Hope Unlimited Church

Luke 2:8-11 NLT

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Key #1 - Joy is announced before it's experienced

Key #2 - Joy arrives in the Ordinary

Key #3 - Joy multiplies when shared

Luke 2:16-17 NLT

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

Luke 15:11-19 NASB1995

And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 

Key #1 - A Response that’s Looking & Longing

Luke 15:20 NASB1995

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him... 

Key #2 - A Response That’s “Compassionate”

Luke 15:20 NASB1995

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him...

Key #3 - A Response that “Ran”

Luke 15:20 NASB1995

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran...

Key #4 - A Response that “Embraced with Grace”

Luke 15:20 NASB1995

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:21 NASB1995

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

Key #5 - A Response that “Restored & Ignored”

Luke 15:22-24 NASB1995

But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and put sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works

God...

Ran to me

Accepted me

Cleansed me 

Embraced me

The Righteous: Bringers of heaven to earth

Proverbs 29:2 (AMP)

"When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh."

The righteous - TSADDIQIM

"The TSADDIQIM are God's agents of justice, mercy, and blessing in everyday life."

Rejoice - SAMACH

"When the TSADDIQIM Increase in number and influence: people brighton, flourish, and experience tangible relief"

The Kingdom

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

"But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Jesus is the ultimate TSADIQ.

Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Job Description - Anointed and empowered by the Spirit

Awakening to the Ministry of the TSADDIQIM

God is placing TSADDIQIM in: Business, church, government, education, art & media, health, community, and family.

Point 1. The Main Problem

In Luke 5:8, when Simon Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he cried out: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

He was aware of his sin, but not of the savior

Point 2. On the Opposite Side is an Overflow

John 21:3-6 NIV

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

To live on the opposite side is…                    

To love the unlovely

To give when it looks like we have nothing to give.

To walk by faith, when confronted by fear

To forgive when we were the ones wronged

Point 3. Jesus, the Lord, Holds it all together

John 21:7 NIV

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve caught.”

Then Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

John 21:18 NIV

Jesus said: “When you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, (as you grow, mature) someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Point 4. Every Knee Will Bow

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV

“God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Point 5. The Posture of the Redeemed

“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Mark 12:30 NLT

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 

Key #1 - Choose the Better Thing

Luke 10:40 NIV

She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Luke 10:41-42 NIV

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Key #2 - Make Room in the Margins

Key #3 - Jesus. PERIOD.

2 Corinthians 11:3

I fear that somehow your pure and simple devotion to Christ will be corrupted.

2 Corinthians 9:8 EHV

“God is able to make all grace OVERFLOW to you, so that in ALL THINGS at all times, having ALL that you need, you will OVERFLOW in every good work.”

Psalm 23:5–6 NLT

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 133:1-3

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever. 

Key #1

The Anointing Heals what’s been Hurting

Isaiah 10:27

“The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.”

Key #2

The Anointing Marks you for Overflow

Key #3

The Anointing Secures Your Future

Psalm 23:6 NLT

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 EHV

“God is able to make all grace OVERFLOW to you, so that in ALL THINGS at all times, having ALL that you need, you will OVERFLOW in every good work.”

Key #1

What Moves Jesus, Multiplies through Jesus

John 6:5 NLT

“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’”

Key #2

Faith doesn’t Count, it Trusts

John 6:7–9 NLT

“Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’”

Key #3

From Leftovers to Legacy

John 6:12-13 NIV

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”

KEY SCRIPTURE

“God is able to make all grace OVERFLOW to you, so that in ALL THINGS at all times, having ALL that you need, you will OVERFLOW in every good work.”

— 2 Corinthians 9:8 (EHV)

Key #1 - Overflow Brings Life to Dry Places

Isaiah 43:19 NLT

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18 NKJV

“Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Key #2 - What You Put In You Is What Overflows Out of You

John 7:38 NIV

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Key #3 - Overflow Turns Obstacles Into Outlets

Ezekiel 47:9 NLT

“Life will flourish wherever this water flows.”

KEY SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 9:8 EHV

“God is able to make all grace OVERFLOW to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will OVERFLOW in every good work.”

Key #1 - Overflow Begins with What You Already Have

2 Kings 4:1-2 NIV

“The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.’

Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?’

‘Your servant has nothing there at all,’ she said, ‘except a small jar of olive oil.’

Key # 2 - Overflow Requires Obedience and Faith

2 Kings 4:3-5 NIV

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.

Key #3 - Overflow Expands as You Make Room

2 Kings 4:6-7 NIV

“When all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one.’ But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left.’ Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.’”