Song of Hope

PreMessage:

Cookies for Bremerton High School

Introduction

Waiting/Patience receives the promises.

Hebrews 6:12 which states:

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (NIV)

In this verse, the writer of Hebrews is encouraging believers to have enduring faith and patience in order to receive/inherit the promises of God.

The emphasis is that we need to persist and persevere in hope-filled faith, rather than becoming "lazy" or lacking commitment. It's through steady patience and trust in God's character and promises that we eventually see the fruit and fulfillment of what God has assured us.

Just as the saints chronicled in Hebrews 11 had to walk out their faith for the duration in order to obtain what was promised, so we must run the race with endurance keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

So in summary, the phrase "patience receives the promises" seems to underscore that it is by steady perseverance and waiting on God that we come to experience the full reality of what He has committed to bring to pass in our lives. It echoes the trust and anticipation captured in the words "hope does not disappoint."

Hope is the is a sustaining tool of God in our lives

Science of hope (?)

Hope is strongly tied to overall wellbeing and contentment. In multiple studies across ages, higher hope levels correlate to:

Better academic performance - students with hope set more goals and have greater motivation/discipline (Snyder, 2002)

Improved coping skills - more able to reframe struggles positively and adapt (Valle et al, 2006) Higher achievement at work - hope ties to higher job satisfaction, lower burnout (Peterson & Luthans, 2003)

More life purpose and satisfaction - feels like life has meaning (Bronk et al, 2009)

Resilience dealing with health issues - predicts better adherence treatment (Berg et al, 2011)

Meanwhile, lack of hope involves great risks like:

Higher anxiety/depression - hopeless attitudes amplify distress, mood disorders (Drury, 2021)

Poorer cardiovascular health - costs years of life expectancy (Kravvariti et al, 2010)

Higher mortality rates with conditions like cancer (Gum & Snyder 2011)

More susceptibility to substance abuse disorders - no belief things gets better (May et al, 2018)

In short, hope-inspired feelings of meaning, purpose and possibility have demonstrated connections to motivation, healthier coping skills, achievement, and even physical health/longevity. Fostering properly-placed hope proves essential to human thriving.

Christ has come

Simeon: Who was he?

Thought to be older (vs.26)

One in whom the Spirit rested… this wouldn’t be common at that time. The relationship in which the Spirit of God had with His people is different than today. The follower of Jesus has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In these days the Spirit of God would come on people at different times and places, as He saw fit.

Was promised that he would see the Christ, the provision of salvation by God

Gospel presentation: Jesus is the saving King

1. preexisted as God the Son,

2. was sent by the Father,

3. took on human flesh in fulfillment of God’s promises to David,

4. died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

5. was buried,

6. was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

7. appeared to many witnesses,

8. is enthroned at the right hand of God as the ruling Christ,

9. has sent the Holy Spirit to his people to effect his rule, and

10. will come again as final judge to rule.

Bates, M. W. (2019). Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ (pp. 227–228). Brazos Press: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.

Moved by the Spirit, Simeon goes into the Temple courts and sees Jesus. He takes him and says:

Luke 2:29–32 ““Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.””

A light to the Gentiles (inclusive)

Jesus is the true and better Israel.

Faithful to the Abrahamic and thereby the Mosaic Covenant fulfilling all righteousness

He now having absorbed His own wrath against sin, extends to us the gift of imputing/giving that righteousness (right standing before God), declaring us innocent, as our allegiance is to Him.

This is our hope, this is what we know and believe by faith, and see materialize before our lives as God changes us.

If we are born of the Spirit, no matter what our short comings are, we are able to look back with any amount of passing time and see how God has changed us, how God has made us new (desires, actions, habits, behaviors, attitudes, hope, joy, love, passion, compassion, etc).

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Non-growth; Galatians 5:19–21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

If these pattern your life, you know how empty and worthless these things are. Jesus is calling, Jesus is making this new life available to you in Him.

Christ has been and is our hope

It is implied and thought that Simeon waited many years (coupled with Anna (vv 36-40).

It is easy to forget our hope in light of circumstance

illus: our zeal or frustration can lead us to things that are the antithesis of the Kingdom (maybe)

Christians throughout time have looked to Christ to be their hope. Not just with Simeon and with Anna, but many others.

"All the hope of my life and ministry is found in Jesus and the Gospel." - Charles Spurgeon

"The hope of the Christian does not depend on the things of this life but completely on Christ." - John Calvin

"I know no other hope than this - that I might see Christ my savior." -Teresa of Avila

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.” - Edward Mote (1834)

Augustine prayed "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

The Heidelberg Catechism opens by asking "What is your only comfort in life and death?" The first answer in part is - "That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ."

Polycarp, before his martyrdom in 156 AD prayed "O Lord God Almighty, I bless You that You have so graciously granted me this day and hour, that I might receive a portion in the number of the martyrs."

We stand amongst such a cloud of witnesses that Christ is our only hope. Whether we attain the whole world or having nothing to our name, or somewhere in between… Christ is our only hope.

We long for Jesus to come again (advent)

Christ is coming

He is our hope

He is the light to us gentiles. He is a light to those of us in darkness. Paul would put it this way…

Galatians 3:28–29 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

We all need Jesus. No matter what our background, no matter who our parents might be (whether we know them or not), no matter what our social, economic, or vocational status might be… whether we are single or married, whether we are gay or straight, whether our ethnicity is indigenous, european, african, latin, or asian…none of those things can carry our hope, because they were not designed to… only Jesus can.

He is revealing our hearts: Luke 2:34–35 “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.””

An exert from Kenneth Bailey’s book Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies In The Gospels

“What can this fearsome saying mean? How can the phrase “that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” be understood? The text seems to affirm that a sword will pass through the soul of both Jesus and his mother. This text tells the reader that Mary will participate in the event of the cross and her suffering will contribute to exposing “the thoughts out of many hearts.” Will Mary’s faithful presence at the cross oblige evil forces around her to look at themselves and contrast their brutality with her courageous love?

Around the cross there flows a river of compromise. Everyone involved is strangely exposed. The disciples believe, but in their fear they run away. Peter makes bold promises but falls into denial. The high priest wants to preserve the sanctity of the temple and keep the Romans from intervention in his sacred space. In the process he participates in the death of an innocent man. The soldiers only obeyed orders, and those orders violated Roman justice. Pilate wanted to keep his job and stay out of trouble. He was presumably scared lest the temple authorities send a negative report to Caesar (about him) that would damage his career. Pilate had previously engaged in a number of confrontations with the Jewish populace, all of which he lost. With a checkered past, could his career sustain one more defeat? His personal strategic interests were clearly more important than the innocence of one village carpenter. Pilate’s true nature was exposed by the cross. The thoughts of the hearts of many were revealed by the suffering of the cross, and Mary participated in that suffering.”

Bailey, Kenneth E.. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (pp. 60-61). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

My Seminary professor, Gerry Breshears when looking to present the gospel to people asks two questions to himself, what are they (the people he is witnessing to) afraid of? Where do they hurt? Share the gospel to speak to those things. Everything I just read to where people were afraid or they were hurting… King Jesus speaks to all of these things.

This is the hope we have, and this is the hope that we get to communicate to others in the world.

Jesus reminded the disciples and may we be reminded today, John 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

Conclusion

Like Simeon, we eagerly await the full arrival of God's salvation. In the meantime, we live with trouble in this fallen world. Yet in the midst of darkness, we carry the light of indestructible hope.

Christ has come, is coming, and will come again! He alone fulfilled the ancient promises, bore humanity's sorrows, conquered sin and death's shadow, and opened the way to peace with God.

By taking on flesh, Jesus identifies with outcasts and the marginalized everywhere. His gospel of reconciling love embraces all who feel far. Because of His grace, we who were once on the outside are welcomed as children of God.

Jesus remains our soul's only true resting place and lasting treasure. He clothes our naked shame with His righteousness. His resurrection power propels us to walk in newness of life and endure life's piercing swords. For one day, injustice and suffering will cease forever.

Like a candle in the night, flicker with faith, beloved. Proclaim Christ - Loving Sacrifice, Risen King and Soon Coming Judge. Our hope will not fail, for our hope is Christ in us! Until He returns or calls us home, we walk by the light of this gospel. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Post Service

You should have recieved a candle when you came in this morning. In a moment I’m going to have Pastor Josh and Paul Wright come down, light their candle and they will proceed to walk up the center isle. As they light yours would you turn to your neighbor and allow them to light their candle off of yours.

Lighting candles together on Christmas traces back over 2000 years. As we have read in previous weeks, simple shepherds keeping the night watch were the first eyewitnesses to God's light bursting into darkness. The skies shone with radiant glory heralding Christ's birth.

Ever since, candles at Christmastide stir awe of how Jesus arrived as a light into this darkness. Our flickering flames testify that the Light of the World still shines bright, beckoning all from shadows into God's marvelous day.

So why light candles when it's already morning? First, reminding ourselves that the gospel light keeps chasing the night from our souls, continuously transforming us into children of light. Though we believe, we all still need this message kindling hope within.

Also, shining light for others still in darkness. Our candles represent Christ commissioned every heart where He dwells to carry and share this Life. To encourage neighbors and strangers with the good news still embracing all.

Finally, connecting church family, not only here, but across years and lifetimes. Just think of the great cloud of witnesses who have vigilantly kept waking the Christ-candle flame over 20 centuries! We join innovators and martyrs, abolitionists and peacemakers as one unbroken faith community advancing this Kingdom of Light.

Let these candles rekindle our first love. May their glow spur us to extend hands of hope to all still longing for daybreak this Christmas. Come, Lord Jesus!

So join us now as we sing in O Come All Ye Unfaithful and then the glorious hymn, O Holy Night - "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices!"

After which then Pastor Josh will pronounce the benediction and we will extinguish our candles.

Call To Mission

People of God, the age-old song of hope echoes through us. We join all who've fixed eyes on Christ - Promise Kept, Sacrifice Made, Risen One, Soon Coming King. Despite hardships, He anchors and rallies us.

This good news awakens those sleeping in darkness. As fellow heirs with Christ, the mission is ours - will we carry this light to all still groping hopelessly? If you will, please say, “We will”.

Let this hope spark worship and send our witness. The watching world awaits the message we carry. Church Arise! Until Jesus returns, let us shine ever brighter with good news.

People of the Cross, do you believe? If you do, please say, “Yes!”

Then hope within you stays lit. Let us bear this gospel boldly! Come quickly Lord Jesus!

All of God’s people said? “AMEN”