HOPE 3

HOLDING ONTO HOPE IN A BROKEN AND HOPELESS WORLD

It is one thing to define hope. It is another to talk about holding on to hope in times of personal relational struggle. But, how do we HOLD ON TO HOPE IN THIS WORLD THAT IS SO VERY BROKEN AND HOPELESS? All you have to do is watch the news or scroll through social media to sense the hopelessness that people in our nation and around the world are feeling. Much of the hopelessness is due to the fact that people, especially in the West, have been buying in to a false narrative about health and prosperity and what it takes to be happy. In the book, “When you see flireflies:Equiping leaders and parents to minister to generation ALPHA” we read about the many things that are different about the world that 10 year olds today are raised in. Most of them are being raised by parents that didn’t start having children until they were in their 30’s and as Millennials, those parents have an distrust of institutions including the church. Parents of ALPHAS say that by age 8 their childrens knowledge of technology has outsriped theirs. Many of these kids are being parented by TIGERS or HELICOPTERS and spend 6-8 hours per day on line outside of the classroom. They are not learning their world view from mom and day or from their Sunday school teacher or from their teacher at school but from the many voices on Snap chat, TicToc, BeReal, Instagram , gaming groups, online chatrooms, etc. RECENTLY, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE CIRCULATING AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA CALLED, ‘7 COMMON LIES THAT OUR KIDS HEAR AND OFTEN ABSORB IN OUR CULTURE’. These lies are being broadcast loudly on TV commercials and in pop songs and they are being whispered softly in earbuds. lets take a look at those lies and see if we can’t counter them with Biblical truth.

LIE 1: HUMANS ARE THE PRODUCT OF BLIND UNGUIDED EVOLUTION

Genesis 1:1“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 139:13–16 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

LIE 2 YOU ARE THE YOU YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

i am not even sure what that means but, the emphasis is on the importance of ME MYSELF and I

the truth is that as humans, we were knit together to be in relationship with God and with other humans. It is not all about me.

LIE 3 A GOOD GOD WOULDN’T JUDGE

Our God has many unchangeable attributes including but not limited to Justice, Love, Mercy and goodness. He has declared what is right and wrong and He lovingly corrects and draws us to His righteous self.

LIE 4 FAITH IS THE OPPOSITE OF KNOWLEDGE

The very basis of the Christian faith is truth as proclaimed by the all knowing God

LIE 5 FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Jeremiah 17:9 ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

My heart can tell me one moment that if I really love myself, I will stick to my healthy diet and exercise plan and in the next minute tell me that to love myself, I really need to indulge in a cherry limeade. which ‘heart’ should I follow?

LIE 6 IF I FEEL IT IT MUST BE TRUE

Emotions not brought in line with the truth of God’s Word cannot be trusted.

LIE 7 LOVE IS AFFIRMING EVERYTHING THAT I FEEL

Just ask you average 2 year old if this is true. Is it loving for a parent to change a stinky diaper? Does the toddler always feel like having it done?

Love, quite often neither affirms nor makes me feel good. It is often what is in my best interest.

EVEN WITH THESE FINE BIBLICALLY BASED RESPONSES, MANY IN OUR WORLD TODAY WOULD ROLL OUR EYES AT THESE RESPONSES. IN FACT, MANY IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY WOULD ROLL THEIR EYES AT THESE RESPONSES. THESE LIES ARE BELIEVED AND EMBRACES AND PROCLAIMED IN OUR CULTURE BY MANY THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE AND THEY ARE BEING FOLLOWED TO THEIR OWN SELF DESTRUCTIVE CONCLUSIONS. YOUR CHILDREN. YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. YOUR NEIGHBORS. PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH....MAY BE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING DECEIVED BY THESE SHINY IDEAS. HERE ARE SOME MORE

LIE 8 LOVE FEELS LIKE LOVE

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE DOES NOT LOOK OR FEEL LIKE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE AND AFFIRMATION

LIE 9 LIFE ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE SO DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND BE WITH WHOEVER MAKES YOU SMILE....YOU DO YOU

GOD NEVER SAID THAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY IN THIS LIFE. HE DOES DELIGHT IN YOU AND DESIRES THAT YOU EXPERIENCE TRUE JOY IN YOUR SALVATION

JESUS NEVER SAID

FOLLOW YOUR HEART rather, He said. Matthew 16:24–26 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF rather Gods Word says

1 Kings 8:61 ““Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.””

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF rather He said through the apostles Acts 16:31 “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

AS LONG AS YOU ARE HAPPY....THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS

Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

LIVE YOUR TRUTH

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Again, we have countered these culturally accepted truths with the truth of God’s Word. The next question is what personal lies are you believing that are eroding your HOPE.

1. Since God commanded older women to mentor younger women, I will never struggle to find older more mature Christian women to do life with. For every command in scripture thee are multiple believers who either don’t know about it or don’t know how to follow it or choose not to believe and obey the command. Genuine Titus 2 relationships take hard work to cultivate.

2. If I raise my kids up according to what God is leading me to do, grounding them in His Word, sound doctrine and Christian community, they will go on to serve Him all the days of their lives. You are responsible before God for how you raise your children. Your adult children are responsible before God for the decisions they make.

3. Friendships with Christian sisters are so sweet. I’ll neve have struggles with my sisters in Christ. Do you understand the nature of girls? 2 girls get along great, add a third girl....drama, drama, drama. We are sinners. We are emotive sinners. We must grant each other grace mercy and forgiveness daily.

4. Sexual sin will never affect my marriage or family because we stayed pure before marriage and have trained our kids well. se taught them what God says about sexual purity. Two of my daughters were objectified by their teenaged brother. One of my daughters lives in the LGBTQ community. Since I have started talking about sexuality, gender dysphoria, and teenaged sexual acting out, I have a prayer card with the names of 24 mommas and their 38 prodigals and /or estranged children, 16 of whom are in the LGBTQ community. I have been able to weep with numerous other moms whose adult children are making choices that they prayed against. I have read no less than 20 books and am studying Sexual Discipleship in order to love people who are in or who are affected by this area of sin better.

5. My parents, grandparents, in-laws love the Lord and will be a delight to care for as they age. They won’t become grumpy

AS WOMEN THESE ARE JUST SOME AREAS THAT MAY CONCERN US. AND WHERE E MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO LOSE HOPE OR TO QUESTION IF THERE IS ANY HOPE.

IN THIS WORLD, YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. THAt IS A PROMISE THAT JESUS MAKES TO HIS FOLLOWERS. HE ALSO STATES THAT HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND THAT IS WHERE OUR HOPE LIES. HOW DO WE MAINTAIN HOPE WHEN THE WORLD AROUND US SEEMS HOPELESS. WHEN STATISTICS SHOW THAT KIDS ARE FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH AND THAT MED ARE ADDICTED TO PORN THAT MARRIAGES ARE FAILING AND THAT CHURCHES ARE FALLING APART. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO HOLE ON TO HOPE IN THIS WORLD WHERE SIN SEEMS TO BE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL? ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT TRUE HOPE IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE AND THAT AS HIS IMAGE BEARERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE TRUE GIFT OF SALVATION COMPLETE WITH THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT , AND IF WE AS BELIEVERS AE LIVING OUR LIVES IN HOPEFUL SUBMISSION TO THE SAVIOR BECAUSE WE ARE UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO DO SO....HEN WHY DO WE NOT LIVE IN JOY FILLED HOPE? WHY ARE WE, BORN AGAIN DAUGHTERS OF THE MOST HIGH, LIVING AND LOOKING SO HOPELESS?

WHY DEAR SISTERS ARE WE EXHIBITING SIGNS OF BEING HOPELESS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?

we are

H HAGGARD and O OVERWHELMED

Haggard means looking ex hausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry or suffering. we are weary because we were never meant to carry the load.

OVERWHELMED My mentor in college used to call it being “Under the Pile” Recently, when talking to a Friend, she was describing how distressing the news was to her. I stopped her and said, I just need to let you know that I do not have the capacity to carry all of these details right now. We need to be good citizens, we need to pray but we also may need to turn off the TV and turn our eyes upon Jesus YES SISTERS, if we are to be filled with hope rather than being hopeless we must turn off the social media and turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

WE ARE

P LIVING IN A PRESSURE COOKER AND

E ARE FAILING TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON ETERNITY

A pressure cooker is a cooking tool that has a valve on it so that pressure can be relieved when necessary. We are so over scheduled that deadlines and soccer games and just getting to the next activity rules our lives. We live as if we believe that this world is all that there is and that we need to go for all the gusto when in reality we need to slow down and learn to sabbath. We need to keep our sights fixed on what is truly important rather than focusing on the tyranny of the urgent.

Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”

John 16:33 ““These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

DEAR SISTERS WE NEED TO STOP BEING HAGGARD AND OVERWHELMED. WE NEED TO RELEASE THE PRESSURE IN OUR PRESSURE COOKER LIVE AND REMEMBER THAT ETERNITY IS NEAR IN ORDER TO LIVE HOPE FILLED INSTEAD OF HOPELESS.

L LOVE IS MISINTERPRETED

WE HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE IDEA THAT LOVE, EVEN GOD’S LOVE FOR US ALWAYS FEELS GOOD AND SO WHEN, LIFE GOES ARY, WE DOUBT HIS LOVE FOR US

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

E EFFECTS OF IDOLATRY FAITH, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, CAREER, MINISTY.....WHAT IS YOUR IDOL? YOU NAME IT AND WE CAN PLACE IT IN THE POSITION OF GOD IN OUR LIVES

1 Corinthians 10:14 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

S SELFISH AND S SIN WE FAIL TO LIVE IN HOPE BECAUSE LIVING HOPE FILLED LIVES INVOLVES LIVING SELFLESSLY AND GIVING UP OUR FAVORITE SINS. SISTERS....WE WANT WHAT WE WANT WNEH WE WANT IT AND WE BELIEVE, FALSELY, THAT WE DESERVE WHAT WE WANT WHEN WE WANT IT

Philippians 2:4 “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

James 3:14–16 “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

1 Corinthians 10:24 “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 John 1:9–10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

THERE ARE ALOT OF REASONS FOR US TO LIVE IN HOPELESSNESS. BUT THEE IS AM EVEN BETTER REASON FOR US TO LIVE IN THE HOPE OF OUR SAVIOR. BUT HOW???? HOW DO WE STAY THE COURSE AND RUN THE RACE UNTIL THE END EXUDING THE FAITH HOPE AND LOVE THAT WE AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS SHOULD DEMONSTRATE?

IM SO GLAD YOU ASKED.....

I. STAY GROUNDED

II. READ ABOUT THE BIBLICAL SAINTS OF OLD AND LEARN FROM THEIR STORIES

Hebrews 11 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;” “and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

III. READ BIOGRAPHIES OF THOSE IN MORE RECENT HISTORY

JONI

DEITRICK BONHOEFFER

WILLIAM CAREY

AMY CARMICHAL

CORRIE TEN BOOM

ELIZABETH ELLIOT

IV. GET IN THE HABIT OF ASKING THE SAINTS YOU SPEND TIME WITH TO TELL YOU A STORY OF HOPE FROM THEIR RECENT EXPERIENCE. FOR INSTANCE

MARILYN FROM WHOM THE JOY OF THE LORD OOZES AND WH HAS FIXED HER HOPE ON HEAVEN AFTER HER BABY WAS BORN STILL 12 YEARS AGO

SHIRLEY WHO FOR OVER 60 YEARS HAS LIVED WITH THE EFFECTS OF POLIO AND NOW THE EFFECTS OF POST POLIO SYNDROME BUT WHO CHEERFUL DECLARES “MY FATHER KNOWS” AT EACH NEW CHALLENGE

HASSAD MINISTRY LEADER IN JORDAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT HOPE IS ONLY FOUND IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND SO PRAYS FOR PAIN AND PERSECUTION THAT MANY MIGHT COME TO CHRIST

V. WRITE DOWN AND REHEARSE YOUR OWN STORY OF REDEMPTION…NOT JUST YOUR SALVATION STORY BUT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND HOW THE LORD HAS WORKED ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY AND HOW IT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

MY DEAR SISTERS. WE ARE THE HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AS WE CARRY THE TORCH FOR THE GOSPEL. AS WE LEARN TO BE WOMEN OF FAITH WHO ARE FULL OF HOPE . AS WE LEARN TO FOCUS ON Jesus WHO IS THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITH IN EVERY SITUATION

I HAVE BEEN LEADING A GROUP OF LADIES THROUGH THE BOOK, AGING WITH GRACE. THIS IS MY THIRD TIME THROUGH IT AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE OUR TIME TOGETHER BY READING THE PASSSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT THE BOOK TEACHES THROUGH AND THEN ONE OF THE STORIES OF ONE OF THE BIBLICAL WOMEN OF HOPE THAT IS FEATURED IN THE BOOK.

Psalm 92 “A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man has no knowledge, Nor does a stupid man understand this: That when the wicked sprouted up like grass And all who did iniquity flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore. But You, O Lord, are on high forever. For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For, behold, Your enemies will perish; All who do iniquity will be scattered. But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. And my eye has looked exultantly upon my foes, My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me. The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

READ CHAPTER 7

MY DEAR SISTERS IN CHRIST. HOPE IS NOT JUST WISHFUL THINKING. IT IS LINKED TO FAITH AND LOVE. IT IS A SCRIPTURAL MANDATE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT AS BELIEVERS IS JESUS WE ARE UNIQUELY ABLE TO DISPLAY TO A HURTING WORLD. MAY EACH OF US LEAVE HERE TODAY WITH MORE STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY AND FOR BRIGHT HOPE FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT HOPE TODAY.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me