Anticipation of Hope

So as a lot of you know I grew up in Maryland and in Maryland there are never any tornados and if there are they are usually really small.

But you see these amazing tornados that just look awesome on the news and I remember there were some shows while I was growing up where they would chase tornados

and I would always think in my head “that would be so neat to do.

So fast forward a few years because I moved away from my parents and was a freshman in college in Illinois and I was not the smartest person out there either.

So I remember there was this giant tornado that was happening and we are watching the new in someones house and it looked amazing.

and me and a few friends who were not from the area and have never seen a tornado decide we want to go out and find it.

so we get in my freinds SUV that probably sat about 5 but we had probably closer to 7 or 8 in it and took off.

and we were so pumped up because we have a weather station on the radio that sounded almost apocalyptic

no joke it was cutting in and out and we just heard the guy going “if cuchchchcc you can hear my voice chcuuchcu take shelter now.

and we thought it was awesome!

And we kept driving and driving and eventually the radio said the tornado was on the road we we were on and so we were ready.

But know joke all of the sudden it was almost like a movie and we could not see a thing because the rain was so bad and it got dark and then the car was just rocking back and forth.

and all of the sudden this crew that we assembled was freaking out and realized we made a huge mistake and we were scared to death.

because at this point we had no idea where we were, we might have been in the tornado or the tornado could be about to sweep us up at any second.

and we just felt like we are getting rocked back and forth by this storm and lost complete control of whats going on around us.

and wemwere in way over our heads.

Have you ever felt that way?

where you feel like you have lost complete control over your life.

and you feel like you dont know whats next and you are just going to snap or loose everything any moment.

and even if you can get up for a second you get knocked back down by the storm of life.

and really you feel hopeless.

Have you ever felt that hopeless?

Have you ever felt like

Well today we are going to be diving into a passage of scripture that talks about when we are in that place.

So if you would like to follow along you can turn to or you can follow along on the screen

Because this is where we are going to be staying for awhile and really this passage points to the hope we have in the middle of hopelessness.

So once again 28 it says:

28(NIV)

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

So like I mentioned this passage just starts out just talking about chaos in verses 25 and 26.

You know it mentions anguish, shame, fear, terror that will make you faint,

it talks about seas roaring and tossing which in the Bible basically means chaos is breaking lose all around you.

It even says that

the storm of life is just rocking you back and forth.

and this passage is actually talking about end times, but really its also referring to where we are right now in our lives.

because like I said sometimes we feel like this.

We get that diagnosis

we have know idea about our finances and how we are going to pay our bills a situation occurs and we start to get these feelings.

We feel terror

we feel pain

we feel hurt, anger, broken, captive by our situation, shame, embarrassed,

we feel like we are a failure, we start to feel insecure, we get anxiety, we get depression we feel like we are full of disappointment.

and all of these add up and you start to feel like there is a wall in front of you that you cannot get to the other side of.

and once again their is this hopelessness you feel.

but here is the good thing. because you may be going through a dark place right now

You might be in a hopeless spot where you feel caught behind a wall, but God has not abandon you.

In fact at the end of verse 26 it says in the midst of all these things happening “Heavenly bodies will be shaken”

God is disturbed about the circumstance you are in and it is not what he desires for you.

I dont know if you have ever been physically shaken over something but God is litterly that upset because he doesent want that for you.

he doesn't desire for us to live in all of this junk

because he is going look

and you know it is because of Him coming down as Jesus that we

He doesn't desire for us to be stuck behind this wall

and if you are still following along look at verses 27 and 28

Because it basically says look in the middle of you being beat down, and messed up when all of this is happening I can deliver you.

And that might look a little different then what we think.

There a show that I have gotten addicted to called “The walking dead”

And Arika hates this show but I like it.

and I have been behind on this show so I think I am on season 5 and there are 9 seasons total

Arika my wife hates the show and I love it!

and basically the show is about a zombie apocalypse that takes place (which obviously I do not believe that this is a thing)

and basically the show is about a zombie apocalypse that takes place (which obviously I do not believe that this is a thing)

and you know almost every episode you watch you go

But every episode follows this group of humans around that are basically fighting away zombies, and every episode you go this group is done for because the show puts them in some sort of situation that is impossible to get out of.

So every episode you do that thing where you lean into the TV and your heart starts beating heavy

But you know what I realized during one of the episodes I am on season 5 and there are still 9 seasons and counting

and I kind of just go wait a second these guys are going to be fine.

Why am I even worried they have to make it at least a little longer.

and how often do we do that in life.

We get in a situation and respond by freaking out but then we go wait a second we are already told how everything ends

and this doesn't make the situation you are going through light or where it is not a big deal, and truthfully you may experience some of these emotions still

look at verse the end of verse 27 to 28 because it basically says “look I (being Jesus) am coming back and I am going to redeem this and deliver you from this situation.

Hope is coming

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The situation that you are in might be awful but guess what Jesus is saying lift up your head because you can find hope in me.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

You know we have hope in Christ, Amen?

and we are getting ready for Christmas when Jesus was born, and Jesus is our ultimate hope and He came down because of the love He had for us and because He wanted to be in a relationship with us which is amazing.

Because while we were stuck messing up everyday and really just wanting nothing to do with Him, He came for us.

He came for you.

But he did not just stay a baby, but He grew up was crucified and rose from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins so that we can have a relationship with Him now and forever.

So now instead of living a life where you are paralyzed behind a wall by fear, behind a wall of anxiety, behind depression, behind, anger, brokeness, shame, disappointment and all of these things.

We can say I have a God that doesent desire me to bear this alone but he wants to me to give these things to him.

These things are not going to paralize me any longer because I am giving them to Christ and I already know how the story ends!

So have you given what you are going through to Christ.

Have you said God I want to follow you on a deeper level?

Maybe you are saying I want to invite you into my life in general, because I have never really followed you.

I have not really ever said those words.

Because all you have to do is pray for the forgiveness of your sins, forgiveness for how you have been running from God in your life wether in big ways or small.

and then say I want to turn from that life and turn to a life where I am following the one true God.

and we are going to finish our time together this morning by taking communion but before we do that this is an amazing time just to make things right between you and God.

and we have done this before but I just want us to close our eyes and reflect for a second.

Where in your life havent you glorified God with your actions

Maybe you are here this morning and are just going I have never actually given my life to Christ and I need to do that. Because I need Him in my life.

because this

I would just invite you to raise your hand just as a way to say God I am turning away from my sins and turning to you.

Maybe you are here this morning and are going Well I have commited my life to Christ awhile back but just want to make that recommitment today, I would invite you to raise your hand as a way of saying I am ready to come back home and really give you all of me.

If you decided this morning to start out or start over on your journey with God I would love to talk and pray with you after the service or you can also go to my wife who is with the children this morning and she can talk with you also.

But before we go we are are going to end todays service by receiving communion.

and if you are unformilure with what communion is it is a way that we as a church remember what Christ did for us and is doing for us when He died on the cross.

because the Bible tells us On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus and his disciples were all together sharing a meal and Jesus took bread on the table and gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” “Then when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

During this last song we are doing I want to invite you to come forward and receive the bread and juice.

“Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

But then take them back to your seat and we are going to take communion together as the body of Christ

Everyone is welcome to participate in communion. Really the only thing we ask is that you have accepted Christ in your life.

So let me pray for us and then we will go into the next song and I invite you just to come forward during the song

Pray

Song

The body of Christ Broken for you

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Pray