Hope Upon Hope
Luke 18:15-17 (NLT) 15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. 16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.
Luke 19:1-10 (NIV) 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
What we know about Zacchaeus:
1- A chief tax collector(A despised sinner)
2- He was rich
3- He was vertically challenged
A Childlike heart…
The Childlikeness of Zacchaeus- He Ran & He climbed a tree.
1. Curiosity
“Remaining curious about God is something we must maintain lest we become bored spiritually.”
Embrace mystery as an invitation.
Things that squelch curiosity:
1- Making excuses
2-Being a know it all
3- Looking elsewhere
2. Gladness.
“So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”
Joy reciprocates: joy carries joy, the joy of Jesus.
Luke 12:32 (NLT) It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Romans 14:17 (NIV) The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
“The lasting impact of our encounters will determined by how much of the joy of the Lord is present to carry them forward.”
He gladly gave up everything…..
Holiness that isn't happy isn't holiness.
Cultivating childlikeness
1. Position Yourself
2. Respond to the invitation
“JESUS IS INVITING HIMSELF INTO OUT LIFE.”
Psalm 36:7-8 (NLT) 7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.
3- Posture Yourself
Embrace clean
By Faith
4 Types of pain everyone experiences:
1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Mental
4. Spiritual
Hope says, “I may be in trouble now, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Despair says, “I am in pain now, and there will never be an end to my suffering.”
Job 1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Why is there pain and suffering in the world?
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
1. Pain can be an indicator.
2. Pain can be an instructor
3. Pain can bring us closer to God.
How do we deal with pain?
Dealing with other people’s pain:
1. Sitting Shiva
2. Actually Pray
3. Share Our Scars
Dealing with our own pain:
1. Be open with others and be honest with God
Job 3:26
“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
2. Look to your redeemer
Job 19:25 ,26
For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God.”
3. Understand that God is Higher
Job 38-41
Isiah 55:8,9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways” says the Lord.
“For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways. And my thought higher than your thoughts.”
4. Walk in the testimony
Job 42: 5
“I have heard of You by the hearing of ear, But now my eye sees you.”
Three stages of living with pain:
1. You are trapped by it.
“It feels like you are laying under a boulder allowing it to crush you.”
You allow the enemy to tell you things like, “You deserve this pain.”
2. You learn to live with it.
“It feels like you are walking, only with a limp.”
You allow the enemy to tell you things like, “This is as good as it will ever get.”
3. You get set free of it.
“There is still a scar there, but it doesn’t hinder you.”
You begin to tell the enemy “It may have happened to me, but it no longer traps me. It may describe me but it doesn’t define me!”
“Jesus understands our pain because Jesus went through every bit of it and more.”
“Because Jesus understands our pain, He is also THE answer to it.”
A Pain Filled Life
His goodness in the barrenness
“So it went on year by year” -1 Samuel 1:7a
“And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” -1 Samuel 1:11
“In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.’” - 1 Samuel 1:20
1. Pray
“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” -1 Samuel 1:10
The key when you are in your barrenness is to be honest with the Lord. It isn’t for His sake, it’s for yours because if you aren’t honest it is breading ground for bitterness to take root.
2. Sit and Listen
“Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” - 1 Samuel 1:17
3. Worship
“Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah” 1 Samuel 1:19
Worship precedes victory
“And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were defeated.” - 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
4. It’s Okay to Not be Okay
“Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” - 1 Samuel 1:18b
5. Your History with Him
Don’t let one unanswered prayer or promise take away your months or years of history with God
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” -Romans 8:28
“Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:21
His Goodness in the Barrenness
Hebrews 8:6-13(NLT) Now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said:(Jeremiah 31:31-34) “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
The Old Covenant:
1. A Specific People: From God, through Moses & to the Jewish People. The New Covenant is available to all people.
2. A Specific Purpose: To set Israel apart from others nations…
The law was glorious(2 Corinthians 3). Yet it's purpose was fulfilled.
Now It has become the Schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24)
3. A Specific Period of time: Till God made a new covenant.
http://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.WVj0sMbMzMU
4 TERMS OF THE NEW COVENANT
1. PERFECT
Hebrews 8:7-8(NLT) For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people…
“The old covenant was problematic because it was based upon human performance.”
“God requires righteousness…the law demanded righteousness Jesus fulfilled righteousness.”
Romans 8:4 (NLT) He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us….
The old covenant was simply instructional the New covenant is invitational.
“You can only become if you belong.”
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
2. PERSONAL
Hebrews 8:10 I will be their God, and they will be my people.
The Old Covenant is rooted in instruction the New Covenant is rooted in identity.
Song of Solomon 2:16 “I am my my beloveds and he is mine”
It’s personal.
John 1:17 (NIV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
3. PROMISE FILLED
Hebrews 8:6 (NLT) The covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Yahweh: The "covenant" name of God.
“When we we were sinful, sham full and corrupt HE IS STILL….
1. YHWH-Tsidkenu “the Lord our righteousness”; Jer. 23:6; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.1
“When we are in need He is…”
2. YHWH-Jireh“the Lord provides”; Gen. 22:14; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
“When we feel overwhelmed and overcome he is…..”
3. YHWH-Nissi “the Lord my banner”; “Victory” Ex. 17:15; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
“When we are sick or diseased he is…”
4. YHWH-Rapha “the Lord who heals”; Ex. 15:26; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
When we are shaken and our world is crumbling around us he is…
5. YHWH-Shalom “the Lord is peace”; Judg. 6:24; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6
When we feel lonely and afraid and lack courage…
6. YHWH-Shammah “the Lord is there”;; Ezek. 48:35; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6
4. PAID FOR
Hebrews 7:22 (NIV) Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant
Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
A Better Covenant
Moldable
Staying Moldable:
1. Keep moving
2. Keep learning
James 1:2-5 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (ESV)
Psalms 25:4-5 Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (NLT)
“When you are through learning, you are through.” - John Maxwell
3. Recover Quickly
4. Stay Hot (in his hands).
Revelation 3:5-6 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
John 10:22-30 22At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, a is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
1 Peter 1:3-7 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, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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