THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: A BIBLICAL EXPLANATION OF HOPE {PART 2}
REVELATION 14:13
Sermon Objective: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present."
INTRO
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev. 14:13)
Good Morning. Christ is risen! {He is risen in deed}. And never forget … NEVER FORGET … the resurrection changes everything!
As Vice President of the U.S., George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev's wife performed an act of great courage and hope, a gesture that must surely rank as one of the most profound acts of civil disobedience ever committed: She reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband's chest.
There in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all hoped that her husband was wrong. She hoped that there was another life, and that that life was best represented by Jesus who died on the cross, and that the same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband.
(Gary Thomas, in Christianity Today, October 3, 1994, p. 26.)
Hope.
Christian hope.
It stands in striking contrast to the despair of the world. It gives color to our world – even in the midst of grief. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Paul says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
In the past I have used the Book of the Revelation to explain and illustrate many key Biblical concepts to you. Those include great doctrines like, Sovereignty, The Fear of the Lord, The Holy Spirit, Christian Perseverance (faithful endurance), the Resurrection, Atonement, Repentance, and Prayer. In some cases, the words themselves are never used in the book but the doctrines are present and even a guiding force for the author. An example is the word “sovereignty.” It is never used but to deny that sovereignty is not illustrated and essential to the book would be ridiculous.
Christian hope falls into this category; hope. The word “Hope” is never used in the book; but to deny that the Christian’s Hope is not a guiding force for the book’s author would be … again … ridiculous.
Christian Hope is not only a significant reality to The Revelation’s author it is a bedrock principle of our faith. It is a permanent fixture. The New Testament (and the Old) cannot be understood without a proper understanding of hope. Hope is so wonderful that it deserves our attention this morning and, I assure you, will bring praise to your lips! Revelation is saturated with Christian hope. In the book we “see” hope realized. It is hope fulfilled.
Christian hope stands in stark contrast to the world’s mood and perspective. Have you noticed lately how much despair there is in the news? It seems every facet of life is discouraging for the secularists. The economy, the job market, international affairs, military affairs, (need I go on) all have indicators that are discouraging. Hope is at an all time low … if you are a secularist.
In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Cat's Cradle an important book comes to light. It is titled "What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?" The chief character is anxious to read it. But when he does, he finds that it doesn't take long. The whole book consists of one word: "Nothing."
Hope was not a characteristic of the secular world in the first century either. The word was seldom used. Only occasionally do you find it in writings of that time period. When it was employed it was almost always used in a context that refers to something illusory or even wishful thinking. Secular burial inscriptions reveal no content suggesting hope of an afterlife. In fact, one secular burial epitaph from Paul’s day says:
I was not
I became
I am not
I care not.
{Warren Wiersbe, “Be Ready,” p. 83}
Paul was right in suggesting the world was “without hope and without God” (Eph. 2:12ff; 1 Thess. 4:13).
But hope holds a key place in the life of the saint. As I said, it is a permanent fixture. It is imparted by the Holy Spirit and is designed to encourage us and strengthen us during tribulation. It is evidenced in the life of every Christian who is experiencing hard times
This is the second of my three part sermon on the nature and power of Christian hope. Last time I gave you three descriptive elements of Christian hope. They were:
1. HOPE IS: A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF GOD
Our hope has a sure foundation. It is not wishful thinking. Christians are never given reason to despair in the Scriptures. We are, rather, hope-filled because we serve the “God of Hope.” (Romans 15:13).
This hope is anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have something … SOMEONE … not bound TO this world that makes all the difference for life IN this world. That is why it is called “a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). The dwelling of Christ within us is the fount of hope. As Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
2. HOPE IS: A CONFESSION OF HUMAN LIMITATION
Hope is also a confession to the limitations of being human. It encourages humility as we discover our finiteness. Hope is based upon a trust in God. It is most essential when we (humans) are incapable of bringing about necessary change. It, in such times, clings to God and His promises.
Hope shows us our limitations. It declares our awareness of our need for the faithful, living and loving God to provide for us.
3. HOPE IS: THE SAINT’S PROTEST AND PLEA FOR JUSTICE
Hope is also a protest within the Christian spirit.
• It proclaims that the current state of the world is not the ideal will of God.
• It proclaims that God has something better to offer.
• It gives us an aura of anticipation as we await all things to be made right.
• It prays for God’s “will to be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) and then seeks to be God’s agent of change!
One writer says:
Biblical and Christian hope does not mean living in the clouds, dreaming of a better life. It is not merely a projection of what we would like to be or do. It leads us to discover seeds of a new world already present today, because of the identity of our God, because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope is, in addition, a source of energy to live differently, not according to the values of a society based on the thirst for possession and competition. … As we embark on this Life, we are lead to create signs of a different future here and now, in the midst of the difficulties of the world, seeds of renewal that will bear fruit when the time comes. … From the very beginning, Christian hope kindled a fire on the earth. (http://www.taize.fr/en_article343.html)
This author understands the power of Hope. Hope rescues us from paralysis and equips us to make things better. It resists merely setting back cursing the darkness and compels us to shine a light and make the world a better place.
Hope does not merely say “Things are bad; God will have to intervene” Hope says, “Things are bad; God will have to intervene … here am I use me!”
That’s what hope can do for you friends. It doesn’t just help you with dying like my first story – Christian hope empowers you to live! To REALLY REALLY Live! As I said, Peter call it a “living hope.”
1 Peter 1:3 says, “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.”
TODAY’S SERMON: HOPE IS: TEMPORARY
Today I want to give you one more explanatory element of Christian Hope … HOPE IS: TEMPORARY.
Someday hope will fade away -- disappear. It will vanish entirely. Not because all hope will be lost but, rather, because hope will be fulfilled -- realized! In Romans 8:24-25 Paul says, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
The return of Jesus is understood as the fulfillment of hope. Titus 2:13 refers to this as “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”
But until then, hope accomplishes many things within the life of the believer:
1. It motivates us to be pure (Rev. 14:4-5)
Hope weans God’s people from seeking and trusting this world.
The story is told of Maria. She lived in a small town in southern Kentucky. She did not see or hear from her husband for years. Edward was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean war and captured when the Chinese overpowered their positions in North Korea in February 1951.
Maria remembers very vividly the day the military officers visited her home. She knew what this meant and tears were flowing before they ever made it to the front porch. Edgar could not be accounted for; he was “Missing in Action” and presumed to be a prisoner of war. But Maria held out hope even though she knew the chances of his survival were grim.
As the war drug on, she felt grief at times. But she never gave up and never even considered moving on with life and living as if Edward was dead. No; she remained steadfast, faithful and hopeful for two long agonizing years.
Then, in 1953 without warning, the officers showed up on her door step again. But there was something different this time … there was a spring in their step. Maria could sense this was joyful news! And, sure enough, she was told that Edward was alive. He was part of a prisoner exchange in Panmunjom. He was on his way to Walter Reed Hospital for some treatment and nourishment and then he would be returning home!
In a similar way, hope gives us the incentive to remain faithful and pure knowing that there will be a reunion with our loving Lord.
1 John 3:2-3 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
The temporary nature of hope:
1. It motivates us to be pure (Rev. 14:4-5)
2. It challenges us to share our faith (Rev. 14:6-7)
1 Peter 3:15 says: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Hope believes that all people can be saved.
Hope believes no one is beyond the grace of God and everyone is worth being prayed for and offered the Good news.
Revelation 14:6-7 is a perfect example of this. We are on the cusp of a graphic judgment scene. But before the angels of judgment fly (vv. 8 ff.) we read these words: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
We live in a world that desperately needs hope. The eternal optimism and faith of God’s people is designed to draw people to Jesus. It is designed to whet their appetite to know God. Being hope-filled people will peak the sinner’s interest. It has proven over and over to do so.
• Paul and Silas sing while imprisoned in chains. Guards want to know why.
• The persecuted church of our day retains a holy optimism and joy and the onlookers take notice.
• You experience hard times and, rather than curse you bless. Rather than cut and run you remain joy-filled and hope-filled. The onlookers see the contrast.
Do you want the world to know your Christ? It will happen as you grow in hope and live lives of holy optimism knowing that your God reigns and your God will “provide all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
The temporary nature of hope:
1. It motivates us to be pure (Rev. 14:4-5)
2. It challenges us to share our faith (Rev. 14:6-7)
WRAP-UP
The temporary nature of hope:
1. It motivates us to be pure (Rev. 14:4-5)
2. It challenges us to share our faith (Rev. 14:6-7)
When I was growing up in Oklahoma there was a lake my family and I frequented a lot called “Keystone Lake.” Keystone was not a natural lake … prior to its creation in 1962 there were towns located there; one of which gives the lake its name. The town was to be flooded to make a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be flooded, all improvements and repairs in the whole town were stopped. What was the use of painting a house if it were to be covered with water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole village was to be wiped out? So, week by week, the whole town became more and more bedraggled, more gone to seed, more woebegone. An explanation was given by one town member: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present."
{The idea for this illustration came from Halford E. Luccock, “Unfinished Business”}
"WHERE THERE IS NO FAITH IN THE FUTURE, THERE IS NO POWER IN THE PRESENT."
Christian hope, gives faith for the future; not only the life to come but, maybe more importantly, this life. Again, 1 Peter 1:3 says, “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.”
This living hope in the resurrected Christ is what the writer of The Revelation is describing to his church.
• It is the source of their strength.
• It is the fount of endurance.
• It is their testimony.
Revelation is saturated with the Christian hope. In the book we “see” hope realized. It is hope fulfilled. It is designed to give us a glimpse of God’s accomplishment and encourage us to endure to the end. Those who have genuine hope in Christ will remain faithful and overcome.
And remember Revelation is written for you -- the here and now. It is a letter of encouragement and faithfulness. In the midst of the struggles you go through God is offering Himself to you as your strength, endurance and testimony too … as your hope!
Because:
"WHERE THERE IS FAITH IN THE FUTURE, THERE IS POWER IN THE PRESENT."
COMMUNION
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“The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia” from Eerdmans Press was the inspiration for much of this sermon. I would recommend referring to it if you would like to know more on Christian Hope. J Moltmann’s “Theology of Hope” and C. F. Moule’s “Meaning of Hope” are also worthy resources.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
