"ENDURING HOPE" | An attitude toward the present and the future.

Introduction: Advent season

A time of preparation and expectation for Christians from every background for the BIG CELEBRATION of the birth of the child who will be called wonderful, counselled, Prince of Peace and savior of the World. For both the Church and unchurch, these are hopeful times, children are hoping for gifts and parents are hoping to catch a breath from all the extra spending, extra work and extra people. I want to introduce a new teaching series to help us prepared with anticipation beyond the season. “ENDURING HOPE” - A Christians attitude toward the present and the future.

Let me remind you that our Christmas theme this year is “Extending Peace and Friendship This Advent Season.”

Illustrations (Hope)

All too often, hope is pessimistically defined as the little boy did when he said: “Hope is wishing for something you know ain’t gonna happen.”

“Some years ago a hydroelectric dam was to be built across a valley in New England. The people in a small town in the valley were to be relocated because the town itself would be submerged when the dam was finished. During the time between the decision to build the dam and its completion, the buildings in the town, which previously were kept up nicely, fell into disrepair. Instead of being a pretty little town, it became an eyesore.Why did this happen? The answer is simple. As one resident said, “Where there is no hope in the future, there is no work in the present.”

Scripture Text:

Romans 15:2-6

“Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.”

WHAT IS HOPE?

Dictionary definition: Hope is a feeling of expectation, a desire or wish for a certain thing to happen.

Phase: Hope against hope- to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment.

Biblical Definition: An anticipation of something good will happen.

Hope and Faith

What is the different between Hope and Faith?

Faith is taking God at His word,believing He will do what as He has promised.

Hope is the anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promises. Romans 4:18 “ He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.”

Hope is a theological virtue alone with faith and love | the three major elements of a Christian characters | FAITH, HOPE & LOVE.

In the OT, hope played an important part mostly in the form of human desire, Israel's anticipation of a coming “King” to redeem his people. Mark 15:43

Hope is necessary for this life. Hope is being confidence in the God’s goodness.

Hope is opposed to despair and presumption

“ENDURING HOPE”

As a Christian character/virtue hope primary end, it’s motive, and author is God Himself. How do we develop enduring Hope?

-Hope that go beyond our present days, our situations, the everyday struggles of this life. How do we develop enduring hope beyond what we have not seen?

The strongest and enduring Hope is basic on God’s Word.- the knowledge of the Scripture affects our attitude toward or present and our future.

The Scripture (The Written Well of God) contain what God has done in the past and the more we know what He has done in years past, the more we can grow in confidence and anticipation that God will fulfilled what He promised in our future(tomorrow)

Enduring Hope is the working and the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the a Christian.

CONCLUSION

The Apostle Paul says, Romans 15:4 “And indeed everything that was written long ago in the scripture was meant to teach us something about HOPE from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God.” And

One such person, who’s story continues to give hope generation after generations of people in difficult times tells in Job 11:18 us this about hope in the words of the New Language Translation “Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.”

Upcoming- The Blessing of Hope

-Bible study on Wednesday will study and discuss in details about this gift from God through the power of the Holy Spirit.