Pastor: Paula Hemann
Sermon “Not That Day but This Day” Dec. 15,2024
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3: 7-18
My husband Tim and I smile every time we talk about raising our youngest son, Shane. Anytime Shane wanted to know if something was going to happen he would say, “This Day, Will it be This Day?” Instead of saying today- but This Day seemed like the Perfect Sermon Title for our Message. So, Yes Shane This Day!
Seeing God
There is a story going around about a man who wanted to see and hear God. So he went out to a hilltop and yelled and pleaded with God. "Speak to me!" And a bird sang. And disappointed he again begged God to speak to him and all he heard was the sound of children playing in the distance. "Please God, touch me!" he cried and the wind blew across his cheek. And discouraged at not having his plea answered the man prayed, "God, show yourself to me!" And a butterfly flew across his path. And when he got home, convinced that God had forsaken him, his daughter ran out to greet him, but he felt abandoned by God.
Now hearing a story like this, it is easy to see God. Yet in this story this man was as certain about what it means to see and hear God. How do you and I See God. Well today we are given some insight into How God wants us to See Him.
Our scriptures begins in Isaiah with Isaiah saying “I will trust and will not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2).
These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah and Jerusalem more than twenty-seven hundred years ago, when the Assyrian Empire was the dominant power, and Judah lived in the shadow and in fear.
Foreign invaders, political instability, and crises of one kind or another are included in Isaiah’s proclamation. These are the people he was sent to, they lived in a world that was unpredictable and out of their control.
Our news today on television newscasts suggest that in many ways our own world is quite similar to theirs. Many are worried, afraid, angry, anxious.
Yes, the details are different — the Taliban was not a threat to Judah in the days of Isaiah, and Assyria does not dominate our headlines — but the news of the day reminds us that always there are events happening on a scale far beyond our reach and our ability to control them. And we do Not Like things out of our abilities and control.
Whether the threat is widespread, such as the worldwide economic crisis, or whether it is personal, such as illness, the loss of a job or the death of a loved one, it is no small thing to stare the threat in the face and say, “I will trust, and will not be afraid.”
Today the people are restored and are praising because they have been delivered from the Egyptian army.
These people lived in the dry land of Palestine, but now they are living the Good Life that God has provided them.
And God is at Work here so that you and I can share in the Good life that God is providing us. So we can Now say “Not That Day but This Day” (12:1, 4): “the pride of everyone shall be humbled and the Lord alone will be exalted
“this day,” is when people will throw away their idols of silver and gold
“this day,” Darkness falls at moments of spiritual significance.
Think about it:
There was 3 days of darkness before the Passover
The mountain was shrouded in black clouds when the Lord appeared on Mt. Sinai to present the 10 Commandments.
It was dark even at Jesus Death.
And this darkness will happen again when Jesus Returns.
The darkness at these crucial moments symbolize the darkness of this world without Christ- it actually provides a backdrop that reveals God’s Glorious Light to us.
This way we see this Day that God is “my salvation” (verse 2)
And we are once again reminded that God delivers so we re-claim that “God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation”
God is the Hole one of the Universe so we lift our voices in praise to God: “Give thanks…sing praises…shout aloud and sing for joy!”
We are now in Community and unity – joining voices. No longer is it just my or your lone voice singing out against fear in the dark, but a chorus of voices praising God for all he has Done.
This way we draw water from the wells of salvation” (verse 3). No longer are we parched dry from living and tired of trying to shout on our own.
This is why Paul could rejoice even while being imprisoned. He knew he was connected with fellow believers. This is why we shouldn’t concern ourselves with unimportant matters, because we know to take our anxieties
To God because then we discover the Peace and Joy in God. We know we are promised something better. Like my Son asking, “This Day- This Day?”
Yes this day we too have God’s protection, presence, comfort, and encouragement.
If your problem is Worry- Your Solution is Prayer, Proper Thinking provides Proper Response.
Many live today with their Minds Divided- that mean legitimate thoughts
Destructive Thoughts Choke out the Word of God and causes us to abandon trust – while thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely win the battle against worry.
Today our Gospel in Luke reminds us that we are to put away sin- remove those mountains that are in front of you and straighten those crooked roads preparing for Jesus arrival!
There is no lasting value on simply being descendants of Abraham. We cannot ride on the shirt tails of our family. True repentance happens when one’s behavior changes, treating people fairly, refusing to use positions of power for self-gratification, loving people as they are, and a desire to help others and please God.
John the Baptist was truly humble and he displays reverence as he tells others that the shoes of the sandals of the true Messiah he wasn’t even worthy to untie.
During this season of Advent, as dark nights grow longer and the media continue their relentless proclamation of the world’s bad news, we wait — like the people of Isaiah’s time–for “that day” when God’s salvation will come to us in all its fullness. “Do not be afraid,” the angel will say, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
May we be drawn toward that future, ready to “shout and sing for joy” together with the whole people of God who will proclaim, “This Day in [our] midst is the Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ” Amen
