God of Wonder | Week One | THE ADVENT OF HOPE

HEBREWS CHAPTER 10:19-23......

MY WIFE BROUGHT TO MY MEMORY THIS LAST WEEK...

THE COVID THANKSGIVING…WHEN NEWSOM TRIED TO KEEP US FROM HAVING THANKSGIVING

I REMEMBER THAT FEELING OF FRUSTRATION THAT ROSE UP WITH IN ME

THAT FEELING OF....”WE ARE HAVING THANKSGIVING, I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME”

I WAS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT A TIME MOST RECENTLY THAT I HAVE FELT HOPELESSNESS

I THINK MANY FELT THAT THROUGH THOSE YEARS OF COVID

I THINK THAT FOR MANY....

MAYBE THEY NEVER EVEN FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT HOPELESSNESS BECAUSE...

OF THE LONG LASTING DAMAGE IT HAS DONE TO THEIR CAREERS

THEIR FAMILY OR LOST LOVED ONES

I THINK THAT HOPE WAS LOST FOR MANY DURING THAT SEASON

THERE MAY BE SOME HERE TODAY THAT....

YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A STRUGGLE IN YOUR LIFE

AND MAYBE THE HOPELESSNESS YOU FEEL INSIDE OF YOU AT TIMES...

IS PRIVATE, BUT IT’S ALMOST MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE

FOR SOME OF YOU, THE HOLIDAYS FOR MANY YEARS...

HAVE BROUGHT YOU HEARTACHE

FEELINGS OF RESENTMENT

FEELINGS OF LONELINESS

FEELING OF HOPELESSNESS

I WANT TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT THIS IS NOT GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

GOD CAME TO EARTH TO BRING HOPE

HE CAME TO BRING PEACE

HE CAME TO BRING JOY AND LOVE

AS TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF ADVENT...

I WANT TO SPEND THE NEXT 4 WEEKS CENTERED AROUND A GOD OF WONDER

A GOD WHO STILL GIVES HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE

AND WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY IS TURN OUR ATTENTION TO...

WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF...

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SINCE HER BEGINNING…AND THAT IS

OUR UNWAVERING HOPE BUILT UPON WHAT CAN NOT BE SHAKEN....

REGARDLESS OF THE SEASON THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN

I’M TALKING ABOUT THE HOPE WE CAN HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS

HERE IS WHY I THINK THAT HISTORICALLY, HOPE HAS BEEN...

THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

I BELIEVE THAT HOPE IS THE THING THAT WILL KEEP US...

STANDING STRONG, AND SECURE

HOPE IS WHAT KEEPS US MOVING FORWARD

IN FACT I WILL SAY IT THIS WAY.... WRITE THIS DOWN

WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR HOPE IS IMPERATIVE TO YOUR JOY

WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR HOPE.....

IN OTHER WORDS....

MY LIFE IS GOING TO BE BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS

I’M BETTING MY LIFE ON THIS

I’M BETTING MY ETERNITY ON THIS

WHERE WE PLACE OUR HOPE IS DIRECTLY TIED TO OUR JOY

I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS....

I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT HAPPINESS

THERE MAY BE NOBODY ELSE THAT WILL SAY THIS TO YOU AS LONG AS YOU LIVE

ARE YOU READY.........

“I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR HAPPINESS”......BUT I WANT JOY FOR YOU

OH COME ON SOMEBODY......

THE MORE I THINK ABOUT HAPPINESS....I THINK IT’S WEAK

I THINK IT IS A SAD VERSION OF WHAT GOD ACTUALLY WANTS US TO HAVE

THINK ABOUT IT......

HOW FRAGILE IS HAPPINESS???

???? ANYONE IN HERE EVER JUST WOKE UP SUPER HAPPY ?????

YOU DON’T KNOW EVEN KNOW WHY NECESSARILY BUT...

YOU WOKE UP AND YOU WERE HAPPY

YOU JUST HAD THIS FEELING OF....

”IT’S GONNA BE A GOOD DAY”

AND THEN OUT OF NOWHERE…IT JUST VANISHED????

AND NOW YOUR NOT HAPPY

INSTEAD.......YOUR PERTERBED

YOUR FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AT EVERYTHING

AND MAYBE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM

THAT.....IS HAPPINESS FOR YOU

SO WHY WOULD I WANT THAT FOR YOU???

WHY WOULD I WANT A TEMPORARY GIGGLE FOR YOU...

WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A DEEP ROOTED JOY THAT....

CAN NOT BE AFFECTED BY LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES

IF YOU READ YOUR BIBLE....AND YOU SHOULD

YOU CAN SEE THIS KIND OF JOY ALL OVER THE PLACE

I LOVE THE BOOK OF ACTS......WHEN...

THE APOSTLES ARE ARRESTED, BEATEN, AND THEY LEAVE REJOICING

WHAT KIND OF PSYCHOPATH REJOICES AFTER GETTING BEATEN WITH RODS

AND HAVING THE SKIN WHIPPED FROM YOUR BACK????????

THOSE WHO HAVE JOY

OH COME ON......

IT’S THOSE WHO HAVEN'T PUSHED ALL THEIR CHIPS IN ON…

I’M GOING TO BE HAPPY.....

BUT INSTEAD....

I AM CHOOSING TO LIVE CONFIDENTLY IN WHAT IS ULTIMATELY TRUE FOR MY LIFE

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....THAT IS THE HOPE THAT I WANT

SO TODAY....I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOPE BECAUSE....

I LOVE YOU

AND I THINK THAT WITH THE DAY AND TIME WE LIVE IN...

TOO OFTEN OUR HOPE IS ASSAULTED

AND I DON’T WANT YOU TO LOSE HOPE

AS CHRISTIANS,

ONE OF THE WITNESSES THAT WE HAVE TO THE WORLD IS...

THE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST IN THE MIDDLE OF LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES

WE ARE A HOPEFUL PEOPLE

OH COME ON SOMEBODY....

TIM KELLER HAS A TEACHING ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN....

SOURCE IDOLS AND SURFACE IDOLS

THE ARGUMENT THAT HE MAKES IS THIS....

MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE CALL IDOLS...

MOST OF THE THINGS WE SAY.....”I STRUGGLE WITH THIS” OR

“I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS” ARE ACTUALLY SURFACE IDOLS

IN OTHER WORDS....

THEY AREN’T THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GOING ON IN...

THE DEEP PLACES OF THE HEART

YOU MAY SAY.....”I HAVE A LIST ISSUE” OR “I’VE GOT AN ANGER ISSUE”

I MEAN THERE ARE A TON OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT....

WE SAY AND HAVE ISSUES WITH

TIM KELLER AND OTHERS WOULD ARGUE THAT....(AND I WOULD AGREE)

THOSE ARE SURFACE IDOLS...

THERE IS SOMETHING DEEPER GOING ON IN YOU....

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

HE CALLED THOSE...... SOURCE IDOLS.....

THE DEEPER THINGS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF THINGS THAT SURFACE

HE SAYS THERE ARE 4 OF THEM

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS....

BEFORE WE LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURE TODAY IN HEBREW 10

I WANT TO SEE IF MAYBE WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THESE 4 THINGS

HAVE WE PUT A LITTLE TOO MUCH HOPE INTO ONE OF THESE 4 THINGS

SOURCE IDOLS

COMFORT

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE …AND HERE IS WHY

WE ARE SPOILED BRATS

EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU AREN’T.......YOU ARE

OUR WHOLE LIVES ARE ABOUT.....BUILDING COMFORT

IT’S ALL ABOUT PURSUING A LIFE WHERE....IF NOT NOW

THEN WE EVENTUALLY I WANT TO LIVE IN COMFORT

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN SPACE.....

WE ALL WANT A DRIVE THROUGH

JUST TO MAKE IT EASY AND ACCESSIBLE

YOU AND I ARE SUBMERGED IN THE AIR OF COMFORT....WOOING US...

TO WANT WHAT WE WANT.......RIGHT NOW.....AND EASY

OH COME ON....

IT IS A.....SEDUCTIVE CALL TOWARD EASE......WHY NOT

I MEAN WHY WOULDN’T WE WANT TO PUNCH IT INTO AN APP

AND HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CARRY OUR GROCERIES OUT TO OUR CAR

WE CAN ORDER FOOD AND HAVE DELIVERED NOW......

WE DON’T EVEN HAVE TO WAIT IN A 6 HOUR CHICK FIL A LINE ANYMORE

WE CAN ORDER IT AND DRIVE UP AND THEY BRING IT TO US

I’M TALKING ABOUT COMFORT....IT WOOOS US INTO “LIFE SHOULD BE EASY”

I MEAN I WANT LIFE TO BE EASY.....WHO DOESN’T

I WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.....

WHENEVER I WANT TO DO IT

I’M A GROWN MAN....I WANT PRIVACY

I WANT TO ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE

DON’T GET ME WRONG....

I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THESE THINGS UNLESS......

THIS IS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HOPE

HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH COMFORT......

IT’S ALL GOOD UNTIL IT’S NOT.....

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE COMFORT ISN’T ALWAYS THERE

THERE WILL BE MOMENTS IN LIFE WHERE WE ARE FORCED TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE

AND IN THOSE MOMENTS....... THE QUESTION IS.....

HOW IS IT GOING FOR YOU????

ARE YOU NOW FULL OF ANXIETY BECAUSE LIFE IS UNCOMFORTABLE

DOES THE COMFORT OF LIFE.......SEEM TO CONTROL HOW YOU FEEL

DOES IT DICTATE YOUR HAPPINESS???

WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN COMFORT AND...

THE WORLD AROUND YOU START FALLING APART OR CRASHING IN ON YOU

YOU START LASHING OUT AT PEOPLE AND...

IT’S USUALLY TOWARD THOSE YOU LOVE.....RIGHT???

I MEAN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE ALL GET A LITTLE ROAD RAGE

LIKE YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT THIS PERSON DID THAT ON PURPOSE.....

IT’S NOT THAT THEY DIDN’T SEE YOU........

IT’S THAT THEY NEED TO DIE.......LOL

I MEAN HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT?????

IN THE MATTER OF SECONDS YOU MAKE A DECISION THAT....

THIS PERSON SAW YOU AND

WILLINGLY WANTED TO MAKE YOU ANGRY

ISN’T IT WEIRD HOW WE DO THAT......

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!

I’M KIDDING TO A CERTAIN POINT HOWEVER....

BY YOUR LAUGHING I’M GUESSING A LOT OF YOU HAVE THIS ISSUE.....LOL

IT’S USUALLY JUST LASHING OUT AT PEOPLE YOU LOVE.....RIGHT?

I WANT COMFORT.....I’M NOT GETTING IT.....

SO.....OBVIOUSLY THAT IS YOUR FAULT BABE

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS YOUR FAULT KIDS

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS YOUR FAULT FRIENDS

HERE IS WHAT IS WILD WHEN COMFORT IS THE PLACE THAT YOU PUT YOUR HOPE....

REAL JOY CAN NOT BE FOUND IN THE PURSUIT OF SELF SEEKING PLEASURE

IT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN SELF-SACRIFICING SERVICE

ANYONE WHO HAS SERVED OTHERS WITH A GLAD HEART....

KNOWS THIS IS TRUE

THE SCRIPTURE IN ACTS 20......IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

IS SO....TRUE.....IT’S THE WAY WE WERE DESIGNED AND WIRED

CHRISTIAN OR NOT

THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR HEART THAT MAKES US GLAD WHEN....

WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE TO OTHERS AND SERVE OTHERS

AND YET ALL OF IT COMES WITH A COST.....A LOT OF TIMES....THE COST IS OUR COMFORT

SO IF YOU PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN COMFORT.....

YOU CAN KISS JOY GOODBYE

PASTOR CHRIS.....THIS ISN’T REALLY MY STRUGGLE AT ALL

I LIKE TO BE DISCIPLINED

I LIKE THINGS DIFFICULT

CALM DOWN.......WE WILL GET TO YOU......LOL

MAYBE IT’S

2. APPROVAL

MAYBE YOU PUT YOUR HOPE IN APPROVAL

I LIKE TO LIVE MY LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT....

PEOPLE LIKE ME....MAYBE EVEN LOVE ME

THEY APPROVE OF ME

I JUST WANT AFFIRMATION AND LOVE

THIS IS MY HOPE....THIS IS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE WHO I AM....I’M PUTTING MY HOPE IN THAT

WHEN PEOPLE COME ACROSS ME....”I LIKE THAT GUY”

WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE....THIS IS THE ONE THAT....

SEEMS REALLY THE MOST PAINFUL

LIKE YOU REALLY ENSLAVE YOURSELF TO OTHERS

WHATS WEIRD IS THAT....

SOMETIMES YOU ENSLAVE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE...

YOU DON’T EVEN LIKE

WHEN YOUR SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS AS YOUR HOPE

SO....WHEN THE WEIGHT AND STRESS OF THE WORLD…

SLAM INTO THE ONE WHO HAS PUT THEIR HOPE...

IN THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS

YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF CONSTANTLY ANXIOUS

SO IF YOU NEED THE APPROVAL OF MEN....THIS IS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HOPE

WHAT HAPPENS IS....

DID I DO TOO MUCH.......DID I NOT DO ENOUGH

YOU WILL CONSTANTLY BE IN YOUR HEAD WONDERING IF YOU BLEW IT

WHAT A TERRIBLE LIFE TO LIVE WHERE....

YOU ARE ENSLAVED TO THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS

AND CONSTANTLY WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER YOU OFFENDED THIS PERSON

OR COME ACROSS LIKE THIS TO THIS PERSON

YOU ACTUALLY ENSLAVE YOURSELF AND....

CAN NEVER FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE APPROVAL....

EVEN IF PEOPLE GIVE IT TO YOU

SO AGAIN.....IF YOU PUT YOUR HOPE IN APPROVAL

YOU WILL NOT EXPERIENCE A LIFE OF JOY

YOU WILL HAVE MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS BUT MAN.....

LISTEN TO ME.....

IF YOU ARE IN ANY LEADERSHIP POSITION

I MEAN AT YOUR JOB

AT HOME

IN CHURCH

ANYWHERE......IF YOU ARE LEADING

THIS (APPROVAL SEEKING) WILL KILL YOU

BECAUSE IF YOU CONSTANTLY ARE SEEKING APPROVAL....

YOU WILL NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE

EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION...

TALK ABOUT ROBBING YOUR JOY.....HOPE IN APPROVAL OF OTHERS...

WILL ROB YOU FASTER THAN YOU CAN MAKE DECISION AS A LEADER

IT’S A TRAP.....THERE IS NO JOY AND YOU WILL NEVER....

BE SATISFIED SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS

3. CONTROL

WE PUT OUR HOPE IN THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE WORLD AROUND US.....

CONFESSION.....

I’M A CONTROL-COMFORT TYPE OF GUY WHO DABBLES IN THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS

LOL......IF WE ARE DRAWING LINES......

THE OLDER I GET AND MORE CONFIDENT I GET IN MY CALLING

THE LESS APPROVAL SEEKING I BECOME....HOWEVER....I DON’T WANT PEOPLE MAD AT ME

BUT I FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE WHEN I’M IN CONTROL......

LET ME EXPLAIN IT LIKE THIS.....

YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR DRIVING AND YOUR IN A SITUATION WHERE...

IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU NERVOUS BUT THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU…SCREAMS?

HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THAT????

A COUPLE DAYS AGO....WE WERE ALL IN THE CAR DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY PICNIC...

I’M DRIVING AND EVERYONE ELSE IS IN THE CAR.....

ON THEIR PHONES.....NOT PAYING ATTENTION

I’M AT A RED LIGHT AND I’M TURNING LEFT

I HAVE A GREEN LIGHT BUT IT’S A SOLID GREEN....

SO I GOTTA YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.....AND I DO…HOWEVER

I NOTICED THE CAR THAT WAS ONCOMING......HAD THEIR LEFT BLINKER ON

SO I AND THE OTHER CAR PROCEED TOGETHER

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE BOTH TURNING LEFT

HOWEVER....MY WIFE......DID NOT KNOW THAT....

SHE LOOKS UP AND SCREAM......CHRIS

AND I AM AS CALM AS EVER AND AM IN TOTAL CONTROL....I’M NOT SCARED

I MEAN....I WASN’T UNTIL SHE SCREAMED......NOW I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM

BUT CONTROL IS SOMETHING THAT WE LIKE....

IF I CAN JUST MANAGE MY WORLD...

THEN EVERYTHING WILL GO HOW I PLAN FOR IT TO GO

IF I CAN CONTROL MY MONEY

CONTROL MY SPOUSE

CONTROL MY KIDS

WE CAN BUILD OUR LIVES ON THIS....I’M IN CONTROL....EXCEPT...

YOU NOT IN CONTROL.....AND YOU NEVER WILL BE

OH COME ON....I’M TALKING TO SOMEBODY...

THIS IS ANOTHER PAINFUL ONES...

BECAUSE WE WANT CERTAINTY

DON’T WE? ANYONE ELSE JUST WANT CERTAINTY????

I MEAN WE HAVE STANDARD AND I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LIVE UP TO THOSE STANDARDS

THE FACT THAT THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE MY STANDARDS....

THAT IS JUST COINCIDENCE....RIGHT???

IT’S CONTROL.......

I JUST NEED TO GET YOU TO DO.....WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.....

THEN WE CAN JUST BE HAPPY

ANYBODY MARRIED..........HOW IS THAT WORKING FOR YOU?

“IF YOU WOULD JUST DO WHAT I SAY BABE, WE WOULD BE GREAT”

THAT RARELY TRANSLATES AND BY RARELY....I MEAN

IT NEVER TRANSLATES

IT CAN GET REALLY TOXIC IN THAT ENVIRONMENT

IT JUST DOESN’T TRANSLATE INTO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES IS CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE...

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR....

A MAN TO LOVE HIS WIFE LIKE CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH

AND FOR A WIFE TO RESPECT HER HUSBAND

IT’S NOT CONTROL

SO WHEN THE WORLD COMES CRASHING IN ON SOMEONE...

WHO PUTS ALL OF THEIR HOPE IN.....CONTROL

WE GET LONELY AND CONSTANTLY WORRIED

SOMEONE REALLY FEELS STICK AND A LOT OF ANXIETY....

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS PUT ALL OF THEIR HOPE IN CONTROL

4. POWER

HERE IS POWER....

YOU JUST WANT SUCCESS

YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE INFLUENCE

YOU WANT TO WIN

AND THE FEELING IS....IF I EVER LOSE...

THAT IS SOME HOW A REFLECTION ON ME

AS IF I’M BEEN HUMILIATED OR...

I DON’T MATTER....OR

I DON’T MEASURE UP

OR I’M LESS THAN I’M SUPPOSED TO BE

AND THIS IS WHERE WE PUT ALL OF OUR HOPE

NOW WHEN THE STRESS OF LIFE AND DEMANDS OF A FALLEN WORLD SLAMS INTO SOMEONE WHO HAS PUT ALL OF THEIR HOPE IN POWER

IT LEAVES THE PERSON FEELING ANGRY

AND THEY WILL FEEL HUMILIATED WHEN THEY INEVITABLY FAIL

BECAUSE EVERYONE AT SOME POINT WILL INEVITABLY FAIL

HOW MANY OF YOU WHO ARE MARRIED....HAVE FAILED????

YOU’VE SAID SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE SAID

YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE

WHAT ABOUT A BUSINESS????

ANYONE JUST FAILED AT BUSINESS

OR A PROJECT YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON?

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY IS...

IT CREATES THIS SPACE TO SAY......

YEAH I’M WEAK

I AM NOT STRONG....I DO FAIL

I AM NOT AS CONFIDENT IN THIS AS I SHOULD BE

IT’S CHRISTIANITY THAT CREATES THAT SPACE

“YEAH, I’M WEAK BUT....I KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS NOT”

YEAH, I CAN’T BUT....I KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN”

IT’S OUR FAITH ALONE THAT KEEPS US FROM BANGING ON OUR CHEST AS IF...

WE ARE THE ONES WHO SUCCEEDED....IT’S NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH...

AND AS CHRISTIANS WE KNOW THIS....OR WE DO NOW

CHURCH WE ARE FAR WEAKER THAN WE EVEN THINK....

I DON’T SAY THIS TO STIR UP MORE ANXIETY IN YOU

BUT THERE ISN’T ANYONE IN HERE TODAY THAT.....

COULDN’T BE SENT TO THE FLOOR SOBBING WITH...

A PHONE CALL OF SOMEONE WHO PASSED AWAY

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPINACH AND BLUEBERRIES YOU COULD EAT THAT.....

COULD KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND RECEIVING BAD NEWS NEXT WEEK

I KNOW....IT’S TERRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT.....BUT IT’S JUST TRUE

WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WORLD.....AND TEMPORARY BODIES

THE YOUNGER YOU ARE THE MORE YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME....

THE OLDER YOU ARE....THE MORE YOU KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE

WE ARE FAR MORE WEEK THAN WE EVEN THINK WE ARE....

BUT WE WANT TO PROJECT STRENGTH WHEN.....

POWER IS WHERE WE HAVE PLACED OUR HOPE

I THINK ALL OF US HAVE PUT OUR HOPE IN AT LEAST ONE OF THESE SPACES IN SOME WAYS

AND ULTIMATELY YOUR JOY HAS BEEN AFFECTED

IT WHAT YOU WANT IS COMFORT......YOUR JOY WILL BE AFFECTED

IF WHAT YOU NEED IS APPROVAL......YOU JOY WILL BE AFFECTED

IF WHAT YOU NEED IS CONTROL......YOUR JOY IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED

IF WHAT YOU NEED IS POWER.....TO NEVER LOSE AND NEVER FAIL....

YOUR JOY IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....

WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS UNWAVERING JOY

A KIND OF BACKBONE THAT STANDS FIRM REGARDLESS...

OF THE WEATHER

SO WHERE DO WE PLACE OUR HOPE?????

.....WORSHIP TEAM COME.......

Hebrews 10:19–24 NLT

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

IF I WERE TO CONDENSE THIS TEXT INTO A SENTENCE THAT I WANT YOU TO GRAB HOLD

WHERE THE ANSWER IS JESUS BUT

I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO GRAB HOLD OF AND TAKE WITH YOU

YOU ARE COMPLETELY KNOWN BY GOD AND WELCOMED IN HIS PRESENCE

WOW!

YOU KNOW THAT THERE AREN’T ANY SECRETS WHEN IT COMES TO GOD....

YOU CAN’T HIDE ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO HIM

UNDERSTAND THIS.....

THAT AREA IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DON’T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW ABOUT...

GOD KNOWS ABOUT IT

THAT COMPULSION THAT YOU HAVE AND DON’T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO KNOW ABOUT

HE KNOWS ABOUT IT

THAT SIN IN YOUR BACKGROUND THAT YOU FEEL SHAME FOR

HE ALREADY SEES IT

YOU HAVE NO SECRETS FROM GOD.....HE KNOWS......AND YET

YOU ARE WELCOME INTO HIS PRESENCE....

YOU WERE CREATED FOR HIS PRESENCE

THE LANGUAGE IN THIS PASSAGE IS THAT....YOU WOULD BE CONFIDENT OF THIS

THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ASSURANCE OF THIS

THAT YOU WOULD BOLDLY APPROACH WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE

(VERSE 22-23)

CHURCH HE SEES ALL OF YOUR SIN

HE SEES ALL OF YOUR FAULTS

AND HE IS STILL INVITING YOU TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE

HE IS INVITING YOU TO A LIFE WITH HIM CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY

NOW THAT MY KIDS ARE GETTING OLDER....

I LOVE WHEN THEY WANT TO GO WITH ME PLACES

A LOT OF TIMES I WILL INVITE THEM TO GO WITH ME TO THE STORE OR SOMEWHERE

AND WHEN THEY SAY....”YEAH I WANT TO GO”

IT MAKES ME HAPPY INSIDE

WHEN THEY SAY.....”NO, I’M OK”

THERE IS THIS PART OF ME THAT FEELS SAD

LIKE.....WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, THEY WOULD GO WITH ME EVERYWHERE

AND BACK THEN…I DIDN’T ASK THEM AS MUCH........LOL

IT’S FUNNY BUT NOT FUNNY.....

OR WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU INVITE YOUR TEENAGERS TO HAVE CONVERSATION WITH YOU

YOU JUST LONG FOR THAT CONNECTION WITH THEM....

NOPE......IT BREAKS MY HEART

I WONDER HOW GOD FEELS WHEN....

WE DO HIM LIKE THIS

I’LL BET IT BREAKS HIS HEART

UNDERSTAND THIS.......

WHEN WE LIVE OUT SIDE OF HIS PRESENCE....EVERYTHING WILL BE TASTELESS

MOST OF US KNOW....IF NOT ALL OF US....A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT TASTELESS

WHAT A LOSS WHEN AROUND THE HOLIDAYS YOU BECOME SICK AND LOSE ALL TASTE

I MEAN....I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR FOR THIS

GOD IS SAYING A LIFE IN MY PRESENCE....

A LIFE WHERE YOU SURRENDER ALL OF IT TO ME......

WILL ALLOW YOU TO TASTE ALL OF THE GOODNESS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.....GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IS THAT...

YOU EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE FLAVORS THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IN THIS LIFE

NOT ONLY IN ETERNITY BUT TODAY ON THE EARTH

SO......

WHERE SHOULD YOU PLACE YOUR HOPE?????

IT’S JESUS

AND LEARNING TO DO THAT…IS NOT ALWAYS EASY

BUT THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE IS THE MOST REWARDING

LISTEN....

YOU CAN’T OUT SIN GOD’S GRACE....

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF STORIES THAT MAKE YOUR SIN LOOK LIKE

WEAK SAUCE......I’M NOT SAYING TO STEP UP YOUR GAME......LOL

I’M SAYING NOTHING YOU’VE DONE CAN KEEP YOU FROM THE FATHER

IF YOUR WILLING TO RUN TO HIM

Romans 5:20–21 NLT

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN????

STAND TO YOUR FEET

I’VE PLACED ALL MY HOPE IN THE WRONG PLACES....

I DONT WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE

I WANT MY HOPE TO BE IN JESUS

IF THIS IS YOU.........WOULD YOU COME???