2022 Advent Sermon Series
“Hope is Already Ours”
Isaiah 9:1-7
Introduction
- The Advent season is a wonderful time of year!!
- Not only does it signify the celebration of Jesus’ arrival to this world
- Sometimes it brings to memory celebrations of years gone by
- More often than not, it definitely comes with mixed feelings of joy and sadness
- However, one thing it must do is remind us of the hope we are all offered
- Hope in a God who loves us and continually provides everything we need
- Yes, life can be tough, and often it is unfair – but God STILL provides hope
- Today, to set the stage for the season, I’d like to discuss what this “hope” is
- Read Isaiah 9:1-7 / Pray
- TR: God gives us THREE incredible promises that we can stand on …
Point 1 – God promises that hopelessness will not go on forever
- NEVERTHELESS!! (one of my fav words in the bible)
-- Hebrew: Ki; that or for or when (small word with a HUGE impact)
- Background: Isaiah, Ch 8 brings to mind all the things going on in the world:
-- War, despair, invasion, uncertainty, loss of life/job/security/happiness
-- Even with all these things going on – and even with this world’s rebellion
-- In spite of all our struggles and challenges that we face …
-- God still shows His love by giving us hope, a future; promise of tomorrow
- Consider this: What love is this? Simply defined: John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
- But it is SO much more than that (we must remember the order of love):
-- Jesus said in John 15:9-12, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
- Get this: God loved – so Jesus loved (He followed the Father’s example)
-- Impact for us: We are called to remain in that love (accept, live in, follow)
-- APP: Even when times are tough and unbearable – we live within His love
- How? How do we do this? We choose to live with hope before us!
-- Why? Because the promise of God is that we are not alone – we are loved!
- Look at the text of Isaiah 9 … (re-read v2)
-- The shadow of death brings gloom; but something else is coming
-- God promises that this will not go on forever – there will be a change!
-- How? God will still show Himself to us, even in our most difficult times!
- And what’s more – you shall grow and expand even greater than before (v3)
-- Hebrew: qatsiyr; harvest – something given back for what you’ve put in
-- Result: His people will rejoice; there will be a return on our investment
- But what is our investment? What does God call us to do today?
-- We are called to believe something else is coming – we are not alone!
-- APP: With hope (Christ), we are no longer slaves (to life, to sin, to anything)!
- Advent literally means the revealing – the unveiling – and coming
-- Now, when you consider Who it reveals … (ask) “What more could you need?”
- TR: Feeling hopeless often comes from a feeling of oppression (ex: under sin)
Point 2 – God promises there will be no more slavery to sin
- Historically, the Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors
-- Example: Book of Exodus reveals their deliverance from Pharaoh’s rule
- But here Isaiah talks of the freedom to come from following God (choosing Him)
-- NT: Disciples taught of this freedom from sin and restoration through Grace
- See this: We each have a yoke around our neck until we ask for its removal
-- We are all bound by sin, to this world and it’s punishments under God
-- Romans 6:20-23, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-- See this: God offers a choice for us to have this burden of sin removed
- CH: So why is it that we continue to ensure it fits so snugly around our neck?
-- Consider: All that is needed for sin to be released is to ASK God for it!
- The prophet Isaiah speaks clearly to God’s promise for all creation:
1. The yoke of slavery will be broken
2. The heavy burden will be released from our shoulders
3. We will no longer be under the oppression of control
4. Even our uniforms of war will be taken off and burned
- How? Through the power of God over His creation (next year messages)
-- There is nothing else that can release us from control of any oppressor
-- Even in our best efforts, we will always fail – it is WHY we need a Savior
- See the warning Isaiah gives in previous chapter for rebelling against God:
-- Isaiah 8:9-10, “Huddle together, you nations, and be terrified. Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Yes, prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! (said it twice – take note) Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God is with us!”
- APP: What God has done in chapter 9 is called Isaiah to prophesy
-- Nothing we do will ever succeed over God’s plan – even nations will fail
-- So, if God will overcome nations, what can He do for you?
- Challenge to lean into right now: “What are you a slave of?”
-- Anything that takes focus off of God is a “master” (hobby, work, etc.)
- We all have this problem … truth: it affects us all in some way
-- It’s why discipleship is a lifelong journey to draw closer to God
- TR: How? By going to the one who has provided the way: Jesus Christ!
-- It is why our third point is so critical to see …
Point 3 – God promises to bring hope through a child
- Isaiah was granted a vision of a child to come
-- Fact: Many (OT time period) have been waiting for this child to be born
-- Many had been watching and hoping but sadly - many still missed Him
- Isaiah was being asked to tell the world that a child is coming
-- Our challenge is to tell that He has already arrived (Advent: revealing)
- Let’s talk about who this Child has become (v7-9):
-- He is to be called Wonderful, for He is both God and man to us; perfect
-- He is the perfect Counselor, one who understands your burdens
• Ever been sold out by a friend? Jesus had Judas Iscariot
• Ever felt like you had no one to testify for you? Jesus had Simon Peter
• Ever been left alone and helpless? Jesus had every disciple abandon Him
- FACT: No one can love us like Christ can; it’s why He is a perfect rep. of hope!
-- He has walked where we have walked and still (don’t miss) He has overcome!
- The outline for living here is simple and yet so much is lost in translation
• We will be given a mediator, because we cannot earn God’s forgiveness
• By being an Everlasting Father, we will always be loved and supported
• As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; something we cannot do
• Because His government shall never end, we won’t be enemies of God’s
-- Deeper: We are not in charge, never were and never will be
-- It is an eternal government that is promised … not one that changes yearly
-- Consider: Can you think of one ruler on this Earth that this can apply too?
- Is there anyone living today that could bring such agreement among all?
-- I submit that there is not, no matter how good the “campaign slogan” is
-- It is why hope can be such a powerful attractor …
-- It shows us what God reveals in Jesus – true and everlasting PEACE!
- God promises to give us a child, a counselor, One who will walk with us
-- Think of this: How much more innocent could a child be?
-- Get this: God comes to us in the most non-threatening manner possible
-- It’s through a baby … but a baby who promises to change the world forever
- APP: Our hope must reside firmly in this child – who has now become Lord
-- This is the message of Advent: seeing Who the child becomes gives us hope!
-- Knowing that we will are rescued because of His work is why we celebrate!
Big Idea
- When it comes to living with hope, the choice of how we will live really is ours
-- It is something that each of us has to come to terms with right now
- Consider the three points from today:
1. God promises that hopelessness will not go on forever
2. God promises there will be no more slavery to sin
3. God promises to bring hope through a child
- What this means is:
1. There is no other way to find peace than through hope
2. The promise of God’s hope comes through a child as a gift to us
3. Each of us are given a choice to either receive or deny God’s offer (child)
- Christmas is a wonderful season to remember and celebrate what God has done
- This morning, I offer you one challenge: Who will you tell about God’s hope?
