Advent Season - HOPE

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Slides:

Old Testament (Hebrew) 

- Qavah (קָוָה): A verb meaning "to wait," but with a strong sense of active anticipation, like a cord being pulled taut.

- Yakhal (יָחַל): A word for enduring hope that involves patient waiting and endurance, often in the face of prolonged difficulty. 

Psalm 39:7

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait (qavah)?

    My hope (yakhal) is in you.

New Testament (Greek) 

Elpis (ἐλπίς): This is the primary word for hope, translating to a confident expectation or assurance about the future.

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope (elpis) of the glory of God.

To be sure, conditions were bad, very bad, in Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Think of loss of political independence, cruel King Herod, externalization of religion, legalistic scribes and Pharisees and their many followers, worldly-minded Sadducees, the silence of the voice of prophecy, etc. but in the midst of all this darkness, degradation, and despair there were men who were hopefully looking forward to, and earnestly expecting, “the consolation of Israel” - William Hendriksen

What People Need

Faith - God always keeps his promises (Proverbs 30:5)

Hope - Jesus is alive (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Love - God gave his only son (John 3:16)

Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

1 Peter 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.