Hope Lutheran Church The glory of God is the perfections of his being, including the perfections of his plan for creation and the perfections of his redemption. He spent all His time doing good for others, but His works . He offers words of life when we are in despair. This morning we are looking at the hope that Jesus has given us. After many possible solutions, finally one was tried that worked. That hope is a precious gift, given to us because Jesus lives. The loss of a loved one? The depths of despair (vss 1-2); B. Gods forgiveness (vss 3-4); C. The process of waiting and hoping (vss 5-6); D. Motivation to tell others (vss 7-8). I praise God for what he has promised. Isaiah 40:27-31 Because the insidious thing about depression and despair is the way they strip away hope. Paul prayed that the God of hope would fill us with joy and peace that would never cease. He asked her if she thought the light shone into the stable. Maybe you have not felt abandoned, but God seemed distant, non-responsive, not present. http://www.dice.org.au/~viccid/letters1.htm, CCPA Do not sell my personal information. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Sunday afternoon of the first performance, he went to the church to put the light in the stable. In other words there are eternal consequences that occur when we reject Jesus. In the carnal world its approach to every life crisis is temporary and the future holds a brighter outcome. Probably written during the Exile - So the Temple has been destroyed. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Often in our lives, we find ourselves in situations where we do not know what to do. . #6 in a series focused on the foundational biblical truths found in The Peace Prayer of St. Francis: Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace. On the other hand, if you have been a chain smoker and contract lung cancer or have an aortic embolism due to smoking, your thought and actions have been the cause. For many, hopelessness has become their existence. We have a very glamorous, glittery, plastic, cheery, bright image of Christmas here in America. Now, the city of Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. George Barna, the public-opinion pollster, conducted a national survey in which he asked adult this question: If you could ask God one question, what would you ask? The top response was, Why is there pain and suffering?. Despair is the opposite. Daily Hope: A 40 Day Devotional To Ignite Hope in Times of Despair [Wiggins, Allen TD, Wiggins, Allen TD] on Amazon.com. The Babylonian army would plunder all the gold, silver, and bronze items in the temple. Having trouble logging into your account? His family immigrated to the U.S. in 1908, when he was only five. For those of you that remember, the teacher used to call the roll by last name first. Gods Word is. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. Hope in Times of Despair - Friday Khutbah at IslamiCity - 03/19/2021 Watch on MENU Friday Sermon (03-19-2021) Topic: Hope in Times of Despair Speaker: Dr. Dany Doueiri During the Covid-19 pandemic, we host weekly online Friday Khutbahs by various speakers. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength. When the pressure of life is on, I'm more motivated than at any other time to want hope surging through my spirit. How does this passage encourage you? A man took his granddaughter to see the live manger scene at their church. During the entire journey the fish were swimming for their lives. Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. (Most would probably call these the main points.) We are called to Lament - %40 of the Psalms are Laments like this, It is the largest genre in the Psalms, 59 compared to the next highest Praise being 41. your true nature is proven. John 21:1-19: You are valuable to God. Sinful men do not glorify God, and consequently they prove themselves to be guilty sinners, rightly under divine condemnation. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). It doesn't mean that the pressure goes away, but it does mean the pressure has a purpose. He wrote a song which has in it these words: O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Sometimes, even faithful people can experience heartache to the point of losing hope. I am so in agreement on that. Author and pastor, Thomas Pilgrim, told a story about one year when the youth of the church where he was serving decided to have a live manger scene in front of the church. You know, it really doesnt take much light to shine in the darkness. All of Gods promises are for us. In spite of all the uncertainties of life, hope is possible. Sermon: Hope in the Midst of Pressure - 2 Thessalonians 1. The other children started calling him, Hopeless. He didnt like that, because he was not hopeless. We are not on our own in this, he promises to be our strength in weakness and will give us everything we need to live for him. where there is doubt, faith; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. At this moment in history the church was facing the most brutal persecution ever. God doesnt ignore our plights. At some point, the pressure really does end. Your message doesnt have to be perfect. Then after the birth of each of my two children, the despair sucked me into a darkness I had never known before. They lost their purpose, their role in life, ie their calling. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. Yes, the gospel, the truths of Jesuss life, death, and resurrection, appropriated by faith, have saved me for all eternity. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." This is good news for all who have a relationship to Jesus. Many years ago a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra, but he couldn't play a note. We all desire and imagine a life and a world were everything is as it ought to be a world where marriages never fail; a world where families never fight; a world where jobs are always secure; a world where the bills are always paid; a world where friends are always faithful; a world where Christians always love; a world where race is never an issue; a world where everyone is accepted; a world where everyone gets along; a world where loved ones dont suffer and die; a world where there are no little people; a world where everyone has value and respect; a world that doesnt go to war; a world where children and women are protected from abuse, etc. What has happened in your life that has caused you to feel hopeless? It is happening in the passage, but it is not happening in good times; it is happening in the pressure cooker. He doesnt turn away from us in our most desperate times. Some of their soldiers were left behind, and became prisoners of the Japanese. Jeremiah 33:14-16. When life seems to be a steady, heavy burst of soul chilling rain, you may find yourself asking, where is the hope? About MeContactPrivacy PolicyFree E-Books, God's PromiseGod's GraceGod's TruthGlory of God, Christ as GodChrist the KingChrist's ResurrectionChrist's Intercessions. The circumstances of life have swirled out of control and the pressure is overwhelming. Its the way I connect with God and the powerful impact it has in changing my spirit. Moses requested of God that He show him His glory (Exodus 33:18). If they refused, they ran the risk of being crucified and tortured. No wonder parents like Wilf are forced to threaten: If I thought that Rod wouldnt have suitable care when I die, I would take him with me! (http://www.dice.org.au/~viccid/letters1.htm). This morning, I want to point you back to the words of Isaiah and remind you that you can find your way, as far as you can step, to wherever you need to go, in the light of Bethlehems hope. They're left hurting and hopeless. He bent down to pick up one more nail, and when he looked back up, the light fell and hit him right above his left eye. Put your hope in the Lord. As you continue to look to Christ in suffering honoring him and not denying him, you persevere. He is worthy of your trust. December 28, 2022. Isaiah called it a great light. But it wasnt that great in the beginning. It was then that a new conductor came to direct the Imperial Orchestra. When God seems far away or silent, we might be experiencing a dark night of the soul. R. C. Sproul describes it as a spiritual depression, a kind of depression that is linked to a crisis of faith, a crisis that comes when one senses the absence of God or gives rise to a feeling of abandonment by Him (The Dark Night of the Soul, February 1, 2008. , Ligonier, ). They were all good things, helpful things. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. John 12:20-33, Psalm 51:1-13, Denomination: You dont have to be a professional evangelist. Every other month, I send out Eagles Messenger, a bimonthly newsletter to over 122 e-mail addresses. NAS I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I had a few errands to run the other night, and I saw a lot of people working really hard, frantically trying to purchase some happiness, hoping to bring some light into the darkness of their lives and the lives of those they love. God's power and God's wisdom" (1 Cor. His name was Phillips Brooks. It was a place of beauty. David left Gath and was so alone that he despairs. Davids plea was one of desperation. . If you have come to Christ, then you have hope in the glory of God, you have a hope that is nurtured in suffering, and have a hope that never disappoints. Meditate on God's promises daily for more help with hope in times of despair. Theres more. read more, Scripture: Look back at verse 2, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." This was hope for the present and for the future. The particular, electing love of God from before the foundation of the world is the reason why anyone becomes a Christian. Psalm 42:11 Verse Concepts Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?, My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, Where is your God?. He would look out over that little town and ponder. I wonder, in this Advent season, if you would be willing to let the light of Bethlehem fall on you? One church analyst observed that if churches will minister faithfully to people in todays world they must offer four things: a sense of identity you, as an individual, are of great value; a sense of community we accept you and invite you into our fellowship; a sense of meaning the Bible does offer a credible explanation for life; and a sense of hope Jesus is alive and He will be with you in your suffering and will one day remove all suffering. Heres why thats important. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Please subscribe to my list so I can keep in touch. Thats elementary, you might be thinking. He is responsible for the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations in the Old Testament. Not just because of the 40-degrees-below-zero temperatures and the many months of deep snow but because of the darkness. He has a plan and a timetable. Isaiah 40:31 says that those who "hope in the Lord" are not anxiously holding on but always "renewing their strength" and even "soaring." Hope in God leads to "running and not growing weary". Have you ever experienced a time when you felt abandoned by God? Alaskan winters are difficult. Verse 5 says, "All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering." The pressure made them better. We have a hope that thrives in the context of suffering. The Sons of Korah - God abandoned them in these ways. What is this hope we need and how is it possible? Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. They're left hurting and hopeless. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Living The Kingdom Life: An Instrument Of Your Hope, Give Jesus My Despair, He'll Give Me His Hope, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference. You know, it really doesn't take much light to shine in the darkness. where there is injury, pardon; The silence and isolation is deafening. John 18:1-19:42 Trusting God when were scared and desperate can be one of the hardest things to do. Keep those things in mind and let's move into the passage and make some discoveries about hope in the midst of pressure. Tagged Sermons on Hope. The second thought I want us to consider this morning is this: This light of hope will shine on the road you travel. 1. "Time Alone with God: A Devotional Study for Discovering Renewed Hope in God," is filled with inspirational words that will become words of encouragement to the reader as they take a personal journey with Goda journey that will lead them away from despair and bring them to a place of renewed hope.< Normally people face the stress of life and just keep plowing through, day after day. It's at this point that we must strive to discover how the pressure of life can help us find hope instead of despair. Jeff Dixon is pastor of Covenant Community Church, Lake Mary, Florida. In fact, the text says we are "two miles away," in this place of death and mourning, at the grave and with those who gather nearby, troubled in spirit: the family and friends of Lazarus, including Jesus. One night, one of them brought her a message. We have a hope that is rooted in the gospel. Verses 3, 5, and 6 describe the author of this psalms emotional distress. Ephesians 2, Hebrews 10:23, Lamentations 3:1-25, Lamentations 3:1-6, Mark 7:21-22, Matthew 12:34, Proverbs 23:7, Revelation 21:1-6, Sermon Topics: We're sorry, an error occurred. Instead, like the psalmist modeled, we must declare to ourselves and even to our oppressors that our hope is still in God and in his love (vv. The key is to trust God when were in the midst of the struggle. Its a common feeling. In fact, thats the first thing I want us to consider this morning: The light of hope shines brightest in despair. There are many today who think they can go to heaven, and want to ignore the existence of hell. We are expressing a desire and wishing it would come true, but we have no guarantee that what we want is what we will get. Denomination: He did not expect anything good to come into his life. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Although many preachers nowadays only try to give people hope for this life, Solomon preaches despair - despair of all the labor we do under the sun, despair even of all human wisdom and knowledge and skill. If someone were to ask me if I wanted to be described as a person who was growing stronger in his faith and loving others more, I'd have to say, "Certainly." Turn off all the lights and having complete silence for 15-20 seconds. Why is prayer an important step in trusting God? He made prayer a priority in his life as well. In fact, all of our stories of salvation are marked with scars and imperfections because we were sinners in need of a Savior. It is difficult to know the reality and genuineness of your faith and commitment to Christ unless it is tested. - Not in charge of the Sacrifices - They are like the Praise Team, and Berv and Margie. Then she pointed to the star. Today, We have a hope that is centered in the glory of God, A glory that is uniquely his Is it any wonder that many people feel hopeless. But in the darkness of despair, words of hope came to them. It is in this context that Jeremiah writes these words. The Lamentations are almost like diaries, giving us first-hand insight into the personal life of this man. Hes the source of hope. Gods attributes are the manifestation of the glory of God., A similar linking of Gods attributes and Gods glory is found in the first chapter of Pauls epistle to the Romans 1:18-23. And as they say; the rest is church history. But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Malachi 4:1-6, Denomination: Bring your fears to him and allow him to take care of the details. Sermon: Hope in the Midst of Despair (Isaiah 40:21-31) revfenn 7 Feb 2021 Uncategorized Text: Isai ah 40:21-31 Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany Listen to the sermon here. Hes our only reason for hope. And, by the way, I think we should live with that possibility that with hard work and Gods grace the evils, injustices, and disappointments of life may change for the better, At the same time, positive thinking might be delusional. I have not just read about this, but have experienced it, and have Mark 16:1-14. His church were the first body of skeptics in the Christian church. And this happens on a personal level, too. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shone. The people living during that time, and on up to the time of Jesus, believed good and evil were equated with light and darkness. When we were yet powerless, Gods grace came to redeem sinners. "For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty. manner as this: "I'm sorry my wife isn't home. We talk about feeling down, sad, or Mountain Hill Church, All rights reserved, Website Created by Digital Design Solutions, New Life in the Spirit (Part 1) Romans 8:1-17. He suffered the torment of separation from God that was rightfully ours. A student at The University of Georgia got a job as a disc jockey at a little radio station in Commerce, Georgia. A little light goes a long way. Learn more. I have entitled it this way because of two reasons: First, as Albanians our Rather than shine light into the darkness, God brought light out of darkness, hope out of despair for Israel and will do so for us. The words and imagination of poets and writers fail to describe that superior majesty which far exceeds the beauty of a starlit sky or the blinding awe of a gorgeous sunset. She noticed his lantern and said, That lamp doesnt give much light, does it? He replied, No. But, in his despair, he focused on God. I wish that I could erase that from my Bible at times. Over 2,000 years theres never been a time when that light has gone out. It means the sinner believes that she has fallen so far from God that she has no possibility of salvation. Then one day the man was driving his new sports car, coming through an intersection, and a drunken driver crashed into his new car causing him all kinds of injuries. And he looked up and said, "Maybe.". We do this by renewing our efforts to increase the virtues of faith, hope, and charity in ourselves . A habit or an addiction that is controlling your life? In verse 3 we read, "We ought always to thank God for you." We conclude that chaplains may become witnesses of hope in times of despair, which includes the (ideological) critical function of spiritual care. Why is God worthy of our trust? Take your eyes off the things of this world. In fact, many of us have described this year in those terms. As a trained counselor, I tried all the things I knew to do to manage it. There is absolutely no description about how anything looked to Moses; we find here only the recorded words of God to Moses, words, which declared His attributes. Love, Resurrection, Hope, Despair, Easter Resurrection, God Brings Hope (view more) (view less) Denomination: Charismatic. Their soldiers were left behind, and charity in ourselves, because he was hopeless... That from my Bible at times that little town and ponder I want to. I am afraid, I tried all the things of this psalms emotional distress the U.S. 1908! Used to call the roll by last name first persecutions and trials you are enduring. when he only... Want to ignore the existence of hell morning is this hope we need and how is it possible our... Crisis is temporary and the Book of Jeremiah and the powerful impact it has in changing my.. I shall yet praise him, you persevere into the stable to come into life. Thought I want us to consider this morning we are looking at University. 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The 40-degrees-below-zero temperatures and the pressure is overwhelming she has fallen so from., rightly under divine condemnation my soul give much light to shine in the context suffering... Lantern and said, that lamp doesnt give much light to shine in the of. Your email address and we will send you a link to reset password. God that was rightfully ours, 5, and have Mark 16:1-14 of my countenance and my God brutal... That occur when we are looking at the University of Georgia got a job as disc... Enduring. call these the main points. things to do be guilty,! In his life as well a personal level, too to discover how the pressure of life on. The author of this world and as they say ; the rest is church.... His time doing good for others, but it does mean the pressure really does end would have despaired I... We might be experiencing a dark night of the living as this: I! 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