1 00:00:01,067 --> 00:00:03,003 Thank you. David. 2 00:00:03,003 --> 00:00:05,972 I'm excited for this season that we're entering into. 3 00:00:06,706 --> 00:00:09,175 Coming out of Thanksgiving, 4 00:00:09,175 --> 00:00:12,178 which is always just a fun time to be together. 5 00:00:12,712 --> 00:00:13,980 At least for us with our family, 6 00:00:13,980 --> 00:00:16,583 were able to be together in Idaho with our entire family. 7 00:00:16,583 --> 00:00:18,618 It was a lot of fun. 8 00:00:18,618 --> 00:00:21,421 And then moving into the Christmas season. 9 00:00:21,421 --> 00:00:24,624 I'm looking forward to the series that we're in that I'm calling 10 00:00:24,624 --> 00:00:26,159 the King has come. 11 00:00:26,159 --> 00:00:29,029 So the book of Matthew, you're looking at your kingdom. 12 00:00:29,029 --> 00:00:33,066 Come, and the Christmas is the advent of Jesus coming to earth. 13 00:00:33,066 --> 00:00:35,201 Advent means his appearing. 14 00:00:35,201 --> 00:00:39,005 And so through this advent season, we're looking at this truth 15 00:00:39,005 --> 00:00:40,607 that the King has come, and we're going 16 00:00:40,607 --> 00:00:43,610 to look at different passages through the New Testament 17 00:00:44,344 --> 00:00:47,113 centering on certain qualities and, 18 00:00:47,113 --> 00:00:50,617 and that are, that are present in Christ 19 00:00:50,950 --> 00:00:56,389 and that he brings to us, by his appearing and by his presence. 20 00:00:56,389 --> 00:00:57,991 And so we're going to start that today. 21 00:00:57,991 --> 00:00:58,992 Five weeks long. 22 00:00:58,992 --> 00:00:59,793 I'm excited about that. 23 00:00:59,793 --> 00:01:04,230 But before we get into that, I want to introduce you to another 24 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:08,468 one of our lead church planters throughout these next week. 25 00:01:08,501 --> 00:01:12,105 So I'm going to introduce you to our different planters that we support, 26 00:01:13,173 --> 00:01:13,840 and those who are 27 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,843 leading our church planting work around the world. 28 00:01:17,143 --> 00:01:21,414 And locally, last week I introduce you to O'Neill and Heidi, 29 00:01:21,815 --> 00:01:25,852 who's leading our church planting work in Cuba right now. 30 00:01:25,852 --> 00:01:26,486 Over the past 31 00:01:26,486 --> 00:01:30,356 ten years, I think they're at 120 churches or so that that they have started. 32 00:01:30,356 --> 00:01:31,891 And we we support them. 33 00:01:31,891 --> 00:01:32,492 We fund them. 34 00:01:32,492 --> 00:01:35,528 We've done the training there, to propel them. 35 00:01:36,362 --> 00:01:40,567 And so this week I'm going to introduce you to a, our other 36 00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:43,503 church planting lead couple in Guatemala. 37 00:01:43,503 --> 00:01:46,940 This is Matilde and Elsa Alonso. 38 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,043 Matilda has taken over our church planting 39 00:01:50,043 --> 00:01:53,012 work in Guatemala up in the hills. 40 00:01:53,379 --> 00:01:55,748 And over the past two years or so, they've. 41 00:01:55,748 --> 00:01:57,383 I think they're on church now. 42 00:01:57,383 --> 00:01:59,452 11 or 12. 43 00:01:59,452 --> 00:02:01,121 He's doing an incredible job. 44 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:04,891 There he is relentless in his pursuit 45 00:02:04,891 --> 00:02:07,894 of building the kingdom of God in Guatemala. 46 00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:09,162 I think they, 47 00:02:10,830 --> 00:02:13,366 they, 48 00:02:13,366 --> 00:02:15,168 are on church. 49 00:02:15,168 --> 00:02:17,971 I think they're working on, like, 13 to 14 now. 50 00:02:17,971 --> 00:02:19,639 Like just in the beginning stages of that. 51 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,076 We're going to do Discovery Center in Guatemala in February 52 00:02:23,076 --> 00:02:26,079 to help train these new church plant leaders. 53 00:02:26,646 --> 00:02:29,649 Matilda, for funding, 54 00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:32,652 does a lot of construction work, 55 00:02:32,652 --> 00:02:36,022 in for different organizations and opportunities? 56 00:02:36,756 --> 00:02:39,392 Up in the hills in Guatemala. 57 00:02:39,392 --> 00:02:43,129 God has saved Matilda out of alcoholism 58 00:02:43,530 --> 00:02:46,533 and, violence. 59 00:02:46,533 --> 00:02:49,536 Out of out of prison, womanizing 60 00:02:49,536 --> 00:02:53,339 and completely changed his life. 61 00:02:53,373 --> 00:02:56,643 It's just an incredible story of a man who's 62 00:02:56,643 --> 00:02:59,979 given himself to Christ, the work of Christ in his life. 63 00:02:59,979 --> 00:03:03,316 And through that, the building of the kingdom of God. 64 00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:07,320 In his in the surrounding communities, in the hills up in Guatemala. 65 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,423 So we're super proud of him, super proud of them. 66 00:03:10,890 --> 00:03:13,626 And so as we talk about our church planters around the world, 67 00:03:13,626 --> 00:03:15,562 I want you to keep in mind Matilda and Elsa 68 00:03:16,563 --> 00:03:17,430 and the reason why I'm 69 00:03:17,430 --> 00:03:21,434 introducing you to all of these people is because you need to know them. 70 00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:23,102 You need to be praying for them. 71 00:03:23,102 --> 00:03:26,105 We continue to support them. 72 00:03:26,773 --> 00:03:30,410 And what I'm asking of this church is for you to prayerfully 73 00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:33,947 consider giving over and above your regular tithes and offerings 74 00:03:34,514 --> 00:03:37,917 so that we can bless all of our church planters 75 00:03:37,917 --> 00:03:40,920 or lead church planters 76 00:03:40,954 --> 00:03:42,989 around the world and locally, 77 00:03:42,989 --> 00:03:45,992 with a special offering at the end of this year. 78 00:03:45,992 --> 00:03:47,293 Just to say we love you. 79 00:03:47,293 --> 00:03:49,996 We believe in you. 80 00:03:49,996 --> 00:03:52,999 We are for you, not against you. 81 00:03:53,533 --> 00:03:55,935 And so please consider 82 00:03:55,935 --> 00:03:58,771 what your part in that is. 83 00:03:58,771 --> 00:04:02,842 Would desire of our church collectively between now and Christmas Eve, 84 00:04:03,710 --> 00:04:07,880 to give another $20,000 to our church planters 85 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,651 and our network leaders around the world and and locally as well. 86 00:04:11,651 --> 00:04:14,787 So that's why I want to introduce them to you every Sunday as we go through this. 87 00:04:14,821 --> 00:04:17,790 You got it. Yeah. One other thing. 88 00:04:18,891 --> 00:04:21,894 In an effort to, 89 00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:25,398 to enable us to get into the Bible 90 00:04:25,398 --> 00:04:28,401 every day through this advent season, 91 00:04:28,534 --> 00:04:32,038 leading through Christmas, I've developed a devotional for you 92 00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:36,142 that, might help springboard you into the Bible. 93 00:04:36,142 --> 00:04:39,312 If that's not something that is part of your normal routine. 94 00:04:39,312 --> 00:04:43,716 Every morning, starting tomorrow morning around 6 or 7:00, 95 00:04:44,050 --> 00:04:47,620 there will be posted a little devotional for you, 96 00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:50,623 a passage of Scripture that you'll look up and read, and then 97 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:54,394 and then a paragraph or so, and a prompt to get you thinking and praying 98 00:04:54,727 --> 00:04:57,930 along the lines of Jesus and His advent, 99 00:04:58,564 --> 00:05:01,934 and, and and recognizing Christ as we go through this Christmas season. 100 00:05:01,934 --> 00:05:04,337 And so I hope it's helpful to you. 101 00:05:04,337 --> 00:05:08,508 It will be posted on our website, on our socials and on our app 102 00:05:08,508 --> 00:05:12,445 every morning, each morning now through Christmas. 103 00:05:12,445 --> 00:05:13,079 And so 104 00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:16,916 I encourage you to take advantage of that if it will help springboard you into, 105 00:05:17,550 --> 00:05:21,454 thoughtfulness of Jesus and His presence through this Christmas season. 106 00:05:22,255 --> 00:05:27,593 Now, having said all of that, let me introduce this series again. 107 00:05:27,593 --> 00:05:29,362 Looking at commodities. 108 00:05:30,596 --> 00:05:32,031 Characteristics that 109 00:05:32,031 --> 00:05:36,469 that are inherent in Christ, that are, that are part of, of God 110 00:05:36,469 --> 00:05:40,673 in his to the Father and his kingdom and what he produces, 111 00:05:41,474 --> 00:05:45,812 in the lives of those who would trust him and give themselves to him. 112 00:05:46,179 --> 00:05:49,582 And through these five weeks of the advent season, we're going 113 00:05:49,582 --> 00:05:52,552 to look at these different characteristics and qualities and commodities. 114 00:05:52,552 --> 00:05:55,588 And the first one is this issue of hope. 115 00:05:57,090 --> 00:06:00,093 Hope is is it? 116 00:06:00,159 --> 00:06:02,895 It's part of the fruit of the spirit. 117 00:06:02,895 --> 00:06:05,365 It is what God produces in those 118 00:06:05,365 --> 00:06:08,468 who would trust him and follow him and be obedient to him. 119 00:06:08,468 --> 00:06:13,039 And without hope we languish without hope. 120 00:06:14,207 --> 00:06:17,210 We're destitute and doomed. 121 00:06:18,311 --> 00:06:20,146 Medically speaking, there's 122 00:06:20,146 --> 00:06:23,149 this this, this horrific 123 00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:27,987 thing that happens in some infants is called failure to thrive. 124 00:06:29,055 --> 00:06:30,456 And there's not a lot of 125 00:06:30,456 --> 00:06:34,994 understanding about what what the reasons behind failure. 126 00:06:35,128 --> 00:06:38,731 It could be any number of reasons worth where the little baby is 127 00:06:38,731 --> 00:06:41,734 just, 128 00:06:41,934 --> 00:06:44,404 just really languishes for life. 129 00:06:44,404 --> 00:06:47,240 And sometimes it cost them their life. 130 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,576 And there's not a lot of understanding about what makes this happen. 131 00:06:50,576 --> 00:06:53,579 In, in a, in an infant. 132 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,083 But it's just horrific with parents after 133 00:06:58,050 --> 00:07:00,920 have to go through that 134 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,457 and, and failure to thrive 135 00:07:05,825 --> 00:07:08,828 is what happens in our lives 136 00:07:08,828 --> 00:07:11,597 when we're without hope. 137 00:07:11,597 --> 00:07:14,600 And it can't be for any number of reasons. 138 00:07:15,368 --> 00:07:18,371 But if a life is live without hope. 139 00:07:20,373 --> 00:07:23,342 It fails to thrive. 140 00:07:23,376 --> 00:07:26,379 And it can be deadly. 141 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,650 And so my hope and my and my prayer for us 142 00:07:31,918 --> 00:07:36,055 is that we understand what hope is, where it resides, 143 00:07:37,924 --> 00:07:38,391 and that it 144 00:07:38,391 --> 00:07:41,861 becomes a real thing in our lives, a bubble up inside. 145 00:07:41,861 --> 00:07:44,430 And so I want to talk about hope this morning. 146 00:07:44,430 --> 00:07:47,433 Biblically, the definition of hope is this. 147 00:07:48,601 --> 00:07:51,571 It's not a wishful thought, 148 00:07:51,604 --> 00:07:54,941 but it's a confident and certain expectation of future good 149 00:07:54,941 --> 00:07:57,944 that's grounded in God's promises and faithfulness. 150 00:07:58,744 --> 00:08:01,747 It's more than just I hope this pans out. 151 00:08:03,015 --> 00:08:05,051 It's a confidence 152 00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:09,155 and a certain expectation that good is on the horizon, 153 00:08:09,589 --> 00:08:11,724 and it's not grounded in a wishful thinking. 154 00:08:11,724 --> 00:08:14,727 It's grounded in who God is 155 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,763 and what His Word is and his faithfulness. 156 00:08:19,098 --> 00:08:21,300 The big idea behind this message 157 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:24,303 this morning is this. 158 00:08:25,404 --> 00:08:27,440 That hope grows 159 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,042 when we learn to see God at work, 160 00:08:30,042 --> 00:08:33,045 before we see God's completed work. 161 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:36,782 Please understand this 162 00:08:36,782 --> 00:08:38,851 hope grows when we learn to see God 163 00:08:38,851 --> 00:08:41,821 at work before you see his completed work. 164 00:08:42,255 --> 00:08:46,726 And this is one reason why so many struggle being people of hope. 165 00:08:47,193 --> 00:08:50,029 Because what we look for is God's completed work. 166 00:08:50,029 --> 00:08:53,032 Want him to do something, to see him doing something. 167 00:08:53,032 --> 00:08:57,103 Hope doesn't reside in the realization of his completed work. 168 00:08:57,103 --> 00:09:00,106 That's Thanksgiving, and we just got done celebrating that. 169 00:09:00,573 --> 00:09:04,110 But hope resides when we learn to see God at work. 170 00:09:04,110 --> 00:09:07,847 Before you see the completion of it, do you understand the difference? 171 00:09:10,316 --> 00:09:11,851 And because so many of us 172 00:09:11,851 --> 00:09:17,123 want to look for his completed work, we miss hope and it eludes us 173 00:09:17,490 --> 00:09:21,427 because we haven't trained our eyes and trained our spirit 174 00:09:22,261 --> 00:09:25,231 to see God at work. 175 00:09:26,899 --> 00:09:29,902 The four see the completed work. 176 00:09:30,303 --> 00:09:33,272 Hope is a sure foundation 177 00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:36,576 is the anchor for our souls is the stability 178 00:09:37,009 --> 00:09:41,581 and the strength that is present through suffering and difficult times. 179 00:09:41,581 --> 00:09:44,951 It's the thing that enables one to wait and to wait 180 00:09:44,951 --> 00:09:47,954 and to wait and not give up. 181 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,623 And I want to introduce you this morning to 2 182 00:09:50,623 --> 00:09:53,626 to 2 elderly saints 183 00:09:54,827 --> 00:09:57,830 that aren't well known nor talked about. 184 00:09:58,564 --> 00:10:01,434 They're found in Luke chapter two, 185 00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:04,270 and their names are Simeon and Anna. 186 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:07,006 Everybody see Simeon 187 00:10:07,006 --> 00:10:10,009 and Anna. 188 00:10:10,209 --> 00:10:13,479 They are two elderly saints who were at the temple 189 00:10:13,479 --> 00:10:18,985 when Mary and Joseph bring baby Jesus to the temple to present him 190 00:10:20,453 --> 00:10:23,055 when Jesus was 40 days old. 191 00:10:23,055 --> 00:10:26,058 According to the law, 192 00:10:26,225 --> 00:10:28,527 parents were to bring the firstborn 193 00:10:28,527 --> 00:10:34,033 to the temple and present the firstborn, the firstborn male, to God, 194 00:10:34,033 --> 00:10:38,337 and present him as God's, as God's own possession. 195 00:10:39,071 --> 00:10:42,475 And so in obedience to the law of God, 196 00:10:42,975 --> 00:10:46,145 Mary and Joseph bring their firstborn, male 197 00:10:46,812 --> 00:10:51,550 and present him to God as God's own possession. 198 00:10:52,351 --> 00:10:55,354 What I love about that is this 199 00:10:55,621 --> 00:10:59,825 what I see in Mary and Joseph, in presenting Jesus 200 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:03,663 to God at the temple at 40 days, 201 00:11:03,929 --> 00:11:07,366 is that they are modeling obedience. 202 00:11:07,366 --> 00:11:10,369 Parents pay attention, grandparents pay attention. 203 00:11:11,404 --> 00:11:14,407 They're modeling obedience. 204 00:11:16,208 --> 00:11:17,009 I've said 205 00:11:17,009 --> 00:11:20,012 it many, many times and you understand this 206 00:11:20,913 --> 00:11:23,749 that our kids learn more by what is caught than by 207 00:11:23,749 --> 00:11:26,752 what is taught right? 208 00:11:26,852 --> 00:11:28,554 Right, right. 209 00:11:28,554 --> 00:11:30,990 We would love it if it were true. Do what I say. 210 00:11:30,990 --> 00:11:33,959 Not as I do, but that's not what kids do. 211 00:11:33,959 --> 00:11:36,095 Kids do what we do, not what we say. 212 00:11:37,163 --> 00:11:39,031 And what I see in Mary and Joseph, 213 00:11:39,031 --> 00:11:42,635 this little poor couple. 214 00:11:44,570 --> 00:11:47,573 The law was to represent the firstborn child 215 00:11:47,940 --> 00:11:50,976 along with an offering of a lamb. 216 00:11:51,444 --> 00:11:55,081 Unless you were really poor, then there were stipulations 217 00:11:55,081 --> 00:11:58,084 where you could present a couple little birds, 218 00:11:58,150 --> 00:12:02,988 and Mary and Joseph present a couple little birds, because they are so poor, 219 00:12:03,289 --> 00:12:06,392 and they didn't use their poverty as an excuse 220 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:09,361 not to give, not to be obedient. 221 00:12:10,362 --> 00:12:14,433 They said, this is what God has required, and this is what we will do. 222 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,703 And apparently they raised their children this way. 223 00:12:18,270 --> 00:12:21,040 They were the examples of obedience. 224 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,709 They were the examples of those who worship. 225 00:12:23,709 --> 00:12:27,279 They were the examples for their children of generosity. 226 00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:31,317 They were the examples to their family of lives of service. 227 00:12:31,317 --> 00:12:35,054 They were the examples to their kids of what it meant to be devoted. 228 00:12:35,054 --> 00:12:38,424 They were the examples of what it was to be righteous. 229 00:12:40,793 --> 00:12:43,662 Parents, grandparents, 230 00:12:43,662 --> 00:12:46,665 please pay attention. 231 00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:49,034 Our kids will replicate 232 00:12:49,034 --> 00:12:52,037 what they see, not what we say. 233 00:12:52,638 --> 00:12:55,641 And when our children see us hold this 234 00:12:56,642 --> 00:12:58,711 more than they see us. 235 00:12:58,711 --> 00:13:00,546 Hold this. 236 00:13:00,546 --> 00:13:04,717 What will they replicate? For? 237 00:13:09,121 --> 00:13:12,091 You follow. 238 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:16,796 And so 239 00:13:16,796 --> 00:13:18,898 Simeon and Anna. 240 00:13:18,898 --> 00:13:21,600 Luke chapter two, 241 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,803 verses 25 and following. 242 00:13:23,803 --> 00:13:26,806 I'm going to read a little bit from from these passages, 243 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,443 Luke chapter two, verse 25. 244 00:13:32,745 --> 00:13:35,948 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. 245 00:13:36,248 --> 00:13:39,018 And this man was righteous and devout, 246 00:13:39,018 --> 00:13:41,987 waiting for the consolation of Israel. 247 00:13:41,987 --> 00:13:44,423 And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 248 00:13:44,423 --> 00:13:46,959 I'm just going to add verse 26 of this is not on the screen, 249 00:13:46,959 --> 00:13:48,027 but let me just add this. 250 00:13:48,027 --> 00:13:51,297 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see 251 00:13:51,297 --> 00:13:54,667 death before he had seen the Lord Jesus, the Lord's Christ. 252 00:13:54,900 --> 00:13:56,836 I think that's awesome. 253 00:13:56,836 --> 00:14:00,139 Don't know how it happened, but somehow God told him, Simeon, 254 00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:03,542 you're not going to die until you see the Messiah. 255 00:14:03,843 --> 00:14:05,678 What an awesome promise. 256 00:14:06,879 --> 00:14:08,280 If I got a promise. 257 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,250 I like a God. I'm invincible. 258 00:14:11,383 --> 00:14:13,219 Like you can't touch me. 259 00:14:13,219 --> 00:14:16,222 I'm not going to die till I get to see the Messiah. 260 00:14:16,322 --> 00:14:19,758 You don't know what kind of joy and confidence and power you live with. 261 00:14:20,693 --> 00:14:22,962 Listen, friends, 262 00:14:22,962 --> 00:14:24,930 when you are on mission with God, 263 00:14:24,930 --> 00:14:28,167 you are invincible until you've completed all he's given you to do. 264 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,437 The best thing you can do in life is get on mission with God. 265 00:14:33,005 --> 00:14:36,642 Because then you live with this incredible confidence and certainty. 266 00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:40,379 I'm going nowhere until I've completed my mission. 267 00:14:40,379 --> 00:14:43,382 Get on mission with God. Does it make sense? 268 00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:45,517 And so here's this little old man. 269 00:14:45,517 --> 00:14:48,520 He's got this promise of God, devout and righteous. 270 00:14:49,622 --> 00:14:53,259 And then you look at a couple other verses, verses 36 and 37, 271 00:14:54,393 --> 00:14:55,995 same chapter two. 272 00:14:55,995 --> 00:14:59,865 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of renewal, of the tribe of 273 00:14:59,865 --> 00:15:00,633 Asher. 274 00:15:00,633 --> 00:15:04,103 She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years 275 00:15:04,403 --> 00:15:08,073 from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was 84, 276 00:15:08,540 --> 00:15:12,044 and she did not depart from the temple, worshiping 277 00:15:12,311 --> 00:15:15,714 with fasting and prayer night and day. 278 00:15:17,416 --> 00:15:20,419 These two elderly saints, 279 00:15:20,619 --> 00:15:23,622 Simeon and Anna. 280 00:15:24,556 --> 00:15:25,758 Here's one of the things I love about them. 281 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:29,161 They didn't just meet Jesus, they recognized 282 00:15:29,161 --> 00:15:32,164 Jesus. 283 00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:35,467 Let me tell you a key difference 284 00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:38,170 between people who live 285 00:15:38,170 --> 00:15:41,607 as people of hope and people who live in despair, 286 00:15:43,108 --> 00:15:45,210 those who live in hope, and those who live in despair. 287 00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:47,413 Both walk through the same world, 288 00:15:47,413 --> 00:15:51,250 but only one of those two sees God in a real time. 289 00:15:53,652 --> 00:15:55,788 The others miss him. 290 00:15:55,788 --> 00:15:58,791 These are two elderly saints. 291 00:15:59,625 --> 00:16:02,628 These are two who had waited a long time. 292 00:16:02,828 --> 00:16:05,831 These are two quiet figures 293 00:16:06,165 --> 00:16:08,634 tucked away in the temple. 294 00:16:08,634 --> 00:16:11,670 When one ordinary day hope 295 00:16:12,404 --> 00:16:15,407 walked in, wrapped in baby's clothes, 296 00:16:15,674 --> 00:16:18,677 and they recognized him. 297 00:16:19,745 --> 00:16:22,748 Before they ever held Jesus, 298 00:16:22,881 --> 00:16:25,951 Simeon and Anna had one thing in common. 299 00:16:29,254 --> 00:16:32,257 They were faithful, in obscurity. 300 00:16:32,992 --> 00:16:35,861 They were faithful when nobody saw. 301 00:16:35,861 --> 00:16:38,664 They were faithful in the shadows. 302 00:16:38,664 --> 00:16:41,100 Simeon and Anna were not flashy. 303 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:42,735 They were not front page people. 304 00:16:42,735 --> 00:16:44,136 They weren't famous. 305 00:16:44,136 --> 00:16:47,306 They were just simply a picture of everyday faithfulness 306 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,043 and what it looks like when their hope is realized. 307 00:16:51,877 --> 00:16:55,581 This message today, please pay attention, is for anyone 308 00:16:56,482 --> 00:16:59,485 who has ever prayed a long time 309 00:17:00,686 --> 00:17:01,720 and who is still praying. 310 00:17:03,255 --> 00:17:04,890 This message is for anyone 311 00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:07,893 who has had to wait a long time 312 00:17:08,794 --> 00:17:11,230 and is still waiting. 313 00:17:11,230 --> 00:17:14,233 Is for anyone who's had to hope 314 00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:17,269 for a long time 315 00:17:17,403 --> 00:17:19,538 and is still hoping. 316 00:17:19,538 --> 00:17:22,541 And it's it's for anyone who is maybe. 317 00:17:24,643 --> 00:17:27,246 Through a long time of praying and a long time of waiting. 318 00:17:27,246 --> 00:17:29,581 And a long time of hope and wonders. 319 00:17:29,581 --> 00:17:32,551 If God still sees you. 320 00:17:35,554 --> 00:17:38,557 Anyway, like that. 321 00:17:40,926 --> 00:17:41,293 Listen. 322 00:17:41,293 --> 00:17:44,063 Please understand God never overlooks the faithful. 323 00:17:44,063 --> 00:17:47,066 He rewards him with himself. 324 00:17:47,566 --> 00:17:50,569 And he did for Anna and for Simeon 325 00:17:51,070 --> 00:17:51,870 from their lives. 326 00:17:51,870 --> 00:17:53,539 I want us to learn a couple things about hope. 327 00:17:53,539 --> 00:17:54,873 Here's the first thing. 328 00:17:54,873 --> 00:17:57,176 Hope grows in the quiet places. 329 00:17:57,176 --> 00:18:00,179 The faithfulness. 330 00:18:00,612 --> 00:18:03,916 The Bible says Simeon was righteous, devout, 331 00:18:05,818 --> 00:18:08,420 and waiting. 332 00:18:08,420 --> 00:18:11,223 The Bible says Hannah was a widow for decades, 333 00:18:12,458 --> 00:18:13,058 and she was one 334 00:18:13,058 --> 00:18:16,061 who worshiped, prayed, and fasted daily. 335 00:18:16,862 --> 00:18:20,599 According to the the the laws of the time in their culture. 336 00:18:20,732 --> 00:18:24,603 When a woman was widowed and had no family to take care of her, 337 00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:27,873 the community of faith took responsibility for her. 338 00:18:27,873 --> 00:18:30,876 But in exchange for that, she gave herself, 339 00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:34,546 in essence, to full time ministry, to that community 340 00:18:35,347 --> 00:18:38,851 in response to the church taking care of her needs, 341 00:18:39,151 --> 00:18:42,054 she then gave herself in full time ministry 342 00:18:42,054 --> 00:18:45,724 to that faith, community and worship and prayer and service. 343 00:18:46,358 --> 00:18:49,628 And so apparently this is what she's been doing for decades 344 00:18:49,628 --> 00:18:52,631 serving the church faithfully. 345 00:18:55,033 --> 00:18:58,003 And what I love about both Simeon and Anna 346 00:18:58,003 --> 00:19:00,939 is that when life hit hard, 347 00:19:00,939 --> 00:19:03,942 they didn't quit on God. 348 00:19:05,978 --> 00:19:07,246 Both of these people 349 00:19:09,081 --> 00:19:13,051 continued day after day, week after week, month 350 00:19:13,051 --> 00:19:16,989 after month, year after year, praying unanswered prayers. 351 00:19:18,724 --> 00:19:21,727 Have any of you prayed unanswered prayers 352 00:19:22,161 --> 00:19:25,164 where you're praying and praying and praying 353 00:19:26,298 --> 00:19:28,133 and despite your faithfulness, just pray. 354 00:19:28,133 --> 00:19:30,135 There's still no answer. 355 00:19:30,135 --> 00:19:32,304 There's still no resolution. 356 00:19:32,304 --> 00:19:34,840 There's still no activity. 357 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,843 Simeon and Anna, elderly saints 358 00:19:38,043 --> 00:19:41,013 who continue to continued and continue 359 00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:44,016 to pray unanswered prayers. 360 00:19:44,383 --> 00:19:47,819 And just because their prayers were unanswered decade after decade, 361 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:51,523 they didn't give up on God just because life was hitting hard. 362 00:19:52,791 --> 00:19:56,428 They understood what would be written later in Galatians six nine. 363 00:19:57,229 --> 00:20:00,732 Don't grow weary in due season. 364 00:20:02,234 --> 00:20:04,536 The season of answer prayer hadn't happened yet. 365 00:20:04,536 --> 00:20:07,539 But just because the season of answer prayer hadn't happened, it didn't mean 366 00:20:07,539 --> 00:20:10,542 they quit praying. 367 00:20:11,743 --> 00:20:14,746 Psalms 37 three through seven is a great little passage. 368 00:20:14,746 --> 00:20:17,316 It tells us, continue to trust. 369 00:20:17,316 --> 00:20:21,553 Continue to do good, continue to commit your way to the Lord 370 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,855 and be still before the Lord. 371 00:20:26,024 --> 00:20:27,759 Because faithfulness 372 00:20:27,759 --> 00:20:30,762 is the soil where hope grows. 373 00:20:33,265 --> 00:20:35,901 You want to grow hope in your life. 374 00:20:35,901 --> 00:20:38,904 You got to be faithful first. 375 00:20:39,171 --> 00:20:41,740 We cannot be hopeful 376 00:20:41,740 --> 00:20:44,743 if we're not first faithful. 377 00:20:45,010 --> 00:20:47,179 Hope will continually elude 378 00:20:47,179 --> 00:20:50,182 the faithless and the disobedient. 379 00:20:50,349 --> 00:20:53,352 Hope grows out of faithfulness. 380 00:20:53,552 --> 00:20:56,555 Faithfulness is a prerequisite for hope. 381 00:20:56,822 --> 00:21:00,225 Those who are disobedient, those who are faithless, 382 00:21:00,325 --> 00:21:04,129 will never know the joy and the certainty of hope. 383 00:21:06,031 --> 00:21:09,167 Eugene Petersen says of faithfulness this 384 00:21:09,468 --> 00:21:12,471 it is a long obedience in the same direction, 385 00:21:13,205 --> 00:21:16,108 seeming it out ahead, a long life of obedience 386 00:21:16,108 --> 00:21:19,578 in the same direction of prayer and worship and hope. 387 00:21:20,979 --> 00:21:23,548 Oswald Chamber says this about faithfulness 388 00:21:23,548 --> 00:21:26,551 trust God and do the next thing. 389 00:21:26,952 --> 00:21:29,955 You cannot have hope without faithfulness. 390 00:21:31,323 --> 00:21:33,925 So hope grows in those quiet places of faithfulness. 391 00:21:33,925 --> 00:21:34,860 Oh dear friends. 392 00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:40,532 Don't let your faithfulness wane. 393 00:21:43,802 --> 00:21:46,471 When life hits hard, 394 00:21:46,471 --> 00:21:49,341 continue to be faithful. 395 00:21:49,341 --> 00:21:51,710 It's the seedbed of hope. 396 00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:54,746 The thing we learn from seeing it in also is this. 397 00:21:55,847 --> 00:21:58,850 That hope is rewarded when God breaks the silence 398 00:21:59,551 --> 00:22:02,387 because he will. 399 00:22:02,387 --> 00:22:05,390 Simeon and Anna's story 400 00:22:05,390 --> 00:22:08,393 is for everyone who has trusted God 401 00:22:08,427 --> 00:22:11,430 and still wrestled with disappointment. 402 00:22:11,997 --> 00:22:15,000 Has that been any of your story? 403 00:22:15,167 --> 00:22:17,602 Nobody's been. 404 00:22:17,602 --> 00:22:19,905 Am I the only one in this place 405 00:22:19,905 --> 00:22:23,308 that's trusted God and still wrestled with this one person? 406 00:22:23,308 --> 00:22:26,311 Thank you Sarah. 407 00:22:27,612 --> 00:22:30,248 When I've trusted God 408 00:22:30,248 --> 00:22:33,251 and I've been faithful 409 00:22:33,251 --> 00:22:36,188 and I've relied on him, 410 00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:39,191 but I'm still disappointed. 411 00:22:45,630 --> 00:22:48,600 It's a difficult place to be. 412 00:22:51,870 --> 00:22:54,873 But God will reward the faithful 413 00:22:55,807 --> 00:22:57,609 with hope 414 00:22:57,609 --> 00:22:59,911 when he breaks the silence. 415 00:22:59,911 --> 00:23:02,447 Before God spoke 416 00:23:02,447 --> 00:23:05,917 to Simeon and Anna, before he revealed what he was orchestrating, 417 00:23:06,151 --> 00:23:10,455 their experience appeared to be one who had been forgotten by God. 418 00:23:12,357 --> 00:23:13,725 They've been faithful for years. 419 00:23:13,725 --> 00:23:16,695 They prayed. For years. They continued to hope. 420 00:23:16,695 --> 00:23:20,432 But their experience before God said, this is what I'm doing. 421 00:23:20,632 --> 00:23:24,569 I'm going to reveal to you what I've been orchestrating before that happened. 422 00:23:24,569 --> 00:23:28,507 Their experience was one of one who felt like they'd been forgotten 423 00:23:28,507 --> 00:23:31,510 about right? 424 00:23:36,948 --> 00:23:39,584 Listen, there are some times 425 00:23:39,584 --> 00:23:41,420 when God delays our preparation 426 00:23:41,420 --> 00:23:44,423 for God's deliverance. 427 00:23:45,056 --> 00:23:46,425 There are some times 428 00:23:46,425 --> 00:23:49,428 when it looks like he's not doing anything. 429 00:23:49,928 --> 00:23:50,495 And it's not. 430 00:23:50,495 --> 00:23:53,665 It's one delay after another, after another. 431 00:23:53,665 --> 00:23:57,736 And no answered prayer and no, no, no sign of anything. 432 00:23:59,037 --> 00:24:02,040 And it's not that he's forgotten 433 00:24:02,274 --> 00:24:05,277 that he's preparing. 434 00:24:07,546 --> 00:24:09,014 Here's here's what we have to understand. 435 00:24:09,014 --> 00:24:12,017 Just because we can't hear God doesn't mean he's not active. 436 00:24:12,617 --> 00:24:15,587 Like God has the prerogative to work in silence. 437 00:24:18,256 --> 00:24:21,259 I want you to hear that. 438 00:24:21,693 --> 00:24:24,663 God has the prerogative to work in silence. 439 00:24:26,431 --> 00:24:29,434 He's not indebted to us to say, listen, let me let me just. 440 00:24:31,102 --> 00:24:33,038 Look, Bobby, here's the thing. 441 00:24:33,038 --> 00:24:36,041 I want you to understand what I'm doing right now. 442 00:24:36,541 --> 00:24:38,043 So. So you'll understand. 443 00:24:38,043 --> 00:24:40,612 This is how I'm working. This is how it's going to work out. 444 00:24:40,612 --> 00:24:41,880 Because I don't want to have. 445 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,849 I don't want you to have to trust me so much. 446 00:24:43,849 --> 00:24:46,651 That's not what God does. 447 00:24:46,651 --> 00:24:48,620 It doesn't say, look, Billy, here's the thing. 448 00:24:48,620 --> 00:24:49,921 This is what I'm doing now. 449 00:24:49,921 --> 00:24:52,357 And then the next step is going to be this little thing. 450 00:24:52,357 --> 00:24:54,493 And then the next step is going to be this little thing, 451 00:24:54,493 --> 00:24:56,928 because I don't want you to have to have that much faith. 452 00:24:56,928 --> 00:24:58,530 I just want you to know every little step. 453 00:24:58,530 --> 00:25:00,131 And that's not how God works. 454 00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:04,669 He says, look, I'm going to work in silence. 455 00:25:05,770 --> 00:25:07,172 I have that prerogative, 456 00:25:07,172 --> 00:25:09,941 and I'm not going to tell you what I'm orchestrating right now, 457 00:25:09,941 --> 00:25:12,944 and I'm not going to tell you how far along the road I am, 458 00:25:13,812 --> 00:25:16,214 because I'm going to force you 459 00:25:16,214 --> 00:25:17,015 to trust me. 460 00:25:17,015 --> 00:25:19,584 I'm a force. You 461 00:25:19,584 --> 00:25:22,587 to be faithful when you don't know, when you don't see. 462 00:25:22,587 --> 00:25:25,357 That's what God does. 463 00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:28,293 Some of you need to hear this morning 464 00:25:28,293 --> 00:25:30,862 that it's God's prerogative to work in silence. 465 00:25:30,862 --> 00:25:33,832 That's what he chooses, but it doesn't mean he's not active. 466 00:25:36,101 --> 00:25:37,035 And so the question 467 00:25:37,035 --> 00:25:40,038 we have to wrestle with is, will I continue to pray? 468 00:25:40,138 --> 00:25:41,806 Will I continue to trust? 469 00:25:41,806 --> 00:25:45,510 Will I continue to be faithful when God chooses to be silent? 470 00:25:50,515 --> 00:25:52,183 This is what Simeon and Anna did. 471 00:25:55,820 --> 00:25:58,156 Lamentations 325 and 26 472 00:25:58,156 --> 00:26:02,360 says, the Lord is good to those who wait for him. 473 00:26:06,097 --> 00:26:07,566 I like what Tozer said. 474 00:26:07,566 --> 00:26:10,936 He said this when God is silent, he's still saying something. 475 00:26:13,738 --> 00:26:15,840 And what it could be saying to you in a silence right now, 476 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,810 so we can just relax and trust me, 477 00:26:19,711 --> 00:26:22,681 this does not mean I'm not active. 478 00:26:24,549 --> 00:26:27,552 Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers the world has known, 479 00:26:28,219 --> 00:26:31,022 says this God is too good to be unkind 480 00:26:31,022 --> 00:26:33,992 and is too wise to be mistaken. 481 00:26:37,429 --> 00:26:39,164 You may be in that season 482 00:26:39,164 --> 00:26:42,167 of waiting and silence right now, 483 00:26:42,801 --> 00:26:45,070 but God's silence is not because he's unkind. 484 00:26:45,070 --> 00:26:48,406 It may be kind for him to keep you in that season of waiting. 485 00:26:51,209 --> 00:26:54,212 He's not making mistakes. 486 00:26:57,482 --> 00:26:59,818 Another thing we learned from Anna and Simeon is this 487 00:26:59,818 --> 00:27:04,322 is that hope sees Jesus even in the small things, the small beginnings. 488 00:27:05,290 --> 00:27:07,559 Let me read this passage verses 27 to 30. 489 00:27:07,559 --> 00:27:10,295 It's a little bit long, but you'll be okay. 490 00:27:10,295 --> 00:27:13,298 And he came in the spirit into the temple. 491 00:27:13,298 --> 00:27:14,933 This is talking about Simeon. 492 00:27:14,933 --> 00:27:17,669 And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him 493 00:27:17,669 --> 00:27:21,473 according to the custom of the law, likes it in 40 days to present him to God. 494 00:27:21,606 --> 00:27:23,908 He took him up in his arms and blessed God. 495 00:27:23,908 --> 00:27:26,811 So this old man walks up to Mary and it just picture 496 00:27:26,811 --> 00:27:29,814 this scene, this old man at church 497 00:27:30,015 --> 00:27:32,350 walks up to Simeon to, to, to 498 00:27:32,350 --> 00:27:35,353 to Mary and Joseph, and Joseph grabs your little baby 499 00:27:36,287 --> 00:27:39,290 like I've seen some of you parents and newborns. 500 00:27:39,424 --> 00:27:42,427 After about seven months, you start bringing them back 501 00:27:42,427 --> 00:27:44,629 into public, into the church, 502 00:27:44,629 --> 00:27:47,599 and they're in the carriers and they're all bubble wrapped 503 00:27:47,599 --> 00:27:49,467 and they don't want anybody touching them because you 504 00:27:49,467 --> 00:27:51,936 want them to get sick around them, you know? 505 00:27:51,936 --> 00:27:54,606 Well, at 40 days they bring Jesus to church, 506 00:27:54,606 --> 00:27:57,776 and this old man just walks up and scoops him in his arms. 507 00:28:01,446 --> 00:28:03,314 And he blessed him and said, 508 00:28:03,314 --> 00:28:06,818 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. 509 00:28:06,818 --> 00:28:07,352 I love that. 510 00:28:07,352 --> 00:28:10,321 Oh, now I can finally die in peace. 511 00:28:10,588 --> 00:28:14,259 You've been faithful to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, 512 00:28:14,259 --> 00:28:17,262 that you have prepared the presence for all the people, 513 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:22,600 light for the of revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people. 514 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,404 Israel and his father's mother marveled at what was said about him. 515 00:28:28,173 --> 00:28:31,009 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, 516 00:28:31,009 --> 00:28:36,014 this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign 517 00:28:36,314 --> 00:28:39,884 that is opposed, and a sword will pierce through your own soul. 518 00:28:39,884 --> 00:28:41,786 Also, can you imagine hearing that as a mama 519 00:28:41,786 --> 00:28:45,090 your soul is going to be pierced because of this baby? 520 00:28:45,890 --> 00:28:48,893 So that's the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 521 00:28:49,127 --> 00:28:50,795 And there was a prophetess and of the daughter, 522 00:28:50,795 --> 00:28:51,896 and you all, the tribe of Asher. 523 00:28:51,896 --> 00:28:54,432 She was advancing years later, the husband, seven years 524 00:28:54,432 --> 00:28:58,369 from the time she was a virgin, and then as a widow till she was 84. 525 00:28:58,403 --> 00:29:02,941 She did not depart from the temple, were of fasting and prayer night and day. 526 00:29:02,941 --> 00:29:06,811 In verse 38, and coming up at that very hour, she began to give 527 00:29:06,811 --> 00:29:07,512 thanks to God, 528 00:29:07,512 --> 00:29:11,316 and to speak of him to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 529 00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:11,983 Here's why I love. 530 00:29:14,018 --> 00:29:15,620 Simeon and Anna 531 00:29:15,620 --> 00:29:19,157 never heard Jesus preach a sermon. 532 00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:21,693 They never saw him. 533 00:29:21,693 --> 00:29:23,461 Hill, Hill, a blind man. 534 00:29:23,461 --> 00:29:26,197 They never saw him give, 535 00:29:26,197 --> 00:29:28,733 give, the ability to walk to a crippled man. 536 00:29:28,733 --> 00:29:31,736 They never saw him, 537 00:29:31,970 --> 00:29:34,973 perform a resurrection. 538 00:29:35,473 --> 00:29:38,343 All they saw was a baby. 539 00:29:38,343 --> 00:29:41,312 That's all they saw. 540 00:29:41,312 --> 00:29:44,282 A small beginning. 541 00:29:46,384 --> 00:29:48,186 But they were able to see his identity 542 00:29:48,186 --> 00:29:51,189 before they saw his activity. 543 00:29:51,956 --> 00:29:54,959 This is where Hope lives. 544 00:29:55,860 --> 00:29:57,996 When you can see. 545 00:29:57,996 --> 00:30:01,332 When you can see our father's identity. 546 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:05,703 Well before you see his activity. 547 00:30:06,371 --> 00:30:09,374 See, here's what happens 548 00:30:09,541 --> 00:30:12,343 when we don't know God by his identity. 549 00:30:12,343 --> 00:30:15,346 We become desperate for his activity. 550 00:30:17,982 --> 00:30:19,951 So when we don't see his activity, 551 00:30:19,951 --> 00:30:22,954 we doubt his reality. 552 00:30:26,925 --> 00:30:28,560 That was really good 553 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,563 and I hope you didn't miss it. 554 00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:36,835 If you don't know 555 00:30:36,835 --> 00:30:40,772 God's identity, you'll be desperate for his activity. 556 00:30:43,541 --> 00:30:45,243 So much so that when you don't 557 00:30:45,243 --> 00:30:48,279 see his activity, you will doubt his reality. 558 00:30:53,918 --> 00:30:56,821 Hope lives in those who know 559 00:30:56,821 --> 00:30:59,791 the identity of the father 560 00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:03,695 without having to see his activity. 561 00:31:07,966 --> 00:31:08,833 So the question 562 00:31:08,833 --> 00:31:12,203 we have to ask ourselves, do I know 563 00:31:13,538 --> 00:31:16,541 God's character apart from his activity? 564 00:31:19,244 --> 00:31:22,347 If God did nothing else? 565 00:31:25,250 --> 00:31:28,253 If the prayers remained unanswered. 566 00:31:31,356 --> 00:31:34,359 Do you still know him as the Almighty? 567 00:31:38,496 --> 00:31:40,465 If you didn't see his hand again, 568 00:31:40,465 --> 00:31:43,534 would you still know him as the provider? 569 00:31:46,037 --> 00:31:49,040 If you saw no more activity from him, 570 00:31:49,274 --> 00:31:51,876 if you didn't feel, would you still know him 571 00:31:51,876 --> 00:31:54,879 as the comforter? 572 00:31:57,181 --> 00:31:58,683 If we didn't see his activity, 573 00:31:58,683 --> 00:32:01,653 would we still know him as good? 574 00:32:02,987 --> 00:32:09,661 Or is our knowledge of him only tied to what he does for us? 575 00:32:14,866 --> 00:32:17,468 See, Simeon and Anna 576 00:32:17,468 --> 00:32:20,471 knew his identity before he ever did a thing 577 00:32:21,472 --> 00:32:24,509 they knew, and they trusted in the character of the father. 578 00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:27,512 Before Jesus ever did anything. 579 00:32:28,212 --> 00:32:31,849 And apparently they died without ever seeing Jesus do anything. 580 00:32:33,217 --> 00:32:35,520 But they lived in the knowledge 581 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,523 and the certainty of the character of the father. 582 00:32:39,757 --> 00:32:42,760 It's people of hope. 583 00:32:46,497 --> 00:32:49,500 Before Jesus did anything, Simeon saw him 584 00:32:50,868 --> 00:32:54,305 as the God who would provide salvation for his people. 585 00:32:54,305 --> 00:32:57,675 Before she saw him do anything, Anna saw him 586 00:32:58,876 --> 00:33:02,347 as the child who would give redemption to all who were waiting. 587 00:33:03,781 --> 00:33:06,751 See the heartbeat of hope 588 00:33:07,251 --> 00:33:09,620 is to recognize God's work when it still 589 00:33:09,620 --> 00:33:12,623 looks like a seed, not a harvest. 590 00:33:13,958 --> 00:33:16,728 When all you know is there's a seed 591 00:33:16,728 --> 00:33:19,430 that's germinating underground in the short. 592 00:33:19,430 --> 00:33:22,200 The dark places in the quiet places, 593 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:26,404 in those places where nobody knows and nobody sees you. 594 00:33:26,404 --> 00:33:30,641 When you know that the seed is germinating there before you ever see the harvest. 595 00:33:31,642 --> 00:33:33,277 Can you recognize the God's 596 00:33:33,277 --> 00:33:36,280 God's work in that which is unseen? 597 00:33:37,782 --> 00:33:40,785 Jesus didn't look like a Savior yet 598 00:33:40,852 --> 00:33:43,855 he didn't look like a deliverer. Yet 599 00:33:43,921 --> 00:33:46,924 he certainly didn't look like a king yet. 600 00:33:48,693 --> 00:33:50,461 But Hope doesn't need the full picture. 601 00:33:50,461 --> 00:33:51,662 In order to praise the father. 602 00:33:51,662 --> 00:33:54,365 Hope just needs a glimpse. 603 00:33:54,365 --> 00:33:57,368 And this is why it's so important for us to be in the Bible every day. 604 00:33:57,535 --> 00:33:59,837 That's why I did that devotional for you every morning. 605 00:33:59,837 --> 00:34:02,840 Just look at that devotion. Do a little bit 606 00:34:03,174 --> 00:34:06,177 because you'll get a glimpse 607 00:34:06,411 --> 00:34:08,613 of the father 608 00:34:08,613 --> 00:34:10,014 through the pages of Scripture. 609 00:34:10,014 --> 00:34:13,017 And sometimes all you need is a glimpse. 610 00:34:13,351 --> 00:34:15,620 Do you understand? 611 00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:17,455 You understand. 612 00:34:17,455 --> 00:34:20,358 Some of you waiting for a harvest. 613 00:34:20,358 --> 00:34:21,692 And I feel like God wants to tell you. 614 00:34:21,692 --> 00:34:25,163 Until you can see my work in the seed, I'm not going to give you a harvest, 615 00:34:26,597 --> 00:34:28,633 because then you only know me by my activity 616 00:34:28,633 --> 00:34:31,636 and not by my identity. 617 00:34:35,406 --> 00:34:38,409 Three things about hope, and I'll wrap up. 618 00:34:38,743 --> 00:34:41,012 Hope celebrates the seed because it becomes 619 00:34:41,012 --> 00:34:44,015 the harvest. 620 00:34:44,048 --> 00:34:46,951 You know what's coming. 621 00:34:46,951 --> 00:34:49,787 And so you celebrate that which is unseen. 622 00:34:49,787 --> 00:34:53,524 If you didn't know a harvest was coming, it would be hard to celebrate 623 00:34:53,524 --> 00:34:55,593 the planting of a seed. Right? 624 00:34:55,593 --> 00:34:57,395 But you know. 625 00:34:57,395 --> 00:34:58,329 And how do you know? 626 00:34:58,329 --> 00:35:00,631 Because the hope 627 00:35:00,631 --> 00:35:03,601 who pushes us to the future without hope, 628 00:35:04,135 --> 00:35:07,004 we languish in the darkness of the past 629 00:35:07,004 --> 00:35:10,007 or the despair of the present. 630 00:35:10,074 --> 00:35:13,077 But hope is that conviction 631 00:35:13,111 --> 00:35:16,114 that grows beneath the soil. 632 00:35:19,016 --> 00:35:21,919 Tim Keller says, this hope 633 00:35:21,919 --> 00:35:25,723 is the confidence in God's future that shapes your present. 634 00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:29,160 That's how you know you're a person of hope. 635 00:35:30,528 --> 00:35:30,895 You have a 636 00:35:30,895 --> 00:35:34,699 confidence in God's future, so much so that it shapes your present 637 00:35:34,699 --> 00:35:37,702 right now, in the silence, in the darkness. 638 00:35:40,104 --> 00:35:42,607 The second thing we learn 639 00:35:42,607 --> 00:35:45,243 is that hope belongs to the faithful who just keep 640 00:35:45,243 --> 00:35:48,212 showing up. 641 00:35:48,479 --> 00:35:51,115 I'm gonna keep praying, man. 642 00:35:51,115 --> 00:35:54,318 I've been praying for a long time and my prayers are answered. 643 00:35:54,318 --> 00:35:58,990 But I'm gonna keep praying day after day after day. 644 00:35:58,990 --> 00:36:02,260 And there's going to be some days when I feel like I'm not praying anymore. 645 00:36:02,260 --> 00:36:04,862 I'm done. I'm too tired. Ain't nothing happening. 646 00:36:04,862 --> 00:36:05,630 I'm going to quit. 647 00:36:05,630 --> 00:36:07,832 And then something bubbles up and you say, 648 00:36:07,832 --> 00:36:09,901 and you say, you know what, I'll quit praying tomorrow. 649 00:36:09,901 --> 00:36:11,569 But I'm not going to quit praying today. 650 00:36:11,569 --> 00:36:13,304 And I'm going to pray another day. 651 00:36:13,304 --> 00:36:15,306 And the days turn into weeks. 652 00:36:15,306 --> 00:36:18,309 And you keep praying week after week after week. 653 00:36:18,509 --> 00:36:20,511 And there are some times when a week shows up 654 00:36:20,511 --> 00:36:24,215 and you think, I'm tired and I'm worn out and I'm beat up 655 00:36:24,315 --> 00:36:28,519 and I'm done with this prayer thing, and then something bubbles up inside 656 00:36:28,653 --> 00:36:32,190 and you say, I might be done next week, but I'm not done this week. 657 00:36:32,590 --> 00:36:33,958 And you keep praying. 658 00:36:35,059 --> 00:36:36,060 And hope belongs to 659 00:36:36,060 --> 00:36:39,063 the faithful who keep showing up. 660 00:36:39,063 --> 00:36:42,400 And those weeks turn in the months and the months turn into years. 661 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,335 And you have those times in the season. 662 00:36:44,335 --> 00:36:47,738 You say, God, I'm tired and I'm going to quit praying 663 00:36:47,738 --> 00:36:50,708 and I'm going to quit serving, and I'm going to quit believing 664 00:36:50,708 --> 00:36:54,011 because I'm just worn out and you've been nothing but silent. 665 00:36:54,245 --> 00:36:57,415 And you say, I might quit, but it's not going to be today. 666 00:37:00,851 --> 00:37:02,520 Because something bubbles up 667 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:05,523 inside and it's this commodity called hope. 668 00:37:05,523 --> 00:37:09,227 Because you know the character of God before you ever see the idea, 669 00:37:09,260 --> 00:37:14,165 the activity of God, you know his identity and you know he's doing something 670 00:37:14,966 --> 00:37:17,969 underneath the surface. 671 00:37:18,202 --> 00:37:20,571 And so you just keep showing up. 672 00:37:20,571 --> 00:37:23,074 Friends, listen, don't tap 673 00:37:23,074 --> 00:37:27,812 out of your prayers, of your faithfulness, 674 00:37:28,179 --> 00:37:31,282 of your serving, of your generosity, 675 00:37:31,549 --> 00:37:34,652 of your devotion, of your righteousness. 676 00:37:40,725 --> 00:37:42,326 Because hope is found by those 677 00:37:42,326 --> 00:37:45,329 who look for Jesus before anything changes. 678 00:37:49,333 --> 00:37:51,068 We used to do a thing 679 00:37:51,068 --> 00:37:54,105 with our boys when they were little, and I didn't do it enough. 680 00:37:54,572 --> 00:37:55,373 It's one of those things. 681 00:37:55,373 --> 00:37:56,674 As a parent, you look back and say, man, 682 00:37:56,674 --> 00:37:59,677 if I could go back, I this is one thing I do different. 683 00:38:00,444 --> 00:38:03,147 I wish I would have done it more as a daddy, but there were times 684 00:38:03,147 --> 00:38:06,150 I would sit around the table and I would say, okay, 685 00:38:06,717 --> 00:38:09,720 tell me somewhere you saw Jesus today 686 00:38:10,554 --> 00:38:12,790 just to start tuning their eyes 687 00:38:12,790 --> 00:38:15,793 to see Jesus in the real world. 688 00:38:17,428 --> 00:38:17,862 You know why? 689 00:38:17,862 --> 00:38:22,133 Because hope is found by those who look for Jesus in the little things. 690 00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:25,136 Before anything radical happens, 691 00:38:25,803 --> 00:38:27,138 before anything changes. 692 00:38:29,373 --> 00:38:31,275 These two were faithful 693 00:38:31,275 --> 00:38:34,278 and people of hope for decades, 694 00:38:35,046 --> 00:38:37,048 so that when this little baby came 695 00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:40,051 into the temple, they recognized him instantly. 696 00:38:42,153 --> 00:38:45,156 So this is a charge for us, my dear friends. 697 00:38:46,023 --> 00:38:48,926 Keep walking faithfully. 698 00:38:48,926 --> 00:38:50,428 Keep worshiping consistently. 699 00:38:50,428 --> 00:38:54,298 Keep praying regularly even when God is quiet, 700 00:38:55,866 --> 00:38:57,968 keep watching 701 00:38:57,968 --> 00:39:00,137 for the small ways 702 00:39:00,137 --> 00:39:02,840 that Jesus is working in you, around 703 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:05,843 you right now. 704 00:39:06,510 --> 00:39:09,513 Hope is not just about the future. 705 00:39:10,381 --> 00:39:12,149 Hope is about recognizing the King 706 00:39:12,149 --> 00:39:15,152 when he walks into your present. 707 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,123 Train your eyes to see him. 708 00:39:20,491 --> 00:39:23,494 Train your spirit to recognize him. 709 00:39:24,261 --> 00:39:27,231 Hope is not just about the future. 710 00:39:27,231 --> 00:39:29,300 Hope sees Christ clearly 711 00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:32,903 even when everything else is blurry. 712 00:39:36,240 --> 00:39:37,842 There are so many things 713 00:39:37,842 --> 00:39:40,845 we wish we had clarity on right now, right? 714 00:39:41,045 --> 00:39:43,381 So many things. 715 00:39:43,381 --> 00:39:46,050 God, if you would just give me clarity on this. 716 00:39:46,050 --> 00:39:51,288 Listen, Hope sees quite Christ clearly even when everything else is blurry. 717 00:39:51,422 --> 00:39:54,091 Can you see the eye, his character clearly? 718 00:39:54,091 --> 00:39:56,227 I know you're the God who is. 719 00:39:57,528 --> 00:39:58,195 Who you are 720 00:39:58,195 --> 00:40:01,198 is clear to me, even though everything else is blurry. 721 00:40:02,133 --> 00:40:04,769 And when I can see you clearly 722 00:40:04,769 --> 00:40:07,772 like that, then I can believe your promises with clarity. 723 00:40:07,872 --> 00:40:11,742 Like Romans 828 I know that you work all things together 724 00:40:11,742 --> 00:40:14,745 for the good of those who love you, called according to your purpose. 725 00:40:15,346 --> 00:40:17,314 I don't just believe that because the Bible says I believe 726 00:40:17,314 --> 00:40:20,317 because I see you clearly, 727 00:40:20,885 --> 00:40:23,888 my Lord and my God. 728 00:40:25,689 --> 00:40:26,190 Listen. 729 00:40:26,190 --> 00:40:26,624 Yours. 730 00:40:26,624 --> 00:40:30,895 My hope is increased when we choose to believe the person of Jesus, 731 00:40:31,362 --> 00:40:34,365 and we choose to believe the character of the father. 732 00:40:37,535 --> 00:40:40,471 I want us to be people of hope, 733 00:40:40,471 --> 00:40:43,441 because without us, 734 00:40:43,441 --> 00:40:46,377 there's a failure to thrive. 735 00:40:46,377 --> 00:40:48,579 Faith, hope, and love 736 00:40:48,579 --> 00:40:51,315 right? 737 00:40:51,315 --> 00:40:53,651 On invite you into this 738 00:40:53,651 --> 00:40:54,385 to pray with me. 739 00:40:58,622 --> 00:40:59,857 Father, thank you for coming. 740 00:40:59,857 --> 00:41:01,892 And Anna, 741 00:41:01,892 --> 00:41:04,862 thank you for their faithfulness 742 00:41:04,995 --> 00:41:07,398 through years and years and decades 743 00:41:07,398 --> 00:41:10,401 where they just kept showing up. 744 00:41:10,734 --> 00:41:13,103 Thank you for the hope that lived in them before 745 00:41:13,103 --> 00:41:16,106 you ever did a seeing what great examples they are to us. 746 00:41:17,541 --> 00:41:20,544 Oh God, would you make us like Simeon and Anna? 747 00:41:21,946 --> 00:41:24,949 And would you give us grace to believe 748 00:41:25,115 --> 00:41:28,118 and grace to have hope? 749 00:41:29,487 --> 00:41:33,591 Father, we cannot orchestrate this and conjure this in ourselves. 750 00:41:33,591 --> 00:41:35,726 This is beyond us. 751 00:41:35,726 --> 00:41:38,729 Some of us have been waiting a long time 752 00:41:39,129 --> 00:41:42,132 and praying a long time. 753 00:41:45,302 --> 00:41:46,570 By your grace, 754 00:41:46,570 --> 00:41:49,573 would you remind us of your identity? 755 00:41:51,141 --> 00:41:54,144 That we would be faithful and believe 756 00:41:55,246 --> 00:41:58,249 ever before your activity? 757 00:41:58,949 --> 00:42:01,352 Would you help us see you clearly? 758 00:42:01,352 --> 00:42:03,287 Jesus, 759 00:42:03,287 --> 00:42:05,422 when everything else is blurry? 760 00:42:08,692 --> 00:42:10,060 And would you 761 00:42:10,060 --> 00:42:13,063 raise in us? 762 00:42:13,831 --> 00:42:16,800 This fruit of your spirit, 763 00:42:16,901 --> 00:42:19,904 this commodity called hope. 764 00:42:22,106 --> 00:42:25,109 That we would thrive 765 00:42:25,109 --> 00:42:26,644 not just in your activity, 766 00:42:26,644 --> 00:42:29,647 but because we are convinced of your identity. 767 00:42:29,914 --> 00:42:32,917 You are a good God. 768 00:42:34,351 --> 00:42:35,185 In your name I pray. 769 00:42:35,185 --> 00:42:38,188 Amen. 770 00:42:38,222 --> 00:42:39,690 Be people of hope this week. 771 00:42:39,690 --> 00:42:41,792 Yeah. 772 00:42:41,792 --> 00:42:44,795 Listen, you have two responsibilities now. 773 00:42:45,129 --> 00:42:47,531 One of your responsibilities is to make sure 774 00:42:47,531 --> 00:42:52,870 that this is in here and this is in here. 775 00:42:53,370 --> 00:42:55,072 You understand? 776 00:42:55,072 --> 00:42:57,041 You understand. 777 00:42:57,041 --> 00:43:00,044 This is where hope lives. 778 00:43:00,110 --> 00:43:03,547 The revelation of Christ put it in here. 779 00:43:04,949 --> 00:43:07,718 But this whole Christmas, this is why Jesus came that night. 780 00:43:07,718 --> 00:43:09,920 God coming to us. 781 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:12,856 But it's not just about us. 782 00:43:12,856 --> 00:43:15,192 He came so humanity would know him. 783 00:43:15,192 --> 00:43:17,328 And so your first responsibility is put this here. 784 00:43:18,862 --> 00:43:20,497 Your second responsibility 785 00:43:20,497 --> 00:43:24,635 is for those who are far from God or two who don't have a church home. 786 00:43:25,002 --> 00:43:28,005 It's your responsibility to invite them 787 00:43:28,939 --> 00:43:31,075 because it's not just about you. 788 00:43:31,075 --> 00:43:35,446 Did you know that that people are 30 times more likely to come to church 789 00:43:36,246 --> 00:43:38,582 if they're invited repeatedly by a friend, than they are 790 00:43:38,582 --> 00:43:40,250 just to show up on their own 30 times. 791 00:43:40,250 --> 00:43:42,486 More likely, 792 00:43:42,486 --> 00:43:47,324 they're 80 times more likely to come to church invited by a friend. 793 00:43:47,324 --> 00:43:51,228 If that friend says either before or after, let's go grab a coffee 794 00:43:51,228 --> 00:43:54,231 or go to the diner 81st 80 times more likely. 795 00:43:55,833 --> 00:43:57,968 So it's really easy 796 00:43:57,968 --> 00:44:00,971 to get people to hear about Jesus, 797 00:44:01,572 --> 00:44:03,874 say, hey, come to church and before or after, let's go hang out 798 00:44:03,874 --> 00:44:05,409 and have a cup of coffee, or get a burrito. 799 00:44:08,278 --> 00:44:09,346 Challenge me on that. 800 00:44:09,346 --> 00:44:12,182 Test me on that. See if I'm not right. 801 00:44:12,182 --> 00:44:15,452 You don't understand this, all right, I love you. 802 00:44:15,786 --> 00:44:18,122 I'm proud of you. Let's sing another song.