“HOLIDAY EXPECTATIONS” HOPE ARRIVING 2012 ADVENT SERIES (PART ONE) December 2, 2012 Dr. Jim Cecy
Introduction: Holiday expectations...painful realities "Biblical hope is the eager expectation that God, who fulfilled His promises in the past, will do what He promised in the future — and then it is living as if it will happen today!" Christmas hope is re-adjusting our holiday expectations to focus on the certain promises of God. The Story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15; cf. Romans 5:12; 3:23; Heb. 10:27)
Christmas Promise #1
God will provide a Redeemer for lost sinners.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” A man who would come from the seed of a woman (i.e. a virgin-born man) would defeat the Devil — the Great Tempter and enemy of our souls. • Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” • Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” • Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men....” Expectation in the Christmas Story • The expectation of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-47; 54-55) • The expectation of Simeon, the Priest (Luke 2:25-32) • The expectation of the Magi — the Wise Men (Matthew 2:2) • The expectation of the people in Jesus’ day (Luke 3:15-16)
“Who will save us from all this?” Psalm 121:2 “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 30:2 “O Lord my God, I cried to Thee for help, and Thou didst heal me.”
Christmas Promise #2
Christ provides hope for believers today.
Titus 2:12 “...instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age...”
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Christmas Promise #3
Christ is coming again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Christ of Christmas past is the Christ of Christmas future.
Titus 2:13-14 “...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Christ came as the Prince of Peace (in His First Advent) Christ will come again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (in His Second Advent) 1 Corinthians 2:9 “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” “Maranatha” = “The Lord is coming soon.” • The first Christmas promise was fulfilled in the past. • The second Christmas promise is being fulfilled every day. • The third Christmas promise will be fulfilled in the future.
The Application: • By trusting in the promises of God — for yourself. • By acknowledging that you are a sinner deserving of death — eternal separation from God. • By admitting that you are desperately in need of this Promised Savior, Jesus Christ as the foundation of your hope.
Holiday Expectations • We can EXPECT to have JOY AND PEACE — no matter what the circumstance (Rom. 15:13). • We can EXPECT to have BOLDNESS — to share our hope with others (2 Cor. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:15).
When Jesus give us lasting hope, we cannot help but share it with a hopeless world.
See you next time as we continue this 2012 Advent series...
© 2012 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 2
www.campusbiblechurch.com
