The Hope of the World

Christmas Eve Celebration 2023
“The Hope of the World”

Jesus is the gift of hope. It is His life that would give mankind a tangible hope like never before. Jesus is the hope of the world! Every blessing, everything good comes through Jesus Christ. He is the hope of the world.

Hope: a confident expectation and reassurance of receiving God’s promises into our lives. It is knowing He will never leave us or forsake us; therefore, He is our strong tower, a place of protection and safety. Even when things do not go the way we planned or what we hoped and prayed for, we know He is still with us and this gives us great peace in the middle of the storm.

Simply put, hope is believing something good is going to happen! There are over 6,000-7,000 promises in the Bible. Hope believes the best is yet to come because every day we draw closer to God and discover another promise in His Word. 1 promise a day would take over 16 years to reach 6,000 and over 19 years to reach 7,000. Every day is a new promise from our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The more we seek God through His Scriptures, the more promises we receive.

2 Cor 1:20-22 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Jer 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Eph 1:18-20 the eyes of your understanding (heart) being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

Jer 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.”
Our hope is not in this world, our friends, family, job, finances, government, President Trump, insurance or material possessions or even the voice of the Prophets. Therefore, nothing that happens in this world will cause us to lose hope. Where is your hope?

James 1:16-17 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Jesus is the perfect gift that came down from above; the gift of peace, hope, love, joy, forgiveness, provision and abundant life. Wow! That is the best present ever!

Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.
Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. No matter how great the storm that surrounds us, the anchor of hope will not let go of our soul as long as our hope stays in Jesus Christ and not in the things of this world.

2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. God wants to show His glory through us!

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Those of us who believe in faith have watched as things we hoped for, manifested (became a substance or tangible). Hope fuels and gives strength to our faith. If we lose our hope, we have lost our faith.

John 10:6 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Jesus gave His life in order for us to live! We are to be like Christ; we are called “The Body of Christ” we are His hands and feet. We can give someone hope; we can help someone choose life.

Please along with your regular tithing, if you would like to give an offering tonight in the honor of baby Jesus, it will go to Spero Pregnancy Center (Port Huron) and Positive Alternative pregnancy care center in Caro and Bad Axe.

Mtt 2:1-23 The names of the Three Wise Men were Gaspar, Melchior (mel-key-or), and Balthasar (bal-tha-sar). The palace of Gaspar was discovered as an archeology find in the middle east. The Wise Men traveled approximately 800 miles to worship the child Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts would help fund the journey to Egypt that Joseph and Mary were about to embark on.

Most likely the Wise Men were from Persia. The Book of Daniel talks about such “Magi” who were trained in astronomy, interpreting dreams, visions, and understanding things of a spiritual nature. The Book of Daniel not only prophesied the coming of the Messiah, but gave general time frame in order to be “watching” (Dan 9:24-27)

Matt 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." Jesus calls Himself “The Bright and Morning Star.”

Invitation for Jesus; The greatest gift exchange ever!
Broken hearts, disappointment, discouragement, anger, hurt, fear, anxiety,
all of our sins; thefts, lies, lust, fornication, selfishness, took advantage of others

He gives us: the Holy Spirit, agape love, peace, joy, hope, 7,000 promises, abundant life, comfort, wisdom, understanding, miracles, a family, eternal life never having to fearing death!