Advent 2023 | Week 2
Advent | Christmas | Emmanuel | God with Us
Advent Series 2023
December 3, 2023 | December 10, 2023 | December 17, 2023 | December 24, 2023 | December 25, 2023
Preparing, Waiting, for His Coming
I’m a “type A” personality, and I struggle with waiting. But that’s what we are called to do this week as we begin our second Sunday in Advent celebrations by lighting the next Advent candle, reading His word, worshiping God, and spending time in prayer.
This beautiful second Sunday in Advent and the week ahead, we prepare our hearts as we wait for the promised coming of the Christ child. This discipline also helps us to prepare spiritually for His second coming.
During this week, we can meditate on various scriptures and listen to worship music to help us focus our hearts on Him, on who He is (Emmanuel, God with us). There are many wonderful verses and songs. Today, I’ll mention a few.
Meditate on God’s Word
Jesus’ Mother Was a Virgin
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-23 (ESV)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem
Prophecy: Micah 5:2 (ESV)
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Fulfillment: Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
There are many more prophesies fulfilled when Christ Jesus was born. Search the internet for more verses. (I hesitate to list links as, over time, the links may not be maintained.)
Worship Him in Song
There are many wonderful worship songs for the Advent season. Using the internet, or your favorite music streaming service (YouTube, Spotify, etc.), search on these keywords: advent hymns, advent songs, or just the word advent.
Spend some quiet time each day this week, even if it’s only 15 minutes, to listen to advent worship songs and meditate on the words. Here’s a few suggestions:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
For Unto Us a Child Is Born
Mary Did You Know (Pentatonix) ← I LOVE!! this one!!
Emmanuel (Amy Grant)
Emmanuel (Every Promise Yes in Him, Caroline Cobb)
Wait for the Lord (Taize)
Wait for You (Rivers & Robots)
Note: A fun idea is to buy an old hymnal from a local church or used book store. In that old hymnal you’ll find the hymns organized by the liturgical seasons, listed for Advent and Christmas.
Pray to Your Lord
Spend some quiet time in prayer with your Lord. He knows your heart and loves your words. Again, if you’d like some guidance, there are wonderful prayers for Advent on the internet. Search on advent prayers or on prayers for advent.
Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Maranatha, come again, Lord Jesus!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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"Spend some quiet time in prayer with your Lord. He knows your heart and loves your words." Jenise
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19 ESV
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED
Let us pray. . . Who would ever have imagined that a King would be born this way? He came unnoticed by most, but to those waiting for His arrival, it would be the most precious moment of all creation.
"For my eyes have seen your Salvation.
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:30-32 ESV
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED
"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:10-13 ESV
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED
A simple prayer this season would mean so much more than ever imagined. A prayer calling out to JESUS and receiving Him as LORD and Savior of your life could change everything. Meeting the one who once went unnoticed by most would now become noticed by you. He is coming again. The King is coming. If you have yet to call out to Him, do so while He is near.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED
JESUS said, "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40 ESV
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED
"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 ESV
MARY DID YOU KNOW? | From Nazareth | Hebrew - Arabic - English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7tfBYESaoo
MARY DID YOU KNOW?
"Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know. Ooo Ooo Ooo
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am."
GOD bless you all!
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS." Luke 1:31 ESV
I loved your line - "Spend some quiet time in prayer with your Lord. He knows your heart and loves your words."