I'm not real nervous, but my socks have an L and an R on them I had to wear this morning.
So I know which foot to put them on.
They actually do have an L and an R on them.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you who prayed for me during my time of surgery and my healing.
It went as well as it could have been.
My pain was minimal.
My healing has been quick.
And I appreciate the prayers.
I appreciate the meals that you provided for Ruth and I.
It was a great, great help.
I feel loved by this family that sits here together, that worships together, that loves one another.
And I thank you.
Let's pray.
Father, my mind runs every which way.
Thinking of what I'll say, what you've given me to say.
I pray for your peace.
I pray for clarity.
I pray for concentration that I'm not running every which way.
I pray, Father, that you would teach us today about yourself, about what you've given us, who you are.
I thank you in Christ's name.
Amen.
We are in Advent.
Sometimes that causes anxiousness because of the gift giving of this season.
Instead of focusing on what and who Christ is.
There's only 24 days left.
Can you imagine that?
It does seem short.
This happens at my house.
I don't know if it happens at your house or not.
All that planning.
All that goes on.
But we are not talking about that anxiousness.
Today we get to talk about hope.
Hope.
Joy.
Peace.
Love.
Those things that we will talk about in the next four weeks.
Hope.
It began in the garden.
When God cursed the certain.
Cursed Satan.
What did he say?
You will bruise his heel.
But I will crush your head.
Death.
Defeated.
You think of that in Eden.
Paradise.
Lost.
The sin that brought that.
End of that perfectness.
There was no need for hope.
In the garden.
Everything was.
Just.
Perfect.
Joy.
Peace.
Love.
Wonderful gifts.
Wonderful promises.
That set our hope on God.
You think of the catechism.
And we will get to this later.
What is our hope in life.
And death.
Hope in the dictionary.
Is to wish for a particular event.
That one considers possible.
To have confidence.
Or trust.
To desire.
Or consider.
Consider possible.
An example of this.
And this is something.
That I thought of.
Because I'm older.
But I don't know.
If any of you remember.
What a hope chest.
Was.
Raise your hand.
If you know.
What a hope chest.
But.
Ah.
We do have some.
It was a wooden.
Boxer chest.
Used to collect.
Items.
A young woman.
One.
Might need.
When she was married.
Something.
If she started.
A home.
It was a tangible.
Manifestation.
Of her preparations.
For the future.
Filled with essentials.
Sentimental pieces.
To help her build.
Her new life.
Might have.
Linens.
Quilts.
Tablecloths.
Dishes.
Silverware.
We don't say silverware.
Anymore.
I don't think.
I think it's called.
Flatware now.
Because we don't have.
Silver.
And then.
Stainless steel.
Flatware.
Doesn't sound right.
These things.
Handmade clothing.
Hair looms.
I don't know.
If any of you.
Younger ladies.
Men.
Are even thinking.
About.
That.
Something in the future.
Marriage.
Some are recently.
Married.
Some have been married.
For a few years.
We have been married.
55.
Yeah.
It's always new.
New.
The things.
That we look for.
Hope for.
In that kind of.
Wishful.
Thinking.
That.
That would be.
Happiness.
And fulfillment.
In life.
Your dreams.
Come true.
Finding someone.
To love.
And cherish you.
To provide a home.
And have a life together.
That's one kind of.
Wishful.
Hoping.
And there's nothing wrong.
With that.
That's a great.
Desire.
Fulfill.
What God has.
For you.
As a Christian.
What are you hoping.
For.
Do you have a hope chest.
What's in it.
When the Bible talks about hope.
It's not the same.
As wishful thinking.
It's not uncertainty.
About what might happen.
But it's the confident.
Assurance.
Of what will happen.
In Hebrews.
And this.
Came across my mind.
When I was.
Thinking about hope.
And I don't know why.
It came.
Kind of backwards.
In Hebrews.
We read.
That faith.
Is the assurance.
Of things.
Hoped for.
The conviction.
Of things.
Not seen.
The assurance.
Of things.
Hope for.
What are these things.
We.
Hope for.
Kind of goes by.
Without.
Thinking about it.
We think about salvation.
A life.
Free from sin.
Peace.
Love.
Joy.
Companionship.
Health.
Happiness.
A life.
Free from sorrow.
Are those.
The things.
We hope for.
Those are the things.
We look for.
We are commanded.
To fix our hope.
Hope.
On things above.
To live in hope.
Now what is hope?
We talked about it.
It's the Christian's attitude.
Toward the future.
Hope.
In essence.
Is the same as faith.
The same substance.
Faith.
Is believing.
In God.
The substance.
Of hope.
Is trusting.
God.
Faith.
Is believing.
God.
In the present.
And hope.
Is believing.
God.
For the future.
It's the same.
Thing.
Faith.
Believes.
What God.
Has said.
What God.
Has done.
And hope.
Believes.
That God.
What God.
Has promised.
Yet to do.
Faith.
Is trusting.
God.
For the present.
Hope.
Is trusting.
God.
For the future.
Both.
Are trusting.
God.
Faith.
Accepts.
Hope.
Expects.
Faith.
Appropriates.
And hope.
Anticipates.
Faith.
Believes.
God.
For what.
He has done.
And hope.
Believes.
God.
For what.
He will do.
What are those.
Things.
Hope.
For.
Do we have.
A hope.
Chest.
Christ.
Is our.
Hope.
Chest.
He.
Provided.
The chest.
He.
Is.
The chest.
And every.
Good.
Thing.
That we.
Could.
Ever.
Want.
Is.
In.
Him.
Everything.
We.
Could.
Ever.
Desire.
Is.
In.
Him.
All.
That.
Love.
Companionship.
And.
Hope.
Please.
Open.
Your.
Copy.
Of.
God's.
Word.
To.
Ephesians.
Chapter.
One.
We.
Will.
Begin.
In.
Verse.
Three.
And.
Read.
To.
The.
End.
Of.
The.
Chapter.
Ephesians.
Chapter.
One.
Blessed.
Be.
The.
God.
And.
Father.
Of.
Our.
Lord.
Jesus.
Christ.
Who.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
Christ.
With.
Every.
Spiritual.
Blessing.
In.
The.
Heavenly.
Places.
Even.
As.
He.
Chose.
Us.
In.
Him.
Before.
The.
Foundation.
Of.
The.
World.
That.
We.
Should.
Be.
Holy.
And.
Blameless.
Before.
Him.
In.
Love.
He.
Predestined.
Us.
For.
Adoption.
To.
Himself.
As.
Sons.
Through.
Jesus.
Christ.
According.
To.
The.
Purpose.
Of.
His.
Will.
To.
The.
Praise.
Of.
His.
Glorious.
Grace.
With.
Which.
He.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
The.
Beloved.
In.
Him.
We.
Have.
Redemption.
Through.
His.
Blood.
The.
Forgiveness.
Of.
Our.
Trespasses.
According.
To.
The.
Riches.
Of.
His.
Grace.
Which.
He.
Lavished.
Upon.
Us.
In.
All.
Wisdom.
And.
Insight.
Making.
Known.
To.
Us.
The.
Mystery.
Of.
His.
Will.
According.
To.
His.
Purpose.
Which.
He.
Set.
Forth.
In.
Christ.
As.
A.
Plan.
For.
The.
Fullness.
Of.
Time.
To.
Unite.
All.
Things.
In.
Him.
Things.
In.
Heaven.
And.
Things.
On.
Earth.
In.
Him.
We.
Have.
Obtained.
An.
Inheritance.
Having.
Been.
Predestined.
According.
To.
The.
Purpose.
Of.
Him.
Who.
Works.
All.
Things.
According.
To.
The.
Council.
Of.
His.
Will.
So.
That.
We.
Who.
Were.
The.
First.
To.
Hope.
In.
Christ.
Might.
Be.
To.
The.
Praise.
Of.
His.
Glory.
In.
Him.
Also.
When.
You.
Heard.
The.
Word.
Of.
Truth.
The.
Gospel.
Of.
Your.
Salvation.
And.
Believed.
In.
Him.
Were.
Sealed.
With.
The.
Promised.
Holy.
Spirit.
Who.
Is.
The.
Guarantee.
Of.
Our.
Inheritance.
Until.
We.
Acquire.
Possession.
Of.
It.
To.
The.
Praise.
Of.
His.
Glory.
For.
This.
Reason.
Because.
I.
Have.
Heard.
Of.
Your.
Faith.
In.
The.
Lord.
Jesus.
And.
Your.
Love.
Toward.
All.
The.
Saints.
I.
Do.
Not.
Cease.
To.
Give.
Thanks.
For.
You.
Remembering.
You.
In.
My.
Prayers.
That.
The.
God.
Of.
Our.
Lord.
Jesus.
Christ.
The.
Father.
Of.
Glory.
May.
Give.
You.
The.
Spirit.
Of.
Wisdom.
And.
Of.
Revelation.
In.
The.
Knowledge.
Of.
Him.
Having.
The.
Eyes.
Of.
Your.
Heart.
Enlightened.
That.
You.
May.
Know.
What.
Is.
The.
Hope.
To.
Which.
He.
Has.
Called.
You.
What.
Are.
The.
Riches.
Of.
His.
Glorious.
Inheritance.
In.
The.
Saints.
And.
What.
Is.
The.
Immeasurable.
Greatness.
Of.
His.
Power.
Toward.
Us.
Who.
Believe.
According.
To.
The.
Working.
Of.
His.
Great.
Might.
That.
He.
Worked.
In.
Christ.
When.
He.
Raised.
Him.
From.
The.
Dead.
And.
Seated.
Him.
At.
The.
Right.
Hand.
In.
The.
Heavenly.
Places.
Far.
Above.
All.
Rule.
And.
Authority.
And.
Power.
And.
Dominion.
And.
Above.
Every.
Name.
That.
Is.
Named.
Not.
Only.
In.
This.
Age.
But.
Also.
In.
The.
One.
To.
Come.
And.
He.
Put.
All.
Things.
Under.
His.
Feet.
And.
Gave.
Him.
In.
All.
Blessed.
Be.
The.
God.
And.
Father.
Of.
Lord.
Jesus.
Christ.
Who.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
Christ.
With.
Every.
Spiritual.
Blessing.
In.
Heavenly.
Places.
Blessed.
Be.
God.
And.
Father.
We.
Read.
These.
Words.
What.
Do.
You.
Think.
What.
Goes.
Through.
Your.
Mind.
When.
He.
Saying.
Blessed.
Be.
The.
God.
Blessed.
Be.
God.
What.
From.
Us.
All.
Reverence.
All.
Honor.
All.
Glory.
And.
Praise.
Belong.
To.
God.
The.
Father.
Of.
Our.
Lord.
Jesus.
Christ.
When.
Walk.
Around.
In.
Day.
In.
My.
Life.
Do.
I.
Consider.
This.
Blessed.
Be.
The.
God.
And.
Father.
Of.
Our.
Lord.
Jesus.
Christ.
When.
I.
Read.
Those.
Words.
It.
Strug.
My.
Heart.
And.
I.
Guess.
In.
Preparation.
This.
Has.
Blessed.
Me.
More.
To.
Kind.
Of.
Review.
This.
To.
Know.
Who.
God.
Is.
His.
People.
The.
Israelites.
Would.
Not.
Even.
Say.
His.
Name.
Because.
Of.
The.
Reverence.
They.
Have.
For.
God.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
Christ.
Has.
Blessed.
That's.
Not.
Will.
Blessed.
It's.
Has.
Blessed.
It's.
Past.
He.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
The.
Past.
It's.
Present.
Is.
Blessing.
Us.
Now.
And.
In.
The.
Future.
We.
Are.
Blessed.
In.
Christ.
What.
Does.
It.
Say.
With.
Every.
Spiritual.
Blessing.
In.
The.
Heavenly.
Places.
That's.
Hard.
For.
Me.
To.
Understand.
Every.
Spiritual.
Blessing.
In.
The.
Heavenly.
Places.
I.
Kind.
Of.
Send.
It.
Off.
Somewhere.
Else.
I.
Don't.
Appropriate.
It.
I.
May.
Wish.
Like.
The.
Young.
Lady.
With.
The.
Hope.
Chest.
That.
This.
Is.
Something.
That.
Might.
Happen.
In.
The.
Future.
God.
Has.
Blessed.
Us.
In.
Christ.
We.
Were.
Chosen.
For.
The.
Foundation.
Of.
The.
World.
That.
Is.
Truth.
It's.
Not.
Wishful.
Thinking.
Not.
A.
Dream.
But.
Truth.
We.
Know.
This.
Not.
Because.
We.
Were.
Saved.
Not.
Because.
Of.
Anything.
Any.
Merit.
Of.
Our.
Own.
But.
Because.
Of.
Him.
We.
Recognize.
This.
We.
Chosen.
Before.
The.
Foundation.
Of.
The.
World.
We.
Could.
Not.
Have.
Earned.
Anything.
Not.
Have.
Done.
Anything.
To.
Earn.
So.
Great.
A.
Salvation.
We.
Are.
Holy.
And.
Blameless.
Before.
Him.
We.
Don't.
Think.
Of.
Our.
Way.
As.
T.J.
Prayed.
Our.
Confession.
Of.
Our.
Sins.
We.
Know.
Our.
Sins.
We.
Know.
What's.
In.
Us.
And.
We.
Know.
We.
Need.
A.
Savior.
Chosen.
Before.
The.
Foundation.
That's.
A.
Blessed.
Thing.
To.
Put.
In.
That.
Hope.
Chest.
To.
Know.
That.
It's.
In.
Christ.
We.
Are.
Adopted.
As.
Sons.
Adopted.
We.
Become.
Joint.
Heirs.
With.
Christ.
God.
Miraculously.
Gives.
His.
Own.
Nature.
The.
Very.
Nature.
Of.
Christ.
To.
Us.
We.
Have.
Redemption.
Through.
His.
Blood.
The.
Price.
He.
Paid.
We.
Were.
Bought.
Out.
Of.
Slavery.
We.
Don't.
Even.
Know.
We.
Were.
In.
Slavery.
We.
Were.
So.
Consumed.
By.
Sin.
God.
Expresses.
His.
Love.
To.
The.
Son.
By.
Giving.
The.
Son.
A.
Redeemed.
Humanity.
We.
Are.
Christ.
Inheritance.
And.
Yet.
We.
Receive.
That.
Inheritance.
From.
Him.
We.
Have.
Forgiveness.
Of.
Our.
Trespasses.
Not.
Just.
Forgiveness.
Of.
Trespasses.
But.
According.
To.
The.
Riches.
Of.
His.
Grace.
Lavished.
Do you like that word?
Lavished.
Poured out in abundance.
Unending.
Grace.
Abundant.
He.
Has.
Made.
Known.
To.
Us.
The.
Mystery.
Of.
His.
Will.
We.
Know.
The.
Serpent's.
Head.
Has.
Been.
Crushed.
He.
Revealed.
His.
Plan.
Set.
Forth.
In.
Christ.
Is.
Redeemed.
The.
People.
For.
Himself.
To.
The.
Glory.
Of.
The.
Son.
A.
Plan.
For.
The.
Fullness.
Of.
Time.
The.
Completion.
Of.
History.
Time.
Will.
Be.
That's.
Hard.
To.
Think.
Of.
When.
You're.
A.
Young.
Family.
With.
Children.
Everything.
Ahead.
Of.
You.
To.
Watch.
Those.
Children.
Grandchildren.
Grow.
There.
Will.
Do.
You.
Will.
Be.
A.
Time.
When.
Things.
Will.
Be.
Better.
We.
Will.
Be.
With.
Christ.
All.
Things.
United.
In.
Him.
Our.
Hope.
Is.
In.
Him.
We.
Talk.
A.
Little.
Bit.
About.
An.
Inheritance.
Has.
Anyone.
In.
Here.
Received.
An.
Inheritance.
Have.
Your.
Fathers.
Or.
Grandfathers.
Laid.
Up.
Something.
For.
You.
Given.
To.
You.
Have.
You.
Been.
Blessed.
With.
Someone.
Who.
Has.
Planned.
Ahead.
Who.
Didn't.
Spend.
It.
All.
I think.
That's one thing.
They said.
If.
I.
Being.
Of.
Sound.
Mind.
And.
Body.
Spend.
It.
All.
And.
Didn't.
Leave.
It.
But.
We.
Have.
An.
Inheritance.
We.
Are.
Sons.
All.
He.
All.
He.
All.
He.
All.
God.
Promising.
What does he.
Promise.
In Christ.
Peace.
Love.
Grace.
Wisdom.
Eternity.
With him.
Joy.
Victory.
Strength.
Guidance.
All.
Our.
Needs.
Met.
Power.
Knowledge.
Mercy.
Forgiveness.
Righteousness.
Gifts.
From the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit himself.
Fellowship.
With the Trinity.
Fellowship.
With God himself.
Instruction.
From the word.
Illumination.
Truth.
Spiritual.
Discernment.
Heaven.
A room.
In the Father's house.
Eternal riches.
All of this.
Is an inheritance.
We are sons.
God has prepared them for us.
In love.
Every.
Spiritual.
Blessing.
In the heavenly places.
We have heard.
We learned last week.
It is important.
If you have ears.
Listen.
We have been given ears to hear.
We hear.
God's truth.
We are sealed.
With the Holy Spirit.
This sealing.
Refers to an official mark.
Old letters.
Would be waxed.
And the seal.
Would be stamped.
You have probably seen it in movies.
Some of you may have embossers now.
For a library.
That says.
This book belongs to.
You.
We have been sealed.
This book.
This person.
Belongs to Christ.
And with that seal.
We become.
Ambassadors for Christ.
Not only to share the word.
We are living in a foreign country.
We are no longer.
Of this world.
We are from.
God.
What do we have.
In this country.
That belongs to God.
We have his security.
His authenticity.
We are owned by him.
We have his authority.
Given to him.
By that seal.
Of the Holy Spirit.
We belong to God.
Purchased by the blood of Christ.
And sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Do we have a hope chest?
Yes.
It is Christ.
God has blessed us in Christ.
We were chosen in him.
Before the foundation of the world.
We are holy and blameless before him.
We are adopted as sons.
We have redemption through his blood.
We have forgiveness of our trespasses.
We are sealed by the Spirit.
We are in the beloved.
So when you.
Have a chance.
Look in your hope chest.
And see what's there.
All these things are yours.
To live with.
They're mine.
And these are only a few of those blessings.
Every spiritual blessing.
In the heaven.
As a young bride.
Might come to her hope chest.
And open it.
And look forward to something.
That she's wishing for.
We come to our hope chest.
We open the book.
The book of his word.
We open and look at Christ.
And see.
All of this.
Not a dream.
But hope.
In the New City Catechism.
What is our only hope.
In life.
And death.
That we are not our own.
But belong.
Body and soul.
Both in life and death.
To God.
And to our Savior.
Jesus Christ.
What is our hope.
In death.
I went.
Kind of backwards here.
Instead of.
Going to life.
I go with the death.
Because I think that's easier.
What is our hope.
In death.
We know.
That the sting of death.
Has been done away with.
Christ took that away.
We know that in Christ.
He had promised.
That he will be with us.
In heaven.
As Cody mentioned earlier.
Today.
I will be with you.
In paradise.
You will be with me.
In paradise.
We will be with Christ.
Christ.
We only.
We will be eternally with him.
We will never sin again.
That idea.
We will never.
Sin.
Again.
In death.
There will be no pain.
No sorrow.
No loneliness.
We will know.
True love.
We will know.
True joy.
True peace.
And our hope.
Will be manifested.
It will be made real.
We will be.
So full.
That we will sing praises.
To our God.
Forever.
And ever.
And it won't be.
An issue.
Will we ever get bored in heaven?
No.
We will be.
Our hope in life.
We only see dimly now.
In this life.
We know God's promises.
We've read some of them.
We still struggle in these fleshly bodies.
We struggle to appropriate.
By faith.
Those promises.
Sometimes life is hard.
Not everything is what we expected.
Each day we go through.
We have.
Problems.
Because of.
This.
I'm going to read a.
Hymn.
That some of you probably know.
Some of you may not have known.
Does Jesus care?
When my heart is pained.
Too deeply.
For mirth and song.
As the burdens press.
And the cares distress.
In the way grows weary.
And long.
Does Jesus care?
When my way is dark.
With a nameless.
Dread and fear.
As the daylight fades.
Into deep night shades.
Does he care enough.
To be near.
Does Jesus care?
When I've tried and failed.
To resist some temptations strong.
When for my deep grief.
I find no relief.
Though my tears flow all the night long.
Does Jesus care?
When I've said goodbye.
To the dearest on earth to me.
And my sad heart aches.
Until it nearly breaks.
Is it all to him?
Does he see?
Oh yes he cares.
I know he cares.
His heart.
Is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary.
The long nights dreary.
I know my Savior cares.
He cares.
I know this seems.
Hard.
These words.
Life is like that.
Sometimes.
We do have those joys though.
I see it.
In you.
I see the smiles.
I see the encouragement.
I feel it.
In my body.
In my soul.
There is joy.
There is hope.
But Christ is there.
We are.
Remembered.
By Christ.
We sang earlier.
Our names are graven.
Edged.
Permanently.
In his heart.
In his hand.
He has blessed us.
In Christ.
With every.
Spiritual blessing.
In the heavenly places.
Our hope.
Is in the wonderful.
Supposed to become.
Thank you.
Jake.
All right.
I got to go back.
Three pages.
No.
He has blessed us.
With every.
Spiritual blessing.
Our hope.
Is the wonderful.
Mercy.
Merciful.
Love.
Of Christ.
In Romans 8.
We have these words.
Of comfort.
We know that God.
Causes all things.
To work together.
For good.
To those.
Who love God.
To those.
Who are called.
According to his purpose.
If you have been called.
According to his.
Divine purpose.
Your name is written.
In the book of life.
From before.
The foundation.
Of the world.
Then everything.
In your life.
Everything.
That touches.
Your life.
Is moving.
In the direction.
Of the fulfillment.
Of God's purpose.
In your life.
God.
He is making you eternally holy.
Even though you are justified,
He will bring you to Himself.
That is our hope in life.
Paul's prayer in the rest of Ephesians,
for us, that the Father of glory
would give them wisdom and a revelation
in the knowledge of Him.
That we may know what is the hope
to which He has called us.
What are the riches of His glorious inheritance
in the saints?
And what is the immeasurable greatness
of His power toward us
who believe?
That we may know what is the hope
we know by faith.
And faith is an assurance
in life and death.
That we are not our own,
but belong body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to God and to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
We sing the song,
Christ our hope.
And we come to that part,
O sing hallelujah.
Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah.
Now and ever we confess,
Christ our hope,
and life and death.
It's so,
to be with you all
and sing those words.
O sing hallelujah.
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sing hallelujah.
He is our God.
Let's pray.