Hope and Holiness is Power
Palm Sunday 2024
Pastor Tim Holt
March 24, 2024

When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” —Matthew 21:1-11 CSB

2 words I want to cover to get us in the mindset of resurrection day. The first is Hope.

I. Hope

A. Hope is a great thing.

When you want to describe the feeling of anticipating a future that’s better than the present. You might be giddy or excited or maybe unsure, but most of us know that experience. We call it hope.

It’s crucial for healthy human existence, and it’s a really important concept in the Bible. There are many words for hope in the ancient languages of the Bible.

B. Yakhal and Qavah

The first is yakhal, which means simply “to wait for.” Like in the story of Noah and the ark, as the flood waters recede, Noah had to yakhal for weeks.

The other Hebrew word is qavah, which also means to wait. It’s related to the Hebrew word qav, which means cord.

When you pull a qav tight, you produce a state of tension until there’s release. That’s qavah, the feeling of tension and expectation while you wait for something to happen.

EXAMPLE: the prophet Micah talks about farmers who both qavah and yakhal for morning dew to give moisture to the land.

C. Expectation not Optimism

In biblical Hebrew, hope is about waiting or expectation, but waiting for what?

In the period of Israel’s prophets, as the nation was sinking into self-destruction, Isaiah said, “at this moment, the Lord’s hiding his face from Israel, so I will qavah for him.” The only hope Isaiah had in those dark days was the hope for God himself. So the waiting and Expectation are in God.

“I qavah for the Lord…Let Israel yakhal for the Lord, because he’s loyal and will redeem Israel from its sins.” —Psalms 130:5-7

Biblical hope is based on a person which makes it different from optimism. Optimism is about choosing to see, in any situation, how circumstances could work out for the best.

Biblical hope isn’t focused on circumstances. In fact, hopeful people in the Bible often recognize there’s no evidence things will get better, but they choose hope anyway.

EXAMPLE: The prophet Hosea, he lived in a time when Israel was being oppressed by foreign empires. And he chose hope when he said God could turn this “valley of trouble into a door of hope,”[Hosea 2:15] like the day when Israel came up from the land of Egypt. God had surprised his people with redemption back in the days of the Exodus, and he could do so again.

It’s God’s past faithfulness that motivates hope for the future. You look forward by looking backward, trusting in nothing other than God’s character.

“Now, Lord, what do I qavah-wait for? My hope is in you. —Psalms 39:7

D. Jesus as Living Hope

In the New Testament, the earliest followers of Jesus cultivated this habit of hope and used the Greek word Elpis. Waiting with Expectation.

Peter wrote 1 Peter to a group of Christians who were living in what would be Present day Turkey.

These Christians were having a tough time. Peter mentions suffering and grief and imprisonment.

Christians were seen as suspicious and then violence would break out. It is still happening all over the world today.

E. Living Hope through the resurrection

Peter believed that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was God’s surprising response to our slavery to evil and death.

Even though it’s 20 years after Jesus’ death the empty tomb opened up a new door of hope, and they used the Greek word elpis, waiting with expectation, to describe this anticipation.

Expectation of what? That Every thing will be Liberated from evil and death.

More than once, the apostle Paul says the good news about Jesus announces “the elpis or hope of glory.

F. Hope with a security

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. —1 Peter 1:3–9 CSB

You have an inheritance that is not kept for you until you get to heaven but kept in heaven so it is secure. You have access.

You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. —1 Peter 1:5 CSB

You are also being guarded by God’s’ power, through faith. Your salvation is protected.

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials —1 Peter 1:6 CSB

You can have Joy in this hope even as we wait with expectation for Jesus to come.

so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 1:7 CSB

God is using the trials you have now to purify and refine you like gold. That will be honored when Jesus comes.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. —1 Peter 1:8–9 CSB

You who are suffering right now. Sickness. Relationships. Financial. Addiction whatever it is. This is written to you.

In the midst of all that is going on we can rejoice with a glorious joy. You are receiving your salvation.

Looking back at our Living hope. The resurrection of Jesus. Leads us to wait expectantly for the future God has for the world.

II. Holiness.

The second word I want to Look at is Holy.

A. Definition of Holy

Merriam-Webster defines holy as a “religious or morally good; exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness”

The meaning of “holy” is often defined by the culture we find ourselves to be a part of.

B. Hebrew is a unique language

Every Hebrew word is usually built on a three-consonant root word. Often, many words close in meaning can share the same root.

Every word carries the meaning of the root word that it derived from originally.

The Hebrew word for “holy” is kodesh.It comes from the root word “Kadash”. This root word, in simpler terms, means to be set apart for a specific purpose.

There are times when aspects of moral righteousness or Godly devotion are connected to the meaning of “holy”. Nevertheless, on its own, the term holiness does not refer to purity or perfection.

When the Bible calls something holy, it is not only speaking of purity or righteousness. Rather, it is something “set apart” from everything else in order to accomplish something specific.

C. Set Apart

Using the definition we just learned, we can now safely say that our homes contain a few holy objects. If you own a tea pot that is only used for guests – it is not for coffee nor for everyday use – by definition, you have a “holy tea pot”. EVERYBODY GET THAT?

Your toothbrush is only used for your teeth and (hopefully) not for anyone else’s mouth. It is especially not meant for cleaning of any other items. So, by definition, you have a “holy toothbrush”.

Stay with me – there is nothing divine about these household items. But they are kadash – set apart for a unique purpose.

D. Whom does the Bible call Holy?

We now know that the Hebrew meaning of holy is more than just “morally righteous”. With this new understanding, read these well known scriptures and consider their meaning:

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:6a)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)

When the Scriptures call Israel a holy nation, it isn’t suggesting that Israel is somehow sinless or divine. Instead, it points to the fact that Israel has been chosen.

They have been set apart from the nations! And they were called for a specific purpose in the earth.

Holiness is not about being absolutely perfect, but instead, it is about being separated from what is sinful. We cannot make ourselves perfect and blameless, but we can choose to be set apart for God. Thus, we can choose to be holy.

E. Now we know.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. —1 Peter 1:13–16 CSB

In the first part of chapter 1 in 1 Peter he tells the suffering Christians you have a living hope. A living “waiting with expectation” Person who Is Jesus. A inheritance in heaven. Guarded by God’s power as you are refined like gold in your trials of life that will bring honor and glory to your living hope.

Now he restates it and adds holiness. Be sober minded and set your hope on what Jesus has done. Giving you salvation by grace through faith.

Recap: Be waiting in expectation and be set apart for God’s purposes. Because God is Holy, set apart for a purpose.

III. Hope and Holiness is Power

A. Why is this power.

When you are hoping ins Jesus. Waiting expectantly for Him to arrive on the seen because he has Hosanna!, saved us before, and Live set a part for his purposes he uses us.

When God wields you instead of you trying to wield God then things happen.

B. This is growth.

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in homage and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did that. —Joshua 5:13–15 CSB

Before: The red sea split open and everyone could see dry ground. Now: The Jordan didn’t separate until the stepped in.

Before: God fed them with mana and water from stones. Now: They had to gather their own food. Across the Jordan there was no mana.

Before: God was their provider and protection. Now: God is their commander.

This process I believe every believer has to go through. To move from waiting expectantly for God to change my circumstances, the people who shouted Hosanna, to waiting expectantly, hope, to be used by my commander. I will live Holy! Set apart for God’s purpose. Ready to be wielded even in my suffering and in my trials.

Summary

When your hope is a living hope, Jesus. Who, Hosanna! Saved us, by His grace through faith. You wait expectantly to be used. Knowing you have a inheritance that no one can touch and are guarded by God’s power and you have set apart your life to be used by your commander you will see the power of God. This is what Perter was telling those Christians under terrible persecutions. It is bad and I know some of you might not make it. But while you are there, because your hope is a living breathing commander of the Lords Army, Be Holy! Ready to be used. That is where we always see God’s power show up. Are you still trying to wield God’s power through some systematized faith process or are your ready to be wielded by Him instead.