The Light We Speak Of

Devotional

Day 1: The light arrives: hope in the darkness.

Isaiah’s promise announces that in the deepest night a light comes that changes everything; the arrival of a child speaks rescue into hopelessness and interrupts silence with hope. This light is not distant or merely future — it is present, breaking yokes and increasing joy even in the midst of suffering. Hold fast to the truth that the cry of a baby in Bethlehem is the same light that meets people in their outback moments. [42:44]

Isaiah 9:2-7 (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.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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 specific darkness in your life right now feels most real — where do you most need rescue — and what is one small, concrete way this week you will look for or point to the light already at work in that place?

Day 2: Hope and peace come together in Christ.

Scripture ties hope and peace together as twin gifts: hope lifts the eyes toward God’s future work, and peace steadies the heart with God’s present presence. Believing fills the soul with joy and a peace that does not depend on circumstances but on the God of hope who is at work by the Holy Spirit. Let this promise shape how you pray and how you live — hope for what God will do and rest in the peace He gives today. [58:18]

Romans 15:12-13 (ESV)
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Reflection: Where do you need God to fill you with joy and peace in believing this week? Name one concrete spiritual practice (a short prayer, a verse to memorize, a moment of silence) you will use daily to let the Holy Spirit increase hope in you.

Day 3: God brings rescue through people sent.

God often rescues not only by direct miracle but by sending people into our lives — a cattle rancher in the outback, a big brother at midnight — to be His hands and voice of hope and peace. Those rescues remind that the body of Christ is meant to carry Christ’s light; one person’s obedience can change another’s story. Be attentive to how God may be using you to bring rescue, and be willing to be the one who goes. [52:24]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Reflection: Who has been used by God to rescue or carry peace to you in a desperate time? Identify one person in your life this week you can intentionally reach out to with a concrete offer of help (a meal, a ride, a phone call) and set a day and time to do it.

Day 4: Peace is Christ’s presence, not calm circumstances.

Biblical peace (shalom) is a restored relationship with God and a steadying presence that lives inside the storm — it does not promise trouble-free days but a God who holds the soul through them. When anxiety rises, remember that Jesus gives a peace unlike the world’s; it is internal, sustaining, and anchored in His rule. Practice leaning into that presence instead of waiting for the circumstances to change. [55:18]

John 14:27 (ESV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Reflection: When the next anxious moment comes, what short truth will you say to yourself to call back Christ’s peace (for example, “Jesus is with me in the tunnel”)? Commit to saying that phrase aloud at least once when worry rises this week and note what changes in your heart.

Day 5: Three invitations: seek, endure, share Christ’s light.

Everyone in the congregation fits into one of three places — seeking Christ, weathering the storm, or having come through rescue — and each has a next step: step into the light, hold fast to Christ’s presence, or shine the light to another. Advent is not just candle-lighting; it’s a call to live hope and peace outwardly: pray, reach out for help, and be willing to be the light for someone else. Ask God who He wants you to be this season and act on it. [01:10:00]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: Which of the three places are you in today — seeking, in the battle, or on the other side — and who is one specific person you will intentionally shine Christ’s light toward this week? Name the person and one concrete action you will take for them in the next seven days.

Sermon Summary

I invited us to step into Advent as a holy pause—not just to count days to Christmas, but to remember and rehearse the hope and peace that have a name. Isaiah 9 speaks into a world blanketed by spiritual night—idols in the land, leaders corrupt, families afraid. Into that darkness, God does not send an army; He sends a Child. The cry of a baby doesn’t sound like a rescue plan, but heaven knows that sound summons the universe. The Wonderful Counselor meets confusion with wisdom that goes deeper than our questions. The Mighty God stands as our Warrior King when the fight outgrows our strength. The Everlasting Father holds us when relationships fail. The Prince of Peace rules within us when circumstances roar.

Hope and peace travel together through Scripture and through our lives: hope lifts our eyes to what God will do; peace steadies our hearts with the God who is here. Peace is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Jesus in the middle of them. He is not the light at the end of the tunnel; He is the light in the tunnel. I told the story of Ricky McGee—buried, left for dead, alone for 70 days—then found and restored on day 71. Hopelessness says rescue isn’t coming; hope says you’re wrong—rescue has already begun. I also shared my own Christmas 2002 night, when God’s peace and hope arrived through my big brother’s knock at the door. Sometimes God carries His peace to us through people who are willing to be sent.

So here’s our Advent invitation. If you’re seeking, step into the light—pray, open the Word, reach for help, and expect Jesus to meet you. If you’re in the storm, anchor to His promises; ask for calm within the chaos, not just for calmer circumstances. If you’re on the other side, be someone’s “big brother.” Bring the presence of Christ to a person who can’t carry peace on their own today. Advent hope and Advent peace aren’t candles on a table; they are a life we receive and a life we give.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope arrives as a Child In Israel’s darkest hour, God’s rescue plan came as a baby—not spectacle, but presence. Hope often enters quietly, yet it commands our attention like a newborn’s cry in the night. Expect God to meet your real needs through unexpected means, because His strength often wears humility. Hope is not loud; it is sure. [42:44]
2. Peace is presence, not circumstances Biblical peace isn’t a promise of easier days; it’s the steadying rule of Jesus in the middle of hard days. Shalom is wholeness—reconciliation with God that holds us together when life doesn’t. Ask not only for resolution, but for the Resident—Christ who keeps you. His peace outlasts the storm. [53:59]
3. Jesus lights the tunnel itself We don’t wait for Him at the exit; He walks with us in the dark. That changes how we pray—from escape to companionship, from panic to trust. When vision is limited, presence becomes enough, and presence is what He promises. Keep moving; the Light is beside you. [55:18]
4. Nothing can stop His increase Governments rise and fall, headlines churn, but His peace keeps expanding. Hope is not denial; it’s defiance—the quiet certainty that darkness does not get the last word. The Prince of Peace is building a kingdom that outgrows despair and outlives death. Align your heart with what cannot be shaken. [49:23]
5. Be someone’s “big brother” today God often delivers peace through people who say yes. When someone cannot carry faith for themselves, lend them yours—your presence, your plan, your prayers. Hope finds, rescues, and restores, and sometimes it looks like a knock on the door at just the right time. Go be that knock. [71:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:24] - Children’s ministry and worship joy
[29:19] - What Advent really means
[31:42] - Ricky McGee: a survival story
[37:29] - Israel’s spiritual darkness
[41:04] - Isaiah 9:2–7 read aloud
[42:44] - Hope arrives: a child is born
[45:19] - Names: Counselor, Mighty, Father, Prince
[53:59] - Peace is presence in problems
[56:57] - He will do it
[59:36] - My 2002 story of rescue
[64:36] - Peace carried through people
[70:00] - Three ways to respond today
[74:23] - Step into the light

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Isaiah 9:2–7
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.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.

Observation questions

Read Isaiah 9:2–4. What images does the passage use to describe darkness and then the change brought by the light? [41:04]
Verse 6 lists four names. Which of these names is emphasized in the reading as most directly answering fear and abandonment, and what immediate comfort does that name promise? [42:44]
In the Ricky McGee story, what specific details show the difference between physical hardship and the deeper pain of hopelessness? [35:16]
Isaiah 9:3–4 promises concrete results when light comes (joy multiplied, yoke broken). What does the passage say will actually happen—does it present these as possibilities or certainties? [56:57]

Interpretation questions
(Third-person, reflective)

How does the image of rescue coming as a child (Isaiah 9:6) reinterpret common expectations of deliverance by power or armies? What does this suggest about God’s usual way of working in desperate situations? [42:44]
What does the phrase “Prince of Peace” suggest about the difference between peace as changing circumstances and peace as God’s presence within suffering? How does this shape a theological understanding of shalom? [55:18]
What does the statement that “there will be no end to his increase of the government or of peace” (v.7) imply about the scope and endurance of God’s kingdom in times of political or social collapse? [49:23]
How does the pairing of hope and peace (as in Isaiah and later references) function theologically: what does hope look forward to and what does peace secure in the present? [58:18]

Application questions
(Concrete, personal)

If someone is seeking Christ for the first time, what one concrete step will you take this week to “step into the light” (pray, read a short passage, or ask someone to guide you)? Pick a day and time. [01:10:00]
When the storm feels overwhelming, pick one specific promise from Scripture you can memorize and one practical way you will remind yourself of it (phone lock screen, index card, a short prayer). What promise will you choose this week? [55:18]
Identify one person in your life who currently cannot carry peace for themselves. What one specific act (a phone call, a visit, an offer to pray with them, bringing a meal) will you do in the next seven days to be that person’s “big brother”? [01:11:38]
Think of a situation where you have prayed mainly for escape rather than companionship. How would you reframe your prayer this week so it asks for Jesus’ presence in the tunnel rather than only for an exit? Try writing that short prayer now. [55:18]
When have you confused hope with a wish? Choose one concrete way to practice “confident hope” this week (an act of obedience, a generosity step, a trust-filled conversation). What will you do, and when? [01:08:59]
Remember a time when someone brought Christ’s peace to you (a friend, family member, or stranger). What did they actually do that helped? How can you reproduce one of those actions for someone else this week? [01:02:23]

Sermon Clips

There was no rescue in sight. Just miles and miles of emptiness. Hopelessness goes just like that. Hopelessness is not just being lost but it's believing that there is no rescue to come. And that's exactly the moment we find ourselves here in Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah felt abandoned. Israel felt abandoned. The world was silent. People wondered if God had stopped speaking. [00:36:40] (49 seconds) #RescueIsComing

Think of a man standing in a time of great hopelessness. He did not see a rescuer coming. great hopelessness had just come down on not just Isaiah but also on the entire nation of Israel. 700 years before Jesus was born he raised up this prophet Isaiah. 700 years. He raised up the prophet Isaiah. No, he wasn't a king. He wasn't a soldier. He was a voice. He was the voice of God. He was the voice of God in a moment when almost everyone had stopped listening. [00:38:16] (43 seconds) #VoiceInTheDark

Isaiah lived here one of the times of Israel's darkest history. The nation was spiritually cold. Idols filled the land. leaders were corrupt and injustice was normal. The Eurasian army was sweeping across the country and taking everything in its path and the Israelites were no exception to that rule. This one gets me. The families they were terrified. Were they going to survive it? Would they be taken captive? Were their babies going to have food to eat? Were they going to be able to place their heads somewhere? No one knew. [00:39:12] (49 seconds) #SurvivingDarkTimes

It was as if an entire nation was walking through a dark cold night with no sunrise to come. Honestly I don't know about you guys but for me sometimes that feels like the world we live in today. So many people feel hopeless they feel afraid and they feel like the darkness is going to win and that's where we find ourselves here in Isaiah. Isaiah understood what we felt so greatly. [00:40:15] (41 seconds) #DarkNightNoSunrise

Jesus stands as our warrior king and he fights for us when we can't fight for ourselves when the enemy is closing in there is no fear there's no anxiety there is not even death that is greater than our warrior king nothing is greater than our warrior king who stands with us in front of us beside us and holding us up [00:46:22] (34 seconds) #WarriorKingWithUs

``hope is not pretending that the darkness isn't real it's declaring that the darkness will not win I need you to hear that guys darkness is real and we can't pretend and we should not pretend that it is not real because it is but through the darkness we've got to declare that darkness does not win because we've been given a wonderful counselor a mighty god a prince of peace an everlasting father [00:50:02] (36 seconds) #HopeDeclaresVictory

peace is not the absence of a problem peace is the presence of Jesus in the midst of the problem I need you to hear that peace is not the absence of problems we're gonna have problems but peace is Jesus in the middle of them you see Jesus isn't the light at the end of your tunnel he's the light in the tunnel Jesus isn't the light at the end he's walking with you he's beside you he's part of your life he wants to be with you in the tunnel and that's the peace that we find [00:54:42] (45 seconds) #PeaceInTheMiddle

hope is what God pours into our future peace is what God pours into our present hope lifts our eyes peace studies our hearts hope says God is working all things out peace says God is holding you right now hope gives us strength to walk through the darkness peace gives us a calm so that we can walk through it so when we say that Jesus is the light of the world we mean that he brings hope for tomorrow and peace for today [00:58:32] (41 seconds) #HopeTomorrowPeaceToday

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Why did God send a baby not an army?

How are hope and peace intertwined scripturally?

What do Isaiah's messianic titles mean practically?