God with us Fearless Hope

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org/sermons
Waiting is hard. It means being patient. It is hard waiting. Oma could not wait for her presents and wanted them before Christmas.

Advent was what the church established thousands of years. The church calendar started with the first Sunday of Advent. The New Year of the calendar starts with patiently waiting. How to hope and orient ourselves to the new hope.

It's important to learn to wait. We want patience. God, give it to me NOW!

We have a default conversation. Are you ready for Christmas? Got your shopping done yet?

What are you hoping for? When our hope is in the right place we have patience. Rom 12.12 rejoice in hope be patient in suffering

The prophets are talking to their generation and speaking hope into a future  during their dark days. Suffering.

Isaiah 7  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

You are set free and set right with God.
The Old is gone and the new has come.

Sometimes we don't feel it but God has Done it already wether it feels like it or not. Sometimes we come to church feeling defeated or sad or alone. ... We come even though we have not figured it out. How I feel is not what it's about. God help us to focus on the life God has given us.

Rejoice in hope be patient in suffering. God is present in our suffering. At Christmas God brings us hope.

God brings relief to those who are in the most darkness. When your hope is in the right place you will come alongside those who live in darkness.
Isaiah 9.2 the people have seen a great light. A child has been born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David's throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.

God is right there to set things right. We wait with patience. Hope. Patience. Prayer. That God's will be done on earth as in heaven.

The routines we have are all good. Is the predominant routine a routine of prayer? May that be true of you.