Colossians 1:27 – “Christ in you the HOPE of glory!”
The Lord is our life, strength, and hope! This is a continuation of a message last month. Jesus lives within us bringing hope & glory. Our emphasis in this message is “HOPE”!
HOPE is like an anchor. We have a LIVING HOPE. because Jesus rose from the dead! Let’s keep our HOPE ALIVE – through prayer and the Word! Let’s not cast away our confidence and expectation! There is great reward for those who continue to HOPE in God’s promises!
scripture song
MY LIFE IS IN YOU, LORD
MY STRENGTH IS IN YOU, LORD
MY HOPE IS IN YOU, LORD
IN YOU – IT’S IN YOU!
(Repeat)
I will praise you with all of my life!
I will praise you with all of my strength!
With all of my life – with all of my strength…
All of my HOPE IS IN YOU!!
(Chorus)
SUPPORTING VERSES
Acts 17:28 – In Him we LIVE, AND MOVE AND EXIST (are alive)…
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is the STRENGTH OF MY LIFE...
Psalm 73:25-26 – …there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART and my portion forever.
Psalm 38:15; 39:7 – In you O Lord, I HOPE… MY HOPE IS IN YOU!
HEBREWS 6:18-19
…that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge toLAY HOLD OF THE HOPE set before us. THIS HOPE WE HAVE AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, both sure and steadfast…
I PETER 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
PSALM 37:7
Quiet your heart in His presence and pray; KEEP HOPE ALIVE as you long for God to come through for you.
HEBREWS 10:35-36
Therefore do not cast away your CONFIDENCE, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: …
ROMANS 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have HOPE.
TITUS 2:3
…looking for THE BLESSED HOPE and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…
ROMANS 15:13
Now may the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
HOPE vs HOPELESSNESS
There is no TRUE HOPE except through JESUS! He is the HOPE OF THE WORLD! Without Him people are hopeless!
The Gospel is a message of HOPE! Christ in you, the HOPE of glory!
Where would any of us be right now without HOPE? One of the greatest needs all people have is HOPE! Many these days seem so “HOPELESS”!
HOPELESSNESS is a dreadful condition! It is the condition of those who are lost – they are without HOPE, the Bible says. Unbelievers are without God in the world, and have “NO HOPE”!
Ephesians 1:12
…that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, HAVING NO HOPE and without God in the world.
I THESSALONIANS 4:13
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (in death), lest you sorrow as others who have NO HOPE.
WHAT IS HOPE?
“Faith believes, HOPE anticipates, PATIENCE waits for it”
TO EXPECT WITH CONFIDENCE!
Patient expectation from God; trust; wait; Anticipate; expect; trust; expectation; confidence.
Websters – Desire accompanied by expectation of belief in fulfillment; to desire with expectation of (fulfillment) obtainment.
how vital is that expectation!
Without it prisoners die; students drop out; athletes lose; writers lose heart; addicts return to their bad habits; marriages fall apart; creators and inventors lose creativity!
hOPE IS ESSENTIAL!
Hope isn’t just a nice option – IT IS ESSENTIAL for our survival! Hope is basic to life!
Hope is as important as 1) water is to fish 2) electricity is to a light bulb 3) air is to a jumbo jet 4) sunshine to a plant
Hopelessness sometimes leads to suicidal death. Take away hope – our world is reduced to depression and despair!
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
Many years ago I went through a very difficult time in my life. I felt hopeless and very depressed. It was like I was in a deep pit of despair and discouragement, with vicious, unhappy thoughts bombarding my mind over and over. It was not fun — I was sad and confused. My heart was heavey! I felt condemned! I didn’t feel joyful, or like singing or doing much of anything. It was a terrible feeling!
However, the good news is – Jesus heard my prayer, and lifted me out of those feelings of hopelessness and despair. He restored joy, peace, & happiness in my life. Like David says in Psalm 40:1-3 – The Lord heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Hopelessness is a pitiful, sad, and dreadful condition. Let’s avoid hopelessness. Let’s open our hearts to Jesus, the source of HOPE! Let’s reach out to those who are hopeless and lost, and point them to Jesus!
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HOPE!
Jer. 29:11 – … He gives us a FUTURE AND A HOPE!
Romans 15:13 … He is the GOD OF HOPE and helps us to ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Thess. 2:16 – …our Lord Jesus Christ Himself,… has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and GOOD HOPE by grace,
Hebrews11:1 – Now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.
Let’s keep hope alive!
HOW?
…through PRAYER, CONFIDENT EXPECTATION, WAITING ON GOD, TRUSTING IN HIM to fulfill His promises; the WORD…
We have been given a LIVING HOPE…(I Pet. 1:3) Maintain it! Cultivate it! Nurture it! Value it!
HELPFUL INSIGHTS IN HELPING TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE
General rule: Live an honest life of purity and INTEGRITY – do what is right (I Pet. 3:13 – who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?)
Occasional Inequities – Life isn’t always fair. At times there are exceptions to the rule. ( I Pet. 3:14 – even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness you are blessed).
hope is a wonderful gift!
“Hope is a wonderful gift from God – a source of strength and courage in the face of life’s hardest trials!” (Charles Swindoll)
In Charles Swindoll’s book “Hope Again” he writes of how HOPE is essential in helping us to overcome difficulties:
When we feel trapped in a tunnel of despair & discouragement – HOPE points to the light at the end!
When we are overwhelmed and exhausted – HOPE gives us fresh energy!
When we are downcast and discouraged – HOPE lifts our spirits!
When we are tempted to quit – HOPE keeps us going!
When struggling with disease or lingering illnesses – HOPE helps us persevere beyond pain!
When we fear the worst – HOPE brings reminders that God is still in control!
When we endure the consequences of bad decisions – HOPE fuels the recovery!
When unemployed – HOPE tells us we still have a future!
When forced to wait – HOPE gives us the patience to trust!
When we feel rejected and abandoned – HOPE reminds us we are not alone – we’ll make it!
When we say good-bye to someone we love – HOPE in life beyond gets us through the grief!
When life hurts and dreams crumble & fade – nothing helps like HOPE!
HOPE BEYOND BITTERNESS
OVERCOMING BITTERNESS
1) Consider yourself uniquely blessed. We can respond to injustice with a positive attitude. Don’t consider trials and temptations as intruders, but welcome them as friends (James 1:2).
2) Don’t panic, and don’t worry. (Do not fear their intimidation, and do not allow yourself to become troubled / agitated– (I Peter 3:14).
3) Acknowledge Christ as Lord even over this event. Set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts (I Pet. 3:15).
4) Be ready to give a witness for Christ. Mistreatment is a perfect platform for a witness – when you are suffering and still glorifying Him through it. Our defence must be reasonable, gentle, and given with reverence (I Pet. 3:15)
5) Keep a good conscience. Be a person of INTEGRITY. Nothing stands the test like solid character. There is not more eloquent and effective defense than a life lived continually and consistently in integrity. (I Pet. 3:16)
christ is the hope of the world!
Ps. 62:5,6- My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my EXPECTATION (HOPE) is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Is. 12:2,6–Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; great is the Lord in your midst.
CHRIST IN US!
Exciting – inspirational truth1
Almighty, glorious, holy, wonderful Jesus – coming by His Spirit to dwell in us!
The acknowledgement of His holiness is the manifestation of His glory. Holiness and glory are linked – Is. 6:3 – Holy, holy, holy – let the whole earth be filled with His glory!
2 Cor. 4:4-7 – …we have this treasure in earthen vessels!
holy spirit
The Holy Spirit is very important!
Habitation – not just a visitation (a new creation)
John 7:38-39 – our of our innermost being is to flow rivers of living water (through the power of the Holy Spirit)
The Holy Spirit lives (abides / dwells) inside of every believer — Greater is He in us! (I John 4:4)
This is GREAT NEWS! – Don’t grieve / don’t quench the Holy Spirit
Let’s pray for the moving and outpouring of Holy Spirit!
hope abides!
I CORINTHIANS 13:13
Now ABIDES Faith, HOPE & Love…
FOCUS ON HOPE!
Let’s focus our lives on things that bring HOPE!
SAVED BY HOPE!
Romans 8:24
For we are SAVED BY HOPE, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
hope does not bring shame!
Psalm 25:3
No one whose HOPE is in you will ever be put to shame!
EXAMPLES
TRUE HOPE
JOB – “though He slay me I will trust Him”
ABRAHAM – “who against HOPE believed in HOPE that he should become the Father of many nations.”
false hope
THE PRODIGAL SON – His hopes were dashed. They were based in worldly pleasures that were only temporal.
Job 8:13; 27:8 – the hypocrites hopes shall perish!
Proverbs 10:28 – the expectation the wicked shall perish!
JESUS IS OUR HOPE!
JESUS IS WHO THE WORLD NEEDS!
With all due respect to those who are encouraging social distancing – what the world really needs is not so much ‘social distancing’, but ‘SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION’ by the power of the Holy Spirit!
how to be a hopeful people
Romans 15:4
Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures MIGHT HAVE HOPE.
People need hope (Anti-Christ comes with false hope to deceive people)
Many times are searching for hope but in the wrong places –Jobs (fleeting); Families (not here forever); Church (humans fail and are often flawed); Free time (some are more tired and hopeless than ever)…
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
JESUS is our glory and the lifter of our head! (Psalm 3:3)
why is hope so important?
There are so many sad and discouraged people!
Rom. 5:5 – Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Rom. 8:24,25 – We were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
HOPE is such a vital part of our fight of faith! May these verses help arm you with Word to keep maintaining STRONG FAITH MIXED WITH HOPE in the midst of the battles!
hope is a choice
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.
Continue to praise – CHOOSE TO REJOICE!
Hope or hopelessness is a choice we make.
The Lord is the source of my courage (encouragement). Walk in confidence in the Lord!
mining illustrations
Illustration – Important in mining… Don’t give up too soon! Story of miners for gold that stopped 10’ short, and others coming at it from the other side got the treasure.
Story of excavating a grave in Egypt for artifacts – got weary and gave up.. went back years later, pursued a little bit more, and found the treasures…
HOPE vs HOPELESSNESS
Hopelessness can destroy our identity!
In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)
As we were reminded – the Prodigal son – found that material & temporal things don’t satisfy – he had a false hope!
OUR HOPE IS A TRUE HOPE – it brings joy unspeakable and full of glory!
MORE SCRIPTURES:
INDWELLING OF CHRIST
I Cor. 3:16 – the Spirit dwells in you
Eph. 3:17,21 – that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith… – according to the power that works in us…
John 14:20 .. and you in me and I in you.
Gal. 2:20 – Christ lives in me!
I John 3:24 – He that keeps His commandments dwells in Him and He in him.
Rev. 3:20 – “…I will come in to him…”
Rom. 8:9-11 .. be that the Spirit of God dwells in you.
HOPE
ABRAHAM – example of HOPE when things looked hopeless (Romans 4:18 – …contrary to hope, he believed in hope…)
HOPE brings rest – Ps. 16:9.
HOPE brings courage and strength (Ps. 31;24).
HOPE gets God’s attention (Ps. 33:8).
HOPE brings mercy (Ps. 33:22).
Don’t stop – never give up HOPE (Psalm 71:14).
HOPE is based on God’s Word (Psalm 119:49; 111, 81; 114; 130:5).
HOPE brings life, deliverance from shame (Psalm 119:116).
HOPE pleases the Lord (Ps. 147:11).
HOPE brings blessing (John 17:7)
I Thessalonians 5:18 – HOPE of salvation.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 – Good HOPE comes by grace.
I Timothy 1:1 – Our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ – our HOPE!
Psalm 146:5 – Happy is he – whose HOPE is in the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7,8 – Blessed is the man that trust in the Lord, and whose HOPE the Lord.
Psalm 78:7 – … that they might set their HOPE in God…
The Lord is our HOPE in the day of evil (Jeremiah 17:17).
Remembering God’s Word and goodness brings HOPE (Lam. 3:21,24)
It is good that a man HOPE for the salvation of the Lord (Lam. 3:26) .
HOPE is the door of blessing (Hosea 2:15).
The Lord is our HOPE (Joel 3:16; I Tim. 1:1).
HOPE brings joy (Rom. 5:2;12:12-‘rejoicing in HOPE’)
HOPE comes through patience and experience (Rom. 5:4,5).
Minister in HOPE – HOPE helps us to minister patiently (I Corinthians 9:10; I Thessalonians 1:3).
HOPE is eternal (I Corinthians 15:19 – if in this life only we have HOPE in Christ, we are of all men most miserable).
Wait for the HOPE of righteousness by faith (Galatians 5:5).
Know the HOPE of His Calling (Ephesians 1:18)
HOPE magnifies the Lord (Philippians 1:20 – according to my earnest expectation and my HOPE…) .
Continue – don’t be moved away from the HOPE of the gospel (Hebrews 3:6; 6:11).
HOPE of salvation is our protection (I Thessalonians 5:8).
Grace brings comfort and HOPE (2 Thessalonians 2:16).
HOPE of eternal life -promised by God cannot lie before the world began (Titus 1:2).
HOPE is a refuge – God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18).
HOPE is an anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:19).
2 Thess. 1:10-12 – He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
