The Gift: Hope Is Born
Notes
Transcript
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Im excited for this new series! “The Gift” we all love getting gets and giving gifts. Especially during the Christmas season. Most of the time these gifts are temporal and have costed us something financially. In this serains we are going to be unpacking the greatest gift of all time....Jesus, but we are going to look even deeper into how He offers us some particular gifts. The gifts of Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy
Read Romans 8:24–25 “Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”
PRAY
The Waiting Section:
Read Isaiah 9:1-7.
-This was written at least 700 years before Jesus was born......Thats a long time!
Set anticipation and hope surrounding the birth of Jesus. yet.....It seemed God went silent and there was a gap of 400 years after Malachi spoke his last prophetic words......Hope would be neccseary during this time! and thats what we are going to unpack today how Jesus is the Gift of Hope!
-The "400 silent years” This period is often referred to as the "Intertestamental" or "Second Temple" period.
-But there are Several historical and cultural developments occurred during this time, shaping the context into which Jesus was born. Here are some key aspects of the 400 silent years:
Persian and Hellenistic Rule (539-63 BCE): After the Babylonian exile, the Persians conquered the Babylonian Empire, and later, Alexander the Great and his successors (the Diadochi) spread Hellenistic influence throughout the region. This had a significant impact on Jewish culture and society.
Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BCE): A rebellion led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV, who attempted to suppress Judaism. The successful revolt led to the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty.
Hasmonean Rule (142-63 BCE): The Hasmonean rulers, descendants of the Maccabees, governed an independent Jewish state for a period. However, internal conflicts and external pressures, including Roman intervention, weakened their rule.
Roman Rule (63 BCE - 4 BCE): In 63 BCE, the Roman general Pompey captured Jerusalem, and Judea came under Roman control. The Roman Senate appointed local rulers, such as Herod the Great, to govern the region on behalf of Rome. The many roadways Rome built would one day make it possible for the Good News of jesus to spread to parts of the world that once would have seemed difficult.
Herodian Dynasty (37 BCE - 6 CE): Herod the Great, a client king appointed by Rome, undertook significant building projects in Judea, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Socio-religious Developments: During this time, various Jewish religious groups and sects emerged, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, each with its own interpretations of Judaism and response to Roman rule.
The 400 silent years set the stage for the social, political, and religious context in which Jesus of Nazareth was born and carried out his ministry as recorded in the New Testament.
Lets talk a little bit about what Hope is......
-There are two kinds of hope—worldly or temporal hope and the hope of believers. In a general sense, hope is a mental focus or feeling of anticipation regarding a future outcome, either of something we want to happen or wish to be true or don’t want to happen or be true.
-Secular hope is a subjective expectation; it may be solidly based or misguided, as it does not consider God’s will. We hope for things we want (I hope I get the job; I hope she’ll marry me). We hope for good outcomes (I hope my child returns home safely; I hope I don’t get sick). But worldly hope is not a virtue, as it usually contains some degree of uncertainty, doubt, and personal bias and can often be misdirected and selfishly motivated
-The Old Testament uses two different words for Hope, both of which appear over 40 times alone in the Psalms:
YAKHAL-To wait for.
QAVAH- Also means to wait, this is related to the Hebrew word “QAV” which means cord, and when you pull a cord it creates tension (QAVAH) “Waiting in the tension”.
-The biblical definition of hope is “the sure and confident expectation of receiving what God has promised us in the future.” The believer’s hope is not a faint or obscure wish but “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).
-In Scripture, hope is a virtuous quality because it contains no doubt, always trusting in God’s faithfulness and presence no matter the circumstances, whether good or bad (Psalm 71:5).
-Hope and faith are closely tied because both operate based on trusting God and living according to what is unseen. The author of Hebrews explains that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.
-Regarding hope, Paul reasons, “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?”. Like faith, hope is built on our unwavering confidence in God’s goodness and power to do what He says He will do because of His unfailing love for us.
-Christians use hope in both senses. A pastor may say, “I hope today’s sermon blesses you.” The apostle Paul writes, “I hope to see you” (Romans 15:24) and “I hope to come to you soon” (1 Timothy 3:14) in his letters to fellow believers. But the believer’s hope is so much more than wishful thinking.
-The apostle Peter explains that God “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). We have the “hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2). We don’t merely wish we’ll have eternal life with God; the Bible says we can know it with all certainty: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
-Paul’s hope was so secure in his eternal future that he was willing to suffer and die for it: “I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6; see also Acts 26:6). Paul said that without faith and hope in God’s promise of resurrection life, Christians “are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NLT).
The biblical definition of hope includes not only the act of confident expectation but also the object of it—“Christ Jesus our hope”
-Biblical hope isn't based on a circumstance. You choose hope amidst the chaos. It isn't optimism, which is all about looking at circumstances and seeing how they “could” work out for the better.
-Biblical hope is all about God’s faithfulness. His past faithfulness motivates the hope for the future. Looking forward by looking back.
From the time Of Jeremiah’s prophecy until the moment it was fulfilled over 700 years later..Hope was waiting on the Lord and His faithfulness. Not wishing it would could come true one day, but knowing it would come true!
Hope Arrives Section:
Read Luke 2:1-20.
The Gift of Hope
This passage highlights several aspects that connect Jesus to the idea of being a gift of hope:
He is The Fulfillment of Prophecy: The birth of Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies, providing hope to those who awaited the promised Messiah. In verses 4-6, it's mentioned that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem because Joseph belonged to the house and line of David, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in the lineage of David (Micah 5:2).
Good News for All People: In verse 10, the angel declares, "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'" This emphasizes the universal nature of the hope that Jesus brings. It's not limited to a particular group but is a message of hope for everyone.
Savior is Born: In verse 11, the angel announces, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Jesus is presented as the Savior, bringing hope by offering salvation to humanity. This implies deliverance from sin and the restoration of a broken relationship with God.
Significance to the Humble: The circumstances of Jesus' birth, in a humble setting like a stable, signify that hope is accessible to the lowly and humble. It's a reminder that God's redemptive plan is not restricted to the powerful or wealthy but is available to everyone.
Joyful Response: The shepherds, who were among the first to hear the news, respond with joy and spread the word about what they have witnessed (verses 17-20). The joy and excitement surrounding the birth of Jesus reflect the hope and anticipation of the long-awaited Messiah.
-In the New Testament, the earliest followers of Jesus cultivated this similar habit of hope. They believed that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was God’s surprising response to our slavery to evil and death. The empty tomb opened up a new door of hope, and they used the Greek word elpis to describe this anticipation.
-The apostle Peter said that Jesus’ resurrection opened up a “living hope” that people can be reborn to become new and different kinds of humans.8 More than once, the apostle Paul says the good news about Jesus announces “the elpis of glory.”9 In both cases, this elpis is based on a person, the risen Jesus, who has overcome death.
-this hope wasn’t just for humans. The apostles believed that what happened to Jesus in the resurrection was a foretaste of what God had planned for the whole universe. In Paul’s words, it’s a “hope that creation itself will be liberated from slavery to corruption into freedom when God’s children are glorified.”
Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Choose Hope Section:
-We must choose this beautiful gift of hope that Jesus has given us. It doesn't just come blindly. We have to know who He is and all that He is done so that we can truly know that He is faithful to all His promises.
-When you see how faithful He has been in the past, you can know how faithful He will be in the future. And we do have a hope, and we are in a time of tension as we await for our saviors return.
Read Revelation 21:1-6
-Revelation 21:1-6 provides a beautiful vision of the future, describing a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells among His people.
-In this context, the call to choose hope regardless of the season is grounded in the promise of God's ultimate plan for redemption and renewal. Let's explore why this passage encourages us to choose hope:
New Heaven and Earth: The passage begins by describing a new heaven and a new earth, symbolizing a complete renewal of the cosmos. This imagery signifies that, no matter how challenging our current circumstances may be, a day is coming when God will make all things new. This promise provides hope in the midst of difficulties, encouraging us to look forward to a future where there is no more pain, sorrow, or tears.
God Dwelling Among His People: Verse 3 states, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'" This intimate connection between God and His people is a source of profound hope. Knowing that God is present with us in every season, whether good or bad, gives us the assurance that we are not alone.
Wiping Away Every Tear: Verse 4 speaks of God wiping away every tear from our eyes. This gesture symbolizes the complete removal of pain, suffering, and sorrow. The promise of a tear-free existence instills hope in the hearts of believers, encouraging them to persevere through difficult times with the knowledge that God will ultimately bring comfort and healing.
The Alpha and the Omega: The passage emphasizes God as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. This declaration underscores God's sovereignty over all of time and history. Recognizing God's ultimate control over the narrative of our lives provides a foundation for hope, knowing that He is orchestrating a redemptive plan that extends beyond our current circumstances.
In light of Revelation 21:1-6, choosing hope is not simply an optimistic outlook; it is a response to the profound promises of God's ultimate victory over sin and suffering. This passage encourages believers to anchor their hope in the eternal reality of God's plan for restoration, no matter the challenges faced in the present season.
Christian hope is bold but it is a beautiful gift our Savior Jesus has provided us with.
-waiting for humanity and the whole universe to be rescued from evil and death. And some would say it’s crazy, and maybe it is. But biblical hope isn’t optimism based on the odds. It’s a choice to wait for God to bring about a future that’s as surprising as a crucified man rising from the dead. Christian hope looks back to the risen Jesus in order to look forward, and so we wait. And that’s what the biblical words for hope are all about.
Week 1 Questions:
1.What challenges do you find about holding onto hope during tough seasons of life?
2.How have you leaned in and and grabbed on to hope when things were hard? Have you looked back on God past faithfulness to have hope in the present?
3.Knowing Jesus has brought us the gift of hope, how do you see hat impacting your day to day life?