Advent Week 1
Part of Advent 2024—A Time For Wonder
December 4, 2024

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12/1 A Time For Wonder Week 1 - HOPE “A Time For Renewal”
Pastor Dwayne Smith

Psalm 57, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. 3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. 4 I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. 6 My enemies have set a trap for me. I am weary from distress. They have dug a deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.
My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! 8 Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. 9 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. 10 For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth”


David’s Path of Renewal: Reflection to Response to Renewal

  • Reflection: “My heart is confident in you, O God” Psalm 57:8
    1 Samuel 17:26, “David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
    What is Reflection?
  • The return of light or sound waves from a surface.
  • The production of an image by or as if by a mirror
  • A thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation
    Consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose
  • 1 Samuel 15:10, “The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.”
  • Doing things OUR way instead of GOD’S way is rebellion against God – God is not our consultant, God is our King.
  • 1 Samuel 24:6-7, “He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.”
    Godly Reflection leads to Godly response
  • Joshua 1:8, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
  • Psalm 1:1-3, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
  • LIFE LESSON: Roots grow where we slow
  • Psalm 119:9-16, “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. 14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. 15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 16 I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
  • Luke 6:43-45, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”


Godly REFELECTION results in Godly RESPONSE which Causes Godly RENEWAL

  • James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
  • “Rather than obsessively staring at our own past or future, through this psalm, Christ invites us to look at him to find forgiveness, identity, peace, security, and hope in what he has done for us in the past, and in what he will do when he returns in the future to establish his reign as priest and king, once and for all.” Advent Devotional

Reflection Questions:

  • David invites us to focus our thoughts and desires on Christ. How can you practically shift your focus from yourself to Christ during this Advent season?
  • Reflect on your own tendency to dwell on the past or worry about the future. How does dwelling in the words of Psalm 57 reshape your perspective?

Benediction

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

24 The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go and Live for Jesus!

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