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Show LIVING IN HOPE AND EXPECTATION Luke 2: 29-32 Kingdom of heaven is like an expectant mother, hoping for a child to be born. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a child growing up and aiming to be strong and mature. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a student studying, preparing, and waiting in class for graduation. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a worker on the job giving his or her best and expecting to get a pay check and be promoted. The The 1 Kingdom of Heaven is like the world at Christmas time looking for gifts. We find purpose and cause for living as long as we have hope, To live in hope and expectations is to hold things loosely and to wait patiently for God to act. Far too many of us live in hopelessness. We look at the storm and the rain and instead of rejoicing for the moisture cry about getting wet. We struggle through the trials wondering what will become of us and why we have to go through so much. Summer or of life winter, sunshine or 2 rain, we never seem to find peace and fulfillment. Why can't we live in hope and expectation? The people of God had been promised time after time by various Old Testament prophets that the Messiah was coming. Each mother dreamed and hoped and waited for a male child to be born. Now, the time has come and the Angel of the Lord Gabriel has but unbelievable come news with in good answer to Elizabeth and Zacharias' prayer. In their old age and barren state, they would give birth to a son to be named John as the forerunner of the 3 coming Messiah. A few months later, the same Angel of the Lord assured Joseph that everything was alright between him and Mary although they are not yet formally married to each other. It's a Holy Spirit miracle. Mary is still a virgin and would give birth to a son that they would name Jesus because He would saved His people from their sin. Although Zacharias was dumb, Elizabeth was old, Mary was young, and Joseph was confused, they lived in hope and expectation. No need for us to give up because we do not understand every 4 ' thing. God is doing something all the time and He knows what He is doing. When God is working, we need only take our hands off and find strength to trust and obey. Notice if you will, these instruments of God all lived in hope expectation. The two mothers arranged a country side meeting and spent three months sharing their stories and their angelic experiences. The expectant babies recognized each other sight unseen, and still in their mothers womb and got excited. The men, Zacharias and Joseph did the right thing although 5 they were expected to and could have legally behaved otherwise. Oh, the power of living in hope and expectation, When the hope of Zacharias and Elizabeth was fulfilled and he was named John, then Zacharias could talk again. When the time was for night in a Bethlehem stable, Mary brought her delivery one forth her first born Son, Emmanuel, God with us and named Him Jesus. shepherds left their flocks on the hills for higher expectations. The wise men were ushered by the The starfrom darkness in the east into 6 light of eternal life and traveled with gifts looking for the child who would fulfill their hope. When they the found the little child not in but in a a stable house, they fell down and worshiped the "bright and morning star, Jesus." Even Herod sought to find the child, He said to worship Him although he later sought to kill Him. The angelic choir lifted their voices in praise and sang a song of hope, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward all men." Waiting were in the house of God two who had lived their 7 day but kept on getting up and putting away. When Simeon and Anna saw the child, Simeon declared, "Lord, thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of they people Israel." (Luke 2: 2932) When you live in hope, God will now lettest thou bless your soul. When you expect great things, God will give you the peace of fulfillment. When you wait on the Lord, He will show up 8 and show out. He will do what He promised. He will help lighten the dark places for every soul. "0 what a wonderful, wonderful dayDay I will never forget; After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met. o What a tender, compassionate friend. He met the need of my heart; Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, depart! glory He made all the darkness Heaven came down and 9 filled my soul. Born of the Spirit with life from above family divine; Justified fully thru Calvary's love, o what a standing is mine! And the transaction so quickly was Into God's made, sinner I came, Took of the offer of grace He did When as a proffer, He saved name! Heaven me 0 praise His dear came my soul. Now I've a down and glory filled hope that will surely 10 endure After the I have a passing of time; future in heaven for sure, There in those mansions sublime. And it's because of that wonderful day believed; Riches eternal and blessings supernal When at the From His received, Heaven cross I precious came hand I down and filled my soul. 11 glory |
