Sermon
Notes, April 21, 2019 AM
The Day Hope Was Born
Steve W. Reeves
stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION
A.
This past Thursday (April 18, 2019) an American hero turned 81 year old. It
wasn’t a military hero or a noted politician. It wasn’t an athlete or entertainer. It wasn’t a
financier or businessman. It wasn’t an educator or an artist. It was – “Superman.”
1. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuseter (artist).and made
his first appearance in a comic book on April 18, 1938.
2. He is “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to
leap tall buildings in a single bound. He has x-ray vision and bullets bounce off of
him.
3. Whenever Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen found themselves in hopeless situations
Superman showed up to rescue them. No matter how hopeless the situation
Superman could step in and make it right.
4. The problem is that Superman is a fictional character. George Reeves played
Superman on television in the 1950’s. He died of a gunshot wound on June 16,
1959. Christopher Reeve played Superman in the movies and died October 10,
2004 after spending the last nine years
of his life paralyzed from being thrown off a
horse. B. In real life people have real problems. We encounter hardships and hard times. We
face sin, sickness and sadness. We are confronted with difficulty, disease and death.
In such situations a fictional super hero is of no value.
1. God is not a fictional character. He is real. The apostle Paul wrote, “The God who
made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not
dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though
He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all
things” (Acts 17:24-25).
2. The only real hope comes from the only real God.
a. In Romans 5:1-5 Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have
obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult
in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our
tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and
perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does
not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
b. In Romans 15:13 we read, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.”
c. Without God, Paul says in Ephesians 2:12, we are “without hope in the world.”
d. With God life is endless hope. Without God life is a hopeless end.
C. As we turn our attention to the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb the question we
must ask is, “What type of hope does God offer?”
I. HOPE IN DIFFICULTY
A. Can you imagine a more difficult day than the one in which Jesus died?
1. There was the brutality of the soldiers, the officials and the crowds. There was
the crown of thorns, the scourging, the road to Golgotha and the crucifixion.
2. There was the heartbreak of the disciples who had come with Jesus from
Galilee (Luke 53:49).
3. Can you imagine how these people felt? They had come so far with Jesus. Now
they stood at a distance as they watched Him die.
B. Life can be difficult, can’t it? Days are filled with stress, sadness and sorrow. We
encounter problems, pitfalls and perplexities. It is extremely important to remember
that even in the most difficult situation there is still hope.
1. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah lived seven hundred years before Christ.
Isaiah’s life was full of difficulty. He witnessed the downfall of Israel. During his
lifetime the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians. The
southern tribes were in a downward spiral leading to their overthrow by the
Babylonians in 586 B.C. How heartbreaking this must have been for the
prophet.
2. In the midst of the heartache there was hope. In Isaiah 11:1 he prophesied,
“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots
will bear fruit.”
a. The “stem” (stump) of Jesse refers to David’s father and is a reference to the
nation of Israel. It was being cut back to the roots. However, it was not
destroyed. It would put forth shoots that would grow and ultimately bear great
fruit.
b. Isaiah was saying, “Though the situation looks bleak, don’t count God out.”
3. It is in times of difficulty that God does His greatest work in us.
a. Years ago we had two silver maple trees in our front year in Newport. One of
them lost a large limb in a storm. I asked a man to bring his chain saw and
trim the trees. When I came home he had cut the trees almost to the stump. I
was angry and told him so. He said, “Give them a year and see what
happens.” By the end of that summer there were new branches and the trees
were beautiful.
b. Who were your best teachers? Were they the ones who let you have fun or
the ones who challenged you? Were they the ones who let you coast along or
were they ones who made you apply yourself?
C. God does not take shortcuts.
1. When he led Israel out of Egypt they had to endure difficulty. Had Moses walked
in, demanded their release and immediately attained it he would have thought it
was his own persuasive power. God wanted the glory.
2. When they came to the Red Sea God could have led them around it. Instead,
He led them through it. Sometimes God does not lead us around trouble. He
leads us through it so we can learn to depend on Him.
3. God reduced Gideon’s force down to just 300 men with whom He defeated the
Midianites (Judges 6).
D. Though Israel was cut down God was still at work. The day Jesus died God was
still at work. If you are having a difficult time God is still at work. You may not see
it or feel it. Faith is believing what you do not see or feel. Let God do His hope
filled work.
E. Hard times are not punishment. They are preparation. God bounced back.
1. According to 1 Peter 1:4,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His
great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
2. The road to hope is not “Easy Street.” It is paved with difficulty.
II. HOPE IN DISAPPOINTMENT
A. Imagine yourself as one of the followers of Jesus on the Friday evening after
Jesus had died.
1. When the soldier, who had been dispatched to break the legs of the men being
crucified, came to Jesus he discovered that He was already dead. He thrust his
spear into His side bringing forth blood and water.
2. Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemas asked for the body of Jesus,
anointed it with seventy pounds of fragrant ointment, wrapped it in a linen burial
shroud, placed a kerchief over his face and laid the body in a new tomb.
3. Can you imagine how the followers of Jesus felt? They had followed Him with
great devotion. They thought He was the Messiah. They had seen the miracles
and witnessed the great thrill of His teaching. Now, it had come to a screeching
halt. He was gone.
4. The Sabbath was even more difficult. There was no work to occupy their
attention. On this day of rest they couldn’t get Jesus off their minds.
B. You may be dealing with a tremendous disappointment in your life. Remember, the
story is not complete. The sorrow of the disciples was turned into joy. The sadness
was transformed to joy. The fear gave way to conviction. “Why do you seek the
living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen” (Luke 24:5-6).
III. HOPE IN DEATH
A. It took the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for everything in the Bible to
make sense.
1. Without the death of Christ there is no way the blood of animals could have
taken away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
2. Paul said, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your
sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we
have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1
Corinthians 15:16-19).
B. Some of you are preparing to have a garden. What would happen if you tilled the
soil, fertilized it and watered it but planted no seed? You must plant. Had Jesus not
died there could not have been a resurrection. Without a resurrection we would
have no hope.
C. You may live without food or water for days or weeks. No one can live without
hope.
CONCLUSION:
A. The USS George H.W. Bush is the last of 10 Nimitz Class Nuclear powered aircraft
carriers. The size of this vessel is staggering. It stands 20 stories above the waterline
with a 4.5-acre flight deck. It is 1,092 feet long: nearly as long as the Empire State
Building is tall. There are four bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing
more than 30 tons. Steering is accomplished by two rudders, each 29 feet by 22 feet
and weighing 50 tons. Each of the two anchors weighs 60,000 pounds. Each link of
anchor chain weighs 365 pounds. Each anchor and chain weighs a total of 735,000
pounds. A large ship needs substantial anchors.
B. Thankfully, we have a hope referred to as, “an anchor of the soul, a hope both
sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).
C. Do you have such an anchor of hope founded in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead? We invite you to come to Him in faith, repentance and baptism today.
