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