Hope takes time!

HOPE TAKES TIME!

The third and final virtue of the Thessalonians is PATIENCE OF HOPE.

Learning to live with the end in mind, while not becoming weary, anxious, or deceived by the ways of this world begs to question…

What are you HOPING on, that is testing your fruit? I mean we all know HOPE TAKES TIME, but come on already, right?

Proverbs 13:12 says,

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

How many of you know HOPE always requires patience.

We hope because we are looking for something more.

We hope because we have been promised something.

We hope because we know there is more to life than this.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Israel had been waiting and hoping literally for thousands of years for the Messiah to arrive — Trusting God to do what he said He would do, while pushing through the dark and doubting times.

Isaiah says, when we wait on and hope in the Lord, we encounter strength. The fact that we know HOPE TAKES TIME doesn’t make it any easier, but we will have the grace we need to wait upon the Lord. We will find strength where there was none in order to push through. Like eagles, we’ll catch the air current of the Spirit and soar higher, leaning on the Spirit and not on ourselves. We will run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.

HOPE TAKES TIME!

The word Hope mentioned here within our text is having to do with the future. You see, the Thessalonians’ patience of hope came from their confidence in God’s promises for eternity.

What I need you to understand here is…

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking.

For example we say “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” And what we mean by that is, “I wish it wouldn’t rain tomorrow.”

Biblical hope is not a wish.

It does not produce the idea that “I wish those who are lost in my school, my workplace, or in the market place, those within our City, would come to Christ.” No, the

HOPE mentioned here has the idea that we have assurance in God. Because we know He is not willing that any perish but that all would have everlasting life.

Listen, it’s those who don’t know God that function on wishful thinking. and yet the whole idea of hope here in the Bible for every believer is confidence, assurance, and certainty.

Biblical HOPE IS CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE, AND CERTAINTY.

It’s when someone has faith that God will keep all His promises despite every appearance to the contrary. In other word’s even when you don’t see it, even when you don’t feel it…your confidence, assurance, and certainty isn’t wavering. It remains intact no matter what life throws at you.

Our English word “patience” carries the idea of passiveness or lack of activity.

The Greek word for “patience” means fortitude, steadfastness, and tenacity — a quality of character that does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

Hope takes time and never gives up!

It produces a tenacity. The person who carries great hope hangs in there and displays the character of steadfastness.

Whenever problems come they are not moved because they see beyond the moment and understand HOPE TAKES TIME!

What I believe Paul is trying to convey here is the fact that we can’t give up on the Great Commission, making Disciples, and reaching those who are lost, no, we must possess a pitbull stick-to-it-iveness. Meaning we have to grab hold of what God wants in the world and not let go!

I believe God is looking for those within the church that will not lose HOPE. No matter how many times we fail or those around us fail, we just keep getting up and trying again. We hang in there because we know it’s not over. I believe we should possess this kind of fortitude, steadfastness, and tenacity as we hope for and long for eternity.

Patience grows through trial and tribulation into a resolute determination through which Hope shines.

Hope and patience belong together.

A church that is learning patience proclaim’s hope effectively.

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

HOPE TAKES TIME — TO PRAY!

Within this verse we see (3) commands, the first one ‘Rejoice in our confident hope.’ - which speaks of our reason for JOY! It’s not a command to be joyful, but to have the right perspective in every situation. Listen, it’s because of our confident hope in eternity, we can rejoice no matter what comes our way…knowing our best days are in front of us.

The next command we see here is ‘Be patient in trouble’ this is possible when you apply the other two to your life. Those who have the right perspective and keep on praying, the things of earth, all the problems, all the chaos, the brokenness, the struggles and hardship will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

You do know, the Bible says, to pray without ceasing right? While waiting for what we are hoping for, we should keep on praying.

Prayer keeps us connected to the ONE from which our HOPE comes.

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

HOPE TAKES TIME — TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR OUR FAITH!

Paul says, “you must worship Christ as Lord of your life” and perhaps you’ve heard it said before, ‘He is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.” and believe me, those around you know whether He is Lord of all in your life. And that’s what I believe Paul is saying here, no matter what’s happening in your world or the world around you, when things are good and when they are not so good…and listen sometimes people don’t ask about your hope as a believer, they watch to see when the bottom falls out, when the opposition comes your way, when your health is failing, when your kids are flailing, and the way forward seems impossible, are you still gonna worship Christ as Lord of your life? Will they notice the difference that HOPE makes in your life?

Our hope should be so apparent, that it causes them to ask about it. And when they do, we need to be ready to explain the reason for our faith.

Romans 15:13 (NLT)

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

HOPE TAKES TIME — TO TRUST IN GOD!

Patience, over time, blooms into perseverance through experiencing God’s incredible faithfulness.

Which embeds itself in our hearts as unshakeable Hope and continually reminds us that we can trust in God through Holy Spirit’s power which is working on the inside of us.

A Hope which never disappoints because God, the Author and source of our Hope pours out His lavish love upon us always, but especially in unique ways during times of suffering.

Prov. 3:5-10 READ TPT

Romans 8:23-25 TPT

And it’s not just creation. We who have already experienced the firstfruits of the Spirit also inwardly groan as we passionately long to experience our full status as God’s sons and daughters—including our physical bodies being transformed. 24For this is the hope of our salvation.

But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? 25So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment.

Listen Beloved…all of creation is expressing this frustration, sorrow, and longing. So much so, there is this groaning like a woman in labor, about to deliver a baby, as she endures wave after wave of pain that comes and goes. Proving that nothing good ever comes without a fight!

Meaning you and I must be willing to fight through the obstacles, the difficulties, the pain, the things that take your breath away and the things that seem impossible, because we know HOPE TAKES TIME…therefore even though we are not at home yet, our HOPE is certain, we just can’t see! therefore we trust and patiently wait for it’s fulfillment!

Oh how we long for that day, when we shall fly away…Amen!

CLOSING

As followers of Christ we know what we are doing and where we are going, we have this confidence, certainty, and assurance that even though HOPE TAKES TIME, we are willing to PRAY, TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR OUR FAITH, AND TO TRUST IN GOD. Questions

If HOPE TAKES TIME TO LISTEN — AND HE DOES

What are you praying for, waiting for, OR believing for?

Is it something you’ve been battling with, struggling with, dealing with, contending for…but you have yet to see results?

Do you need patience… fortitude, steadfastness, and tenacity as you hope for and long for something to shift, to change, to breakthrough, to come into fruition?

I don’t know who needs to hear this…

Job hoped for good…but instead evil came. Yet his faith in God never wavered!

Sometimes situations get a whole lot worse before they get better.

HOPE TAKES TIME TO PRAY…

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU FELT LIKE ALL HOPE IS GONE?

MAYBE YOUR THERE RIGHT NOW?

KEEP ON PRAYING WITH BIBLICAL HOPE, CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE, AND CERTAINTY.

REMEMBER HOPE TAKES TIME AND NEVER GIVES UP!

THAT WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN UP ON, THROWN THE TOWEL IN OVER, QUIT ON. IT’S TIME TO PRAY! IT’S TIME TO SPEAK A BETTER WORD INTO THAT SITUATION! IT’S TIME TO TRUST GOD! AND LET HOPE LAY HOLD OF YOU…

I DECREE AND DECLARE OVER YOU…

confidence, assurance, and certainty shall be manifested in and through your life…

fortitude, steadfastness, and tenacity shall be manifested in and through your life…

HOPE TAKES TAME TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR OUR FAITH…

WHERE IS YOUR HOPE?

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE?

HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR YOUR FAITH?

I declare over you an anointing to defend the faith. A Truthfulness that will send confusion into the camp of your enemies, causing them to cease and desist…

that you will be led into opportunities and divine appointments to explain the reason for your faith with others…That you will have divine wisdom, knowledge, and understanding…even the ability to interpret dreams and visions, so they may know there is a God in heaven.

IF YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH SOMETHING

I believe he is giving you patience, that produces fortitude, steadfastness, and tenacity, so that you don’t lose hope.

HOPE TAKES TIME TO TRUST IN GOD!

WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING HIM FOR?

ARE YOU TRUSTING HIM FOR YOUR HEALTH, YOUR FINANCES, YOUR FAMILY’S SALVATION, A BREAKTHROUGH SPIRITUALLY, A RENEWED HOPE AND PASSION FOR THE THINGS OF GOD?

HOPE TAKES TIME TO PRAY, TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR OUR FAITH, TO TRUST IN GOD!