HOPE RESTORED: REST. SUBMIT. ACKNOWLEDGE

Sermon Notes, November 8, 2015

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Rev. McGlinchy started his second sermon series based on 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”  He has spoken of Faith Redefined: Obedient; Miraculous; and Tested.  Today he began his series on Hope Restored: Rest, Submit, Acknowledge.  Faith and Hope go together “like a horse and carriage,” as the song says.  They overlap.  If Faith is the seed, Hope is the plant.

The scripture basis for this sermon is Lamentations 3:19-33.  It was written in the time of the Babylonian captivity, when the people were being disciplined because they had not been keeping the covenant their ancestors had made with God.  Their theology and language was lost, along with their land and their independence.  Verse 18 says “My splendor is gone, and all that I’d hoped from the Lord.”   If you think you’re having a bad day, read Lamentations!

The prophet says his hope is gone.  So is his faith.  He says he’s downcast: it paints a picture of a sheep that has fallen asleep, then rolls over and can’t get up. (verse 20)

Yet, in verses 21 & 22 he remembers the Lord’s great love.  He finds great hope.  Even in the storm there are moments of great quiet.  He gains perspective.  He remembers God’s faithfulness, and that His compassion never fails.  He decides to wait for Him. (verses 23 & 24)

The Lord is good to those who hope in Him. (verse 25)  When we are disobedient God allows discipline.  We need to “be still and know,” to be quiet and respectful, much the way our parents would discipline us by telling us to go to our room and think about what we’d done.  Verse 27 talks about bearing the yoke while a man is young.  We need to develop good habits while we’re young; use the time to ask God to search us, to shape us into better followers of Him, to shape and mold us into useful and understanding vessels for Him.  Change and be more like Him. (verses 28-30)

When we allow this change to happen, our hope increases.  Our trials should provoke us into seeking Him. (verses 29-33)  Seek Him first and all things fall into place.   As Jesus said in Matthew 6: 33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”