Christmas Is Coming: Hope
Christmas Is Coming: Hope
Pastor Charlie Weir
Genesis 3:14-15 (AMP) 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the cattle, and more than any animal of the field; On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat All the days of your life. 15 “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, and between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, and you shall [only] bruise His heel.”
Before there was ever a recognition that Hope would be needed, Hope was provided. This should give you HOPE.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it's contained.”
President Snow, The Hunger Games
Christianity has never been able to be contained. Geo-political boundaries haven’t been able to contain it. Political ideologies haven’t been able to suppress it. Threats and violence only spread it – that’s the kind of Hope we need, that’s the type of Hope we have in Jesus!
Luke 2:22-24 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:25-35 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
What does it take for the Holy Spirit to move you?
Notice that HOPE wasn’t where Simeon was – it was where the Holy Spirit was leading.
Simeon identifies Jesus as a Salvation that has not been hidden… “in the sight of all nations”.
Jesus is Light. Light is a revealer to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were in the dark concerning God before Jesus.
Glory to Israel. Jesus is Israel’s crowing achievement. If it wasn’t for the promise of Jesus there would be no Israel of Jewish people.
The gravity of God moments is rarely perceived in the moment.
God is giving them this opportunity to soak in the moment. Advent is our opportunity to soak in a HOPE moment.
Hope is here even if our hope isn’t fully realized.
Luke 2:36-38 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Hope may be obscure but it isn’t hidden for those who look and for those who can me moved.
Luke 2:39-40 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Hope can’t be manufactured or manipulated but it can be met and received.
Simeon and Anna’s stories blaze a trail for receiving HOPE…
Ask. Asking for Hope keeps you hungry for it. Lord, we want to experience your comfort and witness to your comfort.
Look. Continue to worship in faith and with faith day in and day out believing and embracing His promises. Worship keeps you sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit.
Move. Hope has already come to us in Emmanuel – It’s time to move towards Him and with Him. Movement forwards encounters that can’t be explained any other way than God.