11/26/23 - Advent: Hope - Romans 5:13 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday we start our Advent series in preparation for the most significant event in human history - the birth of Jesus. The word advent means “arrival” and beginning in the fourth century AD Christians have been preparing their hearts, minds and homes with the hope of Christmas. We use the word hope several different ways. We might say, “I hope next summer won’t be as hot as the last one!” There is an element of pessimism in this. That’s not the kind of hope we are talking about. Instead, Biblical hope is a confident assurance that what God promised, He will deliver. Read slowly this comforting truth from Paul... May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 5:13 God is the source and supplier of hope. Certainly our world today needs a confident assurance that is rooted in the nature of the One who created and sustains all life. There are two major wars with no end in sight and more people are taking their lives than at any other time in recorded history. The number of those seeking professional mental health has never been higher. Why is this? It’s because we pour our hope into leaky containers only to realize they are soon empty. In God, we will never be depleted because our hope is in His son Jesus Christ born long ago and alive today. Johnathon Edwards said this about the Christian life… "Our good things can never be taken away from us, even our bad things turn out for good, and the best things are yet to come.” This is the hope of Christmas!