{"id":1186,"date":"2019-12-22T15:02:47","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T23:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2019-12-22T15:44:40","modified_gmt":"2019-12-22T23:44:40","slug":"isaiahs-advent-gift-of-a-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/22\/isaiahs-advent-gift-of-a-sign\/","title":{"rendered":"Isaiah&#8217;s Advent Gift of&#8211; a Sign!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian> 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\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1186-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-4-12-22-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-4-12-22-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-4-12-22-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fourth Sunday in Advent <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">December 22, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah 7:10-14<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">A Sign!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">Again the L<\/span>ORD <span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">spoke to Ahaz, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Ask the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">ORD<\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But Ahaz said, &#8220;I will not ask; I will not put the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> to the test.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then Isaiah said, &#8220;Hear now, you house of David!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is it not enough to try the patience of men?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Will you try the patience of my God also?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> himself will give you a sign:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is perhaps one of the most powerful statements in the English language.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those two little words have the power to evoke emotions that range all the way from doubt and disdain to safety and security.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If the person who speaks those words to us has failed us in the past we may doubt them when they come to us again and say, Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If the person who speaks those words to us has used those words to gain our trust and then turned around and betrayed that trust we may even feel disdain towards that person every time we hear them say, Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the other hand, if the person who speaks those words to us has proven themselves to be trustworthy then we cherish the safety and the security that we feel every time we hear that person say to us, Trust me.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In essence that is what the good Lord is saying to us this morning through His servant Isaiah.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we conclude our Sunday morning Advent sermon series this morning let\u2019s see how this portion of Isaiah proves to us that our God is indeed trustworthy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With that in mind let\u2019s look at the evidence that we can indeed trust our God as we study this text under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 A Sign!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Once again the historical background of our text is critically important to the proper understanding of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the opening verses of Isaiah chapter seven we learn that Aram (which is another name for Syria) had joined forces with the northern Kingdom of Israel to fight against the southern Kingdom of Judah.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While the first campaign against Judah achieved some significant success (See 2 Chronicles 28:5-8) Isaiah tells us that the beloved city of Jerusalem did not fall.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, when Ahaz, the King of Judah, found himself in the crosshairs of both Aram and Israel he turned to Assyria for help.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you can imagine that did not turn out well. (See 2 Chronicles 28:16-21)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Some time later, we\u2019re not exactly sure when, Aram and Ephraim (the northern Kingdom of Israel) were preparing to attack Judah once again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since this coalition had already inflicted heavy losses on Judah we\u2019re told that news of this second military campaign caused the hearts of Ahaz and his people to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind\u201d<\/i> (7:2).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">It was at this point that the Lord sent His servant Isaiah to deliver a message to King Ahaz.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Amazingly, even though Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings who had ever sat on David\u2019s throne in Jerusalem (See 2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 22-24) the Lord\u2019s message to Ahaz was not one of judgment!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No, rather, the Lord\u2019s message to Ahaz was\u2014 \u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And to prove to Ahaz that the Lord could be trusted the Lord gave to Ahaz an astounding command.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening verse of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAgain the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> spoke to Ahaz, \u2018Ask the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can you imagine a more amazing offer, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The God of heaven gave this wicked king carte blanch to ask for a sign\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">any<\/b> sign he wanted\u2014 so that Ahaz would know that he could trust the Lord God to deliver him from the hands of his enemies!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s grace!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s grace that goes beyond our human comprehension!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How did Ahaz respond to God\u2019s offer?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did he respond with gratitude and relief?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Ahaz responded to God\u2019s offer with disdain!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 12, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut Ahaz said, \u2018I will not ask; I will not put the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> to the test.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What astounding hypocrisy!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How did the Lord respond to Ahaz\u2019s hypocrisy?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 13-14 of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThen Isaiah said, \u2018Hear now you house of David!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is it not enough to try the patience of men?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Will you try the patience of my God also?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> himself will give you a sign:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">It boggles my feeble little mind that the hypocrisy of unbelief served as the catalyst for the Lord to give us one of the most amazing signs ever\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did these words of Isaiah resonate through the heart and mind of Joseph when the angel said to him, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJoseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 1:20)?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It would not surprise me at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In essence God was saying to Joseph exactly what He said to Ahaz\u2014 \u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But whereas Ahaz\u2019s unbelief led him to react to God\u2019s promise with disdain, Joseph\u2019s faith led him to react to God\u2019s promise with trust.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Matthew tells us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhen Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And he gave him the name Jesus\u201d <\/i>(Matthew 1:24-25).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what the Lord of heaven is still saying to you and to me, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cLook at My track record,\u201d the Lord says to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cLook at how faithfully I have fulfilled all of my promises and trust Me!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Wouldn\u2019t it be nice, however, if the Lord would give us a sign to prove that we can indeed trust Him?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the comfort we would have, think of how safe we would feel if only the Lord would give us a sign\u2014 some kind of rainbow in the sky that we could look to when we are experiencing the storm clouds of hardships and difficulties and disappointments in our lives.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Long pause)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He has given us a sign, hasn\u2019t He.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In fact, I can think of at least <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">four<\/b> signs that the Lord has given to you and to me\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">four<\/b> signs that enable us to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">trust<\/i> the Lord our God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The first sign is, of course, the Child of Bethlehem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The virgin <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">has<\/b> conceived.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The virgin <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">has<\/b> given birth to a Son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His name <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">is<\/b> Immanuel, which means, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGod with us\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 1:23).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That precious little Baby whose birth we are about to celebrate once again is God\u2019s undeniable \u201csign\u201d to us that He not only had a plan to save us from our sins, but He has also fulfilled that plan by sending His very own Son into this world to be our Savior!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Matthew 1:22)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, Christmas is God\u2019s \u201csign\u201d to you that you can trust Him!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Understood correctly<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> we can also say that the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are God\u2019s \u201csigns\u201d to us, \u201csigns\u201d that bring us safety and security.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whenever we bring a child to be baptized with water in the Name of the Triune God the Lord Himself is saying, \u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me when I say that through this holy Sacrament <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">I <\/i><\/b>am washing away all their sins. Trust Me when I<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> <\/i><\/b>say that through this holy Sacrament <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">I<\/i><\/b> am adopting this child to be My own dearly beloved son or daughter.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we come to the altar of the Living God to receive the holy Supper of our Lord, God Himself is saying to us, \u201cTrust me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me when I say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u2018This is my body given for you\u2019<\/i> (Luke 22:19).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust me when I say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u2018This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins\u2019<\/i> (Matthew 26:28).\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust what I have given to you!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust what I have done for you!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what the Lord now says to you and to me every time we administer His holy Sacraments, His holy \u201csigns\u201d of Baptism and Holy Communion.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That leaves just one more sign\u2014 and you know exactly what it is, don\u2019t you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What sign has God Himself given to us to prove that we can trust Him? What sign has God Himself given to us to prove how deeply He loves us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What sign has God Himself given to us to prove that all of our sins are completely forgiven?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That sign is\u2014 the cross of Jesus Christ!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Think about it, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think about the comfort and the confidence we receive every time we lift up our eyes to the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the safety and the security we experience as we continue to cling to the old rugged cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even during the darkest and most difficult days of our lives the cross is God\u2019s \u201csign\u201d to us that He has everything under control.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The cross is God\u2019s sign to us that everything will be okay.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The cross is God\u2019s sign to us that we can indeed trust our God for everything we need\u2014 not just for our lives here on this earth, but especially for our eternity.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Trust me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is perhaps one of the most powerful statements in the English language.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, we probably all know people who have abused our trust and therefore we no longer trust them. Hopefully, we all know people that we can trust because they have proven themselves to be trustworthy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is what the Lord was saying to Ahaz so many years ago.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is what the Lord was saying to both the virgin Mary and to Joseph through His holy angel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is what the Lord is saying to you and to me\u2014 as we celebrate Christmas, as we baptize our loved ones, as we receive His holy Supper, as we stay focused on His cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cTrust Me!\u201d says the Lord, our God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-4-12-22-19.mp3\">Advent-4-12-22-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 22, 2019 Isaiah 7:10-14 Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 A Sign! &nbsp; Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, &#8220;Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.&#8221;&nbsp; But Ahaz said, &#8220;I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.&#8221;&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1186\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}