WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.839 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.719 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:19.719 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:21.580 All right. Well, good morning, 00:00:21.580 --> 00:00:23.800 Ontario Community Church. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:26.199 How are we all doing this morning? 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:27.719 Good. 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:33.320 Well, it's great to be with you this morning. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.479 Today, we're going to begin a new sermon series, 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:38.600 which we're going to go ahead and put on the screen, 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:42.119 is titled, Journey to the Major, 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:46.519 Prophets, Promises, and the Prince of Peace. 00:00:46.519 --> 00:00:48.879 We're going to be taking these next seven weeks, 00:00:48.879 --> 00:00:53.000 focusing on the coming of Jesus Christ. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:54.679 It's going to be what you would call 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:56.739 an extended Advent series, 00:00:56.740 --> 00:00:58.400 where we're going to be focusing on, 00:00:58.400 --> 00:01:01.719 what does prophecy have to say about the coming of the Messiah? 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:04.519 What are the promises that God has for us? 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:07.320 Let's talk about the Prince of Peace. 00:01:07.320 --> 00:01:10.400 It's that second slide, actually. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.400 It's okay. I put it out at the border of my bad. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.640 Our sermon for today, 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.159 we're going to be talking about the Prophet's vision. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.560 The title of the sermon for today is going to be 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:30.120 the first slide, Anticipation and Promise. 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:34.079 Our scripture readings are going to be from Micah chapter 5, 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:37.799 verse 2, and Isaiah chapter 11, 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:39.799 verses 1 through 10. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:41.800 As I was mentioning, we're going to go through 00:01:41.800 --> 00:01:45.800 this entire series through the Advent season. 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:48.400 It's just going to be preparing us for Advent, 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:50.920 and we're going to have this nice Christmas time together. 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:52.680 It's going to be really great. 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:54.480 Before we go any further, 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:57.079 what I want to do, I want us to go ahead and open in prayer, 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:58.520 and we'll get started. 00:01:58.520 --> 00:02:01.600 So Father God, we thank you for bringing us here today, 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:05.680 as we're starting our new series on Journey to the Manger, 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:10.159 a series that is going to have us as a church focus on 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:11.960 your son, Jesus Christ, 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:17.920 specifically on preparing the way for him to be born in the manger. 00:02:17.920 --> 00:02:19.960 For in you sending your son, 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:22.000 you changed the course of history. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.560 You provided a way for salvation through your son, 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:29.039 and it is in this season that we reflect on this time, 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.360 where we look to prepare our minds and our hearts. 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:36.240 There is this anticipation and there is this promise 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.599 that you bring us the Prince of Peace. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:41.759 And I am reminded of how, Father, 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:47.400 your word says that the word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:49.280 and we are just in awe. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.759 We are in wonder of who you are. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.679 And what you have done for us by sending your son, Jesus, 00:02:54.679 --> 00:02:56.479 the Messiah, the Christ, 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:01.359 who came to earth as a child, born in a manger. 00:03:01.359 --> 00:03:05.719 So we ask that you are with us as we start this new sermon series, 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:09.840 and we ask that you work in and through us today. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.680 May you teach us something, 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:15.439 and may this teaching this morning lead to you. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.959 Have a relationship with you and grow in faith in you. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.840 We ask that the Holy Spirit is with us today, 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.680 and I am also reminded, Lord, 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.640 that Scripture says that we are two or three or gathered, 00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:27.920 there you are with us. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:30.159 So be with us this morning. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.080 We say all of these things in Jesus' name, 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:33.840 and we all say together, Amen. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.280 Amen. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:37.920 You know, there are many times in life 00:03:37.920 --> 00:03:42.719 where we are patiently waiting for something. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:44.719 Can you think of a time, the last time, 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.879 that you were waiting for something? 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:50.400 I want to put that on the slide as the question here. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.439 You think of a time where you were patiently waiting 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:56.400 for someone or something, 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.000 and what I'd like to do, 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.759 I'd like you to turn to the person next to you. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.840 Let's take a couple minutes here. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.680 Turn to the person next to you. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:05.120 Let's take a few minutes, 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:06.879 and let's talk about the last time 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.840 you were patiently waiting for someone or something, 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:10.960 and I'm talking about you were, 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.280 you had this sense of anticipation. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.879 So let's go ahead, let's take a couple minutes, 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.079 turn to the person next to you, 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:17.680 and let's answer that question. 00:04:20.159 --> 00:04:24.000 All right, let's go ahead and finish it on up, right? 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.479 So perhaps there was a time 00:04:28.479 --> 00:04:31.199 you were waiting for a job promotion, 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:32.799 or maybe you were waiting for grades 00:04:32.799 --> 00:04:34.159 on the test that you were taking. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.799 Maybe you were waiting at the DMV. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.039 Right? 00:04:39.039 --> 00:04:40.959 I got to tell you, that was a funny story. 00:04:41.599 --> 00:04:43.519 I went in and I finally got my, 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.240 I got my Idaho license, 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.839 and Amber was patiently waiting to get her license, 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:52.000 and she didn't have all of the documents, 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.399 so there was that sense of anticipation, 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:56.000 not to throw her under the bus, though, 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.959 but I know that feeling, 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:00.159 and I think we all can relate 00:05:00.159 --> 00:05:03.120 to that kind of feeling of waiting for something, 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.439 and you have to wait a little bit longer here. 00:05:06.479 --> 00:05:08.000 Maybe you were waiting for good news. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.680 Maybe there was a time you were longing 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:11.359 for positive change in your life. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:13.680 Maybe you were anticipating that something good 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.040 is going to happen even in this bad times, 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.800 crazy times that are happening in your life. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:21.040 I want to tell you guys a story, 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.199 the story of my twin boys. 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:25.360 Now, for those of you who know me, 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:26.960 you, or at least you should know, 00:05:26.960 --> 00:05:28.800 I have five kids, right? 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.199 I have two sets of identical twins. 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:33.360 So I want to tell you the story 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.639 of the birth of my twin boys here. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:38.720 So a couple of years ago, 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:42.080 we were in Southern California in Loma Linda, 00:05:42.080 --> 00:05:43.200 and we were waiting. 00:05:43.200 --> 00:05:45.680 We were in this sense of anticipation, 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.880 waiting for the birth of these twin boys. 00:05:49.440 --> 00:05:51.200 My wife was in the hospital, 00:05:51.200 --> 00:05:53.680 and she was close to delivering the boys. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.560 And at that specific day, I remember, 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.680 I was waiting, she was waiting. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.200 We were both waiting for these boys to be born. 00:06:03.840 --> 00:06:06.160 Now, for those of you who've had kids, 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:07.440 which I'm sure most of you have, 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.319 have kids, which I'm sure most of us have, have kids, right? 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.199 Waiting for a child to be born is very exciting, right? 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.040 You're anticipating the birth of a child. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:18.399 And Amber was going into delivery 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.240 and hours and hours were passing by, 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:21.759 but nothing was going on. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:26.319 And I was waiting, and deep down inside, 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.319 I got to admit, I kept thinking, 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.879 I need to stay with my wife, right? 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:33.839 Okay, she goes to deliver the babies. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:34.800 It'll be a done deal. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:38.639 Same thing with Amber. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.560 She fell inside that I needed to stay there. 00:06:41.280 --> 00:06:43.360 Did the doctors feel the same way? 00:06:44.400 --> 00:06:45.040 Well, no. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.040 In fact, what happened was the doctors came in 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:47.920 and they said, you know, 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:51.120 I don't think the boys are going to be born today. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:52.800 Why don't you go home? 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.120 At first I was like, I don't know. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.800 I'm not really sure about this. 00:06:57.840 --> 00:07:01.360 Well, I got to tell you, I should have stayed. 00:07:02.400 --> 00:07:03.120 I should have stayed. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:04.319 I should have stayed. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:05.040 So what happened? 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:06.160 I was leaving the hospital. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.800 I thought, you know, I still feel like I should stay here 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.199 and wait for the boys to be born. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.199 So I'll just be close by. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.680 You know, maybe there's a burger place nearby. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.439 So I went down the street. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.399 I had lunch and I took a long time to have lunch, right? 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.560 Because deep down in the back of my mind, 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.800 I'm thinking, I think Amber's going to have these twins. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.319 So I eat my lunch, finish my lunch. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:32.639 And I remember I was like, okay, 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:35.839 well, I guess maybe the doctor's right. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:40.159 Maybe I need to go home and just go for a drive. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:42.639 Well, as I'm approaching my car, 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.159 I remember I opened the car door 00:07:44.159 --> 00:07:46.719 and I get into the driver's seat 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:48.719 and I'm fastening my seatbelt. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:50.399 And I'm about ready to go. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:52.639 And do I get a phone call? 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.959 I do get a phone call. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.680 I get a phone call from Amber saying, where are you? 00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.839 I'm going into labor. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:01.839 And I said, oh, thank God, I'm close by. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:03.839 I was like 15 minutes away. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.039 Now, for her, 15 minutes is going to seem like two hours. 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:09.839 For me, am I going to speed down the freeway 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.839 or am I going to obey traffic laws? 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:13.839 Well, of course I obeyed traffic laws 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.039 and I tried to get there as quickly 00:08:15.039 --> 00:08:17.039 and as legally as possible, right? 00:08:17.039 --> 00:08:19.039 And I was there to make it in time 00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:21.039 for the birth of my twin boys. 00:08:21.039 --> 00:08:22.239 So that was really good. 00:08:22.239 --> 00:08:23.839 And that was just one of those things 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.839 where there's this sense of anticipation 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.839 waiting for the birth of my twin boys. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.719 For the waiting for the birth of these twin boys. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.519 Perhaps there was a time where 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:38.079 you could think of anticipating patiently waiting for something. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:42.720 And today I bring up this story kind of as a nice little segue 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.839 into the two Bible passages that we're speaking about. 00:08:45.839 --> 00:08:48.559 Anticipation and promise. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.199 That same way that we feel that we're excited 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:52.159 for something to happen. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.759 Sometimes we anticipate something good to happen. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.759 And in the case of the Isaiah passage 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.759 and in the case of the Micah passage 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:01.759 there is anticipation 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.759 as in hope for the coming of the Messiah. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.759 Now certainly it's not the birth of twin boys 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.759 but it's the birth, the coming of the Messiah. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.759 And so today, our first verse, 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.759 we're going to go from Isaiah chapter 11 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.759 verses 1 through 10. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.759 I'm going to put that on the slide. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.759 It's going to be on page 683 in your ESVQ Bible. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:25.759 So let's go ahead and turn there together. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.759 And as we're turning there, I want us to keep in mind 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:35.759 that this verse is talking, it's the prophet Isaiah. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:37.759 He is speaking of the future leader. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:43.759 The anticipation and the promise of the king. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.759 Well what king? 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.759 It is the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:51.759 So let's turn there, page 683. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.759 Alright, are we all there? 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.759 Isaiah chapter 11 verses 1 through 10. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:27.759 So here we go. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:31.759 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.759 He shall not judge by what his eyes sees 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.759 or decide a dispute by what his ears hear. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:43.759 But with righteousness, with righteousness, 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:45.759 he shall judge the poor 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.759 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.759 And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.759 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.759 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.759 and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.759 And verse 6 here. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.759 The what shall dwell with the lamb? 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.759 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.759 and the leopard shall lie down with the what? 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.759 The goat, right? 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.759 The calf and the lion and the fattened calf together 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.759 and a little child shall lead them. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:21.759 The cow and the bear shall graze. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.759 Their young shall lie down together. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:27.759 And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:31.759 The nursing child shall play over the whole of the cobra. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:33.759 I always get terrified of that verse. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.759 A child playing over the whole of a cobra 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:37.759 is just not the best image that I mentally get of. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:41.759 But if you can imagine a child playing safe 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.759 with the whole of a cobra, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.759 that's quite an image right there, right? 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:47.759 But it says here. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.759 The nursing child shall play over by the whole of the cobra. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:53.759 And the wean child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.759 We'll turn to that next page. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:01.759 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.759 for the earth shall be full of the what? 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.759 The knowledge of the Lord. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.759 And I love this. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.759 As the waters cover the sea, 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.759 man, water can cover a lot, right? 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:17.759 So as the knowledge of the Lord. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.759 And in verse 10, in that day, 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:23.759 the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the prophets, 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.759 of him shall the nations inquire, 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:31.759 and his resting place shall be glorious. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.759 So that's our first verse. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.759 And you know what? 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.759 Let's keep going. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.759 Let's turn to our second verse in Micah. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:13:03.759 So that's going to be on page 9, 26. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:09.759 So Micah chapter 5 verse 2. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:13.759 But you, O Bethlehem, 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:17.759 who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.759 from you shall come forth for me, 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.759 one who what? 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.759 is to be ruler in Israel, 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:31.759 whose coming forth is from old, 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.759 from ancient days. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.759 So we'll stop right there. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.759 And what I'd like to do, I want us to turn to, 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.759 let's go to that next slide, that image here. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:45.759 I want to go ahead and take the opportunity to put this image 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.759 that was created as a visual representation 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:53.759 of the Isaiah and the Micah passage. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:14:05.759 Let's go ahead and put that on the screen. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.759 It's not that one. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.759 That one, that's the one. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:15.759 So we have this one as a visual representation. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:21.759 So when you see in here, you see this image of a tree stump, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:25.759 and out of the tree, that is, looks like it's dead, right? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.759 Looks like it got chopped down, right? 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:31.759 Out of that is the shoot, 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:35.759 life coming out of the stump as it were. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.759 If you remember, when we were going over those verses, 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.759 in Isaiah 11, one, 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:46.759 there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:49.759 and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.759 There shall be the bearing of fruit there. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:54.759 And then you also see in here, there's different animals. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:57.759 I couldn't put a baby with a cobra. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.759 That didn't really come out in there. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.759 But you get the idea, though, of the different animals 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:06.759 laying together, being together, getting along with each other. 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:11.759 I mean, I know a lot of songs talk about the lion in the lamb, right? 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.759 It's kind of in Scripture. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.759 I know it's the wolf in the lamb, whatever. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:18.759 But you still get the idea that you have these predators, 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.759 and you will with these non-predator-like animals 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:24.759 that are laying with each other. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:29.759 They're laying down together, being peaceful, right? 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.759 You have the stump of Jesse, and then in the background, 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:37.759 the Micah passage is talking about how the ruler will be born in Bethlehem. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:42.759 So it's just a really good image of what we're talking about this morning. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:46.759 When we read the passage in Isaiah, we're reading about a time 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:51.759 when the kingdom of Judah was under threat from other kingdoms 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.759 or other empires, as it were. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:58.759 And they were also dealing with moral decline that was happening. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:01.759 So when we're reading about the stump of Jesse, 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.759 this verse is speaking of a kingdom that was once great, 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.759 like a great tree, right? 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.759 You think of a large tree with all of its leaves, right? 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.759 Spreading out, it's huge. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.759 If you cut it, you're like, this is a magnificent tree. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:21.759 Well, then it gets cut down as symbolism of moral decline 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:25.759 or empires, as it were, the threats of empires 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:31.759 or this constant state of external threats getting chopped down. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.759 That's a very harsh imagery if you think about it. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.759 A kingdom that was once great now has been diminished, 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:44.759 but out of the stump, there comes the chute. 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.759 And think about that. 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:51.759 Despite this tree being cut down as it were, there's hope. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:54.759 There's new life that's coming out of there. 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.759 And this is talking about Jesus Christ. 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:04.759 And I want to put that next image, it's the three trees. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:08.759 And I think this is going to kind of help with kind of imagery. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:12.759 You're thinking of the big tree, and then the chopping down of the tree. 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:15.759 That second tree, you're looking at that, and you wonder, 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.759 well, is there any hope for this tree? 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:22.759 I know I get sad when I see a really nice tree that got chopped down. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:26.759 It's like, oh no, now you have a stump. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:30.759 But out of that stump, you have new life in it. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.759 The three trees. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:37.759 The first tree is a representation of a full tree showing the Davidic kingdom. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.759 When there was strength, and there was faithfulness to God. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.759 The second tree, it represents the tree being cut down, 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:52.759 like I was saying, moral decline, threats from other kingdoms and from empires, so to speak. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:58.759 And then the third tree, the stump with the chute, it's speaking of the Messiah. 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.759 Hope even when there's hopelessness. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:05.759 We know that as Jesus Christ. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:10.759 And this new growth shows that there's hope even in the midst of moral decline, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:15.759 even in the midst of outside forces or threats, so to speak. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:19.759 There is still the coming of Christ. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:24.759 And what a wonderful reminder of our Lord and our God, 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:27.759 that His divine timing is going to happen. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:32.759 God will see to it that Christ will be born regardless of the moral decline, 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:36.759 regardless of the bad things that are happening at this time. 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:40.759 So the language that is being spoken, that's being written in the Word of God, 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:46.759 is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of counsel, 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:51.759 the Spirit of might, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:57.759 It speaks of the coming King who will have divine qualities, divine attributes, 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:03.759 as opposed to, well, you know, those human rulers, those human authorities. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:09.759 I don't know about you, but I would rather place my trust in a leader, or the leader, 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:16.759 in Jesus who has these qualities, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:22.759 I mean, how, I mean, not to get too political here, but we know that our human leaders are flawed, right? 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:30.759 To have Jesus Christ as a, the coming ruler, I'd much rather place my trust in Him. 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:35.759 These verses speak of Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy, 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:41.759 but also speaking of the things that are yet to come, peace on earth. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.759 And when Jesus Christ comes to rule the earth, there will be peace, 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:48.759 and it's talking even further, right? 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:54.759 And thinking of these animals laying together, I mean, how often will you, 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:59.759 would you want to put a lamb with a wolf, right? 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:03.759 But to think that there will be peace like that, it's just wonderful imagery, 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.759 and it's a great reminder. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:11.759 And in the Micah passage, we find that just like in the Isaiah passage, there were threats, 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:17.759 there were threats of empires and kingdoms. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.759 There is promise of, as the verse says in Micah 5, 2, 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:29.759 one who is the ruler in Israel, who's coming forth is from of old the ancient days. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:35.759 And that language that is being used is talking about, is it talking about a new ruler? 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:38.759 Or is it talking about someone that's existed before? 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.759 Well, the language is very clear. 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:45.759 The ruler who's coming from the ancient days. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.759 Well, that's interesting language, isn't it? 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:51.759 If you really think about it, okay, the verse is talking about the coming ruler 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.759 who's going to be born in Bethlehem, the prophecies of the Old Testament, 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:59.759 these are prophecies that had to be fulfilled. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.759 The ancient days though. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:06.759 We've talked about previously about how Jesus Christ was at the creation of the world, 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:12.759 about how Jesus Christ was there, right, when we went over Proverbs. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:16.759 Well, from understanding that Christ was there at the creation of the world, 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:20.759 the foundation, the creation account, so to speak, 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:26.759 that's speaking of Christ, the ancient one, so to speak. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:29.759 Christ was at the creation of the universe and took part of it, 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:34.759 and it just fits very nicely with this Micah passage. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:37.759 Christ has been there since the beginning of the creation of the world, 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.759 and it reminds me of that verse in John. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:44.759 In the beginning was the what? The word, right? 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:48.759 And then further on, the word became what? 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:52.759 Became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:58.759 And this should make us in awe and of wonder of who our Lord and our God is 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:03.759 to conceal the coming of Christ and then to reveal it later on. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.759 It's just wonderful. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:09.759 And both of these verses are speaking of bad things that are happening in the world 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:13.759 in regards to war and moral decline. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:18.759 It reminds me of things that are happening in the world today. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.759 We think about moral decline. 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.759 Well, it's the first thing that comes to your head. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.759 You don't have to answer that. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.759 But what's the first thing that comes to your mind? 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.759 You think of moral decline. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.759 If you don't know, I'll just turn on the news for a little bit. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:32.759 You'll probably get some information on that, right? 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.759 Here about threats. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:38.759 I think of how Scripture talks about wars and the rumors of wars, right? 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.759 It's not kind of language. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.759 And it's just a great reminder. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:49.759 There's this sense of anticipation in the biblical text about the coming of the Messiah, 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.759 the coming of Jesus Christ. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:57.759 Much like how we wait upon the Lord, much how we wait for Jesus' second coming. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.759 And you know something that's very interesting. 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:03.759 In discussion I've had with a lot of the pastors out here, 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:10.759 there was discussion about the second coming and the end times and when is Jesus coming back. 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:14.759 Just as a side note, let's be reminded. 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:18.759 Let's focus on Jesus' first coming, 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:21.759 before we even focus on the second coming of Christ. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.759 In other words, come to know the Lord first, 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:28.759 before you even begin to focus on when he is returning. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:31.759 And in that discussion with these different pastors, 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.759 it was just kind of a great reminder. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:38.759 Sometimes we focus so much on when is Jesus coming as the second coming. 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:41.759 Let's focus on the first coming, 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:44.759 on when Jesus was born in that manger, 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:48.759 when he grew up, when he performed these miracles, 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:54.759 when he fulfilled all of these prophecies and the promises of the Lord. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:59.759 Think of all of the teachings of Christ and you think of all of the miracles of Christ. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:04.759 Shouldn't that be our focus rather than when is Christ coming back? 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:07.759 I just think it's a great reminder for us. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:13.759 Let's focus on the first coming of Christ rather than the second coming. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.759 That's not to say don't ever focus on the second coming my friends, okay? 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:22.759 But certainly seek first the Lord, seek first the kingdom of God. 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.759 Our God is constant and he is everlasting to everlasting. 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:34.759 God keeps his promises and we can see our God can be trusted. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:39.759 The coming fourth of Jesus Christ was a fulfillment of prophecy. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:44.759 It's understanding that Christ is also a part of the triune God, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:50.759 that Christ has these divine attributes that are higher than the attributes of man. 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.759 For it is God who restores. 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:56.759 I've said it once, maybe once or twice here at this church. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:59.759 There's that famous saying to err is human, right? 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:03.759 You've probably heard that before, but to restore is God. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:06.759 That's what God does. He restores, right? 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:09.759 We err, right? Just like we sin, we miss the mark. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:12.759 But God is the one that restores us. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:19.759 Both of these passages, moral decline and external threats. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:25.759 What do we do when we read or we hear about moral decline? 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:32.759 What do we do when we hear about threats of wars or rumors of wars? 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:37.759 You know, despite moral decline, threats from different countries, wars in different countries, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.759 these are tragic things that are happening and I don't want to discount that. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:47.759 In the midst of wars, famine, bad events that happen, 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.759 where do you put your hope in? 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:52.759 Where do you turn to in bad events? 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:55.759 That is the question to think of. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:01.759 It reminds me and we'll put this on the screen in Psalm 121. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.759 It just all ties together. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:10.759 When we've gone over these Isaiah passage and the Micah passage, 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:14.759 let's think for a moment out of the chute, right? 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:17.759 Out of the stump of Jesse came the chute. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:23.759 There is hope despite moral decay, despite threats. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:28.759 Well, there's hope for us in Jesus Christ, despite moral decline, 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:32.759 despite things that are happening on the outside. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:37.759 It's very discouraging to read of what is going on in the world. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:40.759 Very discouraging, very disheartening. 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:45.759 The war that's going on with Israel, the war in Ukraine, 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:49.759 or when we read about what's, let's bring it home for a little bit, 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:53.759 those that are suffering in our community, those that are struggling, 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.759 it seems that it's hopeless. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.759 Where do we place our hope? 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:00.759 We place our hope in the Lord. 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:16.759 And I want us to turn to page 612 in Psalm 121. 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:21.759 My hope comes from the Lord. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:26.759 Let's read this together. You can read it out loud or you can read it quietly. 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:32.759 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:39.759 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:43.759 He will not let your foot be moved. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:47.759 He who keeps you will not slumber. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:54.759 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 00:27:54.759 --> 00:28:00.759 The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your right hand. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:05.759 The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:11.759 The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:21.759 The Lord will keep you going out and you're coming in from this time forth and forevermore. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:30.759 I want to put this image, it's this man who looks like he's going to go on a hike, right? 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.759 It's just a great image. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:46.759 I'm sure some of you have been hiking before and you've seen a good sunrise or a good view of the mountains, the rivers, of nature, the grandeur of creation. 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:58.759 I want you to imagine if you're down or you're depressed or you're sad or you're angry, or maybe you're hopeless, maybe you're discouraged. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:13.759 Know that hope comes from the Lord and that should be encouragement to know the Lord, to come to believe in him as that saving grace. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:25.759 What a wonderful encouragement. The next time you go for a hike and you see the mountains or the hill, I want you to think about where your help comes from. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:40.759 Whether you're going to see a sunrise or a sunset today or you're going to be in nature sometime, the next time that happens, I want you to think that your help, that your hope comes from the Lord. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:30:02.759 And even in the days that we face today, with so much discouragement, when it seems like the stump of society is just there, when society seems dead, there is hope in Christ, the chute of Jesse. 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:13.759 And it's a great reminder for us that in this crazy world that we live in, there's hope in Christ. For the Word of God is living and active. 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:31.759 It is in Jesus Christ who is our living hope. And these passages speak of, they speak to those they were written to, but it can also be read from us today about encouragement in these crazy times. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:46.759 There is no greater opportunity today for you to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. When the world is sinking, wouldn't you want to get on the lifeboat, the life raft? 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:53.759 Where do you build your foundation? Is it on the sinking sand or is it on the solid rock? 00:30:53.759 --> 00:31:05.759 For it is in Christ that we receive salvation and it is in Christ that we have hope and it is in Christ that we receive that peace that is beyond understanding. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:19.759 Have you ever met someone who's really in tune with the Lord? There's that peace that comes from that. There's that joy, that unspeakable joy as some translations say, joy of the Lord. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:29.759 Having knowledge and insight of Scripture, that's always an interesting one. But most importantly, life everlasting. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:38.759 And if you do not know the Lord, I invite you to believe in Him, to make a decision for Him and to receive that gift of salvation. 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:52.759 The world that we live in, it seems like it's just like a deadening tree, a tree that is beginning to die. But in that, we need that living hope. 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:56.759 We need that solid rock. We need that firm foundation in our lives. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:32:10.759 And doesn't that encourage you to share in your faith, to share in your testimony and to let others know your friends, your family, your neighbor, who the Lord is? 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:20.759 Doesn't that encourage you to know that you are saved by grace through faith, to know that you're secure is a wonderful feeling. 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:26.759 Now go and make disciples, right? Go and spread the good news of the Gospel. 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:38.759 So I want us to keep these things in mind as we conclude our time this morning. I remember, I want us to keep in mind, this is just the beginning of our sermon series, Journey to the Manger. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:46.759 This next week, we're going to talk about preparation, repentance and readiness for the Prince of Peace. 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:54.759 So we'll talk more about that next week and we'll be going into how can we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Messiah. 00:32:54.759 --> 00:33:02.759 Let us allow for God to prepare our hearts for the wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Will you pray with me? 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:12.759 And Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity to come together this morning as we're starting this new series, Journey to the Manger. 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:19.759 And we ask that you're with us as we go forth from this place and we ask that you help us draw near to you. 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:31.759 May we realize that that hope comes from you, that peace comes from you, that salvation comes through you, through us believing in you. 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:37.759 It is not about what we do, it is about what was done by your Son. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:45.759 And we are in awe and we're in wonder of that. We are thankful for that. We are in gratitude for that. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:54.759 May we realize, God, that you keep your promises and that you will never leave us. You will never abandon us. You will never forsake us. 00:33:54.759 --> 00:34:04.759 You are that constant in this ever-changing world that we live in. We love you. We love you, God, and we thank you. 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:09.760 We glorify you and we honor you. We worship you and we adore you. 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:15.760 It is in Jesus' mighty name that we pray and we all stay together. Amen. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:19.760 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:27.760 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:36.760 May God's blessings be with you.