Creating Space for Hope
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Where do we look to as our source of hope besides Jesus?
Money, success, approval, education, politics, relationships…
We can lean on so many other things that are tangible or things that are attainable to bring us hope.
This years Detroit Tigers had a 6% chance of making the playoffs at the beginning of August. After trading one of their best starting pitcher at the end of July it looked like they pretty much gave up hope. But they ended up acquiring some young players. These players were talented but untested at the major leagues.
When all hope looked lost, this young team had the best record in the major league from August through the rest of the season and they made the playoffs.
This young team didn’t give up hope. This team played with grit every single game they kept fighting. No matter how bad the odds were, this team never give up hope.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
If we have some sort of evidence, a guarantee, a assurance that the outcome will be favorable it would be easy to have hope. That’s not really hope because hope is not seen yet and in order to have hope we must be patient.
One of the main characters within the Christmas story who had great hope was Mary, the mother of Jesus. When all she had was the Word of the Lord, that was enough for her because her hope was in the Lord, not in her circumstances.
We can learn a lot from this young teenage poor pregnant girl who put her hope in God’s promise no matter how inconvenient or scandalous it appeared to be… no matter how she looked like, Mary knew that it was the God’s will and God’s plan. Mary was willing to create space for hope.
Luke 1:26–33 (ESV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Pray
How was Mary to have so much hope in the midst of all this uncertainty? We know the rest of the story but it was the Lord who worked out HIS wonderful plan as HIS Son, Jesus, the Messiah was to be born and Mary was the vessel God choose to use.
Hope is not just being optimistic when facing challenging circumstances. Hope is believing that no matter what, God’s plan is at work, that HE loves us and HE wants us to be in the center of HIS plan as we walk with Jesus.
Sometimes hope requires some tough decisions, real loss and significant sacrifice. But our hope isn’t in the things of this world, our hope is in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hearing from the Lord gives life to our Hope
Hearing from the Lord gives life to our Hope
Mary was not a prophet or a priest; she was not in God’s temple performing acts of service when God revealed HIS plan. Instead, she was simply a young woman who was living at home and planning her wedding. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph.
In ancient Jewish marriages, the word “engaged” (or “betrothed”) had a different meaning than today.
First, the two families would agree to the union and negotiate the betrothal, including a price for the bride that would be paid to the bride’s father.
Next, a public announcement would be made. At this point, the couple was “pledged.” This is similar to engagement today, except that it was much more binding.
At this point, even though the couple was not officially married, their relationship could be broken only through death or divorce. This step lasted about a year.
Sex was not yet permitted. During that time, the couple would live separately, with their parents. This waiting period would demonstrate the bride’s purity. If she were found to be pregnant during that time, the marriage could be annulled.
What Mary was about to hear from the angel would have significant impact on her engagement.
Even though her life would be completely turned upside down, Mary was willing to listen to the word of the Lord and she responded in hope. Even though the odds were against her… she had so many questions about her future because everything about her life now was so uncertain, yet she still had real hope because she knew that she heard from the Lord.
She was willing to ask questions. Luke 1:34 “34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?””
God wasn’t frustrated at her question. God answered in a way that was impossible yet it was beyond our ability to truly wrap our minds around.
Gabriel told Mary
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
God was going to use this was young, poor, female, virgin who is now pregnant—all characteristics that, to the people of her day, would make her seem unusable by God for any major task.
But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever demanded of anyone.
You may feel that your ability, experience, or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. Don’t ever limit God’s choices. God can use you when you listen for HIS voice, trust that God is speaking to you, and let God’s voice give life to your hope.
Remembering God’s promises sustains our Hope
Remembering God’s promises sustains our Hope
Gabriel addresses Mary by talking about the blessings that God had promised her even before he talks about how God’s going to use her.
He said to Mary…
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
The Lord is with you. That was a promise that you can always take to the bank. If the Lord is with you then our hope is assured. When we are hearing from the Lord and we remember God’s promises then our hope is sustained.
But Gabriel continues…
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
There is no room for doubt. Gabriel speaks to Mary in absolutes. Every declaration is a will or a shall not a might or a maybe.
REREAD and emphasize the wills and shalls
God’s promises are absolute. God is never slack in delivering HIS promises. Never forget God’s promises.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
When our hope is in the Lord, we have the same great and precious promises that Mary had…
God will be with you…
HE has called you and set you apart for something significant that will glorify the Lord,
We are all called to live out that eternal hope that Jesus is coming back for a church that is ready.
That we are always putting on HIS divine nature as we find our rest and refuge in God’s presence.
Remember God’s promises
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Always look for God’s promises, memorize God’s promises, pray God’s promises, trust in God’s promises…
God’s promises will sustain your hope.
What we Hope in is What we Worship
What we Hope in is What we Worship
Mary heard God’s promises from Gabriel as he revealed God’s plan to use Mary. Everything sounded far fetched, impossible to explain, to much for an “in love” teenager, engaged to be married, a young lady to truly wrap her mind around. She goes from planning her wedding to have an unplanned pregnancy that God caused.
When I was a teenager, when it came to my plans, I hated to be inconvenienced…
But Mary’s response was amazing.
Luke 1:38 (ESV)
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Worship begins as we surrender our plans and our desires for God’s.
After Mary spent some time with Elizabeth she responded with worship.
Hanging out with Elizabeth another recipient of the impossible caused her heart to overflow with worship.
Luke 1:46–55 (ESV)
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
When we worship God, we recognize that God is the true source of my Hope.
Mary said that my soul magnifies the Lord… My spirit rejoices in God my savior.
Mary calls herself HIS humble servant… she declared God’s blessings will outlive us… She even said that all generations will call her blessed… Because of the promise, because of God’s Word, because of God’s Son alive in her womb.
The shame is only temporary but God’s promise is forever.
She said it’s the Lord who has filled the hungry with good things…
God gives mercy to those who fear HIM from generation to generation.
What we hope in is what we worship so don’t worship the things that are temporary, put your hope in the Lord.
Take Away
Which voice are we listening to; the voices of the world or God’s voice?
Is our hope sustained as we remember and respond to God’s promises?
Where is our hope and what are we worshipping?
