Skip to main content

Advent Sermons || Hope in the Impossible || Isaiah 7:10-16

Hope in the Impossible | Isaiah 7

Hope in the Impossible | Isaiah 7

Series: Discovering Hope in Jesus

In the third part of our Advent series, *Discovering Hope*, Andrew Irwin explores the theme of hope in impossible circumstances, drawing from Isaiah 7:10-16. In this powerful passage, we see God offering King Ahaz and the people of Judah a sign of His presence and faithfulness: the promise of Emmanuel, “God with us.” This assurance points forward to Jesus, the ultimate fulfilment of hope for a broken and struggling world.

God's Invitation in Uncertainty

Life often confronts us with challenges that feel insurmountable. Like King Ahaz, we may face situations that leave us overwhelmed and searching for answers. In Isaiah’s time, Judah was on the brink of destruction, with enemy armies advancing and fear gripping the people. Despite their unfaithfulness, God extended an invitation through Isaiah: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign.” This offer was not merely to ease Ahaz’s doubts but to remind him of God’s sovereign power and unwavering presence.

But Ahaz refused, hiding behind a false sense of piety, claiming he would not “test” the Lord. His rejection reflected not humility, but a lack of trust in God. How often do we, like Ahaz, choose self-reliance over God’s promises, missing the assurance He longs to give us?

The Sign of Hope: Emmanuel

In His grace, God did not withdraw His promise. Instead, He declared that He would give a sign regardless: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfilment in the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world who came to dwell among us and bring redemption. The sign of Emmanuel is a powerful reminder that no situation is beyond God’s reach, and no darkness is too great for His light to overcome.

From the manger to the cross, Jesus demonstrates that hope is found not in our circumstances, but in God’s presence with us. He is the God who walks with us through every valley, who transforms the impossible into a testimony of His grace and power.

Living as Bearers of Hope

As we reflect on the hope of Emmanuel this Advent season, we are reminded of our call to be light in the darkness. God’s invitation to trust Him extends to each of us today. Are we willing to lay down our self-reliance and embrace the hope He offers? And as we do, how can we share that hope with those around us?

The church is not a private members’ club—it is a hospital for the broken, a beacon of light in a world desperately in need of hope. This Christmas, may we carry the message of Emmanuel into our communities, proclaiming that God is with us and that His love and grace are available to all who trust in Him.

Listen to the Full Sermon

Be encouraged by the full message of this week’s sermon. Click play below to listen:

We hope this message blesses you and inspires you to embrace the hope of Emmanuel. Join us next Sunday as we continue our Advent series, *Discovering Hope*, and reflect on the incredible promises of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPB Sermons || Sent Like the Son || JOhn 20:19-23

Sent Like the Son – Family Worship at SPB Belfast (Sunday 27th April 2025) On the evening of Easter Sunday, as fear gripped the disciples behind locked doors, Jesus appeared among them and spoke the words they most needed to hear: "Peace be with you." At St Paul’s & St Barnabas this Sunday, we reflected on John 20:19-31 and the incredible transformation that the resurrection brings — not just to history, but to our hearts and lives today. We joined the disciples in their fear and doubt, seeing how even the testimony of Mary Magdalene couldn’t unlock their fear. Yet no locked door could keep out the risen Christ. Jesus appeared, scars and all, speaking peace into their brokenness. His scars weren't signs of defeat, but emblems of the victory won at the Cross — a reminder that by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus did not come to rebuke His followers, but to comfort them with His presence, speak peace into their hearts, and to co...
Post a Comment
Read more

SPB Sermons || Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Weary || PSalm 63

Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Spiritually Weary We don’t often admit it, but many of us know what it’s like to feel spiritually dry. We’re not hostile to God, just tired. Life keeps moving, we keep showing up, but our souls feel like they’re running on fumes. In this sermon from Psalm 63 , Rev. Andrew Irwin invites us to see spiritual vitality not as a bonus for the super-committed, but as a core part of walking with God — even in the wilderness. Desire in the Dry Places David writes this Psalm not from a mountaintop, but from the desert. Hunted, hiding, and weary, he cries, “O God, you are my God… my soul thirsts for you.” It’s not a cry for rescue, success, or answers — it’s a longing for God himself . David remembers being in the sanctuary, lifting his hands in worship, and he yearns for that nearness again. Spiritual vitality begins not with more effort, but with more honesty . When we admit our weariness and desire, we open ourselves to the God who satisfies. Dryne...
Post a Comment
Read more

SPB Sermons || John 20:24-31 || An Invitation For All To See ||

The Invitation Still Stands John 20:24–31 | Holy Communion | Sunday, 6 May 2025 In this deeply personal and reflective message, Rev. Andrew Irwin explores one of the most well-known and misunderstood figures in the resurrection story — Thomas. Often labelled "doubting," Thomas is shown instead as honest, wounded, and longing for truth. His absence at Jesus' first appearance leaves him reeling in a sea of sorrow, having missed not only the risen Christ but also the peace and power the others received. Still, Jesus returns — not with rebuke, but with compassion. And in that grace-filled encounter, Thomas makes one of the clearest declarations of faith in all Scripture: "My Lord and my God." The sermon challenges the assumptions we carry about doubt, showing us that Jesus is not afraid of our honesty. Like Thomas, we are often shaped by pain, disappointment, and questions, yet we are also invited to bring them to Jesus — whose scar...
Post a Comment
Read more