Embracing Hope: The Spirit's Life-Giving Presence

Summary

As we gather in worship, we come with a mix of joys and sorrows, but we are united in our longing for God’s presence and the hope He offers. Today, we are reminded that our faith journey is not just about enduring the struggles of life, but about embracing the profound hope that God reveals to us—especially through the vision given in Revelation 22. This vision is not a distant fantasy, but a promise that shapes our lives here and now.

The imagery of water in Revelation is a powerful reminder of the Holy Spirit’s life-giving presence. Just as water is essential for life, so the Spirit is essential for our spiritual vitality. The river flowing from the throne of God is a sign that God’s provision is abundant and unending, inviting us to draw near and find refreshment for our souls.

We also see the hope of healing. The leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations, point to God’s ongoing work of restoration. Even as we carry burdens and witness suffering around us, we are called to pray for healing and to trust that God’s Spirit is still at work, bringing wholeness in ways seen and unseen.

The vision of God’s presence is central. In the new creation, God’s people see His face and are marked as His own. This is not just a future reality, but a present invitation. Through the Holy Spirit, God dwells with us now, offering intimacy and assurance even when we feel distant or alone. We are encouraged to seek and welcome His presence, knowing He desires to be near.

Finally, the promise of light—God Himself as our light—dispels all darkness, fear, and despair. The love of God shines with a brilliance that outshines any earthly light, assuring us that we are deeply loved and never abandoned. This love is the foundation of our hope, and it calls us to live as people of light, reflecting God’s love to the world.

In all these things, the invitation is simple yet profound: “Come, Holy Spirit, come.” God’s hope is not hidden; it is “getting kind of obvious.” We are called to walk in this hope, to receive it, and to share it with others.

Key Takeaways

- The river of life in Revelation is a vivid symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence, offering us continual refreshment and spiritual vitality. Just as water is essential for physical life, the Spirit is essential for our souls, drawing us closer to the heart of the Father and inviting us to experience the fullness of life He intends. [30:14]

- The leaves of the tree of life, given for the healing of the nations, remind us that God’s restorative work is ongoing. Even in the midst of suffering and brokenness, we are called to pray for healing—both for ourselves and for others—trusting that God’s Spirit is still active, bringing wholeness and hope to every corner of our lives. [33:34]

- God’s presence is not reserved for a distant future; it is available to us now through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we feel distant or alone, we are invited to simply ask for His presence, trusting that He delights to draw near and reveal Himself to us in personal and transformative ways. [35:23]

- The promise that God Himself will be our light in the new creation speaks to the depth of His love and the assurance that darkness, fear, and despair will ultimately be banished. This light is not just illumination, but the very warmth and love of God poured out upon us, inviting us to live as children of light in a world that desperately needs hope. [37:41]

- Hope is not a vague wish, but a concrete reality rooted in God’s promises and presence. As we journey through seasons of celebration and sorrow, we are called to anchor ourselves in the hope that flows from God’s throne—hope for life, healing, presence, and love—and to invite the Holy Spirit to make this hope real in our hearts and communities. [38:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:32] - Opening Prayer and Silence
[18:11] - Sharing God’s Peace
[19:01] - Visitor Welcome and Announcements
[19:41] - Raising Up Servant Leaders
[20:22] - Community Service and Help Sunday
[20:50] - Memorial Day and Giving
[21:17] - Memory Verses
[22:07] - Revelation 22 Reading
[23:07] - John 14 Gospel Reading
[24:47] - Prayer for Illumination
[25:04] - Mission Trip Story: “It’s Getting Obvious”
[26:28] - Hope in the Book of Revelation
[28:40] - Four Pictures of Hope
[28:56] - The Hope of Water
[31:16] - The Hope of Healing
[34:05] - The Hope of Presence
[36:08] - The Hope of Light
[39:06] - Invitation to Worship and Prayer
[40:12] - Closing Song: “Is He Worthy?”

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Hope That’s Getting Obvious”

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### Bible Reading

- Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

- John 14:21-27
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him... If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him... But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

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### Observation Questions

1. In Revelation 22, what are the main images John uses to describe the new creation? (river of life, tree of life, healing leaves, God’s light) [22:07]
2. According to John 14, what does Jesus promise about his presence with those who love him? [23:07]
3. What is the purpose of the leaves on the tree of life in Revelation 22? [22:07]
4. In the sermon, what does the river of water symbolize for us today? [30:14]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The river of life is described as flowing from the throne of God. What does this suggest about the source of spiritual vitality and refreshment in the Christian life? [30:14]
2. The leaves of the tree are “for the healing of the nations.” How might this shape the way we think about God’s ongoing work of restoration in our world and in our own lives? [33:34]
3. The sermon says God’s presence is not just a future hope but a present reality through the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to “see God’s face” or experience his presence now, even when we feel distant? [35:23]
4. The promise that God himself will be our light is said to banish darkness, fear, and despair. How does this vision challenge the way we respond to difficult or discouraging circumstances? [37:41]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “Just as water is essential for life, so the Spirit is essential for our spiritual vitality.” In what ways do you feel spiritually “thirsty” right now? What would it look like for you to intentionally seek the refreshment of the Holy Spirit this week? [30:14]
2. The leaves of the tree are for healing. Is there an area in your life, or someone you know, that needs healing—physically, emotionally, or spiritually? How can you pray specifically for that healing and trust God’s ongoing work, even if you don’t see immediate results? [33:34]
3. The sermon invites us to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, come.” When was the last time you honestly asked for God’s presence in a situation where you felt alone or distant? What happened? How might you make this a regular part of your prayer life? [35:23]
4. God’s light is described as outshining all darkness, fear, and despair. Is there a specific fear or area of darkness in your life right now? What would it look like to invite God’s light into that place? [37:41]
5. The sermon says, “Hope is not a vague wish, but a concrete reality rooted in God’s promises and presence.” What is one practical way you can anchor yourself in God’s hope this week, especially if you’re facing disappointment or sorrow? [38:30]
6. The vision in Revelation 22 is not just for the future, but shapes how we live now. How can you reflect God’s love and hope to someone in your life or community this week? Be specific. [38:30]
7. The invitation is simple: “Come, Holy Spirit, come.” What is one area of your life where you need to welcome the Spirit’s work more fully? How can the group support you in this? [39:54]

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Devotional

Day 1: Hope in the Water of Life
The vision of heaven in Revelation 22 opens with the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. This water is not just a symbol of refreshment, but of the fullness of life that God gives through His Spirit. Just as water is essential for life in a desert, so the Spirit is essential for our spiritual life, drawing us close to the heart of the Father. Whenever you see water—whether a river, the ocean, or even a glass at your table—let it remind you of the Spirit’s invitation to abundant, eternal life and the hope that springs from God’s presence. [30:44]

Revelation 22:1-2 (ESV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Reflection: Where in your daily routine can you pause to notice water and let it remind you to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with hope and new life today?

Day 2: The Hope of Healing
In the new Jerusalem, the tree of life bears fruit every month, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. This image is a powerful reminder that God’s healing is not just for the future, but is available now through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Whether you are carrying burdens for your own health or for someone you love, God invites you to pray for healing and to trust in His ongoing work to restore and renew. The hope of healing is a promise that God sees every pain and is at work to bring wholeness, both now and in the world to come. [33:34]

Revelation 22:2 (ESV)
...on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Reflection: Who is someone you know who needs healing—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—and how can you specifically pray for them or reach out to them today?

Day 3: The Hope of God’s Presence
Heaven is described as the place where God and the Lamb are on the throne, and His people see His face and are marked as His own. This is the fulfillment of the deepest longing of the human heart: to be in the unbroken, perfect presence of God. Yet, through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence is available to us even now. If you feel distant or alone, you are invited to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, come,” and trust that God desires to draw near, to comfort, and to make His presence known in your life today. [35:54]

Revelation 22:3-4 (ESV)
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally invited God’s presence into your day, and how might you make space to experience His nearness right now?

Day 4: The Hope of Light and Love
In the new Jerusalem, there is no more night, no need for lamp or sun, because God Himself is the light. This light is not just physical brightness, but the very love of God shining on His people, driving out darkness, fear, and despair. God’s perfect love is the source of all hope, and it is poured out freely on all who come to Him. Even in the darkest moments, you can rest in the assurance that God’s love is constant, illuminating your path and warming your heart. [37:41]

Revelation 22:5 (ESV)
And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel darkness or discouragement, and how can you invite God’s light and love to shine there today?

Day 5: Walking in Hope Every Day
The message of Easter and the vision of Revelation is clear: God wants His people to walk in hope. This hope is rooted in the water of life, the promise of healing, the assurance of His presence, and the light of His love. No matter what joys or sorrows you face, you are invited to live each day with the confident expectation that God is at work, bringing renewal and restoration. Let hope shape your prayers, your relationships, and your outlook, trusting that God’s promises are true and His Spirit is with you. [38:47]

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 is one practical way you can choose to act in hope today, even if your circumstances haven’t changed?

Quotes

God is pointing us to hope through the book of Revelation. In this Easter season, we've been drawn again and again to the writings of John, both John's gospel and the book of Revelation. And each time we're drawn there, what we're being pointed to is the hope we have in Jesus Christ in this Easter season. [00:26:23]

And this Easter season particularly, we're looking in the book of Revelation. And God has opened up a window into the throne room. And today we're in the last chapter of your Bible. But in order to understand what we heard read, you actually have to go back to the first two chapters of your Bible. [00:26:51]

Because in that Genesis 1 and 2, what we read about is that God places his people in a garden. He gives them the garden. He puts a tree of life in there, a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And for all of us who love the water, there's a river in there and it flows to water the trees. [00:27:13]

But then we know what happens. Sin enters in. And when sin enters in, brokenness and hurt and pain come in and the people of God are kicked out of the garden and they're wandering. And we're still wandering today. As we talked about a couple of weeks ago, we're the people in exile. [00:27:35]

And yet in the midst of the exile, what God does through the John is he gives John a vision and he opens up the throne room of heaven and he says,"I want you to see what the new Jerusalem looks like, the new city. It was a garden. Now it's a city. And you're going to see things in there that look familiar, but it's going to be even better." [00:27:58]

And I want to do that for you because I want to give you hope. Who needs hope today? Amen. We need hope today. You know, it's a season of celebration. There are graduations, there are weddings, and yet underneath it, there are disappointments and sorrows. There are lots of different challenges in our lives. [00:28:24]

And what God says today is as I open up the word and as we look at Revelation 22, I want to give you hope. So, let's look at this passage. I want to give you four pictures. Four pictures that we see of hope. The first one is the hope of water. [00:28:39]

Water is such a powerful image. Of course it is for us as buproneians. We love water. We didn't move here to not be by the water. We drive by the water. We eat by the water. We go to the water to boat and to swim and to baptize people. It's a great uh advantage of our life here. [00:28:57]

But why was water so important to those that John wrote to? Well, think about a desert climate. Think what water means. Water actually means life. Without water, there's no life. Without water, there's no food. Without water, there's no animals. And so, water was the key to life. [00:29:17]

And in the picture that God gives his people of heaven, there's water flowing out of the throne of God. Now, this water is a water that springs up to eternal life. And in our minds, we think about John chapter 4 and the woman at the well. We think about what happened in John chapter 7 when Jesus was at the feast. [00:29:37]

And he said, "If you believe in him, then rivers of living water would flow out of you." And that river of living water was actually the Holy Spirit coming forth from the people of God. So there's a strong connection between water and the Holy Spirit. In fact, when we pray the creed in just a moment, we'll say that the Holy Spirit is the giver of life. [00:29:57]

The Holy Spirit gives life as water meant life to those people. And so today, one of the things we see is that God shows us this vision in heaven. And he says there's lots of water there because there's lots of the spirit and life there, the fullness of life. And for us, it calls us to a place of hope. [00:30:18]

And in that, I want you to see as you look at that water this day or in the days ahead, I want you to remember that the water of the spirit is drawing you close to the heart of the father. And there's hope there. There's hope in the lifegiving spirit. [00:30:38]

Second, there's a hope of healing. When I started uh the service last week at FRIP, we gathered for prayer and Todd said, "It's a heavy day on Frip." And I said, "Why?" And he said, "Well, there have been two big diagnoses, two members of the team who've heard about cancers that seem to be quite advanced, and they're walking into this deep place, and they're just several struggles." [00:30:54]

And we know that wherever we go, in the midst of all kinds of joyful things, there are also pulls on our hearts. There are those who are suffering, those who are sick. And in the midst of that, there is a picture of healing that's found in this new Jerusalem. in that city. [00:31:15]

And so what John records is that in the first in the garden, there was just one tree of life, right? Don't touch. In the in the new Jerusalem, there are trees of life. They're on both sides of the river. And what we're told there is they bear fruit every month. The fruit of the month club. [00:31:28]

Chatbot

What symbols represent hope in heaven?

How does water symbolize the Holy Spirit's life?

What is the significance of God's presence in heaven?