Hope-Filled Living: Joy in the Pursuit of Christ
Summary
In this season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we are reminded of the profound difference between being hopeful and being hope-filled. Hopeful is a state of anticipation, a longing for something yet to come, while hope-filled is rooted in the assurance of what has already been given to us through Christ. This distinction is crucial as it shapes our experience of joy in life. Isaiah's words to his people, who faced the threat of the Assyrian army, challenge us to consider where we place our hope. Are we looking to temporary solutions, cultural practices, or idols that promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty? Or are we placing our hope in the eternal promises of God?
Isaiah warns against seeking life among the dead, urging us to examine our lives for idols that may have subtly taken the place of God. Whether it's wealth, career, relationships, or even the anticipation of a holiday, these can become false sources of hope. When our hope is misplaced, we risk disappointment and disenchantment when things don't go as planned. Instead, we are called to be hope-filled, finding joy not in circumstances but in the pursuit of Christ.
The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 offers a powerful example of being hope-filled. These wise men, despite not being part of the Jewish story, were drawn by a deep truth and pursued the King of the Jews with unwavering determination. Their joy was not contingent on the outcome of their journey but was found in the pursuit itself. They were not driven by circumstances but by a profound assurance of the truth they sought. This hope-filled posture invites us to seek joy in the journey of following Christ, witnessing the kingdom of God breaking through in our world.
As we approach Christmas, let us treat these days as holy, devoted to the pursuit of the King. May we be like the Magi, wise yet humble, willing to journey through challenges in pursuit of ultimate truth and joy. Let us not mistake temporary pleasures for the source of true joy, which is found in seeking and knowing Jesus. In this season, may our lives be defined by the joy of seeking after Him, and may our church be a witness to the world of the joy that comes from a hope-filled life in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The distinction between being hopeful and hope-filled is crucial. Hopeful is about anticipation, while hope-filled is rooted in assurance. This difference shapes our experience of joy, as hope-filled living finds joy in the assurance of God's promises rather than in circumstances. [01:39]
- Isaiah warns against placing hope in temporary solutions or cultural practices, urging us to examine our lives for idols. These false sources of hope can lead to disappointment when they fail to deliver. True joy comes from placing our hope in the eternal promises of God. [06:04]
- The Magi's journey exemplifies being hope-filled. Their joy was not dependent on the outcome but was found in the pursuit of Christ. This story invites us to seek joy in the journey of following Jesus, witnessing the kingdom of God breaking through in our world. [20:32]
- Joy is found not in circumstances but in the pursuit of Christ. The Magi's joy came before meeting Jesus, highlighting that joy is found in being part of God's kingdom story. This hope-filled posture invites us to seek joy in the journey of following Christ. [21:41]
- As we approach Christmas, let us treat these days as holy, devoted to the pursuit of the King. May we be like the Magi, wise yet humble, willing to journey through challenges in pursuit of ultimate truth and joy. Let us not mistake temporary pleasures for the source of true joy, which is found in seeking and knowing Jesus. [28:20]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - Hopeful vs. Hope-Filled
[03:57] - Isaiah's Warning
[06:04] - Examining Our Idols
[09:09] - Consequences of Misplaced Hope
[10:39] - Joy Beyond Circumstances
[12:18] - The Story of the Magi
[14:44] - The Magi's Pursuit
[16:16] - The Magi's Wisdom
[18:44] - Disheartening Moments
[19:38] - Joy in the Pursuit
[20:32] - Kingdom Joy
[21:41] - Assurance and Joy
[23:07] - Seeking the King of Kings
[24:36] - Living Like the Magi
[26:16] - True Source of Joy
[28:20] - Holy Days and Pursuit of Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 8:19-22
- Matthew 2:1-12
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Observation Questions:
1. In Isaiah 8:19-22, what are the consequences mentioned for those who place their hope in the wrong things? [03:57]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between being hopeful and being hope-filled? [01:39]
3. What actions did the Magi take that demonstrated their hope-filled pursuit of Jesus? [12:18]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Magi's joy occurring before they met Jesus? [20:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Isaiah warn against seeking life among the dead, and how does this relate to modern-day idols? [06:04]
2. How does the story of the Magi challenge the idea that joy is dependent on circumstances? [21:41]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of cultural practices in shaping where we place our hope? [04:37]
4. How can the Magi's journey be seen as a metaphor for the Christian journey of faith? [23:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "idols" or temporary solutions you might be placing your hope in? How can you shift your focus to the eternal promises of God? [06:04]
2. The Magi found joy in the pursuit of Christ, not just in the outcome. How can you find joy in your spiritual journey, regardless of your current circumstances? [20:32]
3. Consider the cultural practices or societal norms that might influence where you place your hope. How can you ensure that your hope is rooted in Christ rather than in these practices? [04:37]
4. The sermon encourages us to treat the days leading up to Christmas as holy. What specific actions can you take to make this season more focused on seeking Jesus? [28:20]
5. Think about a time when you felt disheartened in your faith journey. How can the story of the Magi inspire you to continue seeking Christ even when the path seems unclear? [18:44]
6. How can you, like the Magi, be a witness to the joy that comes from a hope-filled life in Christ to those around you? [24:36]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to move from being hopeful to being hope-filled. What steps can you take this week to make that shift? [21:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Hopeful vs. Hope-Filled: A Journey of Assurance
In the Advent season, we are invited to explore the difference between being hopeful and being hope-filled. Being hopeful is characterized by anticipation and longing for what is yet to come, while being hope-filled is rooted in the assurance of what has already been given to us through Christ. This distinction is significant as it shapes our experience of joy. When we are hope-filled, our joy is not dependent on circumstances but is anchored in the eternal promises of God. This assurance allows us to navigate life's challenges with a sense of peace and contentment, knowing that our ultimate hope is secure in Christ. [01:39]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you merely hopeful, and how can you shift to being hope-filled by trusting in God's promises today?
Day 2: Examining Our Idols: Seeking True Fulfillment
Isaiah's words challenge us to examine where we place our hope. Often, we may find ourselves looking to temporary solutions, cultural practices, or idols that promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty. These false sources of hope, whether they be wealth, career, or relationships, can lead to disappointment when they fail to deliver. Isaiah warns against seeking life among the dead, urging us to identify and remove any idols that have subtly taken the place of God in our lives. True joy and fulfillment come from placing our hope in the eternal promises of God, which never fail. [06:04]
Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Reflection: What are the "broken cisterns" in your life that you rely on for hope? How can you begin to replace them with the living water of God's promises?
Day 3: The Magi's Journey: Joy in the Pursuit
The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 exemplifies what it means to be hope-filled. These wise men, despite not being part of the Jewish story, were drawn by a deep truth and pursued the King of the Jews with unwavering determination. Their joy was not contingent on the outcome of their journey but was found in the pursuit itself. This hope-filled posture invites us to seek joy in the journey of following Christ, witnessing the kingdom of God breaking through in our world. The Magi's journey teaches us that joy is found not in circumstances but in the pursuit of Christ. [20:32]
Matthew 2:10-11 (ESV): "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him."
Reflection: How can you find joy in your current journey with Christ, regardless of the outcomes you anticipate?
Day 4: Assurance and Joy: Living in God's Kingdom Story
Joy is found not in circumstances but in the pursuit of Christ. The Magi's joy came before meeting Jesus, highlighting that joy is found in being part of God's kingdom story. This hope-filled posture invites us to seek joy in the journey of following Christ. As we live in the assurance of God's promises, we become witnesses to the world of the joy that comes from a hope-filled life in Christ. This joy is not fleeting but is a deep, abiding sense of peace and contentment that transcends our circumstances. [21:41]
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's kingdom story today, finding joy in the assurance of His promises?
Day 5: Holy Days and the Pursuit of Christ: A Call to Devotion
As we approach Christmas, we are called to treat these days as holy, devoted to the pursuit of the King. Like the Magi, we are invited to be wise yet humble, willing to journey through challenges in pursuit of ultimate truth and joy. Let us not mistake temporary pleasures for the source of true joy, which is found in seeking and knowing Jesus. In this season, may our lives be defined by the joy of seeking after Him, and may our church be a witness to the world of the joy that comes from a hope-filled life in Christ. [28:20]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time during this Advent season to seek and know Jesus more deeply, treating these days as holy?
Quotes
Hopeful is about placing your hope in something yet to come, something that you're not quite yet sure about, but you're hopeful that it will play out, that circumstances will fall in a particular way. Hope -filled takes its orientation from an assurance and a foundation that has already come, that you already know and have seen and are aware of. [00:01:39]
And Isaiah's clear, sharp call is why consult the dead? Dead for advice on the living. Why would you do that? Why would you do that? And so my question is not today, have you gone and seen a tarot card reader in the last week? I'm not really wondering if you've gone to a fortune teller for advice. [00:05:09]
The cultural practices are many among us. It's not hard for us to think, well, probably wealth or my career or my retirement. Could it be that this has formed an idol that your sense of fulfilment, joy, purpose and hope in life is tied up to the story of your wealth and the ongoing growth in that part of your life? [00:06:13]
Being hopeful is a great mindset until, of course, the thing that you're placing your hope in turns out to not be a stable foundation, until, of course, the wheels turn and it doesn't play out how you hoped. And Isaiah has these ominous words in response to moments where we place our hope in something and it doesn't quite play out how we would expect. [00:08:41]
The Magi have no image to maintain. They're not Jews. There's nothing they're trying to protect. They come from a far -off land in pursuit of something that has captured their life. There is no reason, no purpose, no hidden motive for them to be a part of this story other than they are captured by something powerful. [00:15:34]
Their joy comes before they see the one who they have pursued in this long, long journey. Their joy. Their joy is in seeing the kingdom at work in the world. Their joy comes before they meet this king. Joy is found in the pursuit of him, in the following of him, in the seeking of him. [00:20:32]
The Magi's experience is not joy. It's not joy because the circumstances of their journey proved them right. It's not joy because they had a bump in the road with Herod and then now they met Jesus and found joy and were proved right. Not at all. Joy came before. The evidence of their journey was there. [00:21:13]
A hope -filled posture does not rely on circumstances playing out in your way, but it finds hope along the journey of truth. It finds hope along the journey of pursuit. As Alicia shared her devotion this week, she said this amazing thing, that clearly the magi, the wise men, are incredibly wise. [00:22:16]
Oh, how I want to be like the magi. Oh, how I want to be like the magi in this world. Oh, how I want to live like them in my life today, full of wisdom and growing in wisdom, but equally humble, equally willing to give it all away and walk a journey of hardship and challenge and difficulty in pursuit of the ultimate truth. [00:24:03]
It's not what you do that brings you joy. It's who you seek. It's not what you do that brings you joy. It's who you seek. So don't get me wrong. You deserve your summer holiday. Here you are, you're coming to church on the 15th of December and there's Lance bashing down on your summer holiday. [00:26:40]
Don't mistake what you do as a source of joy for the one who you seek. It's hopeful. It's hopeful living when we place our hope in shifting things that may not come through. It's hopeful living when you're a parent of young kids. It's hope -filled living when your trust, your purpose, your identity and your joy comes from somewhere else. [00:27:40]
It is a hope -filled life when we pursue this Jesus, when we fix our eyes on him and joy abounds on this journey. So as we approach this Christmas and these holy days, as Alan has invited us to think of them, would you indeed treat them as holy days? Days devoted to the pursuits of this King. [00:28:36]
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