How to Find Hope

Intro: Beginning of Advent..

Hope.. Who Isaiah Was

Isaiah was one of the major prophets in the OT. His ministry lasted through 4 Kings

Isaiah 1:1 NIV

The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

This prophecy talks about the trouble that is coming, why it’s coming, how to get out of the trouble.

Exp: Briefly how this applies. Tell em what your going to tell Him

Welcome to today. The prophecy still applies. We live in a place where sin abounds and we have a God who is just. Trouble has to come. We need to look at reasons why, and we need to have Hope the Christ has provided a way out.

Hope requires 2 things. 1. A current situation that we believe is not what it should be. 2. A belief that there is a way to get the current situation back to where it should be.

We are going to talk about 3 things..

Our desire to return of God’s Presence

Our defilement that restrains God’s Presence

Our Decision that will restore God’s Presence

Struggles and trials surround us every day. It seems as if the world is on a path of destruction with no redemption in sight. But take heart, there is hope; however, it can only be found in one place.

Today we discover together: How to find hope when there is little evidence.

The Desire for the Return of God’s Presence

Remembering How God Dwelt in their Midst

Isaiah 64:1–2 NIV

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!

The amazing things that happened when I first got saved.

Isa 64:1-2

Various revivals

Isaiah Remembered How God Once Demonstrated His Might.

Isaiah 64:3 NIV

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

Isa 64:3

Altar call after coming back from costa rica ---

The Defilement That Restrained God’s Presence

Israel had Become Unholy

Isaiah 64:5 NIV

You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?

Sin in your life.

Isa

Israel Had Become Unconcerned

Isaiah 64:7 NIV

No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.

Isa 64:7

Complacency - self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

I am fine the way I am — after all I’m only human, nobody’s perfect.

The Decision that Would Restore God’s Presence

They Would Have to Let God Mold Them

Isaiah 64:8 NIV

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

T-shirt - if God is your co-pilot, your in the wrong seat.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

They Would Have To Seek God’s Mercy

Isaiah 64:9–12 NIV

Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people. Your sacred cities have become a wasteland; even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?

Isa 64:

Conclusion

We are going to talk about 3 things..

Our desire to return of God’s Presence

Our defilement that restrains God’s Presence

Our Decision that will restore God’s Presence