December 01, 2024

                                                               THE COMING KING: IT ALL STARTS WITH HIM!                                                                                                                                                                                          December 01, 2024
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

It is so hard to believe another Christmas season has arrived. It seems as though we have just put decorations away and suddenly it’s here again. We are interrupting our study of the books of the Bible to have a series for Christmas on the coming of Jesus Christ. His first coming, two thousand years ago, is celebrated annually; His second coming—returning to set up a heavenly kingdom that will last forever—is yet to be. But it will start with knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord, giving us hope for the future: eternal life, with Him.

Focal Passage: Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-5, 6-7.

The coming King

• Read Isaiah 7:14. What was special about the Child Isaiah said would be born? Why do people not want to accept that this Child would be born of a virgin? Why does the world not want to believe this Child came from God?
• Read Is. 9:1-5. What had life in Israel been like at the time of this prophecy? Read verse 6a. When Isaiah gave this prophecy, had the birth occurred? Why was it so clear in his mind? Was ever another baby born who fulfilled these prophecies? Which prophecy in particular could never be duplicated?
• Who is the only One who could reveal a prophecy to Isaiah, when it would not be fulfilled for seven-hundred years?

God coming for us

• Read verse 6b. Was there any doubt this Child would be a Son? Read Ps. 2:7b and John 3:16. How did He get the designation of the Son of God?
• As Isaiah wrote these chapters, did he shy away from telling the truth, both that the virgin would be with Child, and it would be a Son? Did Isaiah have any reservations about making known what was going to happen? Why do we hold back when truth must be spoken?
• Why was He coming? What did the people expect at that time? Who did He come for?

It all starts and ends with Him

• Read verse 6c. What is the significance of the government resting upon His shoulders? How can that be? What government are we speaking of?
• Who will be subject to the rule of this Child? Read Matt. 28:18. What power is given to Jesus Christ? Read John 18:36. What is His kingdom?
• What does His ‘shoulder’ indicate? Will the whole world be under His strength?
• To recap, what was the name His mother gave Him in chapter 7? What did that mean? Read Matt. 1:21. What was His earthly name to be? What did these two names signify?
• If He carries the weight of the world on His shoulders—without the help of you or me—why do we worry about things in our lives? What should we be doing?

TAKE AWAYS:

• Don’t allow the stress (problems, pain, suffering) of our current day (today) strip us of the hope found in Jesus Christ.
• Jesus is not just an encouraging teacher who was born and from whom we learn how to live. He is almighty God who carries everything upon His shoulder.
• The darkness of today is temporary. Jesus has “prepared a place” for us all. (John 14:1-6).
• It is all ONLY GOD.

Close:

Isaiah started his ministry unlike most other prophets we know of: he had a vision, in Isaiah 6:1, of seeing the “Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” He goes on to tell what he saw in that temple, as he felt himself to be a man of “unclean lips,” and saw seraphim fly down with a burning coal to sterilize—make clean—his mouth. When God asked, “Who will go for Me?” Isaiah immediately responded, “Here am I, send me!”

What an impressive obedience to God’s request for a willing servant. How many of us, when God asks, “Will you go to the other side of the globe?” or “Will you go across town, to tell others of Me?” we shake our heads and respond, “Not right now—maybe later.” Today in the service at Thomas Road, we saw two young adults commissioned to go from America to another country to work with the people of that nation, to earn the right to tell them that eternal life is available in Jesus Christ. What a spirit of obedience, and how we should lift those two young people up in prayer every day for their protection, support, and strength as they serve the Lord.

We can all serve Him each day here at home. There are many chances in a day to be a light in this dark world. Jesus came to earth in a human body as the Light of the world. He passed on to us the job of shining as a light daily. May we do it, especially during this Christmas season when so many people ask “What is Christmas all about?” We can tell them.

By Sandy Day
December 01, 2024