CHRISTMAS HOPE

CHRISTMAS HOPE - Romans 15:8-13

12 And again Isaiah says, “the root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 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.

 

1. The Sight of the Hope - Romans 15:12

12 And again Isaiah says, “the root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Our hope is not in anything other than the hope of Jesus shedding his blood and life for us.

Romans 15:12 says, “And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.’” The root of Jesse is Jesus. He is the Promised One, the Messiah, the Christ, who was born in Bethlehem. Because Jesus came, hope is here. He is Immanuel, God with us.  In His name shall the Gentiles’ hope.  He came to offer salvation to mankind so that they might be blessed.

 

2. The Source of the Hope - Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing …”

Paul prays for his friends in Rome: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (v. 13). This is my prayer for you and your family and loved ones as we reflect on the Christmas season and look ahead to 2022.

Paul refers to God as the God of hope. We do not have to fear the future because we know the One who controls the future. The Christ who was born in Bethlehem is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Nothing catches Him off guard. Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God? True hope is not wishful thinking or being more positive. Our hope is in God and nothing is too difficult for Him. When you have God, you have sure hope. If you do not have God, you have no hope. No matter how bad things may look, God has the last word.

 

3. The Support of Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace …”

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace…” (v. 13)

The God of Hope is here! Problems come and go, they come in clusters. Hope comes in clusters too. When you read about hope in the Bible, it usually comes in threes.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” You can lose your job, spouse, health, friends, home, or money, but if you have these three you can make it! In Paul’s prayer we see that hope comes with joy and peace. God will not only give you hope; He will add to it joy and peace. Just like the wise men brought three gifts to Jesus, Jesus wants to give you three gifts this Christmas. “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Lk. 2:10

 

4. The Strength of Hope

“Abound in hope” v. 13 you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13 -

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul prays this prayer so that his friends “may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Abound means to overflow. Your hope is an overflowing hope through the Holy Spirit.   That hope is strengthen by the Spirit of God.

God does not want you to be controlled by your past sins, regrets, failures, injuries, and hurts. Stop looking back at all people have done TO you and start remembering what God has done FOR you! Hope is the confidence that our future will be better and brighter than the present.

Start looking up for the overflowing hope – an overflowing joy and peace for the year to come 2022.  

2022  IS THE YEAR of OVERFLOWING HOPE! 

  

5. The Supply of Hope

“By the power of the Holy Spirit” vs. 13

Hope supply by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This hope is divine hope not an ordinary hope human hope which will lose hope eventually.

This hope is God supply to you.  So this Christmas hope is in you and is divine propelling you to his divine power and joy and glory.

The Holy Spirit of God is the power for everything about the Christian life. The Holy Spirit empowers ministry, strengthens your faith, and gives the peace and joy that overflows in hope. The Christian can do absolutely nothing apart from the power of the Spirit in us.

 

CHRISTMAS IS A BLESSED HOPE - Titus 2:13

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

What is the Blessed Hope?  The appearing of the glory of our Great God,  Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. We can look forward with great hope and joy to Jesus' return. The hope of Jesus is to return to His Church, His body.

“… and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:10 NKJV

As Christians, our posture should not be to anticipate death but to look forward to the coming of the Lord. We are living in the end times.

Jesus delivered us from the wrath to come not only this plagues to come – many more things coming upon the earth in the Book of Revelation. Friend, know that God is not behind the world wars, earthquakes, and pandemics. Rather, God is telling us that these occurrences are the earth groaning because of man's sin, and groaning for the  manifestation of the sons of God. They are the signs that point to the nearness of the coming of the Lord.  So be “Blessed Up”

 

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

 

 

BUILDING AN ALTAR OF FIRE

Building An Altar of Fire 

An altar is a raised area in a house of worship where people can honor God with offerings. It is prominent in the Bible as "God's table," a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered up to God.

A) THE  ALTARS  OF  GOD

We are the New Testament altars of GOD under Grace.

The First Altar Mentioned in Bible – Genesis 8:20 (Amplified bible)

“And Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean [four-footed] animal and of every clean fowl or bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”

Abraham built four altars as he journeyed out from his homeland to where God led him.  He went by faith as God revealed Himself to him there he built an altar.

Hebrews 13:10 (Amplified Bible)

We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat. The Altar of Jesus Sacrifice

Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified Bible)

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

 

B)  WHY BUILDING AN ALTAR?

Rebuilding the Altar so the fire of God can fall.

Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:8 – As they were waiting in the upper room for 50 days the day of Pentecost came and the Spirit of God came down upon the disciples as they spoke in tongues.  Their tongues are like fire. God says you shall be baptized with the Spirit and fire.

Acts 1:3  “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

 

C) THE ALTAR OF FIRE

1 Kings 18:30-32

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

450 Prophets already had their turn and they cried, cut themselves with knives, danced. They barked liked dogs and hollered, but nothing came. When all the dancing, shouting, yelling, clapping and jumping was over, there was NO fire.

Then it came to Elijah’s turn to cry unto God to send the fire. Elijah had to convince the nation that Jehovah was still alive and in business. V.24, “the God that answer by fire – let Him be God.” That’s what church’s needs. The church of Jesus Christ set on fire with His love. And nothing will make any difference in your life. You can try your pills, alcohol even therapy – nothing will meet your need. You can preach until your blue in the face and you can pray and put on your sincerity – nothing will make any difference in your ministry and in your life, only the fire of God.

D) THE REAL ALTAR IS IN THE HEARTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

              Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24; Jeremiah 2:11-13; Hebrews 10:9-18; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Hebrews 13:15-16

My altar is in my heart. Your altar is in your heart and that’s where the fire of the Lord burns. God commanded the priests at the tabernacle in Lev. 6:12 and this was His commission to the priests – “the fire shall be ever burning upon the altar it shall NEVER go out!” The same principle is in the New Testament tabernacle – the church. The fire must always be burning and it must be burning in the morning, noon, evening and night. That’s the mission of the church. That’s how we shine forth as light in the darkness.

IS YOUR ALTAR  BROKEN DOWN?

He went to where God required an altar and the altar was broken down. Everyone could see it was broken down and the first thing Elijah did was repair it. The altar is the heart. What needs to be repaired?  A broken heart?  A hardened heart?  An unforgiving heart?  A critical heart?  A doubtful heart? Those things can hold you back. God is the God of the heart.

We offer the three sacrifices on the "heart altar": prayer, praise, and worship?   Our zeal and passion for God.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

 

 

THE MANIFESTATION OF FAITH

 HEBREWS 11:1-14

Faith allows things to happen.  It is the power that comes from a fearless heart.
 And when a fearless heart believes, miracles happen.

Hebrews 11 has a nickname: the hall of faith. Picture a hallway in your old school where all the trophies are stored. The best athletes make it into the hall of fame. Similarly, Hebrews 11 covers the stories of some of the best faith-keepers ever… at least, the best faith-keepers of the Old Testament! If you’re looking to answer the question, “What is faith?” these stories are a great place to start. You’ll get to see faith in action. 

1. FAITH’S WORSHIPS

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,  - Hebrews 11:4

Abel’s offering to God is an excellent sacrifice because it is blood sacrifice – representing Jesus the lamb of God whereas Cain offered a fruit sacrifice which God did not accept because without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Blood represents life to God.

There are thousands of religions and belief-systems. In reality there are only two religions:

1. religion based on works    2. religion based on the blood of Jesus

From the time of Cain - religious men have been trying to impress God with the fruits of their labor. And from the time of Cain God has been rejecting their offerings.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. (Gen 4:4-5)

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous…. (Heb 11:4 NKJV)  That means the blood sacrifice rep. Jesus blood today not only cleansed us and obtained favor but made us righteous.  We obtained righteousness by Jesus blood.  Righteousness is not earned by good works but only the blood of Jesus shed for us at the cross.

  2. FAITH’S  WITNESS

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. – Hebrews 11:5

Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24).

Enoch walk with God and his life was pleasing to God and God took him away – that is the first Rapture in the book of Genesis.  Enoch was the first man that was Rapture to heaven.

Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV) says it this way:  “By faith ENOCH was taken away“  so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because GOD had taken so that he did not see death, -  For us the New Testament believers by faith we are waiting for our time to be taken away when Jesus comes back with the Rapture of the saints.  For Enoch he had translated – or taken away. What is your testimony? Your faith in God.

(I shall not die but live and see the Rapture of the Lord – even in Covid 19 crisis) A thousand fall at my side and 10,000 at my right hand and it shall not come near me.)  I see more angels surrounding me that the virus around me. Faith pleases God.

3.  FAITH’S  WORK

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, … and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. - Hebrews 11:7 

4. FAITH’S  WALKS

”By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” – Hebrews 11:8

Walking by faith – Abraham is the faith of Enterprise.  He went with his family and stayed in a place he did not know.

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Bible tells that “we walk by faith, not by sight,” but what does that really mean?  A lifetime experience.

 He has given us “eyes” to see, but it is a different kind of “eyes” and a different kind of seeing. That’s why we can say our faith is not a blind faith.  We do not have a faith without foundation.  We walk by what we see in our spiritual eyes first not with our physical eyes. Our physical eyes will see nothing.  We speak the things that is not as if there is – that is faith speaking sees and speaks from the heart. 

5.  FAITH’S  WAITING

“By faith Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” - Hebrews 11:10

If you are going to survive the perils of perilous times you need to have a faith that knows where and who is your Maker and Builder.  You need to have a faith that grows. You need to have a faith rooted and grounded in the Word of God.  Perfect faith can only exist where the will of God is known.  You are hoping and waiting for something that is everlasting and eternal that is in God.

What are you waiting?  My salary to increase. Oh mine –”Set your mind on the things above not on the things below – the earth”

Set my mind on the city in Revelation – New Jerusalem – on the new city which God is the builder and maker. Salary or no salary I am just passing through this earth and said “Come Lord Jesus, Come”  Let Your Kingdom Come and let Your Will be done. 

6.  FAITH’S WILLINGNESS

“Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” - Hebrews 11:11

By faith Sarah received strength.   Her age had passed and she was able to conceive a child with the strength of God because of God that promised her and Abraham. 

Isaiah 46:4  New International Version

Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Psalms 92:13-15

13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, 15 to proclaim, “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.”…

For Sarah she bore fruits or seed in her old age.  Outside you look old to the world but inside its young and younger than you thought. Outside is natural but inside of you is supernatural and divine life is there.

 7. FAITH’S  WELCOME

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” -  Hebrews 11:13,14

Faith welcomes something we did not see but knows it is coming.  Like the soon coming of Jesus Christ!  This world is not our home we are passing through.  We are on a journey of faith like Abraham looking for a city of God.  All the Old Testament saints died without seeing the promises – but the scriptures promises us the “the New Jerusalem” city of God.

Revelation 3:13:

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.  And I will write on him My new name.”   --     Not only Jesus gives you a new name as you enter into New Jerusalem that great city of God  with One government, one King and one people of God. 

CONCLUSION OF FAITH

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  -  Hebrews 12:1-3