Embracing God's Promises: Trust and Worship This Christmas

 

Summary

Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on the profound truth that God is not distant but close, having given His Son to demonstrate His love and character to us. Amidst the busyness of the season—baking, decorating, and gift-buying—it's crucial to remember the essence of Christmas: God's gift of Himself to humanity. This season invites us to experience God's love, which drives out fear, removes shame, and empowers us to live joyfully and confidently. As we gather for worship, we are reminded that our faith is not a mere religious activity but a response to God's demonstrated love through Jesus Christ.

The narrative of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1 illustrates how God works through ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary plans. Despite their personal heartbreak and longing for a child, they remained faithful, demonstrating that commitment to God is not contingent on experiencing His blessings. Their story encourages us to trust in God's timing and purposes, even when He seems silent. The silence of God does not equate to His absence; rather, it is often a prelude to His profound work in our lives and the world.

The 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments remind us that God's promises are fulfilled in His time. The arrival of John the Baptist, as foretold in Malachi, broke this silence, preparing the way for Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. Jesus embodies the roles of prophet, priest, and king, bringing God's word, interceding for us, and reigning with authority. In times of silence or doubt, we are called to look for Jesus, who is the center of God's activity in history and in our lives.

As we celebrate Christmas, we are invited to surrender our will to God's priorities and our anticipation to His timing. God does not give us anything that won't make us more like Jesus, nor does He withhold anything that would thwart His purposes. Our peace and hope come from trusting in God's control and love, regardless of our circumstances. This Christmas, let us worship with the assurance that God is working, whether we see it or not, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Nearness in Christmas: Christmas is a reminder of God's closeness, having given His Son to reveal His love and character. This season invites us to experience God's love, which dispels fear and shame, empowering us to live joyfully. [02:30]

2. Faithfulness Amid Silence: Zechariah and Elizabeth's story teaches us that faithfulness to God is not dependent on experiencing His blessings. Even in silence, God is working, and His promises are fulfilled in His time. [36:10]

3. Jesus as Fulfillment: The 400 years of silence between the Testaments highlight that God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus, who embodies the roles of prophet, priest, and king. In times of doubt, we are called to look for Jesus, the center of God's activity. [47:48]

4. Surrendering to God's Timing: We are invited to surrender our will to God's priorities and our anticipation to His timing. God does not give or withhold anything that would hinder His purposes, and our peace comes from trusting in His control and love. [53:28]

5. Worship in Trust: Our worship should not be threatened by God's silence. Instead, we are called to trust that God is working, whether we see it or not, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. [01:04:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:30] - The Essence of Christmas
- [30:16] - Invitation to Worship
- [32:33] - Christmas Eve Services
- [36:10] - Faithfulness Amid Silence
- [36:56] - God's Work in History
- [38:25] - The Silence of God
- [40:26] - The Promise of Malachi
- [41:37] - Zechariah's Encounter
- [43:23] - Religion vs. Relationship
- [44:41] - Jesus in the New Testament
- [47:05] - Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
- [49:36] - The Role of John the Baptist
- [51:08] - Preparing for the Messiah
- [53:28] - Surrendering to God's Timing
- [01:04:03] - Worship in Trust

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:5-25
2. Malachi 4:5-6
3. Matthew 1:18-25

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the circumstances surrounding Zechariah and Elizabeth's life, and how did they demonstrate faithfulness despite their personal challenges? ([52:21])

2. How does the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth illustrate the theme of God's timing and fulfillment of promises? ([49:36])

3. What role does John the Baptist play in the fulfillment of God's promises, and how is this connected to the prophecy in Malachi? ([49:36])

4. How does the sermon describe the significance of the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments? ([36:56])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth challenge the belief that God's blessings are always immediate or visible? ([53:28])

2. How does the sermon suggest that God's silence can be a prelude to His profound work in our lives? ([59:32])

3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between religious activity and genuine faith in times of silence or doubt? ([41:37])

4. How does the sermon interpret the roles of Jesus as prophet, priest, and king in the context of God's promises? ([47:48])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's silence in your life. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now in light of Zechariah and Elizabeth's story? ([53:28])

2. The sermon invites us to surrender our will to God's priorities. What is one area of your life where you struggle to align with God's timing, and how can you work on surrendering it? ([53:28])

3. How can you actively seek to experience God's love this Christmas season, especially in ways that dispel fear and shame? ([02:30])

4. In what ways can you remind yourself that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises, especially during times of doubt or uncertainty? ([47:48])

5. Consider the role of worship in your life. How can you ensure that your worship is a genuine response to God's love rather than a mere religious activity? ([30:16])

6. Identify a specific promise of God that you are waiting to see fulfilled. How can you maintain hope and trust in God's timing during this waiting period? ([36:10])

7. How can you be a source of encouragement to others who may be experiencing God's silence, helping them to see that God is still at work? ([01:04:03])

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God's Nearness
Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on the profound truth that God is not distant but close, having given His Son to demonstrate His love and character to us. Amidst the busyness of the season—baking, decorating, and gift-buying—it's crucial to remember the essence of Christmas: God's gift of Himself to humanity. This season invites us to experience God's love, which drives out fear, removes shame, and empowers us to live joyfully and confidently. As we gather for worship, we are reminded that our faith is not a mere religious activity but a response to God's demonstrated love through Jesus Christ. [02:30]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally pause today to experience and acknowledge God's nearness in your life, especially amidst the busyness of the season?


Day 2: Faithfulness in Silence
The narrative of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1 illustrates how God works through ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary plans. Despite their personal heartbreak and longing for a child, they remained faithful, demonstrating that commitment to God is not contingent on experiencing His blessings. Their story encourages us to trust in God's timing and purposes, even when He seems silent. The silence of God does not equate to His absence; rather, it is often a prelude to His profound work in our lives and the world. [36:10]

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt God's silence. How can you remain faithful and trust in His timing and purposes during such periods?


Day 3: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Promises
The 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments remind us that God's promises are fulfilled in His time. The arrival of John the Baptist, as foretold in Malachi, broke this silence, preparing the way for Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. Jesus embodies the roles of prophet, priest, and king, bringing God's word, interceding for us, and reigning with authority. In times of silence or doubt, we are called to look for Jesus, who is the center of God's activity in history and in our lives. [47:48]

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively seek Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises in your life today, especially in areas where you feel doubt or uncertainty?


Day 4: Surrendering to God's Timing
As we celebrate Christmas, we are invited to surrender our will to God's priorities and our anticipation to His timing. God does not give us anything that won't make us more like Jesus, nor does He withhold anything that would thwart His purposes. Our peace and hope come from trusting in God's control and love, regardless of our circumstances. This Christmas, let us worship with the assurance that God is working, whether we see it or not, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. [53:28]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to surrender to God's timing? What steps can you take today to trust in His control and love?


Day 5: Worship in Trust
Our worship should not be threatened by God's silence. Instead, we are called to trust that God is working, whether we see it or not, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. Worship becomes a profound act of trust and surrender, acknowledging that God's plans are greater than our understanding. As we gather in worship, let us do so with the assurance that God is present and active in our lives, even when His work is not immediately visible. [01:04:03]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make your worship today an act of trust, acknowledging God's presence and activity in your life, even when you don't see immediate results?

Quotes


Christmas is a time where we remember that God is not distant, but that he's close, where he gave his son, where he took on flesh that he might demonstrate to us what God is like. That's what makes the season incredibly special. That's what makes Christmas God's gift to us. [00:12:03] (17 seconds)


Because we know that your love drives out all fear. Your love removes our shame. Your love is what gives us confidence to live a new life, a hopeful life, a joy-filled life by choice. And yet, and yet sometimes we forget, yet we have trouble believing that you love us. [00:29:46] (20 seconds)


We believe that God is also working in our lives. Oftentimes, we feel like those two things are in tension, like we have to choose one over the other. Particularly when we get this sense that God is inactive in our life, that God may be silent in our circumstances. [00:36:10] (19 seconds)


God may appear silent, but that doesn't mean he's not working. In Malachi, the last words of the Old Testament, we read a promise. It says this, Look, I'm going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. [00:38:57] (24 seconds)


We know that the Old Testament, full of prophets, priests, and kings, is fulfilled in the New Testament by Jesus, who is the prophet, priest, and king. What's really interesting about this, promise, is that it's the last promise spoken before God gets silent, but it's the first promise answered before Jesus comes. [00:40:26] (22 seconds)


And yet, I'm sure that after 400 years, they just got into the habit of it. And I don't know about you, but sometimes activities that you do routinely will lose their meaning. That's what religion is. Religion is when we do things, spiritual things, but have maybe forgotten their meaning or have lost the anticipation that God would meet us in those times. [00:42:36] (26 seconds)


This is what God is doing in history. He's bringing everything to Jesus. The 400 years ended. That page flipped when Jesus arrived as the fulfillment of everything promised up until that day and it would bless one couple in particular. [00:48:22] (17 seconds)


They show us that a commitment to God is not directly attached to the experience of his blessing. They trusted God in spite of how that was working itself out in their lives. That even as they might have experienced that longing and that desire, and that hope lost, that they still believed God was working in the world, and they were faithful to that. [00:53:28] (24 seconds)


Lord Jesus, would you make us a church that worship in spite of everything going on in the world, in spite of everything going on in our lives, that we would be a people of truth, of true hope, that do not find our hope in government, that do not find our hope in our bank accounts, that do not find our hope in our children or our grandchildren, that do not find our hope in anything other than that which is true forever. [01:06:33] (29 seconds)


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Transcript
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