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Message Notes
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
“She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” —Luke 2:37
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” —Luke 2:29-32
“And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.” —Luke 2:33
“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” —Luke 2:34-35
“And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” —Luke 2:38
“And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” —Luke 2:39-40
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus!
In Jesus we find:
- Freedom from our fears and sins
- Rest
“For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, ‘In my anger, I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’ even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.” —Hebrews 4:3,10
- Strength and Comfort
“The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.” —Joel 3:16
- The hope that we truly desire
Hope - is a strong, confident expectation in God’s future faithfulness and His presence.
“When we are trapped in a tunnel of pain and misery, hope points to the light at the end.
When we are overworked and exhausted, hope gives us fresh energy.
When we get discouraged, hope lifts our spirits.
When we are tempted to quit, hope keeps us going.
When we lose our way and confusion blurs our destination, hope keeps us from panic.
When we struggle with a crippling disease or a lingering illness, hope helps us preserve beyond the pain.
When we fear the worst; hope brings reminders that God is still in control.
When we must endure the consequences of bad decisions, hope fuels our recovery.
When we find ourselves unemployed, hope tells us that we still have a future.
When we are forced to sit back and wait, hope gives us the patience to trust.
When we say our final goodbye to someone we love, hope in eternal life gets us through the grief.
Simply put, when life hurts and dreams fade, nothing helps like hope.
Hope is a strong, confident expectation in God’s future faithfulness and His presence.
How vital is that expectation? Hope isn’t merely a nice option that helps us temporarily get through a tough time. It’s essential to our survival.” —Chuck Swindoll
“In His name the name the nations will put their hope.” —Matthew 21:21
- The joy we long for in our hearts
“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” —1 Peter 1:8-9