Title:

WALKING IN THE DARKNESS
"Isaiah 9:1-7"

December 17,2017

Pastor: 

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--

Congregation: 

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Pastor: 

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

Congregation: 

For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Pastor: 

Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

Congregation: 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Pastor: 

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

Unison:

The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.



 

My main point this morning: The Advent of Christ’s Coming came right into the middle of Israel’s darkness which I believe is a pattern for how the Lord continues to come near to us in the midst of ours.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

“God, the eternally wealthy and almighty God, enters into the most extreme human poverty imaginable. No man is so weak and helpless that God does not come to him in Jesus Christ, right in the midst of our human need; no man is so forsaken and homeless in this world that God does not seek him, in the midst of our human distress…

 M Niemoller, 1944

This is what is so singularly peculiar in the Christian message of salvation, which tells us, ‘You need not go to search for God; you should not imagine that he is far from you and is not concerned with what crushes you! He is here and is close to you in the man who, as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, was lying in a manger…”

 M Niemoller, 1944

The Darkness of Grief or Suffering

The Darkness of Fear

The Darkness of Feeling like a Failure

The Darkness of Pride and Unbelief