Dec 6, 2017
“Merry Christmas: The Hope of Advent”
Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 8:16-9:7
The Need for Hope . . .
- Hope is essential for the human
- Our hope rests in the advent of Christ.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you as sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 8:14
“I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in Him.” Isaiah 8:17
“Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. And He shall be their peace.” Micah 5:2-5
Hope Has Come . . .
- The advent of His birth gives us hope that God is with
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.’”) For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, He has made Him known.” John 1:14-18
- The advent of His Spirit gives us hope that Christ is in
“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.” Romans 15:13
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
- The advent of His return gives us hope that He will come for us.
“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3
“Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28
“ . . . waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:13
The Joy of Our Hope . . .
- Where there is hope, there is indescribable and abundant joy.
“You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest . . .” Isaiah 9:3
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11