Holy Moments - The Light Has Come

Devotional

Day 1: Hope rooted in God's faithful, timely promises.

When life feels dark or delayed, remember God keeps his promises even when human timelines say otherwise; though Israel waited centuries without a prophet, God was at work behind the scenes, and the certainty of Christ's coming gives a hope that is not wishful thinking but confidence in a faithful God who acts in his perfect timing. [13:51]

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (ESV)
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
6 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.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Reflection: What is one specific promise of God you are tempted to doubt right now, and what concrete step will you take today (a prayer, a journal note, or a reminder to revisit in 30 days) to surrender that doubt and trust God's timing?

Day 2: Peace arrives through humility and unexpected places.

God's peace often comes not through power or prominence but through small, humble places and people—Bethlehem and the overlooked women in Jesus' genealogy remind believers that the presence of Christ, not worldly comfort, is the source of true peace, so in the busyness of the season the invitation is to stop and seek his presence rather than mere convenience or ease. [24:05]

Micah 5:2 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Identify one humble or overlooked area of your life (a strained relationship, a small habit, or a neglected rhythm); what single, concrete act will you do today to invite Christ's presence there (a five-minute prayer, a call to someone, or a brief act of service)?

Day 3: Joy proclaimed as good news for all people.

The angelic announcement to the shepherds shows that the good news of great joy is for everyone—especially the overlooked—and joy is found in a person, not circumstances, so even when life's situations remain the same, encountering Jesus changes everything and calls believers to share that joy with those who feel forgotten. [32:33]

Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who may feel forgotten this Christmas, and what one concrete act (invite them to a service, bring a meal, send a handwritten note) will you do this week to share the joy of Christ with them?

Day 4: God's love sent Jesus to save, not condemn.

The greatest act of love is God sending his only Son so that people might be saved and restored into relationship, and believers are invited to receive that radical, personal love—letting down walls, allowing the Spirit to soften hardened places—and then to live more graciously and intentionally love others so they can experience that same transforming grace. [43:36]

John 3:16-17 (ESV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's love through your words or actions this week, and what one specific, loving step (a listening conversation, an apology, a practical act of help) will you take in the next three days to show them Christ's love?

Day 5: Jesus: the light and life entering the world.

Jesus is the true light and life who entered into a dark world to give sight, restore relationship, and grant the right to become children of God; all the prophecies and the promise of new birth point to him, and believers are called to live ready, sharing his light now as they anticipate his return. [56:33]

John 1:4-5, 9-14 (ESV)
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: Who is one person you've been wanting to invite to hear about Jesus, and will you ask them to come to a Christmas service or meet with you this week—committing to a specific date and time before you leave today?

Sermon Summary

Today we slowed down and let Advent shape our hearts. Advent means “arrival,” and we hold both arrivals together: the first in Bethlehem’s manger, and the second when Jesus returns to make all things new. We walked candle by candle, remembering who Jesus is for us right now. The Hope candle reminded us that God keeps His promises even when His timing feels slow. Isaiah spoke of a Child 700 years before He was born, and even through 400 silent years God was not absent. He was working. Hope for us isn’t wishful thinking; it’s trust anchored in the character and promises of God.

The Peace candle took us to little Bethlehem—humble, out-of-the-way, chosen. God’s peace doesn’t usually arrive through comfort, control, or convenience; it comes through the presence of Christ. He paid our ransom, so we can have peace with the Father. Let His peace rule the places where anxiety is trying to rule you.

The Joy candle sent us into the fields with the shepherds—ordinary people, first to hear the good news for all people. Joy in Jesus holds even when nothing around us changes. Like those shepherds, we can return to our ordinary lives carrying an extraordinary joy, and we can spread it to those who feel forgotten.

With the Love candle, we heard again that God so loved the world that He gave His Son—not to condemn but to save. That love is personal, particular, and costly. Some of us need to drop our guard and let His love sink from our lips to our souls. The Spirit will help tear down the walls we’ve built.

Finally, the Christ candle: the Light has come, the Word became flesh, and to all who receive Him He gives the right to become children of God. Jesus fulfilled what no one else could—hundreds of prophecies and the deepest longings of the human heart. So we believe—heart-level trust that reshapes our lives—and we live ready. Advent points us to the manger and keeps our eyes on the horizon. Let’s prepare our hearts, confess what needs confessing, and share His light. Identify one person and go to them with hope, peace, joy, and love.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope rests on God’s kept promises. Hope is not fragile optimism but trust anchored in a God who cannot lie and does not forget. Israel’s silence wasn’t God’s absence; it was His slow, steady faithfulness at work. Where your life feels delayed, tether your heart to His timeline, not your own. [12:33]
2. Peace arrives in humble, unexpected ways. Bethlehem’s obscurity is a map for the soul: God meets us off the main road, in surrendered places. Peace isn’t the absence of pressure but the presence of Christ, who ransomed us and reconciled us to the Father. Make room for His presence and you’ll find rest no convenience can provide. [20:18]
3. Joy endures even when life doesn’t. The shepherds returned to the same fields, yet they were not the same people. Joy is not found in festive circumstances but in a Person who will not fail you. Share joy intentionally, and watch how giving it away multiplies it within you. [32:33]
4. Receive and reflect the costly love. God’s love is not theory; it’s the Son given, personally and purposefully, for you. If your heart has grown calloused, ask the Spirit to help you take down the walls brick by brick. Receiving love deeply is what equips you to love others beyond convenience. [38:11]
5. Live ready: believe, belong, bear witness. To believe is more than agreement; it’s entrusting yourself to Jesus and becoming God’s child. Advent trains us to keep one eye on the manger and one on the sky. Readiness looks like a repentant heart and a willing mouth that carries His light to one specific person. [53:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:49] - Advent focus for today
[08:37] - Advent defined: arrival and both comings
[09:55] - Candle 1: Hope—Prophecy and promises
[12:33] - God’s timing in silence
[19:33] - Candle 2: Peace—Bethlehem’s humble surprise
[22:03] - Peace found in Christ’s presence
[30:11] - Candle 3: Joy—Good news for all
[32:33] - Share joy with the forgotten
[38:11] - Candle 4: Love—God sent His Son
[42:22] - Receive love; tear down walls
[49:14] - Candle 5: Christ—Light of the world
[50:54] - Believe and become God’s children
[53:23] - Live ready for His return
[61:02] - Closing thanks and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 — 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 6 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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. John 1:4–5, 9–14 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Observation Questions

Reading Isaiah 9:6–7, what specific names and promises are given to the coming child, and which one stands out to you as most needed in your life right now? [10:43]
In John 1:4–5, 9–14, what phrases describe who Jesus is and what he does among people? Which of those phrases most clearly answers your current longings or questions? [49:14]
The pastor said Israel had about 400 years without a prophet yet God was still at work. What examples from the sermon show how God works even in long seasons of silence? [11:44]
The sermon pointed out that the first to hear the good news were shepherds—ordinary people. What does that detail suggest about who the gospel is for and how it spreads? [30:11]

Interpretation Questions

How should one interpret Isaiah’s royal and comforting titles for the Messiah (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace) when present circumstances feel uncertain or delayed? [12:33]
What does John’s statement “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” imply about the church’s responsibility and posture toward cultural or personal darkness? [50:54]
How ought one reconcile the idea of peace coming through Christ’s ransom (Mark 10:45 language used in the sermon) with the continued presence of pressure, loss, or anxiety in a believer’s life? [23:07]
The pastor emphasized that “believe” is more than intellectual agreement — a heart-level trust that changes a person. What does this claim mean theologically, and how does it change expectations for what conversion looks like in someone’s life? [52:11]

Application Questions

Where in your life right now are you tempted to think God is “slow” or absent? Name one specific situation (family, health, job, faith), and describe one concrete step you will take this week to tether your hope to God’s promises rather than your timetable. [12:33]
Identify one exact place where anxiety is ruling you (a bill, a relationship, a test, a health worry). What single, practical thing will you do before next Sunday to make room for Christ’s presence there (a Scripture to memorize, a prayer time, a conversation, a practical plan)? [24:05]
Who is one ordinary person in your life you can intentionally invite into a spiritual conversation or to church this Advent (name them)? State when you will reach out and exactly what you will say. [56:33]
Is there a hard, calloused place in your heart that needs God’s love (shame, bitterness, distrust)? Name that place and choose one practical next step to begin tearing that wall down this week (a long walk and prayer, meeting with a mentor, confession to a trusted friend, a focused time with Scripture). [42:22]
Pick one person who might feel forgotten or overlooked this season. What concrete act of joy will you do for them this month (card, meal, visit, phone call, invite to church)? Set a date to do it. [32:33]
List one sin or broken relationship you will confess or seek to reconcile this Advent so you can “live ready” for Christ’s return. What will you say and to whom, and when will you act? [53:23]
The pastor challenged everyone to identify one person to share Christ’s light with. Who is that person for you, and what is your simplest first step this week to go to them with hope, peace, joy, or love? [57:28]

Sermon Clips

``He came so that we might have relationship with our Father in heaven. He came so that we might have peace with our Father. Because it is our sin that separates us from the Father. Jesus said in Mark 10, 45, For even the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve. And this is the part I want to focus on, this part right here. And to give His life as a ransom for many. Which simply means, in our terms, He paid your debt. We have a debt that we owe to God because of our sin. A debt that we have no ability to pay with. Our good works can't pay for it. Being a good person can't pay for it. You can't give enough money to the church or other organizations to pay for it. But the blood of Jesus, that He shed willingly for you on that cross, paid your every single debt. That you might have peace with God. [00:22:54] (58 seconds) #JesusPaidItAll

All of the candles point to this final one in the center this is the Christ candle and you know we have read several prophecies this morning of Jesus in the old testament talking about when he would come and what I think is really interesting I was doing some research this week is that Jesus fulfilled between 300 and 350 prophecies most scholars say now more moderate theologians say that maybe that was between 40 and 60 but even still if you look at the numbers about the probabilities of one person fulfilling various prophecies all you have to get to is eight so if Jesus just fulfilled eight prophecies the likelihood of that happening is that if we filled the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two foot high and then we blindfolded you and said you can go anywhere you want in the state and you got to pick out one coin so you see the probability like it's statistically impossible yet Jesus fulfilled between 300 and 350 not just eight prophecies. [00:49:25] (68 seconds) #ProphecyFulfilled

This is all very intentional by a creator who paved a way for you to have a right relationship with him. Believe the logic if you don't believe the rest of it but believe Jesus is our hope he is our source of peace he's the giver of joy he is the embodiment of love and advent culminates in his arrival but the story does not end in the manger and we like to look at the manger and the three kings and the shepherds everybody who came and it's a nice pretty picture but that is just the very beginning he came to push back the darkness in our hearts and also in the world that we live in. [00:50:46] (43 seconds) #HopeInChrist

And I go back to John 3 16 and 17 for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever might what believe might have eternal life Jesus came so that we would believe. I think most people get it wrong people think Christianity is an exclusive religion we're trying to keep people out but that John 3 17 what does it say he didn't come to condemn the world he came to save the world this is good news for all people regardless of race regardless of color regardless of how you grew up regardless of whatever you want to throw out there it came for all people so that you might believe and again that word believe is not intellectual acknowledgement like yes I recognize that this is a true fact this is a heart level believe that it changes who you are from the inside out. [00:51:56] (55 seconds) #HeCameToSave

All of these candles they point to Jesus and he grants us the right to be children of God by the will of God that's a pretty incredible thought this is not something that we can do for ourselves this is something that God does for us that we have to receive so again we go back to the manger scene it's the very beginning because always always always the cross is looming large in the background because Jesus came to die and that's really hard and really messy and all of those things but it's good news for you and me because through that through his death through his resurrection he beat our greatest enemy death he came so we might have salvation he's coming again to make all things new. [00:52:51] (50 seconds) #ChildrenOfGod

So this Advent season as we think about his hope his peace his joy his love as we think about all of these things we also have to keep in mind that second coming and as we look at the world around us it just gets crazier every day and it just gets more wild and it seems like more things are pointing towards Jesus coming sooner rather than later so as we prepare our hearts for Advent for the birth of Christ so also we must prepare our hearts for his second coming scripture says no man knows the day nor the hour but Jesus will come like a thief in the night if you expected a thief to come in the middle of the night you'd be awake and you'd be ready he will come at an unexpected moment and so we must always be ready. [00:53:40] (47 seconds) #ReadyForHisReturn

So as we go through this Advent season my encouragement to you and challenge really is is your heart ready are you ready for the second coming you ready for Jesus to bring all things to a conclusion I think most of the time we walk around thinking oh yeah this will happen one day but we need to be ready today right now and so it's a time for us to get our hearts right with the Lord to confess sin to deal with the things in our hearts that we might receive his love we might receive his peace we might be a people of joy that we might share the hope we have with others. [00:54:27] (47 seconds) #HeartReadyToday

So I wonder part of this right like part of this is sharing because for us to be ready that also means that man I want those closest to me to be ready as well like I want my family I want my friends to be ready I want you as my church family to be ready for that day like let's not get caught off guard here so part of that means sharing the good news of Jesus with others. [00:55:13] (25 seconds) #ShareTheGoodNews

So I want to leave you today like we're talking about sharing with others who will you share Christ's light with this Advent season because some of you have family who don't know the Lord and they need to know Him and Christmas time is a great time to invite them to church because they'll come they'll especially come on Christmas Eve if you're in town say hey come with me they'll show up I promise you all you got to do is ask. [00:56:33] (26 seconds) #BringThemToChurch

So let's have let's have faith in our God who is always working who always keeps His promises that when we take that step of faith and we invite others that God is going to work in their hearts and their lives let's believe that when then we share the good news with our neighbor or a friend who maybe is struggling and give them the invite to church that they'll accept that. [00:56:59] (24 seconds) #TrustGodsWork

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How does biblical hope differ from worldly hope?

Why were humble shepherds entrusted with joyful news?

How should Christians prepare for Christ’s second coming?