WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.099 I get the privilege of kind of kicking off the Advent season. Advent was something we never really did in my home, but we definitely celebrated the birth of Christ. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:17.620 ! And it's something that I definitely enjoy doing every year now with this church body. 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:26.580 And as Nathan said, it just really means Advent is just a Latin for the coming of or the arrival of an important person or event. 00:00:26.579 --> 00:00:37.259 And there's no greater person in the universe than Jesus our Messiah and no greater event than Him coming to earth and walking among us as a man. 00:00:37.599 --> 00:00:41.439 So Christ, our King, He has come and He is coming. 00:00:42.060 --> 00:00:49.579 That's where I sort of get, I guess, the title for this message that I sort of created late last night in my head. 00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:54.579 But really, it's our hope, it's arrival, and it's coming. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:57.280 Our hope, it's arrival, and it's coming. 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:06.939 So the plea for this time is that during the holiday season, or I'll call it Christmas season, for those of you who might be offended by that, 00:01:07.039 --> 00:01:17.159 but whatever you want to call it, we're tempted to place our hope in so many places that really just don't matter. 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:19.420 A lot of counterfeit hopes, if you would. 00:01:20.179 --> 00:01:26.519 And it's a time for us to embrace the true meaning of what we try to celebrate this time of the year, 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:35.620 which is our hope is in Christ and not in just the counterfeit, superficial hopes that are offered to us during this holiday time. 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:43.420 And on the other hand, I know for a lot of people, actually, this can be a sad time. 00:01:43.800 --> 00:01:45.760 Christmas season can be a very sad time. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:51.219 You've lost someone in your past that this just brings back painful memories of. 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:59.439 It's a time when we look back and remember good times and kind of are sad that those times seem to not be present with us right now. 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:02.500 And we're going through that. 00:02:03.039 --> 00:02:05.840 And a lot of people need just hope restored. 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:08.120 You've had a setback in life. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.780 Something hasn't worked out, and you're filled with sorrow. 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:19.400 So the prayer is that God would fill us with hope this morning, renew our hope, 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:27.420 overflowing to where we are empowered to go forward for the advancement of the gospel, for the glory of Christ. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:31.620 So really just four things this morning we're going to walk through together. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.759 And one simply is our need of a sure hope. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:38.020 Our need of hope. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:40.139 Our need of a sure hope. 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:46.259 So many of us, well, I should, excuse me, all of us, myself included, 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:52.979 have taken our hopes and misplaced it in things that could not deliver. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:55.939 Over the course of our lives, we've all done this. 00:02:56.079 --> 00:02:59.119 We've put our hope in something, and it let us down. 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:00.759 It disappointed us. 00:03:01.459 --> 00:03:05.259 We put our hopes in a person, in a relationship, 00:03:05.259 --> 00:03:09.759 something that we thought was going to deliver us from present hard circumstances, 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.519 and we thought this person is going to, is where I'm putting all my hope in. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:18.500 It's going to fix all my wrongs and deliver me out of this hard situation. 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:22.139 Others placing hope in success, like in their future. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:29.199 You know, like anything from promotion at work to having a salary raised to having a lot of money in the bank. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:38.919 You're hoping to get into a certain neighborhood, a club, a college, a fraternity, a sorority, a sports team, whatever it is. 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:41.299 Like you're putting your hope in those things. 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:43.179 Like this is going to satisfy me. 00:03:43.239 --> 00:03:45.560 This is going to give me life. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.419 And we all have been let down by those things. 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:54.839 Ask people who thought that at one point in their lives, and they'll tell you it didn't deliver. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:58.060 However, it always left us empty. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:06.020 So last night, I was out to eat with my wife and some of her friends, and I kind of threw this out there. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:09.900 I was like thinking about using this as an illustration today. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.140 And I'm just going to go for it anyway. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:15.199 I said, how many of you have seen the movie Lonesome Dove? 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.259 And they were like. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.000 And that's what's wrong with America. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:26.980 And so I know that some of my guys and some of my boys know Lonesome Dove, 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.300 but it's just an old great Western with Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.439 Very hardcore cowboy movie. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:40.879 And in the movie, though, there's like a young damsel in distress named Lorena. 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:48.660 And she is stuck in this little border town and really wants to get out of that border town and go to San Francisco. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:52.240 Her hope is she wants to go to San Francisco. 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:55.439 There's all these incredible people and things going on. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:05:00.320 But she's stuck in this Texas-Mexican border town called Lonesome Dove. 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:08.740 And she puts her hope in this kind of hard, old, dusty cowboy named Jake. 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:15.100 And she's putting her hopes in this guy to take her to San Francisco, not this Jake. 00:05:15.400 --> 00:05:16.759 He's a Jake Spoon in the movie. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:21.740 So she's putting her hope in this cowboy to take her to San Francisco. 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:31.019 But the older, more rugged, more tender cowboy in the movie, Augustus McCray, played by Robert Duvall, 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:33.199 he's a kind-hearted cowboy. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:37.539 And he tells her, knowing that Jake's really kind of a lowlife and a scoundrel, 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:41.799 he tells her, Jake's too leaky of a vessel to put much hope in. 00:05:42.719 --> 00:05:46.879 And then he goes on, he says, but then again, we all have leaks after all. 00:05:48.039 --> 00:05:51.039 So we put our hope in leaky vessels. 00:05:51.719 --> 00:05:53.839 And the Bible has a term for that. 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.419 It's broken cisterns that hold no water. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:06:00.140 So deep theology and Lonesome Dove. 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:07.480 And many of you have placed your hope and are placing your hope in leaky vessels. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.100 And they're going to let you down. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:13.100 They're going to disappoint you every single time. 00:06:14.900 --> 00:06:17.819 I have a friend that some of you know. 00:06:18.020 --> 00:06:22.840 And he feels like if you meet this guy, you just think this man is like a military machine. 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:26.419 He is a walking human weapon in every sense of the way. 00:06:26.799 --> 00:06:31.879 And his hope was to get into this very elite group in our military. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:37.779 And he had like gone through things that probably 99.9% of the people fell out of. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:40.439 And then he got to the very end and didn't make it. 00:06:41.179 --> 00:06:44.139 And he is like seriously crushed right now. 00:06:44.359 --> 00:06:47.319 Seriously going through that and trusting the Lord. 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:52.360 But really having a hope in something that he had felt like his whole life was directed towards. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:57.199 And all of us have experienced that serious letdown before. 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:00.819 And a lot of us have lost hope completely. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:07.500 You've been thrown down to the ground so many times that you're scared to get back up. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.719 You're scared to even hope for anything anymore. 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:12.180 Scared of being let down again. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:18.300 And there's many times when I was in the hospital and I was scared to hope that I actually might have a normal life. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.519 Because I've been thrown down so many times. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:23.579 Every time I thought I was getting better, I wasn't. 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:29.180 And once all of us have tasted the bitter disappointment, 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:33.720 so many times our hearts get sick and crushed. 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:36.760 And the scripture says in Proverbs 13, 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:39.620 Hope deferred makes the heart sick. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.720 But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 00:07:44.400 --> 00:07:46.960 So without hope, like we are sick. 00:07:47.580 --> 00:07:48.360 Very sick. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.160 Our souls are. 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:51.260 And in a lot of ways, 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:54.980 when we talk about hope in our language, in the English language, 00:07:55.520 --> 00:07:56.600 most of the time, 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:00.580 we're not really referring to it in the sense that God's word tells us. 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:05.699 We're usually almost substituting the word hope with something that's really just called wishful thinking. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:13.500 We desire, we push ourselves into something that we imagine and fantasize about that we want to happen. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.079 And we put all our efforts into that. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:20.959 It's what governs our beliefs and our decisions, but it's not real. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:26.180 Instead of actually looking at evidence and factual things that point to truth, 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:30.419 we follow like the sinful desires of our hearts. 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:35.179 And we have wishful thinking, even though they're void of reality most of the time. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:38.059 But why is everything that way? 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:38.799 You know? 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:42.639 Why is it that whatever we put our hope in just always lets us down? 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:45.240 Always lets us down. 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:48.600 Why are we all leaky vessels? 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:53.439 Well, the answer, very simply, 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.760 that most of you are very aware of, 00:08:57.520 --> 00:09:03.340 is that the scripture tells us that we all have exchanged the truth about God for a lie. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:09.040 And we worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:13.900 So giving our hope and our love to the things of this world, 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:16.919 so just say like horizontally instead of vertically, 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:23.379 that seriously disorients us and leaves us to where we have no real hope at all. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:28.639 We, instead of giving that to the immortal, invisible, the only God, 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.740 instead of giving it to Him, 00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:33.439 we give it to people, to things, to junk, 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:36.180 material stuff that's going to burn up one day and doesn't matter. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:38.340 We put it there. 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:41.260 And God calls this trading or this exchanging 00:09:41.260 --> 00:09:45.680 of our love and our hope in Him to the things of the world. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.700 He calls that idolatry in scripture. 00:09:49.900 --> 00:09:53.400 So, in Jeremiah chapter 2, 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:57.500 connecting it to what we said a minute ago about leaky vessels, 00:09:57.780 --> 00:10:01.080 forsaking God, the fountain of living waters, 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:04.139 and carving out broken cisterns that hold no water. 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.740 That's what we all have done. 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:08.460 We've turned away from God to the world 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:10.120 and said to the stuff in the world, 00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:13.340 give me only what God can give me. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:14.980 And it's disgusting. 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:16.460 And we fail. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:18.660 And that's why our hope diminishes. 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:23.840 So, instead of possessing fullness of life 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.220 and possessing the love of God, 00:10:27.520 --> 00:10:28.400 listen to this. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.820 Jonah chapter 2, verse 6. 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:31.920 This is what Jonah says. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.280 He says, 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:36.140 Those who pay regard to vain idols 00:10:36.140 --> 00:10:39.160 forsake their hope of steadfast love. 00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:43.740 Those who pay regard to vain idols 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.240 forsake their hope of steadfast love. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:49.620 So, our hopes are going to be destroyed 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:52.080 if we turn to the things of this world, 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:54.140 to anything at all, 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:56.060 other than the only living God. 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:58.659 And in 700 B.C., 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:00.919 the prophet Isaiah spoke about the same idea 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.919 of our need for restoration and hope. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:06.719 Isaiah 64, verse 6, he says, 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:10.139 We all have become one who is unclean, 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:13.399 and all our righteous deeds are polluted garments. 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:16.080 We all fade away like a leaf, 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:17.779 and our iniquities, like the wind, 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:18.660 take us away. 00:11:19.660 --> 00:11:21.700 There is no one who calls upon your name. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:24.259 No one rouses himself to take hold of you. 00:11:24.920 --> 00:11:26.899 For you have hidden your face from us. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.660 That's a big deal. 00:11:28.660 --> 00:11:29.700 In the Hebrew language, 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:33.020 and in their culture at this time, 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:35.660 to see God's face was the greatest blessing. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:39.080 The max, the best, to see God's face. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.800 The worst was for God to hide His face from you 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:42.759 in disfavor. 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:44.820 And he's like, 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.840 You have hidden your face from us 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:50.940 and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:54.340 So, 700 years before Christ came, 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:56.980 there was a cry out for a need 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.680 of a real hope to come to us. 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:03.079 And so, where can we put it? 00:12:03.099 --> 00:12:04.039 And that's the second thing. 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:06.839 Number two is the source of our hope. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:09.500 And I just want you to see one verse. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.959 Look at Romans 15, verse 13. 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:18.359 Romans 15, verse 13. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.939 We've got one verse here, 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.819 and then a main text we'll look at in just a minute. 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.299 But the source of our hope, 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.979 Romans 15, verse 13, 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.819 is what it says. 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:36.799 May the God of hope 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:40.419 fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 00:12:40.979 --> 00:12:44.199 so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:12:44.339 --> 00:12:45.979 you may abound in hope. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:49.620 So, there's only one safe place, 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:52.539 only one sure deposit 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.659 that you can put your hope in, 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.899 and that's not going to let us down. 00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:59.039 It's not a leaky vessel. 00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:03.259 And that is like the only living God. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.060 That's the only thing. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.100 Nothing else can deliver. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:09.279 So, may the God of hope. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.519 So, God is both the source of our hope 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.159 and the supplier of our hope. 00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:17.740 Paul says He is the God of hope, 00:13:17.819 --> 00:13:21.039 declaring something about the very essence of God. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.279 Like, it's a part of who He is, 00:13:23.319 --> 00:13:24.459 His nature, His character. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.879 He is a God of hope. 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:28.959 And so, He doesn't just inspire hope in us, 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.900 like He is the author of the hope in us. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:36.460 He doesn't just dispense out hope from Himself. 00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:38.720 He's like, it's a part of His very being, 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.480 His very essence, His very character. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:43.019 And so, He is a God of hope 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:47.940 for us to just dive into completely. 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:50.460 The only thing we can take sure confidence in. 00:13:51.280 --> 00:13:52.300 So, Christian hope, 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:54.960 along like we just mentioned a minute ago, 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:56.920 Christian hope is not wishful thinking. 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.860 It's like the total opposite, actually. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:02.420 Most of the ways that the Bible uses the words hope, 00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:04.360 both Old and New Testament, 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:07.000 is opposite from how we ordinarily use it. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.580 It's used around 200 times, 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:11.340 at least in the Old and New Testament. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.639 And as we begin to draw it out, 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.759 you can kind of put together, 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.740 more or less, 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:18.660 a meaning of what biblical hope is. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:23.240 So, as always, 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.680 for great definitions of things, 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:28.660 look to John Piper, 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.360 everybody says, 00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:31.500 this is what biblical hope is. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.519 Here's a good definition, 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:33.120 I think, 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.939 expresses what the Scripture says. 00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.480 He says, 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.600 hope is a confident expectation 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:43.120 and desire for something good in the future. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:48.899 a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:53.799 So, hope implies looking forward to something in the future with joy, 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.659 enthusiasm, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.899 and a big word, 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:56.539 confidence. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.259 So, you're not just, 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:02.620 it's a real thing that you are sure is going to happen. 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:04.899 But you're looking forward to it, 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.659 a good thing, 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.799 a desirable thing, 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:09.700 and your confidence and your hope is in it. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:10.779 So, 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.860 the answer is hope in God, 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:15.559 not cross your fingers and hope all turns out well. 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:18.139 Psalm 62, 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.459 verse 5 through 7, 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:25.500 this is a description of the sure and confident hope we're talking about. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:26.959 This is David, 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.439 and he says, 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.620 for God alone, 00:15:29.260 --> 00:15:30.160 O my soul, 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.860 wait in silence, 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.200 for my hope is from him. 00:15:34.880 --> 00:15:37.600 He only is my rock and my salvation, 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:38.500 my fortress. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.640 I shall not be shaken. 00:15:41.380 --> 00:15:44.040 On God rests my salvation and my glory. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.920 My mighty rock, 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.640 my refuge is in God. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.640 That's like a confident thing, 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.220 like he is not going to let me down. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.900 This is a sure deal. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.520 My full trust, 00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:56.200 full confidence is in God. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.560 So then, 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.740 if God is a God of hope, 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:02.460 and we are hopeless creatures, 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:07.600 he has to find a way to initiate that with us. 00:16:07.640 --> 00:16:10.780 He has to find a way to bring that hope to us, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.280 right? 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.800 If you want to think of it that way. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.400 And that's where our Christ comes into the picture. 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:19.080 That's where Jesus comes into the picture. 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:21.340 That's at least number three, 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:24.259 which is the dawning of our hope. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:26.840 And here's our big text. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.960 Look at Luke chapter two. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:38.519 Incredible story in the gospel of Luke, 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.899 after the birth of Christ. 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:45.279 Kind of towards this similar thing that we look at towards Christmas. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.639 Just a very awesome story. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:51.299 And a little tip just for studying the Bible. 00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.360 I know sometimes like, 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.919 like, 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.339 like, 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.939 let's say you're looking for a word like, 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.139 thanks, 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.199 or hope, 00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:01.000 or joy. 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.759 And you just go to the back of your Bible, 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.839 look to the concordance, 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.379 and find every, 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.700 every verse that has the word in it. 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.000 Like, 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.660 it's not always the best way to study something. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.559 Just, 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.299 just a tip there. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.139 But oftentimes, 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:13.139 you may not see the word in a translation. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:13.839 But, 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:16.039 at least in terms of topical studies, 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.940 look for stories that illustrate what that means. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:19.839 So, 00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:23.379 this is a story that illustrates what real hope is. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:23.639 It, 00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:25.000 it pictures it perfectly. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.559 So, 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.779 Luke chapter two, 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.339 starting down in verse 22. 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:33.419 And this is after the birth of Christ. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:36.619 And after the shepherds and the angels, 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:37.179 you know, 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.119 come and worship, 00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:39.879 worship God. 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.859 And finding the baby lying in a manger. 00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:44.519 All of that. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.799 This is after all that happens. 00:17:47.919 --> 00:17:48.299 And then, 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.879 verse 22, 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.119 we see, 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.740 in this little text, 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.159 example of two people, 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.319 Simeon and Anna, 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:01.299 that had an incredible life-giving hope 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.359 and the Messiah. 00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:05.059 Verse 22, 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:08.200 And when the time came for their purification, 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.220 according to the law of Moses, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.359 they brought him up to Jerusalem 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.819 to present him to the Lord. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.279 As it was written in the law of the Lord, 00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:19.220 every male who first opens the womb 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:23.799 shall be called holy to the Lord 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:25.819 and to offer a sacrifice 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.899 according to what it said in the law of the Lord, 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.779 a pair of turtle doves 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.480 or two young pigeons. 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:34.439 Now there was a man in Jerusalem 00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.960 whose name was Simeon. 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:40.359 And this man was righteous and devout, 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:43.599 waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:46.279 And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.359 And it had been revealed to him 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.819 by the Holy Spirit 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:51.819 that he would not see death 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:54.339 before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:57.359 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:01.099 And when the parents brought in the child, 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.519 Jesus, 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:05.179 to do for him according to the custom of the law, 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.500 he took him up in his arms 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:09.919 and blessed God and said, 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.899 Lord, 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:13.439 now you are letting your servant 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:14.720 depart in peace 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.379 according to your word. 00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:19.379 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.199 that you have prepared 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.039 in the presence of all peoples, 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:25.980 a light of revelation to the Gentiles 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.620 and for the glory 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:29.259 to your people Israel. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.819 And his father and his mother 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.660 marveled at what was said about him. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.559 And Simeon blessed them 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:37.319 and said to Mary, his mother, 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.660 Behold, this child is appointed 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:41.620 for the fall and rising 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.940 of many in Israel 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:45.920 and for a sign that is opposed. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:50.759 A sword will pierce through your own soul also, 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:53.600 so that thoughts from many hearts 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.400 may be revealed. 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.820 And there was a prophetess, 00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:58.320 Anna, the daughter of Phanel, 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.320 of the tribe of Asher. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.700 She was advanced in years, 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:05.600 having lived with her husband seven years 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:08.000 when she was a virgin. 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:11.200 And then as a widow until she was 84. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.720 So this is a lady up in the age. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.799 She did not depart from the temple, 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.059 worshiping with fasting and prayer 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.940 night and day. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.759 And coming up at that very hour, 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:24.140 she began to give thanks to God 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.079 and speak of Him 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.559 to all who were waiting 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.180 for the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:31.339 So here's a story 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:33.180 of these two people. 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.579 First, Simeon, 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:38.160 probably a much older man. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.339 That's kind of how I envision it. 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.420 No, it doesn't say that. 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.720 He's waiting to kind of part 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.500 from this world. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.079 And God tells him, 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.799 like, I'm going to, 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.819 you're not going to leave 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.920 until you see the Messiah 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.799 that I have promised. 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:53.100 And he was a good, devout man, 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.860 giving himself daily over to the Lord. 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:58.480 He was waiting for the consolation. 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.860 So what Wes and Liz 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.480 just sang about, 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.759 the consolation of Israel, 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.640 the comfort that God 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:06.059 would bring to His people 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.720 by sending someone 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.640 to deliver them 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.900 from their sins. 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.920 And he was trusting in 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.640 the Old Testament 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.920 messianic prophecies. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.700 This man knew the Scripture. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:19.420 He knew what the real Messiah 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:21.240 coming would be like 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.480 for the forgiveness of sins 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.700 and for the salvation 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.040 of the people. 00:21:26.040 --> 00:21:26.820 If you see that, 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.620 he said that this salvation 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:30.000 will not just be for Israel. 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:32.020 It will also be for the Gentiles, 00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:32.680 for the nations. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:35.259 So he spoke this over them. 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:38.100 And then he then revealed to Mary 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.840 that on that day, 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.259 a sword will pierce your heart. 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.600 When you see your son crucified, 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.160 you're going to suffer 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:46.740 when you watch him die. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:49.940 And any mother would know 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.500 how hard that would be. 00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:54.160 But then it goes on. 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.279 It's like the Holy Spirit 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.799 was empowering him 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.980 to do all these things. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.420 And man, 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.180 just such an awesome relationship 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:02.740 with God 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.880 that God had promised him, 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.220 you won't die 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.080 until you see him. 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:08.840 And then when they brought him up, 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.140 he knew it was him. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.060 There he is. 00:22:11.800 --> 00:22:12.640 This is the one 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.460 I've waited for. 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.259 And he will bring salvation 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.080 to the nations. 00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:19.000 So then you have Anna, 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.900 this prophetess 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:22.160 who came out 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.940 and again spoke truth over him. 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.600 These people who had longed 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.860 to see the real Messiah, 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.920 not the false Messiah 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.759 that so many in Israel 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.740 have been waiting for, 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.200 but the real Messiah 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:34.599 to come and bring salvation 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.220 from sin and death 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.920 and to restore us back to God. 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.379 That's a, 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.299 I mean, 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.960 can you imagine 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.759 just the waiting 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.180 and the watching, 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.440 the hope that they had to have 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.480 to wait for God's Messiah 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.180 to come. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.740 So that's like 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.740 the incarnate hope. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.519 So truth, 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:54.379 or excuse me, 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.819 joy and hope 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.779 dawn on us 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.619 at the incarnation. 00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:59.439 thousands of years 00:22:59.439 --> 00:22:59.939 after waiting 00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.519 to the redeemer, 00:23:00.739 --> 00:23:01.379 Christ came 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.059 into the world 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.839 and we know 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.299 that he was Emmanuel, 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.319 God with us. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.099 One of my favorite 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.839 quotes, 00:23:09.979 --> 00:23:10.599 some of the college 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.299 students have heard me 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.139 use this before, 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:14.079 but one of my favorite quotes 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.119 about the incarnation 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.059 is from St. Augustine 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:19.159 probably in the fourth century. 00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:21.099 This is what he says 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.979 about Jesus. 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:24.299 He took to himself 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.440 what he was not 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.160 while remaining 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.200 what he was. 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:30.460 He continued to be 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.079 what he is 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.500 while appearing to us 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.559 as we are. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.160 You have to almost 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.380 look at it and dissect that 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:38.279 about real more time. 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.500 He took to himself 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.360 what he was not, 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.640 namely human flesh, 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.039 while remaining 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.019 what he was, 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.819 while remaining 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.240 in essence God. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:49.259 he continued to be 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.720 as he is, 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.160 God, 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.359 while appearing to us 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.279 as we are 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:57.279 in human flesh. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.839 And so, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.620 this hope, 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.319 as Romans says, 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.220 Paul says this, 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.819 this hope does not 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.660 disappoint us. 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.319 This hope does not 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.200 put us to shame. 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.480 Romans 5 and 6. 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.599 This hope does not 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.299 put us to shame 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.359 because God's love 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.099 has been poured out 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.940 into our hearts 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.440 through the Holy Spirit 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.480 whom he has given us. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.079 for while we were weak, 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.019 at the right time, 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.900 Christ died 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.700 for the ungodly. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.099 So not when you had 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.880 helped God 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.759 to save yourself 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.380 or gotten yourself 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.240 in a certain mode 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.360 where God could save you, 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.319 it's while you were weak, 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.860 while you were helpless, 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.180 while you could do nothing, 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.599 Christ came 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.539 and died for you. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.000 So, 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.960 that is what we celebrate now, 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.059 looking back on 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.819 Christ's first coming 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.559 into the world 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.240 as a man, 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.819 walking among us 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.059 and then dying on the cross 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:47.119 and then resurrecting 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:48.220 from the dead. 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.500 So because of that, 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.859 brings us to number four, 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.519 the future of our hope. 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:58.179 The future of our hope. 00:24:59.559 --> 00:24:59.799 So, 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:02.819 maybe two more places 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.519 for you to look, 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.279 but I just kind of want you 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.799 to see this. 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:06.720 1 John 3, 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.119 towards the back 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.639 of your Bible, 00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:11.419 in those last few epistles 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.039 of John. 00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:14.200 1 John 3, 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:16.519 and go to verse 2. 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.500 So this is about 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.740 the future of our hope. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.600 So we're celebrating, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.300 looking back 00:25:22.300 --> 00:25:23.240 at Christ's arrival 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.400 and His humility, 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.700 and now we're looking forward 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.960 to Him returning 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.560 in glory and majesty. 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.200 1 John 3, 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:31.759 verse 2. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:34.160 Beloved, 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.400 we are God's children now, 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.720 and what we will be 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.259 has not yet appeared, 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:42.240 but we know 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.440 that when He appears, 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.240 we shall be like Him, 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.259 because we shall see Him 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.200 as He is, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.819 and everyone 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:52.700 who thus hopes in Him 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:54.559 purifies himself 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.379 as He is pure. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.500 This is a text 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.480 about the second coming 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.019 of Christ. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.460 It's this idea 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.660 that we place our hope 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.799 on the second coming 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000 of the Lord. 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.279 And when He comes, 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.880 all the sin 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.720 and all the stuff 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.339 that you deal with 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:11.900 right now, 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.160 be gone. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.960 And when you see Him, 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.500 we will be like Him. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:19.299 We will become like 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.740 what we were meant to be 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.599 before the fall. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.559 It's incredible 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.460 for people who have 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.180 problems like me. 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.000 Like, I can't wait 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.000 to that day. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.279 And on the other hand, 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.980 it says this, 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.299 do you know 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.319 how you believe this? 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.740 Like, I know if I 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.819 give you a theology test 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.259 and say, hey, 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.819 do you believe 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.519 in the second coming 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.019 of Christ? 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.619 Most of you would say, 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.839 yes, I do. 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.639 Here's where it says it 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.099 in the Bible. 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.799 There you go. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.680 But the evidence 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.799 that you believe that 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:48.139 is in the next verse. 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.779 Verse 3. 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.440 Everyone who thus hopes 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:51.899 in Him 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:53.759 purifies himself 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.379 as He is pure. 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:57.280 are you readying 00:26:57.280 --> 00:26:58.120 your soul 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.380 for that day? 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.380 Are you readying 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:01.740 your life? 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.720 Are you just sort of 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.500 putting it off 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:04.880 like something 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.280 that actually 00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:06.080 will not happen? 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.680 Which proves that 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.380 you actually don't 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:09.480 believe it a lot of the time. 00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:11.000 We go through seasons. 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:12.080 We go in and out of that. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.880 But I'm just saying 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.140 that if our hope 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.720 is real, 00:27:15.280 --> 00:27:16.140 we will prepare 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.260 ourselves for that day. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.760 Preparing yourself 00:27:18.760 --> 00:27:19.300 for something 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:20.780 very important 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.399 for our bridegroom 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.000 Christ 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.480 to come back 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.960 to take us 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.480 to the marriage 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.319 feast of the Lamb. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.519 Are you 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.720 readying yourself 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.200 for that? 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.299 Purifying yourself 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.119 just as He 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.319 is pure? 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.299 So that is the hope 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.899 that we have 00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.920 is He's going to come back 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.819 and He's going to take us 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:39.460 and death and sin 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.799 will be no more. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.559 So, 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.500 in conclusion, 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.460 just a few things 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:45.980 to sort of 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.220 latch on to 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.039 to kind of work out 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.700 a lot of this. 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.399 In conclusion, 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:51.360 we need to celebrate 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:53.080 during this time 00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:54.720 leading up to Christmas 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:57.160 and really always, 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.240 but especially now, 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.460 that we have a real, 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.540 confident, 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:02.900 sure hope 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.340 in Christ. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.120 That He came to us 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.400 and He is coming back. 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.920 And to hold on 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.500 to that hope 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.280 and not let go. 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.080 I don't know why 00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.840 I've just been thinking 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:13.960 about so many movies lately. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.600 No idea. 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.140 I haven't been watching 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.660 many movies. 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:17.400 But the other one 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.700 that I could latch on to 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.759 and if you think 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.500 I'm a bad Christian 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.220 for watching this, 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.279 just come talk to me later. 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:24.160 But it is the 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.100 Shawshank Redemption. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.500 One of my top faves. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.140 It's a horror movie 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.640 to watch, 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.559 but like the message 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.120 and the theme 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.580 of the movie 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.220 is incredible. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.799 And the theme 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.200 of the movie 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.000 really is hope. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.539 It's about this man, 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.960 Andy Dufresne, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.519 who gets thrown 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:40.039 in prison for life. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.279 And he's innocent. 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.240 He's an innocent man. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.759 And he's thrown in for life. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.019 He's there with a lot of guys 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.660 who are guilty. 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.579 But they threw him 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.019 in the hole 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.099 for several weeks 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.059 where he couldn't do anything 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.559 and just sat in the dark. 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.059 And when he got out, 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.620 he said this, 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:57.359 there are some places 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.140 in this world 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.279 that aren't made of stone 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.620 that there's something 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.660 inside of us 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.720 that they can't get to. 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.859 They can't take it away. 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.700 They can't touch it. 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.220 It's yours. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.259 And then Red, 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:09.799 who's played by 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.440 Morgan Freeman, 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:10.940 his buddy, 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:12.720 he says to him, 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:15.120 what are you talking about? 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.019 And Andy replies, 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.400 hope. 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.640 And then Red says, 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.140 hope? 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.100 Let me tell you something, 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.640 my friend. 00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:24.240 Hope is a dangerous thing. 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:26.559 Hope can drive a man insane. 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.320 It's got no use 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:29.620 on the inside 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.320 of the prison. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.039 You better get used 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.640 to that idea. 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:35.519 So he's had his hope 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.940 smashed so many times 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.539 that he's like, 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.140 just make your peace 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.360 with it. 00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:39.980 You're never getting 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.480 out of here. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.819 Stop hoping in that. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.180 Are you going to go crazy? 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.019 And then Andy refers 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.920 to a friend of theirs 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.620 who was released earlier, 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.299 an older man 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:50.019 who had committed suicide. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.339 And he's like, 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.180 like that? 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.880 Like this guy? 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.420 He lost hope 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.039 and he died? 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.059 And at the very end 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.519 of the movie, 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.039 both of them 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.640 are out of prison. 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.700 Andy ends up escaping 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:02.360 and Red gets out 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.720 and later on 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.460 he writes him a letter 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.880 and he says, 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.640 Red, remember, 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.920 hope is a good thing, 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.640 maybe the best of things 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:11.319 and no good thing 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.240 ever dies. 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.160 And so remembering 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.180 that hope for us 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.880 is a good thing. 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:17.200 I used to write that 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.779 on my hospital board 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.400 in my room, 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.680 like remembering that 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:22.299 hope is a good thing. 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:23.600 And then I would write 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.080 underneath that, 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.779 get busy living 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.620 or get busy dying. 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.879 And every day 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.739 I had to choose that. 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.099 Like, 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.299 are you going to just lay here 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.939 and are you going to die 00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.619 or are you going to get up 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.219 and are you going to fight? 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:34.679 And so during this time, 00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:36.479 a few things you can do. 00:30:37.239 --> 00:30:38.119 Be devoted 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.619 to reading God's Word 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.639 over the next few weeks 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:42.099 and always, 00:30:42.179 --> 00:30:43.259 but like if you're struggling 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.559 with that, 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:44.459 use this time 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:46.079 to hone in on it. 00:30:46.739 --> 00:30:47.819 Give yourself over 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.459 to the reading 00:30:48.459 --> 00:30:49.139 and meditating 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:49.779 in the Scripture 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:51.019 and God's Word, 00:30:51.739 --> 00:30:52.859 asking Him to use that 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:54.619 to renew your hope. 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:55.319 You know, 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.479 like many of you 00:30:56.479 --> 00:30:57.039 are dry 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.639 and dead 00:30:58.639 --> 00:31:00.259 and hopeless 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.819 and you're like, 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.519 I don't know why. 00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.000 Well, 00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:04.819 it's very, 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.719 very elementary 00:31:05.719 --> 00:31:06.479 you to think, 00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:08.319 but most of the time 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.079 you're dry and dead 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.739 because you haven't 00:31:09.739 --> 00:31:10.559 really been putting 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.059 your mind, 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.559 your heart 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.479 into God's Word 00:31:12.479 --> 00:31:14.000 and you wonder 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.019 why you're so lifeless. 00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:15.339 I mean, 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.000 I've been to people 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.719 that walk with the Lord 00:31:16.719 --> 00:31:17.379 for years 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:18.299 and this still happens. 00:31:19.479 --> 00:31:20.919 And you make, 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.639 we make time 00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:22.259 for anything 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.279 and everything 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.839 other than 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.500 let's meditate 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.179 on the truth. 00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.720 And when we don't, 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:29.279 we begin believing lies 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:31.159 about that we tell ourselves, 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.419 that the world tells us 00:31:32.419 --> 00:31:33.339 and we have to be 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.459 going back 00:31:34.459 --> 00:31:35.379 to God's truth 00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.879 to remind us 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.240 of what we, 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.679 to expose those lies, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.119 expose those untruths. 00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.519 So just stop. 00:31:43.699 --> 00:31:44.539 Make a stand. 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.220 Ask God to help you 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:48.119 dive into His Word. 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:50.119 Do it with someone 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:51.099 that you know 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.579 and ask Him 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:53.199 to use that 00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:54.000 to build up hope 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.379 in you. 00:31:54.979 --> 00:31:55.659 Listen to this. 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.639 Romans 15, 00:31:57.739 --> 00:31:58.239 verse 4. 00:31:58.899 --> 00:31:59.919 It couldn't be any clearer. 00:32:00.919 --> 00:32:02.119 For whatever was written 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:03.279 in former days 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.299 was written 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.279 for our instruction 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:07.099 that through endurance 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.859 and through the encouragement 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.659 of the Scriptures 00:32:09.659 --> 00:32:11.179 we might find hope. 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.639 Alright? 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.599 Romans 15, 00:32:13.699 --> 00:32:13.979 4. 00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:15.759 So if you're not doing that, 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:16.979 you're going to be discouraged 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.920 and you're going to be hopeless. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.860 It's really how it is. 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.900 So in addition to that, 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.779 as you read God's Word, 00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.819 search in your life 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.299 for misplaced hopes. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.319 Like where am I 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:33.500 putting my hope right now 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.339 where I shouldn't be? 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.640 Where am I trying 00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:38.120 to get hope from 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.700 that I know 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.819 is going to let me down? 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.420 A lot of times 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.440 the people around you 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.660 can see that clearer than you, 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.299 so sometimes ask them 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.819 and just accept 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.379 their answer. 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.960 Take it or leave it. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.419 Ask God to expose it. 00:32:52.639 --> 00:32:53.559 So search 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.819 for misplaced hopes 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.439 in your life 00:32:55.439 --> 00:32:57.200 and then pray 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.919 asking God 00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.639 by His Spirit 00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.679 to renew that hope 00:33:00.679 --> 00:33:01.319 in your soul 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.779 to go out 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.579 and face the world. 00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:04.399 If you don't have any hope, 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.079 you can't face 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.740 what's out there. 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.599 You just can't. 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:08.519 You can't face yourself 00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.599 and you can't face the world. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.439 So ask God, 00:33:11.899 --> 00:33:12.539 plead with God 00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.480 to use His Word 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.879 by His Spirit 00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:16.099 to renew that hope in you. 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:18.439 And in closing, 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.219 in closing, 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.119 I just want you to look 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:22.500 at Psalm 42 with me. 00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:25.219 Years ago, 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:27.339 I was going through 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:28.159 a pretty dark, 00:33:29.199 --> 00:33:30.359 spiritually depressive time 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:31.000 in the hospital 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.879 in Birmingham. 00:33:32.139 --> 00:33:32.959 It was during one of those times 00:33:32.959 --> 00:33:33.419 I thought 00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.919 I was done, 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.679 like I was hopeless. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:39.320 and my parents 00:33:39.320 --> 00:33:39.980 had just brought me 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.539 my laptop 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:45.019 and they went away 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.820 to see some friends 00:33:45.820 --> 00:33:46.660 and I just immediately 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.640 just like got on 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:49.640 Desiring God's website 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:51.560 and this, 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:53.180 the title of the message 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:54.320 at the very first 00:33:54.320 --> 00:33:54.759 of the page 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.019 was 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.580 Spiritual Depression 00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:57.880 in the Psalms. 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.240 I'm like, 00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.019 click, click. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.059 and 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:02.859 Psalm 42 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.779 was what 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:05.940 He preached on. 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.440 And a lot of the times 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.019 we suffer 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:09.659 and we're hopeless 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.599 because we're listening 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.440 to ourselves 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.840 instead of preaching 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.960 the truth to ourselves. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.659 And this is what 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:16.219 this is about. 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.699 Psalm 42, 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:18.460 let's read the first 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.059 five verses. 00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:20.860 As the deer 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.619 pants for flowing streams, 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:25.179 so my soul 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.539 pants for you, 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.239 O God. 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.199 My soul thirsts 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:29.739 for God, 00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.759 for the living God. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.699 When shall I come 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.880 and appear before God? 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.599 My tears 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.460 have become 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.539 my food 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.559 day and night. 00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.539 Ever felt that way? 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:43.219 While they say to me 00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.659 all the day long, 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.619 where is your God? 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.639 These things 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.259 I remember 00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:49.160 as I pour out 00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:49.780 my soul, 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.500 how I would go 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.300 to the throng 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:53.940 and lead them 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.700 in procession 00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.800 to the house of God 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.900 with glad shouts 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.180 and songs of praise, 00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.380 a multitude 00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:00.420 keeping festival. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.720 Why are you 00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.460 cast down, 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.340 O my soul? 00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:06.140 Why are you 00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:06.760 in turmoil 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:07.500 within me? 00:35:08.140 --> 00:35:09.300 Hope in God, 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.860 for I shall 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:12.060 again praise Him, 00:35:12.640 --> 00:35:13.540 my salvation 00:35:13.540 --> 00:35:14.680 and my God. 00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.500 Just join me 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.880 in prayer.