I. Happy New Year 00:00
I have to start by saying Happy New Year, because it’s a liturgical requirement. We often mention in the first week of Advent that the liturgical calendar starts with Advent, right? I gave a brief little talk about how the liturgical calendar works a couple of weeks ago, but I just want to remind us that it’s a time of new beginnings. It’s a time for new things. And as we talk today about Advent, I don’t want us to enter into this space carrying all of the lies and the burdens we’ve accumulated over the past year. It’s a great time, in the new year, to remind yourself of what is real, of what is true, and to let go of that which is not of God.
And so when we talk about Advent, there’s this emphasis in our readings, and you’ll see it in our liturgy: casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. What a hopeful message! Sometimes we can feel like that’s God beating us up: “You wicked sinner, you.” But I just see this today as an opportunity for us to enter in a new way into the reality of where God wants us to go.
II. Anticipation 01:16
So my words for Advent this year are anticipation and adventure. Now, anticipation is fairly straightforward. If you have a child, if you’ve ever been a child, you know that when the candles start to get lit, the anticipation starts to build: Christmas, Santa Claus, gifts. My kids are all about that, let me tell you. I cannot tell you how long the list would have to be to hold all of the toys they’ve asked for as we walk through the stores: “I want that on my list! I want that on my list!”
Anticipation is a holy thing. But let’s not anticipate the wrong thing. Let’s anticipate the goodness of God in our life. If you came into this Advent season anticipating something you’ve put your whole heart on, and it’s not God, now is the time to change focus. Because Christmas is going to be awesome if you’re anticipating the coming Christ, the coming Christ Child. But let’s not get wrapped around all the things the world tells us make Christmas good.
I have two things to say on this, because I think I’ve heard both, and both of them feel unbalanced. One of them is: “Make sure you aren’t shopping at the shopping malls. Make sure you’re not getting anybody any gifts, because your heart is in the wrong place, and where your heart is, there your treasure shall be” (Matt 6.21), and vice versa. That’s not what I’m here to say today. You should get your loved ones the best possible gift you can get them, right? That’s Christmas. That’s what Jesus did. He gave himself. There is no greater gift. So you should participate in this gift-giving thing we do, and do it the best you can. The best doesn’t mean going broke. The best means doing it the best, right?
But on the flip side, I’ve also heard people who are like, “Yeah, Merry Christmas!” four weeks before Christmas even comes. We’re not there yet. There’s some work to be done. There’s some anticipation to do. And guess what? Anticipation is a part of what God wants to do in our hearts and in our lives as we come towards Christmas. He uses that hope to turn our eyes to him.
III. Always Winter and Never Christmas 04:04
I have an example I want to talk about, from one of the greatest tomes ever written, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. These four kids are thrown into a place… (and you can put the title graphic up, because I want you to have some image, in Southern California, of snow. I just want you to remember that there is such a thing). They’re thrown into a place where it’s always winter and never Christmas. What an accurate description of the world today! The baloney you’re being sold is “always winter but never Christmas.” It may look like Christmas. It may have the semblance of Christmas. But it isn’t Christmas. It’s empty.
And these four children are thrown into this world, and they’re wet and they’re cold, and they’re met by giant talking beavers, and things are weird, and they don’t know what to do. But they’re children, so it’s a little less weird than if an adult was in this situation, because children remember how to be imaginative, and wonder, and open their eyes to see. And the beavers bring them into their home, and they’re talking about how it is in Narnia, the bad witch and the curse on the land and all of this. And then they say something that changes the game. They say something that changes the entire book from a tragedy, a curse, to an adventure. They say, “But people are saying Aslan is coming.” And as soon as the word is spoken, even though the children, Lewis describes, don’t know who Aslan is, something changes in their heart, and they become braver and more hopeful. Light is coming.
Of course, Aslan, we know, is Lewis’s symbol of Christ. And so as we enter into this season, you may be feeling like it’s always winter and never Christmas in your life. But Aslan is coming. Aslan is on the move. There is hope. And that changes our anticipation from mere desperate loneliness, mere desperate thirst, to adventure.
IV. Advent and Adventure 06:30
In fact, the word Advent and the word adventure are the same word, two conjugations of the same word. Advent means coming, happening, arriving. Adventure means to happen, to befall, to arrive. When you’re waiting on an adventure, you’re in stasis. When the adventure comes, it has arrived. And a lot of us are seeing the adventures that are arriving as if they’re death, as if they’re tragedy, as if it’s the worst thing that could happen. Like these four children, you’re thrown into winter, and you’re cold and you’re hopeless, and the witch has come. But when you bring Jesus into that, when you bring holy anticipation of the rescue of God into your life, then even that terrible thing you’re facing can become an adventure, an adventure towards freedom, an adventure towards hope.
And this Advent, as we look at ourselves and see who we are, and who we want to be, who God has made us to be, you may look at that gap and say, “Holy cow, what am I going to do?” But I want you to change your language. Say, “Holy Jesus, what would you have me do?” Right? Worshiping a cow got other people in trouble before. No holy cows in here. It’s all about Jesus. Jesus is coming. Anticipation.
V. Good News from a Far Country 07:45
And so everything we read, this hard language (and we’re going to read some of Isaiah today), is a reminder that Jesus is coming, and that you don’t have to be hopeless. You don’t have to despair. So I want you to have adventure and anticipation this Advent. Proverbs 25:25 has been on my heart for a little while. It says:
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Prov 25.25
That’s what Advent’s about. There is good news from a far country. The kingdom is coming. That song we just sang was perfect, right? It had all the anticipation built into the idea: “Watch and see, the kingdom is coming.” Music is so beautiful because it communicates more than just the words, and there’s this triumphant hope as that driving bridge goes along: “Watch and see.” Jesus is coming.
Whereas when you read in the Gospel, and Jesus says, “Watch out, be awake” (Mark 13.33–37), you might be tempted to hear fear and intimidation in that: “You better watch out, you better not cry,” right? No. It’s joy. Watch and see: the kingdom is coming in your life.
I’ll say one more thing, and then we’ll read some Isaiah. We talk about Advent as a countdown to Christmas, and it is, but it’s not just that. It’s a re-entering into the desperate hope of the Israelites throughout history. We are called in our liturgy to remember people who desperately needed God to show up, not in four weeks, but right then. In every reading we’re reading, all these prophets were under attack. They were being persecuted, destroyed. There was famine, there were oppressors, there was slavery. But we sit here so comfortable in our beautiful building, in this beautiful land called America, and we know nothing of that desperation.
Let me say it this way. You may have had times of desperation in your life. If you’re in those times, Jesus is coming. But for all of us who are pretty darn comfortable, we have to remind ourselves in Advent that we only exist by the grace of God, and that these prayers are not for four weeks from now. We want to see God now. There’s no reason God can’t show up in Advent. There’s no reason he can’t show up in your adventure. Yes, we’re preparing for Christmas, where we celebrate that he actually came. But you should be looking for him tomorrow, on that holy Monday, when you walk into work thinking, “Ah, four more weeks of this.” That’s when you should see Jesus. That’s when you should look for him to show up. Advent is about looking to Christ coming where we need him most.
VI. Oh That You Would Rend the Heavens 10:29
Let’s jump into Isaiah. We’re going to skip some of the Gospel stuff; I said all that. Isaiah 64, verses 1 to 9:
1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! Isa 64.1–2
Just look at the world today. Look at Israel and Gaza. Imagine the people there praying this same prayer: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.” There is desperate need for God to shake the mountains in this world, the spiritual forces of wickedness that amass against the kingdom of God. I have great news for you today: he’s won the war. And he wants you to be a part of bringing his victory to the world, by praying the kingdom into existence, by living the kingdom, by being God-bearers to the world.
All of this, this cry that’s gone throughout the history of man, “God, save us”: that’s the cry of Advent. “God, save us.” Save us. Maybe today what you need to hear is, “Save us from our own wickedness.” “Save us from the forces of inflation and the government.” Maybe not, right? It’s arguable. But I just want you to know that there’s not a problem you have that God doesn’t want you to approach him with: “God, save us.” How he saves us is up to him. It never looks the way you think it’s going to look. Or let me say, almost never, right? A broken clock is right twice a day, or something.
So there’s a whole idea here, that we are to cultivate a spirit of longing for God to intervene in this season. Now, why did the Son of God come? He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3.8). Well, what are the works of the devil? What are we calling him to save us from? Addiction, depression, anxiety, hate, deception, idolatry, lust, strife, greed. “Oh shoot, the works of the devil live in me. Oh no. God, save us. Come destroy the works of the devil, even in my own heart.” Let’s be people who are light-bringers. I mean, I love the symbol of Christ in the candles, right? It’s talking about the Light of the World coming. Where does it come? Into your heart, and it banishes the darkness. That’s what Advent’s about. It’s about destroying the works of the devil in our life.
VII. Awesome Things That We Did Not Look For 13:05
Okay, verse 3:
3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. Isa 64.3
I love that, right? Awesome. Advent is about the place where, even in winter, you’re looking for Christmas. You’re looking for God to show up. Because let me tell you, there were a whole lot of Jewish people who were not looking for that baby in that manger in Bethlehem. They missed it. They were crying out. They had thousands of years of crying out for God to come, and who showed up? A few shepherds, some kings who weren’t even Jews, from the East. Almost no one. God is showing up in unexpected ways in each of your lives today. Right now he is working on your behalf. Open your eyes this Advent to see. That’s part of that anticipation. When you’re looking for something to come, you’re much more likely to see it.
In fact, there’s this psychological experiment (I love these things, right?) where basically these guys are passing a basketball around a court, and you’re supposed to count how many red balls were thrown and how many green balls were thrown. And while you’re doing that, a gorilla, a guy dressed as a gorilla, comes on the court, and he runs around and shakes like this, and then he runs out of the screen. Nobody saw the gorilla. They were too busy counting the balls. He doesn’t impede the sight of the balls, but he comes down behind, does this thing, and runs away. And they asked everybody, “Did you see the gorilla?” “What gorilla?” So what is anticipation about? It’s about putting your eyes on Jesus, looking for him to show up in your life. Anticipate the right thing.
Verse 4:
4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isa 64.4
What’s this about? This is about those enemies, those works of the devil I was talking about earlier. Let me say it this way. Ever since the beginning of man, man has been looking for things to worship. I mentioned holy cows earlier. Man has been looking for a savior, and we find our savior in the oddest things: in greed, in lust, in hate, in deception. We ally ourselves with the works of the enemy to try to save ourselves.
Now, maybe you’re sitting here and you’re like, “I’m pretty holy.” Sometimes I get this way: “I’m pretty good. I don’t do that. I would never be an idol worshiper. I know who God is.” And then you have that extra glass of scotch that something in you just needs at the end of the night, even though you know God’s saying, “Hey, you’ve got to preach tomorrow.” This didn’t happen. Let me just say this is an example. It did not happen. I’m feeling great today, because I said no to the scotch. But listen: there’s that moment where you just can’t say no to something you know isn’t good for you. That’s called worshiping an idol. You’ve given your will to something that’s not you, that’s not of you. It’s of the enemy: addiction, lust, greed, anxiety. “Man, I just can’t get out of bed this morning. I feel this anxiety.” Well, you’ve been overpowered by the god you serve, the anxiety god.
They literally named them things like that back in the day, I’m not even kidding: the god of fear, the god of lust. You’d go to the temple and do things to worship the god of lust. Now we can just do it in the privacy of our bedroom, so nobody knows. All of this to say: don’t align yourself with the gods who are out to kill you, the work of the enemy. No eye has seen a God like our God. “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you.” What does he do? He acts for those who wait for him.
You know what’s really easy about those gods? Those gods have something for you right now. You want to hate? You can hate right now. You can scroll on Twitter and find all the things you don’t like about this person. You can build your case. You can lie to yourself. You can do all these things. God often just wants you to wait on him. Wait on him. Advent: it’s all about these things.
VIII. Joyfully Works Righteousness 19:18
Okay, verse 5:
5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Isa 64.5
Joyfully is such a great word, because it looks just like jolly, right? It’s like the same thing. I want to be joyful; I want to be jolly this season. Advent, although a semi-penitential season, is also a time to cultivate great joy.
I had this last night. McKenzie, my sister (she lives with us), was going to a Christmas benefit, and she was all dressed up in her Santa’s helper costume. So exciting. And right as she walks out the door, we’re eating dinner, and Rhys goes, “Oh no! Christmas is ruined! Santa’s helper is gone!” He was so distraught. Some of the anticipation is about building the joy into the season. Dress up. Do fun things. Go to your Christmas party. Even in Advent you can have a jolly season, because guess what? God will meet those who joyfully work righteousness. You’re not supposed to be out there like Scrooge: “Humbug! But I’m doing the right thing. But I hate everything, but I’m doing the right thing.” It’s like, “I don’t care how righteous you are.” He wants a joyfully righteous people.
“And those who remember you in your ways.” If you need to be joyful, remember what God has done in your life. If you can’t remember what God’s done in your life, go to somebody who can tell you a story about what God’s done in their life. Go to the book, the Bible, the entire history of God’s people. Remember the ways of God, and you will be joyful. The only reason we ever are angry or sad or afraid… let me say it this way. The only reason we respond to these anxiety, these depressive, these rage-filled, these hateful things is because in some way we are blind to the goodness of God. Right? Because what John says is that when we see him, when we go to heaven, we will be like him. Why? Because we will see him as he is (1 John 3.2). The more you tell stories about God, the more you remember his goodness, the more you’ll be able to see him, and that will transform you. Because just to know him is to become like him, and you can’t know him until that transformation happens. God’s Spirit will help you with this.
IX. We Have All Become Like One Who Is Unclean 21:55
All right, next verse. Oh, this is the fun one. Strap in. This is where the prophet is going to tell us something about ourselves we probably don’t want to hear:
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. Isa 64.6–7
That’s pretty dismal. A couple of things are said. Even the things you do well are like filthy rags. They’re worthless. And on top of that, you’re not even doing things well, because no one is reaching out to take hold of God.
I have two things to say about this. Number one: let’s not be that people. Everyone here, reach out, take hold of God. That’s pretty simple. How do you do it? You actually have to spend time with him. You’ve got to stop in the midst of the chaos of the season and ask him for help. He’s a good father. He will give you what you ask. You think you’re going to be on your knees, asking him to show up in your life, and he’s going to turn you away? Heck no. Heaven yes, he is going to show up. Ask him. Take hold of him. Reach out. Rouse yourself to take hold of him. I love that. That contrasts with… or it’s the same thing Jesus was saying: be awake, be aware.
Oh, I have one more thing to say about that. What is so good about the prophets of Israel is that they never say the problems are out there. They always come back to the problem being in here: “We have turned away. Now we’re being destroyed by the Babylonians, the Syrians,” the endless list of people who conquered the Israelites, “because we turned away from God, not because they’re big and bad.” So think about the big bad in your life, whoever the person or thing or system is that’s coming against you, and remember: “I have turned away. The problem in my life is because we turned away.” There’s no problem in the world that is not affected by you turning to God. That’s the kingdom economy. When people turn to the Lord, he moves on their behalf. You don’t have to go conquer the nations. He’s already won. He is praying that men would turn their hearts to him. And guess what? When you turn your heart to him, he’s got an adventure for you. He’s got an adventure he’s going to take you on.
X. You Are the Potter, We Are the Clay 24:31
Okay, verse 8:
8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isa 64.8
That’s the center, right? You are the potter, we are the clay. Now, my joke for this line (because I like to find jokes if I can) is about how if you look at Jesus, he’s like a beautiful vase, and if you look at me, I’m like something your kid made in kindergarten. But that’s not true, because if God is the potter, what do you think he’s making? Ugly lumps of clay? No. He’s making you beautiful. I get to be beautiful. It’s a little silly, but it’s so real and deep and true. You are beautiful because God is your potter.
Now, I promise, you can resist. And you know what potters do to clay that resists? They have a lot of ways of bending it to their will, or even breaking it and reworking it so that they can get it to be moldable again. So maybe in your life you’re experiencing some places where you’re resisting, and you’re like, “God, how long, O Lord?” Remember, he is shaping you into something that, if you could see it today, you’d be tempted to worship. That’s what Lewis says: if we could see what God is making the people of God into, we would think of them as angels or gods, because he’s making you so good.
His tools and his methods… let me say it this way. We all want God’s will in our life. We’re just scared of how painful it might be. But he’s going to do it. He is faithful. Advent is about being moldable clay. Just think about what God has called you to do in this season. I was just writing some things. I want to be a Christlike man. I want to see people. I want to heal people. I want to encourage people. I want to set people free. I want to be the type of father my kids know will run to them every time they turn from their rebellious ways, like the prodigal son. I want to be the husband who lays his life down for his wife. I want to be a pastor who brings truth and light to everyone I meet.
Do you know how important it is to say what you want to be? We ask kids all the time, “What do you want to be?” That’s a part of how God shapes us and forms us. You should think deeply about who you want to become. That’s a part of joining with God’s will for your life. Advent is a great season to get rid of the works of darkness and put on the armor of life, the armor of life and light.
And in the last verse it says:
9 Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people. Isa 64.9
Here’s the best news: Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah’s prayer, was answered. In this prayer you can hear a yearning and a longing for God to move on his behalf. Jesus came. The world is changed. The mountains were shaken. All of the things he was prophesying came in the form of Jesus. So you today: how much more can we, with faith, cry out to God to show up in our life, because he’s already won every battle. In fact, there’s not a problem you have that he didn’t solve two thousand years ago on the cross.
And so as we move throughout this season, let’s remember with anticipation that we are on an adventure to see the kingdom of God invade this world and transform everything. There’s nothing God will leave unfinished. There is no hurt that God has not come to heal or redeem. This Advent, let’s be a people of anticipation, on an adventure to see Christ come every day. Amen.