“The Proclamation of Hope”
Hebrews 10:19-25
November 30, 2008
Pastor John L. Harper
Warden Assembly of God
Introduction: Hope is a strange thing. It will give you confidence in the bleakest of times. But hope is not any good unless you have your hope in someone that will not let you down. There are a lot of things that we hope for, and a lot of things that we wish for. The hope I am talking about is the hope that we have as believers. This hope has its foundation in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, and what He will do when He takes us out of this world. When you have this kind of hope, you can face anything. Listen to what is happening in Bangladesh.
“We have never seen days like this in Bangladesh! On average, ONE NEW ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH IS PLANTED EVERY THREE WEEKS!
In 1980, Bangladesh had 12 Assemblies of God churches; today that number is more than 400! Much of the astounding growth is happening through God- called men and women who have been trained and sent out from the Assemblies of God Bible School in Dhaka, the nation’s capital.
Sentu and his wife are two of those sent. Not every new church planter faces the opposition this couple has endured. In an attack by radicals, Sentu nearly lost his life. Shot in the face, stabbed nine times, his throat slit four times-his recovery took 18 months and numerous surgeries. During that time, in spite of grave personal danger, his wife remained faithful in ministry. As soon as Sentu was able, he convinced everyone that he intended to continue serving at the same place where he was attacked.” (“Faces of Eurasia” November 2008, Omar J. Beiler)
This is the hope that I am talking about. This isn’t holding on until Jesus rescues us, this is standing as representatives of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and proclaiming His victory over His enemies!
I. OUR HOPE IS FOUND THROUGH CONFIDENCE (vs. 19-21)
A. We can enter the holy place boldly
1. By the blood of Jesus
2. By the fact that ours sins are forgiven
Famous Atheist
A little over a month before he died, the famous atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, “I know I shall die in hope.” Then in profound sadness, he would add, “But hope needs a foundation.”
Our Daily Bread, April 17, 1995
B. We can enter the holy place by a new way
1. Through His flesh (which is the veil)
(Mat 27:51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
(Mat 27:52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(Mat 27:53) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
2. Because He is the High Priest over the House of God
Application: How do you enter the presence? Meek, mild, timid? We have the confidence through the blood of Jesus to enter into the most holy place.
II. OUR HOPE IS FOUND THROUGH CONFESSION (vs. 22-23)
A. Our heart must be right
1. Draw near with a true heart
(Psa 24:3) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
(Psa 24:4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
2. Draw near with full assurance of faith
3. Draw near with a clean conscience
4. Draw near with a clean body
B. Our faith must be in the right place
1. Hold our confession fast
a. Never lose the hope that is our confession
b. Never waver in believing in that hope
2. Honor the one who is faithful
a. God is faithful
(1Th 5:24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
b. God will keep His promises
(Num 23:19) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
(Num 23:20) Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Application: Is your heart right with God? Where is your faith? Is your faith in your good works or in the finished work of Christ?
III. OUR HOPE IS FOUND THROUGH CONSIDERATION (vs. 24-25)
A. We must consider one another
1. So that we are provoked to love
2. So that we are provoked to good works
B. We must compel one another
1. To meet together
(Act 2:42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Act 2:43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(Act 2:44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(Act 2:45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(Act 2:46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(Act 2:47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
There is a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off.
Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day.
The man was sitting in front of his fireplace and welcomed the preacher and tried to engage him in conversation. However, the minister didn’t say much. He just walked over to the fireplace, pulled one of the logs away from the flame - and then went and sat down. They sat there in silence for the longest time, watching the fire. And as they watched, the log that sat off by itself, the fire on it began to smolder and then it went out.
The preacher and the man sat for a long time looking into the fireplace ¡V and then the man said "OK, I’ll be at church next Sunday."
("Let Us Draw Near" by Phil Anderson)
2. To make it to the gathering THE RAPTURE
(2Th 2:1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2Th 2:2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Application: Do you realize that the Day of the Lord is coming soon? What are you doing to make sure that you will be there at “the gathering?”
CONCLUSION: Alexander the Great
As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he had reserved for himself. “Hope,” answered the king. “In that case,” said Perdiccas, “we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes.” He then refused the estate allotted to him, and several other of the king’s friends did the same.
Daily Walk, May 25, 1992.
(Joh 14:1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
(Joh 14:2) 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.
(Joh 14:3) 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.
(Joh 14:4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
(Joh 14:5) Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
(Joh 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Our hope has its foundation in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, and when we confess that we come to Jesus to receive that free gift He will give us eternal life. This is the kind of hope that will spur others on to be prepared for the “meeting in the air.” Are you ready?
We Shall See the King
There’s a blessed time that’s coming, coming soon (coming soon),
It may be evening, morning or at noon (or at noon),
The wedding of the bride, united with the Groom,
We shall see the King when He comes.
Refrain
We shall see the King, We shall see the King,
We shall see the King when He comes;
He is coming in pow’r, we’ll hail the blessed hour,
We shall see the King when he comes.
Are you ready should the Savior call today? (call today)
Would Jesus say, “Well done” or “Go away”? (Go away)
My home is for the pure, the vile can never stay,
We shall see the King when He comes.
Refrain
Oh, my brother, are you ready for the call? (for the call)
To crown your Savior King and Lord of all? (Lord of all)
The kingdoms of this world shall soon before Him fall;
We shall see the king when He comes.
Refrain
Words & Music: Variously attributed to John B. Vaugh¬an (1862-1918) or James D. Vaugh¬an (1864-1941)
God Ain’t Dead!
I am not a connoisseur of great art, but from time to time a painting or picture will really speak a clear, strong message to me. Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were, "Hush child, God ain’t dead!"
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack, that old man, the weeping child, and those words "God ain’t dead? keep returning to my mind. Instead of it being a reminder of the despair of life, it has come to be a reminder of hope! I need reminders that there is hope in this world.
In the midst of all of life’s troubles and failures, I need mental pictures to remind me that all is not lost as long as God is alive and in control of His world.
James DeLoach, associate pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Houston, quoted in When God Was Taken Captive, W. Aldrich, Multnomah, 1989, p. 24.
