Topic: The Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ; The Hope of The World.
Text: Isaiah 11:1-10; John 10:9-10
Introduction
The historic celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is being prepared for during this special season of advent. It runs from the last Sunday in November until the Sunday before Christmas. It also serves as the preparation for the second coming of Christ.
Many people are running up and down every day because the world has lost hope, and hope is the driving force that keeps people moving and striving.
Many things are embedded in hope, including peace, faith, joy, goodness, success, and whatever else you can think of as an accomplishment.
Rick Warren mentioned that, “Many people in our broken world ask why things don’t seem to go right so much of the time. They want to know, ‘Is there hope?’” (Rick Warren, Daily Hope 10/18/22).
Real hope, not simply optimism, is what you need.
Being optimistic is psychological; it’s a result of your thought process.
Hope is theological; it is based on your relationship with God and who He is as a person.
Optimism is a state of mind. Hope is a deep faith in Jesus Christ.
The two anchor scriptures describe God’s arrangement to provide humanity with hope. As a result, the points of discussion in this writing will go into greater depth.
1. HE CAME AS THE SAVIOR
2. HE CAME AS THE KING AND THE LORD
3. HE CAME AS THE JUDGE OF ALL
The above points are explained below:
1.) He came as the Savior:
It is obvious that Satan has held various types of people captive, ruled over their lives with the rod of severe punishments in his hand, and rendered people hopeless and helpless.
God was aware of this, and in mercy and compassion for mankind, He communicated through the prophet Isaiah that, “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” (Isaiah 11:1 NLT).
David was regarded as the savior of his time. God brought the people back to the memory of who David was and how the Savior who was to come would come through his lineage to save his people.
Jesus Christ came as the Savior indeed and still the Savior of the world. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus is here! The hope is here!! He is the Savior. He wants to save you now.
2.) He came as the King and the Lord:
The king wields the staff of authority over a territory and exercises command and judgment as he sees fit.
That is what Satan does to people when he gives them false blessings and prosperity in order to catch their attention. He wants everyone to see him as the lord.
As God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, He had a larger plan to govern His people and rescue them from Satanic authority. “And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2 NLT).
God’s Spirit was placed in His Son, Jesus Christ, to reign as King and Lord over His people. The living hope is in the person with the higher authority.
Jesus Christ reigns mercifully over anyone who recognizes Him as King and Lord.
Rick Warren stated that, “Because of Jesus, God responds in mercy every time you mess up. And that can give you hope.” (Rick Warren, Daily Hope 10/18/22).
3.) He came as the Judge of all:
Satan is known as the accuser of brethren and the swift and unmerciful judge.
God shows mercy in His judgment. Though He is not pleased with the actions of disobedient people, He demonstrates love because of the people’s hopeless and helpless situation.
God revealed to the prophet Isaiah His intention for Jesus to come to His people. “He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited.The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.” (Isaiah 11: 3-4 NLT).
Jesus came to judge all the evil acts perpetrated on the people by satanic orchestrated forces. He came to replace the satanic verdict through curse with everlasting blessing through his blood.
Matthew 28:18 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (NIV).
Conclusion.
There is no peace in the world, and it is filled with a variety of hopeless and cruel acts. Jesus Christ came to give the world hope and to put an end to Satan’s orchestrated acts.
Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. He is the Redeemer, the Savior, the Giver of life, the Lover of your soul, and the King of kings.
I will encourage you not to let this hour pass you by without being saved. Your soul is important to Jesus Christ, which is why He came to this world to give you hope of eternal life.
Complement of the season to you!
Let us pray.
1.) Lord Jesus, I thank You for coming to this word to save me.
2.) Lord, with mercy, deliver me from every unholy rulership in life.
3.) Jesus, dwell in me and rule over my life.
4.) My hope stands on You alone, Lord Jesus, help me.
5.) Jesus, guide me and let me hide myself in You. Amen.
John Aderogba for ROPMI team.