For the past few months, we have been in 1 John and have been encouraged throughout to listen to the Holy Spirit. Our last sermon was about how the water, blood, and Spirit testify to Jesus. Then, we looked at how the Spirit testified. The Spirit testified at the baptism of Jesus. Then, we see a powerful scene where the Spirit leads Jesus into and out of the desert. This scene left me pondering whether I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me.
It was all these ideas swirling in my head that led me to ask the question of how the Angels and the Spirit led in the Advent story. This is why I have titled our 2024 Advent series “Heavenly Guidance: Journey to the Manger.” Each week, we will look at the roles of the Angels and the Spirit when it comes to the birth of the Messiah.
I encourage each of you to read the accounts of Matthew and Luke, who tell this incredible story, as often as possible. If you would like a reading plan to follow, I would recommend this one by Crossway: “This 31-day journey through the Scriptures is meant to focus our hearts on the wonder of the Advent season: God with us.”
It is my prayer this Advent season that you would open the Word and read this fantastic story as if you have never heard it before and each day ask the Lord for wisdom and revelation in ways you have never thought about in the past. Remember the Word Paul wrote to Timothy that all Scripture is breathed out by God.
2 Tim 3:10-17 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
This Advent season, it is my most profound prayer that the Scriptures get “breathed out” on each of us and that our lives be forever altered and enhanced because we are all covered by the breath of God. Remember, today is Thanksgiving, so remember two things. 1. Go before the Lord with Thanksgiving! 2. Leave nothing unsaid to those important to you; we never know our last day. See you this Sunday at 9:30.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Chris