Topic: Hope
Theme: Hope in God’s Care
Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to base their hope in His care for them.
Response: Individuals will chose a song to sing every day this week as an expression of their hope in God.
INTRODUCTION:
Karen was expecting another child and so she worked to prepare little 3 year old Michael for the birth of his baby sister. Every night Michael sang to his sister in Mommy’s tummy.
During the delivery of the baby serious, complications developed. After many hours of struggle, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. She was rushed to a neonatal intensive care unit in another hospital in Knoxville Tennessee. Instead of getting better, the little girl continued to decline. The pediatric specialist told Karen and her husband that "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." The parents contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot.
Meanwhile Michael continued to beg his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he said. But kids were never allowed in intensive care. The second week of his sister’s intensive care stay, Michael’s sister looked like she wouldn’t make it through the week. So, Karen made up her mind that she would take Michael to see his sister whether the hospital liked it or not. If Michael didn’t see her right away . . . he might never get to see her at all.
She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. The head nursed demanded that he leave. The mother’s instinct rose up strong in Karen, and she looked at the head nurse with steel-eyed determination: "He’s not leaving until he sings to his sister." She took Michael to his sister’s bed.
After a few moments of looking at his sister all connected to tubes three-year-old Michael began to sing. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray ---" And instantly the baby seemed to respond. Her pulse slowed and became steady.
"Keep singing, Michael,” said Karen.
"You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away."
The strained breathing of his sister became as smooth as a kitten’s purr. "Keep on singing, Sweetheart!" coaxed Karen. The head nurse now stood transfixed with tears in her eyes.
He sang the chorus again and again. And the next day -- the very next day -- Michael’s little sister was well enough to go home. Women’s Day magazine called it "The Miracle of the Brother’s Song". The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God’s love.
Jesus came, as God’s love song to you. Christmas is God saying, "You matter to me." Jesus came to tell you that "you are His sunshine."
[From "Christmas 101" by Bruce Goettsche on SermonCentral.com]
THESIS:
My friends, God cares about you.
KEY QUESTION:
Someone may be asking, “How can I be sure that God cars for me?”
FIRST, Mary’s song shows that God cares about “little people” (vs. 46-49).
[46] And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [48] for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, [49] for the Mighty One has done great things for me -- holy is his name.
How does God show his care for the LITTLE people?
Mary is the best example. She points out in her hymn that God was mindful of her humble state. In other words, God was aware of Mary and her low place in society. She could have been just one more nameless, faceless peasant girl from an unnoticed little village. BUT God noticed her, called her by name and gave her the most unique place in the history of all mothers. God blessed her by making her the Virgin Mother of His Son – Jesus.
What does this tell us about God’s traits, ways and plans?
If the world doesn’t recognize your face, if few people know your name, if you’re on the low rungs of society’s ladder – don’t give up on yourself. God knows your name and recognizes your face. He cares about you.
In 1874, a large French steamer, the Ville de Havre was sailing from America back to Europe. In the middle of the trip, the ship collided with a sailing vessel and sank within 30 minutes of the accident. Most of those aboard were killed. But one relatively unknown man found hope in God’s ability to care for him.
Horatio Spafford, a Chicago lawyer and devoted Christian had sent his wife and four children ahead on that ship, planning to join them later in Europe. Mrs. Spafford survived the accident, but her four children did not. When she reached the European mainland, she cabled her husband with the sad message, "Saved alone".
The beginning phrase of the hymn It Is Well With My Soul, echoes the pain and suffering that the Spafford’s felt at that time:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll..."
In spite of this horrible tragedy, the comfort that comes from a strong hope in God’s ability to care for us shines brightly through the gloom when Spafford continued the first verse...
“Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Stories differ on exactly when this hymn was written, some authors believe that it was written about a year later when Mr. Spafford was in a ship and was informed by the captain that they were passing over the scene of the accident.
God cares for you and “whatever (your) lot” He can help you sing “it is well with my soul.”
Mary’s song also shows that God cares about “big people” (vs. 54-55).
[54] He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful [55] to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
How does God show his care for these people?
Mary points out that God remembered His promise to Abraham. Abraham is the physical father of the Jews and the spiritual father of all who follow Jesus. He is one of the Bible’s heroes. Many people with his resources and status might tend to ignore God. BUT God will not forget them or His promises to them.
What does this tell us about God’s traits, ways and plans?
When God makes a promise, HE WILL KEEP IT. No matter what happens, no matter how bad circumstances seem to be God is not finished. His timetable may be different from yours and mine, but God always keeps His promises. God has promised to take care of you and He will do it.
In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts with:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Then he says:
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!”
The question is clearly answered when we see two verses of the original that are not included in our hymn. In these verses Longfellow speaks of the horrors of the American Civil War that was tearing the country apart. In fact, his son had been seriously wounded in that conflict not long before he wrote the song. (The death of Longfellow’s wife two years earlier may have contributed to his mood too.) Listen to what they say:
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearthstones of a continent
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Little wonder he is tempted to despair. And yet he concludes with the resounding affirmation, "God is not dead, nor does he sleep!" Through the Savior whose birth the angels celebrated, God will accomplish what he has promised.
God cares for you. He “is not dead, nor does He sleep.” He can help you sing “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”
Mary’s song shows that God cares about all the people everywhere (vs. 50-53).
[50] His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. [51] He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. [52] He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. [53] He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
How does God show his care for these people?
God shows mercy to everyone whom turns to Him. He overthrows the proud, oppressive leaders. He picks up those who humbly trust Him. He feeds the hungry and cares for those who know they need God’s help.
What does this tell us about God’s traits, ways and plans?
God respects each person’s will in responding to Him. Those who decide to take care of themselves, who “look out for #1,” God turns them over to their own care. BUT to everyone who realizes they need God to care for them, He becomes their Provider. He takes care of them. He looks out for them. God has promised to take care of you and He will do it.
When Mao Tse Tung founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Christian church was severely persecuted, with little information coming to the outside world. In 1972 some Americans received an unusual message from China – “The ‘This I know’ people are well!” The Chinese authorities thought the message meaningless, so they let it through. The Americans clearly understood the reference to Anna Warner’s simple song -- Jesus Loves Me.
Jesus Loves Me with its simple, direct message, is one of the first hymns missionaries teach to new converts. It was the favorite song of Francis Schaeffer, who recognized that ultimately intellectuals and children both need the simple message of Jesus’ personal love. Amy Carmichael, the Irish missionary to India, was converted after hearing this hymn at a children’s mission in Yorkshire, England.
The writer, Anna Bartlett Warner (1820-1915) was a daughter of a prominent New York lawyer who bought Constitution Island on the Hudson River for a retirement home. When Mr. Warner lost much of his fortune during the 1837 depression, the family’s summer home became the family residence. In those difficult days Anna wrote this simple song sung around the world.
Friends, God cares for you and He can help you sing “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
CONCLUSION:
The Bottom-Line:It takes hope in God’s ability to care for you to keep SINGING a song.
1) Do you have enough hope in God’s ability to keep singing no matter what happens in your life?
2) Let me challenge you to choose a song to sing every day this week as an expression of your hope in God. Perhaps one of the ones I mentioned earlier or another. But pick one and sing it.
3) A Suggested Prayer:
We want to be honest with you, Lord. We are tired, frustrated, nagged by guilt and unable to change our own lives. So we come to you for strength. Without your tender loving care, we are helpless and hopeless before our own harmful habits. Now we call on you for the strength you have promised. Heal us where we hurt. Mold us where our lives have been shattered. Fill us where we feel drained of Your power. Guide us when we are in danger of missing the way. And best of all, put a song in our hearts. Amen.
