Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. Gal 4:4-8

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1 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Gal 4:4-8 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (Galatians 4:4-8 ESV) COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS BORN TO SET THY PEOPLE FREE. FROM OUR FEARS AND SINS RELEASE US; LET US FIND OUR REST IN THEE ISRAEL S STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION, HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH THOU ART. DEAR DESIRE OF EVERY NATION, JOY OF EVERY LONGING HEART. COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS a.) Long expected Jesus (savior) HOW LONG? Go back to Genesis 3 and move through the OT and you ll see at least 44 prophecies of the Messiah who was to come. Beginning with the announcement in seed form. Genesis 3: The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.". The Promise continues to Abraham, the patriarchs, David, the Prophets the Long expected Messiah would be -the seed of a woman -a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -from the tribe of Judah -heir to the throne of David -anointed and eternal -born in Bethlehem -born of a Virgin -called out of Egypt -preceded by Elijah -declared the Son of God -one who brings light to those in darkness -a prophet -a priest after the order of Melchizedek -adored by infants -betrayed by a friend -sold for 30 pieces of silver -falsely accused -hated without reason -crucified with criminals -mocked and reproached -forsaken by God -pierced in his side 1 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

2 -buried with the rich -resurrected from the dead -taken up to rule in Heaven The people of Israel had been waiting a loonnnggg time for the Messiah to come. He was the focal point of their hope. Gal 4 FULLNESS OF TIME EX: PREGNANT WOMAN WAITING FOR BIRTH Luke 2: And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Devout believers at the time of Christ were looking for the coming of the Messiah. This is only right since Jesus explained in Luke 24 that the entire OT was about him. What they failed to understand is that the Messiah would come to be born in a manger, live a life of poverty and suffering, and die in the place of sinners... Born To Set Thy People Free FROM OUR FEARS AND SINS RELEASE US; LET US FIND OUR REST IN THEE the expected Messiah would deliver his people; they needed freedom from the yoke of Rome. But Jesus showed them that they really needed the freedom that comes from the truth. GAL 4 no longer slaves, but heirs adopted sons of freedom John 8: So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Freedom from death Freedom from the bondage and condemnation of the law Freedom from the power and penalty of sin Romans 8: For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.. Galatians 5:13 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Through Christ, God has brought us out of bondage into rest. Matthew 11: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ISRAEL S STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION, HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH THOU ART. Jesus is our strength and consolation. In him we find the fulfillment of all of God s promises toward us. In him is our assurance that God is for us. When Jesus was taken up to the temple after his birth Joseph and Mary encountered Simeon. 2 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

3 Luke 2: And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel." 1 Peter 1:13 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. There was a recent political figure who said that We ve now lost all hope, referring to the recent election. Whether the statement comes from the left or the right, we ve lost hope is a religious, not a political statement. It shows that someone s hope is in Man and the State, and not in God. What hope do we have other than a hope in a Creator who has entered into our world as a Redeemer? No other religion offers hope; they only offer bondage to the treadmill of performance with no assurance of salvation. They don t offer a relationship of intimacy with God, but a relationship of duty and service. The secular materialist philosophy offers no hope You re born, you live and you die. We got here as a result of a cosmic accident, we end up as worm food, but hey in the meantime Be all that you can be; you deserve a break to day; if it feels good do it, seize the day; live lives full of pleasure and meaning. Do you know Christ as your consolation? Jesus is not the consolation prize, He is the CONSOLATION, the REAL TREASURE. Not, O well, I can t get what I really want, but at least I have Jesus. RATHER, I have Jesus so my heart is at peace. Whom have I in heaven but Thee and besides you I desire nothing else on earth. DEAR DESIRE OF EVERY NATION, JOY OF EVERY LONGING HEART. Friends we were made with hearts that long for meaning and significance. We work, we play, we perform, we buy, we serve because we are looking to give ourselves some sort of meaning and validation. EX: Expensive apartments in NYC this is your way of making a statement about yourself. For the heart that is longing for meaning Jesus is the only answer. He is the only one who can fill our hearts Ecclesiastes 3:11 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, Psalm 16:5 5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Psalm 16:11 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. BORN THY PEOPLE TO DELIVER, BORN A CHILD AND YET A KING BORN TO REIGN IN US FOREVER, NOW THY GRACIOUS KINGDOM BRING. BY THINE OWN ETERNAL SPIRIT, RULE IN ALL OUR HEARTS ALONE; BY THINE ALL-SUFFICIENT MERIT, RAISE US TO THY GLORIOUS THRONE 3 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

4 BORN THY PEOPLE TO DELIVER, BORN A CHILD AND YET A KING Jesus was born for a specific purpose to deliver a people for God. Gal 4:4-5 Acts 2: "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. No one ever came into being with such an awareness of such specific purpose based on such an eternal plan. No child has ever been so NEEDED or so eagerly desired. The Christmas images make us forget the purpose of why Jesus came to give his life in order to deliver us from the wrath of God Some people in real life, literature or movies fall into the role of deliverer Frodo, Jean Val Jean, BUT JESUS WAS BORN TO DIE. The Christ child is the ultimate deliverer. The GOSPEL STORY is the ultimate story. All good stories seem to tie into this theme of deliverance by death of a noble hero in some way. There is no deeper theme than this. Even Pirates of the Caribbean a movie based on an amusement park ride gets into this theme. The innocent young Wm Turner must shed his blood to rid the pirates of the curse upon them. BORN TO REIGN IN US FOREVER, NOW THY GRACIOUS KINGDOM BRING. This baby was born to reign; not just over a small nation or even a large nation, but over all nations, and to reign IN US. This is not a ruler who dominates his people as a tyrant, but who reigns in the heart. Again this is unique from all other religions. Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, and Moses don t claim to live in the hearts of their followers. Their disciples may have a heart felt devotion, but don t have a NEW HEART MOTIVATION. Jesus brings his gracious kingdom to us NOW. God is working through his church to make the invisible kingdom visible. And it is a GRACIOUS Kingdom. What other kind would it be? At the heart of the gospel is the gracious work of God done to the end that we celebrate the glory of his grace; the fruit of this will be a gracious kingdom. WHY do we seem to manifest so little grace? We don t really believe that we required that much grace. BY THINE OWN ETERNAL SPIRIT, RULE IN ALL OUR HEARTS ALONE; By the reign of his Holy Spirit Jesus brings his gracious kingdom to us NOW. We have the reality of it even it we don t have the totality of it. We live in the Now but NOT YET. Romans 8: If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit 4 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

5 who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" BY THINE ALL-SUFFICIENT MERIT, RAISE US TO THY GLORIOUS THRONE. Colossians 1: giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1: And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--. Colossians 3:3-4 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. What does this mean for us? Because of the work of Jesus on our behalf, we have access to the Father. His merit is allsufficient. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER. Don t be a functional atheist!!! We are beloved because we are in the kingdom of the beloved Son. Let the love of God rule in your hearts; let it melt and transform fear to faith, doubt to certainty; worry to peace; hunger for approval to deep seated satisfaction of the soul. As those who are graced reconciled when we were once alienated and hostile we shouldn t live with a demanding and entitled attitude. In ourselves, we are entitled to death and hell. It is by grace that we re saved through faith As those who are graced reconciled when we were once alienated and hostile we should be models of grace to others. At the core of the gospel is Jesus dying for his enemies; when we take that in and treasure it in our hearts, what will it do? How will it transform us? WE BECOME RADICALLY gracious people something that can only be explained by the Holy Spirit. We become reconcilers; we don t relate to people based on their status or performance or looks or merit. WE SHOW THEM THE GRACE THAT HAS COME TO US. Become a consumer of grace in Christ so that he can make you a dispenser of grace to others. A way to know that you ve truly tasted the grace of Christ in your own life is that you are becoming a person of grace in dealing with others. Pray that this Advent season may be a time of truly resting in and living out of the all-sufficient merit of Christ. It will change you. AMEN MAYBE YOU RE HERE AND DON T know Christ. The ABC s of coming to faith A - Admit that you re weak and need grace and strength That means there is GOOD NEWS FOR YOU 5 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

6 B- Believe that Jesus is the only savior who can heal your heart. C- confess to God that you want to trust Jesus as your savior and Lord. COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS BORN TO SET THY PEOPLE FREE.FROM OUR FEARS AND SINS RELEASE US; LET US FIND OUR REST IN THEE ISRAEL S STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION, HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH THOU ART. DEAR DESIRE OF EVERY NATION, JOY OF EVERY LONGING HEART. BORN THY PEOPLE TO DELIVER, BORN A CHILD AND YET A KING BORN TO REIGN IN US FOREVER, NOW THY GRACIOUS KINGDOM BRING. BY THINE OWN ETERNAL SPIRIT, RULE IN ALL OUR HEARTS ALONE; BY THINE ALL-SUFFICIENT MERIT, RAISE US TO THY GLORIOUS THRONE 6 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016

7 7 Gal 4:4-8 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Dec 18, 2016