“Wishing and Hoping”
Isaiah 9:6-7a
Several years ago, I wrote and published my first book. The entire process took about two and a half years. The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years. And rather than one author, there were approximately 40. With very different backgrounds; sheep herders, fishermen, a tax collector and even a doctor. The final book, the book of Revelation was written around 90AD. Most of these were written continuously with some gaps of course but none like the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The people had become accustomed to hearing from the prophets, 17 of them – but suddenly it stopped. There are only three possibilities as to what was happening. (1) God stopped speaking. (2) People stopped listening or (3) God was saying I just need you to wait. And that’s the theory I believe. He was saying I just want you to learn to wait. It was not the time. You need time to reflect on what has already been said.
We looked at the topic of waiting last week and one thing and I just want to add one thing to what I said - - waiting doesn’t always mean we are idle -- sitting around and doing nothing. This is what I see in scripture.
Waiting can bring anticipation and anticipation can offer hope.
So, for a stretch of 400 years, four centuries, there was no word from God. They must have asked questions --- like,
• Where is God?
• Where have all the prophets gone?
• Where is God when we need Him?
• After all, we need God now as much as ever.
And for 400 years this happened. No doubt their focus was on a spark of hope found in Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah 9:6-7a.
This was the hope of the Israelites for 4000 years, that a Messiah would come and rescue them from slavery, from war, from conflict and offer them eternal life. The one Isaiah was speaking of would arrive on the scene. In fact, at least 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus. People claim today to know the future. Psychics claim they know. I was driving through this area a few years back and saw a sign that said, “psychic meetings cancelled for today.” I thought, if you’re really a psychic, didn’t you know when you were scheduling them that they would be cancelled?” Right? The prophets prophesied as to what God had to say. The difference in the psychics and the prophets is that the prophets actually did know. And it’s hard to imagine they knew so much. I mean, how could anyone tell us what is going to happen 1000 years later and be 100 per cent right…. as to….
• How the event will take place
• When the exact time would be right
• The city and place where it would take place
All 300 of these prophecies merged together--- all to point to the wonderful counselor-- the Prince of Peace--- all pointing to our Messiah Jesus! But all this time, God’s people had to wait. And in their waiting, they began to anticipate. Children can start their Christmas list early - - they mention something in February they want and they want it right then. Parents learn to say, not now, but maybe you should put that on your Christmas list and the child is thinking wow ---10 months ---that’s a long time to wait! The parents say, well it will be here soon enough. As one senior adult man told me years ago, David when I was a child it seemed like forever until Christmas would arrive. Now it seems like it’s every other day. But for children all they can do is anticipate.
Waiting brings anticipation.
Anticipation is when we actually believe that what was promised is actually going to take place. After all, God’s people had been through, slavery, conflict, war, it’s hard to imagine how they must have reacted the first time they heard this prophecy. 😊A child will be born. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will carry the weight and in the future; He will reign over all of it and be Lord. In charge! And what a relief. In their waiting, they began to anticipate. “Anticipation” is similar to a “prediction.” As you know predictions depend on who the predictor. Have they been right before? In fact, have they ever been right. Because let’s face it, there are prophets and there are false prophets. And at times it is hard to know which ones to listen to.
So, we have to consider what would cause them to anticipate something that could happen --- 1000 years later ---- if no prophecy was being fulfilled in their own lifetime? But listen. OT prophecies were actually fulfilled at three different times. They are being fulfilled today-----happening all around us, they were also fulfilled in the 1st century – but some of the Old Testament prophecies were also fulfilled during Old Testament times. I’ve listed in your notes over 10 of these. Now, a couple of thousand years later, prophecies are still being fulfilled. So, their waiting, that turned to anticipation, has now turned to hope.
We say things like….
• I hope I win the lottery
• I hope I meet the right person one day
• I hope my future will be brighter
• I hope my pain will go away… but instead we don’t win the lottery, the pain gets worse and the future looks bleak.
😊Children hope for things for Christmas, right? In Kids Ministry, Denise asked them last week, if you could get anything for Christmas what would it be? What would you wish for if you knew you could get it? The answers will surprise you. (here is what 6 of them said)
• One child said, I wish I could eat and eat and eat and not get fat.
• One other said I wish I could get some hot dogs.
• Another said I wish the Steelers could get a new O line.
• My wife said I wish the razorbacks would get a new coach.
• Another said I wish the Buffalo Bills could do something. I don’t even know what, but they sure need help. 😊Apparently, we have a lot of football fans back there.
• Two more. One said all I wish for is peace. Another; all I wish for is to see God.
At some point, anticipation turns to hope and we really need to learn the difference between hope kids have and true biblical hope. For most children they use wish / hope in the same context as though they mean the same thing. But here is the difference
WISH HOPE
impossible believe it will happen
Unlikely to happen more than possible
Just a dream very likely to happen
full of doubt no doubt
Hope (elpis---??p??) in Greek) in The NT has two elements.
(1) Desire. Both of these, share this in common.
(2) Expectation. I not only want it to happen I expect it to happen. When we say Jesus is our blessed hope – we’re not wishing for a savior, we’re not wishing for him to come back. We know it!
Remember this promise. “We will be caught up together in the air to meet the Lord. (rapture). In the twinkling of an eye, the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised.” That’s the first sound the deaf will ever hear -- a trumpet. Listen, did you know that one out of every 25 verses in the New Testament mentions the fact that Jesus will return. And there are over 1500 in the Old Testament. It’s going to happen. Count on it. Now, remember this news came in a very, very dark period in Israel’s history. And it may be coming to you today in a dark period in your life as well. The people of Israel were literally a people without hope. You may find yourself in a hopeless place today, as well. And that’s a dangerous place to be. Look at the hope Isaiah offers here. Let’s look a bit closer at this passage. In 6 parts. All of this points the only one who can give us hope.
1st, “A child will be born and the government will rest on his shoulders.” We know what it means when we say something rests completely on our shoulders. We are the only ones who can handle it; the job belongs to us and we are the only ones who can make it happen. This is the sovereign king who will rule. The only one who can. Luke tells us 700 years later that this Messiah will be given the throne and will reign forever. There will be no end to his kingdom. Earthly kings will come and go. But not Jesus. We can see the imagery here that a cross would one day be placed on his shoulders as well. Our sin would all be placed on his shoulders. He would bear the weight of our sin---good news is, we don’t have to. During the time of the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ, following the rapture, we will see this reign take place. Can you imagine living under a government that is perfect? Not a president…not just any king… the king of kings and Lord of Lords.
2nd. This King will be called, Wonderful. Luke tells us that when Jesus performed many miracles, the people wondered. Who could this be? Even Mary said, who could this be? How could this happen?
3rd, He will be called Counselor. John said that “no one ever spoke the way, this man does.”
4th, He will be called Mighty God. Born as a baby boy, but also as God Himself. He said that the Father and I are one.
5th, He will becalled Everlasting Father. He is the designer of the entire universe.
6th, He will be called Prince of Peace. Listen there will be lasting peace on earth until Jesus arrives. When He arrives in person everything we know will completely change. We cannot have true peace without Jesus. And guess what, we will be here when He arrives. Here’s how I know that. For the believer, if He comes back today, we will be here. If he comes back in a year, we will hopefully be here. But even if he doesn’t come back in our lifetime, we will still be here.
Look at this slide with me. Let me explain and really pay close attention, pls. The Bible promises a millennium, a time when Jesus will reign (here) on earth for 1000 years and guess what??? every believer will be part of that because every believer will return with Him in the 2nd coming.
(see notes/slide) If He returns now…. we will meet Him in the air. We will be with Jesus. 7 years later the 2nd coming will occur and we will return with Him and will reign with Him here on earth for a time known as the Millennium.
A couple of weeks ago now as we were getting the trees cleared here, a man came to the property, curious as to what we were doing. Ray Chester. My age. When he asked, I knew he had a motive and he did. 😊 He wanted to know if we were selling some of the property and if homes were going to be placed there. I told him no and he smiled. So; he wanted to know the history of the church so I told him. H said by the way, I’m a pastor and from what you just told me, I now know our church has to move. We took a selfie and I realized I have a new friend. We prayed together and he told me this story ….
He was at work one day when he received a call from his wife. She had a flat tire didn’t know what to do. She was crying….. she was upset. She needed help and needed it right away. He simply said to her….. well honey, park the car, I know its hot outside…park in the shade; my truck is already running. I’ll take care of you. I’m coming to get you now.
One of these days, Jesus is gonna say, stay put, don’t go anywhere… everything’s gonna be alright….. I’m already running to get you…. In fact I’m coming right now. Can you imagine? Now when someone says they’re coming to get you; it all depends on who’s coming, right? It can simply mean….
• kids can be playing hide and go seek and they say ready or not, here I come. OR
• I’m coming to get you!!! I’m coming to repay you for what you did to me!!!!!
• I'm coming to where you are, and picking you up. And taking you to a better place.
John 14:1-3
David Henderson
