The Christmas Hope

Stay Focused

We are fast approaching the favorite time of year for many people. But for the christian, it is a very special time of year. Too often our focus is redirected to stuff, and unfortunately the real meaning of Christmas is lost in the barge of songs, sales, and gifts.

So, what is the real meaning of Christ?

if you will, turn with me to Isaiah 9:2–7 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian. For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Why? What changes?) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.”

This passage makes two major statements. This first is an acknowledgement of the brokenness and darkness that surrounded Israel due to sin and corruption. The second is the hope of a dawning light through the birth of a child who would one day make all things right. The Jewish people in the Old Testament needed these words to remind them that God had not forgotten about them.

Christmas should reignite that Hope that lies in the heart of the Believer.

Hope

So what is hope? what does Hope look like?

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.

J. I. Packer

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Hope > Hh

Biblical hope is hope in what God will do in the future. At the heart of Christian hope is the resurrection of Jesus

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Hope > Hh

The patriarch Abraham is a model of faith and hope. In spite of the realities that surrounded him, “no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God” (Rom 4:20, 21)

Romans 4:20–21 “He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

In a world where people are quickly forgetting God, people have grown cold, and evil. We have put our faith in other things, but for the believer we believe that Through Jesus, Our oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders have been shattered, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian. For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Why? What changes?) For a child will be born for us,

Christmas is a time to remember the hope we have in what will happen. Like Abraham: He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

How can we strengthen our Hope?

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures