Hillsong Church - Nathanael Wood

[Music] praise and worship that came together here we go [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] worse days [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] - matzah [Music] [Music] [Music] Moorehead [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] jewelry [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] - cute [Music] this happiest Christmas [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] enjoy to the world joy to the world and or in school and receive [Music] prepare agency [Music] agency [Music] [Music] miss Halsey [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] George [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hospital praising our Savior the joy is brought us me now in the hands I created them find me with the great runs as deep as yours come from [Music] by your name made my heart whole again my church we sing together lived it [Music] with breezes to save entry Oh sadly for [Music] is your bracelet [Music] [Music] you clash [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you believe their child God this morning would you lift your hands to us the son surrender total UDON's Gordon loves you are a god we are your people we put a hope without trust we are sons and daughters of we're the chosen people we're never forsaken [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the Queen Irma chains are death has no hold on me cuz your grace holds a ground [Music] [Music] I got through so far is it's fine [Music] no parking overthrow we believe and he missing one name one nasty the times she [Music] well kiss me [Music] sovereignty he shall [Music] [Applause] he come on inhabits the praises of his people and he lifts it up a little bit more [Music] yeah [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the seniors together to the man to [Music] and [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you see the dance team where do I stand people Oh [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] and then father how good it is this morning to declare that you will reign forever that father you will have the last word and the final say on everything that is going on in our nation and on it in our lives can you say amen to that this morning church well it could be what am I going to say a good morning to you and a world big welcome to the 11:15 a.m. service this morning how are you my name is Donna Crouch I'm one of the pastor's here this morning and a massive welcome to everybody this morning thank you for being in church and a special welcome we want to extend to anybody who is new or visiting this morning whether a friend has invited you or it's been ages since you've been the church or you've never been to Hillsong or maybe you're visiting Sydney this morning this Smoky city that we are in right now this morning could we just welcome people this morning who are new [Music] so glad you've taken the time to join us this morning and we just want you to know that you're amongst friends and to take this morning at whatever pace you're at we are just thrilled that you are here every time we gather we take time to pray for people who have asked us to stand with them in prayer and believe that for God to break through in their situation and we fill out prayer requests before the service and that's what I'm holding in my hand this morning and I just want to share with you just a few of the things that we are praying for and some really sad news for really that the church world on the earth this morning and that is that Reinhardt Bonnke one of the great generals one of God's great generals on the earth and one of the great if not the greatest evangelist on the earth today has passed away yeah and this is a man that actually has been out to Australia a couple of times we're very blessed to have him at Easter in our church not not that many years ago and he has passed away I'm really been promoted to glory he is with the Lord's all right he his life mission was to plunder hell and populate heaven and has led millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of people to the Lord Jesus Christ so I reckon it would be fitting if we were just honor his life [Music] and no doubt he is in glory with Jesus receiving his well done good and faithful servant and what a moment what a day that will be hey what a is now really got eternal life really got life and some of the things this morning that we look at that look at that up there I didn't even know that was there can you put that up 7th of December now that's living life isn't it what an example to all of us to really live the life and live the calling that is available for every single one of us amen there you go some of the things this morning that we are praying for is someone's daughter has an eating disorder our family needing peace and provision relationship restoration someone's marriage needs reconciling we have people with family and some more who are affected by this terrible measles epidemic that is that is taking lives so can we this morning church really also we need to pray for rain we need to pray for rain like how skies all week are just orange at night and in the morning and I'm really asking us this morning that with the heart of intercession that we are going to call out to God and continue to call out to God and not back off but with the spirit of faith that God is going to open up the heavens and send good rain not flats but good rain and not just a spit but good rain on the parched land of our nation because our nation is thirsty and we need good rain sir Brent would you come and lead us this morning can we lift up our hands and lift up our hearts oh let's let's let heaven hear our prayers this morning can you lead us in praying for rain and praying for this prayer request this morning thanks bread till ago we just see the opportunity we can bring these prayer requests you father and we just pray for every single family Lord God we pray for every single life that's represented we just pray Lord that your strength that your power will come father we just pray for the nation of Samoa Lord God where we need you Lord God in that nation we just pray for healing in Jesus name of that whole nation Lord we just pray for the nation of Australia right now father we just pray for rain in Jesus name father we pray for the fire situation we pray Lord God that a miracle will happen we pray for the firefighters we just pray Lord that you will put out the fires we pray for this drought stricken land father we pray that you bless this nation with your rain we pray to god they'll be drought no more fire we just pray for all these things that you have your way in Jesus name everybody said amen amen thank you so much and just some of the great praise reports because we do get answers to prayer always someone's thinking God that her and her family were baptized there's someone thanking God for the healing for a daughter after surgery and someone is thinking God for a salvation in their families so we always want to take time to thank God for the turnaround for the praise reports because we love answered prayer well why don't you take a moment say hi to somebody nearby introduce yourself make somebody welcome to church this morning introduce yourself [Music] [Music] okay take your seats thank you Justice League comes up we're gonna continue our giving in just one second I wanted to put up a picture of our senior pastor Brian Houston on the screen I don't know if you saw this on Instagram and I'll leave it for pastor Brian to tell us all about the story behind it when he gets back very very shortly but um this is a picture of our senior pastor Brian outside the White House if you have social media on Instagram he actually did a clip of an event he was invited to inside the White House which is sort of fun it was a prayer meeting inside the White House there's a few photos of something it was out I think there was a whole lot of Christian leaders invited to a prayer meeting inside the White House so that's pretty cool isn't it amazing days amazing days Bible says we're to pray for government and leaders that there would be peace so that's a good thing to be involved in so we want to continue our worship this morning with our giving which is something we love to do as a church so I'm gonna ask Lee burns to lead us this morning in this thanks Lee hey good morning Church how are you all amen those of you the part of that church will know you can give by using one of the ways behind me here on the screen or those of you that gave during the week thank you for your ongoing consistency the Bible talks to us about honor quite a bit and right throughout the old and the New Testament and you see whenever God's people honor him or honor what he honors that values what he values the return was always greater than what appears to be the sacrifice the Bible tells us in proverbs 3 verse 9 says [Music] honor the Lord with your firstfruits and then the promise is that your vats will be overflowing with new wine and your barns will be full there's another passage of Scripture in mark chapter 6 where Jesus comes into his hometown and because they're familiar with him it says that a prophet he says that a prophet is without honor in his hometown that says that he could do no miracles there didn't say he wouldn't do them that said he couldn't do them because there was no honor well there's this amazing passage of Scripture in 2nd chronicles and it talked about when the Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon and listen to this it says then she gave the King a hundred and twenty talents of gold large quantities of spices and precious stones they had never seen such spices as those the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon at church I don't know too much about spices and stones I'm just gonna be honest with you there but gold hundred and twenty talents of gold Church that is a ton and a half of gold she gave him a ton and a half of gold now you guys are looking at me like Lee who doesn't have a ton and a half of gold hey the Burns family don't have a ton and a half of God I can guarantee if you put a ton and a half of gold on the ring finger of your spouse it's gonna crush your hand but she will know how much you value her but check this out this is this is what I love about it she brings out the Solomon and it says in King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for and he gave her more than she had brought to him she gave him more he gave her more than she had bought to him that's what honor does honor brings gifts or honor get brings generosity but you always leave with more than what you gave and Bible says when we honor the Lord with firstfruits he will see to it that our vats are filled and our a fool and I believe that as we bring our tithes and offerings today's we value what God values the house of God we'll see to it that he will continue to pour out abundance on our lives amen amen hold your offering in their hand this morning let me pray for your father we thank you for the honor it is always to sew into your kingdom Lord I pray that as we do so today that Lord you see to it that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven bless your people in Jesus mighty name Amen amen hush may receive the offering this morning as they do that check out some ways that we help those in need this Christmas through a kilo of Christmas I'm a young 23 year old single mother at the time of falling pregnant I didn't have a job I felt completely alert [Music] I think that was everyone's concern you don't have money you don't have a job how are you gonna support yourself let alone this baby being a single parent myself different of you know events that happen throughout the year kind of dawn to us because as a parent you want to give for me Christmas wasn't something to look forward to anymore Christmas is one of those really hard seasons all through the media and television using pictures of families and food and feast and and gifts and so in this season it can feel like I don't have her I miss out I'm not connected the hills on Christmas appeal has been key for us for every Christmas because we can just offer them that food that they wouldn't have had and those presents that they don't have the extra funds to buy their children I met her two years ago when she found herself six weeks pregnant once she told me she want to tape her baby I just got so excited for her and I said we can do this we'll do this together I partner we through song cameras down and sometimes I'll grab a food hamper from their store when I turned up for Christmas she opens his box and it's pastor and sources and practical things and she just cries as soon as I opened her I was shocked with what was inside I got sued I got toys for my daughter what we sometimes see as something little for her was an answer to prayer it's been such a difficult journey but having this support and having the community back us up has brought us hurt and has brought back that excitement [Music] so that's just one of the stories of what killer Christmas is doing and then our diamond women services is just one of the partner agencies that our church is working with over the Christmas period and so what we're asking you to do church is to jump online and get involved in some way or if you'd like to get involved this afternoon or during the week some of the practical things that we are needing right now is cereal lollies chips and long life milk that we can get into these hampers because they're getting turned into these beautiful gift baskets during the week we're having a pecan wrap party next Saturday here at Hills if you'd like to come and get involved in turning this stuff into beautiful gift hampers that then get delivered to our organizations we're partnering with and then they get it out to the families and individuals in the communities so that it sort of all takes a little bit of time to do so we're asking you to get involved now so that we can get it out to families before Christmastime and thank you to everybody for everything that you've done so far with gifts and toys because it is such an important campaign that we do as a church and we love to do it do you know our receptionists all week get calls from people you know all across Australia for help and the great thing is that we are able to help and we do respond to all those requests for help so thank you so can we just check out the screens once more for everything coming up in this wonderful month of December 2019 will be a year of breakthrough favor and blessing I believed revival is in the air [Music] yet again we can fit some miracles and most these are the days of jobs gathering [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] if that doesn't inspire you that's amazing so the Christmas Spectacular to let you know that you need to be getting online and getting your tickets inviting your family and friends because it is 80% full at the hills campus and we want our church family to be here and enjoying it so that's coming up in a couple weeks time okay everybody say okay all right but tonight we have the most amazing evening prepared it's called the best night of your life all right five o'clock at the epicenter six o'clock here as senior pastor Bobby Houston will be bringing the word and we have a whole lot of amazing testimonies and miracle stories that people will be sharing about what God has done in their life this year and there is nothing to inspire hope and confidence that God can do something in our lives then when we hear the story of Jesus and the Holy Spirit working in people's lives and it's a great thing to be inviting our family and friends to so that is going to be this evening and we are taking communion tonight to a whole nother level so usually we have communion in the service you know how we do that but tonight we are having communion outside and it is going to be of biblical proportions okay we are having a feast outside after the service we are having free food long tables not the wine but everything else okay and we've got all the Christmas lights and the ground lit up and it's going to be absolutely beautiful so we'd love you to hang around and enjoy feasting with one another and getting to know one another and just enjoy fellowship together on the property we're gonna have an awesome awesome night and it's going to be very very special and beautiful and inspiring and faith-filled and after you've heard what Nathaniel Wood has preached this morning I think it's going to be this morning is such a powerful word you're about to hear and tonight I think is just going to be another layer on top so be be here tonight because it's going to really build faith in Jesus name all right all right I ain't gonna ask you to stand to your feet cuz this morning we have passed and Nathaniel Wood and New South Wales oversight of Hillsong Church bringing the words so can we welcome Nathaniel and we always love the word of God so thank you in advance Nathaniel and I think before he comes the team are going to come and lead us for a moment as we get our hearts ready for the word of God thanks Dave in the tea [Music] I am you are yes [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] you'd be seated how is everybody 10 out of 10 I heard someone say 10 out of 10 can we dive straight into the word this morning the title of the message is a thrill of hope a thrill of hope two weeks ago I preached the message called seat edges and garden rocks and it was all about sitting on the edge of your seat and having that type of faith posture that I guess anything could happen and probably will that God could answer prayer at any moment God for could fulfill prophecy at any moment and basically approaching this new year and this season of your life on the edge of your seat knowing that God is faithful knowing that God is true to his word and going into this new season this new year with great confidence but the thrill of hope is obviously a lyric from a well-known Carol Oh night divine so I want to sing it to you this morning better still have that where you get the hills campus pastor to sing this song this morning so let me quickly I mean you're gonna be blessed you think you've been blessed this morning by worship in the service you're gonna be incredibly blessed by to speak it you're showing a little bit too much there Sam so Sam's going to lead us all in this beautiful Carol and we're gonna sing along with it so here we go a thrill of hope the weary well read your come on guys join with me breaks a new and glorious morn [Music] miss rachel writes for killing joints air come in come in come here right so say this is a dream come true for Sam tomorrow right now come on choices Singh this beautiful Carol together let's see if we can get those high notes ready the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn on your knees can I keep seen [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] such it were was such a beautiful Carol but every Christmas those that lirik a thrill of hope a weary world rejoices is such a picture for me because in many ways our world is weary in many ways our world is going through a whole lot and always has and humanity does what humanity does and I love a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices because I think there's something in that and I think for you and I hope is just such a wonderful thing if there's one thing that our world needs the most its hope the one thing our world needs the most is hope not just a faint hope but a full assurance not just the glimmer of hope but a full assurance for so many people they live their life definitely going through a lot of doom and gloom many of them at times sadly resort to extreme measures to dull their pain or to to deal with their sense of despair and loss of hope but I just don't believe that God's will for any single person I don't believe it's God's will for you I don't believe it's God's will for anyone in this world to live like that it's just simply not his will in Romans chapter 15 verse 13 it says may the god of Hope may the god of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit I love that because I mean there are very Christmasy words joy peace hope and trust is at the very center of those things as we trust him he gives us joy as we trust him he fills us with peace as we trust him he fills us too overflowing with hope and I pray that that would be our experiencing heading into this new year that there would be something bubbling up on the inside but hope would be bubbling up on the inside and overflowing into not only our life but the lives of those around and about us as a timing I just started Hillsong college and I remember I just wrote off my car which was uninsured because I did that I lost my job I moved out of home so I had a whole lot of bills that I had to try and find an income to pay for and I was around 20 and it was a huge growing up experience for me and I remember sitting in my room sitting on what was my make up bed which basically was two foam lounges put together and tied together with rope and that was my that was my bed and I remember sitting on the edge of what this call bed was and I remember almost like a sense of hopelessness it was almost like this dark blanket sort of came over me and it was almost like I've never experienced it before I've never experienced it since but I sat there and and so many things were going through my mind cycling through a whole lot of thoughts and a whole lot of things that and I guess even thinking about it now there are such small things but at the time they seemed so big and I remember at that time turning to Scripture and I love to say that I do that every single time I go through something but I don't but at this time I did and this is the psalm that I read some 42 verse 5 it says why my soul are you downcast why so disturbed within me put your hope in God for I will yet praise him my Savior and my god and I repeated that over and over I kept on reading it I kept on reading it I kept on reading it and then I got the part that says put your hope in God it was almost like slowly perspective started to come all of a sudden I started to see things a little different and I'd like to say that in a moment's notice things changed dramatically it was a process but all I know is the scripture in that moment the truth of God's Word definitely was the doorway out of what I was experiencing at that time see despair that people feel has an answer in Jesus the despair the loss of hope or the hopelessness that people feel has an answer in Jesus and I love the Apostle Paul because he had such an intimate relationship with Jesus and in 2 Corinthians 4 verse 8 he says this about his tough season he goes we were hard pressed on every side but not crushed perplexed but not in despair despite his season he didn't lose hope and I pray that for each and every one of us that despite the seasons of challenge or trouble or crisis that do come life is life that we will never lose sight of hope that we would never lose hope in our life so Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22 says let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings verse 23 says let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful for he who promised is faithful let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess so my question to you this morning is do you put your hope in God no matter what challenging season or no matter what time of life you're in do you put your hope in God see for a lot of people they put their hope in a lottery ticket and it might seem funny to you but for a lot of people their hope in buying a lottery ticket that might win them some finance that would change their life is a big deal to them for a lot of people they put their hope in this meeting or having the right connections that lead to the right doors opening for them and they put their hope in meeting the right people for some people they put their hope in an examination mark they put their hope in how they do and even though as important as education is that doesn't need our hope it's not where we should put our hope a lot of people misplace their hope some people they put their hope in meeting the right person their meeting the one if I put my hope in meeting the one that's going to change my life and my future and it's amazing how we can take hope and literally disperse it in many different places but that's why I love the scripture that tells us to put our hope in God because it's when it's in him it's amazing how all those things seem to work themselves out so do you put your hope in God do you hold unswervingly to the hope that you profess is there a consistency to the hope that you have holding on to it unswervingly and I guess for a lot of people we've been disappointed and our hopes have been dashed but I love what Martin Luther King jr. says he says we must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope we must accept finite disappointment disappointments are part of life we prayed it didn't go the way we thought it would go and we accept the disappointment of that but we should never lose sight of infinite hope we shouldn't ever lose that hope on the inside and I guess for a lot of us at periods or in seasons of our life maybe we have experienced a sense of hopelessness I was talking to my counselor during the week about hope and it was amazing that she said one of the first things to go when people go through tough times is hope a sense of hopelessness creeps in because emotions start to take over and all of a sudden it starts to dictate what goes on in their world and the very things they hold true or the very things that they know to be true seem to go by the wayside as their emotions start to cycle through and I guess I can understand to an extent exactly what she was talking about and maybe you can as well that that sense of hope that sense of despair and maybe it's not across the breadth of your life but maybe it's in an area of your life you've been believing for God to come through in this area maybe weeks maybe months maybe even years and almost like a sense of hopelessness starts to creep in but again this morning I pray that we would all leave here knowing that it's not God's will that we sense hopelessness in our life even though we go through these seasons so Hebrews 10 talks about this full assurance that faith brings so do you live your life with a full assurance I love that full assurance I think those who live with a full assurance they walk differently those who have a full assurance they speak differently those were the full assurance they think differently those were the full assurance there's a confidence and a boldness and a resolve to their character there's just something on the inside that changes things why because of full assurance that faith brings so you might have not experienced that but you can walking with the full assurance living your life with the full assurance see the Bible definition of hope is a confident expectation another definition is assurance based on a Shore foundation base on a Shore foundation so a thrill of Hope a thrill of hope you know the definition of thrill is a sudden feeling of excitement and I don't know if you've ever ridden on a rollercoaster before I don't know whether you've parachuted before bungee jump before can I just see it like if you bungee jump before just give me a little wave quite a few people all these people need a lot of prayer let's thrill that sense of excitement what about the first time he caught an aeroplane and you're on take off that sense of excitement what about the first time that you were behind the wheel of a car with nobody else in it for the very first time that just sense of excitement that extensive well I just think that featured everyone of us we can have a thrill of hope that we could have a sense of excitement about the future that we could have a sense of excitement on the inside for our new year we went to movie world on the Gold Coast a number of years ago and and my son's conned me into going on what's called the Batman ride now I hate roller coasters I hate them with a passion I I mean I look at a roller coaster and in my mind the thing falls over and the cart leaves the track and a whole lot of things go on and that's just how my mind works so I don't like roller coasters at all I don't like being out of control for you psychologists out there work that out and well anyway they con me into going on this Batman ride which for those that are unaware of the ride you basically sit with four or five other people on the outside and you can't see anything because you're sort of facing out and there's someone on either side and all of a sudden this thing just shoots up into the air just out of nowhere and you feel like you're just going to go up and up and up and up and up and then you're you know again you're out of control and it gets over the top and then all of a sudden then it is drops sure now I don't know if I've got a problem with rollercoasters because there was a time here in Sydney I went on a rollercoaster as a young guy and you know how the lap sash comes down and squeezes you tight Shh and then they let it loose a little bit well when they let it loose it came loose on mine and then their roller coaster took off so I do the entire roller coaster ride literally with my arms holding on to the lab sash holding on for dear life but life can be like that it's art at times just holding on for dear life but some people they do this they thrill seek with this big smile on their face like this is the best thing in the world so this may be again we're looking at the next season the next year but we would have that sense of excitement in our spirit but we're holding on for dear life but God's doing something in and through us and there's something about to happen you know well see how well it is so filled with all types of uncertainty which do cause despair some of them were natural disasters family breakdown terrorism conflict environmental concerns is a big one sickness disease social constructs changing world economies and on a very personal level mental health is a huge concern and then you've got droughts and fires and all those things that are happening and they definitely caused a whole lot of despair and I just think that as believers and then as the church we've got such a huge opportunity I think we've got such a huge opportunity in a world that can be so dark and so full of despair and so full of hopelessness that we can be the type of believer in our world in our community and the type of church that really does change how people see the world and how they see life C in our myth in our vision statement as a church the church that I now see it says yes the church I see is committed to bringing the love and hope of Christ to impossible situations through the preaching of the gospel and a mandate that drives us to do all we can to bring help and solution to a needy world it's about it's who we are it's in our DNA to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ we're to impossible situations and can you imagine if every single one of us took seriously that and as we go to our workplace as we wonder our neighborhood in our community that that's exactly what we see ourselves doing bringing the love and hope of Jesus Christ to impossible situations see hopefulness should be the hallmark of every believer Billy Graham said God's mercy and grace give me hope for myself and for our world and I just think you can tell a person who takes more notice of the good news than they do the nightly news now there's nothing wrong with watching the nightly news and being across it all but don't let don't let the nightly news get in your spirit so that when you're sitting around with your colleagues at lunchtime you join in in the chorus of despair and the narrative of negativity and you're a part of whatever it is that you're a part of and the conversation starts with no hope and then it finishes with no hope now as believers as a church where this shine a light in areas of despair people should leave conversations with us feeling a whole lot more hopeful than they do going in to it see as a pastor and I'm sure you're the same as well when people closest to you go through difficult things and I know two people but first come to mind in the last little while that have gone through us are pretty serious things and you want to send a note or a text or you know I always it always fouls me sometimes to find the right words and sometimes I'll just actually say I really the words follow me right now to say whatever it is I need to say and then go on but because I always want to leave someone leave with more Hope than when they first read my message I don't want to add again to the chorus of despair for them and just tell them what their reality is and do an insincere cliche type of remark know as believers as people as a church let's make sure that we are there to reassure people and reassure people in a way that brings confidence for their future so maybe see Joel Osteen said I don't what could be so dangerous about giving people hope and I think it's so true because for a lot of people they don't want to give false hope and I'm not talking about denying the facts I'm not talking about living in denial but just maybe we could be reassuring and bringing hope into impossible situations by maybe sending a message like this God is at work on your behalf or let's together stand on his word let's pray for God's very best what about let's hold on to his promise that says this this and this or let's believe that God will turn this around for his glory there's so many things that we can say that brings hope into impossible situations and I just believe that again that thrill of Hope that excitement that we can live our life literally be a beacon of hope and deliver hope to those who desperately need it in Luke chapter 1 verse 41 this is where Mary is expecting a child and also Elizabeth and in verse 41 it says when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit so again what is leaping in your spirit the thrill of hope the excitement on the inside what sleeping in your spirit about this next season what sleeping in your spirit about this next year is it filled with hope or is it frame by hopelessness is it filled with the expectancy or is it framed by a whole lot of things that are out of our control so we don't know what to expect but we definitely know who to expect we definitely know who to expect see our hopes we're constantly talking about them we tend to express our hopes all the time think about some of these things you may have said that I hope you get better soon I hope you get the job I hope the weather is good I hope our team wins that's what Parramatta supporters say all the time I hope to get there on time I hope you find what you're looking for I hope works out and can you see in what we say there's sort of that build a little bit of doubt like it's possible you'll get there on time but you maybe not it's possible things will work out but it might not and we we say these hopes with this element of doubt but see the Bible definition of hope there is no doubt about it there is no doubt about biblical hope there is no maybe or maybe not about the hope that the Bible teaches see for a lot of people hope can just be wishful thinking oh I hope so oh I hope so but it's not wishful thinking our hopes mean a whole lot more when it comes to the Word of God and if I could describe it like this I was in South Africa a few years ago part of a kingdom builders trip experiencing a whole lot of things going on in Cape Town that we as a church support a very inspiring trip and we had a day off and I was there with my brother-in-law and he suggested we go and see the flying shark it's not a restaurant it's literally go and see a great white shark jump out of the water breaching where they do off the South African coast some go I mean for sure this will be awesome I've seen those pictures you may have seen them with a seal in in the shark's mouth and it's just literally out of the water who doesn't want to see that so they cut a long story short we went on this expedition and they put a little decoy out it's a little thing that looks like a seal there was basically just a wetsuit all tied up and then they start dragging it around hoping that the shark would come and take it and then sort of breach in the water so I'm there just like I mean expectation it was palpable on the boat cuz at any moment we're just waiting for this huge great white shark just to jump out of the water so we're there at 5 minutes 15 minutes thirty minutes 45 minutes and we're still we're still just like an hour later the boat stops and over the PA system the guy says I guess we won't be seeing any great white sharks today and that's exactly what everyone did it's like what what a huge letdown maybe you'll see the shark maybe you won't see the shark but then we went on another day off we went to we went to see a the big five at a safari park and they assure you that you'll see all five and so enough we saw all five and the difference between the two is the world their hope is like this maybe it's going to happen maybe it won't as a fatalistic approach to life it might work out but it might not work out but see your hope and my hope as believers is more over here in the full assurance of God says now you will see the big five you might see it in the timeframe that you think or the timeframe that you hope but you will see it and the hope that Bible talks about is an anticipation if I say it like this the difference between faith and hope is if I said to my kids as I did in the early 20 2016 we're going to go visit friends of ours in America went on our first family trip overseas it I said to the family we're going to go and visit so-and-so over in America and straightaway they were like yes we are there was a faith based on my character and a trust that what I said was going to happen but from that moment of it was going to happen then they went into hope now it's not hope hoping hoping it's going to happen I hope what Dad said is still going to happen no they moved from faith in what I said into hope and it's hope anticipation of when it's going to happen almost like a joyful excitement on the inside of when it's going to happen see the world maybe maybe maybe not but you and I have a full assurance and that's why we should be able to live our life with a whole more boldness and a whole lot more confidence about the seasons and the years of our life because of this hope that we have see the Bible talks about hope it's filled with scriptures of hope and let me just give you a few things that the Bible talks to us about hope the first one is that it says that hope anchors the soul Hebrews six verse 19 it says we have this hope as an anchor for the Soul firm and secure the message translation says an unbreakable spiritual lifeline hope anchors the soul number two says hope is good cause for rejoicing in Romans chapter five it says through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand goes on to say and rejoice in hope of the glory of God see for a lot of people they're hoping is sort of like filled with anxiety but our hopes should be filled with rejoicing because we're not wondering if it's going to happen we're just wondering when it's going to happen and that's why the posture of sitting on the edge of your seat you just don't know if God's not going to answer your prayer this coming week the pray you prayed for weeks months or years maybe this week he's going to answer it so it's not a hope of wondering if it's a hope of wondering when it's going to happen number three hope is productive and doesn't disappoint in the same chapter Romans chapter five verse five talks about Tribute tribulation producing perseverance and pervert perseverance character and character hope then it says now hope does not disappoint well I tell you what my hope in seeing a great white shark was hugely disappointing but when it was came to the big five I wasn't disappointed at all and that's why the hope that we have in Christ does not disappoint it literally talks about our hope will be fully vindicated in time our hope will be fully vindicated in time number four some see to verse five says our hope comes from him so it's not conjured up it comes from him yes my soul find rest in God my hope comes from him number five Number five hope in his word some 130 verse 5 I wait for the Lord my whole being Waits and in his word I put my hope in his word in the truth of God's Word that's where I put my hope again I don't put my hope in a lottery ticket I don't put my hope in finding the right person I don't put my hope in the right connection I put my hope in the truth of God's Word because he who promised is faithful and number six hope all day long hope all day long some 25 verse 5 says this says guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long and I just get this picture of waking up in the morning and you've read your Bible and you're praying you're ready for the day filled with hope and there before morning tea it's full of despair and by the end of the day even more full of despair and you put your head on the pillow and Everything Everything anxious is going through your mind and then you wake up again and cycle it through again read the Bible you filled with hope now I love the thought of hoping all day long I hope in the morning I hope after morning tea I hope at lunchtime I hope at afternoon tea I hope of the evening meal I hope when I put my head on the pillow and start over and over again let not your hope be temporary let's have a permanent hope that he gives us that's in his word that we can do all day long number 7 hope stems from our faith Hebrews 11 verse 1 now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see faith is confidence in what we hope for is that word again assurance about what we do not see the message says it's our handle on what we can't see that's why faith and hope is so important in life and as believers that's just not believing God let's have the faith that brings the full assurance that comes with that faith let's live each and every day with that full assurance that confidence and boldness number eight hope is further yet to be realized in other words it's futuristic romans 8 verse 24 through in this hope we were saved but hope that is seen is no hope at all who hopes for what they already have the reason why God gave you hope is because they've given you promises and promises about something yet to be done all the promises in Christ are yes and amen with promises you need hope for that promise to come to pass it's not just a promise here he gives you hope because he's given you a promise we need the hope to see through his promises number nine hope will not be cut off promise 23 verse 18 there is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off and when I read that this morning I believe there are people in this room in this service and you needed to hear that your hope will not be cut off that you have a future and you have a hope and number 10 as the team comes hope gives you every reason to be bold hope gives you every reason to be bold 2 Corinthians 3 verse 12 says therefore since we have such a hope we are very bold your boldness allow the Holy Spirit by his power to fill you to overflowing with hope I hope filled with anticipation of God doing things and being true to his word again let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful and because of all of that 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18 in the message it says with that kind of hope not the world's hope but with the hope that we have in Christ with that kind of hope to excite us nothing holds us back and I want to prophesy that over you this morning that with the hope that you have nothing will hold you back that nothing no no season no trial no challenge no tribulation no struggle no season in life will hold you back why because nobody gets steal a car and people could take all your jewelry but nobody can take your hope nobody can take your hope your hope is in him and as everybody stands this morning I want to pray over you I want something to leap in this spirit this morning if it hasn't already I want something to leap in your spirit in regards to this next season or this new year I want something on the inside the thrill of hope and excitement on the inside about what is ahead we don't know what to expect but we definitely know who to expect so I want to pray this over you so this morning if you wouldn't mind and you feel comfortable to do so penis raise both hands to the Lord because on a prayer in your spirit I want to pray to God and believe that this leaves an indelible mark on this next season in this new year so I pray that you would intentionally put your hope in God I pray that you would draw near to him with uh sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings my prayer for you is that you would hold unswervingly to the hope we profess I pray that this full assurance would cause you to walk confidently trusting God wholeheartedly not only in the valleys but also on the mountaintops I pray that the god of Hope would fill you with joy and peace as you trust him that you would experience a supernatural overflow of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit my hope is that you would carry this full assurance in your spirit as you shine a light in dark places of despair that the hope of change breakthrough and victory the hope of answered prayer and his holy help the hope of salvation and eternity would be seen and heard in you each and every day I pray that you would live with a thrill of Hope carrying something significant in your spirit and I pray that the hope would permeate and change our significantly in Jesus name can we sing this song together which talking all about hope they sing as a declaration of their lives over this season and this next year in Jesus name [Music] [Applause] aerosol babies [Music] reflected on hi [Music] Oh [Music] this game [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] whatoplay specifically for people that you feel like hopelessness has crept in maybe your life in general but maybe into an area of your life and you just don't want to accept it you don't like a choice this morning to allow the Holy Spirit the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you with hope hope to overflowing in other words it's not just a hope for you but it's a hope for those around and about you you're gonna be a beacon of hope that what God's going to do in this season of your life it's turn things around as you did for Joseph the things that were meant to pull you down God will turn around and use them for his glory but people would be changed that people would be helped whatever it is but you just know hopelessness or despair and it could be minor it could be major but all I think this morning is let's not leave the service let's not leave the service without the Holy Spirit filling us with hope filling us to overflowing with hope this is not just about a positive Prayer well-articulated a prayer or a feel-good moment this is the power of the Holy Spirit he's going to do something significant and supernatural in the hearts and lives of people this morning so with every eye closed I'm not going to ask anyone to raise your hand but I know you know in your heart of hearts you know that's me I want you to accept this prayer I'm gonna believe the Holy Spirit in this moment it's going to set in motion hopefulness it's going to be the hallmark of your life hopefulness in all the different areas of your life despite the challenge despite the adversity dislike Paul were perplexed but we're not in despair [Music] so father I pray in Jesus name for every single person that this relates to and I ask though by the power of your Holy Spirit that you would fill people with hope fill them to overflowing with hope father we thank you that supernaturally that you can do what no man can do so farther in this moment we expect you to fill us with hope and with great anticipation we look forward to you answering prayer we look forward to you providing we look forward to you healing we look forward to you delivering we look forward to you going before us father we thank you that we know that you are on our side we know that you are in our future whether you're working all things together for good so father we put our hope in you in Jesus save and we thank you what you're about to do in and through us in Jesus name come on [Music] sure [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] my name's Sam I'm one of the pastor's here and I just want to take this moment right now in the service for everyone here and everyone online I'm gonna ask you are you right with God you know I talked to a lot of people and when you asked that question I said well I hope I am um I think I'm a good person I I think I think everything will be all right you know on that day and and it's a sort of wishy-washy hope that Nathaniel was just talking about but you know I want you to know that you can leave today knowing 100% in this sort of hope that you are right with God that your sins are forgiven the Bible says to all who received him to those that believed in him Jesus gave the right to be called children of God and I want to give people opportunity everywhere to say yes to Jesus this morning God loves you he's not against you but the reality is you and I have sinned and that sin has separated us from God that's why there's no reality of God in your life he's up there somewhere but I want to tell you this this morning because of what Jesus did if you'll say yes to Jesus you can know that your sins are forgiven you can know that you are right with God and instead of God being up there somewhere and you carrying this hole that you're trying to desperately fill with things that don't fill it you can know for sure and you can encounter God for yourself and it all starts with saying yes to Jesus I wonder if everyone everywhere would close their eyes bow their heads if that's you and you know you need to get your life right with God or maybe you once walk with God but now you're far from him like the prodigal son but praise God you're here you're listening it's because you've come to your senses and today's the day that you come home so maybe it's your first time or maybe you're coming home I want the honor of praying with you the simple prayer that simply says yes to Jesus and in saying yes to Jesus this morning your sins can be forgiven and there can be a reality of God back in your life if that's you and you want to be included in that prayer then everyone all together we're gonna pray out loud and as we do we're gonna pray with you the simple prayer that's saying yes to Jesus so come on everyone everywhere let's pray this prayer out loud dear Jesus thank you that you died on the cross for my sin I believe you rose again I ask that you will forgive me that you'll come into my life that you'll be my Lord and Savior thank you that are now forgiven and I'm now a child of God in Jesus name amen amen amen come on can we put our hands we really put our hands together look if you prayed that prayer and you said yes to Jesus what we want to do it all out exits and those that are watching online something's going to come up on the screen but we'd love to give you this Bible as a gift okay someone's going to be waving these Bibles around you go to them say I prayed that prayer we'd love to give you this Bible and can I just say if you knew you should've but in that moment you didn't haven't missed out okay go and say you know what I love to do that and we'd love to give you this as a gift so I think one more time let's put our hands together and also let's thank Nathaniel for an absolutely brilliant message [Music] [Applause] [Music] such a fabulous word famous word for this time of the year isn't it and it's only early December there is there is like weeks and well there's not weeks and weeks but there is weeks of this month so let's give God room and tonight is going to be amazing the best night of our life I've seen a little bit of what's prepared Bobby is going to be speaking it's going to be a beautiful night five o'clock at the epicenter six o'clock here and remember the ultimate communion feast afterwards so why wouldn't you be here bring the children it's gonna be amazing for those that are new or visiting you know or if you've bought someone that we'd love to host you just settle for moments at all we'd love to host you after the service and really give you a special Hillsong welcome because we really want to make your time visiting here special and we have hosts ready to host you so please let us do that we've got great coffee out there as well great coffee and tea and really want to thank you for being in church this morning can I pray for you as you go into your day and go into your way so father we thank you this morning we thank you that you are the God of all hope and our hope is not a feeling it's not an emotion that comes and goes but it is farther something that you give us because you are the author of hope you have the ability to change and bring bring turn situations around father and that is your heart we know that Lord so this morning father as we go into our day and as we go into our week I pray that we will sense your presence we will know the person of the Holy Spirit with us helping us walking with us going ahead of us turning things around Lord being the peace in our households being the calm in our storm and being the mighty one who turns situations around bless your people as we go and we thank you for your constant goodness we thank you that we can lift our heads high to you Lord because you give us hope in Jesus name people said amen and amen thank you for being Church god bless [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause]

Channel: Hillsong Church

Views: 14,848

Rating: 4.9202657 out of 5

Keywords: jesus, hillsong, praise, worship, Nathanael Wood

Id: 9kia7z_hiP8

Length: 90min 35sec (5435 seconds)

Published: Sat Dec 07 2019