Fourth Sunday in Advent

On the Fourth Sunday in Advent, we focus on Fulfillment. God fulfills His promises, but not in the ways we often expect. He has provided a descendant of David and established his kingdom forever.  Jesus is reigning even now. And, he will continue to reign until his enemies have become his footstool (Psalm 110:1).  “The last enemy to be destroyed is death…When all things are subjected to him…then God will be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-28).  The promise of rest and respite from all that wearies us in this world is not to be found in a specified time, place, or set of circumstances. It is to be found in a person! 

Follow along with the Fourth Sunday in Advent at-home Sunday Service for December 20

Click here or on the image below to view the at-home version of the service.

Pastor Rike’s Sermon

Through the prophet, Nathan, the LORD promised King David that the people would have a land and rest (2 Samuel 7:10-11), that a dynasty of kings would come from David (2 Samuel 7:11), that his kingdom would be “made sure,” and someone would sit on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Once David was established as king, he thought that everything had been accomplished.  The kings who came after David in Jerusalem might also have thought that with their reign this promise of the LORD had been fulfilled.  

The God who made this promise, however, is elusive. This God cannot be captured or manipulated. The way this God fulfills His promises defies our ability to control or predict. About 400 years after David, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and there was no longer a throne in that city let alone a descendant of David to sit on it.  Many of the people, including the royal family, were taken into captivity (2 Kings 24:11-17; 25:7-9, 25-26, 27).  

Click here to read Pastor Rike’s entire sermon.

Video Options

Follow along with the service on video led by Pastor David Rike with music performed by Randy Broker

Click on the image below to view the video.