Embracing Active Hope During Advent's Anticipation

Devotional

Day 1: Rediscovering the Essence of Advent

Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation, inviting believers to reflect on the profound hope that the birth of Christ brings. In today's world, the true meaning of Advent is often overshadowed by commercialized expressions that focus more on cultural traditions than spiritual significance. While these traditions can be enjoyable, they can also distract from the deeper purpose of Advent. The essence of this season is not merely about counting down the days with candles and readings but about understanding the hope that underpins our faith. This hope is rooted in the promise of the Messiah, who came to bring light into the darkness and offer salvation to humanity. [50:39]

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV): "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."

Reflection: How can you intentionally focus on the spiritual significance of Advent this year, setting aside distractions to truly embrace the hope it represents?

Day 2: Prophecies Fulfilled in Unexpected Ways

The Old Testament is rich with prophecies about the coming Messiah, offering hope to God's people who longed for a rescuer. These prophecies, numbering over 300, pointed to Jesus, who fulfilled them in ways that defied human expectations. The people of Israel anticipated a conquering king who would overthrow earthly powers, but Jesus came as a spiritual savior, offering a different kind of hope—one that transcends earthly kingdoms and focuses on the transformation of hearts. This fulfillment of prophecy reminds us that God's plans often surpass our understanding and expectations. [57:43]

Micah 5:2 (ESV): "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Reflection: In what areas of your life might God be working in unexpected ways, and how can you remain open to His plans that may differ from your own expectations?

Day 3: Hope Beyond Earthly Powers

Jesus' coming was not about conquering earthly powers but about transforming hearts. The hope He offers transcends earthly kingdoms and focuses on the eternal kingdom of God. This hope is not limited to a specific time or place; it is meant to reach the ends of the earth. As believers, we are called to be a people of hope, sharing the truth of Christ's coming with others. This hope is active and overflowing, not just for our personal comfort but for the transformation of the world. [01:15:53]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: How can you actively share the hope of Christ with someone in your life this week, pointing them to the eternal kingdom of God?

Day 4: Active and Overflowing Hope

Hope is not passive; it is active and overflowing. As followers of Christ, we are called to let our hope overflow, impacting those around us and pointing them to the eternal kingdom of God. This hope is not just for our personal comfort but for the transformation of the world. We are encouraged to be a people of hope, sharing the truth of Christ's coming with others. This active hope is a powerful force that can bring about change and transformation in the lives of those we encounter. [01:18:02]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to let your hope in Christ overflow into the lives of those around you, bringing joy and peace to others?

Day 5: Living in the New Advent

We live in a new Advent, waiting for the fulfillment of all things. Our hope is found in the promise of the Holy Spirit and the eternal kingdom of God, transcending personal and earthly comforts. As we wait for the fulfillment of all things, we are encouraged to let our hope overflow, impacting those around us and pointing them to the eternal kingdom of God. This new Advent is a time of active waiting, where we are called to live out our faith with anticipation and hope for what is to come. [01:19:10]

2 Peter 3:13 (ESV): "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

Reflection: How can you live with a sense of active anticipation for the fulfillment of God's promises, allowing this hope to shape your daily actions and interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded of the profound significance of waiting for the Messiah, the Christ child. Advent, a time of anticipation, invites us to reflect on the hope that underpins our faith. In today's world, Advent has been commercialized, with various calendars and themes that often stray far from its true purpose. While these cultural expressions can be fun, they can also distract us from the real meaning of Advent. The essence of Advent is not just about counting down days with candles and readings; it is about understanding the hope that the birth of Christ brings to humanity.

Historically, God's people have always been in a state of waiting. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies about the coming Messiah, a rescuer who would deliver them from their struggles. These prophecies, numbering over 300, pointed to Jesus, who fulfilled them in ways that defied human expectations. The people of Israel anticipated a conquering king who would overthrow earthly powers, but Jesus came as a spiritual savior, offering a different kind of hope—one that transcends earthly kingdoms and focuses on the transformation of hearts.

As we celebrate Advent today, we are reminded that hope is not passive. It is active and overflowing, not just for our personal comfort but for the transformation of the world. We are called to be a people of hope, sharing the truth of Christ's coming with others. This hope is not limited to a specific time or place; it is meant to reach the ends of the earth. As we wait for the fulfillment of all things, we are encouraged to let our hope overflow, impacting those around us and pointing them to the eternal kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Advent's True Meaning: Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation for the Messiah, reminding us of the hope that Christ's birth brings. It is not just about cultural expressions but about understanding the profound hope that underpins our faith. [50:39]
2. Historical Context of Hope: The Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah offered hope to God's people, who were waiting for a rescuer. These prophecies, fulfilled by Jesus, defied human expectations and pointed to a spiritual savior rather than an earthly king. [57:43]
3. Hope Beyond Earthly Kingdoms: Jesus' coming was not about conquering earthly powers but about transforming hearts. The hope He offers transcends earthly kingdoms and focuses on the eternal kingdom of God. [75:53]
4. Active and Overflowing Hope: Hope is not passive; it is active and overflowing. We are called to share this hope with others, impacting the world around us and pointing them to the eternal kingdom of God. [78:02]
5. The New Advent: We live in a new Advent, waiting for the fulfillment of all things. Our hope is found in the promise of the Holy Spirit and the eternal kingdom of God, transcending personal and earthly comforts. [01:19:10]
** [79:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[50:39] - Introduction to Advent
[53:18] - Cultural Expressions of Advent
[54:26] - The Real Purpose of Advent
[55:33] - Hope as the Foundation
[56:20] - Old Testament Prophecies
[57:09] - Hope in Waiting
[57:43] - Prophecies of the Messiah
[58:44] - Fulfillment of Prophecies
[59:47] - The Role of Prophecy in Hope
[60:40] - Isaiah's Prophecies
[63:03] - Zechariah's Prophecies
[64:21] - Counterfeit Hope
[65:22] - The True King
[66:27] - Hope in the Present
[69:00] - Misunderstanding the Messiah
[72:33] - Jesus' True Kingship
[75:10] - Expanding the Kingdom
[75:53] - Conquering Hearts, Not Nations
[78:02] - The New Advent
[79:10] - Eternal Hope Fulfilled

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are some of the cultural expressions of Advent mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from the true purpose of Advent? ([53:18])
How did the Old Testament prophecies provide hope to God's people, and how were these prophecies fulfilled by Jesus? ([57:43])
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' coming in terms of earthly kingdoms versus the transformation of hearts? ([01:15:53])
What role does the Holy Spirit play in the new Advent, as described in the sermon? ([01:18:02])

Interpretation Questions

How does the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7 shape our understanding of the Messiah's role and mission? What does it mean for Jesus to be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace"? ([01:00:40])
In what ways did the people of Israel misunderstand the nature of the Messiah's kingship, and how does this misunderstanding reflect in our expectations today? ([01:09:00])
How does the concept of hope in the sermon challenge the idea of passive waiting? What does it mean for hope to be active and overflowing? ([01:18:02])
What is the significance of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 in the context of Advent and the coming of Christ? How does it set the stage for the hope of redemption? ([57:43])

Application Questions

Reflect on your personal experience of Advent. How can you ensure that your focus remains on the true meaning of Advent rather than getting caught up in cultural expressions? ([53:18])
Consider the ways in which you might be waiting for a "conquering king" in your life. How can you shift your perspective to embrace the spiritual transformation that Jesus offers? ([01:05:22])
How can you actively share the hope of Christ with those around you during this Advent season? What specific actions can you take to let your hope overflow into your community? ([01:18:02])
In what areas of your life do you find yourself waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled? How can the examples of Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in Jesus encourage you in your waiting? ([57:43])
Identify a situation where you have relied on a "counterfeit hope." How can you replace this with the true hope found in Christ? ([01:04:21])
How does the promise of the Holy Spirit influence your daily life and decisions? In what ways can you be more open to the Spirit's guidance during this Advent season? ([01:18:02])
What steps can you take to ensure that your hope is not just for personal comfort but for the transformation of the world around you? How can you be a part of expanding God's eternal kingdom? ([01:15:53])

Sermon Clips

"We need to know what Advent is about. So, what is the real Advent? Is it, is it just 24 days of some candles and a few thematic verses and readings? Or is it much more?" [00:54:02] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"We start there because I think, I think that, that the rest of the Advent season of peace, love, and joy finds its foundation on hope. It finds its understanding in a people that have hope." [00:55:36] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"They were waiting in hope for a Messiah, a person to come and rescue them. So what was their world like? What was it that they needed to be rescued from?" [00:56:05] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies of his coming. Now, you could go down a rabbit trail like I did and just look at the probability of that taking place. Just the probability of eight prophecies coming true is 10 with 17 zeros behind it to one." [00:59:15] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The rescuer will come and will be a king, but this hope, their hope would not be met in an earthly throne. Hope will come in a surprising way." [01:05:35] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Jesus wasn't that type of king. He was the anointed one. The Messiah is defined only by the divine, not by the human, not by the earthly." [01:11:55] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope of the power of the Holy Spirit, not overthrow, but overflow." [01:16:23] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And because of that, because of the old advent of the Old Testament and waiting for the Messiah, because of the birth of the Christ child, we now find ourselves in a new advent. An advent where hope is found in the promise of the Holy Spirit pointing towards an eternal God." [01:17:19] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"As we are in the waiting, as we are in this time of imminent return, in our advent now our hope should go beyond us it should overflow not overthrow in the overflow of our hope god will do the rest if he needs to overthrow hearts he'll do it the holy spirit goes ahead of us but our hope right now should be growing our hope right now in this advent should be seen by the nations not just in wadsworth not just in medina county not just in northeast ohio not just in the u .s but to the ends of the earth our hope should go before us because the holy spirit does" [01:21:07] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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