Logical Advent Thinking
An all-creatures Bible Message

Logical Advent Thinking
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
24 December 2017
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Micah 6:8
Matthew 5:48
Luke 2:1-20
Romans 16:17-20

Logical advent thinking, we believe, is critical to understanding the heavenly will of God and the reason that Jesus is going to come again.
 
We need to remember and understand that God created everything in a logical manner, and we need to seriously consider that it only stands to reason that He would also want us to live in His creation and heavenly will here on earth, which is exactly what Jesus taught us to do.
 
And this is what Jesus means when He commanded us in Matthew 5:48…

48. "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
NASB

This doesn’t give us any leeway to live in the corrupt ways of this world with all its violence, pain, suffering, bloodshed, and death that the world inflicts upon millions of humans and billions of animals every year.
 
Humans have corrupted this world and, for the most part, they are continuing to do so to their own detriment, and the detriment of the animals and the environment.
 
Jesus came some 2000 years ago to show and teach the whole world what the Lord required of them to live in the heavenly will of God and help free creation from its present corruption, but human society didn’t listen, and continued to live in the corrupt and evil ways of this world with all its violence, pain, suffering, bloodshed, and death.
 
Jesus wanted us to prepare for His return, and the apostles wrote to us about doing the same thing; this is what we’re referring to as logical advent thinking.
 
But even before Jesus was born into this world, prophets like Micah told us what the Lord required of us; note what he wrote in Micah 6:8…

8. He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
NASB

And we cannot do this if we are living in the corrupt ways of this world; we can only do this with logical advent thinking.
 
It’s time we repent of our worldly ways and truly seek to live in the heavenly will of God.
 
Thus, it is exactly what we need to think about and do, as we look at Luke 2:1-20, which tells us about events leading to Jesus’ birth, which was His first coming.

1. Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

It seems quite illogical to think that Caesar would issue such a decree in the wintertime because of the hardships of traveling at this time of the year; so logical advent thinking tells us that this was either a worldly way of living, or that God had a higher purpose in mind.

2. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
 
3. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city.
 
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
 
5. in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

This was why they had to come to Bethlehem, which was also to fulfill a prophecy that this was to be the place of the birth of our Messiah.

6. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
 
7. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

A manger is an animal feeding trough, which logic tells us that she gave birth to Jesus in a stable with the animals all around them, which other stories tell us.
 
And this is significant because, in our opinion, this shows that God truly loved the whole world, as we are told in John 3:16,  and not just human beings as many people like to think; God loves the animals, too, just as we should, as members of our family, who we would never consider mistreating or killing or eating.

8. And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.

If we think logically, it is most likely that these shepherds were not the “owners” of the animals in the flock; they were just hirelings or servants whom God chose to deliver His message; God chooses the poor and lowly over the rich and famous.

9. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
 
10. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;

The humans were the ones who had separated themselves from the Lord, which we don’t believe the animals did, so the Lord is directing His message to the shepherds and other human beings.

11. for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
 
12. "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."
 
13. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

We often wonder who the heavenly host were: did they include animals and humans whom God had received into heaven along with the angels?
 
For to us, if the animals and humans were included, that would have brought His message home more powerfully.

14. "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

“With whom He is pleased” seems to indicate that peace among men will not come if God is displeased with them; God is pleased with those who willingly and freely choose to live in his heavenly will.

15. And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

This means that they would also be leaving the sheep unattended, which would indicate that they were irresponsible people, whom we doubt God would choose to deliver His message, and leads us to ask other questions; who would be looking after the animals? Did the angels say they would protect the animals while the shepherds were away delivering their message?
 
We just need to trust in the Lord for things like this.

16. And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
 
17. And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

This shows the shepherds’ willingness to serve the Lord in His will, and not in their own will, which is something that we should all do.
 
This is all a part of logical advent thinking, and carrying through in God’s heavenly will.

18. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
 
19. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
 
20. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
NASB

And again, this is all part of logical advent thinking.
 
In Romans 16:17-20 we hear Paul’s instruction to the people about the problems they would encounter, and we see similar problems to this very day.

17. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

There was a lot of negativity in the world then, and there is a lot in the world today, and we need to keep our message on point: urging everyone we can to leave their worldly pursuits that bring so much pain, suffering, and death to millions of humans and billions of animals every year, and truly seek to become peacemaking children of God who actually do everything in their power to help free creation from its present corruption.
 
This is a vital part of logical advent thinking.

18. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

But when we live in the heavenly will of God, the Holy Spirit helps us to see the falseness in these kinds of people before they can cause us any harm.

19. For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil.
 
20. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
NASB

This will all happen with Jesus’ second coming.
 
But until He does return, we need to focus upon logical advent thinking, so we are not deceived by the devil and those who follow worldly thinking.
 
Jesus Christ is coming again.
 
Amen.

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