Waiting for Christmas: Waiting in Hope for Hope
Waiting for Christmas: Waiting in Hope for Hope
Pastor Charlie Weir
Darkness has a way of hiding hope.
“The only emotion greater than fear is hope.” President Snow: The Hunger Games
Fear and Hope are powerful life drivers. Fear generally drives us to give up while Hope drives us to keep going.
Isaiah 7:4 “be careful, keep calm and do not be afraid. Do not loose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood.”
• Be careful,
• Keep calm,
• Don’t fear,
• Keep heart.
What you see standing against you isn’t as strong as it appears.
“Nevertheless” is statement word. It states your failure will not void His victory.
It is possible to miss God in the moment but your moment won’t stop God’s movement.
Isaiah 9:1-5 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan. 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
• God’s promises aren’t platitudes they are powerful!
• God’s promises are not given to placate but to elevate our Hope in Him!
• God’s promises aren’t empty words they are pregnant words full of life!
Isaiah 9:6-7 6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Broad Shoulders
• Wonderful Counselor
• Mighty God
• Everlasting Father
• Prince of Peace
Isaiah 26:1-5 “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. 2 Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. 3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
God does not ask us to be bold or fearless in difficult or dark times, just to be trusting and faithful.
Luke 2:22-27 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.” 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…
To wait like Simeon means “to receive, to welcome, to accept, to anticipate, to look forward to.” This makes waiting a faith exercise not a doubt workout!
Luke 2:28-33…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.
The Hope of Christ we carry is a promised hope and it is a processed hope.
Waiting on the promises of God is to gather all of the pieces of our story in anticipation and amazement of what He is going to do. Silence in the waiting doesn’t mean God is not working. Silence provides the space to treasure, to ponder and to get excited.