Embracing Hope: The Divine Love of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Preparing Our Hearts for Communion

As we approach the Lord's Supper, it is crucial to prepare our hearts by seeking forgiveness and deliverance from anything that might hinder our connection with God. This preparation is not merely about the physical elements of communion but about nurturing a genuine relationship with the Savior. The act of communion is a sacred time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and to align our hearts with His love and grace. By examining our hearts and confessing our sins, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's forgiveness and grace. This preparation allows us to fully participate in the communion experience, drawing us closer to God and to one another. [31:19]

1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ESV): "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or burden you need to confess to God today to prepare your heart for communion?

Day 2: Advent as a Season of Renewal

Advent is a time to cut through the holiday noise and focus on the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings. It is a season of spiritual renewal, encouraging us to reflect on Christ's birth, life, and promised return. During Advent, we are invited to pause and consider the profound implications of Jesus' coming into the world. This season challenges us to set aside distractions and center our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas. By embracing the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, we can experience a deeper connection with Christ and a renewed sense of purpose in our spiritual journey. [01:03:20]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end."

Reflection: How can you intentionally focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love during this Advent season?

Day 3: Understanding the Divine Nature of Jesus

The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' divine nature, portraying Him as the Word who was with God from the beginning. This understanding deepens our appreciation of His role as Creator and Savior. Unlike the synoptic gospels, John presents a unique perspective on Jesus' preexistence and divine nature, highlighting His eternal relationship with the Father. By recognizing Jesus as the Word made flesh, we gain a greater understanding of His mission to reveal God's glory and offer salvation to humanity. This divine nature of Jesus invites us to worship Him not only as our Savior but also as our Creator and Sustainer. [01:07:33]

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as both Creator and Savior impact your relationship with Him today?

Day 4: The Mystery of the Incarnation

The incarnation, where God became flesh in Jesus, is a profound mystery that reveals God's love for us. Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to bring redemption and reveal God's glory. This mystery underscores the depth of God's love and His desire to be intimately involved in our lives. The incarnation is a testament to God's willingness to enter into the human experience, sharing in our joys and sorrows, and ultimately providing a way for our salvation. By contemplating the mystery of the incarnation, we are invited to marvel at the lengths God has gone to demonstrate His love and to draw us into a relationship with Him. [01:27:22]

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV): "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the mystery of the incarnation in your daily life, acknowledging both the divinity and humanity of Jesus?

Day 5: Embracing God's Relentless Pursuit

Like the husband who pursued his wife, God relentlessly pursues us through Jesus. His coming to earth is the greatest gift, offering us eternal life and demonstrating His unfailing love. This relentless pursuit is a testament to God's unwavering commitment to restore and redeem His creation. Through Jesus, God reaches out to us, inviting us into a relationship marked by grace, forgiveness, and love. As we reflect on God's pursuit, we are encouraged to respond with gratitude and to share this love with others, becoming instruments of His grace in the world. [01:33:42]

Luke 15:4-7 (ESV): "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Reflection: How can you respond to God's relentless pursuit of you by pursuing others with His love and grace today?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, we reflect on the profound love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the significance of the Lord's Supper as a time of remembrance and preparation. As we partake in this sacred ordinance, we are reminded to prepare our hearts, seeking forgiveness and deliverance from anything that might hinder our connection with God. The sermon highlights the humility and service of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, setting an example of servitude and love.

We delve into the Advent season, a time of spiritual renewal and reflection on the birth, life, and promised return of Christ. Advent encourages us to focus on hope, peace, joy, and love, cutting through the noise of the holiday season to center our hearts on Jesus. The sermon series, "The Arrival," begins with the theme of hope, exploring the divine nature of Jesus as presented in the Gospel of John. Unlike the synoptic gospels, John emphasizes Jesus' preexistence and divine nature, portraying Him as the Word who was with God and was God from the beginning.

The sermon explores the preexistence, presence, and purpose of the Creator. Jesus, the Word, was present at the creation of the world, and His coming into the world was a defining event in human history. Despite being the Creator, He was not recognized by His creation. The purpose of Jesus' coming was to reveal God's glory, offer salvation, and bring redemption to humanity. The incarnation, where God became flesh in Jesus, is a profound mystery that underscores the depth of God's love for us.

Through the story of a husband who went to great lengths to bring his wife back home, we are reminded of God's relentless pursuit of us through Jesus. The sermon concludes with a call to give thanks and praise for the greatest gift of all—Jesus' coming to earth, His sacrifice, and the eternal life He offers.

Key Takeaways

1. Preparation for Communion: As we prepare for the Lord's Supper, it's essential to prepare our hearts, seeking forgiveness and deliverance from anything that might hinder our connection with God. This preparation is not just about the elements but about our relationship with the Savior. [31:19]
2. Advent Reflection: Advent is a time to cut through the holiday noise and focus on the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings. It's a season of spiritual renewal, encouraging us to reflect on Christ's birth, life, and promised return. [63:20]
3. The Divine Nature of Jesus: The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' divine nature, portraying Him as the Word who was with God from the beginning. This understanding deepens our appreciation of His role as Creator and Savior. [67:33]
4. The Incarnation Mystery: The incarnation, where God became flesh in Jesus, is a profound mystery that reveals God's love for us. Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to bring redemption and reveal God's glory. [87:22]
5. God's Relentless Pursuit: Like the husband who pursued his wife, God relentlessly pursues us through Jesus. His coming to earth is the greatest gift, offering us eternal life and demonstrating His unfailing love. [01:33:42]
** [93:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:59] - Preparing for Communion
[31:19] - Heart Preparation and Forgiveness
[32:07] - Trusting God in Communion
[32:58] - The Last Supper and Foot Washing
[34:18] - The Bread and the Cup
[35:47] - The Reality of Death and Life
[36:23] - Hymn and Thanksgiving
[60:00] - Thanksgiving Reflections
[62:01] - Advent Season Introduction
[63:20] - Themes of Advent: Hope
[65:20] - Gospel of John: The Word
[67:33] - The Divine Nature of Jesus
[69:03] - The Preexistence of the Creator
[78:00] - The Presence of the Creator
[84:46] - The Purpose of the Creator
[93:42] - God's Relentless Pursuit
[99:41] - The Creator and His Creation
[105:04] - Closing Prayer and Announcements

Sermon Clips

Sometimes we don't feel like forgiving when we've been hurt. Sometimes we don't feel like. Sometimes we don't feel like turning the other cheek when we've been slapped in the face by life. Sometimes we don't feel like being the better person or taking the higher road. So, what we must do is ask the Lord that even if those feelings are in our heart, that he would come in and take control. And give us deliverance. And give us the ability to overcome by his prevailing power. [00:31:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The synoptic gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke and we call them synoptic because they share the same perspective all focusing on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. But the fourth gospel, which is John, looks at the life of Jesus from a different vantage point. The emphasis of John's gospel is not on Jesus earthly ministry. But on his divine nature. At the end of this gospel in John chapter 20, John says in the closing verses, there are many other things that I could have written. But these things about Jesus, I wrote that you might believe that Jesus is the son of God. [01:07:07] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The gospel of John, Chapter one. Retails Genesis 1. Reading. Reading the two chapters side by side reveals a surprising number of commonalities, of similarities. Some of the points of commonality include that God is the creator, and he created everything out of nothing. However, John also identifies Jesus as the word. Jesus, the one through whom the world was made, entered the world, but no one recognized him for what he was, the creator. The first thing John wants us to understand is that Jesus was God. [01:10:31] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

When Jesus was among us as a man, he expressed what was going on in the mind of God. He told us the thoughts of God. He was God's utterance on earth. Unveiling to us what Paul calls that secret and hidden wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 2 and 7. What God thinks is reality. What God thinks is reality. What ultimately comes. What ultimately comes into being. God thought about earth and it came into being. God thought about a universe and it sprang into being. [01:15:18] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The word that always was. Now became a temporal event. At a point. In history. Furthermore the word that was God. Now came into being. As flesh. That is he exists. As a human being. We often say that Jesus. Is God. That is true. But here's an incredible statement. God became Jesus. Of Nazareth. When he stepped out. Jesus Christ became the. Visible expression. Of the invisible God. He became a. Visual aid. As it were to reveal the nature. Of the father. He was God. In a suit. Of flesh. [01:25:56] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The son did not cease. To be God. When he became man. He added humanity. But he did not subtract deity. He was fully God. And fully man. The God man. We know this as the. Hyper static union. Him being fully God. And all at the same time. So the purpose. Of Jesus coming. To earth. Was to bring about a redemption. Because what happened. In Genesis. God created. Heaven and the earth. God set it out. And laid out the garden of Eden. Gave Adam and Eve. Everything they needed. [01:28:26] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Without. Jesus. Coming to earth. We would not have the right. To eternal life. He came. But he didn't just come. Christ said it right. And said it well. Jesus went. To Calvary. And save a wretch. Like you and me. That's love. We know it's love. But I get excited. Because I know that's not how. The story ends. For in three days. He rose again. It's love. And what happened. In between that. The reason that we sometimes. Have to go back and tell the story. Family is because. [01:35:07] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The nail that went through his hand. Was not the nail that we know. With the nice little point. Of a fine line. Through the drywall. This nail was flat on the end. Thick. Tore the skin. We tell the story. So we don't forget. What Christ went through on our behalf. The 72 thorns. On his head. And that crown. Literally burst into his skull. Family we have to understand. And see the true picture. The fact that. Jesus Christ. Now stepped into his creation. On our behalf. And then took our blame. [01:37:49] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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