ABF 22 Dec 2024 "Advent of Christmas"

“Advent of Christmas - Candles & Scripture”
The HOPE Candle: In the darkness and desperation of our world CHRISTmas offers us HOPE -- that God knows, God sees our misery, God cares and God is responding with Immanuel!!
Psalm 14 “The fool says in their heart: ‘there is no God.’ …
Isaiah 8:19-22 “...they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness (despair).”
But with Jesus, God the Son, there is always HOPE!
Isaiah 9:1,2 “Nevertheless there will be NO MORE GLOOM… The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…!”
John 8:12, 31,32 “I am the light of the world…”
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me.”
How has Jesus brought HOPE into your life, your relationships, your life challenges this year?
The PEACE Candle: In our world of turmoil, confusion and conflict, peace seems so elusive.
CHRISTmas should usher PEACE into our souls, our relationships and our future plans. WHY?
Isaiah 9:6,7 “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace…”
Matt. 1:18-21 “...do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because…”
Because with Jesus there is PEACE with God, with myself, with others
Luke 2:10-14 “... good news…for all people… on earth Peace to those on whom His…”
John 14:25-27 “...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things… Peace I leave with you My Peace I give you…”
How has Jesus Christ overcome the anxiety, worry, fear and other emotions which have attacked your soul? Did Jesus bring you PEACE this year? What role did musical worship or meditation on God’s Word or prayer or the presence of a Christian friend have in your PEACE?
The JOY Candle: The JOY which Jesus can conceive and nurture in His people is miraculous, especially in a world of sorrow, shame, fear and anger. CHRISTmas awakens JOY!
Isaiah 11:1-3a “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him…and He will DELIGHT….”
Isaiah 12:4-6 “In that day you will say: ‘Give praise to the LORD, proclaim His name
The JOY of heaven came to earth in Jesus!
Luke 2:10 “I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for ALL the people…” Galatians 5:22,23 “the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness…”
How did you find JOY in Jesus this year, despite difficult circumstances? What have you learned sustains your Jesus given Joy; what nurtures your Spirit filled JOY?
The LOVE Candle: In our heart-breaking world so many people live with ‘love wounds’. People who should love them abuse them or ignore them. So many people don’t love themselves and can’t imagine God could possibly love them! CHRISTmas is God’s LOVE filled initiative to us; God’s love response to our wounds; God’s antidote to love-less living!
1 John 4:9,10 “This is how God showed HIS love among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him!...”
John 13:1 “Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go the Father. Having loved His own…He now showed them the full extent of His love…” The cross!!
John 13:33,34 “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples…” What does this love look like?
John 14:23,24 “If anyone loves ME they will obey My teachings. My Father will love them and We will come to them and make our home with them. The person who does NOT love me will not obey My teachings.” What is the cause of disobeying God?
The CHRIST Candle: God came to the world HE had created, to live among the human race made in His image, to offer rescue from the mess humanity has made of His perfection!
John 1:1-5,9-14 “In the beginning was the Word…through Him all things were made. In Him was life… He came to that which was His own but His own did not receive Him… The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…”
What difference has CHRISTmas made in my world this year? What is my resolve for 2025?