First Sunday In Advent: The Hope Candle Series

(Modified from a message preached at FBC Chamois, MO on 11-27-2022; not an exact transcription)

Introduction: This is the first Sunday in the Advent season, the four or so Sundays before Christmas Day. Now I understand that some churches believe in using these candles and some don’t; and there is some variation as to what’s covered for each of these Sundays. This Sunday we’re looking at hope, and this first candle would be called the hope candle. By the way, I’ve attended a few churches that have these advent candles but this is the first time I’ve tried to preach based on these meanings, etc., so if you could send an extra prayer my way, believe me, I’ll be grateful!

This morning I’m going at the text a little differently. You know I usually stay in one passage and look at what it says but this time I’m going to use one verse as a springboard and look at several passages. I won’t be reading the various passages, just mentioning them, and by all means please look at these passages when you get home.

Today’s text, then, comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 15 and the first few verses:

Romans 15:1-6, New American Standard Bible: 1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written: “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON ME.” 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NASB)

(Prayer)

When you saw the candle being lit (okay, when [name withheld] turn on the switch), what came to mind? You know, the people of Bible times had a different definition of hope than we do these days. I can say, “Well, I hope to see you next Sunday” and that’s a genuine wish. Thing is, none of us know what’s going to happen between today and next Sunday. We’re aware of this and we’re realistic enough to know anything can happen and sometimes does.

The people of those days, though, had a different approach to this and if they said, “I hope such and such takes place,” they were confident it WAS going to happen. No doubt about it. And it’s with this double-focus that I’d like to speak about hope this morning.

Maybe you’ve heard the old saying, “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot in the end of it and hold on”. Sometimes literary authors speak of “a slender thread of hope” or something along those lines. Now, it goes without saying there were times it seemed there was no hope anywhere. In fact, one of these events happened very early in the days after Creation.

The first two chapters of Genesis, the first two in the Bible!, describe how God made the world, a little at a time. He did something on the first day, and a little more on each of the six days (I believe these were literal, 24-hour days) with the creation of Adam on day 6. God took a rib from Adam’s side and made Eve. So far, so good, right?

We’re never told how long this perfect state existed but we do know how it ended. Genesis 3 has the story how both Adam and Eve fell from that condition. Eve listened to the serpent, ate the forbidden fruit, and then gave some to Adam who then ate it too. As an aside, I used to work with a minister of a different denomination at a certain office. We had some interesting conversations, but one of the funniest—at least from his perspective—took place when we were talking about this passage (Genesis 3). When I told him, humorously, that Adam never had a chance because he fell for the first bad girl in history, he laughed out loud!

But it was no laughing matter for Adam and Eve. God had told them to NOT do one thing, and they did it, and now they were going to receive their punishment for disobedience. Nobody can disobey God and get by with it, for very long, because He remembers. Everything. And as a result of their sin, Adam and Eve—and us, too, because we’re their direct descendants—will suffer because of this. They went from fellowship with God to separation; from blessings to curses; from the Garden of Even to the wilderness; and from what they used to have to Adam having to work like a dog to barely get enough to eat.