READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Advent is a season of waiting, and waiting can be hard because our hearts long for hope, peace, joy and love. Today we celebrate the truth that God does not wait for us to be ready. For God’s love comes anyway.
God’s Love Doesn’t Wait for US to be Ready
Have we ever waited for someone or something and felt anxious or afraid? King Ahaz was in a similar situation. He faced enemy armies, political uncertainty and deep fear. Ahaz also doubted God’s promises, yet God’s love did not wait. God is neither passive nor distant. God does not wait for us to get everything right before He steps in.
King Ahaz was panic stricken by the invasion of Syria and Israel. Yet Ahaz responded with unbelief to God and his prophet. The passage reveals a God who comes, not because we are ready, but because God’s love couldn’t wait. Ahaz was fearful and God gave Ahaz a promise and a sign. God is neither distant nor indifferent. He is here with us and moves in our lives, fears, struggles and ordinary moments.
God’s Love Moves into Our Fear (v 10-12)
God instructed Ahaz to ask for a sign from the Lord, in order to help Ahaz to trust God. But Ahaz refused. Isaiah told Ahaz to take care and be calm, have no fear and not be fainthearted. In short, Isaiah gave an assurance that the attacking armies would not prevail.
Isaiah’s words underlined the urgent need for Ahaz to trust God and the danger of failing to do so. Ahaz’s fate depended on his trust in God’s word. Although Ahaz was not a faithful king and did not walk closely with the Lord, God love still came. God did not allow fear to be the last word.
Ahaz did not seek God or cry for help, but God sought out Ahaz and brought help and comfort. God knows that we too are often slow to pray, trust, surrender and believe. God is never slow to love and reaches out to us even before we call.
God asked Ahaz to ask for a sign. But Ahaz refused, purportedly to not put the Lord to the test. But this was avoidance, not humility. Ahaz had already decided to trust Assyria and not God. He did not want God’s sign because he did not want God’s will. He preferred political strategy over divine sovereignty. Despite Ahaz’s resistance an unbelief, God did not abandon His people.
Fear is often the place where God’s love breaks through. Fear can make us stubborn, hesitant or even shut us off from God. But God reassures us of His presence and shows us His love. Even when Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, God gave one anyway.
Faith is not the absence of fear, but letting God walk with us amidst the fear. When anxiety arises in our heart, God’s presence calms our spirit. God’s love enables us to reach out. We can make that phone call, offer forgiveness and take small steps of faith, for God delights in guiding our steps.
God’s Love is Faithful Even When We are Not (v13-16)
The Lord gave a sign, not because Ahaz asked or believed; but because God wills to reveal His purpose. The virgin will conceive and she will name Him Immanuel. This child is a living message that God is here.
God’s love works even when we cannot see it. Even when Ahaz was hesitating and Judah was trembling, God’s love was already at work. Even when we faulter, God’s love comes anyway. If we have made mistakes, know that God’s love is bigger than our guilt. Forgive yourself and receive God’s love freely. God’s timing is perfect and His love is faithful even when we are not.
God’s Love Calls Us to Live Differently
We need to reflect and not just receive God’s love. We are to be signs of God’s love to others. We can comfort the fearful, encourage the lonely, serve the hurting and be stepping stones to bring others closer to God.
God’s love transforms ordinary lives into sacred spaces. When we internalize God’s presence, we grow in patience and joy in our daily routine. We become extraordinary witnesses of God’s presence.
God will save us before we sink. God loves us even before we call or feel ready. We don’t need perfect faith, just open hearts. God is working even when we can’t see it. We may wobble and struggle, but God’s plans for us are not fragile. God is with us. His love is personal, persistent and moves into our hearts, even when we are hesitant.
(Sermon notes by Denis Koh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. What is happening in Isaiah 7:10–16? How does the context of King Ahaz’s fear help you understand the meaning of the promised sign, “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son”?
b. Why do you think God offered Ahaz a sign – even when Ahaz didn’t want one? What does this reveal about God’s character? - Recall Sermon
a. What were the key ideas you remember from the message?
b. Which part of the sermon spoke to you most strongly or stayed with you? - Relate Personally
a. Where do you identify with Ahaz’s struggles – fear, hesitation, or difficulty trusting God’s timing?
b. In what situation of your life right now do you most need to remember that God’s love “couldn’t wait” and that He still comes near to you? - Commit to Action
a. What is one concrete step you can take this week to trust God more deeply in an area where you usually rely on your own strength?
b. How can you reflect Christ’s “love that couldn’t wait” to someone who may be anxious, discouraged, or feeling alone this Advent?
