12/14/2014

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on the True Wonder of Christmas

Lessons from Isaiah

on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

GETTING THE BIG PICTURE

733-732 BC

Assyria conquersIsrael & begins deporting & re-populating Isaiah prophecies a great reversal…

• Distress >>> Joy• Humiliation >>> Honor• Darkness >>> Light

How?? … 3 “For’s” (9:4-7)

on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

THE PROPHECY IS FULLFILLED IN THE COMING OF JESUS

30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:30-33)

13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."(Matt. 4:13-17)

12/14/2014

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on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

THE PROBLEM OF OUR DARKNESS

Darkness =• Evil• Evil’s effects

The Darkness of our sin

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

The Deeper Darkness……the Sin beneath the Sin

The Darkness of Distress that sin’s effects bring into our lives

on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

THE GIFT OF LIGHT FLASHING

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2Cor. 4:6)

And Can it Be (Charles Wesley)

Long my imprisoned spirit lay/Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;/Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,/I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;/My chains fell off, my heart was free,/I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

THE GIFT OF LIGHT FLASHING

How Do You Enter the Light??

The Light is a GIFT

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given (Is. 9:6)

Some gifts make you swallow your pride…they are hard to receive

Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali- to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah…." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt. 4:13-17)

12/14/2014

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on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

THE GIFT OF LIGHT FLASHING

And Can it Be (Charles Wesley)

Long my imprisoned spirit layFast bound in sin and nature’s night;Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;My chains fell off, my heart was free,I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

How does the light of Christ continue to bring freedom into your life?

on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

WAITING FOR THE FULL LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS to DAWN

Isaiah 60:17-19I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler.18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Revelation 21:23

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

The True Light in which

we were made to thrive& flourish

on the True Wonder of Christmas

Lessons from Isaiah

12/14/2014

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on the True Wonder of Christmas Lessons from Isaiah

LIGHT IN DARKNESS

v Where are you thinking light can never penetrate that

dark place in your life?

vWill the lights of Christmas lead you to ponderthe fullness of life in the light of God’s glory to come?

vWill you pray for opportunities to share the light of Christ this season?

"You are the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14))