Hope Lived: Session 3 “Because of Jesus, We Can Hope At All Times” Matthew 1:22–23 (NKJV) 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” ● Jesus brings hope. Luke 2:8–14 (NKJV) 8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” ● Advent has occurred- Divine Hope has arrived. John 3:16–17 (NKJV) 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He’s Not A Baby In The Manger Anymore.”- Tony Evens ○ Hope is here… now what? Hope Lived ● Abiding in Christ helps us to go beyond just experiencing hope to living it out each day. Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) 27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory Big Ideas: ● Empowered Hope ● Hope Gives Perspective ● Tenacious Hope Empowered Hope Romans 15:13 (NKJV) 13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NKJV) 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ○ Faith is the essence of this type of hope. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Romans 8:24–25 (NKJV) 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. ● We build, encourage, and strengthen our faith by spending time in God’s Word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ● Spending time in God’s Word will cause your hopes to align with God’s hopes. Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. ● God is still up to good in our world today. Psalm 27:13 (NKJV) 13I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NKJV) 9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. Hope Gives Perspective ● Christmas is a time to celebrate the first Advent and look forward to the second Advent when Jesus comes again. “He's not a baby in a manger anymore, not a broken Man on a cross; He didn't stay in the grave and He's not staying in Heaven forever! He's alive! He's alive! He's alive! People get ready! Jesus is coming!”- Misty Edwards ● Are we living with hope for the second coming of Jesus? Are you ready? Revelation 21:3–6 (NKJV) 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ● Do we hope with an eternal perspective? 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NKJV) 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. ● God invites us to be involved in His purposes in this world. It’s going to take hope that we are making a difference. Galatians 6:9–10 (NKJV) 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Tenacious Hope Tenacious Definition: persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired: not easily pulled apart ● We need this type of hope to be lived out in our world. ○ Hope gives us boldness. 2 Corinthians 3:12 (ESV) 12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, ● We see this boldness lived by Peter and John in Acts. Acts 3:6–9 (NKJV) 6Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. ● There are consequences for living out tenacious hope… some people will not always like it. Acts 4:13 (NKJV) 13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:18–21 (NKJV) 18So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. ● Does your hope come from your time with Jesus or something else? ○ Remember: hope is a process. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) 6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. ● You may have been hoping and fallen into hopelessness. Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV) 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. ● God wants to restore your hope. Continue to hope in Christ. Psalm 42:11 (NKJV) 11Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. ● Some things to remember when your hope is based on Christ: ○ He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). ○ He will not fail you (Isaiah 41:10). ○ He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ● God always comes through in His time and in His way. Romans 4:17–20 (NKJV) 17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ● We can hope in the midst of hopelessness when the promise is from God, not our desires. Takeaway Questions: ● In what areas of your life might you need the hope of Christ? ● How have you asked God what His hopes are for certain situations in your life? ● How have you allowed the world’s view of hope to distort the hope God wants to give you? ● In what ways might you need to shift your perspective from hoping in temporary things to eternal ones? ● What are some hopes that you feel are God-given, but have not occurred? What scriptures has God given you to build your faith? Who is encouraging you in this season? ● How can you live a tenacious hope in your life? When I think about hope… I am reminded of Rich Mullen’s song “Hope to Carry On.” ● The Chorus goes: “And Love has come…Love has come…Love has come…And it's giving me hope to carry on”. ○ Because of God’s great love for us, sending Jesus to save us and be our Lord and Savior, we can have hope at all times. Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.