‘Tis The Season: ‘Tis The Season For Hope
It’s that most exciting and wonderful season where we remember the birth of Christ Jesus, our Savior. Join us here at Legacy Church as we give our awesome God all that is due to Him for giving us such a reason to celebrate!
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Thank you for being a part of Legacy Church. Forget about the roasted chestnuts at home on the fire (they’re probably already burnt); give up lying to your kids about Santa; and abandon the commercialism of what some would make Christmas out to be. We are here to celebrate Jesus, the real reason for the season. Pastor Steve reminds us of all this as he opens God’s Word to us in the sermon series: ‘Tis The Season.
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‘Tis The Season for: Christmas trees, traditions, gifts, family and friends, and Santa Claus.
But it’s also the season for busy stores, traffic jams, and awkward family get-togethers.
Throughout this Christmas season we will be reminded of the real reason for this season.
What’s the real meaning of Christmas?
Most will say it’s about family, presents.
It’s the hap-happiest season of all… but is it?
One study suggests Christmas is often a source of great stress for many. It can literally give you a heart attack.
Nearly 25% of Americans reported feeling extreme stress come holiday time.
A poll by the American Psychological Association:
69% of people are stressed by the feeling of having a lack of time
69% are stressed by a lack of money
51% are stressed about giving and receiving gifts
For some, instead of it being the most wonderful time of the year, it’s a lonely time. People get depressed and stressed. Some experience a low during this season; or they are single or estranged from family.
These are all effects of the world and our culture dictating what this season is about: presents, parties, family, days off, etc.
So many either have forgotten or do not really understand what Christmas is really all about.
On Christmas, the whole world pauses for a moment, to recognize that Jesus was born.
Christmas is all about Christ and hope!
Psalm 42:5 AMPC
5 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.
Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God’s greatness to His people.
Hoping in God does not come naturally for sinners like us. We must preach it to ourselves and preach it often.
Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future; it expects it to happen.
Hopelessness is a dreadful thing.
If we don’t understand the reason for Christmas, we get self-focused instead of God-focused.
Our hope is different than the world’s because God keeps His promises.
When we focus on God, His Word, His Son, we realize Christmas is about celebrating His birth, about what God has done.
Romans 12:2 AMPC
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
‘Tis The Season of Hope. Making it about Him, believing with confidence that what God has promised will come to pass.
Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future, it expects it to happen. It not only expects it to happen, it is confident that it will happen.
Different than wishing, it is believing in the promises of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 CSB
20 For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
You can trust God to keep His promises, give us hope.
1 Timothy 1:1 NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.
Jesus not only came to bring hope, He is our Hope.
Hope is the ability to see God’s tomorrow no matter what is happening today.
People need to know that Jesus came to bring hope, that He is our hope, and that our hope is alive.
Jesus is the Hope of the world; but you must put your trust in Him to experience that hope.
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