WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.079 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.760 God, you are good. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:32.560 As we sit in darkness, this is a great reminder, Lord, that you are the light of this world. 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:35.439 Lord, you are the light of this world. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:39.920 How comforting the fact that there's darkness in us, there's darkness around us. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.399 And the darker it gets, the more we need light, Lord. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:44.320 You are the light of this world. 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:52.479 God, thank you for reaching so far beneath your glory to come rescue. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.759 Jesus, thank you for being our payment for our sins. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.159 Lord, help us to not forget this moment right now. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:14.319 This moment where we sit or we stand or in the holy reverence of the fact that you are the light of this world. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.599 And would you now just bless the proclamation of your truths this morning? 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.840 Help us to see, help us to see you clearly. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:28.480 It's in your beautiful name I pray. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:29.439 Amen. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:31.200 You can be seated. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.560 Go morning, how are we good? 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:43.359 If you have your Bibles, would you grab those? 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:45.760 Go to Romans chapter 15. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.840 Romans chapter 15. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:54.000 If you don't have a Bible, you can obviously access the scriptures on your device or look on with a neighbor. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:58.640 Either way, I think the best use of our time is for us to be looking at God's word together. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:01.680 Today I'm just attacking one verse. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:03.040 Okay, one verse. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:04.560 I'm used to longer passages. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:10.639 I'm even, I even enjoy more distilling entire books of scripture in one sitting. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:20.400 So on one hand, today's a little bit nerve-wracking, but on another hand, this is good because this is my prayer for you, my prayer for me, my prayer for us in this Advent season. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:24.560 And that passage me, Romans chapter 15, verse 13. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:28.400 But first, I want to start off with a story. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.680 Okay, I'm addicted to a good story. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:36.080 Um, and this story comes from a long-standing seminary professor named Ray Bach. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:48.960 And I'm gonna read you this story, and I want you to listen in on this story because I think it frames our time this morning well, and I think it's gonna help calibrate our hearts this Advent season. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:50.639 So just listen into this story. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:51.759 This is told by Ray Bach. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:52.479 He says this. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:03:03.120 I knew an old Glasgow professor named McDonald, who, along with the Scottish chaplain, was put in a prison camp in the World War. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.719 A high wire fence separated the Americans from the British. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:11.520 McDonald was put with the American barracks, and the chaplain was put with the British. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:21.120 Unknown to the guards, the Americans had made a little homemade radio and were able to get news from the outside. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:31.280 Every day, McDonald would take a headline or two to the fence and share with the chaplain in an ancient language that the Germans could not decipher. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:41.360 One day, news came over the radio that the German High Command had surrendered and that the war was over. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:48.479 McDonald took the news to his friend and watched the Scottish chaplain disappear into the barracks. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:55.039 A moment later, a roar of celebration came from the barracks. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.599 Life in that camp was transformed. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:08.080 Men walked around singing and shouting, waving at the guards, even laughing at the dogs. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:16.319 When the German guards finally heard the news three nights later, they fled into the dark, leaving the gates unlocked. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.680 The next morning, the Brits and the Americans walked out as free men. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:30.639 However, they had truly been set free three days earlier by the news that the war was over. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:38.879 They had truly been set free three days earlier by the news that the war was over. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:42.639 Friends, do you see the power of good news? 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:47.759 Do you see how the news itself transformed them? 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.720 Yes, they walked out as free men three days later, but did you see how the news transformed them? 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:57.680 So the war was already over, but they had not yet been set free. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:02.639 The promise had already come, the announcement had already come, but he was not yet fulfilled. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:06.480 Did you see how they lived in the life in between? 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.639 Life in that camp was transformed. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.319 Men walked around singing and shouting, waving at guards and even laughing at the dogs. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.000 Friends, that life in between, that's where we sit. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.519 That's where we sit in history. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:22.879 Okay? 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:28.639 We're in an Advent sandwich with hope in the middle. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.879 An Advent sandwich. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.279 Advent literally means arrival or a coming. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.839 We're in an Advent sandwich with hope in the middle. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.439 What do I mean by that? 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:43.040 Well, the entire Old Testament is pointing to one that is called the Meshok. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:44.560 It's a Hebrew word. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:47.360 And if you translate that word into Greek, it's called the Christos. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:50.560 And it literally translates to the anointed one. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:50.959 Okay? 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:57.680 It's the Messiah, the Christ, the one who's here to save the world, the one that's gonna take care of this world from this huge sin problem. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:02.160 The whole Old Testament is the history of Israel, but it's pointing towards the Messiah. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:05.600 So therefore, the Bible has what's called messianic expectation. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:07.279 What's he gonna be like? 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.199 What's he gonna be like? 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:16.959 And that's important because I don't know if you knew this, but before Christ, there was a lot of little fake Jesus popping up. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:21.439 A lot of fake Messiahs popping up, like I'm the guy. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:22.800 And they weren't. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:24.160 They disappeared the next day. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:25.920 They disappeared very quickly after. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:34.639 God in his wisdom, God in his wisdom, um, through the prophets created a profile as to what to expect when the Messiah comes. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:53.839 The Old Testament prophesies that the Messiah will at least be a prophet greater than Moses, a king greater than David, a priest greater than Aaron, a servant suffering more than Israel, and a sage wiser than Solomon. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:59.759 So this is the fingerprint, obviously, this is not an exhaustive list, but the Messiah is this is what they're expecting. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.639 The Messiah is going to be this guy right here. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:05.600 But there are two objections to this list. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:10.959 Objection number one is this this list contradicts. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:17.439 How can he be a servant suffering more than Israel and yet be a king greater than David? 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:25.279 Further still, if you read your Bible, in the Old Testament, kings got in trouble for doing what priests should do. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.680 Like the first king of Israel got disqualified for doing priestly work. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.879 So how is the Messiah going to be a priest and a king? 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.879 Servant and a king, priest and a king. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.680 So objection number one is this list contradicts. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.240 Objection number two is did Jesus really fulfill this? 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.720 Yeah, he was a sage wiser than Solomon. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.560 Okay, we we see the Sermon on the Mount. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.360 He has a brilliant insight on the nature of mankind. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:54.639 We even hear the parables, and he's an amazing teacher. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:08:00.399 So he's a sage wiser than Solomon, he's a prophet greater than Moses, he has a bigger following right now than Moses ever had. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.000 And we know about the cross, we know he's a suffering servant. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:05.839 But that's only 60%. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.120 That's three out of five. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.680 That's my rough cowboy math. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.879 Did he fail? 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.600 Friends, Christmas answers that question with an emphatic no. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:22.560 Jesus fulfills all five with two advents. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:29.839 In his first advent, advent in his first coming, he's gonna be a servant suffering more than Israel. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:31.680 He's gonna be a sage wiser than Psalm. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.559 He's gonna be a prophet more than uh greater than Moses. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:39.440 In between advents, he is that priest greater than Aaron. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:45.679 So right now, I don't know if what you think about whenever you think about Jesus, he is no longer wandering around Galilee anymore. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:50.240 He's not in some campfire in Nazareth, he's no longer walking around Judea anymore. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:52.080 He's at the right hand of the Father. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:56.240 And the Bible calls him an advocate for sinners. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:02.399 And what that means is that Leo is trying to live a life that's worthy of the call of the gospel. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.960 I'm trying to follow the Lord, but I'm going to fail. 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:11.120 Okay, prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:12.240 I'm going to fail. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:18.799 And when I fail, as I stumble, as I as I as I as I fall down, Jesus is up there going, I paid for that. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:20.320 I paid for that. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.360 I paid for that. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:23.200 Over, he's an advocate for sinners. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.720 Friends, God is a dynamic, dynamic forgiver. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.320 As I stumble forward, he's yelling, I paid for that. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.519 So in between advents, he's a priest that's greater than Aaron. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:36.960 Priests in the Old Testament, they were all sinful and they all died. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.480 Jesus is neither. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.879 So in between Adventist, he's a priest greater than Aaron. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:48.159 And then in the second Advent, in the second coming, he will be that king greater than David. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:54.399 We're in an Advent sandwich with hope in the middle. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.600 Like the story we heard, okay? 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.320 The news has already come, but it's not yet been fulfilled. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:06.399 We are here with hope in the middle. 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.799 And that's going to be what we attack this morning is hope. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.960 Look at Romans 15, verse 13 for me. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.240 This is Paul praying for the Roman church. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:39.200 And he says this may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:47.120 So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:51.840 So briefly, in our time together, we're gonna look at just two things this morning. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.039 It'll be quick. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.960 Hope defined and hope abounding. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.679 Hope defined and hope abounding. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.200 So first off, hope defined. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:04.559 What exactly is hope? 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:15.120 Friends, you may not have a great definition, a great uh Webster definition of the word hope, but you and I are experts at hope. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.120 And I would contend with this this morning. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.639 We run on hope. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.519 Why do students work so hard in high school? 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.120 It's to probably get to a good college, in hopes of getting into a good college. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.440 Well, why work hard when you get to college? 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.360 It's in hopes of getting a good job. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:36.480 Why pursue a good job if it's in hopes of be feeling fulfilled or it's in hopes of making a good living? 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.799 We run on hope. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.840 Okay, uh the prosperity, most of you guys have heard the prosperity gospel, correct? 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.200 It is not the gospel at all. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.120 It's not the real gospel that the Bible teaches. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:49.919 It's an abominable, abominable gospel. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:59.440 However, okay, it will always be very popular because it preys on the anthropological um tendency for human beings to hope. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:07.279 There's always going to be people who want more money or want better health or want better life. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:10.639 So that gospel will always be popular. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.360 We run on hope. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:22.480 There was a Holocaust survivor named Victor Frankl, and he was a neurologist, psychiatrist, and a philosopher. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.519 Isn't that sound like the type of guy you want to party with? 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:39.120 But he was thrown in a prison camp or a concentration camp, and in the concentration camp, he obviously is in the behavioral world, people world, and when he's there, you could not stop analyzing. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:46.159 And he wrote a book called Man's Search of Meaning, where he actually talked about how the death toll would spike right after Christmas. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:50.240 In between Christmas and New Year's, the death toll would just spike up. 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:59.759 And in his book, he explains that it had nothing to do with the rations being smaller or the conditions being harsher, but he attributed it to hope. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:07.679 And he explains that the people in the in his concentration camp, or at least in his barrack, were all hoping to be home by Christmas. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.440 They were all aiming at Christmas as the time, I'll be home by Christmas. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:21.360 And when Christmas came, Christmas went, they lost hope, they lost their will to live, and eventually their life. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.120 We run on hope. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:28.720 Friends, we often define hope as uncertain desire. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.519 I hope I make it home safely. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.200 The roads are kind of slick. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:39.200 Okay, I hope that the Thanksgiving leftovers in my fridge is still good. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:43.679 I'll find out the hard way because it was delicious. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.440 I hope the Houston Rockets can, you know. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:55.679 If God can raise from the dead, you know, boy can dream. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.320 We usually define hope as uncertain desire. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:05.519 However, the this the Bible um it describes the ultimate Christian hope as something different. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.200 Look at that passage again. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:16.960 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:23.519 So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:30.559 Friends, this hope that Paul is praying for is not to be confused with optimism. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.919 It's not to be confused as hey, I look on the bright side more often. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.840 It's not to be confused with that. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:43.120 The Greek word that's used here that's translated into the word hope, is the word elpis. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.720 My Greek professor isn't here, so I can. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:52.480 It's E-L-P-I-S, El Pis, and it literally means confident expectation. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:03.840 Friends, the ultimate Christian hope, the ultimate Christian hope is not something, it's something that we have full assurance of, not uncertain desire about. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:10.639 The ultimate Christian hope is something that we have full assurance of, not something we have uncertain desire about. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:16.240 John Pepper puts it this way: a biblical hope not only desires something good for the future, it expects it to happen. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:21.759 And not only does it expect it to happen, it is confident that it will happen. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:29.840 Friends, our ultimate hope in Christ looks a lot more like waiting than it does like wishing. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.440 Christmas should not make you merely more optimistic. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:37.919 It's a beautiful holiday. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:43.360 Lots of lights, people in great moods, people more feminine together. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:50.720 It should not just merely make you more optimistic or someone who crosses their fingers more or someone who has a little more hope for humanity. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.360 No. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:59.600 As followers of Christ, Christmas should make you stand tall in confident expectation. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:09.759 Christmas should make you stand tall in patient anticipation because it's not whether or not our ultimate hope will come to pass, it's when. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:14.159 It's not if, but it's when. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.799 And that begs the question. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.559 When what? 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.799 When what? 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.320 What exactly are we waiting for? 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:30.720 In another passage in Titus chapter 2, verse 13 and 14. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:36.000 Okay, Paul says this about believers in Christ today. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:40.879 Okay, we Christians, we are waiting for our blessed hope. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:50.320 Here he calls it our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.759 Do you see it? 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.080 We're waiting for God Himself. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.080 We get God. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.159 Okay, seeing Him and enjoying Him forever. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.759 We get God. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.160 Two weeks ago I went to Camp Regenerate. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:13.440 Uh I preached there for the students, and I asked them, What's the grand prize for being a Christian? 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.440 What are we in it for? 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:18.160 What's the grand prize for being a Christian? 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.319 And naturally, the junior high section was vocal. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:25.440 And I heard they yelled some stuff. 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.799 I heard two voices. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.960 One of them said, forgiveness. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.519 Another one said, Heaven. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.599 And friends, they're kind of right. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:40.640 Okay, we're not in it for mere forgiveness, we're in it for reconciliation. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.720 Reconciliation is so much better. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.039 Friends, in Christ, we are not just merely forgiven. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:47.519 We're what the Bible calls justified. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:53.039 Forgiveness says you were guilty, but okay, you're off the hook, you're free to go. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:58.960 Justified and reconciled means you were forgiven, or you were guilty, but okay. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.400 You're free to come. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:09.839 Okay, so we are reconciled, and furthermore, we're not just wishing for heaven, because heaven without Christ is just a cooler hell. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:11.759 I want him. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:17.039 The cream of heaven, Charles Spurgeon, is actually being with him and being with him forever. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:25.039 And friends, Christmas is the signal that the plan is underway, June 6th, 2001. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.960 Okay, I was seven years old. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.559 So today I fell in love. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.480 Okay, I fell in love with basketball. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.279 This is, I had only been in America for like, you can laugh. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:37.839 I'd only been in America for about six, but yeah, six months at the time. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.640 And I was still resting. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.400 It's like, am I a soccer guy? 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.839 Am I a basketball guy? 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:44.000 I was going back and forth and back and forth. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:48.160 These are the existential angst that a seven-year-old feels. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:55.599 But um, that day, June 6, 2001, um, my favorite team was playing against my least favorite team. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:19:00.640 Okay, my favorite team had this guy there that I was so obsessed with, this guy named Alan Iverson. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.839 Some of you know who that is. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:02.799 He was awesome. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:06.079 He had braids, he has tattoos like all over his neck. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.519 Um yeah. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.519 And then he had wore this sleeve. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.799 I remember like cutting my mom's socks and putting a sleeve on my. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.039 Like, I wanted to be him. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.400 I wanted to be him. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:24.640 And he was my favorite team at the time, and they were going in the NBA Finals, it was game one of the NBA finals against my least favorite team at the time, okay? 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:27.839 The Los Angeles Lakers. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:37.279 And they were super annoying back in those days because they had Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Philip Jackson, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.480 They had. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.920 That's what it felt like. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.359 It was horrible. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.559 And it the Sixers had no chance. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:52.720 The analysts were trying to hype up the game, like it's gonna, it was, they had zero chance. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:20:05.200 And the first game, um, on a miraculous turn of events, okay, it was a nail-biting game that went into overtime, and my team, okay, won. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.480 They won the game 107-101. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.680 It was amazing. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.599 That was in 2001. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:15.759 Now, July is a slow basketball month. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.240 All I see on my TV are baseball highlights. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.599 Right? 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.799 Sorry. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:26.480 So, what NBA TV does is they just run old basketball games. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:29.839 And a couple of years ago, that game was on TV. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:35.839 Even though I was up to my neck in seminary work and even church work, I was like, I have two hours. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.319 So I watched that game. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:50.880 And what's interesting is whenever I watched that game now, I wasn't as nervous as I was when I was seven years old, biting my nails, even though I found out that the circumstances were a lot worse. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.319 A lot worse. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:58.640 Come to find out, I remember when I was seven, one of the players that I liked on my team was a guy named Aaron McKee. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:05.359 Come to find out, at the time when I was watching the game when I was seven, I couldn't hear the commentators or I couldn't understand what they were saying. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:12.480 And I heard the game again a couple of years ago, and I realized Aaron McKee was limping because he had a broken foot. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.480 He was playing with the broken foot, and actually half the team was dealing with like significant injuries. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.799 And there was actually a part of the game where the Lakers took complete control. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:26.319 Shaq was Shaqing, Kobe was Kobeing. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:32.240 It was complete control, but I was no longer biting my nails because I know how this ends. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:35.279 I know how this ends. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:39.200 I know it's gonna be tight neck and neck, and then Alan Iverson get the ball in the corner. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:42.880 He's gonna go against Louis, he's gonna step back, he's gonna make a shot, and they're gonna win 107-101. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.799 I know how this game ends. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:52.319 In that same way, you see, we're gonna turn into it a little bit, but in Ephesians 1, um, Paul starts praying for the church in Ephesus. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:55.680 Listen, I pray that your hearts can see the finality of Jesus. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.759 We know how this ends. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:05.680 As followers of Christ, Let Christmas be a signal to you, a reminder to you that we know how this story ends. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:15.279 No matter what happens around us, hatred being celebrated, evil being celebrated, we know how this story ends. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:20.480 Our hope is something we have full assurance of, not uncertain desire about. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.839 So our hope is something we have full assurance of, not uncertain desire about. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:31.039 Furthermore, our hope is personal, not general. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:34.079 It's personal, not general. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:42.319 In 2 Peter chapter 3, Peter starts addressing some of the questions that you might be asking in your hearts this very moment. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.759 He starts addressing the question of when. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.920 He starts thinking about addressing the question of God's timing. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:53.920 He's talking about God's apparent slowness in coming back. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:23:06.160 And Peter says this: do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:21.279 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:28.319 And what he's saying there is that for God, what feels like a thousand years for us is one day for God. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.599 He's a timeless being, he's outside of time. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:36.880 What feels like a thousand years for us is merely one day for God. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:42.720 But for us, sometimes we can feel the reverse of that. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.759 One day can feel like a thousand years. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:24:01.440 If you are currently, if you are dealing with the sting of singleness and loneliness, Valentine's Day can feel like a thousand years. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.720 If you have family in different states or different countries, Thanksgiving Day can feel like a thousand years. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:15.200 Or if you just lost someone, Christmas Day can feel like a thousand years. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.480 What's the light at the end of the tunnel on those days? 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:29.839 In Ephesians chapter 1, verse 18, Paul is praying for the church and Ephesus that their hearts be open, that the eyes of their hearts be open. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:39.279 And he says, this having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you should that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.400 Watch this. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:47.200 And what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints? 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:54.319 Friends, the light at the end of the tunnel is that, in a sense, you are the light at the end of his. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:59.440 The light at the end of the tunnel is that you are the light at the end of his. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:06.079 The saints are the glorious inheritance of God. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:08.799 Our hope is a personal one. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.400 The saints are the glorious inheritance of God. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.599 Friends, God looks at what we're doing this morning. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:21.920 He looks at us, he looks at believers in Christ, and he feels filthy rich. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.799 Our hope is personal. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:28.960 Okay, what do you buy someone who has everything? 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.519 Okay? 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:33.759 It's the age-old question that some of y'all better get it figured out because the time is ticking. 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:36.799 What do you buy someone who already has everything? 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.680 Okay, my parents are in this category. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.400 They've done very well for themselves, which means they're very difficult to shop for. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:48.480 A few Christmases ago, my mom gave my dad a watch. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:50.319 It was an expensive watch. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.079 It's a special watch. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.160 It's a beautiful watch. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:58.160 And how I know that is not because I saw it. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:02.079 It's because I saw when my dad rejoiced in it. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:09.039 The way he rejoiced in it, let me know it must have been expensive and it must have been special. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:18.640 Friends, in Ephesians 1.18, we learn that we are the glorious inheritance of the one who already owns everything. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.920 Our hope is personal. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:26.720 There's an eagerness in God and having and enjoying you in a different way. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.440 The Bible ends in a wedding. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:30.640 Okay? 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.319 Our hope is personal, not general. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.079 So hope to find. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:42.400 Our hope is not something that we have uncertain or uncertain desire about, but this is something that we have full assurance of. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.799 And our hope is personal, not general. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.839 Secondly, hope abounding. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.200 Let's look at hope abounding. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.279 Look at that passage one more time. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:03.519 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:11.839 So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:21.279 So Paul is praying that God will not just give people hope, but people will abound, overflow, gush out in hope. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.480 And rightfully so. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:27.759 If you read the scriptures, God has a track record of making people overflow. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:30.880 God is in the business of making people overflow. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.880 That's on-brand behavior for God. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:38.960 1 John chapter 3, verse 1, it says, See what great love the Father has given us. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:42.480 That word given can actually be translated to the word lavished on us. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.319 See what great love that God has lavished on us. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:57.440 In Psalm 23, the psalmist is meditating on the providence of God, how God is a provider, and he says, okay, my cup overflows. 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:01.039 He anoints my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:08.400 And then finally in John 10, 10, Jesus says, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:14.480 So it makes sense that Paul is asking God to abundantly fill his people with hope. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:17.519 Not just give them hope, but they can abound in hope. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:22.960 And that begs the question: what does it look like when someone is abounding in hope? 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:28.079 What does it look like when someone is just dripping in hope? 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:32.880 Friends, abounding in hope looks like joy. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:39.599 May the God of hope fill you with all joy in believing. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:46.079 Yes, as you know, I am African, but this is not my way. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:49.759 This is not my way of echoing the message of the Lion King. 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:51.440 Okay? 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:58.799 As I call us to joy, okay, this is not my Christian needs way of preaching hakuna matata. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:07.119 Okay, that problem-free philosophy makes for a top five Disney song, for sure. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.920 We can argue about this afterwards, but for sure. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.720 But it's not biblical or realistic. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.200 Okay, there are problems in this world. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.480 This world is hard. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.319 There's a lot of confusion, a lot of pain. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:22.799 Sin has unleashed chaos onto this planet. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.640 I mean, you felt the last few years. 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:27.599 Some of you, it intensifies around the holidays. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:30.319 So hear me clearly. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:36.559 Our call to joy is not God demanding that you always be in the mood to go to Schlitterbahn. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.480 That's not it. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:42.880 Okay, you're not called to just pretend like you're fine all the time. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:46.480 No, real men and women sit down to cry. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.799 Nehemiah did, Jesus did. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:52.480 So our joy is not necessarily a fake enthusiasm. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:59.759 Our joy is a godly gladness that is rooted in the person and work of Jesus regardless of circumstances. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:02.400 It's a godly gladness. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.559 It's not just, I'm bubbly. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:14.480 That can happen, but for some people, there's a quiet confidence in the Lord, a godly gladness that is rooted in the person and work of Jesus, regardless of circumstances. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:19.200 And listen, that's good for you, and it's also good from you. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.920 It's good from you. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:26.240 This is one of the ways I was saved. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.880 And that wasn't that long ago. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:31.279 This was 2009, 2010, 2011. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:41.759 I was over at Seven Lakes High School, Go Spartans, and I was there my junior and senior year of high school, and God put a lot of things, a lot of factors in my life to providentially draw me to him. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.359 And one of them was a guy named Tyler Moffat. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:50.079