Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, December 6

Our sermon text this Sunday will be Isaiah 7.  What does a prophetic word from 2700 years ago have to say to us as we approach the Christmas of 2015?  It is a story with ancient names and long-gone empires, so how can it be relevant to us?  It is relevant to us because the human heart has not changed and because the Word of God has not changed.  While the historical context is ancient Judah, Syria, Israel and Assyria, the timeless message is this: trust in Christ alone!  Trusting in anything or anyone else will only bring destruction.  The only answer for our struggles, our fears and our battles is the Promise of God – His Son – Immanuel – God With Us.  Isaiah 7 forces us to answer this question: Will you stand with Ahaz in fear, or will you stand with Isaiah, looking to Immanuel.  Christ is more than sufficient for every crisis we face.  God’s promise is also a warning:  ‘If you will not stand in faith, you will not stand at all’.

The greatest danger we face is not ISIS, or domestic terrorists, or a bad economy or a president from the other party.  The greatest danger we face is faithlessness.  Faith is the distinctive of the Lord’s people.  “No faith, no people.”(J.A. Motyer)  Basically God was saying to Ahaz, ‘there is no future for you and your people apart from faith in God and trusting His promises.’ 

What God is saying to us in no less important.  Everyday life can lure us into a sense of false security.  We go through our daily routine without thinking much about faith or about trusting.  We can lull ourselves into trusting ourselves.  This is a dangerous place to be.   

As you prepare for worship this Sunday I would encourage you to read and meditate upon Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him.”  

By faith we worship.  By faith we look to Christ – our Immanuel.  By faith we come before Him and lay down our fears, our self-reliance, our trust in things or other people. 

I pray that as we come before our Lord in worship this Sunday our hearts will be trembling, not in fear of our world or our circumstances, but trembling with a holy reverence and awe of our God. 

As a part of our worship we will hear a beautiful song by Sovereign Grace entitled He Who Is Mighty.  You can hear the song here and the lyrics follow.  What a great message!  What a great assurance! 

Oh, the mercy our God has shown 

to those who sit in death’s shadow;

The sun on high pierced the night; 

Born was the Cornerstone.

Unto us a Son is given, 

unto us a Child is born

He who is mighty has done a great thing; 

Taken on flesh, conquered death’s sting;

Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame; 

Holy is His name.

Oh, the freedom our Savior won; 

The yoke of sin has been broken;

Once a slave, now by grace, 

No more condemnation!

Now my soul magnifies the Lord; 

I rejoice in the God Who saves!

I will trust His unfailing love; 

I will sing His praises all my days!

He who is mighty has done a great thing; 

Taken on flesh, conquered death’s sting;

Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame; 

Holy is His name.