How We Fit in the Story of Hope

Introduction:

We are to be the direction providers to Hope. (vs. 6-8)

John 1:6–8 NKJV

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Reading the scripture it tells us why John was sent. “This man came for a witness,” He came to point out the way. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. “He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.”

We are here to show the way to Christ, the one and only hope!

I was watching television the other day and a commercial came on. It had a young man standing beside the road holding a sign that was shaped like an arrow. A lady pulled up along side the young man and was asking for directions to the interstate. The young man never flinched or changed or facial expression and never even actually acknowledged the woman’s question. He simply flipped the cardboard sign pointing in the direction of the interstate. The lady said “thank you,” and drove off.

Our actions, words, and lives are like a big cardboard arrow that points people in a direction.

We fit into this story of hope by pointing people to the one true hope, Jesus Christ.

We have to be the people that provide the message of Hope. (vs. 19-23)

John 1:19–23 NKJV

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He was completely honest with them and them the plain truth. “I am not the Messiah. They pressed him, “Who then Elijah? I am not.” The Prophet? No. Exasperated they said “Who then.”

These folks wanted an answer to take back to their superiors. They needed to know something.

Let’s look at John’s answer, “I’m thunder in the desert: Make the road straight for God!” (The Message) He said I am doing what the Prophet Isaiah preached. He was the one crying out!

We are to be the THUNDER in our world today.

A few weeks ago, or so there was a thunderstorm that came through. I usually do not have a problem sleeping through a thunderstorm. But my dog is another story. I was sound asleep and a huge clap of thunder erupted and my little dog went to barking and growling and it made me sit up in my bed. I got up as the rumblings started to subside. My wife woke up and told the dog to go back to bed. That thunder caused me to wake up out of a dead sleep. And if we think about it, the message that John was preaching was waking up a lot of people.

The Message of Christ, the message of hope can awaken our world if we become the Thunder.

We fit into this story of hope by, pointing out the way, and providing the message of hope. But to be effective.......

We have to be ready to give an answer, why we do what we do. (vs. 24-28)

John 1:24–28 NKJV

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The questions kept coming, this time from the Pharisee party. “If you’re neither the Messiah, nor the Elijah, nor the prophet, why do you baptize?” John pointed them to the one that they did not know. The one that was first. The one that he was not worthy to undo a sandal strap on.

John wanted them to know that Jesus was coming, and his primary mission was to prepare the for Christ with a message of hope.

If Someone asks you why you are share the message of Christ, the message of hope tell them that your are preparing the way for Christ.

A man was asked, “Why are you out here spending your free time helping build a wheelchair ramp for someone?” He politely said, “This is how I can share the message of Christ, the message of hope.” And he followed up that simple answer with this statement, “This is where I fit in the story of Hope.”

Conclusion

We all fit into the story of Hope. Sometimes it is just figuring out “How” to fit in.

If you are struggling with the issue of where do I fit in?

We can all point the way to Christ!

We can all provide the message of Christ!

We can tell the World why we do what we do!