Embracing the True Nature of the Messiah

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound and often misunderstood nature of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We began by lifting up our community in prayer, acknowledging the burdens and needs of individuals, and seeking God's wisdom and healing. This set the stage for a deeper reflection on how our expectations of God can often be misaligned with His true nature and purpose.

The narrative of Jesus' birth, as depicted in the scriptures, challenges our preconceived notions of power, status, and divinity. The Messiah's arrival was not marked by grandeur or societal acceptance but by humility and scandal. Born to an unwed mother in poverty, Jesus' entrance into the world defied the expectations of a conquering king or a supernatural warrior. Instead, He was announced to shepherds, the marginalized of society, illustrating that God's kingdom is accessible to all, regardless of social standing.

This message serves as a reminder that our expectations of God can be limited by our desires for comfort and conformity. We often attempt to reshape God into an image that suits our preferences, neglecting the radical and transformative relationship He offers. The Israelites of Jesus' time missed the Messiah because they clung to their flawed expectations. Similarly, we must be cautious not to impose our limited understanding on the divine.

The true essence of the Messiah is not found in societal acceptance or material wealth but in the profound peace and favor granted by God to those who believe. This peace is not universal but is bestowed upon those who recognize Jesus as the Savior, born in obscurity and humility. As we reflect on this, we are called to lay aside our expectations and embrace the true Messiah, as revealed in the scriptures.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Unexpected Ways: The birth of Jesus challenges our expectations of how God should act. He often works in ways that defy human logic and societal norms, reminding us that His ways are higher than ours. We must remain open to His unexpected methods and trust in His divine wisdom. [35:48]

- The Danger of Misplaced Expectations: Like the Israelites, we can miss God's work in our lives if we hold onto preconceived notions of how He should operate. Our expectations can become barriers to experiencing the fullness of His presence and purpose. We are called to surrender these expectations and seek a genuine relationship with Him. [45:38]

- The Humility of the Messiah: Jesus' humble beginnings and life of poverty teach us that true greatness is not measured by worldly standards. His life exemplifies servanthood and sacrifice, inviting us to follow His example and prioritize spiritual richness over material wealth. [38:07]

- God's Favor and Peace: The peace of God is not a universal promise but is given to those who accept Jesus as Lord. This peace transcends circumstances and is rooted in a relationship with Him. We are encouraged to seek this peace by aligning our lives with His will. [49:06]

- Reimagining God in Our Image: There is a temptation to reshape God to fit our desires and cultural norms. This distortion leads to a shallow faith that lacks the transformative power of the true Gospel. We must resist this urge and embrace the God revealed in scripture, who challenges and changes us. [47:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:16] - Prayer for Healing and Guidance
- [10:04] - Intercessory Prayers
- [11:51] - Prayers for Leadership and Revival
- [12:33] - Prayers for Clergy and Church
- [20:23] - Children's Blessing
- [33:37] - Misunderstanding the Messiah
- [34:53] - Expectations vs. Reality
- [35:48] - Social and Moral Expectations
- [37:05] - Scandal and Humility
- [38:07] - The Sign to the Shepherds
- [39:19] - The Shepherds' Role
- [41:14] - Frustrated Expectations
- [43:11] - The Messiah's True Purpose
- [44:10] - Accepting Jesus on His Terms
- [45:38] - Letting Go of Faulty Expectations
- [47:05] - Reimagining God
- [49:06] - God's Peace and Favor
- [50:20] - The Elect of God
- [51:11] - Embracing the True Messiah
- [52:16] - Ministry Time and Invitation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 2:8-14 - The announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - God's choice of the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong.

#### Observation Questions
1. How does the narrative of Jesus' birth challenge societal expectations of power and status? [35:48]
2. What role did the shepherds play in the story of Jesus' birth, and why is their involvement significant? [39:19]
3. How does the sermon describe the Israelites' expectations of the Messiah, and how did Jesus' life differ from those expectations? [43:11]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's peace and favor? [49:06]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might God have chosen to announce Jesus' birth to shepherds rather than religious or political leaders? [44:10]
2. How does the sermon suggest that our expectations of God can become barriers to experiencing His presence and purpose? [45:38]
3. In what ways does the sermon challenge the idea of reshaping God to fit our desires and cultural norms? [47:05]
4. How does the concept of God's peace being exclusive to those who accept Jesus as Lord impact one's understanding of salvation? [49:06]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your expectations of God were challenged. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [34:53]
2. The sermon emphasizes the humility of Jesus' birth and life. How can you incorporate humility into your daily interactions and decisions? [38:07]
3. Consider the ways you might be reshaping God to fit your own desires. What steps can you take to align your understanding of God with the scriptures? [47:05]
4. How can you remain open to God's unexpected methods and trust in His divine wisdom, even when it defies human logic? [35:48]
5. Identify an area in your life where you have placed expectations on God. How can you surrender these expectations to seek a genuine relationship with Him? [45:38]
6. The sermon discusses the peace of God as being exclusive to those who accept Jesus. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus to experience this peace? [49:06]
7. Reflect on the role of the shepherds in the Christmas story. How can you embrace a similar openness to God's work in your life, regardless of your social standing? [39:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Unpredictable Pathways
God often works in ways that defy human logic and societal norms, challenging our expectations of how He should act. The birth of Jesus exemplifies this, as His arrival was marked by humility and scandal rather than grandeur. Born to an unwed mother in poverty, Jesus' entrance into the world defied the expectations of a conquering king or a supernatural warrior. Instead, He was announced to shepherds, the marginalized of society, illustrating that God's kingdom is accessible to all, regardless of social standing. This serves as a reminder that we must remain open to His unexpected methods and trust in His divine wisdom. [35:48]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt frustrated by unexpected outcomes. How can you trust in God's higher ways and embrace His unpredictable pathways today?


Day 2: Releasing Misplaced Expectations
Like the Israelites, we can miss God's work in our lives if we hold onto preconceived notions of how He should operate. Our expectations can become barriers to experiencing the fullness of His presence and purpose. The Israelites of Jesus' time missed the Messiah because they clung to their flawed expectations. Similarly, we must be cautious not to impose our limited understanding on the divine. We are called to surrender these expectations and seek a genuine relationship with Him, allowing His presence to transform us. [45:38]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: Identify one expectation you have of God that might be limiting your relationship with Him. How can you release this expectation and open yourself to His true purpose for you?


Day 3: Learning from the Humility of the Messiah
Jesus' humble beginnings and life of poverty teach us that true greatness is not measured by worldly standards. His life exemplifies servanthood and sacrifice, inviting us to follow His example and prioritize spiritual richness over material wealth. The narrative of Jesus' birth challenges our preconceived notions of power, status, and divinity, reminding us that God's kingdom is accessible to all, regardless of social standing. This calls us to reflect on our own lives and consider how we can embody humility and servanthood in our daily interactions. [38:07]

Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV): "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and servanthood in your daily life, following the example of Jesus?


Day 4: Seeking God's Favor and Peace
The peace of God is not a universal promise but is given to those who accept Jesus as Lord. This peace transcends circumstances and is rooted in a relationship with Him. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to seek this peace by aligning our lives with His will. The true essence of the Messiah is not found in societal acceptance or material wealth but in the profound peace and favor granted by God to those who believe. This calls us to lay aside our expectations and embrace the true Messiah, as revealed in the scriptures. [49:06]

Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God's peace? How can you align this area with His will to experience His favor and peace?


Day 5: Resisting the Urge to Reimagine God
There is a temptation to reshape God to fit our desires and cultural norms. This distortion leads to a shallow faith that lacks the transformative power of the true Gospel. We must resist this urge and embrace the God revealed in scripture, who challenges and changes us. The Israelites of Jesus' time missed the Messiah because they clung to their flawed expectations. Similarly, we must be cautious not to impose our limited understanding on the divine. By embracing the true Messiah, we open ourselves to a deeper, more transformative relationship with God. [47:05]

Jeremiah 10:23 (ESV): "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps."

Reflection: Reflect on an aspect of God's character that you find challenging. How can you embrace this aspect and allow it to transform your understanding of Him?

Quotes


We all know that too often our expectations of God are based on wanting things that make us more comfortable. We create an image of God that's not based on God's Word, but on our wants and our desires and dreams. We re-image God so that He's more like us. [00:34:17] (21 seconds)


The coming of the Messiah upsets a lot of expectations. One of those is social expectations. You look at the story of the Messiah, of Jesus coming, and his birth was morally questionable. And I'm not talking about the virgin birth. No one but Mary and Joseph knew that part of the story yet. [00:36:14] (25 seconds)


The sign given to the shepherds to identify the Messiah was that they were to find a babe born in a barn, wrapped in rags, lying in a makeshift crib, which was actually a livestock feeding trough, slick with animal spit. [00:38:09] (21 seconds)


The angels are sent to an interesting audience, shepherds. In our culture, we're conditioned over years of Christmas plays and live nativity scenes to think of shepherds in a positive light. After all, David was a shepherd. Jesus claimed to be the great shepherd, but shepherds did not enjoy a positive image in ancient Israel. [00:39:19] (25 seconds)


The Messiah did not come as they expected him to come. Jewish tradition, gleaned from the Old Testament scripture, taught that the Messiah would come as a supernatural warrior king, who would free them from the Roman occupiers. He would come as a day of the Lord judge, and reestablish the kingdom of David. [00:42:01] (23 seconds)


The Messiah was not even announced to the religious elite or to the rulers. Most would expect the coming of the Messiah, the anointing warrior king, would have been revealed to the leaders, religious and political. And perhaps the reason God chose shepherds instead is that shepherds did not have a lot of preconceived ideas about the Messiah. [00:43:19] (24 seconds)


The first century nation of Israel missed out on the Messiah. Because they would not let go of their expectations. Jesus had even failed to meet cousin John's expectations. Is it any wonder that Jesus continues to frustrate our expectations today? The Messiah, if you've not figured it out, does not morph into your preferred image. [00:45:29] (29 seconds)


But aren't we guilty as well of trying to create Jesus in an image that is much more acceptable to us? Do we not pick and choose which things to believe of him? Do we not make Jesus resemble us? Do we not water down the tougher components while emphasizing God's love and his acceptance and tolerance of our sinful behavior? [00:46:28] (27 seconds)


God created us in his image, and we have decided to return the favor and create a God who is in our image, who fits what we want. The Messiah does not offer a very socially acceptable family to join, does he? Joseph and Mary were not part of the upper crust. Jesus entered life at the bottom of that cultural food chain. [00:47:23] (27 seconds)


This translation promises a universal spirit of goodwill and peace. And it sounds good, but the correct translation is, And on earth, peace to those on whom God grants his favor. Correctly translated, the goodwill or favor has God as the source and only certain men and women as the recipients. [00:49:30] (27 seconds)


The first century Jews missed out on the Messiah because they were ungrateful. They were unwilling to let go of faulty and inadequate expectations. Let's not make that same mistake this morning. I mean, this morning, you can be among those who are men upon whom his favor rests. [00:51:11] (24 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?