But man spoiled his chances by sinning
We trust that the story
Will end in God’s glory
But at present the other side’s winning. ” (J. Boice)

• unmoved
• installation
• “To be intimidated by the world is as spiritually fatal as being overly attracted to it.” (T. Keller)

• extent of reign
• expression of reign

• serve
• submit
• “There is no refuge from Him-only in Him.” (D. Kidner)
• Because of God’s installation and exaltation of His Son as ultimate Ruler, submit to Christ now.
• “O Worship the King” (Grant) and “This Is My Father’s World” (Babcock)

• Ezekiel: “God strengthens” in a context of judgment and exile

• hand and Spirit of the LORD
• prophetic vision of a valley full of dry bones drawing from an exilic “proverb” (37:11)

• the LORD’S question and Ezekiel’s response

♦ content and consequence

• NT/Christ connections: Jn. 11:25-26, 20:22; 1 Cor. 15:50-58

• Solely because of His sovereign and gracious intervention, trust the LORD to give life to the dead through His Word and Spirit.
• “Faith has the prerogative of seeing possibilities of life in what looks to sense hopeless death.” (Maclaren)
• “If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.” (Spurgeon)
• “Mercy Walked In” (Mote) and “Breathe on Me” (McKinney)

• word and hand of the LORD (1:1-3), “Son of Man”
• with Daniel in days of Babylonian exile
• themes of retribution and restoration
• background on Tyre and Sidon

• picture of exalted position corresponding to self-deification
• flagged for excessive self-celebration (Prov. 3:34)
• connection to the Fall/garden (Gen. 3)
• specific denunciation and certain doom
• prophetic perfect: as good as done
• accompanying prophecy against Sidon
• repetition of “…they will know that I am the LORD”

• another repetition of “…they will know that I am the LORD”
• security for the scattered and scorned
• manifestation of holiness
• NT/Christ connections: Luke 19:10, Heb. 13:20-21, James 4:6. 1 Pet. 5:5

• In light of the LORD’S power and provision, resolve to pursue a posture of biblical humility.
• “Every departure from God’s path is a pitting of one’s will, and a backing of one’s judgment, against His; but the contempt which it spells is too irrational to acknowledge.” (D. Kidner on Prov. 14:2)
• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (Watts)

• primary focus on Messiah and not the Magi or a madman
• not just the where, but the who

• hostility of Herod and distress of Jerusalem

• inquiry and the apparent indifference of religious leaders
• testimony and fulfillment of Micah 5:2 and a deceptive dispatch

• leveraging creation to point the Magi to Messiah (Isa. 60:1-3)

• joy, humility, generosity, obedience
• gifts that focus and foreshadow and a warning in a dream

• flight (13-15 , Hos. 11:1), children killed (16-18, Jer. 31:15), Nazareth (19-23)

• In light of God’s objective in and orchestration of the first Christmas, commit yourself to wondering worship.
• “The New Testament knows nothing of an incarnation that can be defined apart from its relationship to atonement.” (J. Denney)
• from “came and saw” to “go and tell” (Matt. 28:16-20)
• “O Worship the King…” (Grant)

• Who is like Yahweh?
• a third “now”: from a period of distress to a proclamation of hope

• prophetic address
• siege and summons

• divine address: but you…”house of bread” and “fruitful”
• “from Bethlehem…for Me”
• ruler over Israel: from David to a greater David (1 Sam. 16:1, Acts 2:25-36)
• back to Bethlehem and David’s “distant” days (2 Sam. 7:12-16)

• affliction (verse 3) precedes enjoyment (verse 2)
• the mother and brothers of Messiah (Rom. 8:29, Heb. 2:11-14)

• a standing Shepherd and His secured sheep and another “now” (Rev. 22:16)
• the LORD promotes His glory, keeps His promises, protects His people

• Because of the LORD’S promises and performance in Christ Jesus, worship the true King this Christmas.
• “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (Wesley), “Once in Royal David’s City” (Alexander)
• “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Wade)
• We need a King!

• prophecy during the reign of Josiah about 20 years before Jerusalem’s fall (1:1)
• from the reality of judgment to the reverberation of joy

• the humble and lowly rejoice and exult (2:3, 3:12)
• a triple invocation
• grounds for joy: judgments taken away, enemies cleared away, the LORD’S presence

• repetition of presence and a triple promise
• a Mighty Warrior who saves
• the glad God who rejoices
• He “will rest” or “be silent” in His love
• He will rejoice over them with loud singing
• elaboration of 3:18-20

• Mt. 21:4-9, Jn. 3:16, Lk. 15:11-32, Gal. 3:29, Eph. 2:8-10
• third Sunday of Advent: Joy in Immanuel (Mt. 1:22-23)
• “Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of incarnation.” (Packer)

• Because, having saved you, the LORD sings over you, rejoice in His presence and promises.
• The Warrior, whose righteous judgment scorches, offers mercy that saves and secures.
• Delight in the depth of God’s mercy.
• “If His mind is so set on you and His power so engaged for you…” (Simeon)
• “He comes to make his blessings known far as the curse is found…” (Watts)

• contextual connections: Romans 14 and 15:1-3
• Because Christ is the ultimate confirmation of God’s promises, you can have hope this Christmas-and forever!
• Why Christmas?

• because the Scriptures instruct us
• so that we might have hope
• through endurance and encouragement
• so that we may glorify God

• Christ serves on behalf of the truth of God
• Christ confirms the promises of God
• Gentiles are commanded to praise: 2 Sam. 22:50, Psa. 18:49, Deut. 32:43, Psa. 117:1
• a hope-laced prophecy: Isa. 11:10
• a prayer request: from hope to hope

• Bank on the basis of hope.
• Fuel your hope by feasting on the Word.
• Remember that Christmas is about hope-filled mercy.
• “…a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees…” (J. S. Dwight)

• contextually: between introduction and appeal, sets trajectory for the rest of the letter
• the “when” and the “why” of Paul’s thankfulness

• getting the facts of “fellowship” straight
• “All are bound together in a mutual bond that makes our much-prized individualism look shallow and petty.” (N. T. Wright)
• “When we act in accord with the blessings we have in Christ, we grow closer to Christ.” (R. Melick)

• because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
• relief, rest and refreshment

• Because the Gospel transforms your relationship with God, you can pursue transformed relationships with others.
• “The Gospel is the change that changes everything.” (B. McCarty)
• Who is resting today under the shelter of your encouragement?
• Are you presently interceding for any “runaways” in your sphere of relationships?
• “The arrow shot travels far beyond the archer’s eye.” (A. Maclaren)
• “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (J. Fawcett)

• declaration of intent: passionate and public

• magnification of His creating and sustaining work
• reflection of enduring righteousness
• application: delight leads to study

• written in a book!
• echo of the exodus (Ex. 34:6)
• mindful provision of food and possession

• consistency between His works and His word
• no “fickle despot”

• purchase for the purpose of liberation
• commanded covenant proceeding from incomparable character

• motto of the wisdom writers
• reverence and recognition: the pondering and praising of the wise

• magnifying His transcendence and immanence (Rev. 4:8)
• connection to Christ

• Because the LORD is the source and summit of every good thing, praise Him now and forever.
• Recognize…Repent…Resolve… Then, “ponder anew…”

• seek, set and put to death (3:1-5)
• put off/put on (3:6-14)
• In light of Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency, cultivate a growing awareness of His ownership of you.

• act as umpire
• corporate emphasis
• link between peace and gratitude

• teaching/admonishing with wisdom
• singing with thankfulness

• whatever you do in word and deed
• giving thanks to God the Father through Him

• Watch out for the tyranny of the temporary. “Value the weight of eternal things more than the shiny bait of expiring things.” (Reinke)
• A word from A. W. Tozer:
• “Turn your eyes to the hillside where justice and mercy embraced. There the Son of God gave His life for us and our measureless debt was erased.”