The Christmas Star

Is 9:2 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.

The Prophet Isaiah is speaking to a nation/his nation at a time when things were good. But he looks ahead, past the good times, to a time when Israel will be swept away into exile. Removed from the land. Displaced from their roots. They were headed into a time of darkness. It would be a time great distress without hope. For 400 years the scripture would go silent. From Malachi to Matthew - 400 years of darkness. No more prophets speaking. No word of the Lord. Just Silence.

Still Isaiah looks beyond the darkness and sees a dramatic turning of events. In the darkness, he sees a light. Isaiah sees the first Christmas hundreds of years before it came. He sees the Christ child. A Baby laying in a manger that would signal the dawn of a brand new dispensation.

Seeing that light, Isaiah begins to encourage his people. He says, to those who wander in darkness - hold on. Don’t lose hope. The light of a new day is about to dawn.

That is still a word for our world here in the year 2020. A year filled with incredible highs and lows. We’ve seen miracles and we’ve seen maelstroms.

I came this morning with a word of encouragement. Christmas is coming! To a people who walked (past tense in darkness) who dwelt (past tense) in deep darkness

A Great Light is shining

Tomorrow night something will take place that hasn’t happened since the 1600s… its been 400 years since it was last seen

Jupiter and Saturn, 45 minutes after sunset, these two planets that are 400 million miles apart, will look like they are touching… making the brightest star in the sky.

What is also unique is that its taking place during the winter solstice
This is the DARKEST day of the year. The longest night and shortest day. On that day, the brightest star will shine. The Christmas star will signal that every day after is brighter!

Can you see Is 9:2

Is 9:2 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.

I can’t help be reminded of the wise men who came from far away, looking for the one who was born king of the jews. How did they know he was born? They were looking for him. They had been watching the sky, and saw his star. They were anticipating him and knew to look for him.

The wise men were looking. They didn’t gaze from afar, they came to see. And when they came to the house where Jesus was… who did they find.

Isaiah tells us…
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.

For to us a child is born - Jesus was Son of Man & Son of God. Isaiah tells us hundreds of years before his coming. He would come in human form. God became man. He would walk in our skin… You don’t serve a God who doesn’t identify with you. An advocate with the father who identifies with your flesh. The Child is God’s connection to us.

To us a son is given - For God so loved, he gave HIS SON. More than a son of man, he was the Son of God.
The bible says God became flesh, and made his dwelling amongst us. No one had ever seen the father, but in seeing Jesus, you saw the father. Just like you can see me in my kids, you can see the father in Christ… A perfect representation of the father. The Son is Our Connection to God.


Isaiah said he is Wonderful
- inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous.
There is nothing dull about JESUS.
The Christian life is anything but boring
He turns our wandering into wondering

He is a Counselor
He is a teacher and guide who offers wisdom and truth in his words and teaching
Comfort in our mourning

He is a Mighty God
He said, “All power and all authority was given to him.”
Nothing Impossible for him
No situation, no sickness, no circumstance beyond his rule

He is the Everlasting Father
In Hebrew Father means - the originator. In the beginning was the word, the word was with God the word was God, through Him all things were made.
All things begin in Christ. He is the originator of eternity

He is the Prince of Peace
I don’t give peace as the world gives peace. He offers lasting peace! A kingdom of peace.

The night Jesus was born there was a sign in the sky… A star and a choir

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

This is the light, the hope, that the star pointed to.

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.

In a year of much darkness, many are looking for hope. They need to see the light. Here is the truth

Hope isn’t found under a tree, it was hung on the tree
You will not find the perfect gift this year to give, it’s already been given to you!

UNITE714
Weekly Prayer
20 through 26 December

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil .”Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

THE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, You taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are part of a prayer coalition representing 180 different nations. Millions are in need of daily sustenance. Some are unemployed. Many people are hungry and starving. We thank you today that Heaven’s pantry is not empty! For those outside Your Kingdom, things can even be worse. As for those who are prospering, help them care for those who are hungry and destitute as if they, too, were impoverished.

Lord, today we cry out: Give us an outpouring of Heaven’s bread. If You provided supernaturally for the Israelites in the wilderness, You can provide for Your people today. We cry out for those who are unemployed. Provide them jobs, we pray. Meet the needs of those who are starving; please open the wells of generosity in people’s hearts around the world. You have shown us Your abundant mercy in the midst of pain and plague. Above all, Jesus, the bread of Heaven, we cry out to You in faith; as we meet You through Your Word and prayer, fill us with Your life and Your presence.

Heavenly Father, in this hour of incredible pressure and need, it is easy to grow angry with those groups and individuals who are failing or threatening us. Whether they are government officials or workers, employers, landlords, friends, or family members, today we choose to forgive, even as

You have forgiven us. Forgive us and cleanse us afresh for our own prejudice and bitterness, too, we pray. Where we have stereotyped whole groups of people based on their ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background, deliver us from this blinding bias, so we might see people through Your eyes.

Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from bias, profiling, prejudice, unforgiveness, and bitterness, for judgment must start first in Your own house. As you cleanse and forgive us, we come boldly before Your throne, crying out: Let Your love for us be magnified, so it radiates into our divided and broken nations. Heal the strife between us, which has existed for centuries, and the volcanic forces of pain, hopelessness, and anger which are fracturing the world once again. Send us a powerful revival to wash away offenses and sweep the oppressed masses of our world into the arms of Your redeeming love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.