THIS CHRISTMAS 3

This Christmas … I Choose Hope

(Expectancy)

Luke 1:78-79 (NKJV)

Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Nothing seemed to bring hopelessness to a home in the ancient world than barrenness!

To Live Without A Child Was To Appear To Be Under A Curse Or God’s Displeasure

It Meant There Was Not Ongoing Legacy Or Future

A Cloud Hung Over The Head Of The Couple

When people are preparing to have a child it is said of them – ‘THEY’RE EXPECTING’ !

Pregnancy Has The Ability To Bring Great Joy -- Bring Fresh Focus -- Cause People To Engage In Planning – Even Though What Is Being Prepared For Can Not Be Seen!

Same with EXPECTANCY!

It has the capacity to lift people from attitudes of despair and frustration

To shift FOCUS

What I am wondering today is this – how many people listening to my voice have ‘shut down’ their expectancy because of previous Disappointments, Aborted Dreams, And Misplaced Expectations!

Important – understand the difference between EXPECTATIONS and EXPECTANCY!

EXPECTATIONS ARE PREMEDITATED

what we desire -- look forward to -- we ALL have them –

What it would be like to be 18 and free

When we got married what it would be like

What our kids would be like -- how they would do in school -- mature in life

How quickly our careers would advance

How Often Have Those Expectations Crashed?

How Many Times Have Our Unrealistic Expectations Created Conflict, Depression, And Desire To Quit?

We have all heard it said – People get what they expect! What they prepare for!

Often times that has some truth to it – ‘as a man thinks in his heart … so is he’

BUT -- there is more – before we make assumptions, I think of the voices of those who have said to me – “Pastor John …

I never expected he would leave me

I never expected she would get ______

I never expected our business to fail, we were doing so well

I never expected ________

It is what David called –

Psalm 11:2 (MSG)

the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness at every heart open to God.

It is what Paul called –

Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Most people are continually being robbed of life by what could have been -- might have been and should have

been – BUT NEVER HAPPENED!!

EXPECTATIONS are about us setting our faith on a predetermined desire, direction or destination!

• I will not be content unless …

• It’d be hard for me to be happy unless …

EXPECTANCY is about us setting our faith on a DIVINE DIRECTOR and His DESTINY for our lives!

Wherever He leads me …

Whatever He purposes for me …

Listen – it is not wrong to desire -- to plan -- to prepare your life for the future!

But what is BINDING is when we have more confidence in our PLAN than in the God who designed us!

HOPE – (not crossing my fingers hoping) - heartfelt expectancy of something good from the hand of God

Expectancy is secured by His character … His Goodness!

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

I Came to tell someone – you are not FINISHED! It is not over! The final chapter has not been written!!

See the results of HOPE in this story:

1. HOPE releases restorative power where ability was seemingly lost

Elizabeth was ‘beyond’ child-bearing years –

Seemed time had ‘passed her by’

Missed her moment

Psalm 42:5 (MSG)

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? ....

Cast = on your back in a low place

• Disappointment knocked you down

• Someone let you down

• Life happened!

ILLUSTRATION

In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy thinking to himself: “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog. Ohh...there’s so little hope for advancement.”

Well, there is hope for those who have a dog’s life, but the change will require them to make a choice. Regardless of why our life is the way it is today, where it goes from here is primarily up to us. We can wake up tomorrow to another dog’s day, or we can ask the Lord to help us make some changes, both inside and out.

HOPE THOU IN GOD!!

Hope is the POWER that restores your ability to FUNCTION (get up)

2. HOPE-filled people always RECOGNIZE the PROMISE of GOD’S GOODNESS in OTHERS

Luke 1:39-42 (MSG)

Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly, You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

Mary goes to Elizabeth for encouragement and confirmation!

Elizabeth RECOGNIZES the PROMISE in MARY before Mary tells her what has happened!

People of HOPE (expectancy) are people that make your baby leap when you get around them

Negative people try to kill / abort your baby

Critical people scrutinize your baby

Greedy / Tight people will never help pay for your baby

BUT HOPE-FILLED people will LEAP for JOY at the sound of your EXPECTANCY!!

3. HOPE reveals the DAYSPRING from on high

Luke 1:78 (NKJV)

Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

DaySpring – dawning -- breaking forth to a new day

ILLUSTRATION

IN 1978 -- I was at my Mother-In-Laws house, outside cleaning out the back seat of our car and complaining to God as to WHY nothing seemed to be happening for me ministry wise -- and my sister-in-law came out and talked to me and encouraged me -- THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO ME -- “Keep your dream Alive … I’m awakening you to HOPE!

Zechariah 9:11-12 (MSG)

And you, because of my blood covenant with you, I’ll release your prisoners from their hopeless cells. Come home, HOPE-FILLED prisoners! This very day I’m declaring a double bonus — everything you lost returned twice-over!

THIS CHRISTMAS – CHOOSE HOPE

There Are Those In This Room -- You Are Going To Experience A Dawning Of A New Day!

Just Like The Night Can Not Hold Back The Morning Sun – Your Dark Days Can Not Hold Back The Dawning Of Your Day Of Promise!

It is not rooted in the circumstances of your life –

maybe you’ve been barren -- frustrated -- angry -- apathetic – if you will just HOPE in God!

This very day I’m declaring a double bonus — everything you lost returned twice-over!