Let’s get warmed up and let’s begin….
Reflect: Christians have the greatest reason for singing in the whole world: living hope. Not passing hope, dying hope, or fading hope. Living hope. Eternal hope. Resurrection hope. Writers throughout all of Scripture bank all their hope on the person, work, and promises of God. Hope leads us to singing because it has led us out of silence, uncertainty, triviality, futility, loneliness, despair, destruction, and death. We are led into the living hope of a glorious future that includes life in unhindered relationship with God, creation restored, a new body, and an eternal life full of peace, joy, happiness, and creativity. Have you reflected on the ridiculous immensity of the hope a Christian has been promised? This hope should be be taking you somewhere. Hope causes us to live life differently. It causes us to:
· be renewed (Isaiah 40:31)
· not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23; Romans 5:4-5)
· wait patiently (Micah 7:7; Romans 8:25; Titus 2:13)
· experience persecution and trial (Acts 23:6; 26:6-7; 28:20)
· be firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19)
· very bold (2 Corinthians 3:12)
· be glad (Psalm 16:8-11)
· be joyful (Romans 12:12)
· has love (1 Corinthians 13:7)
· draw near to God (Hebrews 7:19)
· have endurance (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
· growth in faith and love (Colossians 1:5)
· be submissive (1 Peter 3:5)
· purify ourselves (1 John 3:3)
*Spend some time throughout the day looking at these passages.
Are these things going on in your life? If they are not, you may want to ask: "Where is my hope?"
Read & Rejoice: Read Scripture and think how gracious and loving God is that he uses His Word to help us give good words to our Worship. Listen and learn to add your voice to the chorus of angels and saints in bringing praise to Jesus for the hope we have in Him.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 39:7
"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."
Psalm 42:5,11 & 43:5
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 62:5
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 71:5
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
Psalm 71:14
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 119:81
[ k Kaph ] My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
1 Peter 1:3
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…"
Music Selection:
“How Can I Keep From Singing” by Chris Tomlin
"Oh Happy Day", “Rise and Sing”, “God is Alive”, “All because of Jesus” by Steve Fee
Resolve: To sing boldly, loudly, and with great joy. The living Jesus can hear you and he wants the world to hear the hope that He is offering. Make sure the music you are storing up in your heart and mind is music you’ll be able to sing when Jesus returns and reigns on the earth.
