is predicted here that she will give birth to the Messiah and he will come through Bethlehem and he will rule his people, even though I may abandon them for a short time. The mother of the messianic ruler, I believe, is mentioned right here in this text. Isaiah 7 .4 says something very similar. 7 .14. It says, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. [01:08:31]

Jesus is the strength of the Lord. Jesus is the most majestic name. Jesus is our savior. Jesus is the greatness of his name will go to the ends of the earth through the gospel of the good news. And Jesus is the strength of the Lord. Jesus is the strength of the Lord. He is our peace. If you know Jesus, you know he's got this job description. And you know what? He's never failed. [01:19:48]

This God that Micah predicted would come has come into our lives. And if you receive him into your life, he becomes the savior and Lord of your life. And I pray this Christmas, if you don't know that, you will come to know that. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, as we draw to a close today and we think of this text from Micah long ago, Lord, may we bring our problems to you. [01:21:35]

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Transcript
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