MARANATHA TABERNACLE CHURCH OF GOD
381 Manton Avenue Providence RI 02909
Easter Sunday April 12th 2009 11:00am
Theme: Hope on a Hopeless Day
Text: Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. KJV
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a story of the triumph of good over evil. It is a story of Christ’s victory over death. The resurrection is also a story of our Redeemer’s vindication over His tormentors who subjected Him to the brutality of crucifixion. But most of all, the resurrection is a story of hope for humanity on a hopeless day. Our world is filled with hopelessness and hopeless individuals.
People display hopelessness in various ways. Suicide is probably the most vivid illustration of hopelessness. On Thursday a woman jumped to her death inside a busy New York City mall and landed on a teenager. She felt hopeless.
Because of hopelessness in January 2009 a California man who lost his job killed his wife and five children then killed himself. Recent research conducted by three Rhode Island doctors, revealed that adolescents who live in neighborhoods with weak social networks report higher levels of hopelessness . If you examine these New York, California and Rhode Island Cases you would see that the problem of hopelessness cuts across regions, class, age, racial, ethnic, religious, and gender lines.
To date, more than 4 million American families have lost their homes because they could not pay for them. The US Department of Labor reported that as of March 2009 13.2 million Americans were unemployed. Some people say that the American economy is worse than it has ever been since The Great Depression of the 1930’s and many people have lost hope and given up. Doom and gloom economists and social commentators think the economy will collapse completely and America will become a struggling, poverty stricken nation.
Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is 10.5%.That is higher than the national rate that stands at 8.5%. Everyday many people in Rhode Island are forced to leave their house and apartments and become homeless until there are now people living in tents under the Crawford Street Bridge downtown Providence. Drastic increases in crime rates and a fast shrinking economy are pushing this state downwards into an abyss of despair. Although this is a Hopeless Day I agree with President Obama when he says that he sees glimmers of hope.
But what is hope? Hope is a confident expectation of good. Hope is the anticipation of victory even in the face of defeat. Hope is that fuel that takes us from today into tomorrow. Hope is that sentiment that ties us to the future just as memory ties us to the Past. Hope is the Blessed Assurance that, “everything is going to be alright.”
And sometimes all we need in life’s dilemmas is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when the tunnel is dark, all we need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when troubles are lasting too long, all we need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when the road is rocky, and the way is dreary all we need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when the bills are high and the paycheck is low all we need is just a little bit of hope. And sometimes when the job is gone and the rent or mortgage due date has come, all we need is just a little bit of hope.
And sometimes when there is a lot of sorrow and its looks like there will be no tomorrow all we need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when it looks like you are not going to make it and you truly feel like you can’t take it all you need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when you are doing your best and you are still failing the test all you need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when you are crying and sometimes when you feel like dying, all you need is just a little bit of hope. Sometimes when you feel that you have come to the end of your rope and you don’t know how to cope, what you need is to tie a knot and hang on to just a little bit of hope.
Hope does not back up—say NO
Hope does not back down--NO
Hope does not back out
Hope does not back in
Hope does not bow out
Hope does not cave in
Hope does not drop out
Hope does not run out
Hope does not give in
Hope does not give out
Hope does not give up—say NO, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no
No, No, No, No, NO
No, no, no, no, NO
No, no. no, no, no, no, no, no
Hope does not give up
But hope looks up—say YES
Hope stands up
Hope measures up
Hope buckles up
Hope suits up
Hope shapes up
Hope warms up and
Hope rises up
Hope believes there is a sun, even when it is not shining;--say YES
Hope believes in love, even when you don’t feel it;--say YES
Hope believes in God, even when He is silent.
Hope sees the invisible,
Hope believes in the incredible,
Hope approaches the unapproachable.
Hope bears the unbearable.
Hope endures the unendurable.
Hope beats the unbeatable and
Hope defeats the undefeatable.
Though many state mottos fascinate me there is one I really like: It is not Massachusetts’ motto “seeking peace under liberty by using the sword,” or Georgia’s motto of “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation" neither is it California’s motto Eureka or “I have found it” nor is it New York’s motto Excelsior or
“ higher” but it is Rhode Island that has the best motto “Hope”. In case you don’t realize where you are, you are in Rhode Island and you are in a state of HOPE.
There is a place called Hope Valley in Rhode Island. We have a town named for the idea of hope, Hopkinton. Then there is a city with a zip code of 02831 called Hope RI. We have the Mount Hope Bridge. Then there is Hope House, Hope Chiropractic Center, John Hope Center and of course Hope High School. In fact this state has so much hope that we have a Hope Avenue in Bristol and Mount Hope Avenue in Bristol. There is a Hope Avenue in Hope RI, a Hope Lane in Barrington, a Hope Street in Lincoln, a Hope Street in North Providence, a Hope Street in Warwick, a Hope Street in Pawtucket, and of course a Hope Street in Providence. I am convinced that in spite of the troubled history of Rhode Island and the present challenges we face it is no accident that in 1875 the state adopted Hope to be its guiding principle.
For me one of the most compelling images of hope is in Rhode Island is the high rise building at the Hartford Projects. I remember in 1989 the city of Providence tried to demolish that building. Police blocked off several blocks around the building. Demolition crews with cranes and tractors were deployed in the area. Dynamite was planted in the building and the experts exploded their charges but the building would not come down. Explosion after explosion was made but the building would not budge. Finally the demolition team just packed up and walked away. Today the building is still standing because you see hope cannot be defeated. Hope is like that building, it says “do what you want but I am not moving.” It says “throw everything you have at me but I’m not even going to shake.” “Bring in your expert destroyers and I will still be here long after you are gone.” “Just like a tree planted by the rivers of water, I shall not be moved.” SAY HOPE, HOPE, HOPE!
Hope is a lame man on his way to see Jesus who told his friends “when I come back we will go for a walk.” Hope is the blind man going to meet Jesus. He told his family members “I am going to Jesus and when I come back I will see you.” Hope is a dumb man who went to Jesus. Before leaving home he used sign language to tell his mother “I’m going to Jesus and when I come back I’ll talk to you.”
Stories of hope fill the pages of the bible but the greatest one is found in our text for today: “He is not here: for he is risen.” All of human history culminated at a place called Calvary. The entire universe focused its attention on that tiny piece of ground near a small hill shaped as a skull outside the city walls of Jerusalem.
Roman soldiers were driving nails into the hands and feet of man named Jesus of Nazareth. Every blow that the hammer struck on the nails registered across the expanse of the universe and ricocheted in heaven. God the Father watched as His only begotten Son was executed by sinful men. Jesus Himself could have stopped His executioners, God the Father could have just wished them away, but instead He allowed it. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Then the soldiers hoisted the cross up and there hanging on that cross was the sinless Son of God, the Just dying for the unjust that He might bring us back to God. Paul the apostle wrote “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
The prophet Isaiah declared “…He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5,6).
People came by and mocked Him, daring Him to come down from the cross. He cried “I thirst” and they gave Him vinegar to drink. As He hung on the cross that day Jesus prayed for His tormentors saying “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”
His mother, Mary standing by had lost hope as she saw her son brutally killed. His close friend John had lost hope as he watched Jesus agonize when He cried out “My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me?”
His disciples ran away and hid in a closed room in the city. They lost all hope as their plans for greatness and the liberation of Israel through Jesus seemed like bad dreams. Then darkness covered the earth, the curtain of the temple ripped open from top to bottom, the earth shook and rocks split as Jesus cried out “It is finished.” Then He bowed His head and died.
He was dead, all hope was now gone. The soldiers pushed a spear into His side and blood and water flowed out. They then took His beaten, bruised, bleeding, butchered body down from the cross and placed it in a borrowed tomb. The Romans sealed the tomb and the Jews posted guards at the grave. One day passed and nothing happened, two days went by and the shock and horror still was not starting to wear off. Then on the third day, when the hope of Israel and all of humanity seemed to be completely shattered, humankind was resigned to the shackles of sin’s despair. But early in the morning on the first day of the week hope began to stir in the regions of the dead. Hope opened His eyes, hope lifted His arms hope shifted His legs, Hope stood up and hope walked away from the tomb. Many things speak of hope but on the First Easter morning the embodiment of hope busted out of the prison of death and proved once and for all to all of Adam’s fallen race that: He is the true hope.
He is the only hope Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
He is the hope of all humanity
He is the merciful hope. Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; Psalm 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
He is the hope that gives gladness Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
He is the hope that will not shame us Psalm 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
He is the rejoicing hope. Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
He is the righteous hope Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. He is the hope of the righteous that gives gladness
He is the word of hope. Ps 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
He is the hope we can believe in Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
He is our secure hope. Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
He is our trustworthy hope. Psalm 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
He is our quiet hope. Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
He is our continuous hope Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
He is our hope in the day of evil Jeremiah 17:17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
He is our door of hope. Hosea 2:15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
He is our loving hope Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
He is our resurrected hope. Acts 23:6 I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
He is an anchoring hope. Hebrews 6:18-19 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
He is an assuring hope Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
He is the best hope. Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
He is the blessed hope Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
He is the earnest hope Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
He is the eternal hope Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
He is the hope even in death Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
He is a firm hope. Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
He is a good hope 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
He is a glorious hope Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
He is a grounded hope Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
He is a lively hope 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
He is a patient hope Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
He is a rejoicing hope Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
He is the purifying hope 1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
He is the reasoned hope 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
He is saving hope 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
He is the settled hope Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
AND HE IS ALIVE, HE IS ALIVE, HE IS ALIVE
YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES, HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART
HE LIVES IN YOU AND HE LIVES IN ME AND AS LONG AS HE IS LIVING IN YOU, YOU HAVE HOPE
DON’T THROW IN THE TOWEL, DON’T GIVE UP, DON’T PACK UP, DON’T BACK DOWN. WATCH THE DEVIL SQUARE IN THE EYES AND SHOUT HE’S ALIVE AND I HAVE HIS HOPE LIVING IN ME…
MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS THAN JESUS BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUNESS. I DARE NOT TRUST THE SWEETEST FRAME BUT WHOLLY LEAN ON JESUS NAME. ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
