Sunday Service

Our Living Hope or Jesus Is Our Living. Hope we'll talk about hope this morning.

Max Lucado said, the Bible is the story of two gardens Eden and get them any in the first Adam took a fall in the second. Jesus took the stand.

And I don't have to tell you but it's just so much hopelessness in our world and what up, what a blessing to know the Lord Jesus really, and that's what sets us apart. That's why we can get out of bed in the morning and be joyful cuz he's our Living Hope.

Apart from the Lord Jesus, there is no hope. There's no hope there's only a hope, so, And we're going to look at 1st Peter this morning. Peters. Known as the Apostle of Hope. And the other three things in the bible. Really don't look at hope this morning but it's faith, hope and love. What are the ingredients of a healthy church and all of them are tied to the resurrection of Christ which we're celebrating here today. And Peter had firsthand knowledge of great. Hope when you think about Peter, you take sometime this week and read through 1st and 2nd, Peter, remembering Peter and what happened to him at the crucifixion or just before the crucifixion. I'm down. And then think about what happened to him after the resurrection and how that changed his life. And here he is writing about hope I think What we read in scripture when he denied Christ? At third time, I don't think you could get much, lower, and hopeless. Feeling than that, in the Lord, Jesus restored him to this great power and in that kind of testimony. And today we're going to look at this this great Power Inn in Holt, from this man who was full of hope I want to still look at 1st Peter, chapter 1, verse starting, at verse 3. Is blessed, be the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Who according to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten as again, to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled. It does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God, through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed. In the last time in this, you greatly Rejoice. Do now for a little while. If need be you have been grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith being much, more precious than gold and Parrish. Just do it is tested by fire. May be found to praise honor and Glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ from having not seen you love. Do now, you do not see him yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of Glory. Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. If you think what I read this morning from Matthew 28 earlier, this is women when they came to the tomb, right? And they said, he's not here, they left was fear and great joy, and they went a little ways and they saw Jesus and he said rejoice.

Overflowing with with joy and bringing glory to God. Peter wrote these words about 30 years after Christ death and resurrection. And he was riding to encourage Christians in that area of Asia Minor who are being persecuted. If we, if we take the time this morning to go through the first letter here, but there was a problem of bosses who were overbearing their problem in, in Chapter 3 of unbelieving. Spouse has it might have been threatening their their spouses. Some people were being ridiculed by their neighbors and whatnot. And even on the horizon, there was this persecution coming from Nero. the Roman Emperor who,

You get some pretty wicked things to Christians, and it was a very anti-christian Society. Kind of headed that way. I'm not kind of but I think we're flying full-speed

But it shouldn't discourage us. Should have brick home. How do you say hopeful when you're, when you're going through these kinds of tests? What do you do? When life seems to have more questions than answers, you got to have hope you keep on going and you're going to have have to have a hole but never die. That's the hope it's spoken of in verse 3. This Living Hope. He is our Living Hope. And do. What is this hope? What is this whole food? Never done the same as I hope it doesn't rain today. We're we're we're referring when we say that we're referring to the uncertainty of future events right now. I hope I hope. Hope the ice was out so I can go fishing pretty quick. It's not the same thing as the the biblical meaning of Hope. It's really when the Bible speaks of hope it's the opposite of uncertainty. It's communicating with Assurance with with confidence at what is future events that are spoken off. They are surely going to take place. There's no hoping because it's going to happen this. It's for sure it's certain and we need to understand this difference and knows you read that.

That hope has an assurance to it. What a, what a difference. It makes look at versus four and five please. Lord, Jesus Christ. According to His abundant Mercy. Has the guts not because we deserve it isn't because God is merciful. Has begun us again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Look at the difference. Look at the the importance of the resurrected Christ. To an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you because we have a living savior. We have an inheritance reserved in heaven for us.

Is your name, written on your inheritance? You know, Jesus it is.

Who are kept. I like this one who are kept by the power of God. You don't keep yourself safe. You can't. Where can I buy the power of God? Through faith for salvation? Ready to be revealed in the last time. Lisa verses containing certain day after certain user, you want to be encouraged. This is a great passage to be looking at the matter what you're going through in life. So the Bible concept of Hope involves certainty There's another thing about a hope that never die, maybe it'd be easier to think of a the opposite of a living.

Adele. Hello. Right.

What James said, faith without works is dead.

oh, and that was one of the themes that James wrote about so true, Faith produces results. There's change there in the life of the person who has space. If if a person says they trusted Christ then there's no change since professing faith in Christ.

Probably, the faith is dead but then Faith isn't isn't good. We don't have a genuine faith. True Faith, produces change. Not Perfection. But moving away from toward more, christlikeness. Okay. Going in the right direction.

So what's the plan that same principle to hope? I hope it never dies is going to produce something, it's alive, going to produce something, it's powerful and it has the power to change. How you feeling how you talk and how you live? That's an amazing thing. But only God can do in this. We all need hope to face life challenges. Just like the people Peter was riding to needed this Living, Hope to face the challenges that they were going to

We all go through stuff. Play 1st Peter, the Great Book to be. We actually agree to this couple years ago, but The great book to get back into.

God knows what we need.

Hope it never dies. It's reassuring is positive. Deals with the future in in certain terms. Because of that, it produces positive results. That's The Power of Hope. What God offers you is more amazing than anything, even all the money in the world can offer you. So, what is the hole that never dies? It's something that's for sure. And certain and it has the has the power to produce positive change in your life. Living to live. It isn't you trying to make change its Christ in us? Right changes. How we think which results in how we Act? Well, how can you obtain this hole that never dies? How do you activate this in your life? It's a very powerful tool and we need it. Well, the answer is there an inverse 3? Find Verse 3 again. This will cording To His abundant. Mercy has begun us again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

To have this hope that never dies. Must be born again to be born again. How do you get born again or the spiritual birth? Ethan what Christ did for us on the cross. Okay, you didn't stay there. They don't stay stuck there. Because you'll just keep living a defeated life. Make sure you keep going to the the empty tomb. That's where the power is.

The newness of life.

Want to go to Romans chapter 5 please.

Romans chapter 5.

Romans 5 verse one there for having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom also, we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in Hope of the glory of God and only that. But we also glory in tribulations, knowing the tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance character character hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit who is given to us. The word hope is mentioned a couple times there.

Another one. John chapter 3.

John 3:3, Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you. Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God verse 5, you just answered, most assuredly, I say, unless one is born of water and the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Calibre 16 for God. So loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him, might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he is condemned already in the name of the only begotten, son of God. Show me a pin this Hope by being born again.

I will have this. we need to keep reminding ourselves knowing say in the scripture saying the truth because it's really easy to get swallowed up by the hopelessness that we find ourselves in the middle of This is this really sets us apart. His followers of Jesus Christ. We have a Living Hope.

It's H versus Murray says, because Jesus was raised from the dead.

Peter was one of over 500 people. That saw the resurrected Christ.

Read about that in 1st Corinthians 15. He was certain that he could place is Hope in Jesus because Christ met and conquered death. Think about this. Show me where Peter was for a second.

What he saw. Before the crucifixion, what he did.

And they Christ was crucified. He was devastated.

and then, He saw the resurrected Christ.

Let me know when John 21 how the, what Jesus did after he resurrected, he went straight to Peter. And restored him. Do you think that affected Peter a little bit? I think that's why I wrote about hope. He wants us to grasp that he's an eyewitness. He's not just right in fairy tales, he saw it, you saw him.

Cuz Christ rose from the dead. To place our trust in him. You see my with 500 people?

At once.

You can put your life in your soul. In his hands. You made to You certainly can depend on his love and care for us. We can follow his wisdom for a life. We can be assured that God is for us, right? Not against us.

We need to be walking with you walking close with him. Another brush. You can just listen to the read it when you find it. John 20:29 says, in this is when Thomas had said you won't believe unless I keep my hands and it's in the mail. Prince and Bone. So Jesus shows up He said, the Thomas.

Reach your finger here and look at my hands. Reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing Verse 29, verse, 28, and Thomas answered and said to him my Lord. And my God, Jesus said, you and Thomas because you have seen me you have believed blessed are those who have not seen?

What a blessing it is to trust him. None of us have seen him. Who was it? Put our fingers and is the nail prints?

What a blessing it is to know him.

Romans 10:9 cuz you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus. When you believe in your heart, that God raised him from the dead, you will be safe. He doesn't say you keep these Ten Commandments. I'll think about.

It's not about doing, it's about believing.

Moment, you accept Christ death in your place on the cross and took your place to my place. Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. In the Bible says, you're born again. I shared a little bit of story, the other night, I just want to share it with you this morning. We got home late Tuesday night 11 and Diana was going to happen that way to do some errands in the morning and we were very tired cuz we didn't really sleep Monday night either in the traveling. But she's just going in to have an app on the phone rang and it was Lakewood the workplace. And they said, there was a lady there that had been a resident, she was now in the hospital and she really wanted to see Diana. So she, she will have see her. They will share the gospel weather. And she trusted Christ. It was so clear to her. This was Wednesday. Was very clear to her. She said that simple. And Lance is well, you know, do you want to pray? She's well, that's kind of a private things. I don't want to pray out loud or do I have to pray out loud? Don't but she did. Anyway, I'm going to tell you what to say.

In town. She pray.

She acknowledged she was a sinner. She said that I tried to be good but I know I'm a sinner. And she put her faith in Christ to save her.

Where is the? You can go to work, right?

She told one of the workers. You tell Diana. Her prayers were answered.

She passed into the presence of Jesus yesterday.

She passed from Death to life the moment she prayed.

What an Easter?

Envious.

Wait, that long.

for the grace of God, she's she got that opportunity.

What is this hope that never dies? Well, it's something that you're certain, the question about it, as a power to produce change in your life out of you. Obtain it being born again, how does this hope and power? Are you? This is versus 31 verse 13. 1st. Peter 1:13, is there more grown up the loins of your mind? Be sober and rest. Your whole fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not conforming yourself to the form of us is in your ignorance. But is he who called you is, Holy you also be holy and all your conduct because it is written to be holy for. I am Holy

Born again. We we entrusted, we've committed ourselves to the to the truth of what Christ did he died. He was buried, he rose again and that withholding Roman 6 to walk in newness of life and when we have Christ life in us cuz that's what it is. Ye the changes our desires We want to do what pleases the Lord we want to walk in Holiness. Know you not going to cheat. Nobody here is going to be perfect because we've got a major problem. We still got the the old nature battling our new nature but we can win it will be in his presence and soon will be gone. But which of these walking and holding this. You know what? When I love you I'll give you an example not to but when I fall send Kay and I recognize it and I confess it. Well I'm not To me. That's holding. It's okay. I'm convicted by it. So I want to confess it and make it right. Hey, if I just send in this matter and I keep going in that direction, that's not right, but the fact that the holy spirit of God is convicting me, that something isn't right? That should give us whole but shouldn't discourage us. Because he says, if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us. From all of us a yo, we see him. God's going to take that salvation away and you can just be miserable the rest of your life.

He forgives us, cleanses us like that, to me, it speaks about taking away the guilt. Yeah, I forgot. Let the guilt go on because you know it's under the blood Satan wants keep throwing in your face. Listen to him. Listen to the truth of what God Said.

The Bible's idea of Holiness is not about being sanctimonious or self-righteous, it's not acting like you're better than other people, that's a terrible misconception. Holiness is Christ. He was humble and meek, right? We all know that. We've got some problems here, human nature, or nature. Doesn't want to be wholly. Doesn't want to be like God. Wants to be controlled by its desires. Here's what's going to happen. Hope has to push those desires out of the way. Walk in obedience 13, gird up the loins of your mind. Be sober be serious about your walk with the Lord and rest, your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And then he talks about being obedient is what's going to help us win that battle?

Giving in to your sinful desires is the opposite of Hulk.

I already mentioned a few you know you get discouraged and you just say all what's the use? Do what we want or we try to solve problems our way. How many of you can say that's worked out really good. Deeper mess has God's there. Doesn't matter what the problem is. And he says, will you give it to me?

How does Hope empowering? Instead of giving up hope the Bible says, be alert right up the loins of your mind. Be sober, rest. Your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you.

There's another very helpful verse later in this book, and 5:7 where it says, casting all your care cuz all your anxiety upon him. Why? Prayers for you and cares that are overwhelming. What do you say, cast? The word cast means. Drawing all on top of you, give it to him.

Why? Because that's his job. Because he cares for you. He cares for you so much. He sent his son to send was son to die. For each one of us, that's how much he cares League. Romans 8 talks about with a God who did all this for us.

Nothing he won't do for us. Certainly wants to help us in those things that we think or small or even the things we think are big.

He wants us to turn everything over to him. So hoping Powers You by correcting hopeless thinking, Good cares about you, want you to have hope. In.

Jeremiah 29:11. It says, for I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. I'll just read the next verse. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, I will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Great promise. Open Powers Us by correcting hopeless thinking. Another way you can be empowered by hope is by considering the return of Christ.

I don't know about you but I've been thinking a lot about that lately. How long Lord Jesus?

Pay real close attention to the fact. It's the grace and kindness of God that the Bible's talking about is the motivation for hope. It's God's kindness. God is going to be gracious and in-kind everyone. That's his child. You put your faith in Christ as your savior has made you, his child. I think he's pretty good, dad.

When Jesus comes back, you want to be able to have a life lived in a way that honors gone.

She want to please him because of his kindness toward us.

The Bible mentions.

This connection between living a holy life in the second of second coming of Christ and another spot that's in the 1st, John 3:2.

Just the 11:00. Now, we are children of God and has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is revealed we shall be like him, but we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just, as he is great motivation for us to live lives. That are that are pledging to Ghana.

Looking forward to that.

Present to send gone.

Will be tempted to send any more? No fault, no failure.

Really good. Listen to this little story. Young man was trying to establish himself as a peach grower. You worked hard and invested, everything he had in a peach orchard. Funny Blossom, but later came a frost and killed his chances of having a good Peach crop. You did not go to church the next Sunday or the next day or the next Pastor went try to encourage you to get back to church. Young men. Complained, I'm not coming back to church, you think I want to worship a God who cares for me. So little, Violetta Frost kill all my peaches. Minister. Look at him in silence for a few moments. Then kindly said, God loves you more than it does, your peaches, he knows that. Well, peaches do better without Frost. It is impossible to grow the best men without for us. His object is to grow men. Not peaches. Got that working on our character.

God wants us to experience the power of Hope That Never Dies. Reliance. So, this hope is something that's short certain. You can produce, will produce positive change in our lives. All because of the resurrection of Jesus, how do we obtain this Living Hope

Confessing our need to be saved. In the knowledge that Jesus died for us on the cross and rose again. So that we can have our sins forgiven and eternal life. How does this empower? Well, I hope it never dies produces holy conduct. I'm not going to live but whatever way I want to live. Go to allow God's life in me to produce that change and change those desires.

And I can have a life, it pleases him. Want to read something. Before I pray. Some of you remember, Jack Wyman. Jack writes, a Blog and he sent it out of a couple of weeks. And this one came out this week, La Easter.

Just figure out where I'm going to start. Because Jesus Christ has risen. He lives in rain. In due time he will make the world over so let us heed the call of the poet Tennyson. Come my friends does not too late to seek a newer world. Let's teach our children, citizenship service sacrifice. Let us teach them the nobility of politics. That is in it. It is an important and worthy calling. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul tells us, we must always be a bounding in the work of the Lord. Our labor for him is never in vain. The resurrection isn't just an Easter celebration. It's a way of living. It's a confirmation of our faith. The purpose of our work in the hope of our future. The resurrection gives comfort in our trials, peace, and our anxieties confidence, in our struggles, in optimism, in our Outlook, that's at home. So Foundation. Christmas would be meaningless without the resurrection of Jesus been born in the manger and died on the cross. We still would be without hope we need the empty tomb. Because He Lives we not only can face tomorrow, we can live forever with him. The grave is never the final. Goodbye. For the Christian. We must not fear death, Jesus, defanged it he has conquered death and the grave and given life and immortality to all those who trust in him. Rejoice Rejoice O Christian take hope take confidence. He lives. Be. Move nor discourage by the vain imaginations of mere mortals, know the Raging of Nations, that's a good phrase to put on your refrigerator on the dashboard of your car, where you begin be not move, no discouraged by the vain imaginations of mere mortals, know the Raging of the Nations. What we see that annoying.

When it starts making us rage. KeyBank Center on your whole poke.

I feel it, too.

In his endless Splendor and matchless Glory, Our Risen Lord and King drugs, Closer by the day, the resurrection. It's our Eternal reference point.

but thank you again for The privilege, we have to know you through Christ.

What a glorious truth, the empty tomb.

In the hope that it produces in US. Living Hope. Certainty. We know you're coming again. Because of the witness of your spirit and your word. It's true. we can sit here, this morning, stand here, this morning and say, I know, My redeemer lives and he's coming back.

Lord me, we allow the truth to set us apart. From the wickedness, it's going on with Lord. I pray, we wouldn't get. It's so hard Lord, and you know that it's just discouraging. It seems like everyday we lit. Something more shocking, Wicked perverse. Dear God, we will acknowledge that. You are The Sovereign one. And boy this gives us an idea a little bit of an idea of how great your mercy is because I don't think any of us would have put up with it this long. You're not willing that any should perish.

Lorde. I just pray that.

Would be focused on the truth. Lord, it would Empower us and Bolden us to, to share it with people that are Stock without hope. Annabelle. What are you just realized that this message of the Cross and the empty tomb is it's the turning point.

What determines our destination?

Lord, I just pray for your working in our hearts.

Help us. They're going to be who were called to be Lord. I pray, there's anyone here this morning. Was it made that decision yet to trust you? That today would be the day of salvation.

It's understanding that tomorrow. Never comes tomorrow is always tomorrow. We're not guaranteed tomorrow guaranteed this moment.

Thank you, Father. Thank you for seeing us for walking with us.

Helping us, we're meeting people. Even as your children, Lord, we recognize we need you. We need you every hour. And I'm worth it. obviously gotten anyone are also easy for all of us, Laura to just Spray.

And I pray that you will get back into fellowship with you father and realize it's an awesome thing. The wonderful thing. Walk with you. To know you and to get to know you. Lord that we all would have that victory that you was the one for us. Who won the victory. We wouldn't get used to being defeated.

Thank you so much for Jesus. We love you this morning. Pray, that is we go from here this morning.

Be alert. about making, you know, Jesus name.