First Mullumbimby Outreach Service

Joyful, Confident Expectation...
Sermon Notes – Ps. Jim White
Sunday 20th December – Mullumbimby
• The vision statement of Seacoast Church, apart from the scripture from Zephaniah, is “Connecting People to the Loving God, Jesus, Living Hope.” All that we do is based on connecting people to God – and to one another. But because we are celebrating Christmas in a few days, I really want to focus today on the celebration of Jesus being our Living Hope!

• If you just walked around the shopping centres and looked at all the obvious things – you would see the tinsel and decorations, the sales, busy people spending lots of money, and it can all look very positive and happy and even exciting – especially if you go up to places like Robina Town Centre.

• Then there are the many houses that are covered with fairy lights and Santa Clauses, and reindeers and those homes look like the picture of joy and happiness.

• But if we were to actually look beyond the outer facades, the bright lights, the busyness and festive activity of people’s lives, what would we really see? Because I am all too aware, as you would be as well, that many individuals and families are facing situations and circumstances that are actually causing despair and discouragement. Many can’t really afford the financial cost of Christmas. Some will struggle with the tension of relationships as they catch up with estranged family members. Many have health issues that seem to be an ongoing cause of frustration and discomfort – even pain.

• If we are all really honest, I think most of us would say that we have areas in our lives where there is an element of disappointment, heartache, pain of some kind, whether it’s physical, emotional, relational... It might be very personal – it might be financial – in our jobs – our parents/children other family members...

• Well this afternoon, I want to affirm your faith in God and His Word, and say that the celebration of the gift of Jesus Christ this Christmas brings with it a genuine and meaningful and joyful hope.

• It’s not like the hope that this world speaks about. A dictionary definition of hope would say something like – “a feeling that what is wanted will happen; the desire accompanied by expectation.”

• The trouble is that many people do rely on feelings and desires – but true Christian hope is not a feeling. Feelings come and go. Feelings might make you feel good one day and terrible the next. You only have to look on facebook to see that some people live their lives based on how they feel. They record it for the world to see their roller coaster life... Exhilarated one moment – and in the depths of despair and hopelessness the next.

• But when the bible talks about hope, it is referring to a joyful and confident expectation – and it’s based on the promises of God’s Word. It’s not based on the weather, or other people, or the global financial crisis... the emission trading scheme, or anything else.

• Jesus says that we should come to Him as little children. Well let me give you an example of what real hope looks like from a child’s perspective.

• A little boy and his father who were planning a fishing trip for the following day. They talked all about it – what they would take – where they would go – the fun they would have together... That evening as the father was putting his son to bed, the boy hugged his father’s neck and said, “Daddy, thank you for tomorrow.”

• For me, that encapsulates the meaning of hope. That little boy had a joyful and confident expectation that was based on trust – it was based on who he knew his father to be – who he had shown himself to be in the past – how much his father loved him – and the child knew without a doubt that tomorrow would be a wonderful day.

• It didn’t matter if it rained – it probably didn’t even matter if they caught any fish or not... Because there is something in the heart of that little boy that transcends the circumstances.

• There’s a hope and faith and trust that God wants to plant in our hearts as well, that is greater than the circumstances.

• Col 3:1-2 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

• Now this is no pie in the sky – live in denial kind of message. Because there is a paradox here – that when our focus and hope is centred on the things of heaven and the things of God – and we lift our vision toward all the things that accompany our salvation and eternal life – then we can actually live our everyday lives in this world with a much more grounded, steadfast, confident and joyful hope. Not being tossed to and fro with the circumstances – the disappointments – the frustrations – but being able to respond to life in a godly, mature and healthy way.

• For some of us, the issue is not that we don’t have any hope – but our hope is in ourselves – or the things we have put in place to prop up our lives. Ps. 33:16-22 is a great word to get our focus back in the right place.

• “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.”

• If you want to put that in modern day terms... no bank account is a guarantee of security, no career will truly satisfy your longing for meaning, no amount of friends will make you happy and safe...

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.”

• There’s nothing wrong with having a large bank account – or a great career – and lots of friends – and a comfortable safe home... But where do we put our hope? Because eventually, somewhere along the line, all these things will never be enough.

• Our hope is all wrapped up in the message of Christmas – that God the Father – our loving heavenly Father – sent His Son to earth, to become one of us – being born a baby – to grow and become a man who would become the sacrifice to pay the penalty of death for our sin on the cross of Calvary. That’s the real story and the real hope of Christmas.

• The thread of our salvation in Christ runs all through the bible – being spoken of prophetically in Old Testament times.

• Isaiah 9:6-7 spoke about the birth of Jesus thousands of years before it came to pass. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.”

• 1Peter 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

• We can face every obstacle – every disappointment – knowing that there is a living hope – and His name is Jesus Christ. He has given us an inheritance that is incorruptible, that will never fade away.

• All that we have in this world will one day fade away. Why would we put our hope be in any of that?

• The Message bible says it this way: “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.”

• We’re talking about the resurrection here – but you cannot separate the message of Christmas and the message of Easter – it’s a complete package. It’s called salvation. It’s our life. It’s our hope.

• But the hope comes from the fact that our new life and our future starts right now. We don’t have to wait for something nice to happen to us to make us feel good. Hope is not a feeling – it’s a confident and joyful expectation based on the promises of the Word of God.

• And we can draw down a deposit of that future heavenly life starting right now, because a life in Christ is a powerful life.

• Rom 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

• The Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit go together. The Word without the Spirit is just the letter of the law – it’s dry and condemning. But the Spirit will breathe life into the Word. And the promises will come alive – and the hope you have will be living hope. And the power to live an overcoming victorious life will be yours.

• Hebrews (6:19) says it’s a hope that becomes an anchor to our soul. How many people do we know that need an anchor for their soul right now? We need that anchor as well.

• When you get a bad report from the doctor – you need an anchor of hope to keep your soul strong and full of faith. When you lose your job, when you are rejected by your best friend, when you get down to your last five dollars – you need an anchor to keep you steadfast and strong and immovable in the promises of God.

• Rom 5:5 – “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

• The Holy Spirit reveals and pours out the love of God into our hearts.

• Most of the Christmas messages we hear are focussed on Jesus (and rightly so), or the shepherds or the wise men or Mary and Joseph or the angels. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a Christmas message that spoke about the heart of love of Father God.

• And I sense that many people in our broken world have lost their hope because of a broken relationship with their natural father. One thing I felt the Lord say as I was preparing this message, was that He wanted us again to come back to the Father heart of God.

• That’s why that little story about the boy and his father going fishing meant so much to me. It’s the father’s heart that brings the gift of hope. It was our Heavenly Father who was the One who gave us His Son. He gave, so that we could receive the gift of life. For He so loved the world, that He gave...

• Whatever you are going through right now – let me reassure you that you have a Father in Heaven who knows you intimately, and loves you immeasurably.

• You might not find hope in the things of this world, but your Father is saying look up – see things from a heavenly perspective. Let hope arise in your heart because Christmas is the celebration of the gift of life.

• And when you have a heavenly perspective, you look forward – not behind. You look to a future that has a hope. And one day, if we don’t go to be with Jesus first – He is coming again to make all things right. Our part is to be prepared. To be prepared in our heart.

• Have you ever heard it said that our heart is like a garden?

• Here’s another story I read this week.

• There was a tourist who visited an exquisite garden on a lovely estate in Italy. And as he wandered through the beautiful garden, he spoke to the caretaker. How long have you been here? He asked. Twenty-five years. And how often has the owner been to see the estate?
Four times.
When did he come last?
Twelve years ago.
Who comes then to look after things?
I am left pretty much alone.
Yet you keep this garden so spic and span that one would think you were expecting the owner tomorrow.
Today, sir! Today, replied the caretaker
• If the promise of our hope – Jesus Christ – were to return today, would you be ready? Is your heart right with your Father? Have you received the living hope of eternal life? As you contemplate that thought...

• Just one more story to finish... Many years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for collecting art, with his son. They had priceless works adorning the walls of their family estate. One day, the nation was at war and the young man left to serve his country. After a few short weeks, right before Christmas, his father received a telegram to say that his son had died.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the man, and a soldier stood before him with a large package in his hands. The young man said, I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. And I have something to show you.
The soldier said he was an artist, and when the old man opened the package, it contained a portrait of his son. It was not the work of a genius, but it was a striking resemblance of the son’s face.
The father received the painting, and hung the portrait in the prize position over the mantelpiece, surrounded by millions of dollars worth of art.
Half a year later, the old man died, and the art world waited in eager anticipation of the sale of the many valuable collectors items. Museums and art collectors from around the world gathered together for the auction – on Christmas Day, the day that the father had received the greatest gift.
But the auction began with a painting that that was not on anyone’s museum list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100.?” No one spoke. Finally someone said, “Who cares about that painting? Let’s move on to the good stuff.”
The auctioneer replied, “No, we have to sell this one first. Who will take the son? Finally, a friend of the old man offered $50. “That’s all I have; I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.”
The auctioneer said, “going once, going twice... gone!” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and some exclaimed. “Now we can bid on the real treasures.”
The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people, and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up and said, “What do you mean? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There’s millions of dollars worth of art here! What’s going on?
The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the Father, whoever takes the son... gets it all.”

• This is the story of Christmas. There’s an inheritance that is waiting for us – and it comes through the Son. The hope we have is not in valuable paintings or the things of this world, but in the love a Heavenly Father.

• The response He is looking for from us is not a $50 bid... Because no amount of money could ever buy this hope. The gift is free, but the response the Father is looking for, is our life.

• That’s the invitation to all of us this Christmas. Exchange all the things you have put your hope in, in the past – for the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.