Gods Promises Still Stand - Hope in the Promise

Devotional

Day 1: God's promise fulfilled in Christ's miraculous birth.

The birth of Jesus—conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin—shows that God's promises come to pass even when circumstances look impossible. This truth brings hope to the hopeless and reminds the faithful that Emmanuel means "God with us" in the darkest moments. Hold this truth close when you feel like giving up; God's promises still stand and He shows up in surprising ways. [38:05]

Matthew 1:22-23 (ESV)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Reflection: Identify one situation right now where you feel hopeless; for one minute today, say aloud “Emmanuel, be with me in this,” and give that situation to God in prayer.

Day 2: A sign of deliverance: Emmanuel brings hope.

When God spoke through Isaiah to give a sign, it was meant to steady the hearts of Judah in fear and make clear that deliverance would come. Even kings who refuse to ask for signs are given the promise so that fear does not have the final word. This assurance reaches across centuries to Mary and to us: God's sign is for our hope and rescue in desperate times. [41:49]

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Reflection: Write down one small, persistent way you feel "eroded" or discouraged, then spend two minutes praying for God's deliverance and thanking Him for the promise He has given.

Day 3: Promise of redemption: the serpent's defeat foretold.

From the very beginning, God declared enmity between the serpent and the woman's offspring, promising that the enemy would be crushed even though he would strike the heel. That picture points forward to Christ stepping on the serpent's head—victory already promised in the face of suffering. Remember this when trials feel like blows at your heel: the ultimate crushing of the enemy has already been foretold and secured. [47:08]

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Reflection: Name one temptation or fear that feels like the enemy striking your heel and take one concrete step today to resist it (set a boundary, remove a trigger, call a friend), declaring that Jesus’ victory is coming against that attack.

Day 4: Christ came to destroy the devil's works.

The purpose of the Son's appearing is not merely moral teaching but the decisive undoing of the devil's schemes to steal souls and steal hope. Because Christ has come to break those works, believers must persist in prayer and never stop hoping for those who seem far from God. Keep praying for lost people—God can do the impossible and break through where human effort fails. [45:36]

1 John 3:8 (ESV)
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Reflection: Choose one person you are praying for, and today send them a short encouraging message or spend five focused minutes praying that God would break the devil’s hold over their life.

Day 5: God's timing redeems and adopts us as children.

When the fullness of time arrived, God sent His Son so that those under the law might be redeemed and adopted as sons and daughters, with the Spirit crying out, “Abba! Father!” This reminds believers that God is never late—He waits and works until the perfect moment to bring redemption and to call us His children. Trusting God’s timing means holding fast in prayer and hope that His promises will be fulfilled. [55:29]

Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Reflection: Name one area where you feel impatient with God's timing; take two minutes right now to pray “Abba, Father,” thanking God for His timing and asking for patience to trust Him today.

Sermon Summary

What a morning. After thanking everyone for the retirement notes that keep making me cry and praying for Pastor Steve’s family in their grief, we opened Matthew 1:22-23 and sat with the name Emmanuel—God with us. I told a silly Cubs story because that’s where hopelessness feels real in everyday life: small, ordinary places where we quietly give up. The Lord slipped hope onto my desk through an Ernie Banks autograph addressed “to Pastor Dave Hope.” It was a gentle reminder: God loves underdogs, and He meets us when we’re running out of steam.

From there we traced the long arc of God’s promise. Isaiah 7:14 was not a random miracle; it was a sign given to a terrified Judah that their enemies would not wipe them out—and, beneath that moment, a deeper assurance that the Seed would not be snuffed out. Genesis 3:15 took us further back: the first whisper of the gospel—He will crush the serpent’s head. The incarnation is not sentimental; it’s a declaration of war on the works of the devil. First John 3:8 says that plainly.

Luke 1 reminds us the virgin conception was the Spirit’s work, and John 1 and 3 insist that the same Spirit must act for anyone to be born of God. With man, it’s impossible; with God, all things are possible. That’s why we pray without quitting for the people we love. Galatians 4 steadies us when the waiting is long: at the set time God sent His Son to redeem us and adopt us. His timing is perfect—even in the 400 “silent” years, Heaven was preparing the fullness of time.

Jesus came once; He will come again. His birth isn’t just a sweet start to the story—it’s the down payment on His return. John 14 promises a prepared place and a coming King who will take us to Himself. Until then, when stinging realities break us—broken trucks, thin bank accounts, grief, loneliness—the Lord still steps onto the porch and shouts our name in love. That’s what turned me around years ago on the farm when everything was broken and late: a voice of love that cut through despair. That’s what Emmanuel means—God with us—so we can be with Him forever.

Key Takeaways

1. Promises stand when hope feels spent God’s promises were spoken into real fear—Ahaz’s trembling heart, Judah’s enemies, and humanity’s curse. They outlast soil erosion of the soul, the slow grind that makes us quit. Hold them like a lifeline, not as theory but as the truest reality under your feet. They do not blink when your circumstances do. [48:49]
2. The virgin birth secures our rescue If Jesus is not miraculously conceived, He is not truly God with us—and then we remain in our sins. The Spirit overshadowed Mary so the Holy One would bear holy blood strong enough to cleanse us. The incarnation is God entering the fight, not coaching from the sidelines. It’s rescue, not advice. [50:34]
3. Salvation is God’s impossible miracle No one thinks themselves into new birth. We are born of God, not human decision, and that means prayer is not wasted breath—it is partnership with Heaven’s initiative. What looks impossible to us is the ordinary terrain of the Spirit’s work. Keep asking; the impossibility is the invitation. [53:21]
4. God’s timing adopts us as heirs The delay is not neglect; it is orchestration. In the fullness of time, God doesn’t just forgive; He makes sons and daughters who cry, “Abba.” Adoption is not an upgrade to our status; it’s a new identity and a new inheritance. Trust the clock in His hands. [55:29]
5. His first advent guarantees His return Bethlehem is a receipt for a future appointment. The same God who kept every promise in Jesus’ first coming will keep the promise of His appearing. Let hope train your habits: live watchful, keep short accounts, and love well while you wait. He is not late; He is patient. [58:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:49] - Gratitude and retirement letters
[36:13] - Prayer for Pastor Steve’s family
[36:44] - Snow day and plow truck story
[37:43] - Emmanuel: Matthew 1:22-23
[39:07] - Cubs despair and a surprise sign
[41:49] - Virgin birth: promise fulfilled
[42:53] - Isaiah 7: sign to Judah
[46:30] - Genesis 3:15: crushing the serpent
[49:10] - Son of God makes us children
[55:29] - Perfect timing and our adoption
[58:14] - His birth confirms His return
[60:04] - John 14: I will come back
[61:34] - When love breaks hopelessness
[66:30] - Prayer teams and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Matthew 1:22–23
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Observation questions (3–4)

In Matthew 1:22–23, what does the phrase “all this took place” point back to in the narrative about Joseph and Mary? How does that link the events to prophecy? [38:05]
What does the name Immanuel emphasize about the nature of Jesus’ coming? How does that meaning change how you read the birth story in a practical way?
In the sermon the pastor told the Ernie Banks autograph story to illustrate everyday hopelessness. Where was hope most clearly restored in that story, and why does that example matter for how we understand God’s care? [39:56]
The preacher traced a promise line from Genesis 3:15 through Isaiah 7:14 to the virgin birth. What concrete promises did each passage give for the people hearing them (Genesis, Isaiah, and Matthew)? [47:08]

Interpretation questions (3–4)

How should one understand Isaiah 7:14 as both an immediate sign to King Ahaz and a long-term messianic promise? What does the sermon suggest about promises that address both present fear and future rescue? [41:49]
Genesis 3:15 speaks of enmity and the crushing of the serpent’s head. How does the preacher interpret this as a declaration of spiritual warfare rather than mere symbolism, and what implications follow for the Christian life? [47:08]
Jesus says “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” How does the sermon use that statement to explain the necessity of the Spirit in new birth and in answered prayer? What does that imply about the role of human effort in salvation? [53:56]
The sermon argued that the virgin birth is not sentimental but secures our rescue. How does that claim affect the way one reads the incarnation: as evidence of God’s intervention in history versus a moral example? [50:34]

Application questions (5–7)

Where in your life right now are you experiencing the slow “soil erosion” of hope—the little defeats that add up—and how will you choose to hold God’s promises as a lifeline rather than letting circumstances define you? [42:53]
Who are three people you are regularly praying for to be born again? What practical step will you take this week to keep praying and to partner with the Spirit for their awakening? [53:21]
The sermon reminded us God’s timing “in the fullness of time” adopts us as sons and daughters. What waiting season are you in, and how can you practice trusting God’s timing this month (specific actions, trust statements, or rhythms)? [55:29]
The pastor said Jesus’ first coming is a receipt for his return. What changes would you make in your daily habits (relationships, money, conversations) if you lived more consistently as one who expects Christ to come back at any moment? [01:00:26]
The farm story showed how a simple voice of love cut through despair. When you feel alone or defeated, what concrete reminders or practices help you hear Jesus shouting your name? Name one person, one verse, and one habit you will use this week. [01:02:57]
Do you personally grasp how essential the virgin conception is to the gospel (that Jesus is God with us to accomplish our rescue)? If not, what question or doubt will you bring to a trusted brother/sister or to next week’s group to explore further? [50:34]

Use this guide to pray together, confess honestly, and set one tangible next step each for the week.

Sermon Clips

The miraculous conception of Jesus in the Virgin Mary is the fulfillment of God's promise. You know, whether you know it or not, the promise in Isaiah, which is chapter 7 and verse 14, all right, therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign, a sign the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Emmanuel. That means God with us. This is 600 or 700 years before it came to pass. [00:41:02] (44 seconds) #EmmanuelFulfilled

The curse of sin prompted a promise of hope and redemption from God for all humanity. You see, we go all the way back now to Genesis chapter 3, all right? And in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, this is what it says. God is bringing the curse and he's speaking now to the enemy, to the serpent. He says, and I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers. I love this next part. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. [00:46:30] (43 seconds) #PromiseOfRedemption

As we celebrate Christmas and as we look at the text and as we look at the promises, and there are so many promises down through history that pointed to Jesus. You know, even Moses says, you know, God's going to raise up a prophet for you. He's going to raise one up and he's talking about Jesus. And over and over, the scriptures point to Jesus. And today, we have to understand that even if we feel hopeless, that there's a promise from God. The promise is real. The promise is true. And if we put our hope and our trust in him, we won't be put to shame. [00:48:19] (42 seconds) #PromisesPointToJesus

The son of God becoming the son of man made it possible for sinful humans to become children of God. As impossible as it seemed for a virgin to conceive and bring forth a son who is God is about as impossible as it seemed to me to ever be born again, to be saved by grace, to know that my eternal destiny would be heaven. You know, I grew up being told I was going to go to hell if I didn't change my ways. But nobody told me about being born again. [00:49:10] (49 seconds) #BornAgainByGrace

When the disciples heard this, when they heard what? Jesus said it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And this alarmed the disciples. The disciples heard this. They were greatly astonished, and they asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, With man, this is impossible. Wow. What an answer. This is impossible. And then he says, But with God, all things are possible. The promise still stands. For every lost soul out there today, the promise stands. For every lost soul watching online today, for everybody that you're wondering, will they ever come? I'm here to tell you, do not quit praying. [00:53:34] (51 seconds) #WithGodAllThingsPossible

For every lost soul out there today, the promise stands. For every lost soul watching online today, for everybody that you're wondering, will they ever come? I'm here to tell you, do not quit praying, because Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. And the devil is after souls. He doesn't care about your stuff. He doesn't care about your house. He doesn't care about your car. He doesn't care about your feelings. He wants your soul. He'll use all those things to get you, and he wants your soul, and he wants to drag you to hell. But he can't do it because God's promise. [00:54:13] (42 seconds) #PrayForTheLost

God's timing is perfect. How many people have been waiting a long time for something to happen? Anybody here been waiting a long time for something to happen? And we pray, but God's timing is perfect. In Galatians 4, verses 4 through 7, it says, But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship, because you are his sons. God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but God's child. [00:55:09] (59 seconds) #GodsPerfectTiming

If you're in here and you're wondering why God's waiting and what's going on, don't you give up. Don't stop praying. I'm here to tell you, he's right here. He's walking with you through everything you're going through. And his promises are true. He has good plans for us. I'm living proof of that. Good plan. He'll never let go. [00:57:39] (29 seconds) #GodWalksWithYou

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