Matthew 12:14-21 (Devotion) - There is Hope

Introduction

This sermon was inspired by the retired pastor and professor, Rev Rodney Buckhanan. While researching scripture I stumbled upon a theme he had preached which fuel my inspiration about this topic. Today, more than ever, we all need a reminder about the hope we have in Jesus. The hope that the hymn writer wrote about when they said, “My hope is built on nothing less. Than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame. But wholly lean on Jesus name.” You know why brothers and sisters? Because its “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Hope that we can build on.

Hope that we can trust.

What is Hope you may be asking?

“Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (; ).

The Oxford English Dictionary describes hope as; a feeling of expectations and desire. I like how Easton’s Bible Dictionary describes as “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (; ). In “hope” the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centered (; ).” Unbelievers are without this hope (; ). Christ is the actual object of the believer’s hope, because it is in his second coming that the hope of glory will be fulfilled (; ; ).

Hope in Christ is ope that we can believe in. Hope in Christ is hope that we can trust.

Why do we need hope you might ask?

The theme of hope is a welcome one when we are faced with some of the things that life can throw at us. When we are filled with fear, we need the hope of God’s presence, power and promises. When we are faced with pain or illness, we need the hope that God is aware of what is going on in our lives. When a bad and difficult situation goes on for a long time, we need the hope of knowing that God is able to overcome the evil that has besieged us in his time. When it seems the world has lost its mind and has become hostile to God and everything good, then we need the hope of knowing that God is still in control.

But our hope does not rest on the way the culture seems to be drifting — good or bad. Our hope is in something quite different. Our hope is linked to our knowing three key things. Who are we? Whose we are? And where we are?

But our hope does not rest on the way the culture seems to be drifting — good or bad. Our hope is in something quite different.

Three Points of Power

Three Points of Power

Who are we?

Whose we are?

Where we are?

Point 1 Who we are:

The first point of discussion: We have hope because of who we are.

We are the people of God. He has created us with his own hands. He has redeemed us with the blood of his own Son. He has raised Christ from the grave and promised that we will follow in like manner. He is preparing us a place in his kingdom. We are the children of God. We are the redeemed. We are the heirs of a coming kingdom. This is our origin, our present reality and our inheritance.

The Bible says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (). The book of Revelation says: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever!” ().

Brother and sisters, If you have confessed your sins and come to God for his healing and forgiveness, stop thinking of yourself as a miserable sinner and claim your inheritance. This is who you are, no matter how the world may see you now. No matter how the world might look down on your situation. To build your life around your own strength and abilities is an illusion. that might be worth repeating. For us to build your life around our own strength and capabilities is an illusion. You need something that is lasting, and that something is who you are in Christ. Paul says in Colossians, that it is Christ in you which is the hope of glory ().

Point 2Whose we are:

The second point of discussion: We have hope because of whose we are.

The only way that we can have hope in who we are, is because of Whose we are. God is the ground of our being and existence. He is the ground of our hope. He is our father and we are his children. He has ransomed, restored and raised us. It is all about him. We have confidence because our confidence is in him. We have hope because we know that God knows what is going on in our lives. We have courage to face the future because he is in control of all of existence, and he will overcome all the problems that evil has brought into our lives. God will overcome this and make us victorious in the process.

Because of who God is, we know that something good is going to happen. Something is on the horizon. Something is growing. Something is happening because there is Someone behind the scenes making it happen. We may not always be sure what it is going to look like, but we know it is going to be glorious. Furthermore, brother and sisters Im here to tell you that It has already begun in us, and one day it will be completed. Paul said that he was “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” ().

We are not sure what it is going to look like, but we know it is going to be wonderful. It has already begun in us, and one day it will be completed. Paul said that he was “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” ().

Point 3 Where we are:

My final point and thought of the day is: We have hope because of where we are.

Where do you live? If you thought of your physical address, or the name of your state, you have missed the point. If you belong to Jesus Christ you are living in his kingdom. That’s where you are. You do not have to wait until Jesus comes again. He has already come. The kingdom of God is here. It is within us and around us. We are walking with God every day. We live with an awareness of his presence and the expectation of his working in our lives. We are not just sitting around waiting for heaven. Heaven has already begun for believers. We are already getting a taste of what it will be like. God is our Father, Jesus Christ is our brother, and our sins are forgiven. His resurrection is the promise of eternal life for us. God has shared his joy with us and placed his peace within us. Because we are living in the kingdom, we live in hope. It is because of where we are that we know where we are going. We live with confidence in the present and we face the future with courage. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” ().

Conclusion

And so, I say with Paul: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (). May our God keep you and deliver you from this world into His. Amen!