Advent 3 - Rejoice Rejoice Emanuel, God is with us

So, are you ready for Christmas?

Oh, I heard a groan.

Charles Dickens wrote in a Christmas carol,

I will honour Christmas in my heart and I will try to keep it all of the year.

I will live in the past, I will live in the present and the future.

The spirits of all three will strive within me.

I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.

I think when it comes to Christmas, we have a lot of lessons that maybe we have learnt down the years.

And what lessons maybe have we learnt this Advent as we're preparing in our journey about our relationship with Jesus?

Because that's what Advent is all about.

It's growing and deepening that relationship each and every one of us have with Jesus and others around us.

We've lit our third Advent candle, a visual reminder of our Advent journey.

One more candle to go before we light that final one on Christmas Day,

the one that we have been preparing for, Jesus coming into the world.

A meeting with Jesus is and always will be a life-changing experience.

I hope you have, and I hope you are experiencing that.

Because life with Jesus is exciting.

We can look around at the doom and gloom of the world, but living life with Jesus is exciting.

I met a young adult yesterday desperately, desperately seeking Jesus afresh in his life.

The Jesus he knew so well in his childhood that was so real, so awesome, so wonderful.

But somewhere along the way in life had lost the wonder and the zeal that Jesus brings.

Where did we lose that?

Maybe where have we lost that?

It's Scout and Guide and Uniformed Services, the organisation this week,

gathered in here all the uniformed organisations.

It was amazing.

But we spoke and focused on the Chief Scout, which is Bear Grylls.

Bear Grylls is the Chief Scout.

He has an influence over 40, I think it's 400,000 young people and their leaders.

And he was baptised in the River Jordan in October.

He wanted to tell the world and he wanted to show the world what it means to be a Christian

in the setting in which he is.

He said,

The Jesus story is so amazing, it seems wherever Jesus went,

that new birth, new life, a new vision followed.

I hope that's been your experience, because it's certainly been mine.

Jesus never ceases to amaze us and surprise us in that which he brings

and that which he came to bring into each and every one of our lives

and the lights in the people that we reach.

And I hope like me as well, as we lit that third candle,

we were reminded of the courageousness of what this Christian journey is all about.

Because it takes courage.

It takes courage, as Bear Grylls will know,

to jump out of planes to do everything that he does.

What's his motivation?

I think it's about Jesus and he made that known in the River Jordan.

What's our motivation?

And what makes us courageous?

Bear Grylls said, remember this,

You have a light within you, the Holy Spirit,

and wherever you go, you will bring a greater light than the darkness around you.

I'm going to read that again,

because I think that's a so important message for this season.

You have a light within you, the Holy Spirit,

and wherever you go, you will bring a light greater,

greater than the darkness around you.

Our scripture today reminds us of that,

what it means to be a light carrier in the situations in which we bring.

I remember the story of the starfish, you may have heard it before,

of all these starfish that are washed up onto a beach,

and they're likely to stay there and die as the tide goes out.

And there's a boy that was there,

and all he was doing is throwing one at a time back into the water.

A guy came over to him and said,

You know, it's futile.

What difference are you making?

And he said, I'm making a difference to that one,

and I'm making a difference to that one.

One by one by one by one,

we can be light carriers into the darkness that people may be experiencing

this Christmas and in the year to come.

Our scripture today reminds us of the hope that we have in that Christ light

that each and every one of us carries.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you.

This is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.

What do people see when they see us?

What do people see when they see us?

Are we carrying that light into the community?

Are we carrying that light into the situations in which we bring?

Are we carrying that light into our prayer life as well?

Giving thanks and rejoicing for the small things,

but the big things in eternity that happen.

I've been so blessed this week with opportunities,

opportunities that gave me to meet people that I haven't met before

and have really, really light-centered conversations with people.

It's a blessing that we can bring,

and it's a blessing that comes to us.

If you have met with Jesus,

you will know how powerful that relationship with our Lord and Savior is,

and how prayer is central to the closeness of that experience

in the everyday conversation.

Somebody asked me what my morning prayer was in the morning.

What's the first thing that you pray about, Vicar?

Where's the reply?

I said, my basic prayer is,

Lord, help me not to miss the opportunities you're going to show me today.

That's my first prayer of the day.

Lord, help me not to miss the opportunities that you're going to show me today.

Isn't it awful when we know that we've missed those opportunities?

We will know them.

We will know them of maybe those opportunities where we know we should have just stepped in,

maybe asked and prayed at that moment,

Lord, give me the words.

Give me the words to say.

What do you want me to do?

What do you want me to join in with,

with what you're already doing in this person's life that I've met today?

Show me because I'm ready, because the light is burning in me and I want to do that.

That meeting with him day in and day out, 24-7.

In that confidence of Jesus' words, I am with you always.

I'm not just with you on a Sunday between 10.30 and 11.30.

He is here.

But as we know, it's 24-7 in what we do.

Relationship.

It's that relationship that Bear Grylls testifies to that gives him courage, boldness, trust and faithfulness

to be an influencer to all those young people and the 100,000 leaders that they reach and looks after them each week.

This conversation yesterday with this young man was very important.

It was just such a blessing.

And we had a wedding here yesterday where, again, it was such a blessing to see two young people committing to each other in their vows,

promising before God to invest heavily in their lifelong commitment not only to one another but to Jesus,

to keep Jesus at the centre of all they were doing,

to keep that light burning brightly in their marriage and in their life.

Investing in a relationship,

investing in a relationship, as we all know, is so important.

But it takes energy and it takes time.

If you truly want to invest in a relationship,

it doesn't just happen like that.

We have to invest.

It's the same with our Lord.

We invest in that heavily.

Why?

Because he has invested so much in us.

That's why he came.

And I guess this scripture, this points out in our Advent journey,

calls us to ask,

how much have we invested in our relationship with Jesus?

That's what I've been pondering on in this Advent journey.

It's not a guilt trip, anything but.

It's actually a huge encouragement.

How much have we invested in our relationship with you, Lord?

And what more, what more can I invest in this relationship

that brings this light brighter to meet with other people in the community

and make a difference, like the starfish, one at a time.

One person at a time.

Martin Luther said,

prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance.

It is laying hold of his willingness.

And this is the God who longs,

longs to connect with us.

So much that he sent his only son

that we've seen so marvelously this morning,

portrayed, yeah.

But so often we shut him out.

We just close down,

or at least when things are going well,

we shut him out.

We often forget that God is with us and for us in everything.

Rejoice always.

Pray continually.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

God's will for you and me.

Emmanuel, God with us.

It doesn't come any more awesome than that for this world,

for what we're celebrating at the moment,

and what we will celebrate with the world in a couple of weeks' time.

Jesus coming again and all things being made new.

Amen.

Eternity with him.

Amen.

Amen.

Eternity with him.

But life with him now.

And so Paul goes on then.

It's no wonder he says,

do not quench the spirit.

Do not quench the spirit.

Don't let the light grow dim.

I have to tell you, friends,

there have been Christians,

and we maybe know that in life,

maybe Christians and non-Christians,

who have poured buckets of cold water on us.

Don't know whether you've ever experienced that.

People who will try to dampen the spirit in us,

the zeal and excitement of the light that we carry.

And so Paul says to a whole community,

please, please, please,

don't quench the spirit.

Don't let cold-hearted, unkind words and actions

in any attempt quench what the Lord is doing.

Because the Lord is greater than that.

Hold to that zeal.

Maybe you are one who has been on the receiving end.

Rejoice in that.

Don't get drowned.

Drowned.

Don't get drowned in the lukewarm discouragement

of others and of the news.

Don't let it drown you

in what the world wants to bring in darkness.

Because the light has come into the world,

and the world cannot stop it.

It is there.

Of those who seek to water down doctrine

and beliefs that we've held down the ages,

don't be drowned in that.

Hold fast to what was given.

As the light shines.

Paul said, hold on to what is good

and reject what is evil.

And we know what that is,

because if we're walking closely with Jesus,

we will know.

That rabbinic phrase that comes to me again and again,

may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.

You're walking so closely to Jesus

that you will know what is good,

but you will certainly know what is evil.

So let's ground that.

God's good and pleasing will for our lives

in our Advent journey this year.

So I'm going to ask you this week

to go and reflect.

What has encouraged you?

What is encouraging you at the moment?

And give thanks for that.

Where have you seen the Holy Spirit at work?

Where have you experienced the Holy Spirit at work

in your life?

Where have you encouraged others

in what the Holy Spirit is doing?

And have you shared the good news

with others rejoicing

in the good news that we have to share?

You know, if you, like me,

are still at that last moment of Christmas shopping

and you are looking for the greatest gift,

then give them Jesus

because it will be the greatest gift

that you will give them

to share with them.

It's that,

it's that beautiful.

And I suppose the other question is,

are you known and seen for rejoicing?

Are we a people

who people see the light shining

and we can rejoice in amongst the darkness

to be a beacon?

I often think when I look at this place,

wherever you go in Clevedon,

you can see the church,

a city on a hill cannot be hidden.

You don't place it.

You don't place the lights under a table,

Jesus said.

You place it on a stand where people can see.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

You can't miss this place when you walk past.

You can't miss this place

when you drive into Clevedon.

You can't miss this place when you drive up the M5

and you just think,

I'm home.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

And we are those light carriers

that go from here into the community

that we reach each miss.

Amazing.

Amazing.

The good news is,

this week,

is tomorrow in this church,

we will commission

pupil chaplains

in St. Nicholas Chantry School.

Six young people

who will be light carriers

in their community

and in their school

day by day by day by day

as chaplains

in the playground,

in their class,

wherever they go.

And so here,

as they meet in their carol service tomorrow,

we will commission them

in front of the whole school

so they will know

that they are light carriers

for others.

I'm so encouraged

by the news

that I hear.

I'm so encouraged

this week,

even on the news,

if you look for it,

there is good news

to rejoice about.

A six-year-old

who gets up

early in the morning

with his mum and dad

and they make sandwiches

to go out

and give to homeless people

who have slept rough

on the street

on his way to school

because that was his heart

to do that.

That is a light

shining in the darkness.

What a difference that makes

and what a difference

that has made to me

to rejoice

and hear that good news

one by one

by one

by one.

Look at the darkness

one by one.

It makes the difference.

Don't quench it.

Rejoice

because God

is with us.

Maybe this candle,

this third candle

that we've lit

is a reminder today

as we draw closer

to draw near

to that which has changed

your life

and has changed mine

and will change

hundreds of others

if we allow

and share that good news

with them.

May God himself,

the God of peace,

sanctify you,

free you from sin

through and through.

May your whole spirit,

soul and body

be left blameless

at the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ

because the one

who is faithful,

who calls you,

is truly faithful

and he will do it.

The good thing

about a light

is it dispels doubt.

I just want to encourage you

as we go today,

if you have any doubt

in your mind at all,

if you're listening

to this podcast,

if you have any doubt

that what you do

in eternity

doesn't make a difference,

dispel the doubt

because the light

dispels the darkness

and the doubt.

Believe you me,

conversations that

we have had with people,

we don't know

the seeds that we have sown.

Have the conversations.

Many of the young people here

will have been here

because you as parents

and grandparents

have shared that good news

and lived the life

in your homes.

And it's made a difference

for a generation

that will grow

and tell people about Jesus.

The one who calls you

is faithful

and he will do it.

Freed from sin

through and through,

see our whole spirit,

soul and body

will be kept blameless

for the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So the question is,

are we ready?

Are we expectant?

Are we excited?

Are we excited?

Some people actually nodded

there for the podcast.

Are we nodded?

Are we excited?

Are we enthused?

Are we encouraged?

But most of all,

most of all,

is that light

shining brightly in us.

Are we filled

with the Holy Spirit,

ready in anticipation

for his coming,

for those that we will invite,

for those people

that we will go home now,

and prompted to pick up the phone,

to knock on a neighbour's door,

to say,

would you like to come

to a carol service tonight?

Why?

Because we're going to come

and we're going to celebrate

and we're going to meet with Jesus.

I think this scripture

is for each and every one of us

in the body of Christ today.

I think it's such a timely scripture

on this third Sunday of Advent.

The one who calls you is faithful

and he will do it.

And we often go with a blessing

and we say,

send us out

in the power of the Holy Spirit

to live and work

to your praise and glory.

Maybe again,

that should be our prayer

for every day

as we meet with him.

Lord,

today,

would you send me out

in the power

of your Holy Spirit

to live

and to work

to your praise and glory

that people may see

the nightlight,

the light that's shining within me.

I was thinking today

about how,

as you always do with a sermon,

how do you end this off?

How do you end this message?

And I just felt

while I was praying

that the third candle

for many people

might be a prophetic sign.

It might be a prophetic sign

today

as the Spirit's power

refilling you afresh

with that sense of courage,

boldness,

a fresh sense of zeal

and a desire,

a deep,

deep desire,

again,

to make him known.

A light that shines afresh

in your life this Advent,

a light that will shine out

into the people's lives around you,

a renewed expectation,

maybe a new urgency

to serve him

and make him known,

to deepen that relationship

in the everyday

that we have with him.

But I'd invite you to stand.

If you'd just like to stand

with me this morning

and I'm just going to pray

a prayer over us

just to invite him afresh

into our lives,

maybe that third candle for you

is a prophetic sign today.

A fresh sense and move

of the Holy Spirit

is we renounce anything at all,

anything that has quenched

the Spirit of God in our lives,

anything at all

that has deterred us

or dampened that lamp

that shines within us.

And we ask him now,

Holy Spirit,

would you come

and would you refire

that flame within us,

that light of your Holy Spirit

within us

that would shine ever brighter

in every setting, Lord?

Holy Spirit,

would you come and do that now?

Lord, would you ask you,

each of us,

would we ask you now,

would you ask

and would you pray,

come Holy Spirit,

come Holy Spirit,

we pray.

Grow that light within me.

Sense for some,

it's emboldening our bolding,

emboldening our bolding

and encouraging our courage.

just sense a picture of maybe

where cold water has been poured

that actually the light

burns even brighter through that

because of the God

that we know and love

and he will do it.

Amen.

So as we just receive,

let's just pray,

prayer for us.

Go forth into the world in peace.

be of good courage.

Hold fast to that which is good.

Render no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the faint-hearted.

Support the weak.

Help the afflicted.

Show love to everyone.

love,

love

and serve the Lord,

rejoicing always

in the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jesus.

Amen.