The Gift of Hope - Regalo de Esperanza

WELCOME - BIENVENIDOS

Have you ever watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas”?

I recommend it greatly if you have not

In the midst of the Christmas decorations that have been up since Halloween,

the Christmas songs stuck in your head,

the lights and shopping and cookies and parties

Charlie Brown shouts, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”

Since 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has been airing every year which is surprising because

It was produced on a low budget

As a Last-minute production

To fulfill a request by Coca-Cola to create a Christmas special

This special was different because Charles Schulz was not doing the popular things of that time...

He had a jazz track in the background

No laugh track (a normal part of shows at the time)

Most importantly HE INSISTED THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY BE PRESENTED

The TV producers worried that it would be too controversial to read the Bible on National television, but Schulz was determined. In sticking to his convictions, this show has done very well over the years.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Charlie Brown is surrounded by all the normal things we see every holiday season

Trees

Music

Presents

Caroling

But he feels so empty as he searchings for what Christmas is all about

His best friend, Linus, sets him straight by reading the answer right out of Luke 2:8-14. Would you open your Bible and join me there in Luke 2:8-14.

Let’s read it together:

Luke 2:8 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:8 RVR60

8 Había pastores en la misma región, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre su rebaño.

Luke 2:9 NKJV

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Luke 2:9 RVR60

9 Y he aquí, se les presentó un ángel del Señor, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor; y tuvieron gran temor.

Luke 2:10 NKJV

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

Luke 2:10 RVR60

10 Pero el ángel les dijo: No temáis; porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que será para todo el pueblo:

Luke 2:11 NKJV

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11 RVR60

11 que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es CRISTO el Señor.

Luke 2:12 NKJV

12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12 RVR60

12 Esto os servirá de señal: Hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, acostado en un pesebre.

Luke 2:13 NKJV

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

Luke 2:13 RVR60

13 Y repentinamente apareció con el ángel una multitud de las huestes celestiales, que alababan a Dios, y decían:

Luke 2:14 NKJV

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2:14 RVR60

14 ¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas, Y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres!

This is where the whole Christmas experience changes for Charlie Brown. He realizes that Jesus is the reason for Christmas.

We too will experience Christmas over this Advent season as we unwrap the GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. The point is not to get rid of the traditions and celebrations in the Christmas season; rather, to experience more deeply these gifts given to us by Jesus Christ.

You may remember from last year, that the word Advent means “coming” or “arrival”. It is the expectant waiting, in longing and anticipation, for something significant. In this case it is a connection to the past, the present, and the future.

Advent

looks back upon Jesus’ coming in celebration,

rejoices in Jesus as Immanuel, and

looks forward in anticipation to Jesus’ second coming.

You will see here five candles as is the common Christian tradition. Each Sunday, we will light a new candle until Christmas Eve, where we will light the candle representing Jesus’s coming into a world lost in darkness.

In Isaiah 9:2, we read the following:

Isaiah 9:2 NKJV

2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2 RVR60

2 El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas vio gran luz; los que moraban en tierra de sombra de muerte, luz resplandeció sobre ellos.

As we add an additional candle each week, we see the closeness of the true light of the world, Jesus Christ, and His arrival at Christmas.

Choose to make this season an opportunity to align ourselves with God’s presence more than the push for physical presents.

Advent is not a celebration of what God brings, fixes, or does. Rather, it is the celebration of the greatest gift God could give mankind - namely Jesus. We celebrate HIM.

The first Sunday is hope, so I would like to ask the ____________________ family to come and light our first candle as we focus on the gift of hope.

HOPE - ESPERANZA

How have you heard hope used?

I HOPE it doesn’t rain

I HOPE I get the job

I HOPE he or she shows up

I HOPE the election will be over soon

I HOPE I don’t get COVID

On and on we see the word used. But DO YOU NOTICE A THEME?

In almost every case, worldly hope is full of doubt, uncertainty (or fear), and a lack of control. It is a gamble where the outcome is anyone’s guess.

WITH JESUS - our hope is a guarantee!!! It is a SURE THING! Instead of saying “maybe”, our hope is “Yes, and Amen”. This is because our hope is not placed in chance - Our HOPE IS SECURED IN JESUS CHRIST, the Author and Perfector of our Faith.

Similar to last week, we will look at Hope Past, Hope Present, and Hope Future as we unwrap this gift from Jesus.

Hope Past - Pasada

In the garden, just after Adam and Eve sinned, we see the promise of what the Bible calls, “the second Adam”. The One who would come and restore God’s people to Himself.

From generation to generation, the Israelites told their children of the coming Messiah who would bring the redemption they needed. The Old Testament is full of prophecies about the Messiah. Let’s look at Isaiah 7:14 as an example:

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 RVR60

14 Por tanto, el Señor mismo os dará señal: He aquí que la virgen concebirá, y dará a luz un hijo, y llamará su nombre Emanuel.

You may also remember the passage just two chapters later in Isaiah 9:6:

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 RVR60

6 Porque un niño nos es nacido, hijo nos es dado, y el principado sobre su hombro; y se llamará su nombre Admirable, Consejero, Dios Fuerte, Padre Eterno, Príncipe de Paz.

The hope of the Messiah was carried on for hundreds of years and documented in Old Testament scripture.

EXAMPLE:

I love the look of excitement on kids faces during Christmas. There is such hope; there is such expectation.

They cannot wait for December 25th, when they can peel back the wrapping paper and reveal the AMAZING gift that the package holds.

The Israelites had waited hundreds of hears and were likely tired of waiting - hoping - and expecting.

ADVENT is meant to allow us the opportunity to look back on the past and gain confidence and faith in God’s promises to us.

Do you believe He keeps His promises?

Do you see how everything He promised in the Old Testament, He fulfilled in the New Testament?

Do you have faith that every promise He has made you WILL come to pass?

Not in your timing - in His timing, His way, for His glory

Let’s go to Hebrews 11:1 and take a look at faith...

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 RVR60

1 Es, pues, la fe la certeza de lo que se espera, la convicción de lo que no se ve.

So faith has substance! It is not empty.

We look back on the past and see that God has never failed - and that becomes the substance of our hope. It becomes the foundation we base our faith on today. It is not a hope in someone who is not trustworthy!

We look throughout scripture at the faithfulness of God and declare that we can put our faith in Him because He has created for us a foundation to place our hope on. WE CAN TRUST HIM!!

Hope Present - Presente

We read earlier that Jesus was to be named Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14.

Immanuel means “God with Us”.

Even as they awaited the Messiah, we need to know He is here… Right now! He came, He lived, He died, He rose, He ascended, He provided the Comforter, and He empowers us in mighty ways today:

Immanuel allows us to see our sin in the light of His perfection

Immanuel became the punishment for our sin

Immanuel gave us a hope for today!

We don’t have to die in our sin! We can be place our hope in Jesus as our Savior (saving us from our sin), and our Lord (seeing Him as He is)

HAVE YOU NOT HEARD? HOPE IS HERE!

Whatever you may be facing, surrender to the one who is trustworthy. Place your hope in Him! Obey His leading! He will never fail you! Go to Hebrews 6:19

Hebrews 6:19 NKJV

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

Hebrews 6:19 RVR60

19 La cual tenemos como segura y firme ancla del alma, y que penetra hasta dentro del velo,

We cannot understand the mysteries of the Universe.

We cannot make our situation better on our own

But we place our hope in the Anchor - Jesus. He is working in ways we cannot see; doing things our minds cannot understand. But in the end.... It is ALWAYS, FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR OUR GOOD.

No matter what this season is bringing your way, find your anchor in Jesus. He will be that secure hope - even when the storms are breaking all around you.

Lastly,

Hope Future - Futuro

We need to understand something as Christians.

The Israelites waited for the Savior but did not understand that Jesus’ Kingdom is in His people - and for ETERNITY

We await Jesus second coming, where He will take us home to be with Him forever.

ADVENT is a time of waiting for us too.

We look forward to Jesus coming again.

EXAMPLE:

If you are like me, you probably have had times where you don’t want Jesus to come back too soon, because you are enjoying the life you are living now.

I am so glad that you enjoy life, because the Bible says we are supposed to enjoy life.

But remember, this is not our home. Let’s go to John 14:1-3...

John 14:1 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 14:1 RVR60

1 No se turbe vuestro corazón; creéis en Dios, creed también en mí.

John 14:2 NKJV

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2 RVR60

2 En la casa de mi Padre muchas moradas hay; si así no fuera, yo os lo hubiera dicho; voy, pues, a preparar lugar para vosotros.

John 14:3 NKJV

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:3 RVR60

3 Y si me fuere y os preparare lugar, vendré otra vez, y os tomaré a mí mismo, para que donde yo estoy, vosotros también estéis.

There is hope for the future. All the trouble we go through and all the pain we experience is temporary.

Jesus promised that He is going to come again and take us to heaven to be with Him forever. What an amazing promise. The promise of Heaven!

The Source of Hope - La Fuente de la Esperanza

It is so important that whether we

Look at the hope of the Israelites for the coming Messiah

Look at Jesus as Immanuel - the Hope that came and dwelt among us and saved us, or

Look toward Heaven

We need to AGAIN understand the source of our hope.

I started off talking about the empty hope the world has.

We need to declare that JESUS IS OUR HOPE

It is all about Jesus!

He was the long awaited hope for the Jews

He was the one who came and brought salvation - the fulfilment of their hope

He is also the one we hope in for every day life and for eternity

You cannot separate Hope from Jesus. We live in a world that sells the idea of hope, but tries to remove Jesus so people don’t get offended. YOU CANNOT TAKE JESUS’ HOPE, WITHOUT JESUS! They are inseparable.

TODAY: If you have not put your hope in Jesus. I want you to make the decision today to believe that Jesus is perfect, that you have sinned, and that you need a savior. I want to ask you to pray with me today. That Jesus would be the source of your hope. He will never fail you! PRAY

For those who have a relationship with Jesus. Remember that He is the source of your hope both in this life, and the life we have with Jesus forever. Don’t put your hope in man. If you have, declare that from today, your hope is in Jesus ALONE.

BENEDICTION - BENDICIÓN

Romans 15:13 NKJV

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 RVR60

13 Y el Dios de esperanza os llene de todo gozo y paz en el creer, para que abundéis en esperanza por el poder del Espíritu Santo.