Sermon on December 8 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7 & Matthew 4:1-11

Mighty God. Hebrew: ‘El Gibbor’. How does the image of Jesus, as the Warrior God, fit with Christmas?

1. LOVE JESUS – BECAUSE IN HIM GOD GIVES GOD!
The child who is born is ‘yeled’ (male son). So if Isaiah repeats that a son will be given, Jesus must be more than any son.

• Before time Jesus was always ‘wasing’
  ‘No-one has ever seen God at any time, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known’ (John 1:18)
  If your life seems to be moving slowly, or taking a direction out of your control, God’s precision and power will not fail you
• Before time Jesus was always loving
  Jesus the eternal Son loved to ‘hang-out’ with his Father.
  In the midst of our vulnerabilities and struggles, security is knowing who loves us and making much of Him.

2. LEAN ON JESUS – BECAUSE IN HIM GOD IS FOR YOU!

• Jesus is for you, through the power of His promise
  Jesus is the promise and fulfillment of all the promises, that God would send a Mighty Warrior.

‘The reason the Son of God appeared, was to destroy the works of the devil’
(1 JOHN 3:8)

‘Lord help me this Advent to forsake the ‘no’, and ‘maybe’ of unbelief and say ‘Yes’ to You!’

• Jesus is for you, in the power of His person
  We see the Warrior God’s power best when Jesus was at his weakest. Jesus overcame temptation as a man.

‘In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
(JOHN 16:33)

The world will wound the believer, but no evil can touch his soul, and nothing can snatch him or her out of Jesus’ grip.

• Jesus is for you, through the power of His power
  Christmas can only be celebrated fully if Jesus was raised, and His resurrection power is at work.
  One day the creation itself will be set free from bondage to corruption, because Jesus is the Warrior King.

Remember! We may and will feel helpless. But the Mighty Warrior is not. If all of God is for you, if Jesus is for you, you don’t have to be ‘strong’.
You simply have to yield all you are to all His strength and rest in Him. Are you?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. What are some of the things or people you may describe as ‘powerful’? What sets Jesus’ power apart from these?
2. How does the fact that Jesus is both eternal and was eternally loving His Father affect the way you view what He came to do? How does this help with a sense of security in the way we relate to Him, others and our problems?
3. How does the picture of Warrior help us to understand the mission of the baby Jesus? What was the ultimate proof of Jesus’ power?
4. Give some examples of how Jesus’ power has sustained and enabled you, or loved ones, in difficul-ties and darkness. Spend some time thanking God for all He has given you in Jesus, and pray for more reliance on His power, whatever challenge you may be facing.

 

Photo credit FreeImages.com/George Bosela