Jesus Is The Advent Of Hope | Isaiah 9:2-7 | December 3 | David Hernandez

Speaker [00:00:06] Isaiah nine, two to seven. Let us read it. Nine, two to seven. And when I read it, I'm going to read it really slowly because it's so beautiful. And the message that I'm going to be teaching comes out of this section. So let's go to verse two. The people who what walk in what darkness. They have seen a great light. Those who what? Dwell in the land of what deep darkness on them has light shown. You have multiply the nation, you have increase its joy. They rejoice before you as with joy and the harvest as they're glad when they divide the spoil. In other words, the gains for the yoke of his burden and the staff for his shoulder, the road of his oppressor. You have broken us on the day of Midian. They were oppressed family. They were burdened to look at this promise. You have broken us on the day of Midian. The day of Midian was a battle where only 300 people. Guided by God defeated a whole army. For every boot of the tramping warrior, embattled tumult and every garment roll in blood will be burn as fuel for the fire. And everything family will start by what's going to happen in verse six. 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, of the increase of his government, of peace. There will be no end on the throne of David over his kingdom. To establish it and hold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore, the seal of the Lord of host will do this. Father, thank you so much for your work.

Speaker [00:02:21] Thank you so much for your spirit. Thank you so much for giving us ears to hear, eyes to see a heart to believe. But I also pray, Father, that you will give us some mind. The mind of Christ. To hold on. The confession of our hope. But also, Father, hold on every thought. Captive as you. Are still breaking strong horse. Setting the captives free. Father. I pray that your spirit. We'll move, Minister, in your word will come into our hearts and there will be life fruits out of it. We love you so much. And Father, I thank you for this new season. Father, thank you so much for what you did in Mexico City. Thank you so much for their generosity, Lord. Lord they were faithful, they were obediant. And you used that faithfulness in obedience to change. People's life healer. Take your gospel to different countries and continents, and for that we give you praise and glory. As we go back farther to Vegas. Lord, we want to be. Servants. Workman ships. Be use so your name will be glorified. Thank you so much, Father. We pray these things in your name. Amen. You guys can sit down. So Avent means arrival and we are celebrating the arrival of of a person. And that person is Jesus. These next couple of weeks, it's an opportunity for two things. And I hope that you can take these to your houses, to your homes, with your families, because it's important. The first thing is to reflect, to reflect and meditate on the arrival. Our Savior Jesus. He came and dwelt among us. And the second thing that we're going to do during this Advent season, which is really important, we're going to join in expectation.

Speaker [00:04:47] Of when he will come back again. Because that's what we're hoping comes. From a wry correct expectation. So the title of today's message is Jesus is the advent of Hope. In other words, Jesus is the arrival of hope. And as we read Isaiah 9:2-7. Israel, the nation of Israel waited for the promise of Christ's arrival. Since the beginning. If you read Scripture, since the beginning, there was a God who will. Through the prophets and through the law, tell the people of Israel there is a promise, there is a messiah, there is a savior who will rescue you, who will re redeem you, who will make all things new. So Israel waited for this promise from the beginning, and the promise serve as a constant light of hope throughout the time. The Bible is composed of books, but there is thousands of years. Thousands of years written here of history. And you can see that generation after generation, from king to king, from prophet to prophet. From century to century. In every high and in every low. There was a lot of low moments for Israel. This promise. Serve as a constant. Life of hope. As a constant push. Push for hope. And it's really important that as believers, we have an anchor. As you move forward, as you do life and as you try to finish life well. There's going to be highs. There's going to be lows. There's going to be seasons. There's going to be death. There's going to be life. There's going to be happiness. There's going to be tragedies. That's life. It's really important that as Israel had a promise that serves as a beacon of light, a constant beacon of light. We as believers, as we walk in life into the future, we have something or more than anything, someone to look at.

Speaker [00:07:24] And that's Jesus. That Jesus arrival. He came on Earth. He dwelt among us. He dwelt among us. And the good news is, because of the gospel, not only he dwelt among us, but now he dwells in us. And in the spirit of God, who will testify of the son, who will remind us. What's that place. Who's that person that we can count on in the highs and the lows? Because through the mighty hopes, hope moves, hope, moves. A lot of us are not moving because we have no what hope? Hope or a lot of us are just maybe stuck or going in despair or hopeless because there is no hope. Or your future might not seem that bright. So you're depressed you're discourage. And I want to say something really important. And the first thing that I want to say to us is the timing of God's promises are always perfect. Please remember this. The timing. Of God's promises are always perfect. Whenever God gives you a word. Whenever you or in your time or scripture, you you receive a promise from God. Whenever on Sundays, Pastor Derek teaches and there's a promise of God. Whenever you, you, you, you meditate on scripture and there's a promise to believe that it is for you, specifically for you. The timing of God's promises are always what perfect the times and the promise to. But look at it In one of the darkest periods of Israel, this promise was given. Isaiah nine, verse two to seven. This promise was given in one of the darkest periods of Israel. There was division. The nation was divided. And as we enter 2024. And I'll tell you something. Praise God that I was not here for the last three years.

Speaker [00:09:59] But I was able to see from afar. And if there is something that I can tell you that has happened in the last three years. As we head into the future. Is that I see a nation divided. Is that I see homes divided. Is that I see churches divided. This promise was given in one of the darkest periods of Israel. The kingdom was divided. Not only that, but they were about to face invasion. The promise was given and later on they were going to be invaded. And let's be honest. Are we ready for next year? Yes. Yes. Do we know what's going to happen next year? No. But we should learn from history. So we can get ready. And literally walk in hope. So we're anchor. So we're in Mobile. So we're firm. So instead of division, we bring unity. So instead of hate, we're in love. So instead of darkness, we are light. So instead of confusion, we have clarity. So instead of acting like the world, we can be a beacon of light to the world as we're rooted in Christ. I'm excited for that. I'm excited for that. I have learned something. Whenever God gives you a promise, it gets worse after. So the promise was given in a really dark time for Israel. And also the problem is was. The promise arrived. In that dark period for Israel, there was 400 years of silence. No prophets, no scripture being written. Think about it. He gives a promise. And then 400 years of what? Silence. Maybe that's how you feel today. Maybe you have walked a season without hearing God's voice. And you are hopeless. Desperate. Not only that, but they were under the dominion of Rome. But if there is something that we can know about God.

Speaker [00:12:38] Is that the timing of God's promises are always way perfect. So were God's promises given in what seems the wrong time? Right? Because God's promises which are written in the Bible. Which are given to you. Listen to me. They're supposed to be trusted and hope for. Whenever God gives you a promise. When they. Whenever God gives you a promise. It's supposed to be even so you can trust it and hope for. Regardless of the context. Because usually let's learn whenever there's a promise, things get. What? Not that great. There is a waiting season. And that's the other thing. God's promises are supposed to be trusted and hope for. Hope for means expected. I expecting that. Regardless of the context and regardless of the waiting. Oh. That's a hard one. That's a hard one. Because you get a word from God. You get a promise. We see the promises, specifically that promise that was given to Israel, the arrival of the king. And you might have like 1 or 2 days believing it, right? That's how we are. We're like a rocket. We turn it on and shhh. That's how we, our faith might be, gives us God gives us a promise. And there's one day, one Sunday. I'm all excited. The Monday something happens. And like, I'm already like, Lord, what's happening? I don't even know. Are you. Are you here? Are you speaking to me? God's promises are supposed to be what trusted and hoped for expected with confidence and gladness and assurance, regardless of the context, regardless of what's going to happen tomorrow, regardless of what's going to happen to not tonight, regardless of the waiting period. Regardless of the waiting period. Because God tells you just wait. Not how long.

Speaker [00:14:58] God's promises are supposed to be trusted and hoped for. So what's hope? What's hope? It is really important that we define hope. And let's see how we're doing with hope. And let's see that we might be missing out on hope. Because there is benefits of living in hope. There's benefits. If I want to know something. If you want to know something about hope. Hope moves you. Hope has the power to move you. Despair has the power to move you put but put towards death. Towards fear. Hope would always move you towards Christ. Hope would always move you to light. Hope would always move you to an everlasting life with Jesus. Hope would always move you to an abundant life. Hope would always move you to an abundance of joy and confidence, regardless of the context, regardless of the waiting. So hope is a joyful and confident. Expectation. Of what? Of what's on your mind? Nope. Because we might get despair, distress, discouraged, depress. Not because God's not faithful, but because your expectations. It's what you are expecting. Your ideas. Things that are on your mind and God. God is like, I never promise you that. That's not even in my word. And by the way, you're not even trust in it. You're not even believing it. Hope is a what? Joyful. Joy comes from the Lord. Joy comes from a person. Joy comes when you're fully rested. On the only one that is sure about tomorrow. Jesus. Hope is and also the fact that you're going to get what he said he's going to give you. Wouldn't be. Sad to actually like have a God that will say, I'm giving you this, but then you find out that he's not giving it to you. That's not our God. What He said that he promised his faithful to deliver it.

Speaker [00:17:33] And we have proof of that. So hope is a joyful. And what? Confident. Without wavering. And you. You will have to fight your mind. Because as soon as God gives you a promise, context is going to change. Circum circumstances are going to come. The enemy the enemy knows when that promise is given to you. So he's going to do everything in his power. So you waver, so you the Torah or your mind. And that's where actually hope falls in. In its place. You have to fight. Hold on, hold on to that promise that God gives you. So hope is a joyful and confident expectation. Of what God has promised. So what's the anchor of our hope? What's the thing that holds our hope? It's not a thing. It's someone. It's Jesus. So listen to me. He came to over 2000 years ago. He came. There's prove that he dwelled among us. He was the promise given to Israel. It is finished. It happened. So our hope is anchor. Not for nothing. Not on an idea, but on a person. And that person already did what he promised he was going to do. That's why you have to look back. What already has happened. We have the Bible, we have history, and we have a thousand and a million of lives changes by people who have put their trust and hope in Jesus. Look at history. Look at history. Look at what happened and what's written about the people that actually hope in Jesus prayed to Jesus, trusted in Jesus. They will tell you the best ally to pray for. The best ally to hope is history. We can look back at history and see what happens to those who hope in Jesus. It goes well.

Speaker [00:19:55] It goes well. So. When Jesus birth. Happen. It was a loud message to the people. During that time. It was a loud mess message to them that will say why you hope for what you waited for. What you were expecting is what is here. And I love the fact that Jesus met. Many individuals where he personally. Said. What you hope for? What are you waiting for? Is here is me. Right here. Flesh and bones. I can't imagine, for example, the life of Simeon, a really old man who the Spirit of God revealed to him. He was really old. He was about to die. He was a man that was waiting on this promise and on this promise and the Spirit of God revealed to him, Hey, you will see the Messiah before you die. And I can imagine why he fell. When are his last days of life? He actually was able to see who he was waiting for. What will that do to someone's heart? That's the best gift that anyone can give. He actually live his whole life living for that moment. And I hope that's all that we're living for, that moment that all of all of the stuff that we do, all the days that we live, we are living for that moment, for that moment that we will see face to face Jesus and that we will say was worth it. It was worth it. All the crying, all the waiting, all the suffering, all the praise, all the intercession, all the holding on. It was worth it. And you know what it will be? Jesus. The one affirming you say good and faithful servant. Because we see testimonies like that man, Simeon. Oh, I can imagine that morning. The spirit reveal to him.

Speaker [00:21:53] You will see him before you die. Now let's get to a more famous character, John the Baptist. John the Baptist was I mean. Just blessed to actually be the one that introduced the Messiah, the prophets of prophets. But he has his moments. Remember, like he he got to introduce the Messiah and then he got in trouble for the Messiah. Because he will teach and preach a message of repentance. He will teach it. Look. Think about it. The Messiah has arrived. This is the man that will forgive sins, but also bring in everlasting life. That. Yeah, you might be baptized with water, but these men will baptize you with fire. And it's true. There is. This message is about death and life. And this why guy was so committed that he will. Man, he was bold in his preaching and his preaching got him in trouble and he was thrown in jail, about to get beheaded. Think about it. Was his hope challenge. Yeah. Yeah. We I hope we never or never in a situation like that. Well, you wonder like was. Was it worth it? Was following Jesus worth it? I mean, I don't see an end to this. And as he was in prison, he sent two disciples or his disciples, to us, Jesus, please, can you ask Jesus, are you the one? Are you the Messiah? Or should we wait or hope for another one? Should we hope. And Jesus didn't rebuke him. And I don't know that history. This is my opinion. But think about it. He never got to see Jesus again. And as he was waiting to be beheaded. The disciples go and Jesus doesn't rebuke him. Oh, how dare you? How dare you to question me? He knows we're humans.

Speaker [00:24:19] He knows being faithful is hard. Right. You're here and you're here because you're. You're holding on to Jesus. You're not the greatest believer. I'm not the great. The only greatest one is Jesus. And I can imagine, like John the Baptist, being in the cell about to be beheaded, he sends those men hoping to get out, hoping to get the response that his heart wanted to hear. And Jesus tells the man, tells the guys, Please tell you what you see. The blind are seen. The demon pussies are free. And the death are coming to life. I can't imagine what it did to John the Baptist Heart. When he died. He was not he was not going to get free from that. He died. He gave me he got beheaded. But I don't know what he did to his heart. To hear those words from his disciples. He told me to let you know what? What is happening? The dead are coming to life. Or I can imagine the Samaritan woman where she was an outcast. It was obvious. She goes into the well and she meets Jesus without her knowing that that was the Messiah. And during the conversation, things got a little bit deeper. And he and she ask or says to the Messiah, Hey, when the Messiah comes. He will explain everything. See. Hoping, Hey, when the Messiah comes, he will explain everything and Jesus will say, I have He who speaks. And I hope that that's the assurance that you're hoping for. Not a second level assurance, but a first level assurance that he will assure you am making all things new. You have finished the race? Well. I am eternal life. That will be the greatest moment for those who hope, for those who hope in the Lord.

Speaker [00:26:48] Amen. So hope is a joyful and confident. What? Expectation of what God has promised. And there is something beautiful about hope. Hope will allow you to have peace in the waiting. Our life. Listen. Our life. Our ultimate goal is not here. It's not here is in the next life. So our life. It's a lot about what? Waiting while the world lives in the present. Don't think about tomorrow. And the only life they have is the one that is in front of them. And they have no idea that there's more to life after death. And they might look at us like, crazy. They might look at us like weirdos. They might look at us like, It doesn't make sense with the life, but we know that our life is on. What about what? Waiting. So hope. Hope will allow you to have peace in the waiting. Really important. So how is your Christian walk? Is it a walk of anxiety? Is it a walk of depression? Is it a walk of despair? Is it a walk of confusion? Is it. Is it a walk of anxiety? Stress? You name it. Is that a life of once. Once. Once. Once. Or is there a life of peace in the waiting? He's with us. He's for us. He has given us his Holy Spirit. Has never forget that. So now what? What does this message has to do with us? I have good news. In the darkness of our current days, in the darkness of what we're going to see next year. We because we can be just naive and think that next year is going to be what? Perfect. I mean, just take a look what's coming up next year. In the darkness of our current days.

Speaker [00:29:25] This is good news for us and should be good news for the world because they're going to need to look for an answer that is outside of this world. That is outside of themself. It's a great opportunity next year. Are you ready? Are you ready? Next year. A great opportunity that your life can provide. A different answer that will hold our lives. So in the darkness of our current days, the light of Jesus is still bringing hope. And I'm not talking just about nonbelievers to you if you're a believer. We go through seasons, We get discouraged. We fail. We get tired. How many times in the lowest and darkest moments of your life this year? The light of Jesus shone over you. And that's why you're here. That's why you're still here. That's why you're still here. So if he did it, he will do it again. If he did it, he will do it again. So in the darkness of our current days, the light of Jesus is still bringing. What hope? A joyful and confident expectation. That expectation that moves us closer to the finish line, closest closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus. So I have three questions for you as you come today, as you prepare for Advent season. Are you heavy? Are you burdened for what's behind you? In other words, are you currently being burdened, being heavy, being oppressed by your past? How are you coming to? Are you currently worry burdened heavy for your past. His death and resurrection. Ah, the beacon of hope. His death. Pay for your past sins. For your present sins for your future sins. For all of your sins. Because a lot of us, we might be stuck. We might be dwelling in the past because because of a big sin.

Speaker [00:31:58] Now you still can believe that Jesus can forgive you. Or that the enemy is bringing you. To your mind. To your memory. That's why he does. Satan is great. At using the past. Because he doesn't know the future. He's great at using your weaknesses. He's he knows what you did. So he will bring those things in the context of fear, in the context of condemnation, in the context of guilt. Why? So you can get stuck in the past. So you can dwell in the past. So you can dictate your present and your future with your past. And that's not okay. I have a word for you. His death and resurrection are the beacon of true hope. He's dead. Listen to me. The death of the. Of. Of Jesus. The death of Jesus Christ. Pay for every sin. Small or great. Pay for all of your sins. They are paid at the cross. The righteous was hung for the unrighteous. The perfect one was hung for the imperfect one. All the sins are paid on the cross. So there is no reason for the enemy to bring your past to you. To have a list of see what you did. You have to take off your mind and say No, my God is greater. My that pay for my sins. So I am forgiven. That's my identity. I am forgiven. Past, present and future. So I'm not going to dwell in the past. And the other thing, it's really important. The resurrection of Jesus Christ to have the power and the meaning of Satan over sin and dead on your life. So you are free in Christ. He was exposed. But if you don't hope, if you don't expect on the promises of God, that's your problem.

Speaker [00:34:00] Because that's what the enemy is using. He's using your the. He's using your lack of ability Of what? Of expecting what is true, what is right, what is pure. So if you don't take hold of the confession of your hope, you're going to be wavering. You're going to be staying in the past. Let me tell you something. The only thing that should impact your press and sure impact your future about the past is that over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came on the earth, live a perfect life. And the promise was, Give it your God incarnate. I'm going to die on the cross for your son and I'm going to defeat sin death on the resurrection. That's the only thing that should impact your present and your future. The fact that you're forgiven, the fact that he's for you, the fact that your love, the fact that you're accepted, the fact that he's greater than your heart, greater than the enemy. Don't let the past rule your present and your future. The only thing that happened in the past that should impact your present and your future. Is the arrival of Jesus. Right. So I have a word for you. I'm going to paraphrase it. It's in Isaiah 43:18-19. Forget about the old things. Forget about the former things do not dwell in the past. Behold, I am doing a new thing now. It is Running Springs forth. See the question do you not perceive? Do you see it? Do you see what's ahead? Do you see what's ahead? Are you seeing what God sees? Are you expecting what God is asking you to expect? Let me tell you something. You don't forget about the past. You will not be able to see what's in front of you.

Speaker [00:35:51] And that might be the thing that is keeping you stock depressed in the same habits in addictions. Forget about the past. Don't dwell on the past because your past, your present and your future was secure. When Jesus hung on the cross and when Jesus resurrected from the dead. So are you heavy for what's behind you. There is an answer. God is encouraging us and is giving us a promise. Hey, don't remember the former things. Nor considerate things of all. Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now it brings forth. Do you not perceive it? These new thing family, it will blow your mind. It will blow your heart. It's supernatural. Allow God to be God in your life. Allow God. Don't limit God to your past. Don't limit God to your mind. Because he says, I will make a way in the wilderness. And I love this phrase. And rivers in the desert. You guys live in the desert. It's impossible. Welcome to our God. He's the God of the impossible. He's the God of the impossible. You might you might. It be a big mess in the past. But God's grace can tell a completely different story. That's our God. If you don't limit him, if you don't limit, that's our God. It's God's grace that I'm here standing. It's God's grace that I'm here. It's God's grace that you're part of the family. And there's much more that he can do and will do in you, through you. So are you heavy for what's behind you. Forget about the past. Don't dwell in the past. Maybe today is the day that you might be free from starting from from keeping to interpretating your present and your future according to your past. According to a failure.

Speaker [00:38:14] A call. According to a voice. According to fear. According to condemnation. The second question is are you heavy for what's before you? In other words, are you heavy for what's ahead of you? In other words, are you worried about 2024? Not only of what's going to happen in the country, but let's just talk about like your job, your marriage, your family, your health. Like you're like not even the big picture, but the small picture. Are you heavy about what's ahead of you? Jesus Christ. The fact that he came over 2000 years ago. It's an assurance. It's an insurance. It's a confidence that he will promise. Can perform. In other words, the he who promise is able to deliver. God is reliable. We have a reliable God, we can count on him. In other words, he's faithful. He have shown through center is that he is faithful and he will be faithful tomorrow. He will be faithful in a year and he will be faithful until the end. The Bible says, let us hold fast the confession of our hope. In other words, hold fast. What? Hold fast in your heart and in your mind what you were expecting. So the question is, what are you expecting? The truth matter. Do a research on your mind. What are you expecting is why you're expecting what God is asking you to expect. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. That's why I touched the other point. We have to get rid of the past. We have to forget the past because the past is like that push that wants to get us on the tour. Let us hope for the confession of our hope without wavering. For he who promise is what? Faithful. You have a whole book to eat up the promises of God for you.

Speaker [00:40:34] You have a whole book to live on to the promises of God and you have history on your side. You have the Bible on your side to be reliable. And the most important, we have Jesus birth. Death and resurrection. It happened. It change millions of people's lives. It changed history. So. So he who promises what faithful is reliable. So don't worry about tomorrow. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. God does. But the other thing is, he will call you tomorrow. He will be your provider tomorrow. He will be your father tomorrow. He will be your light and your salvation tomorrow. He will provide mercies tomorrow. What about the next day? He will be your father. In two days he will be God. We can go on and on. He. Who is he? Who promise is faithful. And the last question I have for you, as we talk about hope, also we talk about Jesus being the advent of hope. Are you heavy for what's inside of you, in other words? The biggest problem is happening on the inside. In other words, you don't like what you are seeing inside. You have had a rough year and you are a little bit scared of the things that are coming out of what you. You don't like what's coming? Outside from you. It might be anger, it might be pride it might be lust, it might be confusion, it might be you name it and you don't like it. I have good news for you. And this is not only for unbelievers, but also for believers. Because we see in Scripture that men and women of God also had bad days, also had low days. Are you heavy for what's inside of you? His arms are wide open today as an invitation to come to him as you are.

Speaker [00:43:06] Today. His arms are wide open. He knows you. He's not scared of your sin. He's not scared of your failure. He's not scared of what you have done. He's not scared of what you think. He's greater. He's greater. And he knows you. And he loves you. And when you come to him, you experience mercy and grace. You experience forgiveness. You experience life where there is none. For God who said, Let a light shine out of darkness. Look at where he has shown has shown in our hearts. Where family. Where? In our hearts. In your darkest places, in your heart. He has not shown the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So you're seen. Your addiction, your past, your failure. I have good news. God is greater. And he is today with his arms wide open, ready for you to come. Ready for you to come. And live with hope. Maybe get rid of your past, maybe get rid of a sin, maybe. When I say get ready is confess it. He will he will cleanse that. He will get rid of that and he will give you his life. He will give you his strength and he will give you a mind for you to expect great things and for you to expect the most beautiful thing. He's coming again. Hope is a joyful and confident expectation that our rescuer and redeemer is what? Coming again. But we have to take it with joy and confidence. Let us pray. And I want to make an invitation, because maybe you needed to come today. Because today may be the day that finally you make a decision because God has paid the price. To forget about the past and not dwell in the past.

Speaker [00:45:30] And then don't let the things of the past dictate your present and your future. And listen and grab on. And grab on to a promise. Where you can expect that it will come through. And that promise it's what's going to give you joy and confidence. And this one, is it going to allow you to move with hope? Hope gets you unstuck. Hope gets you. What? Unstuck. Hope is the opportunity for a new beginning. Are we thankful for jesus?