{"id":965,"date":"2017-12-25T12:48:36","date_gmt":"2017-12-25T20:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=965"},"modified":"2017-12-25T13:18:19","modified_gmt":"2017-12-25T21:18:19","slug":"come-lord-jesus-to-fulfill-gods-promises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/25\/come-lord-jesus-to-fulfill-gods-promises\/","title":{"rendered":"Come, Lord Jesus&#8230; to Fulfill God&#8217;s Promises!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='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>   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\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=\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-965-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-4.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-4.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-4.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"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\">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 24, 2017<\/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\">2 Samuel 7:8-16<\/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\">Come, Lord Jesus\u2026to Fulfill God\u2019s Promises<\/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\">\u201cNow then, tell my servant David, \u2018This is what the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> Almighty says:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now, I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will also give you rest from all your enemies.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> declares to you that the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> himself will establish a house for you:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will be his father, and he will be my son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.\u2019\u201c (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\">This is the season of promises, isn\u2019t it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think about it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is the time of the year when many of us make promises to ourselves.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We promise ourselves that we will get started on our shopping early so that we are not so rushed right before Christmas.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We promise ourselves that we will get our Christmas cards out on time.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is also the time of the year when some of us make promises to others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We promise to go to Sally and Art\u2019s Christmas party this year.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We promise our spouse or our children that we will help put up the Christmas tree and all the Christmas decorations\u2014 without grumbling.<\/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\">Is it important to keep our promises, my friends? <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>It most certainly is.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you don\u2019t believe me, just think of someone who makes a promise to a child.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If for whatever reason they don\u2019t keep that promise, that child will be crushed, won\u2019t they.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Children trust that we will keep the promises that we make to them!<\/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 sermon text that we have before us this morning is a beautiful example of promises\u2014 both promises made and promises kept.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With that in mind let\u2019s study our 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\">Come, Lord Jesus\u2026to Fulfill God\u2019s Promises.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s see what this text has to say concerning God\u2019s promises to King David.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see what God\u2019s promises to King David have to say about God\u2019s promises to us.<\/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\">Second Samuel chapter seven marks the climax of King David\u2019s victories.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had defeated the giant Goliath.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had survived several attacks on his life by King Saul.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had now gained control as king over the entire land of Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had conquered the formidable fortress of Jerusalem, taking it from the Jebusites and calling it the \u201cCity of David.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had defeated those pesky Philistines.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally, he had brought the Ark of the Covenant into the City of Jerusalem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As David now looked back over the events of his life he realized two things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, he realized that he had come very far.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A humble little shepherd-boy was now ruling as God\u2019s chosen king over God\u2019s Chosen People.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Second, David recognized that everything he had achieved and everything he was now enjoying\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the victories, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the power, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the wealth, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the honor, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the glory\u2014 it was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> due to the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cL<\/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\">,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> the God of free and faithful grace.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>David knew that none of this would have been possible if the Lord had not been with David every single step of the way.<\/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\">As David looked at everything the good Lord had graciously done for him, David decided that he wanted to do something for God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But what could he do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What could a mere shepherd-boy turned king do for the Majestic Living God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally it came to him!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We hear David say to the Lord\u2019s prophet Nathan, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHere I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>David wanted to build a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chouse\u201d<\/i> for the Lord in the City of Jerusalem\u2014 a Temple worthy of the one and only true God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nathan\u2019s response to David was quite positive.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We hear him say to David, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for 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\"> is with you.\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>That very night, however, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cword of 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\"> came to Nathan.\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>God told Nathan to go back to King David and say, \u201cNo.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>David was not the one who would build a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chouse\u201d<\/i> for the Lord. <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>That privilege would be given to David\u2019s son, Solomon.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And then, using a play on words the Lord said that instead of David building a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chouse,\u201d<\/i> a Temple for the Lord, the Lord promised that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">He<\/i><\/b> would build a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chouse,\u201d<\/i> a dynasty, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">for<\/i><\/b> David!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That glorious promise is the \u201cheart\u201d of our text for today.<\/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\">I invite you to look at verses eight and nine of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, the Lord reviews some of the wonderful things that He had graciously done for David.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord\u2019s promises to David then begin at the end of verse nine.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, the Lord promised David, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did the Lord fulfill that promise to David?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here we are some 3,000 years later and we still talk and read and study about \u201cgreat\u201d King David.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now look at verses ten and eleven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God went on to promise that He would give His people Israel a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cland of their own\u201d<\/i> and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crest from all your enemies.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did the Lord fulfill that promise?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Up until the people of Israel sinned against the Lord and became unfaithful to Him and the covenant He had made with them, they did enjoy a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cland of their own\u201d<\/i> and they did enjoy <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crest from all their enemies.\u201d<\/i><\/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\">Now look at verses 11b-16.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here is where the Lord made the most glorious promise of all to David:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe 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\"> declares to you that 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\"> himself will establish a house for you:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will be his father, and he will be my son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.\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>Did the Lord fulfill this glorious promise?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A partial fulfillment of this promise was found in David\u2019s son, Solomon.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">ultimate<\/b> fulfillment, however, can only be found in the Child of Bethlehem, our dear Lord and Savior Jesus 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\">The proof of that statement is found in our Gospel reading for today (Luke 1:26-38).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin Mary he told her <u>exactly<\/u> Who her Child would be.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Gabriel said to her, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The parallelism between the promise which God gave to David through His servant Nathan and the fulfillment of that promise as God revealed the Good News to the virgin Mary through His servant Gabriel is nothing short of miraculous.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Child of Bethlehem\u2014 who comes from the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chouse and line of David\u201d<\/i> (Luke 2:4) \u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">is<\/i><\/b> great King David\u2019s greater Son, the Son who now rules over God\u2019s Kingdom <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">forever<\/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\">But, my friends, how are we to understand verse 14 of our text?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what it says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhen he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How these words might apply to David\u2019s son Solomon (or any of David\u2019s other descendants) is quite easy to understand.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if the <u>ultimate<\/u> fulfillment of this text is to be found in the Child of Bethlehem, how could verse 14 possibly apply to the perfect, innocent, holy Son of God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To answer that question we simply need to fast-forward from Christmas to Holy Week.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the day that we call Good Friday Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus of Nazareth to die because Jesus claimed to be\u2014 the King of the Jews!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 27:11-44)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For this \u201ccrime\u201d Jesus was beaten and flogged and then crucified.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You and I, however, know the real reason for Jesus\u2019 innocent suffering and death, don\u2019t we.<\/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 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSon of the Most High\u201d<\/i> God, the One who sits on the royal throne of His father David, the One who rules over God\u2019s kingdom <u>forever<\/u> was beaten and flogged and then nailed to a cross where suffered and died to fulfill God\u2019s promise to <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">you<\/b>\u2014 the promise to take all of your sins and all of your iniquities upon Himself, the promise to save <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">you<\/b> from all the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwrongs\u201d <\/i>that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">you<\/b> have done.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Isaiah 53)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That amazing yet unfathomable truth leads us directly into the second part of our sermon.<\/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 fact that the Child of Bethlehem was born to fulfill this promise to King David guarantees to us that we can trust our God to fulfill the promises He has made to us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/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\">What are those promises?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since we don\u2019t have near enough time to review <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> the wonderful promises that the good Lord has made to us, let\u2019s just look at the three promises God made to King David here in our text and see how the Lord has made similar promises to us.<\/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\">God promised King David that He would make David\u2019s name <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgreat, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Has the Lord made a similar promise to us, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, He has!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s promise to us, however, centers on giving us a name that is far greater than the name \u201cDavid,\u201d or \u201cSally\u201d or \u201cArt.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God gives us His own Name!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God places His own name on us through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus Himself says to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2026baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 28:19).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through this holy Sacrament you have been given the Name that sets you apart from even the most powerful and the most wealthy unbeliever on the face of the earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You have been given the name <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cChristian.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Numbers 6:27; Acts 15:16-18; I Peter 4:16; Revelation 3:11-12; 14:1; 22:4)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This baptismal font is now a visible reminder of God\u2019s promise to you.<\/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\">God also promised King David that He would give His people a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chome of their own\u201d<\/i> and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crest from all your enemies.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Has God made a similar promise to us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, He has!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not only did the Child of Bethlehem <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">completely<\/b> defeat <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> of our enemies through His innocent suffering and death on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill, but the Child of Bethlehem physically rose from the dead and ascended into heaven so that He could fulfill the promise that He gives to us in John chapter 14.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus promises, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIn my Father\u2019s house are many rooms\u2026I am going there to prepare a place for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am\u201d<\/i> (John 14:2-3).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s promise to us guarantees that when we die we go\u2014 Home!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We go to our heavenly Home where we will enjoy perfect <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crest from all of our enemies\u201d<\/i> as well as perfect <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crest\u201d<\/i> from all of our difficulties, from all of our sorrows and all of our pains\u2014 forever!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s God\u2019s promise to you!<\/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\">Finally, the Lord promised King David that one of his own sons would rule over God\u2019s Kingdom forever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Has God made a similar promise to us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, He has!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Child whom the virgin Mary tenderly cradled in her arms, the Child whom the shepherds saw <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201clying in the manger\u201d<\/i> (Luke 2:16), the Child before whom the Wise Men bowed down and worshiped, the Child who was ultimately nailed to a cross with a sign above His head which read, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews\u201d<\/i> (John 19:19), this Child is not only our Brother, but He is also our King!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This Child is our King who now promises to graciously rule in our hearts and in our lives through the power of His holy Word and Sacrament.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This Child is our King who now promises to rule over all things in heaven and on earth for the good of His Church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This Child is our King who promises that He will return to this earth at the end of the age in all of His power, majesty and glory!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 25:31; 26:62-64; John 18:33-37)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This Child, this King is our Brother\u2014 our Brother who promises that we will rule with Him in His heavenly Kingdom!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Revelation 20:4-6)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s God\u2019s promise to you!<\/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\">This is indeed the season of promises, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But far more important than the promises we make to ourselves, far more important than the promises we make to others are the promises that the good Lord has made to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you and I prepare to once again witness the fulfillment of the promises which the Lord made to King David here in our text, let\u2019s take this opportunity to both remember and to rejoice in knowing that the Lord has\u2014 and will continue\u2014 to fulfill His promises to us!<\/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<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<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-4.mp3\">Advent-4.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 24, 2017 2 Samuel 7:8-16 Come, Lord Jesus\u2026to Fulfill God\u2019s Promises &nbsp; \u201cNow then, tell my servant David, \u2018This is what the LORD Almighty says:&nbsp; I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.&nbsp; I have been with you wherever you have gone, [&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-965","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\/965","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=965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/965\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}