Advent Pt 1 – Hope

I wonder what would happen if we prepared for something to happen?

 “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: ‘Look I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.  He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!  Clear the road for him!’”  Mark 1:1-3 NLT

 “This messenger was John the Baptist.  He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.  All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.   And when they had confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.”   Mark 1:4-5 NLT

 1          Hope prepares for something to happen. 

 ‘Look I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.  He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!  Clear the road for him!’”  Mark 1:2b-3 NLT

2          Hope prepares for something to happen through you.

 “This messenger was John the Baptist.  He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.”  Mark 1:4 NLT

 Where there is no hope – Bring it!

3          Hope prepares for something to happen to you.

 “Give, and will be given to you…”  Luke 6:38a NASB

 “One day Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.  As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending upon him like a dove.  And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.’”  Mark 1:9 NLT

 How can you prepare for something to happen?  How can you bring hope to someone?