WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 So that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in love. 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:07.719 See this? 00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:14.200 There's only one safe place, one sure deposit for all of us to place our hope in. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:18.940 Only one non-leaky vessel, the living God. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:21.440 Made the God of hope. 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:25.339 And in our text, if you read this, made the God of hope, 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:30.740 we see here that God is both the source of hope and He is the supplier of hope. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:35.899 Paul's declaring something to us about the very nature of God Himself. 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:40.579 God does not just inspire hope in us. 00:00:40.579 --> 00:00:43.700 He is the author of that hope. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:47.439 He doesn't just dispense hope out to us. 00:00:48.519 --> 00:00:51.620 Hope is a part of His very nature, His very essence. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:56.459 And in the Scriptures alone, the word hope is implied or used 200 times. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:03.899 Very distinctive meaning of hope in the Scripture is almost opposite of how we use it in our everyday language. 00:01:04.039 --> 00:01:04.979 We do it all the time. 00:01:05.579 --> 00:01:06.359 Very different. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:13.679 But biblical hope is not just wishful thinking or a desire for something good to happen, 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:18.259 but rather it's a true, confident hope. 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:23.180 If you're looking for just a simple definition, I think the Bible can sum it up. 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:29.120 And in this definition of what is biblical hope, here you go. 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:35.420 A joyful, confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. 00:01:36.360 --> 00:01:42.520 A joyful, confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:51.439 Hope implies looking forward to something in the future with joy, enthusiasm, confidence, expectation, surety. 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:59.659 It doesn't just mean, as the brother said earlier, it doesn't mean just cross your fingers and just hope something happens, knock on wood. 00:02:00.539 --> 00:02:03.299 It's seen in verses like Psalm 62. 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:05.640 For God alone, my soul waits. 00:02:05.739 --> 00:02:07.640 My hope is from Him. 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:14.659 So, God is the source of hope and He is the supplier of hope. 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:22.300 And so, when we say hope in God, again, it's just very different than what most of us use that language for every day. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:28.319 Most of our language is centered around wishful thinking, including my own from time to time. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:41.579 And here, very simply, I guess wishful thinking could be summed up as forming our beliefs and our decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine or fantasize about. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:43.419 So, that's what we think about. 00:02:43.519 --> 00:02:53.979 We want, we fantasize about this and so we really desire for that to happen rather than looking at the evidence behind something and putting our hope in something that's actually real. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:59.840 And so, some of you have applied wishful thinking to God. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:09.819 And that's led you to say things either out loud or in your heart such as, well, I put my hope in God to do this or that and He let me down. 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:13.280 Beware, right? 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:26.580 I humbly want to remind you that hoping in God doesn't just mean hoping that He will bring about a particular circumstance and granting it the way that you wish it to happen. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:29.060 That doesn't what hoping in God looks like. 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:29.939 That's not what it looks like. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:36.340 It's good and right for us to go to God and pour out our desires to Him, our requests to Him. 00:03:36.420 --> 00:03:37.800 He invites us to do that. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.219 But our hope is not based in how He chooses to answer those prayers. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:51.300 Our hope is in God Himself, in His character, in His promises, in His relationship and love with us. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:57.360 So, hope is in God Himself, in His person. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:08.039 So, hope sounds like, regardless of the outcome of this particular situation or circumstance, my hope is in God. 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:10.099 That's what it sounds like. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:12.000 My hope is in God because of Christ. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:18.160 And I put my hope in His sovereign plan in working out all things for my good. 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:21.120 Hope actually says this. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:26.860 I think most people in the world can never say this about what they mean when they say hope. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:30.340 Job 13, verse 15. 00:04:31.500 --> 00:04:37.300 Hope says, though He slay me, though He kill me, I still will hope in Him. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.079 That's what true hope looks like. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.959 It's a hope in the person of God Himself. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:49.060 Even if God takes my life, I will trust Him and put my hope in Him. 00:04:49.299 --> 00:04:52.819 Even if He takes everything I have, I will put my hope in Him. 00:04:54.339 --> 00:04:56.459 That's what biblical hope looks like. 00:04:56.459 --> 00:05:03.539 So, most of you are familiar with the story of how Kathleen and I had our daughter. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:07.859 Come ask us later. 00:05:07.939 --> 00:05:09.399 We'd love to tell you the whole story. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:15.639 But as we were praying for our child, we were putting our hope in God. 00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:20.039 And our hope didn't rest in the outcome of that prayer. 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:26.199 It wasn't, God, if you give us a child, you're fulfilling our hope. 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:30.779 Our hope is in you, regardless of whether you choose to do this or not. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.699 Our hope is in your providence and in your love for us, 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:39.519 because you've already given us the greatest gift we ever, ever could have asked for in Christ. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:45.659 So, that's why one of the reasons why we've named her Kara Hope, 00:05:46.099 --> 00:05:49.159 is because our hope has been in God. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.819 And it serves as a walking, living reminder of that for us now. 00:05:54.159 --> 00:05:58.199 So then, if God is the God of hope and we are a hopeless people, 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:03.039 God has to initiate in some way to bring that hope to us. 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:04.719 You see that? 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:10.900 If we are a hopeless people, the God of hope has to give that to us in some way. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:16.200 And we see this in the first advent of Christ and His coming, His incarnation. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:21.340 So, for the rest of the day, we're going to be in Luke chapter 2. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.260 So, go turn to Luke chapter 2. 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:30.260 So, oftentimes, we may not see the word hope used in our text, 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:36.579 but we can read stories in God's word that demonstrate and illustrate what true hope really looks like. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:40.120 And one such story is found in Luke's gospel. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:44.139 Right in the midst of what we deem as the Christmas story, 00:06:44.779 --> 00:06:47.279 a man named Simeon and a woman named Anna. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:53.099 Two reliable witnesses that testify of the identity of the Savior. 00:06:54.159 --> 00:06:56.099 So, we'll start in verse 21. 00:06:56.100 --> 00:07:01.060 Verse 21 of Luke chapter 2. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:06.160 At the end of the eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:11.280 the name given to Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:16.220 And when the time had come for their purification according to the law of Moses, 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.780 they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. 00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:22.620 As it is written in the law of the Lord, 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:27.780 every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:33.800 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.000 A pair of turtle doves are two young pigeons. 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:41.399 And here we see our third point, third and final point, 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:42.920 the arrival of our hope. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:45.319 The arrival of our hope. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:55.480 And we see in this story, Mary and Joseph coming to present Jesus to be circumcised according to the law 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:00.360 and that Mary would offer up a sacrifice because after 40 days, 00:08:00.719 --> 00:08:03.899 she would be deemed as pure again for worship. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:07.060 So, she offered up two pigeons or two turtle doves. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:12.259 And we see this, that our hope has a name. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.259 His name is Jesus. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:17.920 His name is Jesus. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.340 His very name says salvation. 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:24.519 The Lord is salvation. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.699 Our Yahweh is our salvation. 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:29.319 The promised Messiah of the world. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:30.120 The world. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.159 So, hope dawns at the first advent of Christ coming here. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.259 Emmanuel, God with us. 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:39.700 And so, we go on in our story. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:42.840 And again, we're going to see these two older people, 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:50.879 these two elderly saints who stand as two reliable witnesses to testify of who Jesus is. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.419 Verse 25. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:57.620 Now, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:03.240 And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:05.919 And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:13.279 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 00:09:13.839 --> 00:09:16.939 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:23.260 And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:28.000 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:34.800 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.000 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 00:09:38.900 --> 00:09:41.580 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:48.060 a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:53.300 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.740 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, 00:09:57.660 --> 00:10:03.620 Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:06.280 and for a sign that is opposed. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:10.159 A sword will pierce through your own soul also, 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.120 so that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:17.699 So we see this encounter with Simeon. 00:10:18.579 --> 00:10:21.100 His very name means to hearken, to listen, 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.639 the one who kind of waits patiently for something to happen, 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:26.620 which is a very fitting name for this elderly saint. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:30.959 He was righteous and devout, a good man. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.860 And he was waiting. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:38.820 He had been waiting for years for the consolation or the comfort of Israel to come. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.159 One who would come and deliver the people. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.060 He was putting his trust in the promises of God's word, 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:49.860 such as Isaiah 25, where it says, 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.080 It will be said on that day, 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:54.820 Behold, this is our God. 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:58.779 We have waited for him, that he might save us. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:01.079 This is the Lord we have waited for. 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:05.279 Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:09.019 He was familiar with the prophet Isaiah who said that. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:12.019 So he had been waiting for this day and night. 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:18.360 So Simeon knew the promises of God and placed his hope fully in them. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:22.500 And he imagined the joy in his eyes. 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:26.720 He was led by the Spirit of God into the temple at that very day, 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.740 at that very moment, and the Spirit impressed on him, 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:31.340 That is the child. 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:35.519 Can you imagine the joy in his eyes? 00:11:36.420 --> 00:11:38.480 And how many people would have laughed at Simeon, 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:40.340 like, Oh, Simeon, that's a touching sentiment, 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:41.899 but you're too old. 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.000 There's no way you're going to see the Savior. 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:47.840 And he would respond with something like, 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:52.080 Well, God promises that he will send a Messiah. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.960 Yahweh takes true pleasure in those who fear him 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:58.520 and those who hope in his steadfast love. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.759 Many of us are wavering in our hope 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:04.400 because we are not familiar with the promises of God. 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:08.620 All we've grown very, very nearsighted, 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.340 and we cannot see those promises in our lives. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:14.720 So he had a strong anointing of the Spirit, 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.899 and he realized that this is the child 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:19.860 under the guidance of the Spirit. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:24.600 And he understood that that child 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.500 was going to be the very Messiah one day, 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:30.240 and that many people would rise, 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.600 and many would fall based on that child 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.800 and what that child did. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:37.019 And then we move on, 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.879 and then we see another saint, 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:43.220 an elderly woman named Anna. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:45.220 Let's look at verse 36. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.720 And there was a prophetess, Anna, 00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:49.879 the daughter of Thamuel, 00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:51.980 of the tribe of Asher. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.100 She was advanced in years, 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:56.340 having lived with her husband seven years 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:57.960 from when she was a virgin. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:01.460 And then as a widow until she was 84, 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:04.139 she did not depart from the temple, 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:08.139 worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.500 And coming up that very hour, 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:12.180 she began to give thanks to God 00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:14.099 and to speak of him 00:13:14.099 --> 00:13:15.199 to all who were waiting 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:17.379 for the redemption of Jerusalem. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.639 And when they had performed everything 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.319 according to the law of the Lord, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.500 they returned into Galilee, 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.639 to their own town of Nazareth. 00:13:26.739 --> 00:13:28.699 And there the child grew 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.719 and became strong, 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.279 filled with wisdom, 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:35.120 and the favor of God was upon him. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.080 So you see this older woman. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:39.179 I think if you add it up, 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:41.179 she's about 105 years old. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.580 She's a devout Jew. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:45.039 She's from the tribe of Asher, 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:47.360 which is remarkable at this time 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.100 because most Jews had no clue 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.340 what tribe they came from 00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:53.700 because of all the captivity and dispersion. 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:55.720 She was there. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.519 And clearly, 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.399 a woman in her society 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.080 would have outlived her usefulness. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.399 She was a widow. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:04.039 She was weak. 00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.039 She was vulnerable. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.799 But she didn't fear. 00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:09.179 She had her hope in God. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:11.980 There's something very special about her. 00:14:12.079 --> 00:14:13.740 She designated a prophetess, 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.480 which we could talk about later. 00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:19.539 But Anna was fervently devoted to God, 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:22.480 watching, praying, and worshiping, 00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:25.360 waiting for the redemption of Israel. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.840 She knew that there was a national cry 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:30.060 to see the Messiah. 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.200 So that national cry 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.580 was also her own personal heart's cry. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:37.300 I want to see the Messiah. 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.800 And suddenly, right in front of her, 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:40.800 there was the one 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.720 that she had been waiting for. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.879 Can you just imagine, 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.360 like, walking up to Mary and Joseph 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:46.680 and be like, 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:47.580 what's the child's name? 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:47.960 And they're like, 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.800 she said, they say, 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.340 Yeshua, Jesus. 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:51.620 And she goes, 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:51.960 really? 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.700 Is that his name? 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.820 The Lord is salvation? 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:58.840 And that joy that came over her face 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.820 as she stands there, 00:15:00.140 --> 00:15:01.180 and she turns around 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:03.060 and starts boldly proclaiming, 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.240 announcing, 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:05.660 this is Emmanuel. 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.300 O Israel. 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:09.460 Our redemption is here. 00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:11.980 Our consolation is finally here. 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.140 And she stood there 00:15:13.140 --> 00:15:14.540 proclaiming that 00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:15.660 in the temple grounds. 00:15:17.140 --> 00:15:19.740 So, a story of Anna's hope, 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:21.240 of Simeon's hope, 00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:23.420 a great hope for us to emulate. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:25.319 What are a few things 00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.740 that we can take away from this? 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:28.699 One, 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.319 do you have an evident hope? 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.099 An evident hope. 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:34.279 Because Anna and Simeon, 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.439 their hope in God was real 00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:38.139 because for many years, 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.099 they lived this out. 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:41.240 They had a hope in God, 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:43.279 praying and waiting patiently 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.159 for Him to fulfill His promises. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.740 And many of us claim 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.000 that we have hope in God, 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:51.539 but we don't persevere in that hope. 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:54.799 We turn to counterfeit hopes 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:57.259 to deliver us from what we want, 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.699 to give us what we want. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:01.819 In reality, we grow impatient. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:04.120 So, Christmas is a good time 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.259 for us to ponder that 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:07.959 and to put our hope back in God. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:10.879 Also, do you have a hope 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.539 in the promises of God's Word? 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.059 Many Jews knew the Scriptures, 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.939 but they read them 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:17.120 through a certain lens 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.759 that prevented them 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.299 from actually seeing the Messiah 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.200 when he got there. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.759 Very clearly, though, 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.659 Anna and Simeon 00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:27.340 knew the promises of God's Word 00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:29.080 and they had their hope 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:29.879 in that Word. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.019 They knew what Moses, 00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:31.899 the prophets, 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.299 and the Psalms, 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.779 they knew they had to be fulfilled. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.200 So, give yourself this season 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.100 to reading God's Word 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:40.860 and meditating upon His promises 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:43.120 and ask Him to renew your hope 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.980 in the process. 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.919 It says in Romans 15 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.919 that God has given us 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.419 the Scriptures 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.879 that we might have hope. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.919 And lastly, 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.360 do you have hope 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.620 to see the true Savior? 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.080 And in the context, 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:58.120 again, many Jews 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.379 were looking for a Messiah, 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.259 but it was a Messiah 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.259 of their own making, 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.560 one that would deliver them 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:06.680 from a Gentile Roman rule 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.339 and restore Judah 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.940 back to the former days of old, 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.039 like the days of David. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.680 And that's evidence 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.460 in their history. 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:17.180 Very, not long after 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.279 Jesus was born, 00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:19.100 around 4 AD, 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.380 there was a huge revolt 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.080 in Galilee 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:23.400 and around 2,000 Jews 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.019 were crucified 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.880 trying to bring about 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:28.279 this new state. 00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:30.940 Simeon and Anna 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.299 had no such hopes 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.660 of that kind of Messiah. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.380 Their hope was not 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.460 in their circumstances. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.620 Their hope was only 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.500 that God would send 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.019 a Savior 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.980 to deliver them 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.200 from the bondage of sin. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.079 That is the Savior 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.700 that we also look back at 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:47.619 and now look forward to. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.099 In closing, 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.339 look at Romans 5 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:52.960 very quickly. 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:53.880 Romans 5, 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.240 verse 5. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:18:01.259 Do we rightly understand 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.519 who Jesus is? 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.380 And do you want to have 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.339 your hope renewed? 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.779 All of us long 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.640 for a hope 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.299 that does not disappoint us 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:14.680 and does not put us to shame. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.960 And in Romans 5, 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.620 verse 5, 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.380 we'll start here, 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.000 and it says, 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:22.079 hope does not put us to shame 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.819 or hope does not disappoint 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:26.779 because God's love 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:29.019 has been poured into our hearts 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:30.900 through the Holy Spirit 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:32.140 who He has given us. 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:34.059 For while we were still weak 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.140 at the right time, 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:37.079 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:38.740 So, 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.019 I pray that 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.939 for myself 00:18:41.939 --> 00:18:42.619 and for you 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.299 that our hopes 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.079 would be renewed 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.980 in Christ 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:47.099 this Christmas season, 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.639 during this Advent season. 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:51.000 His is the only hope 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.199 that will not disappoint us 00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:53.039 or put us to shame. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.980 And the God of love 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.899 has poured that out 00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.740 into our hearts 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.819 through the Holy Spirit. 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:00.639 And so, 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.119 let's pray together 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.559 and ask God 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.559 to instill 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.479 this kind of 00:19:05.479 --> 00:19:07.099 gospel hope in us.