Ashe Alliance Church
Christmas Eve Service 12.24.24
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  • O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
  • O Come O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
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    Main Idea

    Jesus is the light of the world, and we are created to reflect His light in the world.
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    Have you ever been to Linville Caverns? It’s a cool place where you can take a guided tour into the cavern, see the stalagmite formations, worm your way through narrow paths, and experience total darkness. For the thrill-seekers, that experience is fantastic, but even the most adventurous could quickly feel unsettled at the thought of the guiding lights failing. The dark is so encompassing that you literally cannot see your hand if you hold it 1 inch from your face. The saturating darkness is utterly disorienting. So, if you weren’t reassured that the lights would be flipped on in the next few seconds, you could imagine the panic that would follow. Darkness, on that level, is terrifying.
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    Passage

    Isaiah 9:1–2 CSB
    Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
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    I - Zebulun and Naphtali Humbled

    Who and where is this?
    These are tribal lands (the 12 tribes of Israel - see Joshua 15-19) that were incorporated into the lands of the Northern Kingdom, which were the first to be ravaged by the Assyrian attacks.
    Isaiah speaks as though he is living in the time of the Messiah, looking backward.
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    II - Future Honor Will Come

    The Way of the Sea, land east of Jordan, and Galilee of the nations refer to how these tribal lands became provinces under Assyrian Rule.
    The way of the sea could describe the section of land that would become one of the three districts established after the Assyrians won the battle, or it might describe a major international highway that ran through this region (which is mentioned in their historical records). This would have been the route taken when they invaded the Northern Kingdom.
    Land east of the Jordan- the physical boundary created by the Jordan River that stretches north of the Sea of Galilee all the way down to the Dead Sea.
    The Galilee of the Nationscould refer to the zone north of Naphtali, which was a territory debated between the Israelites and their neighbors (1 Kings 9:10; Josh 20:7; 21:32). It could also mean the Galilee of the Gentiles, which refers to the region's ethnic makeup.
    God promises that what was once devastated and cloaked in darkness will be restored and honored when the Messiah arrives and establishes His Kingdom.
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    III - The Fulfillment in Christ

    If this is a true prophecy, we would expect to see the Messiah’s presence here, right? The lands that were the first to experience the darkness and gloom of the Assyrian attack would be the first to feel the warming, restorative rays of the Divine Light coming into the world. But did that happen?
    Yes, it did!
    Nazareth- in Zebulun, the promised child lived, and the Son was given to redeem Israel.
    Jesus’ Baptism- Below the Sea of Galilee in the Jordan River.
    Jesus settles in Capernaum- After His wilderness temptation, Jesus returns to the region of Zebulun and Naphtali and settles in Capernaum so that the Isaiah 9prophecy can be fulfilled (Matthew 4:12-17). From here…
    Cana- The city in Zebulun of the wedding feast where Jesus executed His first miracle, initiating His public ministry (though it was behind the scenes) and gathering His first disciples.
    Synagogue in Nazareth – Shortly after the wilderness temptation, Jesus visited a synagogue in Nazareth where he publicly proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah by quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 (Luke 14-21).
    Isaiah 61:1–2 (CSB)
    The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…
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    IV - Jesus as Light

    God is light (1 John 1:5). Light at creation.
    Angels of light announced His birth (Luke 2:8-14).
    A guiding light led the wise men to the Messiah (Matt. 2:9-10).
    Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World (John 8:12).
    John 8:12 CSB
    Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
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    5. The Light penetrates the darkness of a fallen world (John 1:1-9).
    John 1:1–9 CSB
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
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    VI. The Transforming Power of the Light

    • From gloom to gladness (despair of darkness and hopelessness of being lost)
    • From dark deeds to right living (darkness = sinfulness. Dark is malevolent. Light exposes and overcomes.)
    • From death to life. The light spoken of in John’s gospel is life for mankind.
    • From purposeless to purposeful - we are given the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in Jesus (2 Cor. 4:6) to reflect His glory in His creation (Matthew 5:14-16).
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    The light of Christ restores what was once in ruin.
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    As we sit here tonight on the eve of the incarnation – the Son of God coming to earth to accomplish the mission of redemption – let’s rejoice in the light that has dawned upon us. The Child born, the Son given, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… and Light of the World is who is coming.
    Here are a few parting thoughts on how we can rejoice and embrace Jesus this Christmas season.
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    Takeaways

    1. See the light. Tomorrow, we celebrate the coming of the child born and son given, who is the light of life. As Jesus said, repent and turn from darkness to light (Matthew 4:17).
    2. Receive the light. Whether for the first time in salvation or through consistent exposure to dark areas in your life for sanctification. Commit to following Jesus more closely, allowing His light to expose, clean, and guide you (John 8:12).
    3. Reflect the Light. We are the city on the hill that reflects Christ's light to those around us who are still in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16).

      • Isaiah 9:1–2CSB

      • John 8:12CSB

      • John 1:1–9CSB

  • Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
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Ashe Alliance Church
nroten@ashealliance.org
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http://www.ashealliance.org
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