Embracing Eternal Hope Through Jesus Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Confident Expectation in God's Promises

The biblical concept of hope, or "tikvah," is not merely wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. This hope assures believers of the certainty of God's plans and the fulfillment of His prophecies, as demonstrated in the birth of Jesus Christ. The prophecies found in Micah and Isaiah, which foretold the coming of Jesus centuries before His birth, serve as a testament to God's faithfulness. This hope is a firm anchor for the soul, providing assurance and stability amidst life's uncertainties. As we reflect on these prophecies, we are reminded that God's promises are sure and steadfast, offering us a foundation that cannot be shaken. [27:19]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you find difficult to trust fully? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in this area today?

Day 2: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Hope

Jesus is the embodiment of hope, fulfilling the prophecies and providing the foundation for our eternal hope. His birth, life, death, and resurrection transcend the temporal nature of earthly kingdoms and circumstances, offering a hope that is eternal and unchanging. The narrative of Jesus' life is a powerful reminder of God's plan for salvation and the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. As the eternal King, Jesus reigns over the house of Jacob, and His kingdom will have no end. This eternal hope is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promises. [54:53]

"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself placing hope in temporary things? How can you shift your focus to the eternal hope found in Jesus?

Day 3: The Miraculous Nature of Jesus' Birth

The Annunciation to Mary highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth and His divine mission. As the Son of the Most High, Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and divinity, offering salvation to all who believe. The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary marks the unfolding of God's plan for salvation, emphasizing the miraculous and divine nature of Jesus' birth. This event serves as a reminder of God's power and His ability to accomplish the impossible. As we reflect on the Annunciation, we are invited to marvel at the mystery of the Incarnation and the profound hope it brings to our lives. [01:06:33]

"And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" (Luke 1:30-31, ESV)

Reflection: How does the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth impact your understanding of God's power and presence in your life today?

Day 4: The Unchanging Kingdom of God

The eternal kingdom of God, established through Jesus, is unchanging and everlasting. Unlike earthly rulers and nations that rise and fall, Jesus' reign is constant, offering us a secure and eternal hope. This kingdom is characterized by justice, righteousness, and peace, reflecting the nature of God Himself. As we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, we are reminded that our hope is not in the temporary structures of this world but in the eternal kingdom of God. This hope provides us with a sense of security and assurance, knowing that God's kingdom will never be shaken. [01:16:19]

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV)

Reflection: What are some ways you can live today with the perspective of being part of God's unchanging kingdom?

Day 5: Personal Response to the Hope in Jesus

Our personal response to the hope found in Jesus is crucial. By inviting Him to rule over our hearts and lives, we embrace the eternal hope He offers, allowing it to transform our present and future. This response involves faith and surrender, acknowledging Jesus as the true source of salvation and eternal life. As we reflect on the hope that Jesus brings, we are called to examine our hearts and consider how we can allow Him to reign in every area of our lives. This involves a daily commitment to live in alignment with His will and purpose, trusting in His promises and allowing His hope to shape our lives. [01:19:41]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

During this Christmas season, we gather to celebrate the profound hope that Jesus Christ brings into our lives. As we reflect on the prophecies of old, such as those found in Micah and Isaiah, we are reminded of the certainty and assurance that comes with the biblical concept of hope, or "tikvah." This hope is not mere wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. The birth of Jesus, foretold centuries before it occurred, is a testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

In the narrative of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear the Son of God, we see the unfolding of God's plan for salvation. Jesus, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation," embodies the hope of the world. He is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the eternal King who reigns over the house of Jacob and whose kingdom will have no end. This eternal hope transcends earthly circumstances and offers us a foundation that is unshakeable.

As we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, we are called to place our hope in Jesus, the only true source of salvation and eternal life. This hope assures us that, despite the temporal nature of earthly kingdoms and the inevitability of death, we have a secure future in Christ. Our response to this hope should be one of faith and surrender, allowing Jesus to rule over our hearts and lives.

Key Takeaways

1. The biblical concept of hope, "tikvah," is a confident expectation rooted in God's promises, not mere wishful thinking. It assures us of the certainty of God's plans and the fulfillment of His prophecies, as seen in the birth of Jesus Christ. [27:19]
2. Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies and the embodiment of hope. His birth, life, death, and resurrection provide the foundation for our eternal hope, transcending the temporal nature of earthly kingdoms and circumstances. [54:53]
3. The Annunciation to Mary highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth and His divine mission. As the Son of the Most High, Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and divinity, offering salvation to all who believe. [66:33]
4. The eternal kingdom of God, established through Jesus, is unchanging and everlasting. Unlike earthly rulers and nations that rise and fall, Jesus' reign is constant, offering us a secure and eternal hope. [76:19]
5. Our personal response to the hope found in Jesus is crucial. By inviting Him to rule over our hearts and lives, we embrace the eternal hope He offers, allowing it to transform our present and future. [79:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:19] - Prophecies and Fulfillment
[49:13] - Advent Candle Lighting
[54:53] - Jesus: Our Only Hope
[56:24] - Star Wars and Hope
[57:41] - The Battle of Good and Evil
[60:26] - The Certainty of Biblical Hope
[61:07] - The Long Wait for the Messiah
[63:03] - The Eternal Kingdom
[63:51] - The Annunciation
[66:33] - The Miraculous Birth
[68:17] - Jesus: The Fulfillment of Prophecy
[69:29] - The Greatness of Jesus
[71:28] - Jesus: Fully God and Fully Man
[73:13] - The Davidic Covenant
[74:13] - The Eternal Reign of Christ
[76:19] - God's Unchanging Kingdom
[78:03] - Personal Response to Hope
[79:41] - Invitation to Receive Christ
[81:00] - Closing Hymn and Blessing

Sermon Clips

We thank you for the richness of the prophecies that point us to Jesus. Lord, I can't imagine people not reading these things and saying that's impossible, 722 years before it happened, that somebody could predict this. I just pray today that as we look at the richness and the fullness of Christmas, that someone will turn their life over to you. [00:27:19]

Lord, I pray that you be with each and every one of us and may we experience a deeper meaning of Christmas this season as we fully understand that Emmanuel has come and that God is with each and every one of us. We thank you for this promise and we thank you for the fulfillment of it through Jesus Christ. [00:49:13]

And if you didn't know that, that Christ is our hope. So this Christmas season, as we think of who Jesus is, and we're stuck with just what we have, having this world, we're in trouble, you all. There's not a whole lot of hope. I mean, yeah, people do some good things. This time of year, people might be a little bit more generous. [00:54:53]

Our hope has to be in the things that are in heaven and the things that God gives us and the eternal life that Christ gives us and the hope that only he can give. Now, I don't know. If you weren't alive in 1977, raise your hand. You were not alive. Not alive. Not alive. If you were not born yet, I'm looking at all my youngsters here. [00:56:24]

The certainty of this word tikvah is that it will come to pass no matter what. So they're hoping in this expectation with great anticipation. By the way, that's Christmas. There's this expectation and this anticipation and this assurance that you know it will come. And even though some, for some of these people, it took 722 years from the moment of the prophecy being spoken until the Messiah would come. [01:00:26]

And here, this Tikvah, this hope, the hope that they had waited for had come. Think about Princess Leia when she bent down there and asked this little robot, take this message, find Obi-Wan Kenobi. And then you see this old dude. Now, let's go back. Go back before you ever watched Star Wars. You see this old dude come out. That's our hope. I mean, really? This dude's going to win? [01:08:17]

He died for us, although he's come back to life, and he is alive, and he is the ruling Lord. He, though, did that so the church could go, so that we could carry on his gospel message to the ends of the world. The hope of this virgin being born was to bring a child into this life that was the Messiah that would ultimately be born in a cradle, but would die upon a cross, and would conquer death so you and I can have eternal hope. [01:09:29]

Jesus is great because of what he would do, what he would do to come to save us from our sins, what he would do when he was on earth during his ministry, as he would minister to people, he would heal people, he would teach the gospel, he would confront false heretical teachings, he would make sure that God's people would be focused on him, and ultimately he would launch the church and he would die on a cross, for our sins, and he would conquer the grave so that we could have eternal life. [01:11:28]

So the Son of the Most High is his divine sonship. He is fully God and fully man. The next statement here, the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. This Davidic covenant is important because God promised King David, upon your throne, someone will sit forever and rule forever. Did King Solomon rule forever? [01:13:13]

Then it looks in verse 4 in the next part of that text, he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And again, the house of Jacob means the house of God, and that means us, God's people. We have a covenant now with Christ, to where when we know Jesus Christ, we live in this covenant with him, that's eternal covenant. He rules over us forever. [01:14:13]

And so, God is the one that determines those boundaries we find in Acts. He is the one that lets kings come and go and fall and rise, and nations fall and rise. But his kingdom is eternal. And Christ describes his kingdom as an eternal kingdom. A kingdom will have no end. The emphasis here is not on a earthly rule, but on an eternal rule over God's people. [01:16:19]

Today, if you can't acknowledge those things, then you're not part of his kingdom yet. But if you realize these things and it's changed your life and you're part of his kingdom, then live out that tikvah, that hope that actually means something. You can live with confidence in Christ Jesus. You can take your last breath with confidence in Christ Jesus. [01:19:41]

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