Christmas Hope
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
What does Hope look like?
What does Hope look like?
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Hope means waiting on God.
Why do we struggle with waiting on God?
We want to direct.
We want to control.
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
Simeon witnessed and embraced the greatest miracle, the Advent of God coming to earth to save us from our sins. But he waited an entire lifetime to experience that miracle. When we truly Hope in God, we will experience the Christmas miracle in our lives. Why? Because for the Christian, Christmas is every day. Christmas is Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus has come to dwell with us and we with Him forever.
b. Why does God have us wait?
Because of our desire to get what we want when we want it, though, we naturally tend to rush the process and try to put God on our timeline. We set our expectations high, create our own schedule and start racing toward that finish line. Then when our great expectations aren’t met, we feel frustrated because we haven’t met our goals.
I want to tell you that there is something that God wants more than your speed, your hard work and your mighty effort.
He is more committed to our character than our career.
And, more interested in obedience than sacrifice.
2. Hope TRUSTS in God.
TRUST = Total Reliance Upon Spiritual Timing
Daughter on second story during a fire.
Truth is, however, that we simply don’t know what’s best for us. We certainly don’t have Heaven’s vantage point.
Obedience signifies trust.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
And if we’re not careful we can get in the way of God’s intended blessing for us.
Think about Noah. Noah was obedient and patient. These qualities protected him and preserved his legacy and family. He trusted God’s instruction even when others doubted him.
He took the time to build the ark. After the flood, he sent a raven and a dove to “test” the land to see if it was ready for them. Then he waited for a clear sign that it was time. When the dove returned with a branch, Noah knew that the place for his “feet” was not ready. He knew that water still covered the land.
What would have become of Noah and his family if he’d ignored this message and decided that it was the right time to step out?
Noah’s story is a perfect example of the 5 steps required in truly TRUSTing God.
1. Press Pause. I like to say that “patience is protection.” As a coach and catalyst who helps MOVE people into the action side of faith, I am used to doing, creating, and producing. Being more patient is not always easy for me. But in order to experience the brilliant plans God has for me, I know I have to let the Brilliant One lead me.
2. Ask God for Confirmation. Seek first the kingdom and ask for a clear picture of what God intends for you. God will send you messages. Just like Noah’s dove, you’ll get a phone call at the right moment, bump into the right person or suddenly see the right path appear. But you need to ask Him, not your girlfriends of Facebook buddies… Even though I believe in seeking wise counsel, there is no substitute for talking directly to God about His plans for you and your life.
3. Pay Attention to Your Intuition. The nudges you receive are God’s inspirational messages to you. Create quiet time to pray and listen. If you get an idea out of the blue to call someone specific, call them. Learn to listen, especially in times of stress or anxiety. A few moments of rest, prayer and meditation always reconnect you to what God is trying to tell you.
4. Prepare While You Wait. Waiting is not a passive act. Preparing enables you to be ready to “step out” when the timing is right. Keep working diligently where you are, enjoying life, serving God and reaching out to others while you wait.
5. TRUST. Remember, we’re talking about TOTAL reliance. Not just part of you. Stop trusting the wrong things—yourself, your experience, your intellect. You need to trust with your whole heart because miracles aren’t going to happen if you give God just a small piece of your trust.So… even when you are frustrated, remember that every detour, delay and speed bump in your life has been divinely orchestrated.
3. How do I live with Hope?
a. Remember, God knows the ideal timing for you to arrive at your destination.
b. Believe that God has your best interest in mind.
9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
c. Be Grateful for God has done for you. Providing Jesus being the most important.
d. Let go of thinking life should always go your way.
God answers every prayer, but he does not always answer “yes.” Sometimes, he says “no” or “wait.” Be happy when things go well, enjoy each day and look for the good in it, but let go of feeling entitled to a problem-free life. We have free will to choose to do good or bad, and so does everyone else in the world. So sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, we do not get what we want—because what we want would actually not be good for us. Remember that God knows more than you do. Remind yourself that God has your best interests in mind and loves you.
b. God has the perfect plan for
e. Adopt an eternal perspective.
God promises to make all of us well, if we only believe. But he doesn’t promise that will happen right now, in this life on earth. Some prayers get answered in heaven. We will be able to trust God when we focus on the fact that this life (and its struggles and pain) is temporary, but heaven is eternal.
God is the one who created time and He is in control. You’re never behind when you trust Him, listen to Him and follow Him.
Questions for reflection:
Simeon considered his life extremely successful. In what ways do you identify with Simeon?
Share with someone how you saw God’s faithfulness because you waited?
Where are you struggling with trusting God’s timing?
What lesson do you think God is trying to teach you about patience, spiritual intimacy, and preparation this Advent season? Where do you get stuck?