Advent Day 1: Hope Series

Could do it!

- I know we could easily turn this & say, yes but this was a Jew, & they were

closer, & chosen by God. Of course he could call out to God.

- I think this is another stigma that the world has placed on God, & salvation.

- There was nothing special about the Israelites that earned God’s love,

besides one thing, Faith.

- Faith was instilled in them through Abraham who blindly heeded God’s

call to go to a place he knew not.

- In the end of Abraham’s life, he had learned if you trust in God,

wonderful things are awaiting you.

- The same call goes to us.

2 Timothy 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

- It’s a call of faith. It’s a call to walk towards God’s purpose & grace (the wonderful) &

be complete.

- There’s another phrase though. It’s one that completely takes away how

wonderful Christ is.

Q- Do you know what it is?

- It’s when we say, well wouldn’t that have been wonderful.

- You say that when you missed the wonderful.

- There’s no hope when you say that, only despair.

- Let me close with words of hope, & let’s reflect on the wonderful hope that was born

these 2000 plus years ago.

> Whose side is God on? (storiesforpreaching.com)

During the US civil war Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. Lincoln was not a church-goer but was a man of deep, if at times unorthodox, faith. At one point one of the ministers said, “Mr President, let us pray that God is on our side”. Lincoln’s response showed far greater insight, “No, gentlemen, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

Lincoln reminded those ministers that religion is not a tool by which we get God to do what we want but an invitation to open ourselves to being and doing what God wants.

- Lincoln also gave us the picture of, wouldn’t it be wonderful to win the war. No,

wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear the words, well done, My good & faithful son.

- We can hold a lot of things as wonderful, but Christ is greater than any of them.

Q- This morning I want to ask if you see what’s wonderful?