Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Special Services / Advent 2002

12/01/02 Hope

Intro: C.S. Lewis, a well known theologian once said  that our greatest human problem is not that we ask too much from life, but we expect too little. We don't really sing the song.'high hopes'.

 Why, because our culture often gives us our source of hope. If only Ben Laden would be captured. If only the economy would improve. If only..if only...it would happen now! With the world's hope, there is no suggestion of waiting. Instead the hope of the world tells us to run, to a new job, to a bigger place to live, to a different doctor, to the current trendy church, even to a new spouse.

 If your hope keeps you on the run, then I would venture to say that it is no hope at all. It is false hope because it is based on something that can never live up to, it's promise of hope.

 But is there someone or something that will live up to it's promises of hope? Yes! And the hymn writer has put it better than I ever could.

 'My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I shall not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.'

 The sweetest frame. A frame is a structure or basis for something. The frame for hope of the Christian is the Bible. Our hope is framed or structured or based between the pages of what we believe is God's authoritative Word.

 What is your sweetest frame? Where do you place your hope? Is it between the pages of your daytimer or in the memory of your PDA? Is your hope framed between the pages of the Wall Street Journal or the covers of your checkbook? Is your hope based on going to church, faithfully Sunday after Sunday, with an occasional Wednesday night thrown in for good measure?

 Listen, the reality is, none of those things will live up to your expectations of them. None of those things you can place your hope in, will live up to it's promise.

We have been talking about hope. What is it? Hope?

Def: Hope is the belief not that God can, but that God will. Where there is a belief in the living God, who acts and intervenes in human life and who can be trusted to keep his promises, hope becomes a reality.

 Biblical hope is inseparable from faith in God. Because of what God has done in the past, our hope is that God will be consistent and faithful and will continue to do as He promised.

 To be human is to hope. But if we hope in something or someone that will eventually let us down, what does that say about our humanity? It says we are imperfect and we will live in despair. You see, the opposite of hope is despair. And this is what Jesus came to deliver us from...despair. Listen to what Paul says about hope in Jesus Christ.

Read: Rom. 5:1-5
 As the world and the things we place our hope in disappoint us and let us down, we have the promise of God that hope in Him will never disappoint us. In fact, it will bring us joy and peace, even through the hard times of life. Joy, peace and hope, because we have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

 Biblical hope gives us direction in life, otherwise we run from thing to thing, person to person, hoping that they will be all we want them to be. Only to be disappointed, time and time again. Do you want to stop running? Do you want a life free of despair? Then follow me as we take a brief look at what God, in the Bible, has to say about hope.

 Our Hope is in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we would have no hope at all in this life..or for the next.
 The Bible says that all things were made by Him and without Him noting was made that was made. Our hope is in this all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God.

 Not only that, there's more. Our hope is not only God with us, but God IN us.  Christ in us is our hope. We are never alone and never without the power of God.

 Everything written in the Bible is God's Word to us today and we can place our lives ..and our hope for life after death, in God's Word. God's Word makes our hope a reality. How can we have this kind of hope? It is given to us, like all things in life, by God Himself.

 Overflow with hope? How does that happen? God fills us with great joy and peace when we come to faith and trust in Him instead of the false hopes in the world. We will have no doubt about our future because we have joy and peace in the One who hold our future in His loving hands.

 We were all once sinners separated from God and without hope for heaven as our final resting place. BUT GOD poured out His love for us in sending Jesus Christ to take our place, to suffer for our sins. Not because of anything we did or will ever do. But because he loved us. Our hope is forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven.

 And until that happens, God promises to those who hope in Him, goodness. Our hope is that God will show only goodness to us all the days of our lives. I want that kind of hope. How about you?

Conclusion

 The Advent season offers a life of hope to those who have never come to faith in Jesus Christ.  In what are your framing your hope this morning?  On what or on whom are you basing your hope? If it is not Jesus Christ you will be disappointed. And when they close the lid to your casket there will be nothing ahead but the cold grave and an eternity separated from God.

 But, because Jesus came, all that has changed. Will you let Jesus change you?  Will you let Jesus give you the hope that will never disappoint?

 Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, ask Him to come into your life. Believe that Jesus is God's Son and you will have the real hope of the forgiveness of your sin and eternal life in heaven.

 Do this, and you will not only have real hope for the holidays, but for everyday.