Jesus: Our Hope Amidst Chaos and Darkness

This morning, we gathered as a family of faith to remember that Jesus is the hope for a world in chaos. In a time when darkness seems to be growing and tragic events like the assassination of Charlie Kirk shake us to our core, we are reminded that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to bring life and hope. The world’s ideologies are increasingly at odds with the truth of God’s Word, and we see the spirit of antichrist at work, seeking to silence truth and sow confusion. Yet, God’s promise remains: He gives us a new heart and a new spirit, transforming us from enemies into friends, and entrusting us with the task of making others His friends as well.

We reflected on the reality that following Jesus means living by God’s terms, not the world’s. When we reject God’s authority and truth, we are not just disagreeing with a set of rules—we are rejecting God Himself. The world may hate us for standing on the truth, just as it hated Jesus and His apostles, but we are called to remain faithful, knowing that God’s ways are higher than ours and that He can use even the darkest moments for good.

Jesus modeled for us the importance of withdrawing daily to be with God, to find strength, clarity, and refreshment. In the midst of overwhelming need, He made time to be alone with the Father and with His disciples, teaching us that our relationship with God must come before even the most urgent demands. We are also called to share the hope we have in Christ with others, to be the light in a world desperate for answers. Our testimony, like that of the Samaritan woman, can draw many to believe in Jesus.

No matter how crowded or broken our lives may feel, Jesus always makes room for us. He is never too busy or overwhelmed to meet our needs. And as we face spiritual battles, we must remember that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. We are equipped with the armor of God, and the presence of Jesus is enough to make even demons tremble. In all things, we are reminded to trust in the One who commands the winds and waves, who brings hope to the hopeless, and who calls us to be His light in the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. A New Heart and Spirit for a New Life God’s promise in Ezekiel is not just about moral improvement, but a radical transformation—He removes our stubborn, selfish hearts and gives us hearts that are responsive and obedient to Him. This new heart is the evidence of being truly born again, and it empowers us to live out God’s commands, not out of duty, but out of love. The Christian life is not about self-effort, but about the Spirit of God living within us, making us new from the inside out. [06:48]
• 2. Rejecting God’s Authority is Rejecting God Himself When we choose to live by our own truth or the world’s ideology, we are not simply disagreeing with a doctrine—we are rejecting the very authority and person of God. This is the same deception that led Adam and Eve astray: believing that our way is better than God’s. True submission to God means accepting His Word even when it challenges us, trusting that His ways are higher and His truth is unchanging. [57:59]
• 3. Withdrawing with God is Essential, Not Optional Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds and even from pressing needs to be alone with the Father and with His disciples. This was not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom and dependence. In our busy, noisy world, intentional withdrawal to seek God’s presence is where we find strength, clarity, and the ability to face spiritual battles. Without this, we risk fighting in our own strength and missing God’s voice. [73:39]
• 4. Our Testimony is a Bridge to Hope for Others The world is desperate for hope, and people will go to great lengths to find it. Our responsibility is to share what Jesus has done in our lives, both in word and in action. Like the Samaritan woman, our honest testimony—even about our failures—can be the very thing God uses to draw others to Himself. We are called to be the light of the world, reflecting Christ’s hope in every interaction. [80:57]
• 5. Spiritual Battles Require Spiritual Weapons The struggles we face are not merely human or political—they are spiritual at their core. The enemy’s schemes are subtle, aiming to deceive and destroy, but we are not left defenseless. By putting on the full armor of God and standing in the authority of Christ, we can withstand the attacks of the enemy. Even when evil seems to prevail, God’s power is greater, and His presence is enough to make darkness flee. [83:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:17] - Greetings and Announcements
• [06:48] - God’s Promise: A New Heart and Spirit
• [09:50] - Our Responsibility as New Creations
• [12:42] - Call to Worship and Psalm 66
• [40:22] - Addressing Recent Tragedy and Spiritual Heaviness
• [42:32] - Responding to Evil and the Spirit of Antichrist
• [45:48] - Charlie Kirk’s Ministry and the Cost of Truth
• [47:45] - The Enemy’s Tactics and God’s Sovereignty
• [57:06] - Rejecting God’s Authority
• [58:55] - The Fruit of Loving Jesus: Obedience
• [61:48] - Jesus: The Hope for the World
• [64:18] - The Blindness of Ideology and the Power of Truth
• [69:18] - Withdrawing Daily with God
• [76:46] - Sharing the Hope of Christ
• [80:57] - The Power of Testimony
• [83:09] - Spiritual Battle and the Armor of God
• [87:00] - Invitation to Salvation and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV) — > And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

John 15:18-19 (ESV) — > “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Mark 3:7-12 (ESV) — > Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ezekiel 36:26-27, what does God promise to do for His people, and what is the result of this promise?
2. In John 15:18-19, what reason does Jesus give for why the world hates His followers?
3. In Mark 3:7-12, what did Jesus do when the crowds became overwhelming, and what does this show about His priorities?
4. The sermon mentioned that even demons recognized Jesus’ authority and fell before Him ([01:23:09]). What does this reveal about who Jesus is?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon said that God’s promise in Ezekiel is not just about moral improvement, but a radical transformation—a new heart and spirit ([06:48]). How is this different from just trying harder to be good?
2. When the world’s ideologies clash with God’s truth, the sermon said that rejecting God’s authority is actually rejecting God Himself ([57:59]). Why is this distinction important for believers to understand?
3. Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds to be alone with the Father ([01:09:18]). What does this teach us about the balance between serving others and nurturing our relationship with God?
4. The testimony of the Samaritan woman led many to believe in Jesus ([01:20:57]). Why do you think personal stories of faith are so powerful in drawing others to Christ?

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about God giving us a new heart and spirit, not just a list of rules to follow ([06:48]). In what area of your life do you sense God wanting to transform your heart, not just your behavior? What would it look like to let Him do that?
2. When have you felt pressure to go along with the world’s way of thinking, even when you knew it was against God’s truth ([47:45])? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now?
3. Jesus made it a priority to withdraw and spend time with God, even when there were urgent needs around Him ([01:13:39]). What is one practical step you can take this week to make time alone with God non-negotiable?
4. The sermon said our testimony—even about our failures—can be a bridge to hope for others ([01:20:57]). Is there a part of your story you’ve been hesitant to share? How might God use your honesty to encourage someone else?
5. The world is desperate for hope, and people will go to great lengths to find it ([01:19:13]). Who in your life is searching for hope right now? What is one way you can share the hope of Jesus with them this week?
6. The sermon reminded us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces ([01:23:09]). When you face opposition or discouragement, do you tend to see it as a spiritual battle? How can you put on the armor of God in those moments?
7. Jesus always made room for people, no matter how crowded or broken their lives were ([01:23:09]). Is there someone you know who feels left out or overwhelmed? How can you make room for them in your life, reflecting Jesus’ love?