Sermon Central
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Hope Is Already Ours Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Dec 12, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: When it comes to living with hope, the choice of how we will live really is ours. It is something that each of us has to come to terms with right now, and Christmas is a wonderful season to remember and celebrate what God has done.
2022 Advent Sermon Series
“Hope is Already Ours”
Introduction
- The Advent season is a wonderful time of year!!
- Not only does it signify the celebration of Jesus’ arrival to this world
- Sometimes it brings to memory celebrations of years gone by
- More often than not, it definitely comes with mixed feelings of joy and sadness
- However, one thing it must do is remind us of the hope we are all offered
- Hope in a God who loves us and continually provides everything we need
- Yes, life can be tough, and often it is unfair – but God STILL provides hope
- Today, to set the stage for the season, I’d like to discuss what this “hope” is
- Read Isaiah 9:1-7 / Pray
- TR: God gives us THREE incredible promises that we can stand on …
Point 1 – God promises that hopelessness will not go on forever
- NEVERTHELESS!! (one of my fav words in the bible)
-- Hebrew: Ki; that or for or when (small word with a HUGE impact)
- Background: Isaiah, Ch 8 brings to mind all the things going on in the world:
-- War, despair, invasion, uncertainty, loss of life/job/security/happiness
-- Even with all these things going on – and even with this world’s rebellion
-- In spite of all our struggles and challenges that we face …
-- God still shows His love by giving us hope, a future; promise of tomorrow
- Consider this: What love is this? Simply defined: John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
- But it is SO much more than that (we must remember the order of love):
-- Jesus said in John 15:9-12, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
- Get this: God loved – so Jesus loved (He followed the Father’s example)
-- Impact for us: We are called to remain in that love (accept, live in, follow)
-- APP: Even when times are tough and unbearable – we live within His love
- How? How do we do this? We choose to live with hope before us!
-- Why? Because the promise of God is that we are not alone – we are loved!
- Look at the text of Isaiah 9 … (re-read v2)
-- The shadow of death brings gloom; but something else is coming
-- God promises that this will not go on forever – there will be a change!
-- How? God will still show Himself to us, even in our most difficult times!
- And what’s more – you shall grow and expand even greater than before (v3)
-- Hebrew: qatsiyr; harvest – something given back for what you’ve put in
-- Result: His people will rejoice; there will be a return on our investment
- But what is our investment? What does God call us to do today?
-- We are called to believe something else is coming – we are not alone!
-- APP: With hope (Christ), we are no longer slaves (to life, to sin, to anything)!
- Advent literally means the revealing – the unveiling – and coming
-- Now, when you consider Who it reveals … (ask) “What more could you need?”
- TR: Feeling hopeless often comes from a feeling of oppression (ex: under sin)
Point 2 – God promises there will be no more slavery to sin
- Historically, the Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors
-- Example: Book of Exodus reveals their deliverance from Pharaoh’s rule
- But here Isaiah talks of the freedom to come from following God (choosing Him)
-- NT: Disciples taught of this freedom from sin and restoration through Grace
- See this: We each have a yoke around our neck until we ask for its removal
-- We are all bound by sin, to this world and it’s punishments under God
-- Romans 6:20-23, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
