Introduction to the season of Advent

This week’s readings mark the beginning of advent season for us! A-d-v-e-n-t?! What’s that?! Is it of any “adventage” to me? 

The word “advent”, translated means “the arrival” or “appearing”. And for us, we all know its about the arrival and appearing of King Jesus, 2000 years ago. But did you know that as God’s people, living in 2020, we’re not only called to celebrate when Jesus came, but also when He will come?!?! 

Christmas for us on this side of history is not just about His first coming, but also about His second coming! Now you know why the past few weeks of the bible reading plan has been about His second coming! 

Lastly, the season of advent actually starts 4 Sundays before the 25th December. Its a period of preparation (much like Lent), where we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus and His much awaited second coming. 

So as you take out your Christmas decorations, plan your small gatherings and buy presents, make sure you join us as we prepare to “Receive our king and prepare Him room in our hearts”! 

reading for: 25 November

Mark 13:24-37 

Advent is a Call to Stay awake!

• READ

What a gloomy way to start advent season! 

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (v. 24-25)

Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. (v. 33) 

Keep awake or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. (v. 36)

The coming of Jesus is usually celebrated with much joy, lights and excitement! Why is Jesus here being so serious and gloomy? 

Its important for us to remember the context of Mark 13. Jesus is in his “last days” on earth, and had rode into Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey (Mark 11:1-11) and cleansed the temple (11:15-19). After confronting the leaders of Israel (Mark 12), he will go on to be betrayed and arrested (Mark 14), before he makes his way to the cross (Mark 15). 

Mark 13 records a private conversation that Jesus has with his disciples (13:3), about the day when the great temple would be destroyed (13:2). On hearing this shocking news that was in contrast to their joyous excitement (13:1), they are now concerned when exactly these things will happen (13:4). 

Dark days are coming and Jesus is preparing his disciples for such a time. 

Its not all doom and gloom however, because the Son of man will come in clouds with great power and glory (v. 26)! Then he will send his angels out to gather his chosen ones from all over (v. 27). And no matter what happens, the words and promises of Jesus will never pass way or disappear (v. 31)! 

To illustrate this picture of hope, power and glory, Jesus ends with the example of a master of a house coming back (v. 35). Imagine that the boss of your company is away on a long extended leave of absence for 6 months. Everyone knows how good he is. In the industry he’s known to be intelligent and wise in his thinking. Within the company, from the highest management to the clerical staff, everyone can testify to his humility and approachability. But in his absence, the company has been in such a mess! Work hours have doubled, trust has eroded and everyone is just wanting to quit! In this gloomy atmosphere, wouldn’t you want your wise, intelligent, humble and approachable boss to return so that he can set the company on its right path again?!!? 

When he returns, would you be one of the employees that he will keep and affirm? Or would you be one who is fired and disciplined?

• REFLECT

  2020 will be remembered as a gloomy year where a worldwide pandemic stopped the world in its tracks. As we end the year and reflect back on how we have lived, can we say that we are ready for Jesus to come again? Would we be found awake and yearning for our Master to return? 

  Advent season is a perfect opportunity to “pause in our year” so that we “don't end our year wrong”. 

  Pray for yourself, your family, your LG and your kampung - that those who have fallen asleep would awaken to our Lord Jesus who is here.

reading for: 26 November

Isaiah 64:1-9

Advent Calls for Prayers of Repentance

• READ

  Isaiah is a long and often neglected book for most Christians. There are only a few verses we can quote, especially at Christmas when we celebrate that, 

  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

  One very helpful key to reading Isaiah is to remember the context. Israel is in exile and their former days of glory and power are long gone! In fact, the state of things are so bad that they cannot even call themselves a country because every Israelite is under the rule of Babylon! Think Exodus when Israel were nobodies and enslaved in Egypt! The difference now in Isaiah is that the Israelites could recount of the good ol’ days when Pharaoh was defeated and they were saved! 

  When God first came down and revealed Himself to them at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). The mountains too trembled greatly (Exodus 19:18 and Isaiah 64:1). And Israel were led by the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:22) which Isaiah is fondly remembering (Isaiah 64:2). Oh how all the nations trembled at this great and mighty God! 

  Remember the awesome parting of the red sea, the manna coming down from heaven and water from the rock (Exodus 14-17)? Those must be flashing in Isaiah’s mind as he remembered what awesome things God’s presence would bring (Isaiah 64:3)!

  Has anyone ever seen a God like Yahweh? Has anyone ever heard of anyone that comes even close? (Isaiah 64:4) 

  Who acts for those who wait on Him, who meets those who remember Him and His ways (v.4-5).

  Oh how much Israel has “backslided”! How unclean and dirty we have become! (v.5-6) Its almost like Israel has faded in history, all because of her iniquities. Even in such a “rabak”, cannot make it state, no one calls on God’s name! No one turns to God and God seems so far away (v. 7)! 

  This state of abandonment and loneliness, this feeling of helplessness is not strange to us. If we haven’t experienced that in 2020, 2021 might just bring that. What will we as God’s children do? What will the people of God who are called children of light do? 

  Isaiah’s prayer for repentance can be our prayer. 

  First we acknowledge God as our Father. We are the clay and He is our potter. All of us are God’s work, the handiwork of our Father’s hands. (v. 8)

  In our uncleanliness and sin, we can cry out to God to not be angry, to forget our iniquity and look upon us as His people (v. 9)

• REFLECT

  Early in 2020 when COVID 19 first hit, everything was shaken. Many of us turned to the Lord and sought him. But as we are slowly recovering, we might have slid into forgetting that God alone is our Potter and our future is in His hands.

  Many countries are still struggling to cope with containing COVID 19 - Europe, Malaysia, US. 

  Stand on behalf of these nations and pray as Isaiah prayed - that all the nations, tribes, people and languages would turn to God. That He would not be angry and remember our iniquities. And that He would look upon His people.

reading for: 27 November

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Advent Celebrates God Is Enough

• READ

  Jesus is coming again! When he comes, will I be deemed worthy enough? Have I done enough to be counted in His kingdom? Will my faithfulness be enough for Him?

  In Paul’s opening address to the Corinthians, all these questions are addressed: 

  In Christ Jesus (v. 4),

  1) We have been enriched in every way, in all speech and knowledge (v. 5)

  2) We are not lacking in any spiritual gift (v. 7)

  3) We will be sustained and kept strong to the end, so that we will be free from blame and guiltless when He returns (v. 8)

  Will we achieve this in our own strength? 

  God who is faithful will do this, for He has called us into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (v. 9)

  The reason advent season is a season of celebration and joy, is because in God’s giving of His own Son, also gives us all that we will need! The Good Shepherd as we read last week, will sustain us, enable us and enrich us! We will have no lack! We don’t have to count on our own strength and neither do we have to worry about our faithlessness. For our God who is faithful will do this!

• REFLECT

  Give thanks that in Christ Jesus, we truly have enough! 

  We have been enriched in every way, lack nothing and will be sustained to the end! 

  This assurance shouldn’t lead us to take things for granted, rather, it should fill us with gratitude and confidence in God’s power to live out our new lives in Christ Jesus! 

  In your LG or kampung, is there someone who needs to be reminded of this assurance?

  Pray for him/her and see how the Spirit leads you to encourage him/her! 

reading for: 28 November

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 

Advent Reveals Our Saviour Has Come!

• READ

  The name of Jesus, actually means “the LORD is salvation”. Its no coincidence that this Psalm, is a prayer and cry for salvation! In verses 3, 7 and 19, this phrase is repeated,

  “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

  But if we notice carefully, there is a movement towards who this prayer is addressed to. It first starts out as “restore us, O God”, then it moves to “restore us O God of hosts” (v. 7), before finally arriving at “restore us, O LORD God of hosts” (v. 19). It seems that as the author of this Psalm prays and cries out to God for salvation, he is slowly realising who really is able to save!

  It is none other that the LORD Himself. 

  He who is the Shepherd of Israel (v. 1)

  He who is able to give life (v. 18)

  Verse 17 actually points to the coming of Jesus, the One who sits at the right hand of God, the one whom God will make strong for Himself. Thats why in advent season, we can celebrate and give thanks that our Saviour, in Jesus Christ has come! Hallelujah!

• REFLECT

  You might be in a situation where you’re crying out for God to save you. It could be at work, the loss of a job or decline in projects, or it could be at home, the tense relationships which this year has brought.

  As you pray and ask the LORD to save you, be assured that in Jesus, His salvation has come! 

  How would your prayer be different knowing that Jesus is there with you?