Active Hope: Our Mission in Christ's Return

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound hope and mission that God has entrusted to us as we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Drawing from the rich tapestry of the Psalms, particularly Psalm 11, we are reminded of the hope-filled life we are called to lead. This hope is not passive but active, urging us to make God known to the world. As we wait, we are to be a people of hope, confident in the Lord's promises and His ultimate plan for salvation.

Psalm 11, along with Psalms 9 and 10, provides a backdrop for understanding our mission. These Psalms call us to declare God's deeds among the nations, offering hope and calling for repentance before judgment comes. The imprecatory Psalms, while strong in their language, are always set within the context of a call to repentance, emphasizing God's desire for even the vilest of sinners to turn to Him.

We also delved into the universal offer of the gospel, as seen in Psalm 9:10, which assures us that God does not forsake those who seek Him. This is a powerful reminder that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, as echoed in Romans 10:13. This promise is not limited to a specific group but extends to all nations, fulfilling the Old Testament anticipation of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the covenant of grace.

Psalm 11 addresses the modern challenges of disbelief and moral relativism by affirming the existence of a personal, moral, and purposeful God. Despite the world's claims of an impersonal and amoral universe, we are assured that God is enthroned in heaven, sees all, and will hold everyone accountable. This truth gives us a message of hope to share with the world, countering the despair of a purposeless existence.

As we fulfill our mission, we are encouraged to see it not as a grim duty but as a joyful privilege. The Great Commission is a gift, allowing us to share the hope and joy found in Jesus Christ. The ends of the Gospels each call us to speak for Jesus, reminding us that our testimony is a powerful witness to the world. Through our words and our lives, we declare the reality of a God who is alive, reigning, and accomplishing His purpose.

Key Takeaways:

- Active Hope in Waiting: While we wait for the Lord, we are called to be active in making God known. This involves trusting, hoping, and being patient, but also actively sharing the hope we have in Christ with the world. Our mission is to offer hope and call for repentance, knowing that God desires all to come to Him. [00:48]

- Universal Offer of Salvation: The gospel is a universal offer, assuring us that God does not forsake those who seek Him. This promise extends to all nations, fulfilling the Old Testament anticipation of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the covenant of grace. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. [08:00]

- God's Personal and Moral Universe: Despite modern claims of an impersonal and amoral universe, Psalm 11 affirms that God is personal, moral, and purposeful. He is enthroned in heaven, sees all, and will hold everyone accountable. This truth gives us a message of hope to share with the world. [19:54]

- Joyful Mission: The Great Commission is not a grim duty but a joyful privilege. We are called to share the hope and joy found in Jesus Christ, seeing our mission as a gift. The ends of the Gospels remind us that our testimony is a powerful witness to the world. [34:01]

- Singing as Testimony: Singing is a powerful way to give testimony to our faith and conviction. It reflects our belief in a personal, moral, and purposeful God. Our praise and joy-filled mission should be infectious, drawing others to the hope we have in Christ. [39:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:04] - Opening Remarks
- [00:16] - The Foundation of Mission
- [00:48] - Active Hope in Waiting
- [01:26] - Hope in the Psalms
- [02:25] - Declaring God's Deeds
- [03:05] - Call to Repentance
- [05:12] - Universal Offer of Salvation
- [08:00] - Assurance of Salvation
- [09:06] - Inclusion of the Gentiles
- [12:23] - Mystery of Inclusion
- [14:44] - Hope in Psalm 11
- [16:21] - God's Personal and Moral Universe
- [19:54] - God's Sovereignty
- [25:03] - Modern Challenges
- [34:01] - Joyful Mission
- [39:09] - Singing as Testimony
- [41:08] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 11
2. Psalm 9:10-11
3. Romans 10:13

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Psalm 11 say about God's position and His awareness of the world? How does this counter the modern claim of an impersonal universe? [16:57]

2. According to the sermon, how do Psalms 9 and 10 set the stage for the message in Psalm 11? What is the significance of declaring God's deeds among the nations? [02:25]

3. How does Romans 10:13 relate to the universal offer of salvation mentioned in the sermon? What assurance does it provide? [08:00]

4. What role does singing play in the testimony of our faith according to the sermon? How is this reflected in Psalm 9? [39:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon interpret the call to "wait for the Lord" in Psalm 27 in terms of our mission as believers? What does it mean to be active while waiting? [00:48]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the imprecatory Psalms are set within a context of hope and repentance? How does this affect our understanding of God's desire for sinners? [03:05]

3. How does the sermon address the modern challenges of disbelief and moral relativism using Psalm 11? What message of hope does it offer in response to these challenges? [19:54]

4. The sermon describes the Great Commission as a joyful privilege rather than a grim duty. How does this perspective change the way believers might approach evangelism? [34:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life. How can you actively share the hope you have in Christ with those around you while waiting for His return? What specific steps can you take this week? [00:48]

2. The sermon emphasizes the universal offer of salvation. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear this message? How can you share the assurance of Romans 10:13 with them? [08:00]

3. Consider the modern claims of an impersonal universe. How can you use the truths of Psalm 11 to engage in conversations with those who hold this belief? [19:54]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of singing as a testimony. How can you incorporate more praise and worship into your daily routine to reflect your faith? [39:09]

5. Think about the Great Commission as a joyful privilege. How can you shift your mindset from seeing evangelism as a duty to viewing it as a gift? What practical changes can you make in your approach? [34:01]

6. The sermon discusses the inclusion of the Gentiles into the covenant of grace. How does this understanding impact your view of diversity within the church? How can you contribute to a more inclusive community? [09:06]

7. Reflect on a time when you felt alone or purposeless. How does the message of a personal, moral, and purposeful God in Psalm 11 provide comfort and direction for you? [19:54]

Devotional

Day 1: Active Hope in Our Waiting
As we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to live a life of active hope. This hope is not passive but involves making God known to the world. Psalm 11, along with Psalms 9 and 10, reminds us of our mission to declare God's deeds among the nations, offering hope and calling for repentance. Our hope is rooted in the confidence that God desires all to come to Him, and as we wait, we are to be a people of hope, trusting in the Lord's promises and His ultimate plan for salvation. [00:48]

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken." (Psalm 62:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the hope you have in Christ? How can you actively share this hope with them today?


Day 2: The Universal Offer of Salvation
The gospel is a universal offer, assuring us that God does not forsake those who seek Him. This promise extends to all nations, fulfilling the Old Testament anticipation of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the covenant of grace. Psalm 9:10 and Romans 10:13 echo this assurance, reminding us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is a powerful reminder of God's inclusive love and His desire for all to be part of His family. [08:00]

"And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer." (Isaiah 56:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone from a different background or culture you can reach out to with the message of God's inclusive love today?


Day 3: God's Personal and Moral Universe
Despite modern claims of an impersonal and amoral universe, Psalm 11 affirms that God is personal, moral, and purposeful. He is enthroned in heaven, sees all, and will hold everyone accountable. This truth counters the despair of a purposeless existence and gives us a message of hope to share with the world. We are reminded that God is actively involved in His creation and desires a relationship with each of us. [19:54]

"The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence." (Psalm 11:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate the reality of a personal and moral God in your daily interactions with others?


Day 4: Joyful Mission
The Great Commission is not a grim duty but a joyful privilege. We are called to share the hope and joy found in Jesus Christ, seeing our mission as a gift. The ends of the Gospels remind us that our testimony is a powerful witness to the world. Through our words and our lives, we declare the reality of a God who is alive, reigning, and accomplishing His purpose. This joyful mission should be embraced with enthusiasm and gratitude. [34:01]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." (1 Chronicles 16:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you approach your mission to share the gospel with joy and gratitude today?


Day 5: Singing as Testimony
Singing is a powerful way to give testimony to our faith and conviction. It reflects our belief in a personal, moral, and purposeful God. Our praise and joy-filled mission should be infectious, drawing others to the hope we have in Christ. As we sing, we declare the reality of a God who is alive and reigning, and our testimony through song can be a powerful witness to the world. [39:09]

"Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use music and singing as a way to share your faith and bring hope to those around you today?

Quotes

"And so, in some ways I think my assignment is, 'What should we do while we are waiting?' Obviously, we should trust the Lord and hope in the Lord, be patient before the Lord, wait for the Lord, but we should also be active. And as we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to return, we should be people concerned to make our God known." [00:48:55]

"And Psalm 11, in so many ways, encourages us in that because it is such a hope-filled psalm. I hope you saw that as we went long looking at it from so many different angles. But how hope-filled we should be as the people of God. We must not despair. We must not be afraid. We must be a people filled with hope and confident of what the Lord is going to accomplish." [01:18:11]

"And Psalm 9 verse 11 says, 'Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples His deeds!' All peoples need to hear the deeds of the Lord, and we are called to make that known as effectively and as broadly as possible. Psalms 9 and 10 often talk about the judgment that will fall on the nations." [02:25:12]

"And so, the verse that spoke to me, and I still write in Bibles is Psalm 9 verse 10, 'And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.' Isn't that a wonderful verse? I really like that verse. What a universal offer of the gospel it contains! God does not forsake those who seek Him." [04:49:59]

"If you are not sure if you are elect, know this, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' If you are not sure if you are part of Israel or part of the Gentiles or part of who knows what, know this, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Our God is an encouraging God." [08:08:05]

"God has a purpose in this world and the purpose is to gather His elect from every nation and tribe and tongue and people and to make one new man out of them; to bring all of the Gentiles who are saved into being part of the commonwealth of Israel. Israel is not replaced; Israel is expanded to include Gentiles as well as Jews." [11:17:45]

"And I would draw your attention to three statements that we find in Psalm 10 in particular. And the first statement that we find in Psalm 10 is at verse 4, 'In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek God; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."' All of the thoughts of the wicked are, 'There is no God'." [15:59:06]

"There is a God. There is a God who rules. There is a God who is supreme. There is a God over all things and what a blessing it is to know that. What a comfort it is to know that! How striking it is that moderns having denied the existence of God find themselves in a universe that has become huge from their own study and the insight of their science!" [16:57:10]

"And so, we live in a universe that is not only personal, because we have a God enthroned in heaven, but we live in a universe that is moral. God is noticing what is going on. God has a standard for testing what is going on, for evaluating what it is that we do and think and say. And what a blessed reality that is that that is true!" [24:38:96]

"And this is one way we can seek to fulfill our mission, by talking about the personal God who directs us in life and will give us the grace that will lead us on to an eternal life. And that should be a hopeful and joy-filled mission for us to fulfill. I think that sometimes we as Christians see the call to speaking for the Lord and doing evangelism as a sort of grim duty." [33:30:10]

"No, the Lord wants us to see it as this wonderful gift that we are given to make Jesus known while we are waiting for Him to return. And, you know, as we look at the ends of the Gospels, the end of each gospel in its different way calls us to speak for Jesus. It is not just the end of Matthew's Gospel that gives us the Great Commission that calls us to speak for Jesus." [34:43:55]

"I think singing is one of the most important ways we give testimony to our faith and to our conviction that we live in a world that is personal and moral and purposeful. Psalm 9 begins, 'I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.'" [39:35:88]

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Transcript
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