SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 10:30 AM SERVICE
NOTES FROM A SERMON PRESENTED BY DR. GREG SLOOP AT THE KANNAPOLIS CHURCH OF GOD. FOR VIDEO OF SERVICES, GO TO THE CHURCH WEBSITE, HTTP://WWW.KCOG.ORG, AND CLICK ON THE LIVESTREAM LINK TO VIEW LIVE OR FOR A REPLAY OF THE SERVICES. YOU MAY ALSO WATCH LIVE OR A REPLAY ON the DR. Greg SLOOP FACEBOOK PAGE. FOR AUDIO OF THE SERVICES, GO To THE WEBSITE, kcog.org, AND CLICK ON THE MEDIA PAGE.
May 21, 2023
12 And again, Isaiah says:
“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:12–13 (NKJV)
Hebrew Word for Hope
There are several Hebrew words that, depending upon the context, may be translated “hope.” This is one of the most meaningful. The verb קָוָה (qawah) means “to wait or to look for with eager expectation” (Hartley, קָוָה, qawah), as upon Yahweh (Holladay, “קוה, qwh”). The essential notion is that the God of Israel is reliable and worthy of His people’s trust. Trusting and hoping in Yahweh, however, is an expression of great faith. Such action on Israel’s part means “enduring patiently in confident hope that God will act decisively for the salvation of his people” (Hartley, “קָוָה, qawah”; Gen 49:18; Isa 49:23; Psa 37:9).
Ben Craver, “Hope,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Faith and Hope and Waiting
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Hebrews 11:1–2 (NKJV)
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
A Teaching of Hope
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18, 24–28 (NKJV)
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The Context of the Incarnation
- Roman oppression
- Political Iron Fist (Caesar Augustus, Herod)
- Jewish Politicization and Nationalism
- Messianic Expectations
- Religious Arrogance
Answers to the Hopeless Context
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV)
- Personalized Hope (Unto Us…)
- Hope in a New Life (a Child is born, a Son is given)
- A Spiritual Kingdom of Hope (the government shall be upon His shoulder)
- A Name of Hope (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace)
- Hope for Increase
- Hope for Peace
- Hope for Justice
- Hope for an Eternal Kingdom
- Hope for Realization
- Takeaway Thoughts
- Faith is built through Hope
- Hope develops from Being Willing to Wait on the Lord
- Israel waited for hundreds of years for a Messiah
- God sent Him, Jesus Christ, who is now the Hope of the World
- Have Hope Today in the Midst of all the Uncertainty. Wait Upon the Lord!
Devoted To You 