Sunday 2 December 2018

The HOPE of Christmas - 2 December 2018


“The HOPE of Christmas”
  2 December 2018 (SBC Ireland)

INTRODUCTION:
            Today, on this the first Sunday of Advent, we have lit the Candle of HOPE, reminding us of the many years of God’s people waiting for the coming of the Messiah. This hope was wonderfully fulfilled in the miraculous birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, and glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “hope” in this prophetic context gets varied reactions from people. Sceptics of the Bible say that Christians are like little children at Christmas time who go around saying, “I hope, I hope, I hope that Santa brings me a pony for Christmas!” when all the while everyone around them knows full well that they are not going to get what they long for. This is their attitude toward those saints of old who were looking forward to Messiah’s First Coming, but even more so toward those of us today who are awaiting Christ’s Second Coming. “It’s not going to happen,” they say.
However, this criticism owes to a misunderstanding of the Biblical concept of hope. Let me give you a working definition: Hope is a state of settled peace and assurance as a result of one’s faith being applied to a sure thing. The operative words here are, of course, “a sure thing.” Those who patiently awaited the appearing of Messiah knew for a fact that it was just a matter of time. Why? Because God had promised it in the Scriptures and through the prophets. Therefore, they had believed it, and that settled it for them! The sure things upon which they were basing their faith and hope were the clear promises of God Himself, His unblemished record of keeping His promises in the past, and the fact that His reputation for integrity depended upon His faithfulness to His own Word.

TRANSITION:
My dictionary at home defines HOPE as, 1. a cherished desire accompanied by expectation of, or belief in fulfillment; 2. to long for with expectation of obtainment.” Notice that there is a big difference between hope and “wishful thinking” as I explained a moment ago.
            Of course, Christmas time, at least for the children, is all about hoping, about looking forward to receiving something wonderful that they have anticipated and dreamed of [e.g. a new dress, a special toy, a new red bicycle, etc.]. But hope is an important part of all our lives, children and adults alike. I think that the word “hopeless” is one of the saddest words in the English language, when it is applied to a person or a situation. But what are the big things that most people hope for in this life? What are the things to which most of us look forward with the expectation of fulfillment?
  1. To grow up
  2. To go to a “good” university
  3. To land a high-paying, secure job/career
  4. To marry the woman/man of our dreams
  5. To have wonderful, healthy children
  6. To buy that first house
  7. To have an excellent salary and get raises
  8. To retire early so that we can travel
  9. To live “happily ever after”

            But today we want to turn our attention from these earthly hopes and dreams and focus on spiritual aspirations. On this first Sunday of Advent we remember the hope, the anticipation, the looking forward to the appearing of the promised Messiah, the One who would come to be the Saviour. For centuries, people awaited the fulfillment of the promise that God would bring forth the Anointed One at just the right time.  Christmas is when we celebrate and commemorate His appearing.
            Today I would ask you: “Do you have this kind of hope?” and if so, “Upon what is your hope grounded?” God wants us to live with hope every day. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 hope is listed as one of the three graces which should adorn every Christian’s life. “But now abide Faith, Hope, and Love, these three.” Faith and hope are related but are not the same thing. Faith is better translated as “believing” for it is almost always used as a verb rather than a noun. Hope, on the other hand, is something we possess, a state of being we enjoy as a result of our faith.

MAIN BODY:
            This morning I want to introduce you to some of my favorite Bible verses about the HOPE that we as Christians have as part of our inheritance as sons and daughters of the King. It all comes down to the fact that God Himself is the basis for our hope.  Without Him and His faithfulness we would indeed be HOPELESS.

I. The Ground of Our Hope: (i.e. what it rests upon)
A. God’s Love and Mercy – Psalm 33:18-22, “Behold, the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His mercy, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our Help and our Shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.”

B. God’s promises – Psalm 119:74, 81, “May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your promises.”… “My soul faints with longing for Your salvation, but I have put my hope in Your word.”

C. God’s Holy Word – Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

D. God Himself – 1 Peter 1:20-21, “For He [Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”  Psalm 42:5, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.”

E. God’s Son, Jesus Christ – 1 Timothy 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus who is our hope.”  Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”

II. The Objects of Our Hope: (i.e. things we hope for)
A. Christ’s return/the Rapture – Titus 2:13, “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus.” 

B. The resurrection of our mortal bodies from the dead – Acts 24:14-15, “But this I admit to you, that I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets, having a hope in God that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.”  Likewise, in 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  

C. Eternal life in Heaven with God – Titus 1:1-2, “Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago.” 

III. The Benefits of Our Hope
A. Hope is a HELMET to protect our mind – 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 

B. Hope is an ANCHOR to secure our soul – Hebrews 6:16-19,People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

IV. The State of Mind that Hope Inspires:
A. Blessedness – Jeremiah 17:7, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”

B. Rejoicing – Romans 12:10-12, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.”

C. Boldness – 2 Corinthians 3:9, 11-12, “If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech.” (cf. 1 Peter 3:15)

V. Biblical Descriptions of Our Hope
            A. A good hope – 2 Thessalonians 2:16
            B. A blessed hope – Titus 2:13
            C. A joyful hope – Hebrews 3:6; Romans 5:3
            D. A sure, firm hope – Hebrews 6:18
            E. A living hope – 1 Peter 1:3
            F. A saving hope – Romans 8:24
            G. A glorious hope – Colossians 1:27
            H. A purifying hope – 1 John 3:3

            But how do we get from God all the things for which we have hoped? What is the secret of tapping into His promised blessings?  Let me tell you a little story that I hope will answer this question.

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed father looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector.

But the day came when war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram that his beloved son had been killed while carrying a fellow-soldier to a medic station.

On Christmas morning a knock came at the door of the old man’s home, and as he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the older man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”

“I am an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of his son. Though the art critics would never consider the work a piece of genius, the painting did feature the young man’s face in striking detail and seemed to capture his personality.

The following spring, the old gentleman became ill and passed away. The art world was keen in anticipation! According to the Last Will & Testament left by the old man, all the art works would be auctioned. The day soon arrived, and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings.

However, the auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed with not a sound from those who came to buy. From the back of the room someone callously called out, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the important paintings.” There were other voices which echoed in agreement. But the auctioneer replied, “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. “I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it. I will bid the $100.” “I have a bid for $100,” called the auctioneer. “Will anyone go higher?” After a long silence the auctioneer said, “Going once. Going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell.

Cheers filled the room, and someone was heard to say, “Finally! Now we can get on with it!” But the auctioneer looked at the audience and to everyone’s surprise announced that the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all these paintings? There are millions of dollars’ worth of art here! We demand that you explain what’s going on!” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”

CONCLUSION:
            That is the essence of the story of Christmas: Whoever takes the Son gets it all! The Bible puts it like this in 1 John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 
            I stated at the beginning that HOPE is part of the inheritance of the believer. The Bible is clear in saying that apart from Christ there is no hope. Without God people have no rock on which to stand. Listen to these verses:
·         Job 11:20, “The eyes of the wicked will fail and there will be no escape for them; and their hope is to breathe their last.”
·         Ephesians 2:12, “Remember that you Gentiles were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
·         1 Thessalonians 4:13, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep [i.e. dead in Christ], that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.”

The question that remains is, “Do you have the Son? Do you really know Jesus in a personal way? All the blessings that God wants to pour out on your life are wrapped up in Jesus. The one who has the Son has it all. When you have Him, you get the rest as well.