A Journey of Hope
The Star • Sermon • Submitted
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Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent— What an amazing Season it is as we journey together toward Christmas!
The word “Advent” is a version of a Latin term which means “coming”— We use these weeks leading up to Christmas as a chance to look forward to our celebration of the arrival of Jesus— the Messiah— the light of the world— our Savior!
Many different Bible translations used the word “wait” as a synonym to the word “hope”— An expectation or belief in the fulfillment of something desired— our present hurts, and uncertainty over what the future holds create the constant need for hope
Worldwide poverty, hunger, diseases, disasters, corruption, and human potential to generate terror and destruction create a longing for something better— historically people have looked to the future with a mixture of longing and fear
Many have concluded that there is no reasonable basis for hope and therefore to hope is to live with an “illusion”— Scripture relates being without hope to being in the world without God—
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
I have never been an atheist ever in my life— yes, I never had a real relationship with God until I came to know Jesus— but I was brought into this world knowing that there is God— I have to compliment the Catholic religion for that matter— that faith in God started as a seed, though I failed to acquire a real sense of God, let alone to understand the true meaning of salvation in that religion— but I never felt being in a world without God!
I heard about the promise early on as I developed my cognitive abilities— it was kinda shady at the beginning— until I encountered the Lord, and then things started to come clear to me— the promise is for real— that a Savior will come— He came and He will come again— look!
Micah prophesied where the Savior will be born, while Isaiah prophesied through whom He will be born— both Micah’s and Isaiah’s prophetic careers was around 700 years before it finally came to fruition
From the time of creation— through the time of separation— from Adam and Eve and all the way to Noah— from the time of Moses through the times of the judges, from the time of the prophets and the kings— from the time of king David until the time of king Jesus— the people of Israel had been waiting for the “coming” of the Savior— the “first advent”
Advent is a season of great expectation— and I’m glad you’re here with us today as we embark on a journey— actually join in an epic journey that began more than two thousand years ago— a lot of people missed to recognize the “first advent”— do not be on the wrong side of things to miss the “second advent”— while the Lord was ascending back to the Father, two Angels told the disciples..
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
He will come back! While Jesus said nobody knows when except from the Father, Paul told us how...
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Paul said, do not grieve like the rest of mankind— why do they grieve?— Paul said, because they have no hope!— hoping and waiting come side by side of each other.. while waiting we must;
Acknowledge the Darkness
Embrace the Wait
Commit to the Journey
Follow the star and discover the light of the world— it’s a journey of the heart and soul, but it’s also a journey that will realign our expectations and experience of the Christmas season
It’s a journey that will explore the gifts of Christmas delivered not by Amazon’s, but by, and through our Lord Jesus Christ— the gift of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace
We all need HOPE in the storms of life and LOVE that never gives up— We need fresh JOY on our journey and PEACE no matter what we’re facing or dealing with
Our journey and series will center on “THE STAR” as our guiding light— the Star of Bethlehem has taken central place in the story of Christmas, but its mention in the Bible is really very brief— The record of wise men from the East who followed a star is only mentioned in the gospel of Matthew in chapter 2 [the accounts of Christ coming]
There is much discussion by scholars and scientists about what the star actually was— who the wise men were— and when the cosmic event of its appearance took place— but apart from the debate, there remains the truth that the light of a star led people to Jesus even if they were still on their journey the night Jesus was born— See, the star then and now is a guide that ultimately leads to Jesus— the light of the world— the hope of mankind
As we embark on this journey during this season of advent, I encourage all of us to look for the light— the season of Advent is about the journey as much as the destination— when someone super special is coming, what do we do?— we prepare!
Let us pause and ponder, to take a deep breath and turn our eyes to the true meaning of this time of the year— a season that can seem so hectic and stressful in our culture!
No matter where you find yourself today, you are invited into this journey— think about the people who were part of the journey toward the first Christmas— Mary, Joseph, an innkeeper, a jealous king, some wise men, common shepherds, angels, and so many more…
While the pace of our lives would probably make their heads spin, each of these people were facing daily difficulties that we would want no part of— They didn’t have all the answers— they didn’t even understand what was happening— even when angels appeared or a star guided their path— but all of the cast of the Christmas story answered God’s invitation to come and see the arrival of His Son— the light of the world and the Savior of all!
After Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death— he said these words…
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
But the Pharisees challenged him— arguing that Jesus appeared as his own witness, therefore his claim was not valid!— these Pharisees were on the wrong side of things— they missed the “first advent”— do not miss the “second one”
Will you step toward the light of the star even if your vision seems cloudy or muddled?— Will you journey toward Bethlehem drawn by hope for the love, joy and peace that await?— Is your Christmas season already overwhelmed by any number of struggles: financial stresses, relational dysfunctions, memories of loss, political bickering?— We’ve all been there at some time— we may be there now in some form or another.
But let me encourage you— that’s exactly where hopes shines brightest!
How do we follow the star on A Journey of Hope?
It starts with acknowledging the darkness around us, embracing the wait, and committing to the journey
When the Magi [wise men] from the east came to Jerusalem— it was not just literally dark, but the days were also evil— at the helm was Herod the Great— the evil king of Judea
But before all these had taken place— they embraced a very long wait and they committed to the journey
BOOK
BOOK
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
LOOK
LOOK
THEY SOUGHT THE LORD
THEY FOLLOWED THE LIGHT
THEY OFFERED HIM WORSHIP
This is because of the Hope they had on the promise of God— What promise was that?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
They held on to God’s promise filled with hope— 700 years is not a short time to wait— but!
THOSE WHO HOPE ON THE LORD WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH
31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Being in this journey is sometimes tiring— but our Lord Jesus said these words…
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Let not your hearts be troubled— you believe in God believe also in me— I am going there to prepare a place for you— I will come back and take you to be with me forever...
HOW DO WE FOLLOW THE STAR ON A JOURNEY OF HOPE
HOW DO WE FOLLOW THE STAR ON A JOURNEY OF HOPE
TOOK
TOOK
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DARKNESS
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
EMBRACE THE WAIT
18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
COMMIT TO THE JOURNEY
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
PRAY & SING
PRAY & SING
All of My Hope— Hillsong
Light in my darkness— peace for my soul— You are my rescue— You never let go
All my hope is in You— all my strength is in You— with every breath my soul will rest in You
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.