Hope Joy Peace Love
December 19, 2024 • Pastor Joe Sabolick Ph.D. • Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 7:14, Galatians 4:3, Leviticus 17:11, John 5:39
Advent - Hope Peace Joy Love
The Meaning of Advent
Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Christ—
both in the celebration of His birth and His promised return.
Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are gifts we receive through Jesus Christ.
Scripture:
Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
1 HOPE: The Promise of the Messiah
Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
It doesn’t mean young woman~ That is no sign that a young women get pregnant~
But A Virgin Yes! That is a sign ~
Explanation:
The prophecy of Immanuel gave hope to a weary and oppressed people, pointing to God’s intervention.
God Delivered The Children of Israel from Egyptian Bondage ~ The in the Time of Judges everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes~
Ignoring the Law Of God and making it say something it did no say~
The Moral Depravity Much Like Today~
Led them to Babylonian Captivity
Then God keeps His Promise to Bring them To The Place God Had Chosen for them to be~!
Back into Jerusalem~ But Now under the ternary of Roam~
The Hope Of Messiah Now Arrives~
Gal 4:3 In the Fullness of Time God Brought Forth His Son Born of a Woman Born Under the Law~
The Prophetic Promise of Gen.3:15
God Speaking To the Serpent And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
John 3:14 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
And if I am lifted Up I will Draw all Humanity to myself~
God established the Blood Covenant~
Lev. 17:11 Without the Shedding Of Blood There would be no forgiveness of sin~
Separation
Being under the Babylonian oppression and now Roman Oppression The Messiah is Long awaited~
God announced His Arrival and His Name Hashem to MARY~
His Name Will Be Called Jesus ~ Joshua.
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
Through Moses (THE LAW) you could not enter into the Promises Of God
Joshua God Has Become Our Salvation….
New Testament Realization:
Scripture: Luke 1:30-33 - "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.'"
Application: Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Our hope is anchored in His life, death, and resurrection…
None Like Him None Compared to Him….
2 PEACE: The Restoration of Relationship
Is. 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
God’s promise of peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of reconciliation through the Messiah.
SHALOM Peace that Makes You Whole ~
Micah 5:5 - "He will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses."
New Testament Fulfillment:
Jesus Said in John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Jesus brings peace between God and humanity, offering calm in the storms of life.
Romans 5:1: "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you"
1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you"
Colossians 3:15: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful"
John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble"
Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"
Romans 12:18: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all”
You have The Power TO Make Peace~
3. JOY: The Good News of Great Joy
Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Joy is found in God’s presence and His eternal promises.
Being in the Presence Of God There is nothing Like it~
Celebration:
Luke 2:10-11 - "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
The birth of Jesus is the source of true and lasting joy, transcending circumstances…
You have to come to Him by Faith`
Looking for Love in all the wrong Places~
4. LOVE: The Heart of the Gospel
Jeremiah 31:3 - "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."
God’s love for His people is steadfast, demonstrated through His covenant faithfulness.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus Said For God So Loved The Whole World~
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Coming TO God on HIS TERMS~
No Other Way~
Jesus embodies God’s love, which is sacrificial, unconditional, and eternal…
Thats the Love He Gives you When YOU Come To Him on His Terms~
By Believing~
John 14:1 “Let
not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.
” 5 Thomas said to Him,
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Conclusion: Living in Advent Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Advent is a time to reflect, repent, and rejoice in God’s gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love through Jesus.
Embrace these gifts in your life and share them with others as a testimony of Christ’s transformative power.
Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ, who brings hope, peace, joy, and love into our lives. Pray for the congregation to live out these truths during the Advent season and beyond.