Waiting: Christ Will Come into the World

Proclamation / Isaiah 9:2–7

We are entering into the Advent season. Advent celebrates Christ’s entrance into the world.

It is the reminder that God had to come close. That God entered into our darkness. That He entered into our mess.

Advent is the continual reminder that Christ came to us. We did not have to find

This morning we are going to look at an OT text in the prophet Isaiah. This may be a familiar text. It is one of the primary advent texts where we see a picture of a Savior coming into the world.

It is a prophecy, a forth telling of what the Messiah would be like.

That is why Christmas is important. It is the reminder that there is always light. That we have “seen a great light.”

Waiting is unfinished.

Isaiah 9:2–3 ESV

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.

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.

Isaiah 9:4 ESV

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.

In this passage there is a reminder of the Exodus. God does a new thing through a

giant through line. What God has always done He renews in Jesus.

waiting is unfinished, then waiting is searching for something

Advent is a reminder that waiting for the right thing is not a waste. Advent is searching, it is not just holding out.

To wait in Advent is not just to wait. It is to search. It is expecting.

How we wait matters because it shows us what we are waiting for

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

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.

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.

So look at what God did. He sent a child. He brings deliverance through a child.

Through vulnerability.

God’s truths must be incarnated. They must be embodied. God restores through relationship. God is not bringing better ideas or better resources. He is coming Himself. God embodies what He promises

The witness of waiting. How we posture ourselves as we wait matters

This season is not like every other season, because it is worthwhile waiting for the

specific God who came into time.

That is why our worship matters. Because it is both waiting and hope.

that is why serving matter. It is both waiting and hope

the way you live your life and interact with others tells people what kind of line you are in. It tells people what you are waiting for. and for the church. Our posture is to do that together.

Your waiting is unfinished. That means it is filled with hope. Let’s spend this Advent season posturing our lives in a way that reflects that hope.