Point of Grace Online Worship 11.29.20

Sermon Notes – 1st Sunday in Advent

“WAITING …” Advent 2020 Advent 1 - The Humility of Waiting Readies us for Jesus

Why is waiting so frustrating …… humbling?

What about waiting on God?

Isaiah is frustrated with waiting.

Isaiah 64 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.

The Lament – “Where are you God?”

“But …” (vs.5) Isaiah goes deeper into the humility of waiting.

Isaiah 64 But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.

The humility of waiting leads us to a deep honesty about

our own sinfulness and the sinfulness of humanity!

We are both victims and perpetrators!

Now Isaiah is “readied” ……… to see God! Our sin is not the last word.

Isaiah 64 8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

In the honesty of both “frustration and faith” Isaiah laments, “10 Your sacred cities have become a wasteland; even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. 12 After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?”

Yahweh answers, Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’”

John 1 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The humility of waiting readies us for Jesus!

“No way I’m getting ready for Christmas. Instead? I am getting ready for Christ.”- Anne Voskamp, Advent 2020

In the humility of waiting we can finally hear Jesus, “Here am I, here am I”!

How could a group of people living like this change the world?

Join in on “After Thoughts” Thursday at 7 pm – Go to www.pog.church/live to view or through Facebook or Youtube.

Afterthoughts is a live interactive internet conversation about the topic of this week’s sermon. We would love for you to join in to make your contribution to the conversation, share your thoughts and ask your question.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of the week which help dive deeper the way Jesus is personally calling you in the “Waiting” of life. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Isaiah 63:7-10 Tue – Isaiah 63:11-19 Wed – Isaiah 64:1-7 Thu – Isaiah 64:8-65:2 Fri – John 1:1-14 Sat - Psalm 44

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

The Advent Devotion Booklet, “And the Word was God” available at the Point of Grace office or can be mailed to you. Please email your request with your name and address to pog@pog.church

Wonderful Advent Devotional Resources from author Ann Voskamp Check out her website at https://annvoskamp.com/category/advent/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge