The Claim To Hope
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
A time of hope… I hope I get this or that for Christmas. I hope it does or doesn’t snow. I hope my team can pull off a W in the upcoming bowl game...
Our way of using the word has caused confusion when we read about hope in the Bible. Two different things.
Biblical hope isn’t wishful thinking.
Biblical hope is the opposite and the replacement of despair.
The Bible illustrates hope as something that is sturdy and unmoving.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
In Christ, we have a claim to hope.
Signs of Life
Signs of Life
v. 1
Following the destruction brought about by the Assyrians (10:33-34).
Isaiah has this vision of all of Israel, north and south, utterly destroyed. Chopped down.
You could probably see the hope fading.
In that moment, he needed something of substance to hold onto. Something that could stabilize him.
Isaiah needed hope.
v. 1: “There shall come forth...”
The unconquerable God moves to restore hope.
When life looks desolate - look for God to move.
He provides signs of life.
For Isaiah, his hope was bound up in a person who was to come.
For us,
Hope is bound up in Christ who has come.
Source of Life
Source of Life
vv. 2-5
What are the qualities of this person?
Wisdom & Understanding / Counsel & Might / Knowledge & Fear (Reverence)
All qualities that are good and appropriate.
Qualities of the new life we experience in a relationship with God. The life He brings. A New life.
Jesus brings new life.
Why baptism is so important to us.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
And notice something specific about how God signals who this person is.
“The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.”
Look at the language used at the baptism of Jesus:
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
A clear connection made by Matthew to the expected Savior in Isaiah 11.
Savior of Life
Savior of Life
vv. 6-9
Absurd statements. Reversals. Fundamental changes.
“And a little child shall lead them.” Wolf, Leopard, Lion.
Instinct to protect children, but here a fundamental change.
Also, a dual meaning.
Creates expectation that a child would come and fundamentally change everything.
Children change things… But even more…
The Christ Child will change your life for the best.
Signal of Life
Signal of Life
v. 10
This root shall be lifted up.
Signal = a flag on a pole as a rallying point. Military.
The nations shall see it and respond.
But what is lifted up? The root. The child.
Jesus, who was lifted upon a cross.
Will you come to Jesus?
He promises to you a life filled with hope.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Friday’s scavenger hunt - searching for different things.
People are searching for hope.
We have hope because of Jesus.
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.
Because the Spirit lives in me, as a Christian, I have hope.
I have real hope.
Salvation gives me hope for today and for eternity.