Hope: The Prophets’ Journey | Journey to Jesus

Advent: A season of expectant waiting and preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ; both His first coming in Bethlehem and His promised return.

Luke 1:30–33 (ESV) 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies!!!

God’s promises are trustworthy!!!

Hope: A confident expectation rooted in God’s character, promises, and faithfulness, not in circumstances.

Hebrews 6:19 (ESV) 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain…

Romans 15:13 (ESV) 13 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 5:5 (ESV) … 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Psalm 39:7 (ESV) 7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He said.

 “Nearly 40% of high-school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.”

 “About 1 in 4 adults in America struggle with a diagnosable mental health issue each year.”

 “Less than half of young people who need mental-health help actually receive it.”

SOUL TATTOO: Hope anchors our journey when we trust God’s promises.

1.) God’s promises are trustworthy.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) 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.

Micah 5:2 (ESV) 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Hope lives where God has spoken.

A promise from God is more dependable than circumstances from man.

If God said it, hope can hold it.

SOUL TATTOO: Hope anchors our journey when we trust God’s promises.

2.) Hope sees beyond what we feel.

Psalm 42:5 (NIV) 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hope looks past what you see and holds onto what God said.

SOUL TATTOO: Hope anchors our journey when we trust God’s promises.

3.) Hope sustains us through uncertainty.

Romans 8:24–25 (NIV) 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV) 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hope isn’t what you feel, it’s what you choose.

Hope doesn’t erase the fog; it gives you a light to move toward.

Hope holds you when life shakes you.

SOUL TATTOO: Hope anchors our journey when we trust God’s promises.

4.) Hope points us to Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope… 

Colossians 1:27 (NIV) 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV) 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Jesus is not just the giver of hope, He is the embodiment of hope.

Hope isn’t found in a season, hope is found in a Savior.

Weekly Challenge: Hope in Action

SOUL TATTOO: Hope anchors our journey when we trust God’s promises.

PRAYER OF HOPE

Lord Jesus, You are our hope. You are the anchor in every storm, the light in every dark place, the promise that never fails. As we walk into this week, help us speak hope, choose hope, and share hope. Fill our hearts with Your presence, our minds with Your peace, and our steps with Your strength. We trust the same God who fulfilled every prophecy to fulfill every promise in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.