{"id":1182,"date":"2019-12-08T14:54:27","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T22:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1182"},"modified":"2019-12-08T15:03:20","modified_gmt":"2019-12-08T23:03:20","slug":"isaiahs-advent-gift-of-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/08\/isaiahs-advent-gift-of-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"Isaiah&#8217;s Advent Gift of&#8211; Hope!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1182-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-2-12-08-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-2-12-08-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-2-12-08-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Second Sunday in Advent <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">December 8, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah 11:1-10<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Hope!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Spirit of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> will rest on him\u2014the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">\u2014and he will delight in the fear of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper&#8217;s nest.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> as the waters cover the sea.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">You wake up one morning to the sudden realization that you hit the snooze button a couple of times too many.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There is no time for breakfast.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You start the car and remember that you meant to get gas last night.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The traffic is horrible and so now you are late for work.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The boss is not happy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After a very long and difficult day you finally get home\u2014 only to find a fistful of bills in the mail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Are you feeling a great deal of hope right about now?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Does that scenario sound even remotely possible, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If not, then think about this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about a child who is struggling in school because they are being bullied and they don\u2019t know what to do about it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about the parent who can\u2019t afford their rent increase and they do not know where they and their family will live?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about the elderly person who is feeling alone and all but useless?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do you think they are feeling a great deal of hope in their heart?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">There are any number of people, my friends, who are in desperate need of hope. <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Some of those people might be right here in our worship service this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some of those people you may know personally by name.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whether you are the person who needs hope or whether you know someone who does our sermon text for today is very timely. As we continue our sermon series from the book of Isaiah let\u2019s look at:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 Hope!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">You may recall from last Sunday that the people of God in the days of Isaiah were facing a very real threat from the mighty Assyrian Empire perched on their northern border.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord had revealed that the Assyrians would indeed defeat and destroy the northern Kingdom of Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord revealed that while the Assyrian army would oppress the southern Kingdom of Judah they would not be allowed to capture and destroy the beloved city of Jerusalem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Using yet another powerful picture God describes how He is going to save Jerusalem from the mighty Assyrian army.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the closing two verses of Isaiah chapter ten we find these words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSee, the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">, the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 2 Kings chapters 18-19)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Against the backdrop of that picture\u2014 the picture of the mighty Assyrian army felled like a forest of trees\u2014 the good Lord goes on to give to His faithful children a precious gift\u2014 the gift of hope!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening verse of our text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Isaiah writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cA shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Humanly speaking, the nation over which great King David and wise King Solomon once ruled was now just a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstump\u201d<\/i> of what it once was.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the faithful among God\u2019s people saw how far their nation had fallen and how insignificant their nation had become on the world stage it was probably very easy for them to lose hope.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about the promises the Lord had made to David?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about the promises of the Messiah who was to come from the house and line of David, sit on the throne of David and rule over God\u2019s people forever and ever?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here the Lord reveals to His children that those promises would indeed be fulfilled\u2014 each and every last one of them\u2014 but <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> in the way that God\u2019s people were anticipating.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Promised Messiah would be like a tender <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshoot\u201d<\/i> that <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwill spring up from the stump of Jesse.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From the perspective of this world the Messiah would appear insignificant when compared to the power and the might of the kings of this world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, through that insignificant <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshoot\u201d<\/i> God would provide His people and the entire world with the gift of\u2014 hope!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How could this be?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How could this <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBranch,\u201d<\/i> this tender <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshoot,\u201d <\/i>provide the gift of hope for all the people of this world?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two points emphasized here in our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, the Messiah would be able to provide this world with the gift of hope because of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">Who<\/b> He is!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Isaiah says here in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe Spirit of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> will rest on him\u2014 the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2014 and he will delight in the fear of the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">From our perspective as New Testament children of God it is very easy for us to see how these words describe our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201canointed with the Holy Spirit and power\u201d<\/i> (Acts 10:38) at the time of His baptism.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 3:16-17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And as we look at the description that Isaiah records for us here we see why Jesus is able to give us the gift of hope!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">First, Jesus possesses a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwisdom\u201d<\/i> and an <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cunderstanding\u201d<\/i> that go far beyond mere human abilities.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus not only has the practical <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwisdom\u201d<\/i> to know how to deal with the problems of our daily life, but He also has the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cunderstanding\u201d<\/i> that enables Him to always see how the specific details of a particular situation fit into the bigger picture of our eternity.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the hope which this gives to you, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When something happens in your life that you simply do not understand\u2014 remember that Jesus does!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you don\u2019t know why this happened or why that doesn\u2019t happen\u2014 remember that Jesus does!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus has both the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwisdom\u201d<\/i> and the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cunderstanding\u201d<\/i> to see how everything will work together for our eternal spiritual good.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what gives us hope\u2014 especially during the darkest and most difficult days of our life.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That hope ties in very nicely with the second part of the description that Isaiah gives of the Messiah\u2014 He will have <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Spirit of counsel and of power.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not only does Jesus have the ability to plan things out, but He has the power to carry out those plans!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The application here is simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have you ever been at a point in your life when things seem so confusing and so chaotic that you don\u2019t know what to do next?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Where do you find an anchor of hope at times such as this?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You find your anchor of hope in Jesus!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As your Savior-God Jesus not only has a specific detailed plan for you and for your life, but He also has the power to bring that plan to completion!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what gives us hope\u2014 even during the most chaotic days of our life.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Finally, Isaiah describes the King who would come from the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstump\u201d<\/i> of Jesse as One who will have <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2014 and he will delight in the fear of the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the eternal Son of God Jesus not only had perfect <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cknowledge\u201d<\/i> of His heavenly Father\u2019s will, He not only had perfect <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfear\u201d<\/i> or <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crespect\u201d<\/i> for His heavenly Father\u2019s will, but Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdelighted\u201d<\/i> in perfectly carrying out His heavenly Father\u2019s will!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How does this bring you the gift of hope?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It brings you hope, my friends, because from all of eternity the heavenly Father\u2019s will centered on doing absolutely everything that was necessary to save you from your sins and give you the confident hope of a glorious life in His eternal heavenly Home!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 6:40; Matthew 26:39; John 19:30)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter what happens on your journey through this world you have the hope\u2014 that confident hope\u2014 that just as Jesus fulfilled His Father\u2019s will by suffering and dying on the cross for your sins, (Pointing to the cross) so also Jesus will fulfill His heavenly Father\u2019s will and come back one day to take you Home to heaven!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The second way in which Isaiah brings us the gift of hope this morning is emphasized in verses 3-5 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here Isaiah reveals to us that our King is also our Judge\u2014 the One who will judge the entire earth with perfect righteousness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why does that truth fill us with hope and not fear?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because we know, my friends!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By the grace of God we know that we have nothing to worry about!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We know that through faith in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord\u2019s Messiah all of our sins <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> completely forgiven, God Himself has already declared us:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Not Guilty!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Romans 4:25)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We know that through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism our King has washed us clean of all of our sins and dressed us in a robe of perfect righteousness\u2014 the robe which guarantees us entrance into our heavenly Father\u2019s Home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Revelation 7:13-17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We know that through the Sacrament of Holy Communion our King gives to us His true body and His true blood as visible tangible assurance that we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> the saved, redeemed and forgiven children of God. <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>We know that through the powerful message of the Gospel we are given the guarantee of God\u2019s unbounded and unconditional love for each and every one of us!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I don\u2019t even have to go into detail as to how that brings us hope, do I.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we look back over the course of our own life and see what we have done, when we look into our own heart and see what we are capable of doing we have every reason to lose all hope!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like the apostle Paul we too confess, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhat a wretched man I am!\u201d<\/i> (Romans 7:24)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we stop to remember that our Judge is also our King.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we lift up our eyes and remember what our King has already done for us simply because He loves us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we have\u2014 hope!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we are able to say with the apostle Peter, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPraise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade\u2014 kept in heaven for you\u201d<\/i> (1 Peter 1:3-4). That\u2019s the gift of hope that Isaiah proclaims to us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the gift of hope that your King has given to you!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">My prayer then this morning, my friends, is that you will indeed treasure <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of Hope.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i><\/b>When you lay your head down on your pillow each night and think back over the course of your day let the last thing that you remember before you close your eyes be the gift of hope that your King Jesus gave to you that day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you wake up in the morning before you even start to think about all the things that you need to do that day think about all the things that your King has already done for you so that you can always have\u2014 hope!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-2-12-08-19.mp3\">Advent-2-12-08-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Second Sunday in Advent December 8, 2019 Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 Hope! &nbsp; A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.&nbsp; The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him\u2014the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1182\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}