Having Hope By Knowing The Signs

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

November 28, 2021

in Spritual Growth

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1st Sunday of Advent
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines
November 28, 2021

Readings: Zechariah 14: 4-9
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-31

We look at Christmas as the coming of Christ in Bethlehem, and it is. He did come already. But we should be looking forward to something that has yet to come and that is, the 2nd coming of Christ. We start the season of Advent with hope. We must be living in hope for His return. We should not be living in fear and anxiety. “Out of Zion is the perfection of beauty” is a powerful phrase we need to understand. The glory of God is man fully alive. We should not be stressful even in the midst of turmoil. We should not lose hope.

After proclaiming Christ as King, we now have the responsibility of living the Kingdom life. As God’s creation, we are to strive for perfection. We don’t see this because we have somehow trained our minds to see negative things. If only we could see the truth. Why are we not manifesting it? Because of our lack of knowledge. We are now to prepare for His 2nd coming. We may not know exactly when, but we can see the signs. Many times we have ignored signs. We do not pay attention to them until it’s too late. God gives us signs so that we can prepare and be ready. Philippians 1:27 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”

When we are attacked, we should not react. We are to reject and ignore. We have been redeemed from the curse. When sickness comes, we are not to readily accept it but know by faith we have been healed. Signs will be around us. These things are there to let us know so we can overcome them. We are to build our faith and confidence in God. Signs should give us courage. Covid, climate change, over population, abortion, are things happening in the world that can cause us to fear. But God has made us to be overcomers.
Psalm 50: 4 “He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people.”

There is a move now to put together a one-world government. This means there’s only one group controlling the world and its finances. Even a one-world religion. Isn’t this the enemy trying to duplicate who God is? One God, One Lord, One faith? Because we know that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. In the last part of the gospel, it talks about the fig tree. When you see the leaves, you will know that summer is near. Jesus is showing us that the leaves on the fig tree is a sign. From the leaves, we are to bring forth fruit. Galatians 3:13-14 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Prophecies of the Old Testament are now being fulfilled. When Christ comes there is no need of the sun because He is the Light. There will no need of denominations because Christ will be present. We see lack of order and discipline in the world right now. We should awaken to these signs. We have to be ready to stand firm with Christ. We need to be strong to handle the tribulation. Christ said we are overcomers. Having full trust in God should give us the confidence. We need to have hope and not fear.