Fourth Sunday In Advent

On this final Lord’s Day Sunday in Advent, we look back over the fast, coming to an end season of illuminations with God’s ever shining Words. What a magnificent God we serve! What a Transforming God we worship! Just to think that He would sincerely and honestly want you and me, with all our frailties, to be His Advent lights, is beyond words.

We bless and praise You Father God, for Your grace and mercy toward us. We thank You for being our Transforming Lord, for only You can change and totally transform sinners. Holy Spirit, please continue to take full, working prominence in our ransomed lives. Amen!

At the beginning of this celebratory season, I had invited you to join me in celebrating Advent with a difference. By faith, each of us was to accept and see himself or herself as our Lord’s precious Advent tree, illuminated by Him. As promised, for each of the past three weeks, different lights were highlighted. There were Angel Lights, Shepherd Lights and Prophetess Lights. These illuminations, including the light now to be introduced, have all been brightly lit lights, draped upon us to be and do God’s Specific Will, especially at this Advent season.

Believers, as we stand on the first of four steps which lead straight to Advent Day, we continue to offer highest praise, thanks, blessings, honour and glory to God, for His unmerited grace in illuminating us as His Advent trees. Let each bow before Him, as each gives personal, Spirit-given response to these questions.     

Presence – Whichever of God’s trees you are, will you by faith, accept that you have been lit up and continue to be draped with God’s Illuminating Word, giving you presence to stand out, even in the darkest places, shedding His Light?

Promotion – Regardless of which of God’s trees you are, will you by faith, know that you have been empowered with God’s Illuminating Word, to promote and proclaim, in and out of season, the power of God’s light to all?

Peculiar – It matters not what tree you are, big or small, will you by faith, acknowledge that you have been made a peculiar and particularly special one, with God’s Illuminating Word, to be His peculiar tree, showcasing Him?

Having each been before our Lord, we conclude with the final Advent Illumination which is, Priest. As with prophetess Anna, through whom many lights have been brilliantly lit in us, so too, we look at priest Zacharias.  

May I also offer this priest, in many touching and tender ways, to be somewhat like the prophetess? I had spoken of the prophetess as a smaller light, a lower light, a behind the scenes light, in relation to the ever brightly illuminated and upfront characters in the Advent Narrative. The example of the ever flowing publicity, presence and prominence given to shepherds, wise men, and angels, for example, make the prophetess, pale in the background. This is how I see priest Zacharias, in many a sense. My experience and that of quite a few of you, I’m certain, is that even his wife Elizabeth, is given more prominence than he.

Understand me clearly now. I am not saying or suggesting that the priest is never spoken of, for we read about him from Luke, who stated this. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account. Luke 1: 3a. Indeed in his orderly account of the first Advent of Messiah, the priest Zachariah is given place. And here is where we carry on our lighting with Priest Advent Lights.

Hallelujah! Glory to God! Our hearts and minds, hands and voices, are lit up and are still being lit up, from head to toe, with our Lord’s living illuminations.  Ere we stand on this first of four steps leading to Advent Day, let not any darkness – doubts, disillusions, dejections, cares, trials, unbelief and complacency – all that are not of Jesus the Light, be evidenced in us. Let faith afford you the heavenly joy and earthly freedom and privilege to be God’s Illumination, His Living Advent Tree, through His Living Working Word.  

Standing on this fourth step to Advent Day, with the inner warmth and glow of Jesus, Light for all darkness, we wait to receive more of Zacharias, serving Priest of Jehovah.