Jesus Christ - Our Living Hope

Cornerstone Church November 12, 2006

“JESUS CHRIST – OUR LIVING HOPE!”

“Too Blessed to be Distressed!”

1 Peter 1:3-9

DO ANY OF YOU EVER GET DISCOURAGED?

Feel frustrated?

Want to give up?

Have lost hope?

If you have, you are not alone!

A few years ago this happened to me:

On my day off, the day I was finally going to put up our Christmas Tree, the basement was flooded. I made some arrangements for my father-in-law to call the builder and a cleaning company and as I was getting ready for a shower, before everyone arrived, the Elk were eating our shrubs and breaking the branches off of the other trees with their antlers. Christmas was coming, too many extra curricular school events were scheduled, and at church the leaders were still having long meetings to decide on the budget!

I now understand completely why Moses struck the rock in the wilderness! It was a sinful act. But I can no longer look down on Moses knowing how my own heart works!

SOME DAYS JUST STINK!

Then the thought occurred to me!

Jesus didn’t just come as a baby in the manger. Jesus came as the Hope for the world! Jesus also promised to give me strength and hope if my mind is fixed on Him!

DID HE UNDERSTAND DAYS LIKE I WAS EXPERIENCING?

DOES HE UNDERSTAND THE DAYS YOU MIGHT

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING?

Yes He does! This is one of the great truths of the incarnation of God in human flesh! He understands and He cares!

Hebr. 4:15-16 NIV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

WHERE DO WE FIND HELP AND HOPE?

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that

we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you believe that? I hope that you do!

America as a Nation has faced some difficult days since the terrorist attack on 9/11/01! The fear that struck our hearts, the agony of those who lost loved ones was just the beginning of our trial as a nation.

The economy slumped

Layoffs and unemployment increased exponentially

Brave men and women left their homes to fight for the cause of freedom on foreign fields.

We are fighting on two battlefields – Afghanistan and Iraq.

We have also had to fight on the home front.

Where it is all going to end as Israel?

A few months ago they were fighting for their survival.

Many of you have personally faced or are facing personal hardships and tragedy!

Your trial might be an unexpressed, secret hardship, that no one knows but the LORD!

The death of a loved one

The diagnosis of a long term or life threatening disease

A child alienated from you and your family

Family Conflicts

Trouble with your marriage

Job loss

Financial difficulties

Work related difficulties (you know the stuff seen in Dilbert)

Trials and testings come to everyone! They are supposed to have a positive effect in our lives. That is if we keep our eyes on the LORD.

When we don’t, however, keep our eyes on the LORD trials can easily divert our attention from what is important and lasting and cause us to look at circumstances and the temporal – what does not last.

It is good for us to be reminded that The LORD Jesus Christ is our living hope!

KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON CHRIST!

Not on society!

Not on the pastor!

Not on the elders and deacons!

Not on one another!

Each one of us needs to keep our eyes focused on Christ and His sovereign plan!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade —kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Pet. 1:3-5 NIV

THE APOSTLE PETER WROTE THOSE WORDS TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS:

1 Pet. 1:1-2 NIV Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.