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The Anguish of Advent
Today we are going to look at portions of the Christmas story.
We are going to see that much of this story is about suffering and we are going to see God’s intent behind that suffering.
1.
Following Christ will be difficult and will cause us to become outcast.
The discovery that Mary was pregnant would mean her death according to the Law.
Dt 22:23-24
Their families obviously distanced themselves from her and Joseph.
We can know this because they traveled alone (his entire family would have been registered as well) to Bethlehem and had to find their own place to stay.
Luke 2:4-5
Upon Joseph’s discovery that Mary is pregnant decides to divorce her quietly.
Matt 1:19
God’s purpose in having them alone, as outcast, was part of his plan to enter the world with humility.
There are times where you suffering is going to be a necessary part of the process.
When was a time that you were outcast from those you loved because of your obedience?
How can we support one another during these difficult times?
How should we respond to those that are criticizing our obedience?
2. Our suffering is not always about us.
My life, as a believer, is not about me.
It seems like it would be.
We think, this is my life, therefore the things that happen are about me.
As believers, this life is not our own.
You gave up your life and your right to it on the day of your salvation and therefore the things that happen in your life are often not about you, they are about the work that God is doing in the lives of those around you.
Jesus’ births was not about Mary and Joseph… Look at any of the characters in the Christmas story.
You will find that the same is true for each one, including Jesus!
Did they benefit from it in the long term?
Absolutely, but the suffering wasn’t exclusively about them.
All parties involved will benefit when God is working, but we need to get out of the mind set that it is just about us.
Share with your group about a season of suffering in your life and if you understood it’s purpose.
Why is it that God sometimes doesn’t let us know why we are going through a hard time?
If someone in your group or in your life is in a season of suffering, how can you help them bear that burden?
3. When life gets difficult, we need to ask God what He is doing.
Gabriel brings the news to Mary, but she questions him because she doesn’t understand.
Mary responds with faith and obedience.
Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and stays there for three months.
She returns, being 3 months pregnant… Hey Joe! lol
Joseph does not ask God.
He makes a decision based out of his morality and goodness.
Matt 1:19
God sends an angel to explain to Joseph what is going on and to tell him how to respond and what to do.
God, He in his mercy and grace, redeems the things we do without asking.
God goes to Joseph in his dream, speaks, and shows him what he wants him to do.
Can you share a time where you made a decision without asking God and he redeemed it?
4. Our willingness to suffer reveals the truth about how much we love God.
Mary and Joseph obey God because they feared Him.
"But when human beings chose to throw off God’s rule in their lives, it broke the relationship with God, and they were filled with fear and became subject to terror (Genesis 3: 8–10).
The lie of the serpent went into our hearts.
He said: “You need to be in charge of your life.
Don’t let anybody else be in charge—including God—because then you won’t be happy.
You will miss out on what is best for you!”
That distortion has been passed down into every human heart, and it creates a fear of trusting God."
"Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ" by Timothy Keller
That same fear still exist in us today and is the cause of much of the dead religion we have all experienced.
It is that fear that causes us to want to base our relationship with God on our performance.
We are still bought into the lie that we have to earn it.
As we grown in our understanding of who God is, our motivation changes.
We are willing to suffer out of not out of fear, but out of love.
Parents giving up/changing their lives for their children.
This is the Joy of Christmas, this is what Advent is about.
It’s about Jesus taking on the punishment for what we have done.
God’s original intent was not for us to obey out of fear, but out of love.
He came a repaired the relationship between himself and his people.
That’s why this is the joy of Christmas...
His coming marks the beginning of that repair.
When we choose to suffer, it shows us the how much we love God.
People will only obey for so long under the rule of fear, then they rebel.
This is what we see in our story and the stories of those before us.
Share a time when you went through something difficult and it caused you to fall deeper into love with God.
5. Our suffering reveals the truth about how much God loves His people.
Mary and Joseph’s obedience was the conduit in which the world was reconciled to God.
Joseph obeyed and stood with Mary.
Mary submitted to God’s will even though it meant being disowned by her family.
This is the greatest love story ever told and it happened because they choose to obey and walk in the call God had for them.
When you choose to walk in suffering, out of love for God, it is a visible, real, experience of love for those in your life.
Share a time when someones commitment to God, in the midst of their suffering, showed you something new about God’s character.
Outro:
The Story of Jesus’ entrance into the world is a beautiful one, but it’s beauty is because of the sacrifice of God and all those that he called to be a part of the process.
The challenge that we receive from these text is to obey God’s call no matter the cost.
The beauty of our stories, will be in the anguish that we endure for the sake of ministry.
We aren’t out seeking suffering, but when it comes, we will be ready.
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