When Grace Met Hope.

Today, I would like to share with you the life of my friend, Anthony Washington and what he taught me about grace and hope. He was larger than life ! His stature and presence commanded attention in when he entered a room. When he led worship, he wanted everyone to be as excited as he was to enter the presence of God. Even though his family was heavily involved in the volleyball community in Tallahassee, he taught his children to put the Lord first and to do everything, including volleyball, as you were doing it for the Lord. If you knew Anthony, he would tell you he was not perfect. What he would say often, even on a bad day is, “brother, I am too blessed to be stressed.” I will miss my friend and if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to share with you a few things others poster to Facebook about him.

Thank you Anthony for being you at all times, for being an example, for sharing your family and for showing me how little girls should love their Daddy. There won't be another one like you. Eat all the candy you want up there and I'll see you when He calls me home too. Love you much, brother.

From going house shopping with the family, volleyball and FSU football games, taking me into the Varsity Club and sneaking out hotdogs in our cargo shorts, dropping Daijah off at Gilchrist for me to take her to Deer Lake "one time" and it ended up feeling like I did it for months, dinners that you never made me pay for, dog sitting Chloe, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, Festival of Lights (won't ever forget that Elf costume), stopping by the Power Mill after work just to watch and talk, singing Mrs. Brown's end of the year musical songs together, laughing every time we thought about Alexa getting in BIG TROUBLE in the 3rd grade, every invite, every embarrassing moment, to every burst of laughter, I'll forever be fortunate to have had an exceptional friend like him.

Thank you Anthony for being you at all times, for being an example, for sharing your family and for showing me how little girls should love their Daddy. There won't be another one like you. Eat all the candy you want up there and I'll see you when He calls me home too. Love you much, brother.

Thank you Anthony for being you at all times, for being an example, for sharing your family and for showing me how little girls should love their Daddy. There won't be another one like you. Eat all the candy you want up there and I'll see you when He calls me home too. Love you much, brother.

A limb has fallen from our family tree. For we will not question God but thank him for the time he allowed us to share with his angel. The childhood memories I will treasure for rest of my days.

Go Rest High Upon That Mountain Coach Anthony Washington. As Sam called him Coach Shuck and Jive!. Because he was so happy and singing and dancing all the time. We know Heaven is being entertained!!.

My man. I loved seeing his smiling face and getting a bear hug every Sunday through College. Anthony and Latoya were wonderful role models to me of how to walk the walk and talk the talk of a faithful life.

What do you say about a guy who could light up a room by walking in, a guy who's joy was contagious, a guy who's love for his family was unrivaled, who lead in his community with integrity and strength, and who could sing the socks off of just about anybody? Anthony Washington is walking with our savior tonight, but the legacy he left back here on earth will burn brightly in the many lives he touched as a coach, a father, a leader and a friend. I will truly miss you brother.

My brother Anthony will be missed! But I know that I will see him again. As Christians, we know that there is life after this one, but we do not sit around waiting as some do and we do not hope like others hope. So as we begin, I want to define Hope.

Hope is Confidence in God whose goodness and mercy are to be relied on and whose promises cannot fail.

But Hope is also the gospel. The story of Jesus and even though there in no noun form of the word hope found in the gospels, in every page of it our hope can be found.

But is our hope only a distant promise or is it something that we can find present in our lives today? Is it only hope in the life to come or is it hope in the life that we have in the kingdom today?

Before we dig in to our primary scripture for the day, I want to set the table with a few center pieces that I believe will enhance our experience.

1 Peter 1:13–15 NIV

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

1 Peter 1:

Peter calls us here to remind ourselves that we will receive God’s grace at the second coming, but he calls us to live alert, sober and holy lives. So here, Peter is talking about a future hope, but we see implications for our lives today. Our hope moves us to live lives that our holy.

Titus 2:11–14 NIV

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Titus 2:11-

“The grace of God” is God’s gracious intention toward mankind whereby, as Paul goes on to say, saves, instructs, and enables people. Jesus is the grace of God that has appeared and he teaches us to live Godly lives in the here and now while we wait for the blessed hope. A hope that is in the future, but has relevence in our lives today.

appeared and he teaches us to live Godly lives in the here and now while we wait for the blessed hope.

Titus

Hebrews 10:19–25 NIV

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:19-

What is this hope we profess?

That’s the message of the gospel. That's the story of Christmas. That’s the hope that exists for humankind. We aren’t innocent by-standers watching a spiritual war between the forces of good and evil. 

It’s the message of the gospel. The the story of Christmas. The the hope that exists for humankind. We aren’t innocent by-standers watching a spiritual war between the forces of good and evil. 

We’re participants in the game of good and evil. We join God in the work of redemption. through acts of mercy and kindness.

Jesus didn’t come to the world, show us how to live, just so we can wait around for him to show up again. 

Jesus comes into our world, our brokenness, our woundedness and shows us hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for a future with God. And he wants us to join in. 

The story of the gospel is that this hope can be found now. God’s future is arriving now. The church is called to serve now. People need redemption now..

So, Paul talking about death says this to those in Thessalonica which gives us some understanding of how hope works in our present day life.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 NIV

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

We are not grieving like those who have no hope.

We do not fear like those who have no hope. See as we walking the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus continually purifies us of our sin. That is grace! that God allows me to approach his throne with confidence, because His son made it possible. HE TOOK ON MY SINS, so I could stand before the Father blameless.

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We do not fear like those who have no hope.

We do not cower in foxholes, but go on the offensive. Verse 6 and 7 call us to be awake and sober. Not people who are resting and celebrating like the war is over, but people who are still living out our hope as people given grace. The breast plate and the helmet are defensive weapons. God calls us to go out into the world with His love, but also has given us the power to protect ourselves and others.

We are to be continually encouraging. That is why we are the body of Christ and each one of us should be doing out part.

We do not cower in foxholes, but go on the offensive.

We are to be continually encouraging.

We are not grieving like those who have no hope. For we understand that even though we feel the loss of our loved ones, we know that this is not the end.

We do not fear like those who have no hope. See as we walking the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus continually purifies us of our sin. That is grace! that God allows me to approach his throne with confidence, because His son made it possible. HE TOOK ON MY SINS, so I could stand before the Father blameless.

We do not cower in foxholes, but go on the offensive. Verse 6 and 7 call us to be awake and sober. Not people who are resting and celebrating like the war is over, but people who are still living out our hope as people given grace. The breast plate and the helmet are defensive weapons. God calls us to go out into the world with His love, but also has given us the power to protect ourselves and others.

We are to be continually encouraging. That is why we are the body of Christ and each one of us should be doing out part.

Grace met Hope in Jesus and when they met sparks flew and lives were changed. We aren’t here waiting for the sweet bye and bye. We’re called to affect change, showing love, building hope, casting out fear, partnering with God now; we’re feeding the hungry and clothing the naked now. We’re protecting and cultivating the earth now.  We're on mission now. We're partnering to help redeem now.  

Remember, We're participating in God's good future now. We are living in the Kingdom now. We're offering the world hope. 

We're participating in God's good future now. We're offering the world hope. 

Remember hope does not fail!

So as you experience this grace that comes from God . . . may you see and give hope.