Hope In A Hopeless Time Series

HOPE IN A HOPELESS TIME

Colossians 1:3-6

Christmas at Black Creek

In the past two weeks, we’ve seen many crazy things take place in the world. From terrorist attacks in India to tramplings at Wal-Mart to shootings at K-Mart to an elected official in Birmingham getting arrested – all seems to be pointing to the bad side.

The Christmas season is to be about everything good, not bad. Instead of looking at things from the earth to the heavens, let’s begin looking at things from God’s perspective – from the Heavens down to the earth. It will change our outlook.

Having Hope – how can we have hope?

Norman Vincent Peale in the 20th century penned a book and a program entitled “The Power of Positive Thinking.” Actually the Apostle Paul gave the first look at Postitve Thinking with Philippians 4:8.

“Lovely, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report – think on these things.

I submit to you this morning – never forget this:

Without Jesus Christ as your Savior – you have NO hope!

Fathers – you will never be the father/man of the house without the leadership of Christ in your life.

Mothers – you will never be the mother/wife/woman without the leadership of Christ.

Youth – without Christ in your life – you will fall.

TODAY, we are going to establish how to have hope in this hopeless time. The only way to have hope is through Jesus Christ.

Four things this morning:

1. Hope established in the life of Jesus Christ

2. Hope of being raised from the dead and being given a new and perfect and glorious body – a body just like Jesus.

3. Hope of the Lord’s return and of being with the Lord Himself forever.

4. Hope of the glorious inheritance of what we are to receive from God as sons and daughters of His.

Let’s begin with the text this morning:

Colossians 1: 3-6

I. Hope Established with the Life of Christ

a. Evidence of God’s Power – John 1:1-5

b. Evidence of God’s Providence – John 1:6-13

c. Evidence of God’s Perfection – John 1:14; 1:29

• Christ’s teachings were RADICAL to the religious right

o Operated under the law of Grace, Mercy, and Love

o Gave hope to the hopeless – and since He’s alive, He’s giving hope to the hopeless today!

• One of the greatest hope passages is found in Matthew 11:28-20

o Christ TRANSFORMS and REFORMS

II. Hope of being raised from the dead and being given a new and perfect and glorious body – just like Christ.

This promise of Hope was proven in John 20 as Christ rose from the grave and defeated Death, Hell, and the Grave!

Teachings of the Apostles, which saw Christ, further emphasize this hope:

Acts 24:15 – And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

1 Cor 15:50-54 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Phil 3:20-21 – For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

III. Hope of the Lord’s return and of being with the Lord Himself forever

Titus 2:12-13 – Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

John 14:1-3 – In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thess 4:16-17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the

voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.