Hope
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The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Hope
Hope
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Jesus' arrival on earth was a great source of hope to all people.
For centuries God's people had stumbled in darkness. They had been tormented and defeated by the evil that was all around them. Many of us know what it feels like to be surrounded by darkness as we struggle through disappointment, mistakes, failure and sin. It is hard to have hope when all you can see it darkness. The best way to overcome darkness is to expose it to the light. When God pulled on flesh and became human in the form of a baby, the ancient prophecies were fulfilled and the world again would find hope in the birth of our Savior. He is the light of the world and the darkness can not overcome!
Illustration One:
Begin the series with a beautifully wrapped gift in your hands or on stage. Ask everyone in the room to think about the thing that they most want this Christmas. What is the one desire that they would most hope to be wrapped up in the box. Give some relevant examples of what could possibly be inside. Transition your illustration by making the case that the no matter who it is, what people would like to receive more than anything is hope. Hope would be an incredible gift to receive since many people are struggling in the face of lose, disappointment, difficulty, and anxiety.
Point 1: Unwrap the gift -
Much of the book of Isaiah is prophetic in nature. The writer, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is wanting the listener to know that one day the Messiah is coming and all of the current trouble will be overcome by incredible hope. The people of God at that time were being overtaken by foreign forces and every aspect of their life was being changed for the worse. This struggle was self-imposed do to sinful decisions, but the fact remained that they felt abandoned by God. The prophet writes, using a metaphor of dark and light, that hope is on the way. The writer reminds God's People that one day the darkness would not prevail. The writer is alluding to the arrival of Jesus Christ, which is the very thing that is celebrated at Christmas. Every person has in some way or another experienced darkness in their lives. It might be circumstances outside of their control or it might be of their own doing, but either way, if we have eyes to see it and dare open unwrap the gift we will find hope in our time of need.
Point 2: Hope is seeing light in the midst of darkness-
Point 2: Hope is seeing light in the midst of darkness-
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah is being quoted in as the writer is pointing to the "root of Jesse" as the source of our hope. This allusion is to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of our hope. We know that in life we will experience hard times, even at Christmas, maybe even more so at Christmas, but right in the middle of the darkness we can be filled with joy and peace which will result in incredible hope. Hope is not circumstantial, hope is a result of God's action in our lives. The question is are we able to see it.It is present but we must recognize it in our lives.
Point Three: Let Christ Be Born In You
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ thousands of years ago there can be a birth today as well. It is a mystery, which is what makes Christmas so wonderful, how the birth of a Jewish boy 2,000 years ago can give us hope today. We find hope because it is not just that he was born to Mary and laid ina manager, but he can be born today within our hearts. When we choose to make Him the center of our lives experience a new birth as well. His life within us is the very thing that gives birth to hope in our lives. It is the hope of glory, the hope of things changing here on earth to match things in heaven.
Point Four: Hope Gives Birth to Hope
There is no greater gift that we can other to those around us than the gift of hope. When we believe strongly that God will come through on his promises to us, than we are stirred tolet our hope spill over into those around us. Choose hope this Christmas season and let it be contagious. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the state of our world, but don't lose heart for Jesus has overcome the world. Spend time with others this season and make hope the center of your conversations,meals and experience.
Point Five: The Best Christmas Ever is a Result of Hope
In order for this Christmas to be the best one ever it must first begin with hope. Without hope we have nothing, but with hope we have everything. Don't allow your Christmas to be hijacked and let it be the best ever with hope being the gift you open first.
Illustration 2:
To close the service, begin with a single candle and explain how in a dark place even a small light like this can bring hope. Encourage the congregation to each respond by lighting their own candles off this single candle and let the congregation experience hope multiplied. When we have hope and offer hope to other, a single light can become a great number and the darkness has to leave. Let the room remain dark while the candles are the sole source of light.
Illustration 3:
Take a wrapped gift and communicate to the audience how disappointing it would be to be given a gift like this and to never open it. How foolish it would be to take the gift and put it up on a shelf or in a closet to collect dust and never be opened. It is just as foolish for us to be offered the gift of hope in Jesus and to not take advantage of it. We have all been offered the gift of Jesus but only a few actually open it up to experience hope
The presence of Jesus Christ is the very thing that can defeat and overcome the darkness of the world. If it is true that Jesus was born, than it is true that darkness does not have the final say. No matter what I am facing today, the light of Christ can give me victory. I have reason to hope.
I don't have to live in defeat any longer. God has gone to great lengths to offer hope by giving us Jesus Christ. This Christmas could be the last time I ever walk in darkness and exist without hope.
My life can change.
Stop believing the lies that things will never change. Choose to find hope in the promises of God. Choose to believe that Jesus' birth changes everything. Each day we can be defeated by darkness or find victory in the light of Christ. Choose hope.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: