Something Old, Something New: Part 2 - 'A Sign from God'

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
The talk will be available via live stream at 9.30am on Sunday 11th December, on our YouTube channel.
 
Once you have listened, here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

Matthew chapter 1 chapter 18-23 (New Living Translation)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel!" (which means “God with us”).



Isaiah chapter 7

When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smouldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
    you will not stand at all.’”

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 



Prayer and Reflection:

Lord God, we confess that even though you have given us the clearest and most obvious sign of your love by sending Jesus to die for us, yet still we doubt and lack faith and trust in you – please forgive us.
 
Lord God, please help us to be receptive to the prompting of your Holy Spirit: give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and the courage to do your will.
 
We pray that during this ‘Advent Time’, you will fill us with all joy and peace as we trust more and more in you, such that we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’
 
AMEN




Questions to Consider:

1. Have you ever had a clear sign from God? If yes, what were the circumstances and what happened? If no, what would need to happen for you to be sure that God had sent you a sign?
2. Think carefully, is there someone (human) in your life that you totally trust? Trust to the point that whatever they said or advised, then you would do it?
3. If you answered yes to question 2, what is it that causes you to trust a person in this way? If you answered no, what would a person need to demonstrate before you trusted then completely?
4. Do you trust God’s word, the bible? For example, do you believe that Jesus is God’s son, part of the trinity, and that he is the way and the truth and the life? Whether you do or don’t believe this, what are your reasons for so doing?
5. In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life, he lists a total of 47 quotes and prophesies from the Old Testament, including the virgin birth. Can they all be true? Whether you answer yes or no, how can you be sure?
6. What is the greatest challenge to your faith and trust in God right now? Are you praying about it regularly and intentionally?