[1] Unshakeable Hope 1 ~ Stamped with the God s Image Genesis 1:26-27 and Matthew 7:24-27

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1 [1] Unshakeable Hope 1 ~ Stamped with the God s Image Genesis 1:26-27 and Matthew 7:24-27 WELCOME - Thank you for the time away this summer I was able to spend time connecting with my spouse, my parents, siblings and grandkids (especially the newest one, baby Stella). In addition, I really appreciated just having time to rest and renew. Thank you to everyone who covered extra responsibilities to help made this renewal leave possible. I really appreciate all of your support of the time away and all of the encouraging notes I found on my desk Tuesday morning when I returned. Thank you! And, now I m glad to be back with all of you as together we praise our God, build solid relationships and share God s love with each other and our community. About a week and a half ago, there were a number of storms in Fond du Lac county with 16 confirmed tornadoes including one that went through my step-daughter s yard. As everything was shaking around her, she called her dad (that s a rare thing because texting is her primary form communication) but on that day when everything was shaking around her she called her dad and said I just needed to hear you. We live in a stormy world and some days it is just overwhelming. We too have a dad to call on, our heavenly dad, who offers us so much more than his comforting voice. He has offered his very self to us in Jesus and he has given us an entire book of promises the Bible - to hold on to when the storms hit. The characters in the Bible came from all walks of life: rulers, servants, teachers, doctors. They were male, female, single, married. Yet one common denominator united them: they built their lives on the promises of God. Because of God s promises, Noah believed in rain before it was a word. Because of God s promises, Abraham left a good home for one he d never seen. Because of God s promises, Joshua led two million people into enemy territory. Because of God s promises, David conked a giant, Peter rose from the ashes of regret, and Paul found a grace worth dying for. i 1

2 The writer of Hebrews calls these characters the heirs of promise (Hebrews 6:17). It is as if the promise was the family fortune. And they were smart enough to attend the reading of the will. Jacob trusted God s promises. Joseph trusted God s promises. Moses trusted God s promises. Their stories were different, but the theme was the same: God s promises were [the north star] in their pilgrimages of faith. ii So the question each of us needs to ponder: On what are you building your life? [10:00] Read: Matthew 7:24-27 In the gospel reading, Jesus told a story about two home builders. They had similar supplies and plans and identical aspirations. Each wanted to build a house. But one preferred the cheap and easily accessible land of sand. The other opted for the more expensive yet more durable foundation of stone. iii What separates the wise from the foolish builder? Both men hear God s words. But only the wise man builds his house on them. The key question to ask yourself: On what are you building your life? Listen to this modern day version of the parable, Max Lucado wrote in Unshakable Hope. iv Two people set out to build their houses. The first went to RPF Home Supply: Regrets, Pain, and Fear. He ordered lumber that was rotted by guilt, nails that were rusty from pain, and cement that was watered down by anxiety. Since his home was constructed with RPF supplies, every day was consumed with regret, pain, and fear. The second builder chose a different supplier. She secured her supplies from Hope Incorporated. Rather than choose regret, pain and fair, she found ample promises of grace, protection, and security. She made the deliberate, conscious decision to build a life from the storehouse of hope. Which of the two builders was wiser? Which of the two was happier? Which of the two is most like you? 2

3 When we hear the parable it s obviously, it is the one who built on the solid rock, the one who built her life from the storehouse of hope. Our world desperately needs hope since 1999 the suicide rate has gone up 24%. If that was any other disease it would be considered an epidemic. We live in a time when there is more education, more comforts, more opportunities, and yet people are dying for a lack of hope. (Including many people who go to church) We were made to be People of the Promise building our lives on the solid rock of God s promises but too many of us are consumed by guilt, regret, pain and fear. What is shaking your world right now? Possibly worries about your future, doubts about your faith, conflict in your family, concerns about your finances? It s a shaky world out there. But as people who believe in God, we have an advantage. We can choose to filter our lives through the promises of God. We can determine to ponder, proclaim and pray the promises. Feeling fearful today? Time to pray Judges 6:12 The Lord is with you and lay claim to the nearness of God. The world feeling like it is out of control? Time for a good dose of Romans 8:28: All things work together for good. See dark clouds on the horizon? What was it Jesus said? Oh, yeah: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV) v There is no promise that as a person of faith you won t have struggles but nothing lifts a weary soul like the Promises of God. We need them. Our world is desperate for them. So, today we are beginning this new series based on Max Lucado s new book Unshakeable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God. Over the next several weeks we will focus on just 12 of the over 7,000 promises of God found in scripture. In addition to Sunday worship, I encourage you to join one of the small group studies to explore these promises further (details of days and times are in the 3

4 bulletin). If you can t get in one of the groups, you might consider getting a copy of the book to read and reflect on the questions in the back. There are also reading plans in the YouVersion Bible App. It is my hope and prayer that through this series you will find renewed hope and confidence in the promises of God so that when the storms of life hit - you will be anchored by Unshakeable Hope. And I also hope that you will be so confident in God s promises that you can encourage others around you when they are going through the storms of life. Promise #1 As we look at the first promise today, I want you to get out your cell phone (if you don t have one pretend you do). As I share a story with you, take out your cell phone and turn on your camera. Max Lucado shares this story: Some time ago, I videotaped a message for our church. We recruited a film crew and drove to the Alamo. We selected a park bench in front of the shrine of Texas liberty, set up the equipment, and got busy. Four workers managed sight and sound with lights and cameras. I sat on the bench, trying to remember my thoughts. We must have looked official. Passersby began to pause. Some started to stare. Who is that guy? What are they filming? One woman s curiosity finally erupted into a question that she shouted at me from behind the crew. Are you somebody important? vi Every soul on earth has asked the same question. Am I somebody important? It s easy to feel anything but important when the corporation sees you as a number, the boyfriend treats you like cattle, your ex takes your energy, or old age takes your dignity. Somebody important? Hardly. But when you struggle with that question, remember this promise of God: [2] you were created by God, in God s image, for God s glory. 4

5 OK Take your cell phone (or imaginary one) and take a selfie. Now look at this picture and repeat after me. I am God s idea. I am God s child. I am Created in God s image. Turn to neighbor You are God s idea. You are God s beloved child. You are created in God s image. Take it another step. Post it on Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat and tell the whole world you are made in God s image. Do it right now. Now I know some of you are having a really hard time believing these words. You look at that picture and see flaws and failures and all of your short-comings. And that is why we need to focus on this first promise of God found in Genesis 1:26: God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness Did you hear that? God made you in God s image! You are a beloved child of God! Someone called you a lost cause. Someone branded you as a failure. Someone dismissed you as insignificant. Don t listen to them. They don t know what they are talking about. A diving spark indwells you. When you say yes to God, he blows on that holy ember, and it begins to flame. It grows day by day within you. Are you perfect? No. But you are being made perfect. When you struggle with your sense of significance, remember this promise of God: you were created by God, in God s image, for God s glory. Every human being bears the image of God there are no exceptions! Male, female, rich, poor, urban, rural, regardless of ethnicity or belief. All human begins are made in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. This ought to change the way we see our spouse, our kids, our coworkers, our bosses, our neighbors, even the folks who drive you nuts they too are all made in the image of God. 5

6 So why do we struggle to accept this? Because sin has distorted God s image in us and our view of ourselves. But sin has not destroyed this truth: Every human being is made in the image of God. God still creates people in his image, to bear his likeness and reflect his glory. God even sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be made new. And God intends for human beings to continue to grow in their role as his image-bearers. This work of shaping us into God s image is ongoing. As we fellowship with God, read God s Word, obey God s commands, and seek to understand and reflect God s character, something wonderful emerges. Or, better stated, someone wonderful emerges. God comes out of us. We say things God would say. We do things God would do. This summer I was able to spend some quality time with my parents. Many times I heard people say you sure take after your dad. I also began to notice how in many ways I ve become like my mom in the things I say and do. Some of it is my DNA. A lot of it is because of the time we ve spent together throughout my life. This is also true of our relationship with God. We have God s DNA within us but we need to spend time with God and listen to God for us to be shaped into God s likeness. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians describes this as a progressive transformation (2 Cor 3:18 AMP) the more we spend time with God, the more we become like God. Human beings were created to take after God and to demonstrate God s love, grace and kindness to others. You were made in God s image, and you are being shaped into God s likeness. When the world says you are worthless, remember this promise gives you infinite worth. We are significant simply because we have been made in the image of God. You are God s idea. God s child. Created in God s image. 6

7 Let this truth find its way into your heart and define the way you see others. God saved us not only for his glory and for our eternal good, but also for the sake of others. And hope is found when we accept this and embrace this role. You are good simply because God made you in his image. In the eyes of God, you are worth dying for! Prayer: Lord, you created everything, and everything you ve created is wonderful. You created me, but not only that, you created me in your image. On the days when I feel like I am not enough or unimportant, help me remember that you cherish me because I am your child. Show me how to live as an image bearer of you. Show me how I can reflect your goodness to others and how I can walk confidently knowing that I am worthy simply because I am yours. Continue to refine me and mold me into your image until the day I see you face to face. Thank you for loving me, for never giving up on me, and for giving me more value than anything or anyone on this earth ever could. Amen Now if you haven t already done it post those pictures and let s tell the whole world about this first promise of God. i Max Lucado & Andrea Lucado. Praying the Promises of God: Anchor your life to unshakable hope. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 2. ii Max Lucado & Andrea Lucado. Praying the Promises of God: Anchor your life to unshakable hope. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 2. iii Max Lucado. Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 11. iv Max Lucado. Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 12. v Max Lucado & Andrea Lucado. Praying the Promises of God: Anchor your life to unshakable hope. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), VIII. vi Max Lucado. Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018), 17. 7