Hope and Fear: Embracing God's Love and Majesty

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence and Hope in God's Majesty

God delights in those who both fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. This dual response is not contradictory but complementary, as it magnifies God's power and grace. Fear, in this context, is not about terror but about reverence and awe for God's immense power and holiness. It is the recognition of His majesty and the realization of our need for His mercy. When we hope in God, we acknowledge His sufficiency and our dependency, thereby glorifying Him. This hope is not a burden but a gift, as it aligns us with God's purpose and brings us into His protective embrace, much like finding shelter from a storm. [07:53]

Psalm 33:18-19 (ESV): "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and hope in God today, especially in areas where you feel self-sufficient?

Day 2: God's Central Role in the Gospel

The gospel is centered on God, not on us. It is the good news that God, in His grace, has made a way for us to delight in Him. This grace is the will of God to magnify His worth by enabling us to find joy in Him without compromising His glory. The saints of old understood this, boasting only in the Lord and recognizing that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him. Our response to this grace should be one of hope and fear, which together highlight God's power and grace. [04:51]

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV): "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness in your daily life, especially in your prayers and worship?

Day 3: Transformative Power of Hope and Fear

Hope in God penetrates and transforms fear, removing its life-threatening aspect while leaving a sense of awe and wonder. Similarly, fear of God penetrates hope, stripping it of triviality and leading to a deeper, more reverent worship. This dynamic interplay between hope and fear creates a profound reverence for God that transforms our relationship with Him. It is through this transformation that we experience a deeper connection with God, one that is rooted in both awe and trust. [13:47]

Proverbs 14:26-27 (ESV): "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where fear has been overwhelming. How can you invite God's hope to transform that fear into reverence and trust?

Day 4: Abandoning Human Reliance

We are urged to turn away from reliance on human strengths and achievements, such as wealth, health, and power, and instead place our hope solely in God's mercy and love. This shift in reliance brings salvation and glorifies God. It is a call to abandon trust in worldly strengths and achievements and to rest in the assurance of God's unfailing love. In doing so, we find salvation and God is glorified, as His power and grace are made manifest in our lives. [24:03]

Jeremiah 17:5-7 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.'"

Reflection: What is one specific area where you are relying on your own strength rather than God's? How can you begin to shift that reliance today?

Day 5: The Beauty of the Gospel

The gospel's beauty lies in its ability to save sinners and glorify God through a single command: hope in God's love. This command is not a burden but a gift, as it aligns us with God's purpose and brings us into His protective embrace. The gospel invites us to find joy in God, to delight in His presence, and to rest in His unfailing love. It is through this hope that we experience the fullness of God's grace and the transformative power of His love. [20:18]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: How can you embrace the beauty of the gospel in your life today, allowing it to transform your perspective and actions?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God delights in those who hope in His steadfast love and fear Him. This dual response of hope and fear is not contradictory but complementary, as it magnifies God's power and grace. When we hope in God, we acknowledge His sufficiency and our dependency, thereby glorifying Him. This hope is not a burden but a gift, as it aligns us with God's purpose and brings us into His protective embrace, much like finding shelter from a storm. Fear, in this context, is not about terror but about reverence and awe for God's immense power and holiness. It is the recognition of His majesty and the realization of our need for His mercy.

The gospel is centered on God, not on us. It is the good news that God, in His grace, has made a way for us to delight in Him. This grace is the will of God to magnify His worth by enabling us to find joy in Him without compromising His glory. The saints of old understood this, boasting only in the Lord and recognizing that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him. Our response to this grace should be one of hope and fear, which together highlight God's power and grace.

We must turn away from human reliance and place our hope solely in God's mercy and love. This is the response that brings good news to sinners and glory to God. It is a call to abandon trust in worldly strengths and achievements and to rest in the assurance of God's unfailing love. In doing so, we find salvation and God is glorified, as His power and grace are made manifest in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Delight in Hope and Fear: God takes pleasure in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. This dual response magnifies His power and grace, as fear highlights His majesty and hope underscores His mercy. Together, they create a profound reverence for God that transforms our relationship with Him. [07:53]
2. The Centrality of God in the Gospel: The gospel is centered on God, not on us. It is the good news that God, in His grace, has made a way for us to delight in Him. This grace is the will of God to magnify His worth by enabling us to find joy in Him without compromising His glory. [04:51]
3. The Transformative Power of Hope and Fear: Hope in God penetrates and transforms fear, removing its life-threatening aspect while leaving a sense of awe and wonder. Similarly, fear of God penetrates hope, stripping it of triviality and leading to a deeper, more reverent worship. [13:47]
4. Abandoning Human Reliance: We are urged to turn away from reliance on human strengths and achievements, such as wealth, health, and power, and instead place our hope solely in God's mercy and love. This shift in reliance brings salvation and glorifies God. [24:03]
5. The Beauty of the Gospel: The gospel's beauty lies in its ability to save sinners and glorify God through a single command: hope in God's love. This command is not a burden but a gift, as it aligns us with God's purpose and brings us into His protective embrace. [20:18]
** [20:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - God's Glory and Delight
[01:00] - Infinite Value and Love
[02:05] - Becoming Godlike
[03:15] - Centrality of God in the Gospel
[04:51] - Definition of Grace
[06:33] - Saints and God's Centrality
[07:15] - Human Response to God
[08:11] - Fear and Hope in God
[09:26] - Greenland Expedition Analogy
[11:14] - The Fear of God
[12:54] - Awe and Wonder in Worship
[15:25] - God's Delight in Power and Grace
[17:19] - The Condition of Hope
[20:39] - God's Displeasure in Human Strength
[23:43] - Turning Away from Human Reliance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 147:10-11
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Proverbs 21:31

---

Observation Questions:

According to Psalm 147:10-11, what does God take pleasure in, and what does He not take pleasure in? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about hope and fear? [07:33]
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, what transformation is described, and how does it relate to becoming Godlike as mentioned in the sermon? [02:05]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's power and grace, and how is this reflected in the analogy of the storm in Greenland? [09:26]
What does Proverbs 21:31 suggest about human reliance, and how does this connect to the sermon’s call to abandon trust in worldly strengths? [22:19]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the dual response of hope and fear in God complement each other, and what does this reveal about our relationship with God? [08:43]
What does it mean for the gospel to be centered on God rather than on us, and how does this understanding affect our view of grace? [04:31]
How does the sermon illustrate the transformative power of hope and fear in worship, and what impact does this have on our spiritual lives? [13:47]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that human reliance on worldly strengths can detract from glorifying God, and how can this be addressed in our lives? [23:43]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you placed your hope in something other than God. How did that experience compare to placing your hope in God's steadfast love? [24:03]
The sermon emphasizes the centrality of God in the gospel. How can you ensure that your daily life reflects this centrality, especially in your decision-making and priorities? [03:15]
Consider the analogy of the storm in Greenland. How can you find shelter in God during the "storms" of your life, and what practical steps can you take to seek His protection and guidance? [09:26]
The sermon calls for a shift away from human reliance. Identify one area of your life where you rely heavily on worldly strengths. What changes can you make to place your hope more fully in God's mercy and love? [23:43]
How can you cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence in your worship, as described in the sermon? What specific practices or changes can you implement in your personal or communal worship? [14:26]
The sermon describes hope in God's love as a gift rather than a burden. How can you embrace this perspective in your spiritual journey, and what impact might it have on your relationship with God? [18:51]
Reflect on the beauty of the gospel as described in the sermon. How can you share this beauty with others in your community, and what specific actions can you take to demonstrate God's love and grace? [20:18]

Sermon Clips

God will never give up the glory of being the fountain at which we drink. God will never surrender the honor of being the source of our delights. God will never abdicate the throne of sovereign grace. God has pleasure in those who hope in his love because when you hope in his love, you magnify his resources. [00:00:06]

The gospel is the good news that God is the all-satisfying source of our needs. The gospel is the good news that even though God does not need us and is estranged from us because of our God-belittling sins, nevertheless he has made a way for us sinners, though we be, to drink at the river of his delights. [00:03:57]

Grace is the will of God to magnify the worth of God by enabling sinners to delight in God without compromising the glory of God. Who's at the center of that definition? Let me say it again: the grace of God is the will, the passion, the joy of God to magnify the worth of God by enabling sinners to delight in God without even compromising one wit the glory and the holiness of God. [00:04:33]

The great Saints of the church have always relished the centrality of God in the gospel. Just read the biographies of the Saints. They delight to say with Paul, "From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory." They love to boast only in the Lord. They love to say that God is the beginning and the middle and the end in this affair of salvation. [00:05:25]

The fear of God is what's left of the storm when you have found a safe place in the hope of God. You say in that covert, "This is amazing. This is terrible. This is an awesome storm." When you're protected by God and you say, "Whoa, what a terrible thing to fall into the hands of such a God. What a terrible thing to be the adversary of such power." [00:12:47]

The hope that we have in God penetrates and takes the life-threatening part out of fear but leaves the trembling awe and wonder. And the fear of God penetrates into our hope and strips it of triviality, slapstick worship. There is a reason behind why we worship the way we do at Bethlehem, and it's very simply because God is God. [00:13:47]

God has pleasure in those who hope in love because when you hope in his love, you magnify his resources. When you say, "You are my only hope, my rock, my refuge," God is lifted up. His riches are magnified. You remember the question I asked just a moment ago: what kind of response could God demand from us that would accomplish these two great things, good news for sinners and glory to God? [00:16:26]

The beauty of the Gospel is that in one little command, sinners are saved and God is glorified. The passions of the Almighty are consummated, and history reaches its goal. Do you see the glory of the Gospel this morning? Let's go to verse 10 and just wrap it up real quick. Why does God not have pleasure in the strength of the horse and not delight in the legs of man? [00:20:12]

The Lord does not take pleasure in the strength of the horse or in the legs of a man. So I close by urging you with all my heart this morning, turn away from human reliances. Turn away from putting your hope on your money, your retirement plan, your health, your job, your family, your looks, your strength. Put away all such hopes and pin your hope on the one thing that will be there when the avalanche starts: God's mercy and love. [00:23:43]

In doing that, you will be saved, and God gets the glory. This is light and truth, God-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. I'm your host, Dan Cruver. Thank you for listening. On our next episode, John Piper continues our 12-part series, "What Makes God Happy," with a sermon titled "God's Delight in Our Prayers." I hope you'll join us. [00:24:27]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Hope and Fear: Embracing God's Love and Majesty

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence and Hope in God's Majesty

Day 2: God's Central Role in the Gospel

Day 3: Transformative Power of Hope and Fear

Day 4: Abandoning Human Reliance

Day 5: The Beauty of the Gospel

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Hope and Fear: Embracing God's Love and Majesty

Share