Mt 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” NIV

They were Aware but not Awake The religious people of the day knew the scriptures As near as we can tell, they made no impact on their lives When the Magi come from afar seeking the Messiah, the theologians didn't connect the dots “all Jerusalem with him” were disturbed by presence of the Magi Who went out to see?- nobody

Living between 2 Advents The coming of Jesus into the world He came to fix our sin problem Romans 7: Living Bible 15  I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to—what I hate. 16  I know perfectly well that what  I  am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. 17  But I can’t help myself because I’m no longer doing it. It is sin inside  me that is stronger than I am that makes me do these evil things.

18  I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t. 19  When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20  Now if I am doing what I don’t want to, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp. 21  It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22  I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned;

23-25  but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. We can't “don't” Tim Brooks John 1:29 ...John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! NIV

Living between 2 Advents Jesus came to fix our sin problem There is something else deep within me Nobody teaches us to be selfish It is a natural part of who we are We have to teach children to be kind, caring, generous, sharing... Our culture is bankrupt. “People are good.” Then there is no answer for deep sin Now, removing Jesus...?

Living between 2 Advents 2nd Advent There is another Advent The coming of Jesus that culminates history The coming that ushers into full existence the Kingdom of God

Living between 2 Advents America has been “inoculated” to sin We no longer Believe it exists See it as a problem Concern ourselves over it We have made God into a forgiver without the recognizing the person who died to sacrifice for sins We know the scriptures... but are unaffected by them

Living between 2 Advents 2nd Advent The coming of Jesus that culminates history The coming that ushers into full existence the Kingdom of God D-Day, June 6, 1944 VE Day, May 7, 1945 The war was won, the battle continued (Ed Stetzer)

Aware but not Awake while living between the 2 Advents Describes the Evangelical Church of today We know that the Bible promises a 2nd coming Are we watching for it? A cataclysmic event! Recently preached on the second coming (Behold I make all things new) Mt 24 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now— and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.

And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. THE FINAL WORD! Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Aware but not awake 1 Thes 4 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Aware but not awake Watchfulness is a major theme in the Bible Jesus said Mt 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” How would it alter our lives if we lived as though Jesus were coming tomorrow? What would become our priority? What would drop off the “to do” list? What person would we be most concerned about?

Aware but not awake When the Magi come from afar seeking the Messiah, the theologians didn't connect the dots What “dots” are there today that we aren't connecting? Everyone is upset with today's events... “All Jerusalem” were disturbed by the presence of the Magi...seeking the coming of a new king.

Aware but not awake Who went out to see? Which of us altered our lives to welcome the coming King? Watch! Mt 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Keep an eye out! Weird phrase! Go about your business, but expect! The early Church expected Jesus' coming “...He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”

The Point! The theologians whom Herod consulted, knew the scriptures about the coming Messiah, but didn't really expect him to come! WAKE UP! Mt 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

So What? Meditate on what the Bible says about the end times. Mt 24, 1 Thes 4, Let it bring you comfort that God is in control. “therefore encourage one another with these words” Let Christmas wake you up! Stop! Take a break in front of your favorite Christmas decoration! Focus on God's presence! Invite Jesus to come into your life! So What?